ZIZBOT

Waking up with Zizbot.

ZIZBOT is a stuffed bear from Morgan's class at school that everyone gets a turn with, taking home for the weekend. This weekend was Morgan's turn. Here are some picts of her weekend with Zizbot.

Making pancakes! (Chocolate chip ones!!)
Zizbot thought they were delicious!

Maddie liked Zizbot too. She tried to get him!
Morgan and Zizbot swinging together.
Zizbot climbed the tree and told Daddy we need bird food!
Zizbot and Morgan played hide and seek.

Zizbot loved his day outside!

This afternoon Morgan and I went to get the pictures developed for the class book and put her pages together. It was very cute! Thanks for the memories, Zizbot.

9 months!!!

Is it possible? My baby is really 9 months old?! Yup. At Maddie's 9 month check up the doc suggests we give her a sippy cup....really?...can she be that old?! All kidding (kind of) aside, Madeline had a great check up.

23 lbs. 29.5" long, and 18.25" head circumference...all in the 95%ile. On every one of those. So, yes, growing up and coming right along. Our doc suggested a few ideas for sleep, and reassured me that her ears are looking better, lungs are clear, so she's on the mend from her double ear infection days. One more, though, and the ENT we will be seeing...again.

No shots this visit, but a finger prick for lead and hemoglobin levels...which are all great. So, one healthy, happy 9 month old...and we for that we are so very grateful.

Now, I must go..studying awaits.. :(

Sleepless in Boston

Not sure what the deal is with the font, but I'm too tired to figure it out.

We all had a (hopefully!!!) random night last night where no one had a good nights sleep. Morgan was talking in her sleep and then let out a small scream, which woke up Maddie, and Maddie couldn't go back to sleep without screaming until her lungs couldn't take it anymore. Needless to say, it wasn't very pleasant for anyone. So, I got up with Maddie for about an hour, put her back to bed, and apparently she wasn't ready. She screamed some more. I moved Morgan downstairs so she could sleep and was planning on letting Maddie cry it out, but Kevin couldn't take it and was worried something was wrong. My guess was that she's just spoiled and can't live without me, so he got up with her. They lasted maybe another 20 minutes before Maddie was showing too many signs of exhaustion and he put her back to bed. We thought she was making some whining noises trying to go to sleep, until we heard, "MAMA!" We both paused for a moment thinking wow - she got it! but no...that would have been Morgan calling for me downstairs!

Needless to say, we'll all be tired today and probably heading to bed very early. Maddie in particular will have an exhausting day as she has her 9 month check up and will get some shots. Poor thing doesn't know what's going to hit her.

Morgan told me, at approximately 730am, that we're going to "just rock out and have fun" today. She also asked if her pretend friend (who is a real friend at school, but often just "plays" with her at home, could go to breakfast with Gamma this morning. :)

Tea Parties, teething and tests...all begin with the letter T

These picts are from the past week. From top left to right...the girls around bed time; Maddie giving herself kisses in the mirror; Morgan having a tea party with all her friends (I also have video of this to upload later), and Maddie with a teeth biscuit...hurt much?!

All is going well here on our end. Despite a day of injuries yesterday with both girls, they are doing well. Maddie is on the move for sure...definitely taking some more crawls forward. Yesterday she tried to lift one of my weights...oops...I guess it's time to move those! Too bad she's gotten more use out of them than me! I'm concentrating on studying for the MTEL yet again...lots of prayers that this is it for the General Curriculum. I did take the practice test the other day and noticed I'm seriously lacking any remembrance of elementary science. Perhaps because the questions seemed like they were for college students?! History section was great...science not so much. So, if you don't hear from me for a while, I'm hitting the books! If you do hear from me, you should ask, "Why aren't you studying, Katie?!!" TTFN! (ta ta for now!

A Very Happy Birthday

It was a great 32nd birthday celebration. A day with Madeline. Lunch with Gamma and Maddie at a great new burger place at Legacy Place. A quiet afternoon. Dinner with Morgan, Maddie, Daddy and Auntie Annie. And of course, cake and ice cream, and wine with the clan too. Then getting a video on demand and completing crashing with Daddy and Annie on the couch while watching the movie. A good time, indeed. Of course, I also got two great presents from my girls...willow tree creations of a mommy (with a pony tail) holding a little baby - from Maddie, and another mommy (with her hair down, as Morgan says) dancing with a little girl. Very cute, [Daddy!]. And Daddy got me two tickets to the Bon Jovi concert in July! Very excited about that! It's been ages since I've been to a concert, and Bon Jovi and I go WAY back...32 years back! :)

Thanks for all the birthday wishes, cards, calls and emails! It was fun to receive everything throughout the day. Oh the technology!

Sweet Revenge

So, since we had our amazing weekend away in NY the girls have been a bit under the weather. We're just going to have to get Ethan and Lucas together with Morgan and Maddie and have one misery, sick party!

