Happy New Year!

So as I sit here looking back at 2008 and about to celebrate the beginning of 2009 - all I can say is that we have been truly blessed. I was mostly pregnant in 2008 and we welcomed Jacob James in June. We understand now, the unconditional love that a parent has for their child. We love our baby so much! We wish everyone health, happiness, prosperity, lots family time, and love in the upcomming new year. Tonight we celebrate the New Year with our nieces Katherine and Averi, as well as, Grandma Marjorie. We are keeping it low key tonight but it's very special and we'll probably remember it the most. It's Jacob's first New Year, which he is dreaming away:)

First Christmas!

We welcomed auntie Kristin, cousins Katherine, Averi, and Olivia the 23rd of December so they could spend Christmas with Jacob, Scottie and I. We went to Grandma Regina and Grandpa Genio for the Christmas Eve dinner. We celebrated with cousin Izabel and Adiran and Auntie Monika and uncle Wojtek. Santa comes a day early to visit their house, so Jacob enjoyed multitude of presents. Later in the evening we went to visit the Albrecht family in Boston. Jacob has a new cousin Allen Jr., the grandson of Justin and Adele.
Christmas Day was unbelievable. Santa came and basically exploded with presents all over the living room. The kids had lots of fun. Later in the afternoon we went for dinner to Grandma and Grandpas and then to Auntie Julie's for a big Mannix familiy Christmas. Jacob was so good throughout the holidays, despite the change in his schedule and the excitement of it all. I am still working on posting Christmas pictures-- so stayed tuned.

Our Little Guy

Bed time routine

~Bath Time~ ~Ready for bed~~Peace out~

Winter Wonderland

So, we have been stuck at home for three days now since it started to snow on Friday. Winter welcomed us with lots and lots of snow. Thursday night we picked our Christmas tree and Gram helped us decorate it Friday night. Saturday and Sunday we spend playing, cleaning the house, and spending time with Gram.

~Our Backyard~ ~Gram and Jacob~

~Hanging upside down with Daddy~

6 Months Old!!!!

Today Jacob turned six months and I just can't believe how quickly it flew by. Things are getting a lot easier I might add. One thing that has improved is actually leaving the house-- it doesn't take us three hours anymore. In addition, Jacob is much more comfortable riding in the car- he plays with toys and sleeps most of the time. Occasionally he objects, but quiets down as soon as I start singing to him... the boy loves to be entertained! Jacob is very vocal nowadays. He says "ba", "dada", "wawa", and occasionally "mama." He is most chatty in the early morning. He loves to smile and squeal with delight at the site of mommy and daddy and the reflection of himself. Jacob is still wary of strangers and apparently does not like Santa Claus in person. He is currently working on "soldier crawling," otherwise known as creeping. The most motivating items are his shoes, a water bottle, and mommy's camera - of course. He is sitting all by himself, and a few time has managed to flip gracefully from sitting position onto his belly. The new movement ability is also reflected at night, when he rotates clockwise in his crib. He also crawls to the end of the crib and wakes himself up when he can't go any further. So lately he has been waking up about 3 a.m. for a nightly feeding. Well, he usually sleeps from 9 to 3 to 6 to 7:30. We have a solid nightly routine that starts off with music and massage and ends with bath, boogies, boobies, and bed. Needless to say- the boogies are the least favorite. Anyways, Jacob is making lots of friends and we have regular playgroups-- it's the only way we'll survive the winter days. His favorite toys are the raddle, the plastic box, an 0 ball, and a paci. He still loves his jumperoo and gets regular leg excerise:) We have been feeding him rice cereal once a day since Thanksgiving and Jacob eats like a champ! This month we'll be introducing some veggies and fruits! As for his appearance-- he is becoming a big boy now. His hair is growing and it looks light brownish in color. Surprisingly he held on to his "rocking" curl. He weighs approximately 21.5 lbs and is outgrowing his 6-9 month clothes. We put away some of his toys; the swing and the bouncy chair because he has outgrown them already. Also, as of the new year he'll graduate to a big boy car seat. So much has changed within the last six months. He is growing before our eyes:) We love our little munchkin so much! First Christmas is just a few days away and we can't wait!

We celebrated by going to Isha's house, who also shares a B-day with Jacob.

Lots and lots of presents-- Wednesday

Danielle and Thomas came over today. The boys exchanged gifts for Christmas. As you can see the wrapping was so yummy.

~Thomas and Jacob~

Alice came over in the evening and brought Jacob a Christmas present. Jacob knows that the first thing you do with a present is EAT IT.

