2011 Fashion Preview

So, Mama.

I thought I'd give you a few fashion tips for this year, "Two-Oh-One-One".

Okay, Baby, I would love it! Some people say "Twenty-Eleven".

Oh, okay Mama! But I think I like my way.

Okay, me too.

So here are my tips.

1. Faux fur is back! See what I'm wearing here, Mama? This isn't weal fur! But feel, it's so soft. And it's cream, which goes nice with my complexion.

You're right, peanut. It goes beautifully with your complexion. What else ya got for me?

Oh, plenty! See my leggings? Leggings are very in still, too. Jeggings are jeans and leggings - I have those Mama.

I know, you had them before Mama even did.

Number 3, if you only have a little hair like me, you wear a headband so nobody thinks you are a boy! Works like a charm.

That's a great tip, Rei. And you look very pretty in your outfit. You look like a little fashion plate.

A passion plate? Thank you, Mama! You're a passion plate, too.

Love & Other Uggs,

Dirt Road Mama

Remembering New Years Eve

Bye Bye 2010! We loved you so. You were very good to us.


Since I was about 3, and could form coherent sentences, if you asked me what my favorite holiday was, I would say New Year's Eve. Isn't that a funny favorite holiday for a child? But it was, I remember so vividly why.

We did the same thing every year. I loved traditions and something to look forward to. In the afternoon, we always took a nap - on top of our covers, not underneath. That would be too much like sleep. And we didn't always have to fall asleep, but we had to lay down at least. I was always as excited as I was on Christmas Eve during those naps.

Then at night, we would pack up and drive to my Great Aunt and Uncle's house. Aunt Rita and Uncle Sal. The party was with family, and in their basement. Classic Italian family parties are always in basements, if you ask me. I had sausage and peppers, chopped chicken liver on crackers (yes, this has been one of my favorite foods since that age), and orange juice on ice. They had a real bar down there, which I thought was amazing as a child. We would take off our party shoes and run around in our socks, until Poppy told us to put sneakers on cause we would slip and fall. My mama made cream puffs for dessert. Every time I eat a cream puff, I am back in their house - with their avocado shag carpet.

All the boys, and my sister, would play poker with nickels. We would change into our PJ's and lay our sleeping bags in front of the TV, and play board games. We watched the ball drop on a TV with an antennae that only showed black and white picture. Then, at some point, we would fall asleep. And we would get carried to the car in pajamas and jackets, freezing cold, half awake and drive home. The next day we would watch the Honeymooners all day, and eat fried salami and mozzarella sandwiches.

I'm not sure what about Year's Eve was my favorite...or what makes every part of the night so vivid to me. Maybe because every year it was like going back to 1965, nothing ever changed, everything was black and white. I know it had something to do with the prospect of staying up so late...even thought I rarely made it straight through. Maybe it's more special now because Aunt Rita and Uncle Sal aren't here anymore. They are so hosting my New Year's Eve in heaven. But New Year's memories live in my heart, always.


New Year's Eve to me is nostalgic and surrounded by people that I love. Last year, I had a little bambino in my belly and was filled with expectation and excitement. This year has been the most life changing, and amazing, and magical. This upcoming year, my baby will learn to talk, walk, eat, play, run, hug, kiss, sing, and dance. Our family will continue to make memories that will last Reilly's lifetime. Hubby will continue to be the only one I want to make new memories with, forever and ever amen.

Happy 2011!

Love & Family Traditions,

Dirt Road Mama

Christmas Fun!

We opened presents..

She chews on bows...
She then chews on her new presents...
She got Uggs from her crazy Auntie Mimi and Uncle E...
She watched football with Poppy...
It was family fun, all around! We want to get her a onesie that says "Life of the Party", because that's pretty much what she is everywhere she goes. Some people look forward to time that they get to spend away from their kids. And I am all for date nights here and there, don't get me wrong... but Hubby and I just love having baby hanging with us! She's our BFF, why would we want her anywhere else but by our side? Nothing is better than that smile!

It was a fun, smiley, relaxing, wonderful Christmas.

Thank you Jesus for all of your blessings, we are grateful today and always.

Love & Smiles,

Dirt Road Mama

Her First Eve!

Here is the Christmas update! It is late because we got snowed in during our Christmas travels, and then Mama got a 24 hour stomach virus on the way home. Not very fun. Thank God I was able to sleep most of the drive, but then was pretty much couch-ridden the rest of the day. But now I am feeling better, unpacking toys, and re-hydrating.


A family pic...

And this is what the boys did when we said, "Silly Picture!"

The hosts of our Christmas Eve since we were teeny babies!

Love this family. We watched videos of us singing Happy Birthday Jesus when we were all so little. Hard to believe we'll be doing it all so soon for our kiddies.

