Happy Halloween!

How is it November 1st already?? Hope everyone had a great Halloween! We took Kaia visiting the grandparents and then went to Jaclyn's house. We took her down one road in her wagon and she seemed to have a blast! By the last house, she took a piece of candy from the man handing it out and put it in her bucket!! She was a chicken and I thought she looked very cute (even if my Grandmother said, "I've never seen a white pumpkin before")!! Oh well! Enjoy a few photos of my chicken!

On the job front I have 20 shifts left in case anyone was counting with me!! Happy start of the holiday season!! We are so ahead of the game this year; we've already started our Christmas shopping!! Go us!

Kissing Scarecrows

Yup...that is what she did when she found him today! She stood there talking to him and kissing him with a big "muah"!! So cute!!

Gus is getting bigger by the minute. Last week he weighed 29 pounds which was a 13 pound gain in 1 month!! He must be over 30 now. Sean turns the big 3-5 next Monday and I'm looking for something fun to do for the 3 of us that day. I'll take any suggestions!! Otherwise we are pretty much status quo here....just counting down the days until our lives have some normalcy (25 shifts to go in case you were wondering!).

Big Change Ahead :)

And no, I'm not pregnant!! I will be leaving the place that has caused me much misery and stress!! I have accepted a position with Eastern Connecticut State University in the health services building. I am so excited. No more weekends or holidays and it is a state job complete with state benefits!! I start on January 4th (the day before my 30th birthday..yikes) and I am really looking forward to it. No more BS to deal with, no more being forced to see patients with complaints that I am not comfortable dealing with. Now we just have to get Andrea out of there too!!

Sean and I took Kaia to Lapsley Orchard to pick apples today. We were hoping for a hayride and pumpkin picking too but I guess we have to go elsewhere for that. Next week I hope!! Busy weekend ahead, Liz and Carl's wedding (at the place where we got married 7 years ago!) and then hopefully the Big E on Sunday. Grammy Pammy is taking Kaia overnight again on Saturday and we are praying for a better night than the last one!!!

The stupid computer isn't letting me upload pics..I'll have to try again later!!

Bad Mommy

So I know I hadn't updated in a bit until last week but I completely skipped over a very important event that occured over the summer. Kaia turned 1!!! We had nice weather for her party and we/she really enjoyed the day. Elana from Sweet E's Bakery made gorgeous (and delicious) cupcakes and Kaia loved hers!! As always, it was great to share the special day with so many of our family and friends! Thanks everyone!!

Yesterday we went to my cousin Megan's wedding at Tyrone Farm in Pomfret. What a beautiful place!! Congrats Megan and Tim!! Kaia didn't join us for this event though, she is spending the night with Grammy Pammy and Grandpa! What am I doing up at 7am you ask?? Well...funny you should ask! This was our first night sans baby in over 13 months and let's just say the night didn't go as well as expected. We planned to use the hot tub but when we got home it was raining :(
Sean was tired from all the Octoberfest he drank anyway so off to bed we went. Midnight came and the dog threw up in his crate. Out we went to let him do his business (in the rain) and clean up his mess in the crate. Back to bed for me...until 2am when the dog threw up again in his crate!! How is it that I am the only one who hears this and is capable of getting out of bed?? Second trip of the night for me!! Then hubby gets up to the bathroom for some Motrin I believe. When he is searching in the medicine cabinet, he knocks out a bottle of nail polish and it landed just right!! Yup...we have spent the early morning hours of our "free time" cleaning up pretty pink nail polish that landed all over the tile floor, in the grout, on the toilet and even the walls! Sean just left to get more acetone!! Yay to us and our special night alone!! hahaha.....

Sorry!

I know, I know...I'm really bad at this thing. But, to my defense, I do have two children now!! 2 whole weeks ago we brought home Augustus Griffin Trainor (Gus), our new puppy!! He has been a ton of fun (and equal the amount of work too!). Thankfully Kaia loves him and doesn't seem to care when he bites her! I think they will grow up to be best friends!! She already sits on him and pets him by banging on his little head! And they literally chew on each other toys...Yes Kaia chews on his toys too!

