A visit from the city girl

Aunt M., who lives in NYC, came for a three day visit! She took time out from all of the chaos of medical school, fellowship preparation and poster writing. She also opted to visit Buffalo instead of a tropical haven and for that we're grateful. Her visit was a lot of fun! We went to the Strong Museum of Play, enjoyed brunch with Grandma K., Aunt D., Aunt MT. and R., shopped at Wegmans, drove non-perishables to the Little Portion Friary for the heart to heart food drive (we couldn't have done it without her.), cooked dinner and of course enjoyed each others company! Jacob thrives on having visitors so he was constantly smiling, laughing, screaming (a happy scream mind you) and showing off!

Mommy and Jacob (two little trolls)

Sesame Street!

Aunt M. graciously watched Jacob while Jay and I went out for a casual Valentine's dinner at Coles. They have the best burgers!

The sistas

Our blue-eyed son

Jacob likes to wear his cool shades and hat around the house! He's thinking spring.

This is the Valentine's Day craft I made for Jacob's daycare buddies. They are matchboxes I covered with festive paper and then tagged with a note. I copied the idea from Inchmark Journal, except that I filled the boxes with Cheerios instead of chocolate. Happy belated Valentine's Day! We hope you were surrounded by your loved ones!

Winter in Buffalo

Considering the weather hasn't been that stellar and it's winter we've been staying busy. We hosted a Super Bowl party, went to the January MOMS meeting, enjoyed a few play dates and have been taking trips to the library. Jacob is learning new words (and signs) constantly and is exploring the world like a scientist. He is very observant and already he doesn't seem to miss a trick! His favorite words are ball and dog. He also likes to make the "ooo" sound for a monkey and snort like a pig, which is pretty funny to hear!
I love this picture! It looks like Jacob is asking God for a great favor!


Here's a picture of my 20 week belly! Aunt D. asked me if I was having twins!! I know I look big, but I looked about the same with Jacob. When I was delivering Jacob the doctor, said she wouldn't be surprised if I delivered a 9lb + baby (luckily that wasn't the case)! I finally have a sonogram on Tuesday so I'll let you know if we're having more then one (highly unlikely)!

We miss all of our far away family and friends. We're looking forward to seeing Aunt M. and the grandparents soon!! It has been too long!

Haircut

Jacob had his second haircut yesterday. I was in the other room when Jay started buzzing. I was a little surprised by how short it turned out!! I am just getting used to it. I know that it will grow back soon I(he has Jay's fast growing hair). The haircut makes him look older and no longer like my little baby! He is growing up too fast!

How did he get to be so blonde?

Let's play!

Last week Jacob was feeling like the picture above. It was a rough week. We all had a nasty stomach virus and didn't leave the house very much. Our car was broken into and overall we were in bad moods.

Jacob in the bath! He loves to sign the word bath throughout the day! Jacob looks like Grandma K. in this picture!


This week was a lot better! Jacob went back to daycare to play with his friends and Mommy went back to work. We celebrated Daddy's birthday on Wednesday!! On Saturday we ventured to Rochester to the Strong Museum of Play. We have been wanting to go for a while! We've heard that it is lots of fun and it was! Jacob loved all the millions of books (he walked from exhibit to exhibit with one in his hands). His favorites included the Sesame Street exhibit, reading adventure land and the train ride! Whenever he saw a dog, duck,or ball he pointed to it and said the word. I have to admit that as a parent I had equally as much fun! It was awesome to see kids of all ages and stages playing and using their imaginations!

Jacob loved this car!! He goes "vroom" "vroom" whenever he's playing with a car!

Outside the kid size Wegmans. Jacob didn't understand why he couldn't eat the bananas.

This picture is for Grandpa K. This is Jacob in his postal uniform inside the post office.

Christmas

We spent Christmas in Ithaca. On the 23rd we celebrated Jacob's 1st birthday at Grandma and Grandpa K.'s house. We had a fun family party which included a meatball dinner, peppermint ice cream cake and lots of gifts! On Christmas Eve we went to mass with both families (including Jacob). Jacob did great considering he stayed up until 9:00 p.m.!! On Christmas Eve we opened gifts with the K. side and spent the afternoon and dinner with the A. family!

Merry Christmas!

The three sisters

Listening to a book...Jacob's favorite pastime!

Eating a delicious lunch!

On the day after Christmas we went to the Ithaca Science Center with Grandma A., Dean, Dad and Mom. Jacob was taking it all in like a serious little man. His brain was on over drive! The museum wasn't super crowded so it was perfect for little ones. Afterwards we went to see Poppa A.'s office at the Ithaca Waterworks building.

