Anika, where are you?!

The Christmas holiday was more like a Roman holiday with festivities extending through the weekend. Santa Claus made not one, but TWO appearances--and there were about twenty pounds of cheese consumed in five days thanks to cheese FUNdue, lobster mac-and-cheese, hor d'oeuvres, pizza, cheese fondue again--even the stuffed mushrooms had cheese in them and on top of them. (Thank you to the Whole Foods cheese expert for teaching me that both grueyere and emmenthal are types of Swiss.)

Grami made the best meatballs (no eggs included!) and a tasty-before-you-serve-it avocado Christmas tree. Grampi did an incredibly special recording of songs like "Smile," "Edelweiss," and "You'll Never Walk Alone." Nana and Grampi--and Auntie Eileen--gave a goregous heirloom-to-be rocking chair and "The Very Smiley Snowman" to read in it. Grami and Grampi added to the rocking fun with the Imagine Me book series (pop ups AND removeable masks in all the books!). Thanks to Auntie Bonnie we are also rockin' to the beats of "Puff the Magic Dragon" - reading and listening to the CD that comes with the book at the same time!

Our primary present to Isabelle this year was a globe we bought in Rome this summer. It may seem obvious, but... all the globe locations are in Italian--and that's why we wanted it. I don't know when the idea came to us to collect for Isabelle globes in various languages, but this was the first time we were on the hunt. We found one at a small university book shop where the student behind the counter had to climb up a ladder to retrieve the dusty globe box from the top of the book stacks. It was an illuminating desk globe. A pretty crappy lookking thing when I looked more closely. Plastic. All plastic. But not for long! We brought it to Bird's Furniture in Falmouth -- and with the plastic globe in one hand and a drawing of a cherry wood base in the other, Larry (an extremely talented woodworker) created the most beautiful wooden floor stand and latitude/longitude markings. Daddy changed the plug, and that finished the job.

We had three Christmas trees up (my favorite: the kids' one topped with an Elmo puppet), and so you might think that assembly was our thing this year. But, no. There were several gifts Isabelle opened and loved playing with (pots and pans, play veggies) that had us muttering, "Wow. This would be so great IF she had a kitchen." In fact, she does have a kitchen (a red retro one), but it's in a box in the garage. Pathetic.

After 5 days with cousins Anika, RJ, Lexi, Elli and Ethan, Isabelle is still getting used to a quiet house. This morning, as soon as she got up, she began calling for Anika: "Dan--i-ka," "Dan-i-ka." Tonight, when we came home, the search became near frantic. Watch what happens outside the bedroom Anika had slept in:

Kitty Gets A Ride

Wow!'s life certainly is full of adventure! Wherever Isabelle is, Wow! can be found close by. When she's in the tub, he'll lean over the edge and lick water off her fingers. When she's fingerpainting he's happy to provide a furry canvas, and his white hair often ends up splotched with red, blue and green. When Isabelle is sleeping, Wow! will snuggle in close, purring so loudly that we have to move him to keep her from waking. And when Isabelle is playing, Wow! gets right in on the action. Here he is--somewhat reluctantly--playing the part of dolly:

Book"S"

The pronunciation of "book" has changed yet again this week! From "boooo" to "booooK" to "booKss" -- yeah, plural!

... and then some!

That's the answer to... The Marion Christmas Stroll: Was it everything we expected?

We had a phenomenal day with Nicole, Eric, Danielle, Toc, Kristen, Ali, Katie, Mike and all the kids! Although we missed Santa's big arrival by boat (we couldn't pull Isabelle away from Nicole's amazing shrimp bisque!), we caught him before he took off on the clydesdales. Isabelle started the day having a nervous breakdown everytime one of the dogs came around, and ended the day chasing after every dog she laid eyes on. Ah, progress! (I was always afraid of dogs growing up, and I'm trying really hard not to pass that on to her... I figure if my Mom could do it with swimming, I should be able to do it with dogs!)

Isabelle--as Baby Mrs. Claus-- and Gracie--as the naked elf--were so sweet playing hide-and-go-seek with the living room curtain! REALLY playing together - which isn't so typical at this age. Maybe it's because they both rock! We captured lots of pictures and video for their weddings! Audrey Grace was precious on her FIRST stroll! We missed her Dad, Ryan, who's recovering from back surgery.

