Giving Back

Storm Coverage

2011-08-31T21:53:00.004-04:00

We had a request for some hurricane footage with Alexander commentary. This is what I took but the power was not on until yesterday and the cable was not up and running until today.

From Good to Bad

2011-07-29T23:01:00.002-04:00

When Alexander turned 4 there were 2 things he said he wanted to learn to do, cut with scissors and ride a bike. We spent the beginning part of the summer working on the bike riding and as a motivator, told Alexander that when he was confident enough he could ride his bike all the way to the cove. Well...today was the day. He had been practicing and woke up and told me he was ready. At Hannah's physical therapy session the previous day, the PT talked about having her push weighted objects. So I thought that this walk to the cove could serve dual purpose, Alexander would get his "victory ride" and Hannah could get some PT practice. So I loaded a 5 pound bag of sugar in the umbrella stroller for Hannah to push, buckled Alexander's helmet and off we went. They both did such a great job! Alexander would ride for 3 driveways and stop and wait. Hannah made it almost the whole way...even though her steering wasn't the best. I remember standing at the end of the sidewalk and thinking, "we actually made it!" I was so proud that when Alexander asked to go throw rocks in the water I couldn't say no. After the first rock Alexander was walking back to get a second one and just as I was saying "watch out for that..." he stepped in, then grabbed at and wiped on his shirt ..."dog poop". Without too much detail, it was everywhere! Alexander was equally grossed out and we needed to get home right away. Needless to say, I had to push a now tired Hannah in the stroller, carry the 5 pound bag of sugar under my arm and pull the bike that Alexander now refused to ride because he did not want to get poop on it while he limped and cried behind me. Once we got home I stripped Alexander down out on the patio, washed his legs and feet off, changed his clothes, dropped his shoes in a bucket of warm soapy water and brought him in to wash hands. When I went back to finally get Hannah out of the stroller, I noticed she had stepped in goose poop and while waiting for me managed to get it all over her legs! I couldn't help but think about how things can go from so great to literally crappy in minutes. On the other hand, it was a nice reminder that even though my kids are growing up so quickly and learning to do so many things on their own, they still need me to help in many ways...even if it is to scrub the poop off their shoes.

No Gas Day

2011-07-21T13:43:00.002-04:00

The first week of July I was able to enjoy some great family time at the stuga. One night towards the end of that week, I found myself sitting on the porch while a game of scrabble was going on, others were involved in some life discussions and light reading by a few and I realized that I had not gotten in the car in three days, and that was just fine by me. I wondered, would I be able to do this at home? So we have given it a try. I have not been able to go three days in a row but we have managed one day each week. This does not mean that we sit at home all day trying to pass the time. Last week we walked to the park, got a snack at the bakery and even went to the Farmer's Market, just not in the car. The idea is to simplify life and enjoy what is close by.

With the heat this week we used our no gas day to stay cool in the yard with time on the new swing set and some splashes in the kiddie pool. I could not resist...

Kicked Out of the Club

2011-04-19T22:34:00.002-04:00

As many of you know, a few months back I started a Facebook page for Alexander. It all happened one night out of a simple dinner conversation. We were talking about the best parts of our day and he said something so funny Eric and I could hardly keep straight faces. We looked at each other and said, "that should go on Facebook." Ironic that now I no longer remember what that phrase was. I created the Facebook page to share with all of his "friends" all of these regular comments and musings that occur in our household. It was also refreshing to see life through 3 year old eyes every now and then.

Then last week I went to log-in to his account and a message popped up that the account had been deleted. I was sent to a site reminding me of the Facebook expectation that you need to use your real name and age. When I created the account I knew full well that I was not using my real name, I was using his, and I did not use either of our real birthdates, I added a few years to his date. But I also knew that I created the account with no ill will, it was simply meant to be fun and I wanted to see what would come of it...and I did.

So now that I have been found out and the account has been closed the blog is up and running again. All those tidbits of our lives and insights to the world will now be posted here. So come back again soon, look for pictures and even videos, we will not kick you out.

Advent in the bathroom

2011-01-08T14:53:00.004-05:00

We have just about finished our downstairs bathroom and I couldn't be happier. When we bought the house Eric said the pink had to go and the curtains had to become full-length. As with most home projects, four years later and we finally get it done. We both knew that we wanted a change but in the grand-scheme of everything it was a functioning bathroom and so it did not take priority. When I finally decided to focus my attention on this project I spent a lot of time on a color-scheme (not many options when you are painting over pink) a design plan and what to do for more storage. All of these decisions and shopping trips took a good four to five months, again, not a big surprise with a home project. Then in just about a week, the paint was up, the curtains were hung, the cabinet arrived and the decorations were added and we have a new bathroom that I love! I finally figured out how all those HGTV shows make it happen in a day or two - all the time and hard work is in the preparation.

This transformation happened during the season of advent. I couldn't help but notice how that was a very fitting time for these changes. Advent is the time of preparation for Christmas, the time when we reflect on our lives and prepare to welcome Christ to our world. Although the preparations are necessary, that is not what brings about joy. Joy is found in the completion of a project, the satisfaction in a job well done. So I find myself reminded to take time to let God prepare me so I am ready for a job well done.

Before:

After:

New Shoes

2010-09-09T14:09:00.006-04:00

I recently went out with Alexander to get him some "back to school" sneakers (AKA - running fast shoes). At the beginning of the summer he was wearing a size 7 so we naturally tried on a size 8. They were a bit of a struggle to get on, as most new shoes are, but once they were on seem alright. Until I asked him to walk around a bit and he said they did not feel very good. I checked the toes and indeed it was a bit tight. I found a pair of size 9's and those not only slipped on much better but fit him much better. He went home excited about new shoes and I went home with teary eyes about my boy growing so fast he skipped a shoe size! It is always the little milestones that get me. When we got home he wanted to try them out while playing baseball so I had to snap a quick picture of yet another fun day.

Then as I was having my nice mommy moment he reminded me that he still is a little boy as I looked over and saw him "galloping" away...

