Happy Birthday...

Continuing on with my annual tradition, I'd like to extend a very Happy Birthday to Donnie Wahlberg.

38 years old...and 18 years rich in tradition.

Yes, I know this blog is for my son...but, if you really know me, this should not come as a surprise!

Tomorrow...

Tomorrow ... Tomorrow...
I promise, I won't continue with the song.

But a fun side note for me - tomorrow's a special day.

Bonus pictures of Alexander if you can guess what day it is
(Alyson, Mom & Dad - you can't guess...)

Twenty One Weeks

Wow - our little guy is already Twenty One Weeks old... and next week he'll be 5 months! You people sure don't lie when you say that time flies by! I can't believe how quickly it all went. But it's all been so much fun & I wouldn't change a thing.

Well ... okay... that's a lie.

I'd change the sleeping part. Especially this week. For some unknown reason, our boy wanted to get up and play @ 3am. THREE! Do you know how early that is? Especially when you've woken up every hour because he's coughing or crying... Yesterday, Dan & I were zombies. Alexander was up at 2:45am and just wouldn't go back to bed. Dan took him for 30 mins, and then I took him for 30 mins. Finally, Alexander fell asleep around 4a but his head popped back up at exactly 4:41am. I know because I was awake and I watched it. The morning before was just as bad. We weren't really looking forward to another night like that. Man, this kid sure is an early riser.

However, we were fortunate that Alexander slept for approx 10 hours last night. He went to bed around 7:30pm (which he put up a fight, something he never does) and woke up around 5:30am. Dan said he checked on him twice but Alexander didn't make a peep all night! Ahhhh glorious 7 hours of sleep for me!

Besides the sleeping, I'm also happy to report that his cold is gone. We haven't used the AC in his room so that really leads me to believe that the AC makes him sick. So he's been living just like his pauper parents - with a fan! But he doesn't seem to mind it at all, he seems comfortable. That is when he does sleep.

Another item to note is that we have been going to daycare for just over 8 weeks now and we've already been told of a tuition increase. How much does that stink?? Thankfully it's not a huge increase per month, but it's still an increase. They originally sent out the news that every family would have to sign a yearly contract Sept-Sept but tuition would be prorated for 10 months. That would have initally meant our tuition would have increased by $300 A MONTH. But we would then not have to pay for July & August. They must have gotten a lot of feedback because they're now offering the option of 10 or 12 month options. I'd rather pay a little more a month all year then $300 extra a month but with 2 months off.

The joys of daycare... it's a good thing I know he's doing very well there and that Miss Linda loves taking care of him. Otherwise, I'd be even more miserable about this whole daycare thing.

Also, I want to thank everyone who posted and sent me emails of condolences for my aunt. That was very sweet of you for remembering me and my family during this time. She meant alot to my family and she will be missed.

A note for Aunt Betty

Aunt Betty passed away last week. She was my Dad's aunt but everyone referred to her as Aunt Betty. It happened all very quickly, but thankfully she did not have to endure suffering a long time and that her daughter was able to be here from Arizona.

She was a very sweet & wonderful woman. She had nothing but kind words to say about everyone and judging from her funeral, the same was true about her. Last October, a few of the Spaulding clan took her out for her 80th birthday and I'm glad we were able to do so as it meant so much to her. She sent me two cards after the brunch to tell me so.

She was also so excited when she found out that I was going to have a baby. In true fashion, she sent me several cards throughout my pregnancy telling me how excited she was and she couldn't wait to meet the new arrival.

She was an amazing woman and since both my grandparents had passed, she and Aunt Barbara truly were the matriachs of our family.

Elizabeth S. (Spaulding) Smemo, of Rockland, August 7, 2007. Age 80. Mother of Nancy A. Lemon and her Husband William D. Lemon of AZ. Sister of Barbara A. Putnam of Weymouth and the late Leonard V. Spaulding. Grandmother of Scott L. Lemon of AZ. Also Survived by several nieces and nephews.
Ms. Smemo died Tuesday in the South Shore Hospital in Weymouth. Elizabeth was born in Cambridge daughter of the late Harold and Anne (McAndrews) Spaulding and was raised and educated in Boston. Ms Smemo was a long time resident of Dorchester, but had been living in Rockland for the last 11 years. Elizabeth worked as a Telephone Operator for the Phone Company on Franklin St in Boston for 42 years. Elizabeth was a communicant at Holy Family Church in Rockland where she also served on the Renew Committee. She was a very active woman, and was a member of several organizations including the Red Hat Society, Leisurwoods Home Association and, was a volunteer at the Weymouth Food Pantry. Burial will take place in Mt. Benedict Cemetery in Boston.