I'm now officially in the holiday spirit! Which means it's time for the pumpkin to come off the dining room table...

Hi, Shadow

"How cute is she with the shadows?" is what we say to each other. Everywhere we go, Isabelle is on the lookout for her shadow. After greeting it with an enthusiastic, "Hi, Shadow!" she makes her shadow dance and wave.

I'll Get You!

One of Isabelle's favorite games is playing chase. When she wants to initiate the game she looks over at one of us and yells, "I'll get you!" And then takes off running!



Highlights from the past couple weeks:

--We didn't realize that Wow! was out of food. But Isabelle did! She appeared next to us with his empty bowl in one hand and his entire bag of food in the other.

--After being away for five days over Thanksgiving, we pulled into the driveway, and Isabelle shouted, "Home! Mommy, Daddy, Wow!"

--INN (Isabelle News Network) is the only thing she associates with computers and televisions. So, whenever she catches a glimpse of one she points and repeats, "Isabelle, Daddy! Isabelle, Daddy!" until we call up the blog or YouTube. (After all, Mom is usually the one working the camera.)

--She loves giving kisses through the glass shower door.

--More and more often she's stringing two and three words together.

--Isabelle is very good at being in charge of the kitty... telling him what to do, and, more importantly, what not to do! Kitty on the kitchen table is cause for the most finger waving admonishment.

--Chalk, like its waxy cousin crayons, is a meal not a toy. But we'll keep trying!

--The pronunciation of "book" has gone from "boooo, booo" to "boooo" "kkkk"

--Isabelle is a master door and drawer closer which comes in quite handy, as I seem to have been born with a missing door/drawer closing gene.

Isabelle takes swimming lessons

Isabelle has been taking swimming lessons since she was 6 months old! Here is a montage of a lesson with Daddy taken in the fall (when she is just over a year old).

Gobble! Gobble!

We are having a wonderful Thanksgiving in Gales Ferry! Will be updating pictures soon!!!

Pool Chase

Isabelle has been enjoying her evening swims at the Holiday Inn pool. First, though, she likes to warm up with a run!



Isabelle turns 15 months on Saturday - also the date of Nana's BIG retirement party! Congratulations, Nana! We suspect that you'll be even busier in retirement than you are now - if that's possible!

Mom & Dad Report: We're doing well with no bottle going to bed (still having one around 4/5am), and are slowly easing our way into allowing her to fall asleep on her own. There's no more snuggling until sleep comes, but she likes knowing we're in the room even if we're just reading with a little book light on her couch. At dinner last night she picked up every different ingredient in her fish stew and asked what it was before popping it in her mouth. And this morning at breakfast she consistently added "please (peez)" everytime she asked for more pineapple. Giant legos and Thanksgiving books (how does that crazy doggy bake a pumpkin pie?) top the list of new activities this week. And my absolute number one recommendation: the Learning Tower Step Stool. With it, Isabelle is right up there in all the kitchen action where she wants to be!

Want to Know Her Name? Just Ask!

What She's Up To (and by she, we mean you!)

Some new stuff that our Little Gorilla is treating us to:
Lots of 360s when she's dancing... saying her name... pointing to the - and saying - mooooon... loving her new pink suede boots... knowing the colors yellow and blue... reading "Goodnight Bush" (a fantastic parody of "Goodnight Moon" that we now happily refer to as "Goodbye Bush")... walking inside the house from the car... carrying her Thomas The Train lunchbox or her orange, sequined pumpkin purse... squealing with laughter at Baby Isabelle on AppleTV... confusing cold and hot (everything is hot, including the freezer)... reorganizing the refrigerator... eating pickles... saying "cheers" as she bumps her blueberry juice to our wine... making kissing noises to call the kitty... sneaking bites of kitty food... going into the voting booth with Daddy (this dovetailed nicely with saying Obama)... hugging crying babies... helping Mommy cook... attempting to get herself dressed (she has mastered the head through the shirt, but that's where it ends)... loving the polar bears at the Central Park Zoo... raising her arms and waving them in the sky when we ask "How much do we love you?"

