Baby Talk

With all this baby talk, and the fact that I can't imagine my own babies that tiny, I scrolled back to try to remember.

Follow this link to reminisce with me about Alexander's first few months alive (apparently, I was too busy to blog often back then...), http://eesm.blogspot.com/2009/03/im-back-bold-statement-after-just-one.html.

And look at pictures of William's first day in the cold Wild & Wonderful, http://eesm.blogspot.com/2012/01/introducing-baby-brother-william.html

Whatever you say, don't mention Pickle Juice...

Seriously, what's up with this boy & pickle juice? He refuses to eat reasonably tasting food, like shepard's pie, but can down a jar of pickle juice like nobody's business. Russians...

(lots of long videos meant for Aunties' & Granny's eyes only...)

Grandpa, More?

Grandpa's coming. "Grandma?" No, Grandpa. "Grandma?"

Alexander LOVES his Grandpa, but without Grandma? No, it just isn't the same. We need them both...

Luckily, Grandma sent a trunkload of presents to make up for her absence.

Including a HUGE Thomas balloon; Wow!

And to thank Grandpa, Alexander shared a few pieces of his dinner cereal.

We're raising a bit of a foodie here...

"Mama! Sit!"

You make your condiments ride shotgun too, right?

If Mama Zoya offers the kid a chocolate Santa, who can say no?

"Mmmm, mmmm, mmm!"

Home again, home again, jiggity, jig.

All roads lead to Carlisle... It's just that some rides are a little smoother. I was thinking of getting some rims like these for the Prius, but Papa said it would affect the gas mileage...

Alexander's second Spring Carlisle was awesome! Despite the double ear infections, gum cutters & late-night burn outs the little man was so comfortable @ Granny Smith's house that he slept better than ever! Off to bed by 7pm and, although he woke around 7am, he played quietly in his Pack-n-Play until Mama, Grandma, Grandpa & Aunt Amy got the yard parked full around 9am! That boy made car show easy!

The Erin Smith Fan Club (Yes, my little man, Mama had a fan club pre-Papa) was in Carlisle before we arrived. Unfortunately, only two of the original members made the trip. Robert is off at Mass Maritime and the cheese-loving Arty Conway Show hasn't been back since Arty passed in 2008.

Fortunately, Big Bob recruited his grandson & Uncle Oyster brought his Bulgarian lawn boy. Alexander LOVED Corey almost as much as he LOVED Nabisco's mini bike!

He didn't, however, care very much for John's new hair plugs!

After selling John's rims & earning a commission of $62.50 and selling the weedwacker Papa found in the street to Big Bob for $40 smackers Wednesday evening, Alexander's show was off to a great start!

And then Davey showed up! Davey is Goin' to California with an Achin' in his heart to see us all one more time. He met Ethan & Sarah @ Mama & Papa's wedding in 2006, but the ol' Spring Carlisle Reunion introduced him to Norah, Charlotte & little Alexander before he gets on that Big Jet Plane.

Aunt Jenn fought the busiest Friday morning traffic we've seen in years to reacquaint Norah & Baby Charlotte with Baby Z's cute little mug. Those kiddos just have so much fun together!

Grandma had her fair share of smiles with the babes too!

Grandma wasn't too sure about her new "Full/Ima Fool" sign, but Alexander and all the drunk guys walking by seemed to enjoy it...

And if 5 days of five a.m., fumes and Fools wasn't enough, as soon as the show was over we headed to Aunt Jenn's for some spring cleaning. Our original mission was to help Jenn get through Sarah's Tuesday morning surgery.

Sunday night Mama relinquished control to grandma (aka asked her to babysit) & headed to Aunt Jenn's to help with up-every-two-hours Charlotte. I'm not sure I was that much help, since I couldn't get her to take a bottle or binkie & had to wake her mama anyway to breast feed, but I tried.

Now, Monday night, I'm pretty sure Mama made a little more of a difference. Aunt Jenn woke up & said, "I haven't slept that good for 2 years." Mission Accomplished.

Fast forward through Sarah's surgery & aftermath... and we had a yard sale! What better way to file away the stress and start new than to clean house & refuse to let it all back in. All I can say is that I learned a lot about my BIL while cleaning out his garage. Nuff said.

We made about $233 minus the case of beer, pizza slices and permanent scaring on the babies knuckles. Did I mention that Alexander REALLY struggled on Aunt Jenn's driveway? He couldn't stay upright and everytime we looked away he was bleeding from a new appendage. Poor little monkey!

Two weeks was a very long time to be away from Papa. When we finally arrived home, our seed had sprouted, our gutter/railing/foyer were all fixed and our Papa was smiling from ear to ear.

Home Sweet Home

The Flowering Cherry is in full bloom. The front porch is adorned with 4 clay pots of alysum, 3 huge Boston Ferns and 2 homemade pansy baskets. The fleur de lis is representin'. And Papa's fence has us all locked in.
And now, our abode has even more new windows! They are beautiful!