Avocado

2010-08-17T14:38:00.002-04:00

Good Day for Sport Mode

2010-08-12T14:06:00.000-04:00

Summer Sabbath

2010-07-21T13:37:00.000-04:00

In years past I have had a summer tradition, the day after school ends I sit down and write my "10 week top 10" list - the 10 things I want to do over the 10 week school break. This list usually includes a home project, some books to read, maybe a travel location and so on. Some years I get all 10 done, recent summers, not as many. As this past school year was coming to a close I began to think about what items I wanted on my top 10, what books had I heard about that I wanted to read, would the pink bathroom finally be transformed, so many options! Then I read the brief article "Keeping Sabbath" by Ryan Chambers Johnson in the June Covenant Companion. In the article Johnson talks about the practice of Sabbath keeping and how it is an important act of faith that has gone by the wayside. He says how this practice is even more important now as our lives get busier and daily tasks and routines demand our time. My first reaction was that it sounded great, a few hours every week to just be still in the presence of God, who wouldn't want that!?! The line that seemed to stick with me was, "God wants us to trust him with the demands of our life...give a portion of the day without an agenda or a to-do list and instead, ask God to use the day as he sees fit."
As a teacher, I use the summer break to do all the things I don't get time to do during the school year due to the time demands of my job. However I decided to use this summer as my Sabbath. I did not create a top 10 list this year, instead I have tried to take advantage of new opportunities that God places before me. When family is in RI I have taken the time to go be with them, when I run into my dad at Target I go shopping with him, I have taken the kids to the library and even ice cream in the middle of the day because Alexander thinks it is a good idea. It has been a struggle for me to not have a big list to cross items off this year. However, books are still being read (see sidebar at left) there is some progress on the bathroom project and I am learning more about myself and my beautiful children than I ever thought this time would provide. God is indeed good.

Couldn't Help It

2010-06-15T22:13:00.002-04:00

Seeing as how I just posted about how Alexander is growing up so fast and wanting to do things all by himself I should not be surprised by what happened last week. We were finishing breakfast and he told me he had to go potty. After a few minutes of not hearing anything I asked him if he was alright and he replied "I'm just finishing". I think he is talking about going to the potty, I was wrong. When he does not return a few minutes later I go into the bathroom to see that what he needed to "finish" was looking at the pictures of the cars on the back of the newspaper. I couldn't help but capture the moment on film...

All By Me-Self

2010-05-28T21:55:00.001-04:00

We have a three year old in the house and he couldn't be happier. He likes talking about all of the things that he can do now that he is three - jump off the bottom step of the stairs, climb up into his chair by himself, buckle the top of his car seat and of course, add the chocolate chips to the pancake mix on Sunday mornings. It is wonderful to see him explore and assert his independence...most of the time. I must admit that I have my days of remembering - bringing him home from the hospital, watching him roll back and forth on the floor because he refused to crawl and the joy on his face when he figured out how to put his shoes on by himself for the first time. It is wonderful to see life through the eyes of a child, it is good for my spirit and keeps me grounded. I am so proud of the little man that he is but deep inside I want him to stay this way a little bit longer. Good thing I have a whole year before we hit four.

Happy Birthday Alexander!

Another Friday Funny

2010-05-14T22:14:00.003-04:00

"Alexander, please come in the kitchen."
(From the Living Room) "What the heck did you say Mommy?"
"Alexander, I don't like that kind of language."
"Sorry Mommy. What the truck did you say?"

I admit it, I had to turn around so he would not see me laugh.

Growing Girl!

2010-05-01T20:21:00.000-04:00

Nighttime Chat

2010-04-12T21:56:00.002-04:00

"Mommy, sing me a song tonight."
"Alright, which one would you like?"
"Children (of the Heavenly Father)."
"Sure, should I sing it in Swedish or English?"
"No, just sing it here in my bed."

Life doesn't get much simpler then when you are two coming up to three.

Goodbye Old Friend

2010-03-30T21:47:00.005-04:00

Yesterday we had a tough decision to make. Our dog Riley slipped in the kitchen Sunday night and was unable to get back up on his own. We helped make him comfortable for the night and Eric took him to the vet first thing Monday morning. After some tests and x-rays it showed that he dislocated his back hip and that he had the beginning signs of arthritis. The procedure to fix his hip would be simple but with his weakening bones it would most likely happen again soon. With Eric standing by we sent him into a peaceful sleep. You never want to see a loved one suffer, but none the less, it is still a difficult decision to say goodbye. He had 12 plus good years with us and we knew the time was getting closer but it all seemed to happen so fast.

Riley was a Daigle before I was. He was part of the reason why we decided on our condo. in Glastonbury, there was a walking path for him right out the back door. He was so gentle and kind with the kids. He was my companion and protector all those nights when Eric was traveling. He was my first dog. He will be missed.

Rainy Day Inside With Dad

2010-02-22T20:30:00.004-05:00

Friday Funny

2010-02-19T09:00:00.000-05:00

"Mom, what's that?"
"That's Hannah's elbow."
"Mom, what's that?"
"That's Hannah's shoulder."
"Mom, what's that?"
"That's Hannah's neck."
"Is it a crew neck or a turtle-neck?"

Oh to be two years old...

Wordless Wednesday

2010-02-17T21:40:00.002-05:00

RSV

2010-01-26T13:28:00.004-05:00

A big THANK YOU to everyone that called and e-mailed during Hannah's bought with RSV. It came on very quickly last Tuesday and resulted in a five day stay at CT Children's Medical Center (CCMC). It was difficult to watch our little girl go through such a nasty illness but we were able to see her strong will come through and she was such a fighter. We are so grateful for Alexander who was very brave while Mommy and Daddy were gone long nights at the hospital, friends and family who spent that extra time with Alexander, a church family that supported us through visits and prayer and the wonderful CCMC staff that took great care of Hannah and us as well. It is place I hope to not have to go back to any time soon, but am comforted in knowing that they are there if we need them.

Eric "suited up" as Hannah came off the CPAC (forced oxygen) treatment after 3 days

All unhooked and ready to breath on her own and feeling like a new girl!