Isabelle & Wow! Cruisin' I-95

Grammi and Grampi took exceptional care of Wow! at Kitty Camp Brundage in Gales Ferry while we were in Wilmington. And the car rides before dropping him off and after picking him up were among Isabelle's most enjoyable times in the car seat! See for yourself:




We had a surprise run-in with Grampi at the Super Stop&Shop - we were all there buying whole milk for Isabelle! I'm 39-years-old, and Dad is still supplying the staples... next day when we left, Dennis found a twenty dollar bill on the driver's seat for gas. Thank you, Dad! Grammi made a delicious dinner - breaded chicken breast and roasted rosemary organic veggies that were drizzled with canola oil. It was just like the old days... Sunday night dinner downstairs in the family room, watching 60 Minutes and anticipating popcorn! All we needed was some of Dad's famous homemade iced-tea and Breyer's mint chocolate chip ice cream!

Trick or Treat!

Isabelle heard that Uncle Mike and Auntie Mo were building a haunted house in Delaware, and she wanted a road trip! Thanks to our Adventures in Potty Training, road trips aren't as easy as they once were, and we're seriously thinking about quitting our jobs in order to advocate for family bathrooms at highway exits across the United States.

For a kid, the Delaware Murphy set-up is like winning the lottery. Every bouncy, pushy, squishy, jumpy thing you can imagine can be found around every corner. Isabelle loved bouncing on the trampoline with cousins Trip, Maggie, Wilson and Quinny, and couldn't get enough of Auntie Mo's famous chili! This was Isabelle's first time trick-or-treating, and it didn't take long for her to catch on! By house number 3, she was walking up to the door on her own and reaching her lion paw deep into the candy bowl. Along the way, we learned that since we'd been trick-or-treating in the 70's and 80's, there are new lyrics to the "trick-or-treat, smell my feet" song: "Trick-or-treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat! If you don't, I don't care, I'll pull down your underwear!"

As you can see, the whole family got into the Wizard of Oz spirit! This is the first time in 10 years of marriage that Dennis and I have dressed up on Halloween. What fun!! We envision years and years of family-themed Halloweens! Those of you with older kids are probably thinking, "Ah, spoken like the parent of a one-year-old!"

Wow! joins the family

We gave Isabelle a new kitty in late October - Isabelle named him "Wow!"He's about 11weeks old now. Wow! is a Ragdoll breed, and he has an amazing personality. Ragdolls are known for being playful but passive when picked up... perfect for Isabelle! (Little Mik - our previous kitty - passed away over the summer. But he's the reason Isabelle's very first word was "ki-ee!")

FIRST Birthday!

Year One. Year Wonderful! Preparing for Isabelle's first birthday bash was almost as much fun as the party itself! We decorated the clubhouse at Fiddler's Cove Marina with sand snowmen, pink, green and white balloons, photographs highlighting first year bliss, lemonade with floating duckies, and, of course, family and friends! Nana's delicious mini-cupcakes and Nick's swordfish and special chicken hit the spot. Isabelle loved having cousins Anika, RJ, Lexi and Ethan there - as well as her friends Olivia, Nolan, Tyler, Luke, Paige and Clover the Clown! Isabelle found her groove boogying to the Captain Zoom Birthday song. "Hey, Isabelle! It's your birthday!" I had a a 45rpm record with my name in the song as a kid - and loved it! - and was able to download an mp3 with Isabelle's name! It was one of those rarest of days - when you imagine how it could be, how you want it to be... and it actually is better than you ever dreamed. Highlights: the escalation of Isabelle and Nolan's relationship; having Auntie Peggy there taking pictures; Isabelle watching her Year One DVD, playing peek-a-boo with Clover the Clown and dancing with us to her birthday song; Anika enjoying her hand painting; Auntie Bonnie and Uncle Michael sitting at the kids' table.

While most of the family went to the park to play after the party, Isabelle and I (and Grammi and Grampi) indulged in a 2-hour nap! Then the party raged on back at the house with a lobster feast!

Rome-ing Around!

It's official! The first stamp has been entered in Isabelle's passport! After vacationing in Capri for a week, we headed to Rome for Senza Frontiere (the Film Festival Without Borders) where Isabelle took her very first steps in our hotel room. Here, she's climbing the Spanish Steps in Piazza di Spagna.

