Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Cute Clips
I've just posted a ton of pictures for you, but also wanted to show you these cute videos of Sapphie doing her favorite 2 things: eating avocado and making lip-smacking noises, and drinking water. She's got a new noise to show us every day!
Catch Up
How long has it been? Too long!! Sapphie is 7 months already and I've only posted 2 blogs this month. As you can see, we've had a very busy month. Check out the photos to see what we've been up to!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Bedtime (By Kevin)
Sapphire and I have become the team that summons the Bedtime Fairy for her magical fairy eye dust. Sapphire has her own special way, usually some form of screaming, and I shoosh my mouth dry. I must give credit due where it is due before continuing with this post, Emma does all the heavy lifting before I come onto the scene. She tops Sapphie off with some milk to fill up her stomach before handing her over to me for the nightly ritual. It has become so much of a ritual that around 8-8:30 pm Sapphire knows that when she sees me it is go time for bed. She is usually not too excited about that prospect. Sapphire is going to be like her mom when it comes to socializing. She wants to be right in the thick of things and hang out with people. So when we have guest over around her bedtime she tends to fight harder from going down to sleep.
I have some tools in my tool box that I use to call the Bedtime Fairy.
A list of the essentials:
I have some tools in my tool box that I use to call the Bedtime Fairy.
A list of the essentials:
- Ipod player with "Relaxing Harp Music"
- Nooks on a chain
- Her Blanket
- Glass of water for my dry mouth
- Aunt Kristen's stuff doll
Give me these 5 items and we are ready for bedtime regardless what Sapphire thinks and wants to do. I play a little game with myself every night. I see how fast I can get her to go to sleep trying to beat my best time.
The most important item out of the five things is her doll followed by the nook. Every night Sapphire brings a piece of her Aunt Kristen to the bed. I tell Sapphire as we get ready to go to sleep to say goodnight to her Sleep Sheep and give Kristen hugs and kisses. She loves to mush the doll into her face or squeezes it arms with her hands. She loves the feel of it against her skin and it comforts her to hold on to something as she summons the Bedtime Fairy. Her Aunt Kristen resides in NYC but to Sapphire her Aunt Kristen is there with her every night as she falls asleep.
Good Night Mom, Good Night Dad, Good Night Cooper and Cabot, Good Night World, Good Night Kristen I miss you and love you.......................
Monday, June 29, 2009
Six Months!!
Sapphie turned six months on Friday. It's been a busy month! She started solids, got dedicated, started rolling around the floor like a steam roller, has increased her vocabulary with "da da da", "na na na", and laughs when I wash her armpits. Time with her gets more and more fun every day.
At her 6 month check-up, Sapphie was off the charts for height (95th percentile)! Her weight is now average, so she looks like a long bean pole!
Sapphie loves to eat. So far, I've been pretty liberal with what I let her try (no bad reactions yet!). She still has a pretty strong gag reflex, so I have to give her very tiny pieces or moosh the food up before giving it to her. She's tried sweet potato, pear, banana, mango, hummus, grilled salmon, squash & apple soup, berry crisp, and some veggie samosa from Samosaman. Oh yes, and Isaac also rubbed a salt and vinegar chip on her tongue. She liked it! Actually, she loves everything! If she could fit a create her own meal though, this is the sort of menu I think she'd request:
Appetizer ~ goat milk yogurt with rice cereal and pureed pears
Main Meal ~ pureed sweet potato and grilled salmon
Dessert ~ banana and breast milk puree
Luckily, we haven't seen any type of stranger anxiety yet. Sapphie loves everyone she meets and pretty much lets anybody hold her. We're taking the summer off from baby yoga, but she comes running with me and we're reading a lot. She also likes to play peak-a-boo and she loves it when I sing to her.
Kevin now puts her to bed at least 3 nights a week. Of course she prefers mummy at bedtime, but she's slowly learning to love the way daddy coos her to sleep with his shooshes.
Sapphie still comes to work with me and is such a good girl. Only 2 more months and I'll be done with this job...but I think she'll be crawling before then! We'll figure it out...
That's about it for our six-month update. Enjoy the photos!
At her 6 month check-up, Sapphie was off the charts for height (95th percentile)! Her weight is now average, so she looks like a long bean pole!
