Baby Food!...

A Busy Summer...

I really should entitle this post "A Busy Life..." because that's exactly what Casey has had so far in her mere six months!

Tee Jay and I are currently both on living room couches (he's snoring; I'm typing) as Casey naps on a quilt on the floor. We are embracing and enjoying a lazy Sunday, yes. But...

we wrote down our hectic schedule since her birth and have realized that in addition to our travels to RI (twice), NYC (once), and several weekend drives to nearby NJ, we have had out-of-state company in our home for 12 weekends since Casey's birth. TWELVE!! That's three months of visitors - not to mention our "in town" friends who have also stopped by.

This is not to say that we are ungrateful for our past guests nor are we opposed to future ones - but we're savoring our do-nothing-but-go-to-Mass-today plan.

Here are just some things we've experienced this Summer:


Tee Jay got his first grill! (Thanks, Dad and Cheryl)
We attended the 2009 Longwood Graduate Program's Appreciation Event (these are Tee Jay's fellows and professor from last year's graduation)
Checked out the Binswanger Triangle in Philadelphia (that Teej himself designed!)
Keri visited from Florida and brought Casey a dolphin (straight from Discovery Cove, where Keri works!)
Showed Casey how delicious Phở can be (though she got it "second hand" several hours later)
We had fun in New Hampshire with Auntie Erin, Uncle Shawn, Auntie Tree, and cousins
Casey learned from a pro (Grand Dad, a.k.a. The Dishwasher King)
Casey experienced her first-ever swim... dressed as Tarzan
The Santuccis rocked the 80s music and put the babies to sleep while dancing
We took Casey to her first Stephen Starr restaurant (ooh la la)
Someone learned how to sit up!
Daddy passed along his musical skills for the recorder...
...and the guitar!
More fun times were spent with cousins (here at the Adventure Aquarium)
And Mama and Daddy spent another wonderful day with Casey at Longwood Gardens
Needless to say, we're exhausted!

It's been a whirlwind since February 20, 2009 - and we're loving every minute!

Six Months Old...

Yes, Casey turned six months old (six months old!!!) on Thursday, and I can hardly believe it.

In just another six months, will we really be celebrating her first birthday? It's crazy how quickly the months pass when you're having the time of your life!

Sooooo Hip...

Our girl is too cool for school. Case in point:


We've been playing a little hooky lately, leaving early the past two Fridays (well, maybe it's her Mama who's leading the hooky parade!).

And tomorrow morning, Casey and I will venture out to Temple University's Developmental Psychology Lab to take part in a study on 5-month-olds (which Casey technically is for the next three days). Therefore, she won't arrive to Chesterbrook until noonish... and much to the chagrin of her teachers (who truly Love, Love, Love her - capital "L"s intentional!), because Casey's four crazy cousins are coming into town, she'll leave early on Thursday, skip school altogether on Friday, and come in late next Monday, too!

But what can I say? Summer is about sunglasses and fun, right?

This Just In...

... Casey loves avocado!

Auntie Heather, get ready to take her to Rosa Mexicano for some good NYC eats!

A Wonderful Reminder...

If you know me, you know I'm a worrier... neurotic... etc. Whatever word you want to use, it probably fits just so long as it means that I'm not the most relaxed soul out there.

Being a Mommy has helped to elevate my fears, not relieve them.

A new article by Danielle Bean at InsideCatholic.com offers a wonderful reminder of how life is supposed to be lived:

For The Love of A Balloon

"Oh no!" An entire van full of children gasped as two-year-old Daniel's green balloon escaped his chubby fingers, bounced its way over seats, and ducked out a partially opened window.

We watched in silence as the balloon floated freely past a nearby tree and then rode the wind, bobbed in the breeze, and climbed ever higher into the sky. Within seconds, it rose above the tree line and disappeared from our view.

Inside the van, a balloon-less Daniel took a deep breath and we all waited for what was to come.

Surely it would come.

It did come: He screeched. He wailed. He sobbed. And we leapt into action.

"Here, have my balloon!" many children offered at once. An older sister even handed him her green balloon -- an exact replica of the one that had just wormed its way from the clutch of his tiny fingers.

Such a replacement would have satisfied any reasonable person. But, of course, even on his best days, a two-year-old is not any sort of reasonable person.

"Noooo!" came the predictable protest. "Dat not my balloon!"

I am unusually sensitive to balloon-related tragedies. When I was a little girl, I suffered from severe balloon angst myself. I loved balloons. And when I say that, I don't just mean I loved them. I mean I really loved them.

I didn't play with balloons often, but when I did get my hands on one, fear gripped my heart. I clutched the balloon and tied its string to my wrist. I checked the knots, tightened them, and then checked them again. When I envisioned my precious balloon freeing itself from its tethers and floating away into the sky, I had to catch my breath.

And so it was that though I truly loved balloons, I never did enjoy them. Who can enjoy that kind of anxiety and pressure? Who can be grateful while suffering that kind of fear of loss?

God, the Creator of balloons and every other blessing on earth, intends that we should enjoy the blessings He gives us -- not obsessively secure them, protect them, shelter them, and fear their loss. As every mother knows, though, this is a difficult thing to remember.

One recent afternoon at my parents' house, I found myself sitting on the concrete front steps as I watched my smallest children ride bikes and scoot cars in the driveway.

These were the steps where my own mother sat and watched me ride bikes and scoot cars years ago. This was where she likely watched her children play and, as all mothers do, wondered and worried about whatever might become of them.

As I sat on those steps, I pictured my long-ago mother there, too -- the sometimes weary, often taken for granted mother of nine -- and I hugged her in my heart.

It's going to be alright, I assured her. That little girl on the tricycle will grow up to not only appreciate all that you have given her, but to experience much of it herself so that she might understand motherly love and sacrifice in as intimate and real a way as possible. She will be forever grateful to you for your gifts of faith and unfailing love.

When I consider my own children's futures, I still sometimes allow myself to fear just a bit. I do sometimes have to stop myself from checking and re-checking my "balloon strings."

I know from experience that one of the greatest gifts I can give my children is the example of loving without fear. It takes a special kind of strength and discipline to not spoil the gift of this exact moment with fears for the future or laments of losses we have not yet experienced.

I shared these thoughts with my imagined long-ago mother as we sat on the concrete front steps together. We kept each other company there, watching toddlers on trikes and basking in the sunshine of our perspective.

Holding on too hard or holding back out of fear are not love at all, we agreed. Love is embracing each fragile, fleeting moment for the blessing that it is -- free from fear, and growing in gratitude.

(If you're not familiar with her, Danielle Bean is a Catholic author, a mother to eight children, and my dose of wake-up-and-smell-the-coffee for this week.)

Messy Ventures...

Casey began eating rice cereal this past Sunday, and she's doing pretty well... except that it's one of the messiest ventures we've embarked upon!


As you can see, eating doesn't require just a spoon from Mom or Dad. No, it's also all about fingers and rubbing and blowing raspberries and getting everything wet and slimy!



Even cleanup time is a chance to grab at something (this time the washcloth) and put it in her mouth.


Thank goodness for baby bath tubs!




(Yes, Casey is wearing a rather boyish bib - but it's the biggest one we've got, so it comes in handy. And who cares what bib she's wearing when she flashes those amazing baby blues??)