Horribles Parade

We are "The Pirates of New Silver Beach!" Thanks to Grandpa and his pirate ship building skills, you are looking at the proud winners of the Best Family Float! It's been 20 years since Dennis took home the prize! Isabelle played the part of parrot, and seemed to amaze the crowds (or at least Nana!) with her perch on Dennis' shoulder and continous wave down the main thoroughfare. Cousins Maggie, Anika, Trip, Elli, Wilson and Quinn and friend Tyler all helped to make Isabelle's first July 4th so special.

Father's Day Weekend

What a great weekend! Dennis and I did our first sprint triathlon together (first for me, third for him), and Isabelle and Nana were at Craigville Beach in Hyannis to cheer us on. Isabelle even got a kiss from Daddy when he ran out of the ocean (which was a phenomenal 65 degrees)! Fellow Jiver Tracy Curran also did the tri, and we all headed to Bassett's Island for a boat BBQ and a day on the beach. This, of course, was cause for many Isabelle firsts: first ride in the zodiac, first dip in the ocean, first taste of turkey burger, beach stand and seaweed, first juice box(and, hence, first straw)...

Other highlights: (1) The newly engaged Ryan and Meghan (yay!) joined us on their sailboat. (2) As five-year-old Maggie (rockstar/Tracy mini-me) swam from the boat to shore with Bri, she realized her younger brother and sister were also heading in to the beach. She turned to Bri and said, "I kinda like it just the two of us." (3) Discovering from the 20-set that DSL can have nothing to do with high bandwidth.

Learned something else very disturbing from our friend, Justin, who at the age of 4 contracted a virus and lost his hearing: insurance companies (almost universally) do not cover the high cost of hearing aids. Viagra, no problem. Hearing aids, no way. Disgusting. His hearing aids last about 2 years and cost $6,000 to replace.

Dennis' Father's Day photo album kept us busy all weekend - Isabelle loved looking at the full-page 12x12 pix of her with Daddy. And anytime we put it away with her other books, she'd push those aside and pull the photo album back out.

She's pretty much done with baby food now - even the Stage 3 stuff. One day she loved it. The next day it made her gag, and that was that. And we're not holding back! After sneaking away to see our first movie alone together (Ironman - awesome) since Isabelle was born, we picked her up at Nana and Grampies and went out to the Golden Swan for dinner - Isabelle's first Indian meal. I realize a lot of people might think - Oh, a baby won't like Indian food. Why not? Think about all the babies in India lucky enough to be raised on garam masala. Turns out Isabelle loves it, too! She had garlic naan, raita, dahl makhani, and tandoori swordfish.

Early Summer Day

Isabelle's first meal without any baby food included corn-on-the-cob, BBQ chicken (thick and spicy BBQ sauce), spinach, pasta salad with feta cheese and watermelon! She worked up quite an appetite today helping Dad put the finishing touches on a signed offer at the office, on the bike ride to/from Woods Hole, and at the playground and library. She capped off the day by requesting we read (sing!) My Favorite Things three times! (Thank you Grandma Grape for this reading favorite!)

New toy she loves: Melissa and Doug jumbo knob puzzle.

Happy Memorial Day!

(Below: Auntie Bri, Matt, Heather, Olivia, Katie, Mike and Allison are all on board for the first voyage of the season!)

The 2008 Inaugural Boat Ride! We set up a playpen in the aft cabin, filled it with some new toys and ocean/summer-themed books, and we were off! First to the Chart Room. Then on to Marion's Tabor Academy for Grace Long's 1st Birthday party where Mom Nicole whipped up the most delicious fajitas, and the party theme was like none you've ever seen: a pinkish, purplish, greenish, garden, butterfly and pirate party. And, yes, all aspects of the theme were well represented! We pulled up right on the Tabor dock, which we realize would be quite a nice commute if Isabelle does go there for high school (we'll just need to convince her that playing sports with the guys by the ocean in a bikini isn't the best idea). We did enjoy that they guys were blasting Ozzy, though. After napping (and possibly drooling) all over Nicole and Eric's couch, we continued our voyage to New Bedford, overnighting at Pope Island Marina (Super Simon helped us with the key), and taking in the Fairhaven Memorial Day parade in the morning.