Mama and her brother, Uncle Brad.

Ladies in red!

Reilly and her Mima & Poppy.

Our Family! First Christmas together!

Uncle Matt and his Rei-B.

My girl. My heart.


Daddy and his Buddy.

And she ended the night falling into a peaceful sleep on her Mama. And we all ended the night with a group hug, cousins and Aunties and Uncles all together. I loved sharing our Christmas Eve tradition with our little Angel.

Love & Sugar Plum Dreams,

Dirt Road Mama

Lights, Please?

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.'
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

(Luke 2:8-14)

And that's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.

Actually, that's what life is all about.
Keep Christ in Christmas. Keep Christ in life. Life is good, because of Him.

Merry Merry Christmas everyone!

Love & Christ,

Dirt Road Mama

Sippy Cup Addict

So, I have been introducing the sippy cup a bit. Problem is, Reilly doesn't understand the concept of a casual sip of water here or there. She understand sucking. And getting milk. So the sippy cup thing is not working ideally right now - because she just wants to latch on that little rubber spout and gets upset when milk does not come out.

She is a semi-addict when I give it to her. She'll shriek if she drops it at all, or really if it leaves her mouth at all. And she never shrieks! Then when I give it back to her, she has her mouth open like a little bird, and latches back on. So needless to say, we're going to hold off and re-introduce the sippy cup in another month or 2. It's clear my baby is just a BABY people! Not a toddler. Just as I suspected.

But something did happen the other day. She threw/dropped the sippy cup as I was painting. I heard her yell in displeasure, and then I turned around, and saw this.

See that boppy pillow behind her? THAT'S WHERE SHE WAS SITTING. And she somehow, rolled off and ended up on HER HANDS AND KNEES!! Like a little crawling person!

I ran and grabbed my camera, as I said "Good girl, Baby!! Look at you go!" As you can tell above, she was NOT happy that the sippy cup was no longer in her mouth. But what do you know, it took this little addiction to show her what she can do! She's so content, that she doesn't ever care to move really. She'll drop a toy out of her reach, try and get it, and then just move on to another toy. But this got her right off that little teeny hiney!

And she got it. :)

Then I picked her up because she was stuck and she clearly had no energy left to figure out where to go from here. But man, was Mama proud of her baby! I was so happy I got pictures to show Daddy of the accomplishment.

She has not had the sippy cup since this event. It scares me a little what it makes her do.

And I had a nightmare last night that she could crawl. No, I'm no crazy, the nightmare part was not that she was crawling. It was that she kept disappearing, and then we only heard her when she was crying in different parts of the house. And she was VERY tiny. As in, I heard her crying in our bedroom, and then I found her in Hubby's sneaker. She had fallen in, and couldn't get out.

I don't know what this means. Dream analysts? Will I need therapy when she goes to Kindergarten?

Nevermind. Don't answer that.

Love & CHRISTMAS IN 3 DAYS,

Dirt Road Mama

Pooped!

You may recall that my babygirl was enlisted this year to be one of Santa's Little Elves. It has be a very busy season, let me tell ya! Painting, cutting, hammering, detailing, packaging, mailing.

Oh, the life of a crafter during the Christmas season! But what a joyful time to be creating artwork for people. Knowing it is a special gift, or a decoration for their home...really makes you feel like Santa!

And it also really makes you feel...

pretty darn POOPED!

We got home from a little Christmas get-together, in which Reilly got lots of gifts, and Santa made an appearance. And we got our little Christmas angel out of the car, and this is what she looked like. We just about died laughing. Like on the way home, she just pulled her Santa hat over eyes, like "Okay Mom and Dad, I've had enough of these festivities! Let a little elf have her sleep, will ya?"

I hear, ya, babygirl!

Love & PaintingPaintingPainting,

Dirt Road Mama

Rei + Finger Foods = Mess

Hey, Mama?

Yes, Babygirl?

How'd I get so messy if I wasn't actually able to eat with my fingers?

Well...I'm not really sure.
See, I tried to eat with my fingers. You gave me those little piece of sweet potato, but it was more fun to squish them in my hands!

Yes, I saw that. You had a lot of fun playing with them.

Yes! So the orange stuff is my fault. But Mama...I didn't feed myself anything green...
I think you're a little messy, too, Mama.

Yes, peanut, maybe you're right. Daddy's gunna have some time keeping up with 2 messy eater huh, chickie?

Love & Messy Fingers,
Dirt Road Mama

Santa Babies

Reilly got together with her BFFs to exchange Christmas gifts. It was so much fun!

Reilly got her first gift of the year:

and tried to eat it. (Shocking, I know.)

Then she pulled Adeena's hair. And girlfriend didn't even flinch. That's a bestie, I tell ya.