Before Baby Boris arrived we contracted with Swingline in Pittsburgh to open the babe's nursery to the world & install new windows. Boy did we get ripped off! But, I guess ignorance is bliss, or at least until you see the light.

Swingline gave us a $3,000+ estimate to replace our crazy-big front window & the 2 square windows on the staircase. And a year later in trots our Knight-in-Shining-Armor... Window World of Pittsburgh!

One third the price, and our new fabutastic windows were installed so much better than the crap-tastic Swingline windows.

Sales pitch? If you need windows in the Pittsburgh, Wheeling, Steubenville, Ohio Valley area, call Ken Fellows & request John K. for your install.

Happiness had by all.

Now, Mama needs some fabric for new curtains!

Daddy Knows Best

Daddy knows best. Surprisingly, it's true.

Papa's been preaching about getting the babes a miniature table & chair for months now, and after a very generous cash present from Mama Zoiya, we figured today was the day! So after swim lessons & a nap, we headed to Ikea.

Alexander, of course, LOVED helping Papa construct, AKA taste the new table!

What a great way to spend a Sunday evening. Unfortunately, we were a little late for the Swedish Meatball dinner, but at least we brought home an awesome Rattan chair, worm toy & table set!

Ah, did I mention Zander's new bedtime routine? Everyone knows Mama's a cuddler. And I've influenced the wee one. Yes, I'm a bad influence. I love it. But my babe, he's laid down to bed every night since our vacation... Awake, that's right, eyes wide open. Awake.

And, to top it all off, the babe has also messed up his time zones since we returned home. Yep, he's sleeping until 8 or 9am. Good stuff.

I wish I would wish a few hours East to Baby Charlotte... that girl's battling with reflux, colitis & siblings. Poor Aunt Jenn needs some sleep!

Still the Birthday Boy But a Month Older

It wouldn't be a birthday without a crazy cool & huge cake by Aunt Jenn! Oooh, it was so yummy. Chocolate & White layers with the best homemade fudgey chocolate frosting between layers. Mmmm, mmm, mmm. Aunt Jenn also fashioned the special ball on top to come off to serve as Zander's own little smash cake! Our family sure does know how to celebrate!

The whole gang traveled to Carlisle to celebrate with Alexander; Babushka, Dedushka and Mama Zoiya from Brooklyn'd, Ernie & Pam, Aunt Jenn, Uncle Mike, Ethan, Sarah, Norah & Baby Charlotte, Grandma & Grandpa, and of course, the birthday boy!

Of course, Alexander got some special birthday kisses from his best baby Norah & a super-special purple smooch from Babushka Anna!

Unfortunately, right after the candles were blown out and Zaney stole a finger swipe of icing, someone laughed or made a loud noise & Alexander thought he was in trouble. He was so scared, he didn't want to touch the cake again!

That was, until Cousin Sarah the cake lover, offered to test Z's smash cake to make sure the Russian Rasputin hadn't hidden anything in the icing. After she gave the all clear, Sarah quickly taught the babe the pleasures of birthday cake. She couldn't stop giggling! So cute!

Our compliments to the baker!

Babushka & Dedushka were so happy to celebrate Shurik's 1st birthday. So happy, Babushka had to poor a full glass of vodka just for baby. :) Just kidding, it is water!

And I've never seen Mama Zoiya happier! Mama gave Alexander a Russian Cheburashka Doll & a Cheburashka Cartoon DVD. The babe loves it & pushes it around the house in his little lawn mower; so cute!

Another great birthday surprise was how much Alexander warmed up to Grandma & Grandpa on this visit to Carlisle. Every time he saw Granny Smith he would run & reach for her. Again, so cute!

The cake was so yummy, Zander couldn't even take a break to smile for a photo with the baker!

After a delicious menagerie of Russian & Smith cuisine & a couple slices of birthday cake, it was time to open a few presents. Pam picked out two of the cutest running suits for Alexander & Mama Norah. Seriously, way, way too cute!

Then grandma led the kids in some birthday games. Dropping the close pin in Grandpa's water cup turned out to be a big success. Actually, Zaney could have kept that game going all night! I'm surprised college kids don't make that into a drinking game!

Then it was off to bed... even after a long day, we still couldn't get Babushka to stop smiling at her youngest grandson!

Nothing's better than a Sunday morning milk mustache!

And then out back to play with Mama Zoiya & Babushka!

Babushka taught Shurik to play fetch & Mama Zoiya taught him how useful a walking stick can be!

Isn't that a good looking crew of grandkids?

Alexander, Papa & I had such a wonderful time visiting everyone & playing with our grandparents & cousins! It was so hard to saddle up & head back to Wild & Wonderful West Virginia...

We're counting the days until we can play with everyone again!