The following is a link to the Funeral Home's obituary but it also provides a link to a video slideshow they showed during the wake of old photos of Aunt Betty and our family. We were all very impressed.

Embarrassing Moment #1

Everyone has them as a Mom... you just hope your embarrassing moment is not that bad.

I know I'll have plenty more in the years to come, but this first one was certainly a doozy!

Here we are on our way to my Aunt Betty's funeral Saturday morning. I had given Alexander a bottle in the car on our way to make sure he was content for the services. We pulled up to the Funeral home and they had us pull up front and they would park our car for the procession to the church. I wasn't prepared for that because I was expecting to be able to have some time getting him out of the car. I rushed because I didn't want to hold them up.

We got out of the car, grabbed some things and said our hello's. I still don't think I grabbed anything for him, except for Alexander & a bottle of water for me. We are now sitting inside the funeral home while folks are paying their last respects. Alexander is standing on my legs looking around but content & happy. He's not making any sounds and I can hear my Dad's cousin comment on good the baby is.

Then it happens...the moment all Moms dread. Alexander lets out the BIGGEST and loudest burp he could possibly ever do. Now, he's a great burper and usually burps himself before I have a chance to but it's not usually loud. Well he must have saved it up because it was huge!
I instinctively put my hand over his mouth as if he was going to do it again, but by this point everyone was laughing.

I felt so bad that here it was a moment where people were praying, reflecting and saying their goodbyes and our baby BURPS like a drunken sailor. It was a burp for the books too...I'm sure there will be plenty of more moments like this in my future, but ... at a funeral???

Week Twenty: At A Glance

A look back at Week Twenty - Monday, August 6th to Sunday, August 12th
Pictures to be added in a separate post as that has become much easier to do...

• Started off the week fussy due to lack of sleep over the busy weekend
• Still has not duplicated an outfit to school
• Played hookie from school on Thursday as Grammie & Alyson spent the day with him
• Showed Grammie & Alyson how we swim & kick in the bath
• His cold/cough came back and even developed a small fever on Thursday which went away that evening
• Mommy is under the belief that Alexander is allergic to A/C because everytime we put it on in his room, his nose is runny & his cough comes back.
• Sleeping was not great this week, especially for Mommy & Daddy. He seemed to wake up every night a few times and would have a hard time going back to sleep.
• His morning wake up time this past week was anywhere from and early 4am to an acceptable 5am.
• Had quality Daddy time this week
• Daddy brought him to a going away party after school on Friday for a little bit where people from work got to ooh & ahh
• Tried cereal in his bottle for the first time, I noticed this has a tendency to make him spit up as he is not one to spit up often or alot.
• Had bananas on Saturday & Sunday - I don't think the taste is the #1 reason for enjoying this new pasttime as he really seems to like sucking & biting the spoon.
• Attended his first funeral. My Aunt Betty passed away on Tuesday and the funeral was held on Saturday. He behaved fairly well with a few moments of fussiness, which then Daddy took care of him the back of the church
• We relaxed & took a well needed nap on Sunday
• Seems to becoming ticklish on his feet and under his arms, but not always
• He's laughing so much and it's now coming from his belly alot more than before
• He giggles with Daddy
• When he's eating, he'll put his hand over his eyes and then with the other hand, he'll rub my face
• Started to grab my face & hair and will just put his face in my hair

Week Twenty: At a Glance Pictures

Here are some pictures of the past week - Monday, August 6th to Sunday, August 12th

B is for Bananas...

Today was a big day for Alexander - he tried solids for the first time! We started him with bananas and he did okay with it. I don't know if it was the taste or the fact that he was able to bite & suck on the spoon, but he seemed to like the concept.





Here he is trying bananas for the first time..




Here is Daddy feeding Alexander...

This looks like such a fake smile but it was a genuine "look Ma, I'm making a mess"





And here he is sucking on the spoon - he seemed to like that best.