I took the girls to the doctors today...Maddie has yet another double ear infection (her 5th if you count each ear), and Morgan has enormous tonsils, a very red throat, and bad attitude (poor thing), but no strep. So, Maddie's on antibiotics and goes back to the doctors next week, the 25th, for her 9 month appointment. They did weigh her today....(drum roll please)...23 lbs! I know, at least Gamma would agree with me...she feels WAY more than 23 lbs! She might just break your back if you're not careful...especially when she's tired and dead weight. I guess we wait and see about Morgan...the doctor did say that one of her tubes has fallen out! Only one left to go! Morgan's finally fall out when Maddie will probably get hers in! :)

Despite the girls' bugs, all else is fine here in the McLean household. Kev has basketball this weekend...Saturday is Senior Day...and hence a senior dinner. Thankfully his game tomorrow will be finished early enough for him to come home for a birthday dinner....but so much for a birthday weekend! :)

Yup. Tomorrow is the big 3-2. Can't believe it. Feelin' old, but good!

more NY

Central Park
The things you see in NYC...someone built a crazy large snowman in the middle of the city...

more Central Park

New York explained

So, I added some of the pictures first. Here's what we did....

We arrived in NY and checked into our hotel. The drive was only about 3.5 hours...not so bad (especially since Kev did all the driving and I rested!). We checked into the hotel and then met Bob at his place. A nice little apartment on the Upper East Side.

He showed us around his "neighborhood" and we walked a few blocks to a place called Wicker Park for a light and late lunch. Bob and I shared a cobb salad (which was the first of many delicious meals), Kev got a salad and we all had a beverage or two!!

We then walked around some more, and had a pit stop in The East End pub for another one. We all went back to the hotel, called home to check in, and got ready for an early dinner with the ND crew....Cara and Tim Kober, Tim and Jane McCarthy, Erin and Dan Hennigan, us and Bob. The boys had naps at the hotel while I got myself ready. We met everyone at Firenze's a couple of blocks away from Bob's apartment, recommended by Kate Kober (Tim's sister) and it was incredible. Authentic, real Italian food with real Italians. Our waiter was Antonio and he was hysterical. It was SO much fun! And delicious! We went from there to the Gael Pub which was so perfect because there was no one there...so we could easily talk and catch up. It was such a great time and such a wonderful (and late) night on the town. Thanks so much to Tim and Cara and Tim and Jane for coming out in the city and leaving the kiddos behind. We tried to hit a famous pizza place for a little late night snacking, but it wasn't open, so we went to a place called Two Boots for a little NY pizza. Still very yummy.

We slept in a little the next morning. Kev decided he needed a bit more sleep so Bob and I left him behind at the hotel and went to breakfast down the street. We brought home a little something for Kev to eat and got ourselves together and walked to Grand Central Station from our hotel and went downtown to Bob's work. It was so incredible (and scary) to see the cases Bob's worked on and everything he does on a daily basis...it's exactly like all those cop/DA/crime shows you see on tv, except the walls on those shows are not pained a bright and disturbing blue color. It was crazy to see but great to be able to see what he does and deals with and no we can picture him at his office!

We left there and did LOTS of walking. We walked from Bob's office, through Chinatown, and walked pretty much all over the city...we went to the Village (saw his old place), SoHo, all crazy and expensive stores/shopping, Central Park...oh the places we went! We had a pit stop at the Whistling Fish (something like that...I think the Whistling fish was actually a store on the Vineyard) and stopped at another place for some delicious appetizers. I think they had the best Nachos I've ever had. Or maybe by then I was just starving! And that's saying something. We met Erin and Dan for a burger at the famous JD Mellon who was rated as having some of the best burgers. And they did. After dinner we stopped at the Banshee for a drink where we all pretty much collapsed. We were so exhausted (and it was only 9pm), but in order for Kev and I to certainly function in driving home and getting the girls, we needed a good nights rest (not like the night before). So we said good night and headed back to the hotel.

Kev and I were up early since getting such a good sleep the night before so we packed up, gave Bob an early morning wake-up call (around 830am) and met him for breakfast around 930 at Peters. The place was pretty cool because every picture in there was a "Peter." Peter Parker (Spiderman), Peter Jackson, Peter from Peter, Paul and Mary. Neat. And yummy.

A great breakfast and a sad goodbye with Bob and hit the road. Another almost 4 hours later and we arrived at Gamma and Papa's house to pick up the girls. We were greeted by a VERY excited Morgan (and very exhausted Gamma), and Maddie was having an afternoon nap.

We're all home now. Morgan just went to see the Chipmunks 2 movie with Daddy and it's a day of getting things done. Inspection stickers, grocery shopping, shoveling (it's snowing), etc. Poor Maddie has a bad cold so she's not sleeping too well, but Kev and I are happy as can be after a nice getaway and time off. Our vacations are like the Olympics...about every 4 years...so next time it should be easier! :)

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, GAMMA, PAPA, AND AUNTIE ANNIE FOR TAKING SUCH WONDERFUL CARE OF THE GIRLS. WE LOVE YOU!! THANKS BOB FOR BEING SUCH A GREAT TOUR GUIDE/HOST. AND THANKS TO THE KOBERS, MCCARTHYS AND HENNIGANS FOR GETTING TOGETHER! SO GREAT TO SEE YOU ALL! :)

New York, New York

Kev and I at Grand Central Station
ADA Katie McLean (Bob's office and desk)
Explaining his cases...
Bob and I in Central Park
Having one last cocktail at the Banshee (last day).
Once again, picts are all over the place. Sorry.