Christmas Highlights

2009-12-30T15:49:00.006-05:00

She's Here!

2009-12-05T21:35:00.004-05:00

I was once again having on and off again contractions on Tuesday. At about 4:00 I called my doctor and they said come on in to the hospital and let's get this show on the road. It was 8:00 p.m. by the time I was admitted, hooked up and the pitocin was flowing. That was all it took because 2 hours and 45 minutes later we welcomed our beautiful girl Hannah Marie, 9 lbs. 3 oz and 21 inches long. We are so thankful that she is here and Alexander is thrilled to be a big brother.

New Tradition

2009-11-28T22:41:00.004-05:00

As I was loading and sorting my pictures in Picassa the other day I realized that without even meaning to we have developed a Thanksgiving tradition. Here is a picture of Alexander from last Thanksgiving eating pancakes in his travel booster seat in the living room.

This year we had our first dusting of snow the day after Thanksgiving so we decided to make pancakes for supper and eat them picnic style in front of the fireplace. No baby yet but a tradition is born...

Transitions

2009-11-25T09:06:00.003-05:00

I had been working to "back blog" some of the events from our Spring/Summer to show everyone what we had been up to. Then in a casual conversation with a regular blog reader, who shall remain nameless even though their last name used to be the same as mine, it was mentioned that they don't really care what we already did, they want to know what we are doing now. So I took some time today to tell you what I am doing now, I am waiting.

Those of you that know me well know that I am a planner. I am constantly making lists, written and mental - grocery lists, gift lists, to-do lists, books I want to read lists, etc. In many ways I feel that all this planning and list making helps to make me more prepared for the unexpected. Well, here we are at the due date and I have done everything on my list and no baby. Alexander was 3 days early and I thought for sure this baby was going to come early as well. I had been feeling so tired and ready by the end of last week that I stopped work a few days before planned just so I could rest. I had mild contractions last night so I thought we were on to something, then I went to bed and it all stopped.

Don't get me wrong, I am taking full advantage of this time to rest because I know what the next few weeks will be like. It is just strange when I find myself watching TV and they run a trailer for what is happening on Monday's show and I think, what will life be like for me on Monday?

It has not gone unnoticed by me that tomorrow is Thanksgiving. I have so much in my daily life to be thankful for, but right now I can not help but give thanks for the gift of time. It has been a blessing to be carrying this child for the last 40 weeks. It is such a short amount of time in the life of my child. We are so curious about who he/she is and the person they will become. These are the thoughts that I now fill my days with, reflections on myself, my family and the family that we are about to become. Thank you to all of you that have been thinking about us and wishing us well. We can't wait to update you with news of our newest arrival, whenever he/she decides to come!

Fast Monkey

2009-04-23T20:35:00.000-04:00

This past weekend Steve and Heather came to visit us and then we all went up to Boston to cheer for Heather while she ran the marathon! She has run other ones before but this was going to be a personal challenge for her. She was sponsored by the Hopkinton Covenant Church which invited us to Sunday morning worship, hosted Steve and Heather, their IL friends Ginny and Mike and NPU professor Boaz Johnson the night before the race and prayed for the three runners all day Monday. She ran to raise money for World Vision and we were so pleased to support her and her cause. We went to the 1 mile marker where we saw the front racers and then waited for Heathers group to come by. Steve and Mike tracked the runners on-line by their bib numbers and Eric navigated through the side roads of MA so we could see Heather and Ginny at a couple of different places in the race. They did an awesome job and we were so proud to be able to share this experience with them. We love you Heather!

Hippity Hoppity

2009-04-13T20:26:00.000-04:00

We hosted Easter at our house this year and although it was a chilly day it was still great to be with friends and family. We had Alexander and Daniel have their egg hunt on the front green this year where we met up with our new neighbor Cayleigh. The kids were very focused on finding their eggs and the parents were very focused on making sure everyone was warm enough. It was a quick trip outside but well worth the chill.

Florida

2009-03-25T20:36:00.005-04:00

Eric was in FL for a week long workshop so Alexander and I took a few days off and flew down there for a family vacation. We were able to have some family time together as well as get some time to visit with my cousin Adam and his wife Michelle. Michelle works at Animal Kingdom so we were able to go spend the morning in Africa! Thanks again guys for a great trip, we will definitely be back!

Morning View from our room

Waiting for the safari ride with Adam

Heading out for a walk with Fenway

We had a great time with Uncle Adam!

Liz and Dan

2009-03-21T14:35:00.002-04:00

Last weekend we had the privilege of going to Boston for my dear friend Liz's wedding. Liz and I met in high school when we sat next to each other in Mr. Lito's Spanish class. One day she asked if she could borrow my hair scrunchie and we have been friends since. Thankfully hair scrunchie's have gone out of style but Liz definitely has not. The wedding was beautiful and a true celebration of both Liz and Dan as individuals and now in their new life together. All our love and best wishes to you both!

That's My Boy!

2009-03-18T21:09:00.003-04:00

We have begun the process of redecorating our living room. I have a feeling this will end up like most of our other household projects, a lengthy process. None the less we have started with a new rug. As I took out the vacuum to clean the old one before bringing it to it's new home (the basement) Alexander insisted on using the "acuume". This is not a new habit of his, in fact he has been known to chose vacuuming over snack time, however this was the first time that I was able to capture it on film. I plan on keeping these pictures handy when he is older and I have to convince him that he really did like to vacuum at one point in time!

Bedford Springs

2009-02-24T21:18:00.009-05:00

The Omni Hotel group recently partnered with a resort group and took over operations at the Omni Bedford Springs in Bedford PA. We decided to take advantage of my February break and a short break in Eric's travel schedule to head down there for a few days. Alexander did great in the car (5 1/2 hours each way) and it was nice to see another Omni property. We had some good food, nice family time, a dip in the pool and lots of walking around. I was able to capture a few pictures of Alexander's favorite things to do on the trip.