A fun day...

Today, Grammie & Alyson came over to spend the day...

They played, took naps, went to Target & played outside. Alexander loves the outdoors - he'd stay outside as long as you let him.

He had a great day despite his mini-cold and a very very small fever (which the doctor said that 100.9 is hardly a fever and told me to just keep an eye on his disposition and eating, plus it's gone now).

And we ended the day with a bath & trying some cereal in his bottle for the first time. He fell asleep before he could really drink the bottle, so we'll try more cereal tomorrow.

Tubby time...

Alexander loves tubby time! As you can see in the right side picture, he's swimming! He knows to kick his legs and move his arms around. I know he doesn't realize what I'm saying but he will be perfectly still until I say "kick" and then he kicks and when I say "swim" he moves his entire body. It's quite interesting. The kid is a natural swimmer...I can't wait to get him into swimming classes because I think he'll love having more room to move around.

He also doesn't mind getting his hair cleaned, but it is usually at the end of rinse phase that he gets annoyed and wants out. So usually I try to not to dally. I'm waiting for the day where he eats the shampoo and realizes he's just tasted something different. That will be fun to watch.

Take a Bite Out of Crime...

You have the right to remain silent...

Everthing you say & do will be held against you in the Court of Alexander...

Officer Alexander demands that you smile and giggle or you will be given a ticket...

Our town's Police Department was holding it's National Night Out for Safety event right across the street from us. Dan couldn't wait to bring Alexander over. We picked up an Id kit which has a photo id & finger prints kit. Alexander got to meet McGruff the Crime Dog - and then he received his Junior Officer badge.

He's ready to fight crime against poopy diapers and drool.

Alexander's Christening

Saturday was Alexander's Christening. We were fortunate to be able to A) have Dan's Dad perform the ceremony which makes it more personal and B) to have him baptized at St Marks, where I was baptized, and where we were married. As Dan's dad pointed out to start the ceremony, it was completely different weather from when we got married - It was about 50* and chilly in May and 90* and humid in August. We don't like to be boring - like to keep people on their toes.


First and more importantly, Alexander was INCREDIBLY well behaved ALL day on Saturday. Despite the heat, being passed around like a football, not getting a third nap, and not eating normally due to the day's activities and all the stimulation. He did so well and barely cried. He was content, happy & full of smiles all day. We couldn't have asked for a better baby!!


I was initally nervous about the actual baptizing and the water but because of the heat, it was a welcome part of the day for him. He just laid there and let Grandpa pour water on his head, didn't even bat an eye. But, we were all ready to be baptized again at that point.

The baptism went well and like I said before it was nice & personal to have Dan's dad perform the ceremony. It was just Alexander who was baptized so we didn't have to worry about other babies or other families, we had the whole church to ourselves. Dan & Matt brought up extra fans which seemed to help people in the pews because it was hot. Did I mention it was hot??

The ceremony was great as was the reception gathering after. We had it at the same place we had the baby shower and it fit all of our family & friends and everyone loved the food. People were also pleasantly surprised that the cake was half vanilla/half chocolate so there was something for everyone. I don't like cake, but I heard it was good (Thanks, Sharon!) Chris & I were on cake patrol making sure that anyone who wanted cake, got some.

Alexander was passed around and around but he did so well. He barely made a peep, and he smiled throughout the entire day. There is one cute picture of him with my Dad and my Dad's 6 brothers. My grandmother brought him a pair of sunglasses with Flamigos for him to wear for her (she likes Flamigos), so Mommy participated too.
After the reception, I was all ready to go home to put Alexander to bed but Daddy had other ideas. He wasn't ready for the night to be over. I tried to warn him that if we didn't keep Alexander on his schedule, that we would pay the consequences but he thought it would be fine.

He was right for the time being. Alexander was such a happy baby at my uncle's house. He didn't fuss for one second. He smiled and played with whoever was holding him. He got a huge kick out of my aunt Kathy, she got him into a giggle mode and he was content. Sunday was a different story...























My pictures can be found here & Chris' pictures can be found here

Chris got some good shots of his outfit, which we forgot to do with our camera before it became too hot and the little guy was stripped of his pants - in church no less.

These were taken by Chris...


