Scrub-A-Dub...Baby In The Tub!!!

Home Improvement Project

So as most of you know we live in a older house - the bathroom is yellow and black and the bath area has these horrible gold sliding doors on it - the doors are always spotted with water stains no matter how much cleaning I do, it's very hard to clean the tub and nearly impossible to give AJ a bath in it so we have been using the kitchen sink. Well if you have been reading the blog you are aware that AJ is now a splahsaholic and soaks the entire kitchen when getting her nightly bath. Alex and I were debating about having Bathfitters come - but we really weren't into spending the $ since we will be putting the house up for sale one day soon...so we decided to do it ourselves and I am very happy with the result! It took all day but in the end it was so worth giving AJ a bath in the tub!

I felt like "Tim the Tool Man Taylor" and Alex like Bob Vila - we had to unscrew the doors and then remove the molding around it - Alex pried off the doors but there was a dried glue residue around the whole thing - we had to use this adhesive remover and then a paint scraper to get it all off. Then we hung up a pole and shower curtain, put in a new shelf thing that Alex put together and got a new rug and waste basket! It's like a whole new bathroom - we even got a new medicine cabinet but have to return it for a bigger size - maybe next weekend! I mean it's still the horrible yellow and black color but A TON more user friendly!

LET'S GO MOUNTAINEERS!!!!

Splish Splash I Was...Soaking The Kitchen!

So AJ just discovered how fun it is to splash in the sink - she soaked the whole entire kitchen! Very cute but hopefully she outgrows this soon or I am going to have to start wearing a poncho during bathtime!

BEST TOYS EVER!

For Easter Uncle Eddie & Uncle Mark got AJ the best toys ever - I highly recommend them to any parent! So we all know that babies want to play with things they aren't supposed to - aka cell phones. WELL there is this brand of toys that look like the real thing and babies love them (not sure how long she'll be fooled but for now it works)! They make phones, ipods, microphones, keys, ect. Anyways - a huge thanks to them for getting her great toys that she is loving!

Righteous Rice Crispy Treats!

My sister in law (well soon to be in September but I say close enough) is the best baker ever - she is always making us sweet treats and Easter was no exception! In AJ's basket there was this amazing rice crispy treat egg - to top it off it was filled with all kinds of chocolates - I am sooo sorry I was way to preoccupied with eating it I forgot to take a before pic, well I got a almost done one and a finished one!!! OK PEOPLE - THIS WAS AN HOUR AFTER OUR DESSERT AT THE RESTAURANT!!!!

DUKE NUKED!!!!

So I haven't really mentioned my Mountaineers so far since they have got into the Tournament - I just didn't want to jinx them - but after today's HUGE WIN - I just can't hold my tongue anymore!!!!! Mazzulla played an amazing game today against Duke - WOW - he's not even a starter and his stats for the game were amazing! Ruoff got the 2nd half started right with our first 3 point shot of the game - we really came back with a vengeance then - we were on fire for pretty much the rest of the game. With 59.9 seconds to go we were leading 68-55 - IN THE BAG - we won with a very satisfying lead 73-67!!! LET'S GO MOUNTAINEERS!

PS - Alexander (our "best" player) didn't even have a amazing game, I mean he did a great job still - he just wasn't his normal spectacular self!

Easter Photo Shoot!

This one didn't go as well as the Christmas one - AJ did NOT like this strange lady in her face trying to make her smile by blowing wind at her! We took a total of 4 pics and by the last one she was crying...I do have to admit that the 3 she did smile in came out pretty darn cute!

HAPPY EASTER!!!!

Contact Lenses

Just got them yesterday and I love them already! AJ is always grabbing for and pulling off my glasses and since I always wanted to try them, that gave me just the push I needed! So far I have had no trouble getting them in or taking them out - they bother me for only about a minute once I get them in and then just like that I am used to them! LOVE THEM - don't know why I didn't get them sooner!

Saturday night with the Matrales!

We had a great time Saturday night at cousin Tracy's new house. AJ got to see her cousins Nicholas, Christopher & Matthew, Aunt Marie, Grandma & Grandpa and Great Grandpa! Tracy cooked a yummo chicken dish with mushrooms & prosciutto in a butter creme sauce and Grandma made a awesome salad with almonds, cranberries & mandarin oranges - everything was sooo good! For dessert we had this awesome custard pie with fresh fruit a top, complements of Aunt Marie. Thanks to some hilarious stories from Great Grandpa we laughed the night away!

Swim Class!

Saturday Alex took AJ to her very first swim class at NYSC! They both really enjoyed themselves and Alex seemed really happy to have some special father/daughter time. AJ did really great in the water - she was kicking her legs, she did some floating on her back and even put her face toward the water when Alex was showing her how to blow bubbles. Cousin Christopher and Uncle Bill were in the class too which made it even more special! A really good time was had by all!

A special thank you to Aunt Michele for finding the class!!

Flowers!

I know I just posted about my great husband but then he went ahead and out did his #1 daddy/husband status! Today I got a special delivery of Gerber Daisies (my favorite flowers) for no reason at all except to tell me what a wonderful mother and wife I am! AJ is just getting over her 1st cold and almost ear infection (which means for all the soon to be moms the past week has been challenging and very tiresome). Anyways she is feeling better slowly but surely (thanks to moms love & patience) and thanks to Alex, mom feels rejuvenated! A win/win situation for all!

Baby's Got Hair!

After 8 1/2 months AJ FINALLY has enough hair to mohawk in the tub!

March of Dimes - March for Babies

Alex, AJ & I are participating in the March of Dimes - March for babies.

The money we raise helps save premature and sick babies. Premature birth is the #1 cause of newborn death and the biggest threat to babies’ health today, and through March for Babies, the March of Dimes is funding important research to find out why premature birth happens and what can be done to prevent it.

To sponsor us you can go to my personal web page and make a donation-

http://www.marchforbabies.org/laurenmatrale

Thanks!

A "Shout Out" to the BEST HUSBAND EVER!!!

I just wanted to give my Alex a "shout out" and tell the blog world how much I love him! Not only does he work two jobs at least 3 nights/week to support me & AJ, he walks in with a huge smile and happy attitude every single night! On the weekends he is the first one to jump up to get AJ with the first sign she is awake. As I struggle to get out of bed the two of them are already downstairs enjoying the day! All weekend long he is so happy spending all his time with us - dirty diaper, bottle time, play time, fussy and want to be carried in the stores - NO FEAR, DAD IS HERE!!!!!!!

Alex, not only do you get the #1 DAD award, you get the #1 HUSBAND award!!!! AJ & I love you tons and tons and couldn't be any prouder to have you as ours!!!! Thanks for being you!!!

Christopher's 1st Birthday!

On Sunday we had the pleasure of going to Nero's to celebrate Christopher's 1st Birthday! The food was amazing - for lunch we got to fill up on penne vodka, chicken francaise, filet of sole stuffed with spinach, roasted potatoes, garlic string beans, fresh mozzarella & tomatoes and a yummy salad! For desert there was a tray of fresh fruit and an amazing white cake filled with chocolate pudding and topped with chocolate icing - it was delish!

I really can't believe he is 1 already - this time last year I was about 5 months pregnant and although that time (my prego days) seems ages away, I can't believe my little AJ is going to be 1 herself in 4 months! Where has all the time gone? Certainly on more then one occasion I have used the phrase "time fly's by" but until now I really never realized how quick! Alex and I really do treasure each and every moment with her!