Off we go.

Yep, that's right! Two weeks in a row. I went out with my pledge sisters again- this time for Kendra's 25th birthday. The girls live on the Monan Trail. It's a pretty amazing place. One of our pledge sisters, Kinlaw, was in town. She's in dental school at OSU, so it's pretty rare for her to get out of state. By the looks of this picture, I'm REALLY pale. We'lll be taking care of that this week. Ft. Myers here we come!There she is. Kinlaw is on the right. Em and I are the southsiders and have been driving up to the Rip together. She's getting married in August. We can't wait!

This right here is LJ's breakfast. We had a slumber party last night... well, do boys call it a slumber party? Hmm... this may be something new for me. Well, we had a sleepover last night. Sammy, Luke, and Mickey stayed the night and we all had pancakes and waffles this morning. Big Joey did a heck of a job slaving over the stove at 6:30 am.

LJ being one of the boys.

Chubby little guy-- LJ that is. :)

We'll be in Florida for the next few days. While we're away, we'll be able to check comments, but probably no blogging. See you in April.

"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus."

2 Timothy 3:14-15

Can I even call him a baby anymore?

He's waving. Yes, now he's waving. He's also saying "baba," "dada," and "ma." He claps on command, plays copy cat, plays peak-a-boo, and loves, loves, loves people reading him books. He's crawling up on everything, cruising, opening up the Tupperware cabinets, and basically getting into everything. You can't take your eye off of him. He already chipped his baby tooth (just a very slight chip) from crawling on the coffee table and trying to let go... well, letting go. What am I supposed to tell people... I'm a dental hygienist... my little baby can't have a snaggle! Did I mention he loves bubbles? Oh, and he has really chubby legs?
He loves Daddy!


Like Grandpa, like Joey.

Like Uncle Dog, like Joey.

Life is grand.

Girls, girls, girls.

Have I told you how I lucky I am to have such good friends?! I was able to go out with my pledge sisters last weekend for Lala's birthday, and this weekend we're going out for Kendra's birthday. It's just like the good'ol days. Also, today we had a wonderful visit from Carrie. LJ absolutely loved Carrie. He took right to her (sometimes he still has stranger anxiety). LJ was pulling out all of his tricks. Sometimes I think he's such a ladies man. Although he's only 10 months old (cough, 10 1/2 months old), he flirts. He really does flirt. Sometimes at Gymboree, I find him in the tunnel with Mia and Cora. I mean, what 10 month old strategically places himself in a tunnel (where no parent can fit) and sits and enjoys some QT with the other girls? He seems to amaze me every day!

Out for Dad's 61st Birthday!

It's hard to believe my dad is 61! The whole family went to Iaria's for his birthday bash. We've been going there since we were very little kids. Iaria's is a mom and pop Italian joint on College and Fletcher, and let me ya something.... IT'S AMAZING!! They have the most perfect spaghetti sauce! It's a little sweet, but I swear I could eat it by itself, it's that good.

Sloanie and Joey are really starting to like each other. I think they played in the booth for about 10 minutes together just laughing at one another. Sloanie is about 14 months and LJ is 10 1/2 months. Did I tell you my sister and Jason are expecting?? They're due in September, and we can't hardly wait!

Jules and Bo fed LJ ice cream, which he looooooved!! They're getting married in August. Brooke and I couldn't be more excited for Julia to be part of the family. We're having a fun time prepping for showers and the bachelor party!! I think we already have 6 wedding this summer. I better start polishing off those dancin' shoes!

I'm so lucky to have such a freakin' cool family!

Visitors, visitors!!!!

We had a surprise visit today!!!! Aunt Judy is home from Connecticut, and her and Great Grandma Matis came over. All afternoon we played, played played!!! We had a lot of catching up to do. Judy's kids (our cousins) are really doing neat things right now. Her daughter, Jenny, is on a cruise performing in several shows. She'll be doing this for 6 months and basically traveling the world- Africa, Australia, Mylasia, etc. She's making a killing too!!!! What a great experiece! Her son, Brian, performs in the Winter Guard at Michigan State. He was just in town 2 weekends ago and we were able to see him perform. I don't know very much about music (bare with me), but he's one of the guys that would be performing in the pit that can do about 100 different instruments. We saw him use all sorts of drum sticks on a xylophone?? I think that's what it was.... gosh, I'm bad, but it looked impossible. What a talent! Anyways- it was the coolest thing!! It was such a nice afternoon catching up.