Walk out of the room (with mommy)

Find the letters on the wall

Press the elevator button ("ess etton")

Ride in the elevator

Walk down another hallway

Look out the big window to see if it is "oing" (snowing)

Toss leaves off the balcony

Sit cozy in mommy and daddy's bed and have a snack

We hope to go back in the spring/summer when we can enjoy some more of what the property has to offer, namely the stocked trout stream across the street.

Up and Running

2009-02-18T21:49:00.002-05:00

Sorry for the delay in posting, we were without a computer for about a month. When we purchased TurboTax this year, we also received some free software that would "fix" our slow running computer. In the process of doing this many files and programs were misplaced or deleted which caused things to be slower or not work at all. This then required our computer to take a few days of vacation at the "spa" where it came back to us cleaned and refreshed and free of all programs. We were happy to have it back but have now spent weeks reinstalling all our software and are not even close to being done. I will be working on pictures this week as soon as I get Picassa back so check in with us again soon. Sorry for the delay and thanks to the faithful viewers who have been checking the site non the less!

The New Food Pyramid

2008-11-15T20:43:00.002-05:00

Change

2008-11-06T21:07:00.003-05:00

Eric had to be in Montreal for work on Election Day so in order for me to vote I had to bring Alexander with me. This ended up being a very good thing, for both of us. While traveling to our designated voting location I talked with Alexander about what we were going to do. I told him about how there would be different people there and he needed to be a good listener and stay with Mommy. Upon arrival I let him hold my license, which he greatly enjoyed giving to all the checkers and thanking them when they gave it back. I took my voting sheet and we sat down at a booth. I put Alexander on my lap and, in attempts to keep him distracted and calm, talked with him about what I was doing. I told him that Mommy was doing something very important and that she thought about a lot of things before deciding who to vote for. I wanted to pick someone that would help make this country a wonderful, clean, safe, healthy and united place for him to grow up in. That is when it hit me that I have become a parent. My every decision now involves what is best for Alexander. I looked at my adorable son sitting on my lap who turned to me and said, "iyes" because he saw the tears starting to form, I kissed his head and made my vote.

On our way out it was no surprise that the lady with the stickers gave mine to Alexander, for being "mommy's helper" she said. Little did she know how much he helped.

Quack Quack!

2008-11-01T20:41:00.000-04:00

Alexander loved being a duck for Halloween! He was so happy just walking up and down the sidewalk quacking at everyone! After the second house we gave up on the candy part, he wasn't able to eat it anyway, and just let him visit with the neighbors. It was a fun night to see everyone outside one last time before the chill of winter keeps us in.

Weekend in NH

2008-10-29T19:30:00.001-04:00

Over the weekend Andrew and Amy came home to NH for a few days. All of the CT Daigle's went up to the Lymburners and had a great day enjoying each others company. We then extended the family time by spending the night at Lis's house. Alexander loved getting up and playing with his cousins in the morning. I think it reminded him of being at the stuga!

Oops!

2008-10-28T18:00:00.000-04:00

I was burning some of our pictures from the Fall to a CD this past weekend and realized that I never posted these pictures. They were taken over Columbus Day Weekend as we enjoyed the beautiful fall weather. Most of them are from the Old Cider Mill in Glastonbury where we got to see the animals, drink some cider and Alexander climbed on the tractor.

We've Got A Walker!

2008-10-27T22:25:00.003-04:00

Alexander has been walking for a few weeks now but I have had a hard time capturing it on film. He likes to look at the pictures on my camera so as soon as he sees it he comes over to me. That can make it hard to get him in motion. These were two of the best that I was able to get. He was heading for his other favorite item, the phone, and was then so happy to get it by himself.

"ooe's"

2008-10-06T13:54:00.000-04:00

As we have begun the process of packing away summer clothes and toys, we have discovered a few items that have not weathered the season well. Unfortunately Alexander's little crocs gave out the other week and we had to say goodbye. They were definitely one of his favorite pairs of shoes as he would often go over to the shoe tray, pick them up and proclaim for all to hear "OOE"S"! We will miss the shoes as well as the warm days that they were worn during.

Snacks

2008-09-30T20:46:00.002-04:00

The other day I was working on making dinner and Alexander was having a snack in his highchair. I gave him a few crackers and then put the box on the table. A few minutes later I heard a crumpling sound and then a little giggle. I peeked around the corner to find someone very proud of what he had just done...

Good Sport

2008-09-15T20:30:00.005-04:00

The last time we were at the Stuga Alexander was enjoying some time in the swing so I took the opportunity to play around with the "sport" mode on my camera. Basically you hold down the release button so that the shutter continuously opens and closes giving you a series of moving images. Here are a few of the better ones.

Montreal

2008-09-06T20:39:00.006-04:00

I recognize that in a previous post I said that I was aiming to post a new picture every week. I was politely reminded today that I have not held up my end of the bargain. So here are a few pictures from our trip to Montreal and VT which was in the middle of August. The weather did not cooperate so most of the pictures are from inside the hotel or restaurants. Alexander loved the nice big windows, even if it was raining on the other side.

Young Man and the Bay

2008-08-12T08:18:00.003-04:00

House Projects

2008-08-03T18:04:00.005-04:00

As with many things around the house, one small job can quickly turn into a big project. These past few weeks I have been working to take care of a few projects that have "stalled", mostly due to lack of time. Both projects were things that helped to personalize our home and reflect our decorative style. In addition to being able to cross them off the to-do list it has helped with the slow process of making our home our own.

At the top of our stairs we had a step stool that was being used as a display shelf. In our recent crawler-proofing of the house it had to go which left that wall looking very blank. I found some great frames and created the new wall display.

Before:

After:

We then noticed that the rug in our entranceway was damaged so, a new rug inspired a new cabinet color, which inspired new mirror, which inspired new decorations.... Unfortunately the before pictures were deleted from the camera before they were loaded to the computer so you just get to see the after shots and have to trust me that it is an improvement. You can only see a small corner of the new rug but it has small blue flowers on it that are the same blue as the cabinet. There is now a new greeting above the door frame into the house as well.

