Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Just For Fun...


We are back from our long trip to Michigan, surviving 14-hr, 900 mile trips--each way-- with the boys.  I'm just digging out from piles of laundry and new christmas decorations, so I haven't even started to organize the many pictures from the last week.  In the meantime, enjoy some cuteness from a few weeks ago...

Thursday, November 18, 2010

To Greta, I Love You


When Cody and I moved to Charleston in the Summer of 2007, we had no friends, no money, no jobs and no luck.  I was as homesick as I've ever been, stuck in our tiny apartment studying for the Bar exam all day, with no comforts (besides Cody :)), or fun on the horizon.  We started going to daily mass at 7 a.m., because what else do you do with your day when you have no friends, no money and no jobs?  Amidst the Catholic-senior citizen population of Charleston we spotted a young trendy looking couple and one young, bald, yet trendy looking, man.  I was so forlorn with our new situation, I waited after mass and pounced.  I wanted friends, and quick. 
The future-Vercollones, the Reetzs and the Groebers shortly after moving to Charleston, fall 2007
Our very first friends in Charleston were Luke and Andrea and Paul and Gretchen.  Luke and Andrea weren't even engaged yet, and Paul and Gretchen were just married the year before, like us.  We were all transplants to Charleston, just trying to figure out what we were doing there.  

The two common threads we all had were: 1. we were Catholic, and 2. we had no friends in Charleston.  Quickly these folks became our family of friends in this new (and hot) place.  Only a few weeks after we met Paul and Gretchen I lost our first baby, in July, 2007.  I kept thinking, if only I were at home by my family, or back at Notre Dame with people who really knew us, this would be easier.  I was distraught and despairing.  On July 4 we went with Paul and Gretchen to the downtown fireworks display and Gretchen listened patiently as I told her how sad I was and how much I wanted our baby.  Even more patiently, Gretchen sat with me as I was silent for the next hour or so, just being sad.  Paul selflessly spent his birthday listening to Cody and just being a good distraction for him after all the stress of the last few days.

Exactly a year later, after we all enjoyed a few months of late nights playing charades and Bible Trivia (thanks to Paul), the baby-train began and Paul and Gretchen were among the first visitors to meet Baby Sean.  It was when I was 36 weeks with Sean Gretchen told me she was expecting Greta, and I jumped out of my seat so fast I started contracting right there!  It was as if my baby recognized his little friend inside Gretchen!

Fast forward nine month and when Gretchen's maternity leave was over Sean and Greta were babysat together every day.  The love story begins.  They took naps together, had their bottles together, cuddled together, and to Paul's chagrin, learned how to kiss eachother.

Sean and Greta would often wake up from their afternoon naps around the same time, just as Gretchen and I were getting home to greet them.  We would lament the fact that we had to work while there were warm, cuddly babies to hold at home.  We always took comfort in the thought that they were together during the day.   

After a few months, Gabe joined Sean and Greta during the day, and the three amigos spent all their time together.  I took comfort knowing that Gretchen, Amanda and I were all in the same situation-- we didn't want to work away from the babies, but at this point in our lives and marriages, we had to, and all of us were making sacrifices so our husbands could build their careers and talents-- being public defenders, struggling artists or pursuing a higher degree to realize their potential.  Coming home in the afternoon/evening to good friends experiencing the same sacrifices and struggles as you every day helps lighten your load.  Often on a Friday night picking up the babies turned into an impromptu or planned dinner for all the couples.  It was a great, organic community centered on the same values and beliefs (and cute babies).

Sean and Gabe sometimes came to fisticuffs over Greta.  Just kiding, Sean loves Gabe too, but Greta is pretty and wears pink bows in her hair, which makes her different, and, well, attractive.  When Sean was learning his colors a few months ago, everytime we came to pink he would say "Na-na," his word for "Greta."  This went on for months before he would actually say the word "pink."


Sean and Greta would often eat their meals like this--holding hands.

This summer when Jamesie was born Greta got some practice of having a new, little baby around in preparation for Baby Xavi. 

There are no words for the cuteness in this picture.  As our families grew, Paul and Gretchen and the Groebers and the Williams would often spend a Saturday or Sunday morning or afternoon at the beach.  Gretchen, Amanda and I also spent no insignificant amount of time at Babies R Us (sans grumpy husband) and planning each other's baby showers as our families grew. 

This fall when Baby Xavier was born Paul and Gretchen graciously asked us to be God-parents.  I was so happy and humbled that we could serve this role.  It gives me a lot of comfort to know that we are eternally bound to Paul and Gretchen and their family.  We are family now, no matter where we go.