Quote of the Week

There are no ugly babies. Just degrees of cuteness.
--Mary Brundage, My mother and grandmother to 6 children -
all of whom she says are the most beautiful babies in the world.

Rubber Duckie, You're the One

Breakin' the Law

Yes, that's me driving. We're on our way to La Cucina Sul Mare, Falmouth's best Italian restaurant (do not miss Mark's mussels or meatballs!). Isabelle's great-great grandma (born in Sicily) and great-great grandpa(born in Tuscany) would be proud of our little spaghetti face!

Mazel Tov!

It's a boy! So, it's a bris! Samuel Sullivan met the mohel today. Mom Lucia kept one hand over her eyes and the other on her wine glass, while Dad Kevin was careful to keep his pinkies far from the clamps. There wasn't much danger of Sam making any sudden moves as he was knocked out with a Manischewitz and baby Tylenol cocktail, but Grandpa Bob still gently held his legs. The circumcision was followed by a naming ceremony and the singing of a Jewish lullaby. Welcome to the world, Sam! (Pictured above: Kevin holding Sam who is 13 days old.)

An Isabelle 1st today: smoked salmon and capers!

Chart Room Opens For the Season

(To Left: Tammy, Dennis & Isabelle, Genevieve, Liz.
Below: Isabelle's 1st lobster bite!)
Famous for its baked stuffed lobster, over-sized lobster salad sandwiches and picturesque sunset views, the Chart Room is the perfect place to usher in the summer. We weren't sure we'd make the big opening - I had spent a good part of the day in NYC (the New York Women's Foundation breakfast was so inspiring), and Isabelle had been sent home sick from daycare (we think she just wanted to spend the day with Dad!).

Turns out lobster newburg is Isabelle's favorite dish! And I have no trouble taking credit for that. I have the fondest memories of my 10th birthday. My mother, who was working full-time and had a 3 AND 4-year-old, somehow found the time to prepare lobster newburg served over carefully-trimmed triagulated toast. I can still taste it!

Slam Dunk!

After missing every single swimming lesson so far this session (that's 5 out of the 6), we finally made it to a make-up class this morning. And let me just say this: When there are 10 babies in the pool, those dark rust spots on the bottom sure do get your attention! Other highlights: Dennis couldn't find his regular bathing suit, so he was wearing his American speedo (tight, but thankfully like biking shorts); we were the only ones with both parents in the pool; and, most of all, Isabelle's first underwater dunk! And second. And third... Can't wait to get her in the ocean!

Story Time!

Favorite books right now:
--Emily Dickinson poetry (from the amazing Poetry for Young People series - 9 times out of 10 this book gets picked before any other)
--Gossie and Friends (she loves these flaps)
--What Makes a Rainbow (ribbon book)--Baby Danced the Polka (these rhymes really make you want to do a jig! We made up our own version in the pool: Whoa Papa's goggles! Whoa Momma's suit! Baby's swimmin' in the pool, and isn't she cute!)
--Peter Rabbit Touch and Feel(memorable adjectives and textures for everyone from Ptolemy Tortoise to Jeremy Fisher. Squirrel Nutkin isn't in it even though that's one of Isabelle's newest nicknames!)

We enjoy reading the fairy tales to her (acutally more to each other). Mostly because they are so awful it's comical. Did you hear the one about the twelve princesses??? Their father, the king, locks them in their bedroom, sends a soldier to spy on them, and then lets this soldier-spy choose which daughter he wants to marry. Maybe they live in Austria...

Kitty. Ball. Bye. Dada?

(Picture: Isabelle hanging out with her friend, Olivia, and Dad, Matt. Others at the dinner party, but not pictured: Heather, Todd & Mark, Maura & Arthur aka Mr. Spitz, and Bri.)

As much as I'd like to hear "Mama" every time I enter a room, it seems "Dada" has the edge. Sometimes clothes and stuffed animals are also greeted with "Dada" - but Daddy definitely gets the most enthusiastic version which is always accompanied by fervent clapping. No one gets quite the reaction as the kitty, though! If Mik would allow it, Isabelle would chase him around all day with a look of grand anticipation, followed by stunned ecstasy whenever she manages to pull a piece of fur.

Speaking of cats... what's that saying? When the cat's away...

