Welcome, Daniel Isaac!

On August 18 at 9:37 am, little Daniel Issac joined the party at 21 inches long and 8 lbs., 14 oz. He's sweet as pie and is so loved by many already, but it should be noted that I spent >20 hours in a car to meet him, so I feel like "Best Auntie" was an earned title. Note: I still loathe toll roads, all of Canada and public restrooms. But this boy? Love him.

In related news, I recently started having a love affair
with hot rollers. Best life idea, ever.

Hey girl, hey.

Ooohh weee! Things have been rather quiet around here lately, haven't they? Well, I promise it's not because I'm hiding any life revelations or grand secrets, but more because I've honestly just been bizzy as a bee and loving every minute. (And also, if we're being totally honest, I've done what most every other blogger on earth has done and transitioned a lot of my random thoughts/pictures/musings over to Instagram. Join me?)

What a summer we've had! I took a week-long trip to DC for work but also rather coincidentally got to spend time with my bestie for 7 straight days. We haven't done that since high school and it was kind of amazing.

I also had Lasek surgery back in May, and have threatened more than once to blog about it. I'm sure I'll never actually get around to it, so rest easy knowing that 1) I can see; b) I don't regret it; and 3) I still reach for my glasses every morning out of sheer habit.

Last weekend, we had a family reunion for my Dad's side of the crazies family--the Talicska clan.

We even made shirts for the occasion, which might seem confusing to normal people but they totally make sense to us. I'm uncertain as to whether or not that hotel will have us back, but it was a great weekend!

And, as you know, my brother and SIL had their sweet baby boy, Michael, in June and we're planning our next trip to Connecticut for when my sister has her baby boy in August. BABIES. BABIES EVERYWHERE.

My own children continue to be the cutest things with two legs and eyeballs on earth, and it's hard to believe that Alex starts school in the fall. (Hold me.) We're taking him on a very special trip to Chicago this weekend in preparation. Just him and us. Special requests from a 5 year old include: taking the train, hotel with a pool (on the roof!) and a trip to the beach. I also think I'm going to blow his mind with a taxi ride. Being a parent is the funnest.

Welcome to the family, Michael!

My sweet and littlest nephew, Michael Andrew, was born June 20 at 3:46 pm. He was a perfect 8 lbs. 4.6 oz. and 21 in. long.

He's the perfect addition to our family and we love him so much!

Harper and the hippo.

Oh hello there, sweet girl! You are seven months old today and still sweet as ever.

You are starting to *almost* sit up on your own, but still manage to topple over into a fit of giggles after about 30 seconds. You're a piggly wiggly and love to eat cereal and all sorts of fruits and veggies...although you'd chew on a spatula all day if we'd let you! Which leads me to believe there are some teeth on the way. Nothing yet, but soon!

The sun rises and sets on your Daddy and your biggest fan is still your big brother. I figure someday I'll come in handy...maybe when you need a homecoming dress or help picking out the perfect brand of mascara. Until then, little lady...until then.

You LOVE your jump-a-roo and you do NOT like your swing. Which is funny, because your brother was the exact opposite. You are a mover and shaker, for sure. You're also quite talkative with all the goo goo and gaa gaa chatter from sunup to sundown.

You're still sleeping like a champ, but I'm sad to report we don't swaddle you anymore. Sometimes I still wrap you up at night when I stare at you and rock you to sleep...but I'm only creepy when your eyes are closed, I promise. You won't remember any of my Mom-stalking. Everything else is fair game for your future therapy sessions, though.

I'm SO excited for the summer, Miss Harper, because you are going to get two very special new friends in your life. Aunt Kelli is having a baby boy in August and Aunt Jill is having a baby (something) in June! Alex thinks Aunt Jill and Uncle Kyle's baby is a girl, and if it is you two will have such a special bond...she'll be like the sister you're never going to have. :) Babies, babies, everywhere!

P.S. - Here's Alex at 7 months. He had a tooth by now!

Hoppy Easter from the VeeDubs!

**All photos courtesy of Aunt Jane, who in addition to being the world's greatest daycare provider, also serves as our unofficial family photographer. She takes the BEST pictures of my sweeties!

Bunnies and candy and eggs are such fun, but we also celebrate the TRUE meaning of Easter. May you be blessed today and every day!

Happy birthday, Uncle Kyle!

Happiest of days to my baby brother who's a not-so-baby 29 years old today!

And, of course, a serenade from the cutest soprano on the block:

I'm not saying I have the cutest kids ever...