Natural Instincts

2008-07-31T12:09:00.002-04:00

This past weekend while Alexander and I enjoyed six busy days at the stuga I finished the next book on my list, Green Babies, Sage Moms. In the past year we have been taking steps to be a more "environmentally friendly" family. We walk to places whenever possible, bring our reusable bags to the store, use CFL light bulbs, etc. While these have all been important (and rather easy) changes to make I did not feel that I was doing enough. Then I saw the book at the library and it caught my attention. It touched on a lot of different issues, some that I was already aware of and others that I knew little about. At times I was ready to get rid of all our furniture and mattresses and buy everything in toxin-free sustainable materials. What I came to realize is that all the life-style changes that we had previously made were good for the Earth and thereby good for us. This book made me aware of changes that I can make that are good for us and thereby good for the Earth. At the end of each chapter the author gave suggestions in various "shades" of green. She talked about little changes that you could make, such as washing your clothes in fragrance-free detergent, to "evergreen" changes you could make, such as washing your clothes in baking soda and cold water only. After completing the book and reflecting on our daily lives I have decided to set three green goals.

1) Use paraben - free lotions and skin products from now on.
2) Avoid bringing any synthetic fragrances into our home, through cleaners, candles, perfumes, etc.
3) Reduce our dependence on plastics for toys and food storage and avoid plastic numbers 3, 6 and 7 altogether (which sadly includes my Nalgene bottles).

It is my hope that by making these small changes I am providing a cleaner, safer and ultimately healthier home for all of us. How about you? Do any of you have any advice or green goals of your own?

Sweet Home...

2008-07-21T21:34:00.004-04:00

A few weeks ago Eric went to Chicago for a work related conference. As I had just finished school, Alexander and I were able to tag along. I know there are many people that we were not able to see but with Eric being tied up for most of the day and Alexander and I downtown and relying on public transportation (which was a challenge considering the closest el stop was closed for repairs!) our time was a little limited. We were able to spend some time with the Karlsons, Andrew and Amy and have trip to the zoo with Andrew F. Alexander was a trooper on the plane and enjoyed staying in the hotel which had lots of doors for him to open and close as much as he wanted to!

New Feature

2008-07-10T22:23:00.002-04:00

As summer is now in full swing I have begun my summer reading. I always try to read 10 books over the summer break. With our trip to Chicago I was off to a good start, finishing two by the end of the week! I can not guarantee that I will continue at that pace. Most of what I read is light fictional reading that goes by quick which makes my goal of 10 a little more attainable. I decided to keep a list of the books and thought that I would put it as a feature on the blog in case anyone else is looking for a suggestion. The book at the top of the list in the one that I am currently working on. Let me know if you have finished anything recently that you would recommend.

Open House Day

2008-07-02T22:36:00.004-04:00

For the past few years the state of CT has held an Open House Day to encourage tourism. Many of the museums and locations throughout the state open their doors to the public for free. As we live in the historic district, there were a few places right down the street from us that we have never gone to so we took this opportunity to go inside. We brought Alexander to the Cove Warehouse, the Hurlbert-Dunham House, the Keeney Memorial Center and then to the Creamery for his first taste of ice cream. It was a warm but enjoyable day!

Big A's Big Day

2008-06-14T19:57:00.005-04:00

So I realize this event was almost a month ago, but as I said in my previous post, I have been delayed with my blogging these days. I still thought I would share a few highlights from Alexanders buggn' out first birthday party which was held on May 17th. Look closely at David's forehead in the last shot and you just might see the effects of a tough game of baseball.

Photo of the Week

2008-06-11T20:51:00.002-04:00

So I realize that I have been VERY bad in blogging lately and that people check here just to see pictures of Alexander so I decided to try just having a picture of the week. That way if I don't get around to posting everything for a full event there will at least be something to hold you desperate fans over. Maybe I will sneak in a few things about what Eric and I have been doing as school is about to end for me and Eric will be back to working in the same state that we live (or so Omni says) so we might actually do something exciting.

In the meantime, here is the picture of the week...

Boys will be Boys

2008-05-12T21:55:00.004-04:00

As Alexander has discovered how to travel about the room through his own rolling/crawling/scooting mode of transportation he seems to discover new and exciting places everyday. It is so fun to watch him discover places and explore the world around him. Last week as I was changing him he started to roll around his room and discovered that the space under his crib makes for one cool fort. It was quite a challenge to get him out, as evident by the "attack" that Eric suffered in attempt to retrieve him. It is still so surprising to me how some of this "boy" stuff like forts, wrestling and climbing just comes so naturally to him.

Uncle Brian

2008-04-15T21:37:00.004-04:00

Last week my Uncle Brian was admitted to Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston for a three week intensive chemo/stem cell transplant. The first week had gone well and the transplant occurred this morning. He reported feeling good and he felt the process went well. Please keep him, his wife Gwen and their family in your prayers as his road to recovery continues. We love you Brian and look forward to seeing you healthy and strong at the stuga!

You can keep up with his progress or send him a note by going to http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/brians-journey.

Ian's Baptism

2008-04-07T21:46:00.003-04:00

This past weekend we gathered together for Ian's baptism. It was a wonderful weekend that included a visit from Uncle Andrew and Aunt Amy from Chicago. Alexander was so at home during the service that he fell asleep! Thus I did not get a lot of photos as he was on my lap and I was limited with how far I could slide or lean in the pew. Eric was honored to stand as the godfather and made sure to give Ian a little "extra" blessing when the time came.

For Uncle Andrew F.

2008-03-25T21:18:00.003-04:00

Here are a few updated kitchen pictures Uncle Andrew. We can't wait for you to be home and see it all in person!

Chew on This!

2008-03-03T21:39:00.005-05:00

Alexander is cutting his top two teeth and has been chewing on EVERYTHING. We gave him some teething biscuits the other day and let him chew on them to his little hearts content. I could not resist the sight of a happy, messy kid who could not get enough of the new snack.

What We Learned

2008-02-26T21:45:00.007-05:00

This past weekend we took our first family trip. Yes we have traveled away from home before but it was always to an extension of home, the stuga, family member's home or someplace already familiar to us. We ventured out to Boston last Saturday as a semi-last minute decision and learned quite a few things.

