Michael is absolutely amazing. As I lay here, he sleeps soundly in his little crib next to me looking so sweet. I am actually getting choked up just looking him, and wonder how I got so lucky to have this perfect little baby.
He just loves to be in his crib, all swaddled up.
This month, on August 8th, I went back to work. Michael was only eight weeks old, and it was torture handing my infant off to a virtual stranger. Although I know everyone at Julie's Story Book Nursery, and I adore the staff there, it was still hard to place my newborn baby in another person's arms. I cried so hard, it took about a half-hour for me to calm down (the poor staff tried to console me, to no avail)! Eight weeks at home with my son was not enough time--I wish I could keep him all to myself all day, every day. But of course, I have no choice but to work. I've done this twice before, and I know it will get a bit easier as he gets older (although I still wish I can stay home with Lexi and Aidan, too!).
A few days before I started work, Michael started sleeping through the night (so considerate!). I put him in at 7pm and he would wake up the next morning at about 5:30ish, and it's been pretty consistent the entire month, although there have been a few nights here and there where he would wake up at 3:30--but I can definitely deal with that! He's really on a perfect schedule. He naps throughout the day, usually 1-2 hours in the morning and 2-3 hours in the afternoon. He has such a wonderful disposition--he rarely cries and is smiling more and more. He actually laughed out loud on Sunday, August 28th. My mother was holding him, and Aunt Barbara was making silly faces and sounds that he just loved! It happened to be the day of Hurricane Irene. He is eating about 6-7 ounces, 5 times per day.
On August 13th, Michael was 2 months old!
This summer has been pretty boring for Alexa and Aidan. Usually we are busy going from amusement parks to game farms to festivals, etc. But I have been leery to take Michael out in public places--afraid he would get sick, especially since there was a recent whooping cough outbreak on Long Island in Smithtown. I know I probably overreacted, and didn't need to keep him cooped up in the house for the first two months of his life, but after the numerous health scares we had with Aidan, I wasn't about to take any chances.
But we did get to go to Venetian Shores with Denise, Mommy and Aunt Barbara, which the kids loved!
My gorgeous girl...
Follow the leader!
As I'm yelling at Aidan and Stephen to get off the fence, I'm snapping pictures because they look so darn cute. And truth be told, I'm only yelling at them so the other parents think I'm actually disciplining my kid--who really cares if they hang on the net?
I'm trying to talk to them here, but they are engrossed with something on that damn iPad! They are total addicts--always an iPad, iPod or iPhone in these kids' hands, it's ridiculous!
Alexa and Aidan have been taking swimming lessons at Saf-T-Swim for about 3 or four months now. They finally received a ribbon! Actually, Aidan received his first ribbon, and Alexa received her first TWO! They are doing great, and super proud of them! Unfortunately, I didn't know they were getting a ribbon, so I didn't bring my camera, but the cell phone pics aren't too bad.
They got to ring the bell together, and everyone cheered!!!
The instructors gave them their ribbons. Alexa's instructor, Craig, is standing behind Aidan in this picture, and Aidan's instructor, Mike, is standing behind Lexi.
Showing off their ribbons!
A day at the park, Marjorie Post Park.
My handsome boy...
Pretty girl...
Having fun...
Lexi, so proud that she can slide down the pole like a firefighter!
Aidan got his first stitches this month! He kicked a snow shovel (not sure why), and the metal edge of the shovel designed to chop up the snow/ice actually chopped Aidan's foot! He got a little cut, but it was deep enough to require a trip to E.R. at Good Samaritan Hospital.
Here is the cut...
Waiting to get stitched! Aidan was a trooper--and this is one of those times I'm happy we have the iPad!
This month was a month of storms! There was a rain/thunder storm earlier in the month, causing a tree to go down a couple of houses away from us--we had no power for the day. Greg went outside to take a look, and couldn't find an umbrella--Alexa shared hers...
Then there was the kids' first hurricane, Hurricane Irene! Greg went to the firehouse, so I was on my own with the kids. I packed them up and headed to Aunt Denise's house. The kids loved it, and were so excited to have their first sleepover! It was a stressful night, since there were tornado watches in addition the hurricane watch. But by morning, the storm was downgraded to a tropical storm (I learned that the difference between a hurricane and a tropical storm is only 4 mph!). Although Denise and I never lost electric, most of the island had outages. As I write this, my mother still doesn't have electric (day 3). Once it was over, I was again reminded of how incredibly blessed I am, and how God seems to always answer my prayers to protect my family, my babies.