Ok, that's actually exactly what I'm saying.

If you follow me on any of the social accounts at right (Ahem. You totally should be.) most of these pictures will be old hat to you because the nanosecond I saw them I mad published them everywhere I had a login and password. Because the world needed to see them.

Yesterday was "Super Hero" day at Aunt Jane's Daycare. COME ON WITH THESE PICTURES.

It was also "Bring a Stuffed Friend" day. Alex brought Cody, his Pillow Pet Dream Lite; and Harper, of course, brought her Hippo.

 

Once you get over the cute (and how Alex looks 17), can we all, for a moment, relish in the awesomeness that is our Aunt Jane? I'm not sure there are even words to express how special she is to our family and how blessed we are to have found her. To have someone you love and trust like family to, in theory, be an extension of yourself, is just incredible. We love our Aunt Jane!

Happy birthday, Samuel!

Two exciting points of note in this post...

First, my sweet Samuel turns THREE today and I'm wishing the happiest of birthdays to my best blonde boy. I'm so proud to be your Aunt--you are sweet, smart, funny and such a good cousin to Alex and Harper.

...and one more thing I know to be true as evidenced by the last picture of you with Harper is that you will be an amazing BIG BROTHER! Yes, that's right folks. BOTH of my sisters are pregnant! *squee* I will be an Aunt again in June (Kyle & Jill's baby) and in August (Kelli and David's baby). My cup runneth over!

Hello from us.

I never go around to sharing the photos we had taken around Christmastime. I think I was busy? Or drunk? Or something.

Anyway, the story of picture day is sort of hilarious. We had the photographer scheduled to come to our home at 10 am. I was so excited--our first photo shoot as a family of 4!

That morning, we all sat down to breakfast (mmmmm...Cinnamon buns) around 8:30 am. Harper was nommin' on her bottle and we were all in our unshowered, early morning glory.

Imagine my surprise when the doorbell rang at 8:45. It was our photographer. For our NINE am photography appointment. Come again?

After I picked my unbrushed teeth up off the floor, I had to haul it. She had other appointments lined up that day, so it was use my 9 am slot or lose it. Story of my life.

Long story short, I was showered, dressed, makeup-ed and ready to rock in 13 minutes. A RECORD. Since boys are lucky and don't have to worry about blowdryers, Spanx and makeup, Joey got Alex and Harper dressed and we were smiling for the camera in no time flat.

I always get anxious on photo days--I don't know why. Maybe it's the pressure to look just right, smile just so, and ensure everything is picture perfect. C'mon, though...that's not real life. Something hit me as I was sweating profusely that morning, running around like a madwoman to prepare for pictures in record time. I started laughing and thought to myself, "Well, these are pictures I will NEVER forget."

And I won't. I checked myself at the bottom of the stairs and reminded myself that that's what pictures are for. They are to preserve a moment in time. A precious snapshot of a time, a year, a moment that I will never, ever get back. So what if Alex's socks don't match and Harper needs a diaper change and Joey's glasses meed to be cleaned and I may or may not have deodorant on? That's what it's all about--capturing REAL life. And that morning, we captured our reality:

And now we are complete.

Oh, hey there. Long time no blog. We've been busy around here...you know, adding to our family and stuff. In the last week we've gotten new furniture, a new shed, and a new baby. We sort of go all out when it comes to chaos and change.

But what you really want to know...we're all doing great. Better than great, actually. Harper's birth story will come later when I have more time to sit and thoughtfully write it, but the Reader's Digest version is that it was a night and day version of what it was with Alex. If I can go so far as to say it was an amazing experience, I will say that. Other than the dizzyness of coming down from anesthesia (which can't really be avoided), I felt and continue to feel amazing.

As for Harper, she's the world's greatest (and most beautiful) baby. If you don't already, check out my Instagram feed (link at right) to see loads of photos. She eats like a rock star and I'm not exaggerating in the least when I say she already damn near sleeps through the night. She goes down at 11 or 12, wakes up at 3 for a quick 2 oz bottle, and then sleeps again until 6 or 7. I actually feel like a human, instead of a more seasonally appropriate zombie.

As for Alex, he was BORN to be a big brother. He's so loving and protective of her and loves to hold her and feed her. He wants her to do EVERYTHING with him--here they are in a Sunday morning snuggle, something I hope continues at least into their teen years. He's adjusting well and I'm a proud Mom to report our house is a peaceful, happy, sleep-filled place for all.