We have 2 more family weddings this month...congrats Megan and Tim and Liz and Carl! I promise to try and post pics more regularly :)

Kaia is growning like a weed...she basically runs (away from me!) and has her own little personality (or attitude)! She is so much fun and I love watching her grow everyday (except on the days that I have to work and I'm trying to work on that too!!). She even has a bunch of hair now! Little Ms. Sadie is growing as well. She still hasn't really let her mama sleep much though. I pray for her internal clock to settle soon!! Happy long weekend everyone!!

Enjoy my new family photo!! Courtesy of Sonia who took some great photos but I have to say that I love this one the best!! It makes me crack up every time I see it!!

Fun Weekend

Hello?!! Is anybody out there?? I don't think anyone has commented on my posts in FOREVER so I'm not really sure that anyone is really reading this thing!! Are you??

Anyway, in case you are....we had a great weekend! First we had my cousin Ben & his new wife Meaghan's wedding Saturday. What a beautiful day for a wedding and it was so much fun! The bride and groom looked so beautiful and happy. Sadie looked cute with her little hair bow too! I wish we could have stayed until the end but Kaia had other plans. She was really good (and really likes cupcakes!) but she was quite tired by 9pm so we ended the festivities a bit early. Life with a baby!! Congratulations Ben & Meaghan!!! We love you!

Yesterday we headed up to Wallingford to spend the day with Sean's Dad and Pam for his Dad's birthday (yes, we actually had 2 days off together in a row!). We had a nice lunch and took Kaia swimming...her new favorite thing. (See how tired she was afterwards??). The pictures just don't do justice to her little squeals and kicks!! I can't believe I'm posting a pic of me in the pool but I thought the choice of drinks was pretty funny!! And one pic of Kaia with her new shopping cart, complete with wooden food!! Thanks Grammy Pammy & Grandpa!

We are off to Maine midweek for camping in Freeport. I'm only worried about the drive with Kaia!! My parents leave for Ireland this week as well. I'm praying they have a safe flight!! Happy Summer everyone!

The Puppies are Here!!

Which one will be the newest member of the Trainor family????

http://www.gingerrungoldenretrievers.com/casinolitter.html

Tour de Cure 2009

I know, I know..it has been a while! I am sorry! I don't feel as if I ever have 2 hands free to type but my little lovey is taking a nap so here I am!! It has been a long few weeks....Kaia had the puke bug (which I wore!!) and had her first bad fall! My poor little thing looks like one hot mess! She has a huge egg/bruise on her forehead and her cheek along with a rash that she got after being sick. Thank God for our pediatrician...he keeps me sane!! She wasn't eating but I am proud to say that she ate an entire cup of applesauce, so what if I had to sing to her the whole time to distract her!!

We have been on 2 camping trips over the past few weeks...having fun breaking in the camper! Next month we are camping in Freeport Maine and then on the Cape in August!Last weekend we participated in the Tour de Cure, a bike ride for the American Diabetes Association. The day didn't start out very good, it was pouring when we got up but the sun came out just in time for us to start our ride. I wish I could say the same for my Dad and my uncle! They started earlier because they were doing longer rides. I am proud to say that we finished the 15 mile, doesn't sound like much but my legs were aching at the end!! I guess it would have helped to train more than 2 times!! My Uncle Paul completed the 100 mile ride which is actually nothing for him since he is about to embark on a ride across the US this summer! Good luck and be safe!! My Dad had ambitions to complete the 60 mile but God had other plans in store for him. Poor guy started out in the rain but got behind because of a flat tire. Once that was fixed, the other tire went!! At least they were both fixed in time for him to ride with us...and he beat me by a while!! Hopefully our efforts will help find a cure for my BFF Anna!! Thanks for arranging our team!! I should start training now for next year!! Here is a picture of most of our team members and all of our family who came to cheer us on!! I have some Kaia pics but I have to upload them. Soon, I promise!!

