December 2010 Snapshot

What Are We...Reading:
Cody- Lords of Discipline by local celebrity Pat Conroy. 
Erin- Just finished Persuasion by Jane Austen (sigh);  Taking Charge of your Fertility one of those books you can just read over and over again!  Especially after you have a baby :).
Sean- a new Animal book from GG and DaDa in honor of our trip to the Zoo this month; What is Christmas and The First Christmas.
James- War and Peace.

Cooking/Eating:
Cody and Erin: Avocado and Mango!  Lots of it!  We had two A & M salads in the last few weeks, both delicious.  Tonight grilled chicken, peppers and onions. 
Sean- Mango, plus the old staples of PB & J and yogurt and fruit (together).  Sean can now spot a Mango from 20 yards away at the grocery store and repeats "Seannie want his mango, Seanie want his mango" until I relent and put one in the basket.
James- Avocado (are you picking up on the theme in our kitchen lately?).  More interesting is what Jamesie is not eating which is breastmilk.  At 8.5 months he has completely rejected his mother and screams and arches his back whenever I try to breastfeed him.  Any one else experience this at that age?  At this rate we are heading full steam toward 100% formula. 

Talking about:
Cody and Erin: Christmas plans, breastfeeding (or lack thereof... Cody has been a saint listening to my "feelings" on the subject for quite a few days in a row now). 
Sean: Numbers--Sean counted to 9 yesterday by himself and not leaving out any of the numbers!  This morning before we went into his room we stood by the door listening to him count his fingers...adorable!  He usually skips 5 and likes to repeat "6,7,8,9" a lot.  Also geography: he points out Poland on his place-mat world map almost everyday and says "Fr. Jeremi is from there.  And his Daddy and his Mommy.  and his brother.  What Fr. Jeremi's brother name?  What Fr.Jeremi's Daddy's name? He took an airplane from Poland." 
Sean also does this pattern of speech lately where he asks a question he wants you to ask back to him.  Most of our conversation throughout the day follows this pattern.  For example:
Sean: What's Seannie eating?
Mom: What's Seannie eating?
Sean: Seannie eating oats.
James: I swear James did the sign for "more" on December 1st, but I haven't seen it again, so maybe it was a fluke.  Everytime I do it and try to encourage him he just giggles. 

Praying For: 
Cody and Erin: In thanksgiving for Bridget's baby John Kyran; as always, for many pregnant friends. Also praying for guidance about careers and family and for a peaceful Christmas, and the ability to offer up any stress to the Lord in order to really focus the Holy-day of Christmas.
Sean: In this order: Aub, Neece and Michael (still).  Now he also prays for Jake and Lexi (both dogs) and then says as quickly as he can "mommy, daddy, jamesie, daddy, we already prayed for daddy, mommy, we already prayed for mommy..."  Every meal he asks to say "Greta's prayer" which goes like this: (hands folded meticulously), "Dear Jesus, thank you for this food."
James: for a deeper understanding of the Trinity and the Incarnation during this Advent season.

Listening To:
Cody and Erin: The same, Willie, Van, U2 etc.
Sean: Still "Beautiful Boy" over and over and over and over again.  Sean can also now recognize Darius Rucker's voice on the radio and says "That's Da-i-us."  Also loves "The Glue Song," which is "stuck like glue" by Sugarland.  Oh oh oh stuck like glue, you and me baby, we're stuck like glue.  Often song through the aisles of the grocery store at Sean's request.
James:  A few latin hymns he picked up at Church over the last few weeks.

Thankful For:
Cody: "cute boys." 
Erin:  being able to see all our family at Christmas! And Cody.   And nice friends who have a very cute, tall  and preppy boy exactly one size bigger than Sean...very thankful for them cleaning out their closet and passing down some adorable clothes and shoes!  Especially since Sean's Christmas outfit is about 2 inches too short everywhere. 
Sean: On Cody's birthday I asked Sean to help me finish the sentence, "We are thankful for Daddy because..."  and the things he listed were: "He tells you (me) stories about Jesus," "takes you (me) to Costco," and "makes you (me) waffles and oats in the morning."  Sean has also been thankful for Daddy playing racing cars with him after dinner lately.  Only Daddy can do a "T-bone" with two cars.  Mommy doesn't even know what that is.
James:  Formula.  Blah. 

Milestones/Special Accomplishments
Cody--Turned 31 this month!  Yes, 31 is pretty anti-climatic.  Oh well.   
Sean: Counting to 9.  We also went to the Zoo this month with GG and DaDa which Sean loved.  He saw a "Po-graffe"  (giraffe), Tigers, Ostriches, Penguins, Flamingos, etc etc etc.  He loved it.   
James- Yet another tooth up top which made my sweet little boy a bit cranky for the last week or so.  we are very glad it finally poked through, but now awaiting its companion. 

Come, They Told Me...

