Is it really only 10:45?

We've had an eventful morning. It started at 6:30 which doesn't usually happen for us. I got up and got ready because I wanted to make the 7am service for Ash Wednesday. I like the early morning low masses. So at 6:45 I woke Lane up and planned to bring him in his PJ's, but I was punked. He was wet from head to toe. Ugh!

Last night I gave him an early bath before dinner so I didn't put an overnight diaper on him and when Matt put him to bed, we failed to remember to put on the overnight diaper so therefore he soaked through it. So I quickly washed him down and changed him into clothes. Out the door we went. He was very good in church. Sat quietly on my lap. I knew our best bet was either 7am or noon because 7pm wasn't prime time for a toddler to be sitting through mass. (Really is anytime great for a toddler in church??) But 7pm just scared me because A. it's around dinnertime and B. it's around bedtime and that just didn't sound fun to me! So I'm glad we made it!

After church we went to Dunkin Donuts. I have very fond memories of my childhood trips to "the doughnut shop" with my mom and siblings. We used to go to Baker's Dozen or Dunkin Donuts when it used to be by JP. So I plan on doing "doughnut shop" trips with Lane. I went through the drive-thru because it was pretty cold this morning and I didn't want to get out. When we got home I gave him some oatmeal and then it was time for doughnuts...Munchkins to be exact. I believe this was his first taste of a doughnut and surprisingly he wasn't crazy over it. He actually ate one and when I gave him a 2nd he saw me pouring a bowl of Multigrain Cheerios for myself and he wanted those. So I gave him a handful and the 2nd doughnut went untouched. Oh well! I know he will grow to love them! I guess he prefers a scone or pumpkin loaf from Starbucks?!

And now I can tell he got up earlier than normal. He usually sleeps until at least 7:30 or 8 so the 6:30 wake-up call is starting to catch up with him. Nothing a little Sesame Street won't fix, but hopefully I can hold him off from napping until after lunch.

Last year at 6 months old we went to the noon service and look at the cuteness! I just remembered I gave up FB last year. Hmmmm, maybe again this year. I'd have to remove the app. from my phone cause that's too tempting. And I would really like to try to go to 7am mass a couple times a week again because I really do enjoy it.

His ashes were gone by this point, he leaned into me at church and faded them and after the car ride they were completely gone. But he couldn't stop staring at mine...it was like he wanted to tell me they were there!

Munchkin time!

MMMMM!

P.S. This video will probably only interest the grandparents and aunts and uncles...just a warning!

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

After breakfast we went to the gym and after the gym we ran to the post office. Whew! I'm exhausted!

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Church

I wanted to remember this story. It happened on 12/13 when Lane was 16 months old (and some change.)

Matt always takes Lane for communion. I don't know why, he just always has. Communion is the highlight of church for Lane. For one I think it's because we get up and move, it's a change of scenery, he looks at all of the people, and (if I rememeber correctly from my childhood), communion=church is almost over :-)

So, Father always gives Matt communion and then gives Lane a blessing...Sunday morning went something like this:

Father: Body of Christ
Matt: Amen
Father: :places hand on Lane's head: May the blessing of
Lane: :looking directly at Father: BYE!
Father: of Jesus Christ be with you.

Father, Matt, and Me chuckling and smiling at what just happened, Lane still looking at Father and waving. Matt and me laughing all the way back to our seats and at random times during that day when we would remember it.

He plain as day looked at Father and before he could finish his blessing said "BYE!" Sounded something like this:

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

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March for Babies

First of all....does this look like a girl to you????

He was called a girl today. This is what he was wearing along with some cotton striped cream and khaki pants. I know he is pretty and all but come on! After 7:30 mass, we went to breakfast and (don't judge)...took Lane in his jammies because we woke him up at 7 to eat and then headed straight to church...anyway...First of all, if I had a girl, I would NOT dress her in something so neutral. It would definitely be pink! pink! pink! And second...he's wearing blue socks and his shirt says handsome. HELLO! handsome is NOT a term used to describe a girl. Anyway, the sweet lady about to seat us said does SHE need crayons? OK lady, "she" is a HE wearing a shirt that says handsome and HE's 8 months old...giving him crayons would only result in a beeline to the mouth...of course I didn't say that..I smiled and said no thank you!

OK, back to my post....

The walk was Saturday and it was a gorgeous day! It moved me (and Matt) to tears to see all the healthy babies who had overcome their prematurity and were now thriving toddlers. We even saw a baby born that was 11 ounces...is that possible?!?! Apparently so and she survived!

There wasn't a cloud in the bright blue sky and by 9 am it was at least 70* and by the time we left, it was downright H-O-T! We finished in an hour or so. It was fun and we stuck around a bit afterwards for hot dogs, yes Matt enjoyed a hot dog at 10:30 am, although I opted to stick with some water and a banana, while Lane enjoyed some gourmet Cheerios! When we got home, Matt worked a little in the garage and Lane took a nap and as if 6 miles wasn't enough exercise...I decided to take Harley for his well-deserved walk. So we got out and soaked up some sun and even sweat a little bit!