Reilly thinks this is a customary form of affection, as she does it to her Mama on the daily.

Babies and Mamas picture :)

Look at our babies, so festive!

Dialogue:
Adeena: Mama, I know we gave this ball to Reilly, but I like it better than mine. Please can I have it?
Greg: Oh, Mom I want one of those too! Tell Santa. And get this chick off me.
Reilly: Okay, Mama, so I can't chew on my wrapping paper, I can't pull Adeena's hair, can I chew on him?

Adeena: Reilly is stealing my boyfriend!
Reilly: Greg, can I just taste your sweater?
Greg: Mom, is she really going to eat my sweater?

I love our precious babies!

No smiles, but at least they are all looking the same way!

Christmas gifting is overwhelming for the little blue-eyed babies.

And a bit for the dad's, too. :)

Reilly's first Christmas Dinner Party - Success!

Love & festivities,

Dirt Road Mama

7! (And the Unveiling of The Dress)

I think I say this every month, but I can't believe I am the mama of a 7 month old baby! 7 months!! I can't fathom the thought. I was JUST crying putting away her newborn clothes. Heck, I just stopped referring to her as a "newborn baby" like last month. I figure up until 6 months, you can still use that term. What? That's normal.

But I love 7 month Reilly. Even though I can't believe she's so big, and I am counting down in my head how much time I have left breast feeding her and my heart hurts a little, I am utterly obsessed with this age. She literally just keeps getting funner. And funnier. And sillier. And cuter. And how can getting older be that sad, when she's just so happy all the time?

So I decided 7 months, although practically an adult, is really an amazing age. Here are some fun facts about 7 month old babygirl:

1. SHE SITS UP. AND ROLLS OVER! Well, she sits up all the time, rolled over once. But her physical abilities have totally taken off in the last month. She can now maneuver her toys, lean forward or to the side to reach what she wants, and sit right back up. Her core muscles are getting so much stronger, which makes her more independent, and you can tell she's so proud of herself. This scenario happens daily:

Reilly: (leans wayyy forward reach-reach-reaching for a toy...finally grabs it, sits back up)
Me: (watching) YAYY BABY!! (claps) I AM SO PROUD OF YOU!
Reilly: (Looks up, startled, holding toy. Big wide eyes. Has no idea what I'm doing. Then HUGE smile. Kicks. Waves toy. Giggles.)
She's not quite sure what made her mama so happy, but she's darn proud of herself for doing it!

2. She still wants to chew/touch/grab/suck on anything and everything. Especially if it makes noise. Or if it's Mama's. Or if it's wrapping paper.

3. She signs "milk" and "eat" now! Those are the first 2 signs I started with her, and it's amazing to see her do them and tell me what she wants or needs. New ones we're working on are "bathroom" which I sign while changing her, and "please" which I sign in between bites of food, or before giving her something she clearly wants.

4. She is becoming people-picky. She will make the saddest little face around certain people, totally randomly. Sometimes it's just people who are strangers to her, but are being perfectly nice and kind. Just looking at them makes her upset, so I just hold her and reassure her that it's okay. Meanwhile, I'm fascinated that she has her own opinions of people! So funny.

5. She is SO vocal. She will lay in her crib in the morning making every sound that a mouth can make while being opened. Pretty much every vowel sound. And she sings "Da-da" and "Ay-ay" in every octave. I love hearing her talk and communicate, it's so fun having pretend conversations with her.

6. She "uses" a sippy cup and "eats" finger food. Translation: She sucks on and holds the sippy cup, unsure of what it supposed to happen to it and why milk doesn't come out when she sucks. She moves the teeny pieces of sweet potato around on her tray, then grabs them in her fist, tries to bring them to her mouth, but doesn't really know how to get it in. She she squeezed it in her hands and sucks on her fingers. But still in all, she's growing up!

"Um..Mama? Is this one mine?"

Yes, baby, that's yours. But no peeking till Christmas morning missy!

"Okay, I know I wasn't going to. I just want to touch it. And suck on it when you turn around."

I would like to draw your attention to her little arms. And her little rubber band wrists. I love them. And to HER CHRISTMAS DRESS. Which is to be debuted on Christmas only, but I thought I'd bring it out for her special photo shoot. Notice: the tulle. I LOVE TULLE. This dress is complete perfection. Note: There is also a cream colored cardigan. [Faint.]
Thank you Mima and Poppy, for her Christmas dress!

HAPPY 7 MONTHS PEANUT PRINCESS BABY BANANA CAKES.

Daddy and I love you so many bunches of oats. Now I will go get some water from the Tuck Everlasting stream and put it in your sippy cup so you will always be small enough for me to hold. Thank you.

Love & Christmas Plaid,

Dirt Road Mama