For your viewing pleasure, here's the video taken when Alex met Harper for the first time (thanks for capturing it, Mom!). And yes, he's wearing toddler scrubs that say "big brother" on them...a real hit with the nurses! (Available here.)

 

Work yo' magic.

Still here. Still pregnant.

However, I'm getting a massage today at 3 and I'm going to tell him to hit every labor pressure point he can find on my body to get this girl a-movin'. EVICTION.

In related news, it's our last Saturday as a family of 3. Time to enjoy it!

The littlest fan.

Yesterday, Harper got to attend her very first MLB Postseason game, thanks to her Poppi who is a very cool old man and got us all the tickets. (Thank you, Poppi!)

Although it was a tragic Tigers loss to the Oakland A's, it was a great day! Everyone was hopeful that all the up-and-down the steps of the stadium would push me into labor, but no luck. I'm still here today, pregnant and annoyed about it.

The whole fam-damily, minus the Connecticut piece of us.

Harper and I managed to squeeze into this delightful non-maternity hoodie.

Also? Hi, Paws!

'Merica!

And I don't have photos to prove it because it all happened so fast, but Harper also got on the Jumbotron during the game! She's totally famous.

A sentimental journey.

My mom was taking a walk down memory lane (see also: probably a hot mess on her living room floor) the other day and started texting me pictures of pictures of the day I was born. A little unorthodox, sure...and crazy to think Alex & Harper will just have to look at Shutterfly, Facebook or my Instagram feed to see their lives from the very beginning, while I have to haul out 75 lbs. of peel-and-stick, 3 ring, leather-bound old school photo albums.

Anyway, the pics were too cute NOT to share, and it'll be fun to see how much Harper looks like me.

Mom on Dec.7, 1982.

Welcome to the world, self.

"Oh, hey dere."

Kelli holding me.

ABOUT my Dad's tracksuit. And glasses. And beard. #sexy

Hump Day, Bump Day!

bV is the size of a pineapple!
She's about 15.2 to 16.7 inches long and weighs about 2.5 to 3.8 pounds this month. She's getting so big, she's probably crowding your lungs. Understatement of the world.

bV at 31 weeks:
- She's going through major brain and nerve development.
- Eye development, too. Her irises now react to light! All five of her senses are in working order.
via thebump.com

In a super dee duper fun turn of events, Harper was absolutely blessed with a surprise sprinkle (a smaller, more intimate baby "shower" after your first baby...sprinkle/shower....get it?!?) on Saturday. Mom, Jill, Kelli, the boys and I came home from a yummy lunch at Qdoba to find my driveway full of my closest friends and family. My bestie, Caitlin, FLEW here all the way from DC and we were able to Facetime with Lindsay who's on preggo house arrest with twins! And yes, I cried.

The girls absolutely nailed the theme, as you can see here by the invitations:

I was overwhelmed at the amount of planning and thought put into every last detail (they took a giant margarita machine INTO 7-11 and filled it with REAL Slurpee!), and I am so thankful to everyone who came and especially to Mom, Kelli, Jill and Keliann for thinking of me and Harper and pulling off such a GREAT surprise. To say this little girl is spoiled is the understatement of a LIFETIME.

Cousins, reunited.

The Turners were in town for a whirlwind weekend that included a family wedding and a *surprise* sprinkle for Miss Harper - more on that awesomeness later.

In the meantime while I get caught up on the 436,823,003,665 pictures on my camera and phone, here are a few sweet shots of the boys for you to swoon over.

Happy birthday, Nana!

A very, very happy birthday to Joey's Momma and Alex's Nana!  We hope your day is AWESOME!

^^ I cannot with how little he is in this picture.

The mother of all weekends.

Aside from Harper being on my last nerve (literally), this weekend was the gem of all weekends.

First, we made HUGE progress in the world of swimming. Although Alex loves water, he's not been so keen on adventuring into the pool alone of late. But look at this:

Now we can hardly keep him OUT of the water, but I have no complaints because floating weightless in the pool is just what me 'n Harper are jamming to these days.

We also made the obligatory weekend trip to Costco where Alex may or may not have been thrown into the box of giant pandas:

And on Saturday night, Alex had his first campout. Let's not be silly, I slept in my warm, comfy bed, but the boys had a great time--and much to my surprise, they actually slept in there ALL night.

And if all that weren't enough we started our official countdown of "Sleeps until Samuel" - last night we were at 5. See you soon, Samuel!!!