Which leads me to the point of this long-winded post-- where we (they) are going.  Gretchen and I have always wanted the same thing-- to be there when our babies wake up from naps, to breastfeed the little ones without having to pump bottles at work, to teach the bigger ones colors and alphabets and prayers and manners.  We delighted in Gretchen's maternity leave after having Xavi--we got together a few times a week for the kids to play and eat and for us to chat and walk or just sit together.  Gretchen dreaded going back to work and leaving the babies again and I didn't want her to have to do it either, after enjoying the last two months so much.  

The little brothers snuggling together

Paul and Gretchen are incredibly faith-filled, trusting people, and they prayed and prayed the same prayers Cody and I had been praying as we were trying to figure out my work situation after James came.  Then, God answered their prayers with an amazing job for Paul, designing products for Target....in Minnesota.  The new job will allow Gretchen to stay home with the babies, but the home will be in Minnesota.  This is truly a great opportunity for them, but it leaves all the Groebers pretty sad. 

  So, Tuesday night was the last night for the Groebers and Reetzs to enjoy dinner, wine, and babies before we said goodbye for good (or until we can see them on a visit).  Sean and Greta both usually have 7:00 p.m bedtimes to keep them rested and sane.  Tuesday night we let them stay up until 9:00 pm, running wild through the house, tumbling over each other, hugging each other and kissing each other.  Finally, when Sean hit his final, final wall, we took him to bed, and Greta stood at the baby gate at the stairs saying "bye bye Seannie, bye bye Seannie."  We have a fantasy that the two of them will meet up at Notre Dame or Stubenville one day, and upon first sight warm feelings of security and childhood will be invoked.  They'll either fall (back) in love and get married, or sean will become the Pope and Greta a Carmelite nun and they'll carry on a legendary spiritual friendship.  I'll take either scenario.

In preparing Sean for his last goodbye to Greta, we made her a picture.  Sean told me what to write over a photograph of them at the beach together.  He was so proud to give it to her when she came over.  It says, "To Greta, I Love You."

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Heard Around The House

Sean was playing with Legos yesterday when I noticed him starting to do the "pee-pee dance," so I had to begrudgingly tear him away from his legos for a few seconds to go potty.  On our way out of the room he says,

"We'll come back, Legos."

Then, on the way back into the family room after using the potty, he announces,

"We're coming back now, Legos!" 

The kicker happened when I left to go start dinner and I heard him say,

"Hey, Lego Man, you want some food?"  (Lego man was entering a Lego-house I had built for him).  He asked him the same question this morning too.  Sean is so hospitable!

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Like Father Like Son

Last Thursday we went to Beaufort, SC for the morning to celebrate Veteran's Day and my mom's birthday (even though she was in Michigan).  It was a beautiful morning and we just spent our time walking around the shops and stores and drinking coffee (or milk for the 2 and unders).  Cody and I dream about doing just this one day when we are retired, but sans kids. 

The following pictures were not staged at all, and are pretty much the only shots I got all morning.  It just so happens that Sean likes to follow his Daddy around!



Monday, November 8, 2010

November 2010 Snapshot

The folks over at Building Cathedrals, a blog I like, started doing a "Thoughts for Thursday" thing a few months ago where each writer basically gives a snapshot of their home and family on their particular Thursday.  I really liked this because it preserves in time all the little, mundane, ordinary things your family is up to at that moment, that when looked back upon, really are extra-ordinary.  With that goal in mind, I thought to start doing monthly snapshots of our family to keep you all updated on the things we can't capture in a real snapshot, and to capture the memories of all those little, yet amazing, things that we might not otherwise remember.  Here's our first go at it:

What Are We...
Reading:
Cody- Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe;
Erin- Just finished Northanger Abbey and just started Persuasion, both Jane Austen.  We are also reading The Virtue Driven Life by Fr. Benedict Groschel for our reading group this month; 
Sean- Happy Halloween Curious George, Curious George Counting Book, and Winnie the Pooh's Treasure;
James-the word "Exersaucer" printed on his favorite piece of furniture.

Cooking/Eating:
Cody and Erin: we just tried a new Butternut Squash soup recipe and it was delicious!  Trying a new Potato Soup recipe for the crockpot later this week. Other than that, the usual grilled chicken, stir fry, tacos, etc.
Sean- Peanut Butter and Jelly-- lots of it.  He also gets a treat after dinner if he goes all day without an accident.  He has been choosing his lollipop as his treat lately-- and working on the SAME one since Halloween night.  It goes in the refridgerator in wax paper in between turns.
James- rice cereal, green beans, peas, squash and sweet potatoes!