1) Wait until the Nor'easter has passed before traveling.

2) With three people, luggage, crib and stroller don't be afraid to ask for a bigger room when the one they originally assign you would require the stroller to be kept in the bathroom.

3) When you get to the larger room at 2 p.m. and see the 8'x5' closet it might seem like a good idea to put the crib in there so everyone can have a little space, not as good an idea at 2 a.m.

4) Pack extra snacks for everyone as they are a great distraction from crowds, wait staff and the mini-bar.

5) Double check to be sure you have everything out of the car before handing the keys over to the valet.

6) When in a jam the stroller doubles as a nice high-chair.

7) Turn off the heat in the room when you first think it feels "a little warm". By the time you decide it really is too hot, figure out how to turn the heat off, turn it off and realize there is no way to open the window there is no way or time to cool the room down.

8) When walking in to a crowded restaurant with a 9 month old do not take offense when they seat you all the way in the back six tables away from everyone else. (This rule does not just apply to vacation situations.)

9) Do not expect all Handicap access doors to automatically open, and trying the revolving door with a stroller is not a good alternative.

10) Double check for the camera before leaving so that blog fans are not disappointed that there is no photo. to go with this posting.

Thanks Needles!

2008-02-18T22:01:00.004-05:00

For the past few weeks Alexander has been fending off the winter chill in a sweater that my brother Greg's wife Laura made for him. She was once given the nick-name "Aunty Needles" by Brian and David because she had made them some great sweaters as well. Alexander loves his and looks so cute in it I just had to share, even though the pictures are not the best.

Thanks once again Laura!

Tough Work

2008-01-29T21:40:00.000-05:00

Alexander certainly has been working hard at growing. He hit the 8 month marker at the end of last week and just had to rest for a bit. I was in the kitchen washing bottles and all the sudden things got a little quiet. I peeked around the corner into the living room and oh what a sight I did see...

Christmas Eve

2008-01-14T10:03:00.000-05:00

Good thing I have a snow day from school today so I can finally post more Christmas pictures! I guess in my own crazy way I thought that I was extending the holiday season by not putting the pictures up. Since we spent most of the weekend taking down our decorations I guess it is time to get over the fact that the holidays have passed and it is time to move beyond all things Christmas. Christmas Eve we were in Attleboro MA with the extended Swanson family. This was the "on-year" so there were 65 adults and youngsters in attendance. It was a great night and Alexander did well meeting so many new people. Take an extra close look at the guy in red, he might look strangely familiar!

Kids singing to help Santa find them.

Sam getting a gift from Santa.

Alexander sitting with Santa.

David getting a gift from Santa.

Alexander getting MORE kisses from Grandpa Bob!

Tree Shopping

2008-01-05T21:07:00.000-05:00

This year was Alexander and Eric's first real Christmas tree! We had a great time going to the farm, walking around picking one out and loading it on the car to bring home. Alexander fell asleep in the car so we put him to bed while we brought the tree in and decorated it. When he came downstairs he was so excited to look at all the lights and decorations. It was great to have and the house smelled wonderful for weeks. We hope to go to the same farm next year and try cutting down our own!

Cocoa Party

2008-01-03T21:12:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the delay in posting, my camera and Picasa were not getting along very well. All is well now and we can get back to sharing. We kicked off the holiday season by attending the annual church cocoa party. It is an event that I attended as a child and it was so wonderful for us to go with Alexander, my parents, Greg, Laura and Daniel. I helped with the decorating as a member of the Children's Education Ministry Team. This year the theme was bells and Alexander received a beautiful ornament to hang on the tree!

Go Elf Yourself!

2007-12-19T21:44:00.000-05:00

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1589776127

(Be patient, it can take awhile but it is worth it!)

Christmas Came Early

2007-12-04T21:44:00.000-05:00

This morning Gordon and Karen went to the hospital to welcome their new family member. This meant that Alexander got packed up to spend the day with Charlotte at her house while Nana held down the fort. When I got to their house I unloaded Alexander from his car seat and walked around the car towards the door, being extra cautious as there was a fresh dusting of snow. As I started up the driveway I saw two sets of footprints, leaving the house. I paused for a moment to look at them and think about how they were the marks of Gordon and Karen heading out for a day that they would always remember. Something so simple, footprints in the snow, yet representing something so important, their leaving to expand their family. It seemed almost disrespectful for me to walk on those prints so I stepped to the side, said a prayer for their new child and brought Alexander inside to the warmth of their home.

Welcome Ian Gordon, you have already left your footprints on our hearts.

Morning Game

2007-11-25T20:38:00.000-05:00

Most mornings if Alexander wakes up before 5:30 I settle him back to sleep and bring him into bed with me so I can get a few more minutes of rest as well. Last week however when I got up to get ready for work he was still sleeping so I left him in our bed, another fairly common occurrence. I finished getting dressed and ready but he was still sleeping! I decided to go downstairs and make my breakfast and his bottle which is how our morning routine continues. As I am standing at the sink I hear this high-pitched squeal followed by deep laugh coming from our room. I go upstairs to find the culprit, Alexander who has pulled the covers over his head and is playing peek-a-boo (his new favorite game) all by himself. I couldn't help but grab the camera and snap a few pictures of this precious morning game.

The Lord Bless You and Keep You

2007-11-25T20:23:00.000-05:00

Last weekend was Alexander's baptism. It was such a special day to celebrate and honor this new life that God has given us. We are so thankful for the friends and family that were able to join us, both at the ceremony and from afar. It truly is a testimony to the fact that we could not do this by ourselves. His godparents are Eric's brother Gordon and his wife Karen who are expecting their second child in three weeks!

Spreading the News

2007-11-15T20:12:00.001-05:00

Earlier this week I finished packing away the paper scraps and photo's from Alexander's birth announcement. It seemed to be the never ending project in our house. I took these photo's in the beginning of August as I was trying to have the announcement done before I returned to work. Then our printer broke so I was unable to get the test sheets for the printing company, then the envelopes were back ordered and when they did arrive they were given to someone else so I had to wait another week for them to be re-ordered. It just seemed to be one delay after another. My best intentions of having them done by the end of August turned to having them done by the end of October.

