Time to say goodbye

It's almost time to say goodbye to the great year that was 2011. This year felt quicker than any other before it. When I think back to it, it's like a breeze of the wind.

The winter came & went, spring had sprung, our gorgeous daughter was born in June, I had 3 lovely months at home with her, and now with the holidays we have found ourselves at the end of the year.

Tomorrow night my sweet and I are going to celebrate!

Carmen-Sophia is staying the night with Grandma & Grandpa! Mike and I haven't had a night out together in over 4 months so it should be fun! We are going to spend the later part of the evening over a Shane & Jackies which has been a tradition for us in our pre- Carmen days. It should be fun to get together with the old crew, have some champagne & good food...although, we will probably talk about our little girl the whole time and show everyone her pictures. We've only been away from her for 2 nights since she was born and that's exactly the way we spent the last ones! haha!

Sure, it's scary how quickly time is passing us by, but let's continue to make the most of it & show our loved ones how much we care...who knows how much time we will have here. I wish everyone a safe & happy New year and all good things & good health in 2012.

<3

6 Month Check up

Carmen Sophia had her 6 month check up this morning! The poor little girl had to have all of her shots from 4 months since she had her 2 months at 4...confusing. Yes, but we are getting all caught up. We still need to have the repeat Ultrasound, so we will call Yale and schedule that.

Bottom line is this little girl is doing exactly as we had hoped...PERFECT. She is happy, she is gaining weight and getting taller and is just the most beautiful, intelligent little 6 month old there is!

She has gained 2lbs 6 oz. since her 4 month check up which puts her at a whopping 15.8 lbs- She is now 25 inches long and her head circumference is 17inches. She is in the 25th% across the board. So she is petite but proportional.

The Doctor didn't really believe us that she has been saying Mama since 5 months and just then my little theatrical baby acted on cue and started talking "mama mama" and the Dr. was amazed! She said she is quite advanced, has a brilliant little brain and will be crawling in no time!

We are going to slowly introduce solids but the Dr. did assure us that she has many moms who strictly breastfed their babies for 1 year without ANY solids so it is perfectly fine to take our time as we are doing and not rush anything.

Here is the cutie at her appt. this morning when it really should have been her nap time...yet she was SO GOOD!!

My two favorites

I snapped this yesterday morning. It doesn't get any better than my two sleepy heads!

Awesome Holiday Weekend

It was Carmie's first Christmas and it was a blast!! She had such a great time throughout our various festivities and the three days off with the man and the babe was a well-needed decompression.
By the time work came about this morning, I felt refreshed and light. I haven't felt that way in a long while, I hope I can keep it going into the new year!

We had a very merry christmas eve dinner over at Mom & Dad's with John, Sarah and Jayda as well as a nice albeit quick visit to Dawn & Mike's earlier that day. Carmen was pretty in pink & black velvet and Mom..that's me, even threw on a dress!
For dinner we enjoyed the seven fishes- Stuffed Clams, Lobster rolls, Octopus, raw Cherrystones, Haddock, Cod, Shrimp & Scallops and Squid & Peas.

For Christmas day we had a special morning at home...Mike surprised me with my first pair of MANOLO'S!!!! That little devil. After we opened our presents- I got him a pair of Minnetonka Moccasins and quilt-lined Carharts, and he got me a cool bracelet & ring...he came from the bedroom with a brown paper bag. As I slid the black leather boots from the Manolo bag, I kept saying "shut up" "SHUT UP" he really threw me this year. I had just gotten done saying, you know, I didnt buy any boots this year! I was so excited. I pranced around in my sweats and new boots for awhile feeling 25 all over again. Ahhh. It's amazing the feeling a new pair of really hot boots can give you!

We stopped over the Cartwrights for a visit and some coffee & pastry. Janet made an amazing pumpkin log and then later to went to dinner at my parents with John, Jayda and Gram. Homemade Lasagna was delic! Even the section for me without any cheese :)

Daddy & Carmen on Christmas Eve

 

Mommy & Carmen wear red for Christmas Day

Elf on the Shelf

Who even knows anything about this?
I am truly behind the times.... but this woman's blog post cracks me up!!!!! I very much appreciate her dry sarcastic banter-



http://peopleiwanttopunchinthethroat.blogspot.com/2011/12/over-achieving-elf-on-shelf-mommies.html

Counting curtain calls and waiting

"Are you still in love with me
Like the way you used to be or is it changing?
Does it deepen over time like the river
That is winding through the Canyon?

Are you still in love with her?
Do you remember how you were before the sorrow?
Are you closer for the tears
Or has the weight of all the years left you hollow?

Are we strangers now?
Like the Ziegfeld Gal and the Vaudeville show?
Are we strangers now
Like rock and roll and the radio?
Like rock and roll and radio

I can see you lyin' there
Tying ribbons in your hair and pullin' faces
I can feel your hand in mine
Though were living separate lives in separate places

All these white lies hanging like flies on the wall
Hard wired, road tired
Counting curtain calls and waiting
Waiting for the axe to fall"

(c) Ray LaMontagne

Friday & I am SO THANKFUL!

I was starting to write that this week has been just brutal....but then I realized, I actually got out of work a little after 5 everyday, had more time each night with Carmen and even got to do some work upstairs with Mike...so really, it was pretty great now that I think about it!

I am psyched that it is Friday though and looking forward for some time for ALL THREE of us to relax & hang tonight.
Mike has the rest of my weekend planned for me, so it's time to rest up while I can :)

Two more shots of Carmen courtesy of Sopa!

 (c) S. Welch Photography

(c) S. Welch Photography

Sneak Peek

Sopa Welch (Xaypanya) came over on Sunday and we had a little pre-Christmas photo session with Carmie which was beyond awesome!!

Here is a sneak peek to what is to come! 

My new MUST HAVE

I MUST have a rattan hanging chair for the corner next to my woodstove where the two windows meet. It would be perfect!! I am on the hunt now for the perfect chair. While I am waiting for the renovations to happen I'll just keep concentrating on the decorating and maybe just maybe it will move some things along!