Children's Museum

The Ball Exhibit
Calia and Avery
Ready to go to the site!
Putting on a show

Yesterday, Calia and I met up with Denise, Andrew and Avery at the Children's Museum of Maine in downtown Portland. Calia was obsessed with the ball exhibit and pretty much anything Avery (age 5) did. She followed Avery around like a little puppy dog, it was soo cute. Calia also enjoyed the constrution site and even put the hat on herself and tried to keep it. Calia dressed up int eh princess dress, while Avery did sound effects for her show.

We hit 20!!

Calia went for her 18 month well child check today and has finally hit 20 pounds...21 lbs, 5 oz to be exact, putting her back on the 25%! She is 31 inches long, also the 25%. Our little peanut! No shots today, she was the model patient for both the resident who examined her and her doctor. When they said "I'm going to look in your ears," Calia rolled over onto her side with the ear facing up and stayed very still, then rolled over to the other. She did everything they asked with no prompting by mommy. She held the stethoscope when it wasn't being used and even knew to put the ear peices in her ears (and no we hadn't practiced that at home!) I was so proud.

Then we went to the lab to have her lead and hematocrit checked (supposed to have done at her 12 month visit, but I was dreading her reaction.) To my shock, when they poked her finger, Calia didn't even blink, then sat quietly on my lap watching them milk the blood out of her litle finger. What a big, brave girl. by the time we left the office, she had 4 stickers proudly displayed on her chest and was beaming with pride (as was her mommmy)! Our next visit isn't until she's 2 years old, oh my!

Just like her daddy, Calia loves Pretzels!

Struting her stuff
Huh?

With Dora, watching Dora

Calia and Jack

Calia showing Jack his femoral head

Jack's surgery went well onThursday. The fracture was through the growth plate of his femoral neck. The went in and removed the femoral head (the "ball" of the ball and socket joint of the hip) attached what was left of the bone to muscle, etc. So, that leg may be a tad shorter, but probably nothing anyone will notice and he won't be left with any impairment. while under anesthesia they castrated him, too. Jack is such a super trooper! No cast, hobbling around on 3 legs, although everyday he puts more and more weight on the "new" leg. Calia has even been more gentle with Jack, stopping to give him kisses on the head and gently patting him! Who'd of thought it? Calia is gentle! Now, if only she'd be gentle with Coda!

Poor Jack

So, our poor little kitty broke his leg/hip this morning. Ugh, it was the most horrfic thing I've ever seen and who knew such noises could come from a cat! He got his leg stuck between teh seat and arm rest of our office chair. As he attempted to get free, he kept twisting and snaping at me trying to help. After he was free, he was soo scared and hissing, then tried to run away and did so, on three legs. He let me pet his face and I could tell his leg was externally rotated and limp. Off to the vets, where Jack was diagnosed with an epiphyseal (growth plate) fracture of his femur. He is scheduled to have surgery (osteotomy of the femoral head) on Thursday. He is home with us and partially sedated on pain meds. The vet said for him to avoid any trauma, that should be easy since Calia, Coda and Gabbro (we happen to be dog sitting this week) never go near the cat! (HA!)

The empty box

Wonder what's inside??

Look it can be a hat??

It can also be a seat??

But, oh no Calia is stuck!!

All in a days work

Don't eat the yellow snow!

Face plant!
Helping Daddy??

Last Sunday

Calia looking petrified!

Ahhh back in the warm car!
On the massager at Yiayia and Papa's house
That face!
Jack loves Calia's chair!

We bundled up and went for a walk around MacWorth Island. Unfortunately, the trail was pretty icy and Calia kept sliding around and off on her blowup sled. So, we walked along the inner island, which was shady and she got a little too cold. Oh well, good effort!

Eli's 1st B-day Party

Ready to go party!!

Calia wants YOU to have fun!
Tissue paper is FUN!

(with Ben and Eli)
Enjoying the cake!
Eli taking Calia for a ride on his new car!

Calia loves string cheese!!

Paris??? Nope...Vegas

Vegas Baby!!

Steph, me and Denise

MGM Grand
Across the street to New York

(check out the roller coaster!!)

The Vegas Strip

The three towers in the background are the Signature (where we stayed)

Last weekend, I went to chilly Las Vegas with two of my oldest and dearest friends, Stephanie and Denise. We had a blast!! We were booked at the MGM Grand, but were upgraded to the new MGM Signature Towers. The night we arrived we had tickets to see Prince at Rio's Club 3121. He rocked!! Very blues, funk, jazz feel with some classic Prince mixed in. Sunday, we walked around checked out New York, New York and rode on the amazing roller coaster. Walked up to the Bellagio to catch the fountain show, cruised over to Aladin for dinner, then back to MGM exhausted! Monday, we spent the morning at the spa, then gambled away any money we had left! We shopped a bit, (I got an incredible BCBG bag!) gambled a lot (what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas), ate some great food (Wolfgang Puck rocks), got pampered at the spa (massage, pedicure, facial, ahh heaven)..basically had a great grils weekend away! WE left saying.."where to next year?"

Little Mommy??

I don't think this is the way to settle her baby down.

Taking her baby for a ride...backwards!
Burping Dora??

Last weekend

Calia and Brynna eating snacks

Chewing on Ben's toys

(not the nicest party guest)

Playing with Ben's new toys
Sharing Coda's baby with Coda

This past Saturday, the Nelson's came down to visit and then we all went out to Saporo for dinner. Calia and Brynna took a bit to warm up to each other, once the snack s came out the girls were fine. On Sunday, we went to Ben Farb's 1st birthday party. Calia had fun, since both of her boy toys Ben and Eli were present. She graciously showed Ben how to use al of his new gift and licked each one as to mark her territory. What a sweetheart!

Feed me Baby

On their New Year's Eve date, Ben lovingly fed Calia Cheerios.

New Pictures

Looking at the snow

Vacation over, back to daycare!
Showing off for the kitty how she can pick up her cup using only her teeth.

Too bad, kitty is more interested in stealign her tortilla chip!

New job

I guess since I mailed my resignation letter to UNE and have told my office about it, I can announce I am leaving University of New England to work at Maine Medical Center. I had interviewed back in November for one of five new PA postions on the new Adult Inpatient Medicine service. I go the call last Friday that they were offering me a spot. I'm very excited. Not only will the new job be 3 days a week, but it is a substantial pay increase (25% more than I currently make!) The first month will be hectic with varying work schedules, but eventually it will settle down and enable us to send Calia to daycare 3 days a week only, and maybe only 2 days a week depending if I work one night shift and two day shifts! Since we had a quiet 2006, no new house, job or baby, we are shaking things up a bit in 2007. New job (check), new baby (working on it), new house (by Spring???).

Tamborene

The little one's were having a dance party after opening gifts. Calia kept whacking the tamborene off her leg...Ouch!

Cousins!!

2005

2006
Conga Line??
Calia with the drum, Declan with the drum sticks