Pictures! Pictures! Pictures!

Do you like his sunscreen mohawk Matt gave him?!?! That stuff works better than hair gel!

Sunday was equally as gorgeous. Church, breakfast, etc, etc. Shopped for some new glasses for me....coming soon: a studious Ang! And spent as much time as possible outside. Went to our favorite late afternoon spot for some drinks and apps and sunshine! A very busy, yet fun weekend had by all!

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Do Not Feed the Animals

Well, the first part of Lacey's trip was me on-edge hoping everything could be pulled off for the perfect proposal....and as you can see by the previous post....it was! Thank goodness she couldn't sense the nervousness from me. I must have been a good actor! The rest of the weekend was spent celebrating the proposal, going to the zoo, and celebrating Easter!

At the Columbia Zoo


On the carousel....sorry about the blurriness-uh um-the photographer was on the phone

The boys and Cece

DON'T let this sweet angel face fool you....yes we went to Easter Mass and NO Lane wasn't very good. In his defense, he is 8 months old and NEVER stops moving, but the boy needs to learn proper church behavior.

1. Do not wiggle and squirm out of mommy's arms.-You are far too heavy to keep in control.

2. Do not slap at and grab mommy's face and nose.-It's not nice, even if you are a boy, boys don't ALWAYS have to play rough.

3. I really would appreciate if you didn't drop everything we gave you to try to keep you occupied. And I am sure the people around us that picked up every dropped item would appreciate it too.

4. Do not put the readings and song booklet in your mouth. Don't you know people at 11:15 mass have to touch that stuff.

5. When Mommy hands you over to Daddy, she means business. That means you were too much for her to handle and she needed some back-up.

And lastly, I think Daddy would appreciate if you didn't do this to him anymore:

So as you can gather, Lane wasn't the best in church. After Matt took him to "the room where all the wild kids go" Lane pulled the sunglasses out of his pocket, squeezed them and popped out the lens and then threw them on the floor. How embarrassing!

He did wake up at 7 that morning and never went back down so by the end of 9:15 mass, he was D-O-N-E, done. So it was about 10:30, we were all dressed up with no real place to go, so a photo shoot was in order and we decided to push him a little more.

Enough! Enough!

Just take me home and put me to bed!

Fine, I'll stop for a group shot.

So after Easter Brunch on our deck, some Easter sun, and an Easter nap we were ready for some Easter beers and pizza!

Their first bite of pizza after a long Lenten season.

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Sunday Funday!

I used to hate Sunday afternoons....that's when I was working. I don't seem to mind them so much now. ;-) Sunday started off with church at 7 am. We arrived at 6:50 and were 1 of 4 cars parked outside....seemed a little odd. Walked inside, there were 6 people in there and 3 of them were us! I thought to myself...no wonder 9 am mass is always standing room only!
So as we sat....7....7:06....7:10 I looked at Matt a little puzzled. No priest in sight, people were still filing in....he grabbed a bulletin and realized 7 am was 7:30 am mass! So we have a little extra time to pray...no big deal...unless you have a 6 month old! I prayed for a lot of things, including that Lane would make this mass as enjoyable as possible! He was great....sat very nicely and half-way through mass when I took him out of his seat, he was in awe of everyone around him. After church we went to breakfast and then back home to read the paper, watch some movies, and nap. Did the usual Sunday afternoon thing, I go to the grocery store, Matt works in the garage while Lane is napping. Because it looked like this outside

(which later turned to snow and then the whole Upstate shut down) we did a little of this





and alot of this!





It was a good day. Too bad the Illini couldn't pull ahead for a win. But Lane had fun playing with the Chief!

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Ash Wednesday

Ok, this may be wrong....but it was his first Ash Wednesday so it was only right to go to church (and I happened to document the ashes he received on his forehead.) We attended the noon service and he was a very good boy in church. He even sang along with the music. He had the people around us giggling.




You can see his dimples in this one. He gets them from his Grandma Loret!







Mom! Enough already!!



Oh and I haven't really decided what I am giving up.....

Matt said he had two ideas for him....
1. SPEEDING (I laughed cause he drives like an old man) but he claims he "drives the heck out of his car to and from work." And he doesn't have the Grandpa truck anymore...he upgraded to a sophisticated Infiniti G35. We bought it 1 week before Lane was born.


2. TV-NOOOOOOOOO!!!! Totally against this one cause that would somehow involve me and I'm not ready for that sacrifice....I need my Regis and Kelly, Ellen, J&K+8, Bachelor (Yes, I am watching this season), American Idol....to name a few.


He said I was lame for not giving anything up so I told him I was giving up Facebook (he thinks I am on it all the time) and I am going to attend mass at least two mornings a week, not including Sunday. Mass is at 7am so this should be interesting!

Here are some of the things my family members are sacrificing.....pizza (we can all guess who that is, i told her she is gonna starve), alcohol (WHAT!?!?!?), sweets (bless you, Ali)...I guess they are all better than I am. Please say a prayer for me.

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