Now, for Great Grandma Matis, who is in her late 80's and doing absolutely wonderful- however, she did throw her back out last week bowling, but seriously who's 80 something and bowls regularly, in several card clubs, and keeps up with all of the Matis festivities. I have no idea how she does it, but she's one busy lady and we're so lucky to have her!

We're back!!!

It's been a little while since I've blogged. I'm working quite a bit more than what I'm used to- about 20-25 hours/week. On our days off, we typically go to Gymboree Play and Music, have a few playdates, out to lunch with my friends from my old job, and of course, cleaning the house :) This picture was taken after a long day of work- nice hair, Mom. This is LJ's Great Aunt Janie. She babysat for LJ last Saturday, and I'm pretty sure LJ had a blast!!! Joey and I had a fantastic, much needed St. Patty's Day celebration. We day drank at the Claddagh with the Irwin's and Novotney's without the babes, then picked up the babes and we all went to McQ's for a few more, and then off to Broad Ripple where we met up with Jason, Brooke, Beau, Jules, and Mikey. It was a perfect night!! I was also able to meet up with my good friend from college, Alex. Brian, LJ's Godfather, came to visit all the way from Portland last weekend. It was a sweet surprise. He's only been able to hang with the Little Man a handful of times, but the Little Man didn't hesitate to crawl all over him for the few hours he was here.

And Peaches is back.... yes, Peaches is back. Don't you remember her from last year???! She hatched 11 babies about 2 weeks before I hatched :) This is a picture through our screen door. She's on our deck. I didn't want to scare her... but yep, she's back!! Can you believe it??

A dedication to Molly Malaney...

because she bought these snazzy sneakers for LJ.

We wore them all day Monday and Tuesday to support M-squared.

We love you Molly!

P.S. LJ crawled through his tunnel 22 times Monday and Tuesday because he was so excited for The Bachelor. He told me.

Yes, they make gowns that small.

Welp, we got through the surgery. Although LJ was a bit distraught from the anesthesia, he was great the rest of the day. What an experience though. I seriously never understood how my parents felt. I remember thinking it was so weird how my parents would

worry about me when I was hitting big hurdles throughout my life.

I think I was almost annoyed they were worried, but man, oh, man, as a parent I totally see it now. Your heart just cries out louder and your heart pulls that much harder for your own children. It's truly amazing how you can love someone so much!Sorta, kinda happy before surgery.

Waking up from a big nap to bubbles when we got

home (after he screamed for an hour straight).

Feeling all better!!!

Just another day in the life of Lil' Joey.

About Molly...

http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2009/03/a-passionate-defense-of-molly-malaney/


I love this specific blog about Molly.

CRAZY SMILE TODAY...

CRAZY DAY TOMORROW!!

Tomorrow we have to be scrubbed in at St. Francis at 6:15am to get tubes in LJ's ears. I'm really nervous since he has to go under. Please say a little prayer for us.

What do you say...

when your son is 9 1/2 months old and he's as big as a 2 year old?? when he laughs like me? (Well, at least I think so.)

when your waitress says his cheeks and hands look exactly like mine?? I don't know about you, but I don't know if that's a compliment toward a woman who is still trying to lose some baby weight!

But aren't his hands hilarious?? I love it when strangers say, "Oh, he'll grow out of that. He'll thin right up." I want to say, "Are you saying he's fat?"

Is there such a thing...

as The Bachelor Eve??? Well, tonight there is!! Tomorrow is the "so-called" final episode of The Bachelor, but Tuesday they have a 2nd finale. Ah, the confusion! Molly Malaney, one of the 2 girls left, is one of my pledge sisters that I lived with at IU. She's a darling girl who is a friend to all. There were 35 girls in my pledge class and I wouldn't be surprised if she had all of our numbers in her phone. Whatever the next few days has to hold, Molly did say this was a "life changing experience," and no matter what happens she is very happy. This has been so much fun watching her on TV, seeing her in People magazine, and reading about her in about every Hollywood gossip blog. She has always been a star in our eyes and she will continue to be after the show is over. GO MOL!