Kaia is exactly 1.5 months away from being 1!! I can't believe how fast this year has gone by. We are busy planning her party and getting ready to bring home the new pup!! Miss Sadie is growing like a weed too. Her cheeks are huge (but so cute!!) and she talks and laughs now. How time flies!!

Memorial Day

Thanks to Vicki and Scott for having us over yesterday. We had a blast! Kaia went in the kiddie pool (with her bathing suit and swim diaper on) and promptly decided she wanted out. So after a whole 2 minutes, I took her out and changed her back into her regular diaper and clothes. Bad idea!! She crawled back over to the pool and started splashing her little hands so much that she was soaked. So...she ended up back in the pool, fully clothed and played for a long time! I had to take her out because her little arms and legs were cold. I think we may have a little water bug on our hands!! We won't talk about the state of her diaper when we took her out!

All the kiddos were so cute yesterday. Sadie was smiling and talking and it's hard to tell who is who when she sits on her daddy's lap!! Matthew slept the whole afternoon and Emma played and played! Hope she slept well last night! I think Anna & Eric need to get working on a little Milot to add to the group!

Let's Go to the Zoo!

It was supposed to rain today so we cancelled our practice bike ride but we ended up still having fun! We took Kaia on her first trip to the zoo! We went to the Rogers Williams Zoo in Providence and had so much fun. She loved seeing all the animals and other kiddos around. The rain held off..mostly and we made the most of our first day off together in a long time. There is a carousel close by and K and Sean went for a ride together! From there we went to the Cheesecake Factory (yummy!) and Kaia pretty much behaved there too! She sat in the big girl high chair and managed to throw 4, yes 4, spoons onto the floor for our poor waiter to pick up. She also managed to dump her own food that I had brought as well. Welcome to parenthood I guess! I also had my first experience changing a poopy diaper in a cramped bathroom stall. The stories I will have to share with my little cutie!

Kaia even let us walk around the mall and shop a bit too! Thank you honey for my Valentine's Day gift (we are a bit behind this year)! I finally got my Pandora bracelet and I love it. Can't wait to keep adding to it. Maybe I'll get one for Mother's Day by Christmas. I'll keep my fingers crossed!! We made the mistake of giving her a little football to play with in Old Navy and when it was time to leave the store, someone did not want to part with it. The screams, the screams!! So now, our favorite new toy is a cute little football, Pop will be proud! Needless to say, she fell fast asleep on the way home from her first crazy, fun-filled day! Welcome to my new life!!

PS: yes, I now have bangs (I copied you Tina!!) and I am wearing my ultra-cool FBI jacket (thank you Pam!) that I love!! Time to paint the living room...or watch the Red Sox game!! Cheesecake later (thank you Danielle!!).

Just call me Betty Crocker!

So if you know me at all, you know that I don't/can't really cook! Well, I am proud to say that I made a delicious homemade dish or stuffed shells last night! It even looked pretty! There is hope for me after all. And everyone that ate it liked it...at least they said they did. At least I can bake!! I must have been in a mood yesterday (and Kaia allowed me the time) but the dinner thing came after I spent a loooong time making baby food. But not just any baby food! This time I did some different things and when I was done, Kaia has a freezer full of new foods to try. This may be boring to you but I am so excited. Her menu includes green beans with mint (took me forever and she hated it!!), whipped cauliflower (very yummy...I may have to make it for the "adults"), plums and prunes! I also had to restock the sweet potatoes, apples and pears. Yay me!

In June we are participating in the Tour de Cure, a bike ride for the American Diabetes Association. Since it was so beautiful today, we finally took our bikes out of the shed, dusted them off, filled the tires and went for a ride. Kaia even came with us!! We only did about 2 miles but it's a start. We will be doing the 15 mile course for the actual ride. It's in Narragansett so come watch and enjoy the water!

