A Day Of Life At Shadow Glen Farm: Aug 23, 2008

Saturday, August 23, 2008

CHRISTMAS 2007

Christmas Eve and Christmas day with Ken, Diana, and Jon was a million laughs and lots of fun...

Jon and his wife, Julia.

...to be followed by three delightful days at home with my parents, my sister's family, and Melanie, Steve, and Celia.

We decorated like crazy.

Decked the halls, so to speak.

Decked everything that stood still.

And then they came...

I think this was the best Christmas yet. Let's do it again next year!

MORE CELIA...

In November, we gathered to celebrate Celia's Christening/Dedication/Presentation (which depends on who you are talking to).

We arrived to find a sleeping baby, but before long she was up and we were on the move.

New toys always perks things up, and Nana knew just the items to get.

As you can see, I am VERY busy.

The next morning, it was off to church for the dedication.

Thanks for the flower. Look Mom, I got a flower.

Here, you can have this part.

On second thought, I'll keep this part, you take that part.

All that made me hungry. Let's go to Grandma Trisha's for some lunch. And let me throw up on Mom so she has to get changed into Grandma Trisha's clothes. Thats better!

Mommy and I are twins!

Wasn't this fun?

CELIA THE BLUR!

Rolling over, blowing bubbles...Celia is constant motion that happens so fast my little Kodak can't keep up. Lots of these pictures are blurry, but all those cute little expressions shine through!

COUSINS!!!!!

Jon and Celia finally met and both seemed to be happy with their new status.

It was a laid back weekend, which also included a fishing trip to Mark and Laurel's pond, so Kapuna digs for worms in the garden.

and off to the pond we go.

Steve, do you know how to do this?

No problem!

Piece of cake.

Look at Kapuna raking them in.

Check out the devious smile. I am the only one catching fish.

Here, Jon. Just follow my ET finger to the fish.

Everything okay, Steve?

Let's try to get a clearer view of the problem.

Kapuna's got the answer!

Lets get back home to some serious game playing.

A quick trip to Brimfield...

and back to the farm...

...where Diana and Jon came for a little pumpkin and vegetable picking.

Tremper, a month before his departure.

Kapuna on his new bike...

Does it get any better than this?

CELIA'S BREAKING MY HEART!

As cute as she can be, Celia arrived with Mama Melanie to Shadow Glen Farm full of vinegar...constant motion and activity.

Quite the fashion plate, she was the best dressed person at her very first auction.

Don't make a sound in the house or she may wake up...

...but she slept through all the noisy bidding, yelling, and bustle.

Go figure!

Lot's of fun and lots of cuddles and just not enough time.

What's with the foot?

Show off!

MELANIE'S BABY PICTURES

Yes, Celia is the picture of her Daddy, but don't rule Mommy out yet! Back up to 1979...

Corn on the cob Melanie.

Holy hairstyle!

Melanie with Grandma Agnes Cecelia

Slug-a-bed, Slug-a-bed, Stay in bed with me, me, me!

Mommy and I came to visit Pop Pop Buddy (who was at work when these pictures were taken) and then Aunt Samey and Nana came to hang out on Aunt Sam's birthday. We had fun and I served as a great source of entertainment. Look how cute I am!

But first, bath in a bowl. Who invented such a thing?

...and now the good part.

because I know we're close to play time...

Nana, what are you thinking?

Oh, my mirror...is my hair okay?

Oh, no.

Crazy family.

I'm just hating all this attention!

Save me, Nana...

Thanks!

Where's my Nana?

Time to go...

on a quick trip to Colandrea's

and back home for cuddle time with Mom.

Long day. Goodbye!

ALMOST TWO WEEKS OLD!

Looking just like her Daddy, Celia asserts her individuality by being HEARD before seen...in a very big way!

But in contrast...

Here she is having some quiet time with Nana and Kapuna while Mommy takes a shower.

Winding up...

or not...

...yeah, maybe...

Oh, yes...get down!

CELIA'S FIRSTS

Hi, there! Pinky swear, I AM focusing on you...

Okay, so maybe not.

So, anyway....

...here I am at home now.

These are actually my first day's at home...

and Nana has come to help Mom.

Would you stop taking my picture, Nana and start helping?

I apparently was a little difficult to deliver.

It truly wasn't intentional.

Just doing my part to keep things fair in this world.

Frankly, I'm a little worn out from the experience

and Mom's totally worn out.

Pay back's a bitch.

I didn't just say that. Really...it must have been your imagination.

Whew...at least Mom believes me.

Just as I begin to settle in, it's time for my first doctor's visit.

...which went very well, so now another first...a feeding from a strange inanimate object administered by Daddy

...who is taking this job very seriously.

Maybe not as seriously as I thought.

Oh, yeah. Back on task.

Good stuff...

...and good job, Daddy.

Mommy thinks so, too.

See how hard I'm working at this?

Wipe out...

Milk coma...

Hey, Dad...

Life is good!

WELCOME TO THE WORLD CECELIA ELIZABETH!

Cecelia has finally arrived (looking very Irish!)...

and in less than 24 hours has captured our undivided attention

and all of our hearts.

Her dad say's she is beautiful...

and that she look's like him...

which she definitely does!

Pop Pop Buddy is pleased, too.

Here's the proud new Nana, who clearly hasn't slept in 24 hours. Notice the eyes falling out of the head.

Ten of everything...good!

We have determined that, at the very least, she is the most beautiful newborn at the hospital...

...probably in all the state of Rhode Island...

...maybe in the U.S....

...and very possibly in the whole world.

Please don't try to tell me we're biased.

CECELIA ELIZABETH'S SHOWER

Thank you everyone for helping, for bringing food, and for braving the weather to make it here, whether it was on Saturday, Sunday, or for the whole weekend. At the very least, it was the best sledding/snow boarding/tubing/tobogganing weekend of the year and it was absolutely wonderful to see everyone. Also, thanks for taking pictures. Here is the lot of them. Enjoy!

I decided to make the diaper cake myself, and learned that they are worth every cent that people charge for them! Unless you have a couple of days to dedicate to this task, pay the bucks