Sean got this cute little Nativity set in "a mail" from my mom the other day, which includes a Little Drummer Boy, whom Sean has taken a liking to in the last few weeks (he sings the "pa-rum pa-rum pa-rum" song).  Sean has become quite attached to Mary and Jofef and Baby Jesus and Little Drummer Boy, and they have accompanied everywhere the last few days:

Eating Breakfast with the Holy Family and their visitor.

Setting them up on the "oppo-man"

Showing Mommy.

Watching George. (Little drummer boy looks strangely like Ben Stiller.)

Carefully left in front of the tree as an offering.

Perhaps if Mary had a Caterpillar truck instead of a donkey they would have gotten to Bethlehem in time to get a room at the inn. 

Not pictured are the Holy Family resting on Seannie's windowsill at night, where they sleep (this was a compromise as he wanted to "put them on the wall," but Cody and I were unwilling to nail them to the spot Sean wanted them), and their trip to Mr. Peter's office, where Baby Jesus was left in a coincidental foreshadowing of Mary and Joseph leaving him at the Temple!  Not to worry, Mr. Peter made a trip by our house on the way home from work to return Baby Jesus to his parents.  Sean was very concerned. 

And, just for good measure, because Jamesie is so very cute:

Love.

Happy Birthday Cody!

We love Cody!  I think this birthday card from Sean just about sums it up:

Bridget's Baby Came Out!

After months of anticipation, watching Bridget's belly getting bigger and bigger, praying for Bridget's Baby, and talking about whether it will be a girl baby (to be named Greta, according to Sean) or a boy baby, Sean was thrilled to hear the big news last week, and ran around the house saying "Bridget's baby came out!"  BTW, it was a boy baby, named John.  He told me a few weeks ago that when Bridget's baby comes out she will put a hat on him and give him breastmilk.  He's a perceptive little one!  We had the pleasure of witnessing Baby John's baptism last weekend (amazingly, 7 days postpartum-- whoa Mama!).  I was on family camera duty during the big event, so here are some shots from afterwards:

BOYS!  Greta and Mairn, we miss you girls! 

Book Club.

He he he, while those older boys are over there reading their books, I've got first dibs on the only girl in town--Baby Cora.

She is soft and cute.

One thing I love about Cody is his soft spot for newborn babies.  While many men might shy away from holding the 7-lb-ers, or leave it to the women to fawn over them, Cody always gets right in there and asks to hold the baby, then usually sits peacefully with the babe for a good stretch.  He's great with newborns-- he's certainly our baby whisperer around here. 

Christmas is Coming...

For the second year in a row (we don't have a great track record for Christmas decorations), we actually have a Christmas tree--inside our house!  Sean was so excited about a Christmas tree this year, we couldn't deny him the thrill of picking one out and helping us decorate it with "ormamament and wights." 

Sean and Cody getting the lights ready and ornaments out.

Hmmm... a real tree in our house...what does it feel like?

Helping Sean hang an ornament "all by himself."  We heard a great homily last year by Fr. Wilson about really trying to celebrate Advent as its own season, rather than skipping right to Christmas on December 1.  So, we try to keep up Advent decorations until the big day, which means a purple and pink tree, an Advent wreath and candles, and lots of other purple and pink ribbons and bows and decorations around the house.  This year I'm allowing a little more in the way of Christmas, as Sean and I have been busy making our own Christmas cards, each one with a Christmas theme on it (Mary and "Jofef" walking to Bethlehem with a Baby in the Belly, for example), which in itself is a good way to prepare our hearts and home for Baby Jesus.  Speaking of babies....

This little one is now a champ at sitting up by himself and quite enjoyed watching us get the tree and ornaments up.

Cool dude in his hat and cowboy-ish shirt.  Cool dudes still suck their thumbs when they get tired though.

Um, excuse me, why did you stop taking pictures of me by the tree?

Fr. Solanus Fan Club

When we were in Detroit visiting my mom we took a field trip to the Fr. Solanus Casey Center at the Capuchin Monastary in Detroit.  Fr. Solanus was a humble doorman at the Capuchin Monastary in the early to mid 20th century (d. 1957).  He was ordained a priest, but with the "simplex" designation, which means he was not allowed to hear confessions or preach because his superiors thought him too stupid.  It just so happens Fr. Solanus started to heal sick people who came to him, without any medical explanation (also known as a "miracle").  He had a heart for the poor and the sick, and aptly, Detroit, and just so happens to be up for Sainthood.  He is currently at the level of "venerable" and from my poor understanding of beatification, that means once "they" confirm a few more miracles he will be up for full-fledged sainthood, and Detroit, in dire need of it, will finally have a patron saint! 

Sean loves priests and especially friars.  So, guess who is Fr. Solanus ("Fatha So-wan-us") biggest advocate for Sainthood lately? 