And since it's been a while since I have reported on the Kaia front...here goes. She is sleeping through the night, in her own crib and has 4 teeth that I can count! She is so much fun and is now on the move and getting into trouble. For instance, today we went to Gymboree since it is Gymbuck time, and we found the cutest little caterpillar stuffed animal. We decided to buy it and proceeded to give it to her to hold. While I was shopping, I assumed that Sean was watching what she was doing. I thought wrong! When I looked down at her, she was eating, or had eaten, half of the price tag off!! There was a piece way back on her tongue and she wouldn't let me get at it. What great parents we are! So I had to pay for the stupid thing by handing the cashier the wet and half-eaten tag! Oh well....she is so much fun!

Enjoy the pics....I like the one where she looks so little compared to the door, washer, etc. I don't have any new Sadie pics to post, sorry! But, she is doing well, getting bigger and is the spitting image of her daddy! We love her! Have a great weekend...I'll be at work :(

New Pics!

I don't have any pics to upload right now, but I promise I will soon. Stacey did another photo session and the pics are up! http://staceymphotography.blogspot.com/ Check them out and be sure to click on "slideshow" if you want to see them all. She did a great job with a somewhat cranky baby!! Thanks my talented friend!!

I am on the mend and back at work. This is good news for Kaia because we have been able to visit little Miss Sadie and Auntie again!! We missed everyone (Uncle too)!! I do have pics but see above statement. Soon, I promise!! Sadie is still soooo tiny and beautiful! I'm so happy not to be quarantined anymore!!

Missing my baby girl!!

If you haven't heard yet, I'm currently in the hospital with meningitis! Crazy, I know. But, since I am here, obviously my baby is not. Today is day 3 that I haven't seen her and I miss her so terribly. Thankfully everyone has been so helpful with watching her and I know she is in good hands. Grammy Pammy and Grandpa and staying at our house with her and they have been sending me pics, thank you!! I will share some here for you to enjoy as well. She doesn't seem to miss me much!! She stayed with Nonny and Pop on Friday and even went to a funeral. Apparently she was well-behaved, thankfully!!

I'm improving but will likely be here until tomorrow. The docs are waiting on my cultures to come back to decide if this is viral or bacterial. Let's hope for viral, otherwise I have to go home with a PICC line and antibiotics at home. I'll keep you posted. Thank you for all your well wishes!!

Baby Pics!

I still can't believe how tiny she is...she looks like a doll! The pictures don't do her justice either! Mom and Sadie are doing well today and had lots of visitors. Kaia wasn't quite sure what to make of baby Sadie....they are sure to be best friends soon!

Welcome Baby!!

It is 5am and I just got home from the hospital. Jaclyn had her baby this morning!! What a quick labor too. She got to the hospital around midnight and was 3 cm dilated, an hour later she was 9 cm and out popped the little peanut at 0245am!! They had a baby girl and named her Sadie Lavina Gervais. She is absolutely adorable and so tiny!! She only weighed 6 lbs and she is 19 inches long. She has a full head of dark, curly hair! Now Kaia has a BFF for life! Mom and baby are doing well and Marcel is so in love already! Jaclyn was so strong and such a trooper too! Congrats guys..we love you and are so excited!! Pics to follow soon, I promise!!

I missed one!!

I didn't mean to post 2 of the same pics!! Here is the one I missed...and yes, my finger got in the way!!

Finally an Update!

Hello all! I know, I know...I've been away from here for a bit. No excuses but I just can't seem to find the time lately!! Anyway...time to update all the happenings as of late!!

First of all, I am still not an auntie yet. Jaclyn was due yesterday but she didn't make it happen. And not for a lack of trying I'm sure. That kiddo doesn't seem to want to exit the warm and cozy womb just yet!! We are anxiously awaiting it's arrival though. I'll be sure to keep you posted when the big day comes (for real)!!!

