2x the love!

Saturday afternoon we celebrated Baby No.2 at Kate and John's house here in Brooklyn.

Everything was perfect - babies, balloons, banners, best-ever-chocolate-cupcakes, and best friends.

Here are some pictures, which don't even begin to capture what a lovely, lovely time it was.

backyard movies

Our TV broke, which normally would not bother me, but this week has been hard for me to sit down and put my feet up at the end of the day, and I'm exhausted, so I really have kind of needed the TV. (I read all the books I had next to my bed).

Thankfully, Jon brought home the projector they had at work. We hung a sheet up between the windows and TA-DA.

I hope some day we can watch movies with the boys in the backyard, with blankets, tents, popcorn, s'mores (or maybe some s'mores cupcakes, mmm), ginger ale. When I told that to Jon he said, "Yeah, the latest Pixar movie!"

I can't wait.

{Picture from flickr.}

happy birthday, uncle michael

Uncle Michael is celebrating his birthday in Italy this year, lucky duck!

Buon compleanno, Michael.

We miss you!

{my favorite card ever from here}

SEVEN

old man cereal

I think it's funny that Jackson's cereal of choice right now is Cracklin' Oat Bran. We jokingly referred to it as Old Man Cereal a few times and now he points to it and says, "Man! Man! Cereal! Pease!"

arrival date

Jon's guessing July 1, but I'm guessing July 8th. Reasons:

1. I don't want to get my hopes up that baby comes early
2. Full moon July 7
3. Only three days before Mom and Dad return from Italy
4. birthdate of 07-08-09 would be pretty cool
5. my favorite midwife (of the two) is not on duty 4th of July weekend
6. don't want to be in Hospital over Holiday weekend

Any one want to take a guess? Winner may get a signed certificate like the one above.

baby!

9 days to go......

holy crow!

(picture from the old Martha Stewart Baby magazine)

starting early

When I asked Jackson what he was doing, he simply said, "Nonno."

(Nonno does this crossword puzzle ravenously every week.)

happy birthday, great-grammy!

H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y
G R E A T G R A M M Y !
Here's a big birthday kiss
from Jackson ~

WE LOVE YOU!


and a pic from June 15th, 2007,
of Grammy with little little Jackson.

father's day crafting

Someone really likes glue.

Happy Father's Day Dada!

Dada,

You know how much I love you: you know it by the way I sit at the window and wait for you to come home, by the way I throw my little arms around you to give you a hug, then pull back and reassess you before I give you a big kiss (to make sure you're ready for it, I think), by the way I ONLY want to play with you in the morning, and if I don't, boy do I sure let Mama know that I am not happy about it, and by the way I squeal with delight when you do Robot Daddy, or pick me up and fly me around the playground, or run around and around and around the closet in the entry way over and over and over again with me.

I know you will be bringing a new baby home and I know you are going to be the best Daddy to him too. Just think of how well I prepared you for it! Just remember, I taught you everything you know. You don't have to thank me, but you know, just want you to remember.

Happy Father's Day Dada. I love you so incredibly much. More than last year, if that's even possible.

Love,
Jackson

baby No. 2's first present

Great Aunt Jane made Baby this beautiful cashmere blanket. I can't wait to wrap the new little guy up in it's yummy softness. And I just think the colors are beautiful.

Thank you, Aunt Jane!

monkeys on the brain

Someone's got a new fave - Jackson made Jon read his monkey book 5 times in a row this morning.

{images from here, via DesignMom}

missing Mimi and Nonno

Mimi and Nonno are in Italy now. And boy do I miss them. I'm going to get through this though. They'll be back before we know it, with a beautiful grandson waiting for them when they do.

I just hope they are eating lots of pasta, cheese, bread, olive oil, salami, olives, pesto, tomatoes, red wine and GELATO - as much as possible.

Hmm, maybe if we lived in Italy I would have more of an appetite this trimester.

exciting

Next weekend Baby's being feted with a little party at Kate's. I can't wait. & I love the invitation Brett designed.

town of...

Aunt Jane went for a drive and snapped this picture for you, Jackson.

nesting

Trying to maintain some sense of control in my life, at least I've got all the baby clothes and Jackson's clothes organized.....

if you looked up yum in the dictionary, you'd see this picture

How do you thank a friend who continuously goes above and beyond? You just can't!

Abigail made these gorgeous whoopie pies and shipped them to me so I could enjoy them in my 38th week of pregnancy! I mean, really! Who does that?!

Abigail, you've outdone yourself, AGAIN. Thank you. You are simply the best.

struggle!

We've been having a hard time finding the perfect name for Baby No. 2. Can you tell?

cutest outfit ever

Bebe's friend handmade this little outfit for Cousin Sammy and now it fits Jackson. I happen to think it's the cutest thing I've ever seen.

tired

Sorry for missing a few days. I've been really tired and uncomfortable these past few days.

Trying to enjoy this special time I have with Jackson as my only baby.

I love you Jackson.

oh, dear

Jackson likes to deliver clean laundry to each room after I have folded it. He also thinks that clean towels go in the bathtub. Which I only discovered after I turned the water on to take a shower.

This was also the same batch of laundry where I found a giant piece of yellow chalk in one of his pockets.

Two morals of the story here: check the bathtub before you turn the water on, check little boys' pockets before you run a wash.

watch out, American Idol

Jackson's favorite song, more like an obsession: I've Been Working On The Railroad.

um, really?

I love this kids' room designed by John Derian in this month's Cookie magazine, but two things struck me as a little odd. 1. the antique glass dome on the bedside table of the bed on the left. Probably not the best idea with a 4 year old. 2. the $1,000 bedspreads. I don't know....is it just me? Or is that a little crazy. Thank you.

the best medicine

The other day Jackson was walking around laughing maniacally and I couldn't figure out why. Then I realized he was holding his "laugh" flashcard. It was pretty funny.

Monday night - Hospital & Dumplings

Yesterday we toured NY Downtown Hospital, where baby will be born. It seemed really nice, especially compared to NYU Tisch and LICH.

Then we went to New Yeah Shanghai where we enjoyed their tasty juicy pork buns, green beans and rice - or at least tried to before Jackson had a meltdown due to no nap and late dinner.

I think I could eat juicy pork buns every night. That and Rocky Road ice cream.

Maybe Jon will bring me some when I am recovering in the hospital.

the joy of a new toy

Jackson just pulled out his new Pinocchio drummer boy that he got from Aunt Lauraine for his birthday. He must really like the sound it makes on the wooden floor, because when he gets to the rug, he picks it up, crosses it, then puts the toy down when he gets to the wood floor again. Luckily we don't have any downstairs neighbors at the moment.

This pics are from a few weeks ago when he gleefully opened his presents.

Thank you, Aunt Lauraine!