Talking about:
Cody and Erin: How to configure the car for a long trip to Michigan; Cody's criminal defense attorney's CLE; the gubernatorial election in SC; how to say goodbye to good friends. 
Sean: "Seannie Seannie hear a Thomas (train) outside,"  "Daddy pick you (me) up," "Mommy put your (my) mittens on you (me)."  Sean has also mastered the concept of "two weeks," as in, "Seannie Seannie go to Michigan in two weeks."   Sean's favorite number lately is 4, and almost always asks to "read 4 books" when going to bed, or "want 4 pieces of egg" in the morning.
James: Starting to babble with "B's" and lots of giggling, mostly at his brother. James used his first baby-sign a few weeks ago--"milk."  He does it while he's eating and he lights up if you ask him if he wants milk while using the sign.

Praying For: 
Cody and Erin: Meg-- as she is working though a tough illness and a mysterious auto-immune disorder diagnosis; for guidance about the next steps in our careers and our family.  I am also constantly praying for pregnant friends and those giving birth, like Susie just did!  There is something about friends being in labor that makes me so anxious all I can do is pray for them all day.  Praise God baby Carson is here and healthy!  Next up is Bridget and her little bundle!
Sean: In this order: Aub, Neece and Michael, and Greta.  Then its fair game who come next.  Micah, his dog, GG and Dada, Eva, Mama Peggy, Pop and B and Uncle, Emmy, Gretchen, or when Riley babysat him last week "The Big Bad Wolf." (pray for your enemies, i guess?).
James: more milk.

Listening To:
Cody and Erin: A few new songs from the Crazy Heart soundtrack, a lot of Willie and Van Morrison, and the new U2 album. Oh, and a lot of Darius Rucker. 
Sean: Anything by Bono, Beautiful Boy remake by Ben Harper (I told him it is his song since the original says "darling Sean" at the end), and The Priests
James: The exersaucer songs.

Thankful For:
Cody: That we are all healthy, and that someone brought in Starbucks to work today. 
Erin: Being home all day which makes it possible to wake up sweet, warm, cuddly boys from naps.
Sean: New matching Christmas-monkey jammies from Mama Peggy. (see below)
James: milk. 

Milestones/Special Accomplishments
Cody--shaved his beard and looks exceedingly handsome; had a great result on a trial he prepared for all week night and day but then ended up pleading to a very good result at the last minute. 
Erin-- I am mastering the coupon+sale method of grocery shopping, plus making a few pretty cool christmas gifts--working on the "home economics" side of being a stay-at-home-mom. 
Cody and Erin: We had our first night away from children in almost 2.5 years this past week.  Many thanks to my mom who stayed over night solo with the boys while Cody and I enjoyed a night out in Savannah--just husband, wife and breastpump!  We left in the late afternoon and I was back by late morning, only missing two feedings with Jamesie.  It was so nice to have a date with my husband, and in such a wonderful and romantic city!  We basically just copied Denise and Michael's first date in terms of restaurant and bar selection, and we loved it.
Sean: lots of "dry days" in a row lately with no accidents!  Which mostly requires a poop on the potty which is a huge deal around here.  The other day in the grocery store he sounded out the word "B-I-G" mostly by himself. 
James- Got his first two teeth literally on the day of his 6-mo check up.  On Sunday he was chomping down on our fingers and we didn't feel a thing.  On Monday morning the doctor nonchalantly says "I see his teeth have come in."  I looked like a negligent mother that I hadn't even noticed!  I was trying to convince him, "I swear those two teeth were not there last night."  James also sat up by himself for the first time this week--just over 6 months!

That's all for now.  Anything else you'd like to be updated on for future editions?

I went to Costco and got a two-pack of cute boys.  Just kidding-- we just got the monkey-jammies there.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Happy Belated Halloween, All Saints' and All Souls' Day!

Pope Sean the First! (with trick-or-treating bag).  We were up in Boone, NC visiting Meg and Tim last weekend, where Sean did his trick-or-treating (to two houses).  The weather was awesomely-fallish and we had a blast.  Unfortunately, I left our camera and the rest of our pics in the back seat of Tim's car--hopefully we'll get it back soon.

Sean says, "A Pope does this" while he does his papal blessing.  He did awesome with his costume and everyone loved it.  I just giggle everytime I look at this.

And here is the Pope's faithful servant the rosy-cheeked St. Francis, with Beth the Girl.  He and Beth hit it off smashingly this weekend (Beth and Micah and Jake the Dog came up to meet us as well), I think Sean might have some competition.

I am so in love with our family. 
Sometimes I seriously wonder if I'm going to be like Octo-mom and be addicted to having babies.  Look at those two (not to mention the handsome husband)-- how could you not want more babies!?