On to the Kaia front: Well, she is now 18 lbs and has her first tooth! She is rolling and rolling and gets up like she wants to crawl. She is actually 7 months old today and I still can't believe it. She eats solids like a champ and I am proud to say that I make all her food. This coming from the person who cannot cook to save her life!! It's actually pretty easy though...lots of steaming and pureeing and then freezing. Some of the faces are priceless though, especially if she isn't too keen on "what's for dinner".

Sean and I are heading to Atlanta in a few weeks for a conference and a visit with his mom and family. Flying with a baby for the first time is sure to be an adventure! Pray for us!

I have several pics to share today...all of Baby K of course! Grammy Pammy bought her tons of outfits and adorable shoes for the spring and they played dress up with one of her hats and sunglasses....I can't wait to see her in all the cute clothes in the warmer months! The last few pics were taken this week. She has been sick with a faucet of a nose and rosey-red cheeks. This didn't stop her from having fun at bath time with Nonny!! Have a great week and the next time you here from me...we'll be Aunt Julie and Uncle Sean!!

6 months old!

How on earth is that possible already??? Kaia is growing so fast and reaching her milestones that I want it to slow a bit!! It still amazes me that she is half me and half Sean and I just love watching her every day. She is a bouncing fool though!! She absolutely loves her jumparoo horse, affectionately named "Jillalita", after Jaclyn's fictitious tree horse she had growing up! She jumps all the time, even when I'm holding her. This picture is from our trip to the grocery store this week. This was the first time she was out of her car seat and she LOVED it! She was a big hit as well. She has just about mastered sitting up alone but every once in a while she would start to lean to the side a bit. She was fine after a quick adjustment though! She is already outgrowing her car seat, therefore we are spending more money on new ones!! Oh well, the joys of parenting I guess! Stay tuned for more Stacey pics too...she is coming back this month and we can't wait!!

I think I picked my living room color but Sean says I shouldn't paint until the spring when we can open windows. I'm itching to start this project though. Do I really have to wait??

Less than 4 weeks until Baby Gervais!! I'm so excited to meet this little one!

Still Sick!

Okay, I'll admit it...Sean is still sick and I can no longer call this a "man cold"; however, it did start out exactly like the video!! I feel bad for my poor hubby but I think he has a virus so there is nothing I can do for him, aside from making him soup (from a can!!), and checking his temperature every now and then. For some reason, this makes him feel better! Kaia really wants to be held by him but he is resisting, with good reason. She keeps giving him big smiles and reaching her hands out towards him. That's gotta be hard for him!! Feel better soon honey!!

Kaia is such a joy to have! She rolls from her back to her belly so well now (big milestone!). She is perfect in every way......except the sleep department!! Some day I'll look back on this and laugh but I am so very tired right now! I haven't slept more than 2 hours at a time for months!! Guess I'll sleep when I die!! Not that it will get much better since we are planning another puppy and I'm sure another baby in the future!! Sean says we need a little time (to catch up on sleep!) before we try for baby #2 but yesterday he told Kaia that she was so cute it made him want another one!! At least it means he is thinking about it! Don't get me wrong....I am in no way ready for another right now!! Sooner rather than later though.

Jac only has 5 weeks left until baby comes!! How on earth is that possible?? I am so excited for her to have this experience. Oh and to meet the little one!! It's so true that time flies...Kaia is almost 6 months old already!! Yikes!!! Better get started on baby #2 soon if I want them to be close in age!

So in all of my spare time (haha), I want to embark on a new, somewhat major, project. I'm thinking of painting the living room and I promise it won't be sage green this time! For those of you who have seen my abode know that I have lots of green! I'm going for a light bluish green and I think I want to do a chocolate brown accent wall. Now if I can only find the time to get to the store to look at colors...on-line paint shopping doesn't sound smart to me!! Any helpful hints would be appreciated!!