The duck pool was very fun!

d Uncle Dean and Jacob

Jacob and Santa

Today we ventured to Niagara Hobby and Craft Mart to see Santa. Along with Santa they had some awesome miniature train sets and real reindeer!! Santa was sitting in an old train caboose along with his elf. All the kids were given a fun gift and their own picture. The hobby store was full of dollhouse furniture, toy trains, cars, puzzles, arts and crafts supplies and much more. They had hands on trains for the kids to play with along with collectibles that were for sale.

We were afraid Jacob might start crying or scream when he saw Santa (since he did this at the doctors the day before), but he went right on his lap and seemed very content. The picture below isn't the best, but we thought it was cute.

Merry Christmas!!

p.s. At Jacob's 12 month appointment he weighted 19 lbs 9 oz (9%) and was 28 3/4 inches tale (40%). He's tall and skinny.

Christmas reflection

So we are going to deviate from our usual blog posting about Jacob and I (Mom) am going to reflect a little on Christmas. I have been trying to keep the season in perspective and refrain from filling up the days with too many activities or to do lists. This is especially difficult when the demands of the season can seem to pull you in a million different directions!On Friday I attended the St. Greg's M.O.M.S. (ministry of mothers sharing) Christmas event and party. The evening started out with a wonderful hour of music by Father Bill Quinlivan. It was very moving and inspirational. Friday was also the Feast Day of our Lady of Guadalupe so Father centered the concert around the issue of life, especially the life of Jesus Christ and the lives of the unborn. There were three songs that especially touched me. The first was a song about a set of triplets that were born prematurely. Father was called to the hospital to baptize these three little babies who only lived for a short hour. The song he sang talked about how these babies were given three lives. They lived an earthly life if only for an hour, they were given new life in baptism and final they were taken home to eternal life. It was a beautiful and moving song.

The second song that I enjoyed was called "Bethlehem boys." This song talked about the Feast of the Holy Innocence that is celebrated on December 28th. This feast day is often forgotten much like the opened gifts and wrappings that lie under the Christmas tree during the post-Christmas malaise. The book of Matthew in the Bible talks about how King Herod, after hearing the news that a Savior was born, orders a decree that all the baby boys in Bethlehem and the surrounding country side be killed. Joseph, Jesus' father, is warned in a dream to avoid Bethlehem so that baby Jesus' life was spared. However, many mothers and fathers mourned and cried throughout the land as their innocent sons were taken from them. Father's song was a tribute to this sad event that is evidence of what true hate can bring.

The final song that I loved, father dedicated to all mothers. This song was originally written by Amy Grant. It is called "I Need a Silent Night." When Father Bill sang this song it was only the second time I'd heard it. I heard it previously last week on Family Life radio. The lyrics are self-explanatory so here they are:

"I've made the same mistake before

Too many malls, too many stores

December traffic, Christmas rush

It breaks me till I push and shove

Children are crying while mothers are trying

To photograph Santa and sleigh

The shopping and buying and standing forever in line

What can I say?

I need a silent night, a holy night

To hear an angel voice through the chaos and the noise

I need a midnight clear, a little peace right here

To end this crazy day with a silent night

December comes then disappears

Faster and faster every year

Did my own mother keep this pace

Or was the world a different place?

Where people stayed home wishing for snow

Watching three channels on their TV

Look at us now rushing around

Trying to buy Christmas peace

I need a silent night, a holy night

To hear an angel voice through the chaos and the noise

I need a midnight clear, a little peace right here

To end this crazy day with a silent night

What was it like back there in Bethlehem

With peace on earth, good will toward men?

Every shepherd's out in the field

Keeping watch over their clock by night

And the glory of the Lord shone around them

And they were so afraid

And the angels said fear not for behold

I bring you good news of a great joy that shall be for all people

For unto you is born this day a Savior, who is Christ the Lord

And his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace

I need a silent night, a holy night

To hear an angel voice through the chaos and the noise

I need a midnight clear, a little peace right here

To end this crazy day with a silent night

To end this crazy day with a silent night"

[ I Need A Silent Night Lyrics on http://www.lyricsmania.com/ ]

We wish for all of you and yours a very blessed, peaceful and holy Christmas!

Love,

Sarah, Jay and Jacob

Merry Rockin' Christmas!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Our little Halloween chicken

For Halloween Jacob dressed up like a chicken (Thank you Grandma A). He was adorable! On Thursday he brought apple pumpkin muffins into daycare and wore his costume. His friend, baby Sam, also dressed up as a dragon. We spent Halloween carving a pumpkin and enjoying a surprise package from the Fords! Next year maybe Jacob will be up for trick or treating!

Happy Halloween!

Serious little Sam

The chicken and the dragon fight it out.