~Alice and Jacob~~Jacob and his Moose~
Thank you Alice!

Play time with Max-- Tuesday

~Max and Jacob~

We are launging

The Elephant is so comfortable

Cute SmilesThe look of surprise

Jacob's photography

Jacob got a hold of the camera today and took a couple of pics. Preatty talented for a 5.5 month old-- very abstract and open to interpretation. Movement is his motto!!!~Hello~

The gates arrived last week and over the weekend Scottie installed them. Jacob really enjoys his playarea. He has been soldier crawling so the gates keep him safe. We went shopping this past weekend and we are almost done working for Santa. Jacob was bouncing around in the carrier, happy as happy can be. Today we also ventured out for some presents, but most of the day we spent playing.

~Play Time at Max's house~ Thursday

Max, Jacob, and Isha

Boys will be boys

Today we had lots of company. Jackie and Matthiew came over to play in the early afternoon and then Danielle and Thomas came over to play in the late afternoon. Jacob took an hour and a half nap in between visits, therefore, he was well rested and ready to play. We had a great time!

~Jacob and Matthew~

Fighting over a book - great!

~Thomas and Jacob~

Very busy chewing

~Water Activity~

The boys enjoyed splashing and fishing for toys in the warm

water bath. ~Do we have to be all done?~

~Drying off~

Santa's little helpers

It seems like forever since I have written the blog, although it has been only a few days. Well, Scottie, Jacob and I have been "Santa's little helpers" over the weekend so I was totally beat. Monday was terribly cold and we stayed put inside- playing all day long and on Tuesday we hung out with Timmy in the morning and played with Daddy in the evening.

~First Snow~ Sunday

A view outside of our kitchen window

~Shopping~ totally boring

~I LOVE JACOB~
Finally on Friday we received Jacob's playmat.

~The Taste Test~

The more we get together the happier will be

~Max, Catelyn, and Jacob~

~Mammas are very entertaining~

~Catelyn's Bow~

Catelyn and Jacob are slowly sliding off the couch~Playtime~Jacob is in the middle of the parachute

Ooodles of fun

~ A little Rascal~

Jacob always wants what he can't have- he took the toy away from his buddy Max just a second before the pic was taken.

Let's Play

~Jacob and Thomas~~Nice hands~
~Story Time~Great Attention boys!

~Favorite Pass Time~ chewing~It's all about me~ mealtime

We stayed home today and welcomed friends. I made a banana bread from the Joy of Cooking recipe and at the end of the day it was all gone. Yum! Danielle and Thomas came over to play. The boys enjoyed story time, music, bubbles and toy play. They were glad to see each other! It was cute! We always look forward to Wednesdays. My friend Alice came to visit and took the "banana leaf plant." We are happy that it found a good home. Later we had dinner with Gram. My meal was cut short because Jacob was getting a bit fussy and we had to proceed with bed time routine. At night he is like clockwork.

Jacob says "mama"

Jacob was saying "mama" so beautifully clear today. Every time he said it I gave him a big smooch! Oh, it made my entire day. Jacob is becoming such a big boy. He likes to hang on the play gym like a little monkey, so that was our cue to lower the crib to level two for the fear that he might decide to hang to its sides. (I just peeked at the monitor and the little rascal is sideways in the crib flipping from stomach to back to side to back to stomach-- sound asleep-- so stinking cute.) He is incredibly driven to crawl. We went to visit grandma and grandpa and he was moving all over the place. He took a couple of accidental tumbles and has two bruised elbows (my fault for allowing him to slide on the bare floor). Scottie ordered a soft foam play mat and gates that should be arriving any day now. I am giving away my gorgeous "up to the sealing banana leaf" plant that's poisonous to children to my friend Alice tomorrow. We are baby proofing the house.

Here comes Santa Clause

"Is your very impressive bared real?""Oh no, who are you?"~Classic Santa picture~

Santa Clause decided to visit St. Brendan's playgroup today. As evident above, Jacob freaked out on the site of St. Nicholas and acutally produced three crocodile tears. This picture is absolutely priceless! Aside from this encounter, Jacob had a good time. After playgroup and a nap we went for a walk for over an hour. December welcomed us with a balmy 61 degree day.

~Story Time~

Jacob is the littlest one of the bunch

~Present~

Jacob did like his present thoughEspecially the way it tasted ~Pop Beads! Yeah!~
~Playing with Friends~
Jacob and Tatum

Jacob and Matthew