This weekend while I was at the Rochester High Falls International Festival (loved it!), Dennis and Isabelle were (from what I've been told) eating french fries (didn't we just get a massive order of Earth's Best organic?), going to the theater (Pirates of Penzance), downing hotdogs (all of a sudden ice cream brain freeze doesn't seem so bad) and checking out the everybody-knows-your-name scene at Grumpies (worth it for the story of the 18-month-olds).

Yesterday, one of the daycare workers told me Isabelle is stubborn. Hmmmm... not quite sure what to do with that information. I bet Isbelle had started up that same tired argument that almost ruined Christmas: "No! Not Zwieback! Cherrios! Cheerios! Cheerios are the best invention ever! Ehhhhhhhhhhh-verrrrrrrr."

Shout out to Cousin Anika who's cruisin' the Las Vegas strip "diaper style" this week.

Principle Pictures Flouts Child Labor Laws

Look who we found working the PP mailroom!

Peanuts, Cracker Jacks and... Green Peppers!

Front row at the EMC Club - not bad for Isabelle's first baseball game! Thanks Uncle Orvie and Auntie Kelly!

Before we took our seats, Isabelle held a World Series ring which was quickly snatched away when she started chewing on it. Then through this white table-clothed world we went... "Go out this door, and stop when you get right behind home plate," the concierge told us.

The Boston Globe described "upstairs at Fenway" this way in an article back in April 2006: "The Red Sox's new $275-a-game haven is perfectly designed to appeal to the rich, the very rich, and the merely well connected. The little touches are everywhere. Valet parking attendants stand ready to take ticket holders' cars. Heaters above the seats -- think french-fry warmers -- protect the bigwigs from Boston's often-chilly weather. They can be escorted to batting practice and visit the Green Monster to get their photos taken. Even the restrooms come with fresh flowers and scented soap. No troughs here."

Wait a minute!! Batting practice? Photos at the Green Monster?? Next time... Oh, and tickets now cost $300 a game, but the modest family sitting behind us snapped up four seats on game day for half price.

And although crab cakes and lobster rolls were offered on the menu, we stayed loyal to our Fenway franks and Italian sausages... giving Isabelle a chance to enjoy her first green (monster) pepper -- much to Uncle Orvie's horror...

Stand and Deliver

It's four days before her 8 month "birthday" - and Isabelle can add "pulls herself up to stand" and "one-handed show-off standing tricks" to her resume. She's only been in the crib for a few days (we promised ourselves that when we got back from the Sonoma Valley Film Festival that it was time), but already she's gotten the hang of spindles as leverage and using the crib for baby theater. Her audience of two gasped and clapped on cue, and the performer finally wore herself out.

Another first today - playing in the sand. We had thought about going for a pool swim, but the high temps lured us to take a walk on New Silver Beach instead in the same sands her Dad played in when he was a little boy... The white, smooth rock Isabelle tried to eat reminded us of Etretat's shingle beach, and we saved it for her Memory Tree.

Especially Strawberries

The first strawberry was quickly followed by the second and third. When those were devoured, a fourth and fifth weren't far behind. Fortunately, two professional photographers were on hand at the St. Francis Winery in Sonoma to capture it all - giving us an opportunity to enjoy this "paparazzi" moment.

The next day we stopped at Whole Foods hoping to pick up Zweiback (they don't carry it), and I found myself reading a book about making your own baby food (love the concept, can't imagine the execution... but I suspect it would go something like my canning experiment a few years ago. The short version: Everyone we know received "Beth and Dennis' Excellent Turkey Soup" for Christmas, and I soon became terrified that I had poisoned everyone when I mistook the pungent smell of broccoli rabe--I thought I'd bought baby broccoli--for botulism.) According to this book, what's the Number One food to avoid during baby's first year? Berries. Especially strawberries.

Isabelle meets The President

At a Hillary Fundraiser in NYC, Isabelle met President Clinton -- Thank you Auntie Rory!!! People often ask us, "Where is Bill's hand?" The answer: on Beth's ---.

Party Heart-y!

The artist and her Valentine. Admittedly, none of the books mention introducing finger paints at 6 months, but we were careful she didn't eat any. I read that some people use jelly instead of paint with babies, but we didn't think day care would appreciate sticky, grape Valentines!