I don't know why but I just really wanted to make them myself. Many times people told me to just order new ones and be done but I had committed to doing them myself. I remember when my mom showed me the birth announcement that they sent out when I was born. I remember thinking it was so nice that they took the time to labor over something for me. As the third child many of my things were not new, hand-me-down clothes, playing with my sister's toys (I still have her BB!) but the birth announcement was made just for me. I wanted Alexander to have the same thing.

So as I pack up and finish this project I can't help but think about the process that it was and how it just didn't seem to work according to my timeline. It seemed to make the announcement even more special considering the process that we went through to become parents, something else that just didn't seem to be what we expected. God is constantly reminding me that I need to trust in Him and follow his plan for my life and all good and perfect gifts will come from above.

Enjoy the pictures from the birth announcement photo shoot from August 5th! The last one was the winner.

Halloween '07

2007-11-05T20:53:00.000-05:00

Here are a few shots from Alexander's first Halloween. We were at home passing out candy for a little while, only 3 customers! Then we went over to see cousin Piglet (Charlotte) and on to Mormor and Grandpa Bob's where we surprised Uncle Greg and Daniel at the door. Grandpa Bob was then very happy to have two of his grandsons there!

Apples to Apples

2007-10-22T20:38:00.000-04:00

After a few weeks of rice cereal and getting the hang of eating solid food, we gave Alexander some apples. At first he was unsure of the taste and texture but he soon decided that he liked it and the whole thing was gone in no time!

Party Animal!

2007-10-10T20:32:00.000-04:00

We were very busy this past weekend celebrating the end of summer at the Stuga with some fishing, David's fourth birthday, Charlotte's second and Alexander tried rice cereal for the first time (you can tell from the pictures how much he loved that!).

Cousin Time

2007-10-04T21:13:00.000-04:00

Gordon, Karen and Charlotte came over for dinner last weekend. Here are some pictures of Charlotte "helping" get Alexander buckled in for dinner and then the cousins getting ready for bed. I couldn't resist the opportunity to snap a few shots in the bare!

A Few of his Favorite Things...

2007-09-25T21:00:00.000-04:00

We decided to document Alexander's four month marker with a few of his current favorite things. There are still the classics, eating (he now recognizes his bottle and helps to hold it!) rolling from side to side and singing with Nana. Lately he has also been into...

...blowing raspberries...

...playing with busy bug...

...and putting everything and anything in his mouth!

September at the Stuga

2007-09-22T08:43:00.000-04:00

September can be one of the best times to go to the Stuga. It is warm during the day so you can be outside playing or enjoying the beach. Then it cools off at night so you have to bundle up and everyone gathers in the living room around the fire. We enjoyed bringing Alexander down to the Stuga last weekend to share this exciting time of year with him. It was also Erika's birthday as well as a special visit with my Aunt Inness and Uncle Terry so the cousins came over for dinner.

Labor Day

2007-09-09T20:48:00.000-04:00

It was wonderful to have a nice long Labor Day Weekend last week. On Saturday we went to NH to see Andrew and Amy at Amy's parents house. Thanks again Shirley and Mike for hosting us! Lis and the boys were able to come over to try their back flips in the heated pool (a new phenomenon for them). Then we traveled on Sunday to RI to see all my aunts and uncles on my Dad's side as well as my cousin Adam who we have not been with in 3 years. It was a very special weekend for all three of us. Here are just a few of the snapshots from the weekend.

Happy Birthday!

2007-08-29T21:46:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday to my sister Lis today. She is a wonderful teacher, mother, sister and friend. I hope that she is enjoying her special day with her boys at the Stuga. I am so blessed to have Lis in my life as someone to laugh with, celebrate with (Yeah for Staples Day!) listen to my concerns and problems and coach me through those tough times. Thank you Lis for being who you are. I love you!!

Lis with Brian on her birthday last year.

Lis meeting Alexander.

Sarah and Lis Fall '06

The Power of Three

2007-08-29T21:36:00.000-04:00

Alexander has passed the three month marker and is enjoying life. He is sleeping longer stretches at night which is very helpful now that mommy is back at work. He is working hard on his rolling although he has not yet made it all the way over. He enjoys picking his head up to look all around, especially at the neat ceiling fan in the kitchen. His play mat continues to be his favorite hangout spot, although the animals above his crib are really fun too. As he has discovered his hands he has realized they are just as tasty to chomp on as his pacifier. Enjoy the latest pictures!

Double fisting, literally!

Can I Do This?

2007-08-26T20:58:00.000-04:00

Today is my last official day of summer vacation, which also means the end of my maternity leave. I have had a wonderful three months with Alexander and I am very lucky to have had so much time with him. When he was six weeks old I remember thinking, how do other mothers go back to work now, after only six short weeks!?! Now I sit here and think, how can I go back after three short months!?! Alexander still seems so little, his needs are still so great. Then there are the moments that are the hardest...when he wakes at three a.m. As I walk to his room I think, can I do this? Can I be a successful teacher, wife, mother and volunteer all at the same time?

I am actually looking forward to going back to work. There I said it. I feel like that makes me a bad mother but I would be an even worse mother if I lied. Many people have asked me if I am going back to work and when I say yes they respond with, "I'm sorry". It's like they are offering their condolences or pity. I want to be a contributing member of society. I want to help my son understand the value of hard work. I want to continue to be a part of this family's financial well being. Are those things more important than Alexander? Absolutely not! But they are important to me. He is going to be in good hands and he is going to learn new things while I am away. But I am going to learn new things as well and we will just have to figure it all out together. That is after all what being a family is all about, supporting each other as we learn and grow.

I have to go to bed now, it is after all a school night.