I was pleasantly surprised that he didn't mind wearing the hat at all. He wasn't too keen on the outfit but I think it was the material and the fact that it was so bloody hot & humid..










Another shot of his outfit...he doesn't seem bothered but soon enough he starts to buck like a little broncho.




Looking at Dan & Alyson's facial expressions, I just have to laugh. We were dying of heat up there. Hence, why the little guy has no pants on at this point of the ceremony.

Week Nineteen: More Pictures

As promised, here are more pictures from last week...









Look at his little muscles...



Just hanging out on the couch...

It's almost as if he's trying to wink, but he was smiling



At Alexander's Christening with Matt & Alyson (his Godparents)










Looking oh so handsome in his scally cap

Playing with his feet...



Playing in the pool with Daddy...

Week Nineteen Pictures

Week Nineteen Pictures (Monday July 30th - Sunday, August 5th)
The connection is funky & I'm tired so I'll add more on Monday...

Week Nineteen: At A Glance

Here's a look back at Week Nineteen (Monday July 30th - Sunday, August 5th)

**Pictures to be added - last week it was poor internet connection, this week Mommy is exhausted!**

• Alexander was baptized at St Marks Church (where we were married and where I was baptized) Full post on the wonderful day to come...
• Had a good week at school, however was extra fussy on Thurs & Friday so that resulted in a very weird feeding schedule for the day
• Still has not duplicated an outfit at school
• Took many baths this week and loved every minute of them
• His cold is pretty much gone although every now & then he has a coughing episode
• Still wakes up around 4:30am every morning
• Bedtime is around 7p, although we tried to make it later one night in the hopes that he'd sleep longer, but that didn't work
• On Sunday, we went over to Uncle Steve & Aunt Carolyn's house to celebrate Will's 7th Birthday
• Daddy put Alexander's feet in the pool and Alexander was mesmerized. He would have gone in but the big kids were in there swimming

• Is getting really good on his tummy, to the point where he lifts his head up high and can turn around to see who's next to him or behind him. He does this in his crib
• Moves around quite often in his crib - never in the same place
• Getting a really good handle on rolling over front to back - again, we'll come in to find him in his crib rolled over eating his feet
• Starting to get a bigger giggle with more sound that just a smile
• Loves to smile, Daddy can make him smile all the time
• Loves to do the airplane on Mommy's legs
• Loves to watch the hair dryer still and likes watching Mommy put on lotion even more now
• Will chatter in the car and will actually chatter back if you talk to him
• Eats his feet any chance he can get

Sneak Peak...

Here's a sneak peak into tomorrow's Christening festivities...










His Christening outfit - it has a bowtie & vest

The onesie I had made for this occasion. It says "Half Gaelic, Half Garlic, All Catholic"

It's now being used in my banner - credit posted to the left.

These are what we did for the centerpieces. I took the above pictures and put them in frames, along with Cross bookmarks that people could take as favors if they wished.

Mid-Week Update

It's been a relatively quiet week as we gear up for Alexander's Christening.


I'm happy to report that his "cold" is going away. It started to go away when I took the humidifier out of his room. We haven't turned it on in awhile, but as soon as I physically took it out, he's been better.

No snot, no sucking of the nose, no late night snot-fests. Dan's not sure if that's the reason, but I feel pretty confident that it was the humidifier (maybe some water was growing stuff) causing an irritant in the air.

Other things going on this week - he's been getting up early. Some occassions 4am early. So we tried putting him to bed later but that didn't work - he was only fussy at night and woke up at his early time.
But he's had really good naps at school so it makes for a happy baby. He's been so good this week. He's been an eating machine when it comes to his feet and he's also a babbling fool.

Car rides to work now aren't as stressful. Before he would scream and cry once we hit a certain point and would screech until he fell asleep. But now, he babbles and chit-chats. And when he's about to fall asleep, I'll hear him "eh eh eh" and then he falls asleep.

And he's been so cute with Daddy this week. Everytime he sees Daddy, he bursts into a full giggle and gives him big smiles. It's so cute to watch.

I also think he may becoming ticklish which is so fun to listen to his belly laugh.

I'm off to finish up the night stuff before I head off to bed...keep your fingers crossed that Alexander takes a nap Saturday morning so he's not cranky for his own Christening.