Sapphie loves to eat. So far, I've been pretty liberal with what I let her try (no bad reactions yet!). She still has a pretty strong gag reflex, so I have to give her very tiny pieces or moosh the food up before giving it to her. She's tried sweet potato, pear, banana, mango, hummus, grilled salmon, squash & apple soup, berry crisp, and some veggie samosa from Samosaman. Oh yes, and Isaac also rubbed a salt and vinegar chip on her tongue. She liked it! Actually, she loves everything! If she could fit a create her own meal though, this is the sort of menu I think she'd request:
Appetizer ~ goat milk yogurt with rice cereal and pureed pears
Main Meal ~ pureed sweet potato and grilled salmon
Dessert ~ banana and breast milk puree
Luckily, we haven't seen any type of stranger anxiety yet. Sapphie loves everyone she meets and pretty much lets anybody hold her. We're taking the summer off from baby yoga, but she comes running with me and we're reading a lot. She also likes to play peak-a-boo and she loves it when I sing to her.
Kevin now puts her to bed at least 3 nights a week. Of course she prefers mummy at bedtime, but she's slowly learning to love the way daddy coos her to sleep with his shooshes.
Sapphie still comes to work with me and is such a good girl. Only 2 more months and I'll be done with this job...but I think she'll be crawling before then! We'll figure it out...
That's about it for our six-month update. Enjoy the photos!
Saturday, June 27, 2009
First Father's Day (by Kevin)
Father's Day was last Sunday the 21st. I was treated to a day out of the ordinary in terms of routine. My days are very regimented from start to finish. Wake up at 5 am to start work and take care of the dogs, hope to hit the pavement by 8:30-9 am making farm calls and then home around 5:30 or so to see the family followed by maybe a run, dinner, more work, the dishes, and then TV before a 11 pm bedtime.
That's right the Pride of the Midwest: US Grade A Beef Aged NY Strip Steaks.
Did I mention "Where's the Beef".
Well last Sunday Emi and Sapphire were up before me and had already exercised the dogs and had a pancake breakfast cooking. That is definitely not part of the usually routine. Having someone else wake up to feed the dogs and take them out is a blessing sent from God. Fresh Pancakes is like getting extra icing on your piece of cake. The day could not start any better.
A lazying morning with the family, Hannah, Colin and Soe found us down at the lake with the dogs so they could enjoy the water and the nice weather that had graced this day. Some errands around town was followed by a 3:30 tee time with Mr. Brett Smith, a dad as well, at Kwinaska. Brett and I had not played at all this summer together and it was nice to get out on the links just him and I and catch up on stuff and play.
Since it was my day I was allowed to pick the menu for the evening feast. Those that know me don't need me to tell you what we had. For those that really do not know what type of meal I truly enjoy feast your eyes on these bad boys.
That's right the Pride of the Midwest: US Grade A Beef Aged NY Strip Steaks. Did I mention "Where's the Beef". Emma knows the way into my heart is always 2 inches of beef or that magical word "LongHorn". So we prepared these steaks with of course a Caesar Salad, My mothers recipe, Lebanese Potato Salad, Snap Peas and red wine (a new collection designed around Edgar Allen Poe from the owner of Owen Roe). Colin, Soe and Hannah joined us on the deck for a great evening of food, laughs and family.
It was truly a great day from start to finish: breakfast, time with the dogs, golf with a great friend and then capped off with steak and wine and a great sunset. Here are a few pictures from the evening.
A picture from Pottery Barn Catalog or our Deck???
Sapphire showing off her new big girl chair for Daddy.
Lemon Drops anyone? Soe and Hannah enjoying their lemon drops before the meal.
Colin is ready for his steak. He knows he will not be disputed when he comes here for dinner.
Cotton candy pink clouds
Thursday, June 25, 2009
First Swim
Yesterday, Sapphie went for her very first swim. She loved it!!
Looking good in her British suit
Toes first!
Then we dunk...
Poolside fun with auntie Hannah!
Happy girlWe went again today...
Monday, June 22, 2009
Dedication
Last weekend, Sapphie was dedicated. Do you know what that means? It means that Kevin and I promised, in front of our family and closest friends, that we would raise Sapphie to be spiritual, to love God, and to live her life according to the teachings of the Bible. We chose our very best friends, Brian and Christina, to help us fulfill our promise. They are Sapphie's Godparents.