Rolln'

2007-08-22T10:57:00.000-04:00

Just this past week Alexander has begun to roll over. He gets as far as his side and then flops over onto his arm. He has not yet made it all the way over but gets closer every day! I of course try to tempt him over by placing toys and other things to his side for him to reach for, as you can see in the pictures below. Many mornings we go into his room and he has moved onto his side during the night. He is starting to be a boy on the move!

Merrymeeting Lake

2007-08-18T21:05:00.000-04:00

We returned home yesterday from a great week at Merrymeeting Lake in NH. We were there with a great group of friends. It was nice to have the time together before I go back to work. Alexander was a great sport considering he was out of his element and that there was construction happening right outside our window!

Alexander with Tante Hilde

The daily construction

The gang relaxing on the beach

Alexander getting some play time

Thanks Mormor for my new jammies!

Beachside bottle with Daddy

Alexander having some outside playtime

Winning Shot

2007-08-18T21:00:00.000-04:00

I have been waiting for a few weeks to post this picture. At the end of July when my parents were out of town we gathered the four grandsons at the Stuga. They were dressed in some jammies that they got last Christmas, before Daniel and Alexander we even born! After a very interesting photo shoot this picture came out as the winner. We enlarged it and presented it to my parents (who were thrilled) last week.

Brian holding Alexander, Daniel and David

The Big 2-M

2007-08-06T21:32:00.000-04:00

A very belated post on Alexander's two month marker. He celebrated a week and a half ago but we have been to RI and then NH and not had much time to post! The day after he turned two months old we brought him to the doctor for his check up. He is growing very well and she said everything looks good. Then the part we were all dreading, out came the needles. He got two shots in his left leg and one in his right. He cried when they were administered but was settled by the time he was dressed and ready to go. He was a very brave boy and mommy was so proud!

Light Unto My Path

2007-08-02T21:43:00.001-04:00

Like many of you I spent much of today watching the footage of the 35W bridge collapse. It is shocking, scary and numbing to watch how so many lives can be instantly changed by something that we all put our faith in daily. I have taken many field trips with my class where I constantly check to make sure no one is left behind. I never think twice about the bus ride itself. Would I know how to respond if something happened? I can only hope and pray that God would guide my instincts and that He would take over.

The image that struck me the most came during the NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams. As they were going to a commercial they were showing a series of still photographs that had been captured by various witnesses. As I was standing in the living room, rocking Alexander on my shoulder, an image appeared of a woman holding an infant, about the same age as Alexander. She held her child in just about the same position as I did, one arm tucked under the bottom, the other hand on the back of the head. A common position meant to comfort and reassure the child. There I was in the safety of my own home and all I could see was the look of fear on this woman's face. Fear of what had just happened, fear for what was yet to come, fear for the safety of her child.

As a teacher and now a parent I have been given a great gift, to care for and protect the children entrusted to me. May I be ever mindful that children truly are a gift from God and that I cannot expect to guide them through their lives without first seeking His guidance in mine.

End of an Era

2007-08-01T11:55:00.000-04:00

On our last trip to the Stuga my brother Andrew and my dad took down the "Lil' Stuga" that has sat in the yard for almost 20 years. It was built by my MorFar for my sister and I to play in. It has been a staple in the neighborhood for so long that a few people stopped while passing by to "pay their respects". It was time for it to go as the roof was warping, the windows had been missing for a few years and a few animals had taken over the inside. There are plans to replace it however so the next generation can have a place to play.

Another Adventure

2007-07-25T22:29:00.000-04:00

While Eric was in Texas, Alexander and I went to the Stuga with Mormor for a few days. We took a day trip to the Cape to see the Lundgren/Lewis women and had a wonderful day with them.

Good Friends - Jill, Gretchen and Mormor (Bev)

Jill with Alexander

Alexander was very tired after a long trip and some great conversation!

Daddy Dearest

2007-07-25T17:39:00.000-04:00

Before Eric went to Texas last week for a work trip, he gave Alexander his first bottle. It took Alexander a while to figure out what was going on but he soon got the hang of it and gulped the whole thing down. Now Eric gives the before bed bottle every night. They love their time together!

Clambake

2007-07-13T18:25:00.000-04:00

After a fun time with the Daigle's we went back to the Stuga for the annual Swanson Family Clambake. We had great weather, fun at the beach and Alexander got to meet a LOT of new cousins, aunts and uncles. He and I got to stay a few extra days with Lis, Brian and David which was a great way to end a fun weekend.

Alexander getting kisses from cousin Daniel

Brian and David enjoying their breakfast sundaes

Alexander getting some golf tips from Uncle Joel

David and Brian showing off their facepainting

Cousin Sam helping to "babysit"

Fun at Cousin Oliver's Birthday party

Kisses from Cousin Sam

Fourth of July

2007-07-12T13:23:00.000-04:00

We spent the Fourth at the camp with Eric's parents, siblings and extended family members. My brother Greg and his family were able to join us this year which made it extra special.

Alexander with Grandpa and Nana

Alexander with Auntie

Laura, Greg and Daniel

Grandpa and Gordon doing some grilling (yes that is a jacket Gordon is wearing, it was a rainy afternoon).

Charlotte playing with Daniel

A very happy Daniel having some "tummy time"

The Stuga

2007-07-02T18:08:00.000-04:00

Alexander had his first trip to the stuga this past weekend. He had a great time seeing his cousins Brian and David and meeting some other new cousins. It was a quick trip but here are a few pictures of the happenings of the weekend. We will go back for the family clambake this coming weekend so look for another post when we return!

No Lake Wobegon

2007-06-28T19:42:00.000-04:00

Alexander had his one month check-up today and he came in at 9 pounds 8 ounces and 23 1/4 inches long. This is the 50% for his weight, length and head size. We were pleased to find we have a completely average child. Now if we could just get an "average" nights sleep...

Welcome

2007-06-27T22:55:00.000-04:00

This blog was actually set up about two months ago to share with everyone what was happening with the pregnancy. Obviously, we didn't get to that. I have had some trouble posting pictures but I am going to continue to play around with that so you can keep up with Alexander as he grows and changes. Speaking of the little man I hear the monitor going that he is awake so I have to run. As is the life of a new parent! Check back in with us again soon!