Lets zoom in on this picture a little bit, for a taste of Sean's recent campaign for St. Solanus:

This has become daily wear these days.  Our two year old boy has turned into an old church lady, wearing his venerable button around all day.  He asks for it every day, and I have to wrangle it off of him for nap time.  Pope Benedict, if you have any questions about Fr. Solanus's cause for Sainthood, please call Sean at home.  He'll be more than happy to vouch for him.

First Comes Love...

(May 2006)

(November 2010)

Thanksgiving Recap

We had a GREAT Thanksgiving week visiting my family in Detroit.  After our last two disasters flying, we decided to drive the 14 hours, becuase (a) you can easily spend 14 hours in transit with air travel, (b), you would have no control over those 14 hours of your life, whereas at least we have control to stop or go as we please in our own car, and (c), TSA "pat-downs."  The boys did great on the way there, until about 10 p.m. when James woke up crying, and Sean spent the next three hours staring at him (albeit quietly staring).  I was so glad to get to my mom's house and lay down in a silent room.  We did use benedryl on James on the way back, and everyone was happier for it.  Yes, I drugged my child, judge me as you will. 

At my mom's house we saw my Aunt Sue and Uncle Jerry from St. Louis.  Sue is a notorious baby-lover, and after a few hours observing her with Sean and James, Cody asked if I inherited that gene from her. Danny and Mikey, if you are reading this, beware, I saw your mother mouth "I need grandbabies" more than once. 

Sandy, Eva and Gaia came by for a day for a Sunday-Thanksgiving and an impromptu bday party for Sandy.  This picture captures the visit-- Gaia LOVED holding James and reading to him, and Sandy graciously read countless Berenstain Bears books to the 4-and-unders all afternoon....meanwhile, Eva is 12 and texting. 

First-cousins-in-law (its hard to explain).  Gaia was so great with James, and Seannie loved following Gaia around.  When one of our guests left that afternoon Sean pointed at Gaia and said "Her stay here."  Just tonight he was talking about Gaia and asking us if she has a Costco.

Talk about looking up to his first cousin-- Eva is legendary in Sean's eyes--- we pray for her at night all the time, have pictures of her all over, and he even gets to see her a few times a year!  So, when they do get together, he is in awe. 

Of course, the boys got LOTS of grandmotherly attention from Mama Peggy-- reading Berenstain Bears and Clifford books (in a laundry basket), and a REAL (stuffed) Clifford Dog was waiting for Seannie on his little bed when we arrived (at 2:00 a.m.).  Sean did not let go of "Cliff" all week-- and he is currently sleeping with him. Sean also loves watching tennis on TV (and can say "Djokovich"), which gels perfectly with Mama Peggy, whose TV is on the Tennis Channel 90% of the day.

Next it was off to Pop and B's house, and Pop took us to the Detroit Thanksgiving Day parade early Thursday morning.  This is something we used to do as kids every year and I have fond (but cold) memories of it.  It was exciting to watch Sean soak it all in (Cody promptly volunteered to stay home with James when he saw the weather report).

The only snag to the "Po-rade" (as SB says it), was when a brightly painted clown tried to put beads around Sean's neck.  He was so scared out of his mind, he was screaming, sobbing, and as the clown got closer (couldn't the clown tell this was not going well????), he started flailing all limbs to keep it at bay.  Unfortunately, the clowns were the first display, but luckily, Sean recovered.  When we asked him about it later, he denied the whole thing-- I guess he blocked it out.  We said, "Seannie, did you see clowns at the parade?"  "No."  "Did a clown give you those beads?" "No."

And of course, where there is Pop, there is Costco.  Here is a shot of "Uncle" and Sean in matching ND jerseys, in the basket at Costco.  Gabriel couldn't decide all week whether it was better following around (mobile) Sean, or investigating (stationary) James.  Sean was just about in heaven with all the new toys to play with, not to mention the treats Pop kept "sneaking" him.  Somehow, he now knows what M&Ms are and has been asking for them since we got home.  Tonight we went to Costco and he asked for "red cake."  Hmm...

With all the babies, this is a pretty accurate representation of our Thanksgiving dinner. It was delicious and enjoyable, and we timed it so that all three boys were awake and eating with us.  Perfectly timed, or perfect mistake?  Not sure yet.... Most of the dinner was spent managing three bibs, three demands (in different stages of language), three different forms of milk, and six curious hands.  But, a joyful chaos nonetheless. 

We also had my 10-year reunion the day after thanksgiving, but for some reason I didn't take any pictures, which I am kicking myself for now.  Trust me, it wasn't because it wouldn't have been cool-- I threw out any semblence of "cool" when I brought out the camera to show people pictures of Sean and James!  Somehow, it never got switched from "play" mode to picture mode.  It was really really great to see so many people from high school though.  High school is awkward and embarrasing for everyone, but I really loved the experience, and loved a lot of people I don't see anymore. 

That's all for Thanksgiving... in full swing for Advent and Christmas preparations here now!

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...

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."

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!

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!