God and spirituality have always been a big part of my life. Well, not always, but at least for as long as I can remember. I used to be embarrassed to have to go to church. There were so many religious freaks out there that gave Christians a bad name. Now that I'm older, however, I really do cherish the lifelong lessons that I've learned from the Bible. Here are some of the most important things that I use every day:
Forgiveness
Understanding and compassion
Love
Faith
Hope
I hope that Sapphie acquires all of these wonderful gifts, because I know that they are key to a happy life. I also hope that she uses them on me when she is a terrible teenager and thinks I'm a big loser.
Faith is a big one, and I've been sharing my gift of faith with Kevin a lot these days. The financial situation is scary for everyone, especially us young people with very few assets. Poor Kevin gets sucked into the media frenzy that has everybody in a panic, then he comes home all furrow-browed and scared for us. I tell him not to worry, everything will be just fine. We will always be safe and happy, because we are blessed. It sounds cheesy doesn't it? But it's true!
Just to prove it, I'll tell you a little bit about the dedication. It was beautiful, and perfect. Kevin's aunt Jen and uncle Jim let us use their amazing home for the ceremony and party. They have the most green and luscious back yard with a slate patio, a coy pond, an arbor with a pebble aisle, and a gorgeous private yard with hedges all around. Liz helped me a lot with organizing the party. Actually, Kevin's parents and my parents shared the cost of the party with us. If it weren't for them, we would have had a very small gathering in the sticks of Vermont. Thanks to them, we were able to invite all of our extended family and have an intimate celebration with all of our loved ones. The weather was sunny and warm, with just the slightest breeze blowing. Not everybody was able to attend, but it was really the perfect mix of people. Almost half my family and half Kevin's, for the first time ever (his family always outnumbers mine)!
My dad performed the ceremony. It was beautiful and a few of us cried. Sapphie slept through the whole thing, until he anointed her with oil. Then she woke up and was ready to party! After the ceremony, we ate yummy food, had cake, and opened some very generous gifts for our little girl.
That night, while the Giovino's were entertaining a whole bunch of us, I sat watching everybody and thinking how much I love our family. It is so special to come together, to celebrate each other, and show our love for one another. To support us in our efforts to raise our children; to teach them to be grateful for their life and their family; to help them develop a relationship with God. We truly are blessed, and as long as we have one another, we will always be ok.
God and spirituality have always been a big part of my life. Well, not always, but at least for as long as I can remember. I used to be embarrassed to have to go to church. There were so many religious freaks out there that gave Christians a bad name. Now that I'm older, however, I really do cherish the lifelong lessons that I've learned from the Bible. Here are some of the most important things that I use every day:
Forgiveness
Understanding and compassion
Love
Faith
Hope
I hope that Sapphie acquires all of these wonderful gifts, because I know that they are key to a happy life. I also hope that she uses them on me when she is a terrible teenager and thinks I'm a big loser.
Faith is a big one, and I've been sharing my gift of faith with Kevin a lot these days. The financial situation is scary for everyone, especially us young people with very few assets. Poor Kevin gets sucked into the media frenzy that has everybody in a panic, then he comes home all furrow-browed and scared for us. I tell him not to worry, everything will be just fine. We will always be safe and happy, because we are blessed. It sounds cheesy doesn't it? But it's true!
Just to prove it, I'll tell you a little bit about the dedication. It was beautiful, and perfect. Kevin's aunt Jen and uncle Jim let us use their amazing home for the ceremony and party. They have the most green and luscious back yard with a slate patio, a coy pond, an arbor with a pebble aisle, and a gorgeous private yard with hedges all around. Liz helped me a lot with organizing the party. Actually, Kevin's parents and my parents shared the cost of the party with us. If it weren't for them, we would have had a very small gathering in the sticks of Vermont. Thanks to them, we were able to invite all of our extended family and have an intimate celebration with all of our loved ones. The weather was sunny and warm, with just the slightest breeze blowing. Not everybody was able to attend, but it was really the perfect mix of people. Almost half my family and half Kevin's, for the first time ever (his family always outnumbers mine)!
My dad performed the ceremony. It was beautiful and a few of us cried. Sapphie slept through the whole thing, until he anointed her with oil. Then she woke up and was ready to party! After the ceremony, we ate yummy food, had cake, and opened some very generous gifts for our little girl.
That night, while the Giovino's were entertaining a whole bunch of us, I sat watching everybody and thinking how much I love our family. It is so special to come together, to celebrate each other, and show our love for one another. To support us in our efforts to raise our children; to teach them to be grateful for their life and their family; to help them develop a relationship with God. We truly are blessed, and as long as we have one another, we will always be ok.
Here are a ton of pictures from that beautiful day
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