Checking in

Recent radio silence is indicative of the way things are going here in the Cribari household. We are busy, tired and just making it through! Annie and Lily are doing really well, and everyone seems to be adjusting to the new family unit. Lily has become my shadow, and wants to either play with me, color with me or sit on my lap ALL THE TIME. It's very hard to turn down her little face saying "Mommy, stay here!" when I try to get up and go do something else. Annie is thriving and doing what a newborn is supposed to do. She is eating well, and sleeping in mostly 3 hour segments. She is definitely a snuggler and likes to be held as much as possible. Lily likes to hold her while she's watching Dora.

Paul and I are hanging in there. Paul is busy with teaching, studying for his doctoral qualifying exams and the general chaos of having a new baby in the house. I've been recovering from way too many complications with this pregnancy, and starting to feel better. Annie isn't super cooperative when it comes to the camera, but here are some pictures from the past few weeks.

Sisters!

Lily's budding fashion sense emerges

All smiles!

Who me?

Annie can't take her eyes off of whatever is in Nick Jr.

Time for a big update

Since Thanksgiving things have been both boring and busy. 8 weeks on bed rest made for some really boring stretches of time, but the holiday season with a toddler and a new baby on the way kept Paul really busy.

We are very pleased to welcome Anne Elizabeth Cribari to the family!! She was born on January 1, 2011 (1-1-11!) at 8:10 in the morning, weighing 8 pounds 1 oz, and measuring 22 inches long. After a few days on the blue bilirubin bed, she is doing great, sleeping, eating, and doing all the other things that newborns do. Lily wants absolutely nothing to do with her, and so far keeps calling her "Nana's Baby." She will not be so happy when Nana leaves and forgets her baby. Here are some pictures from the last month and a half or so, just to keep things up to date.

The Holidays are Here!

This time of year always seems so far off, but once it gets here, time flies by so fast. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with the Cassells and the Fords. We all met up in Evergreen at Dennis and Kelly's house for a wonderful meal and a lot of good time together. Sometimes I can't help but think about that fact that one blind date all those years ago in Houston, TX brought about this big family. What a great thing! Here are a few fun pictures from the weekend.

Screaming in the stairwell

Jerseys

Wearing Aunt Michelle's hat

What a beautiful girl!

All because two people fell in love

Happy Halloween 2010!

Pumpkin Time!

Halloween is in a few days, so we decided to visit a local pumpkin patch - aka the Presbyterian church a few blocks away - and get ourselves a pumpkin. People must have heard about this whole pumpkin tradition, because it was pretty slim pickins at the church. We did get a pumpkin, but since it was awfully windy and chilly, we made a short trip of it. Here are a few shots of our little pumpkin on the hunt for the perfect gourd.

Someone is turning 2!

Thanks to a trip from the Texas contingent, Lily had her 2nd birthday party a few days early. She didn't mind a bit. We all had a great time on Sunday, and the weather could not have been more perfect. We borrowed a bounce house from the neighbors (they own one!) and all of the kids had a blast. We noshed on yummy sandwiches and delicious cake. The big hit of the day was the retro pink kitchen that Lily got for her birthday. My favorite part was hearing her yell"birday!!!" over and over again. Here are a few choice pictures from the day!

Long time Gone

So, it's been a while since we have had an update, and my sincerest apologies! Lily has been busy playing outside, doing sidewalk chalk, traveling to Dallas and starting back to full time day care. She has no idea that her world is about to change in a big bad way! She knows that Mommy has a baby in her belly - as much as a 2 year old can understand that. She is talking up a storm these days, understanding more than even we realized, and might possibly be showing signs of readiness for potty training. I'm not ready for that yet. Here are a few pictures from the past few months, and even though she is wearing the same thing in many of them, she is still the fashion plate that she has always been.

In the bounce house at the block party

Cooling off in one of the three kiddie pools

Enjoying some cake at the twins' birthday party

Coloring at the Children's Museum

Pleased with her creation!