Bob and I at Gael's pub.
View from hotel room. 38th floor!
The wives club.
Gael's Pub after dinner at Firenze...so unbelievably delicious. A great time was had by all! Here are the ND gentlemen.
Our first stop in NY near Bob's apt...Wicker Park...yummy salad. Ok and a beer!

Pajamas

Morgan or Maddie?

I'm just going to say that Maddie is wearing these same pajamas now...at 9 MONTHS!! Morgan wore them at 14 months!

Oh boy! Maybe Maddie should learn the sign language for "less" as Papa suggested!

Sharing Cookies

So, today after lunch I was having a little sweet treat (surprise, surprise). Morgan wanted some, and I was explaining that these [meringue cookies] were an "adult treat only."

Morgan says, "Mommy, you gotta share with kids that talk, like me."

I gave in and gave her one.

Laying Low.

Playdates. Recuperate. Down-time.

Those were the highlights. Morgan had two play dates this weekend...one with Rylan on Saturday to give his Mama a break, and one at Matt's house on Sunday. She had a ball, and even has another play date tomorrow with Peyton. And a BIG play date at Gamma and Papa's house this weekend while Mom and Dad are in NY! Yeah!

Last night Morgan said she wanted someone to come and babysit her. I told her that next weekend, she would! It's music to my ears that she wants a little break from me too! :) Here are a few picts of the girls just laying low this weekend. Not sure if it should be lying low, but I'm sure one of the teachers in my life will tell me!

Kevin had less "down time" this weekend as he had lots of stuff at school to take care and work to catch up on, plus practice on Saturday. But, he had some nice moments with the girls, and that's what's most important. Not the shelf or pictures I want him to put up...or the basement that needs to be cleaned out...no that stuff can wait for his spring break! [Love you, Kev!] :)

And love to you all! Job conference on Friday, then NYC Saturday!

Maddie clapping to Patta Cake

My sweet baby girl loves her Patta Cake!

PATTA CAKE

Maddie's new favorite thing...besides Morgan is patta cake. She smiles, squeals and claps along with you, pauses and watches carefully when you "roll it, pat it, and mark it with a M" but as you continue the song, she smiles, squeals and claps more. Too fun.

Morgan had a great surprise at Irish Step Dancing tonight...Daddy came and picked her up! Maddie and I took her and waited for Daddy who made it in the knick of time. Morgan was so excited to see him, but oh...waited in line for her lolly pop after class was over....and then yelled "DADDY!" and ran to him, jumping in his arms. So cute.

Morgan went home with Daddy tonight and picked up dinner, while Mommy and Maddie came home to get Maddie some dinner and ready for bed.

On Daddy's ride home with Morgan today, he got a glimpse of what Morgan did today: Valentine's Day cards....check, earned lots of marbles for helping Mommy...check, sang "Pants on the Ground"...what?!! Yes, Daddy was surprised to hear what new song Morgan knows as she sang the now infamous American Idol song...check (yes we watched some American Idol today). What can I say, she isn't going to Hollywood for singing, but she most definitely belongs there!!

Clapping

Maddie has turned her sign for "more" into clapping the past couple of days and she was unstoppable today...clapping constantly. When she wasn't clapping, she was crawling backwards and trying to sit up. Full of energy today. Her right front tooth is so very close....perhaps tomorrow?

Morgan had her last day of gymnastics. I thought I would take the camera and get some last day picts, but the batteries were dead when we arrived. Oops.

Here are some picts from the past week or so. Morgan playing with her learning home and Morgan just "hanging out." She came out of her rest today with my bathrobe tie around her like a "fireside girl" (from Phineas and Ferb). A very funny duck.

Answers

So, I finally got my results back from my CT scan today. Yes, apparently, I have not just one, but 2 sinus infections on just my right side alone. The lady who called asked if I had any pain in my right upper teeth...I said, HELLO?!! Remember how I've called everyday saying I was in "excruciating pain!!!?" Mystery solved! My doctor recommended an ENT (I have an appointment in March --which was the earliest I could get) and said I definitely need to see him since this is an ongoing problem and gave me a different antibiotic as well. I'm also supposed to take Claritin everyday and he suggested the netty pot. To anyone who has actually used this...I loathe this thing. I used it once when I was so congested I couldn't breathe out of my nose, and I did more swallowing of the salt water than went through my nasal system, and let's just say it's something I hoped to never use again...so we'll see about that!

Morgan had a great day at school today. They begin learning about sea creatures and she's super excited about that. She and her friend, Katya, have been making loads of papers where Katya (quite the artist!!) will draw the animal and Morgan will write the word (with help, but she's sounding out words quite well). Last night we tried to get on to Shamu TV to see the killer whales, but for whatever reason it wasn't working. So, we ended up doing a polar bear puzzle and a killer whale puzzle online...gotta love Sea World!! Their website is pretty cool and very educational. Mommy's pretty excited about her enthusiasm for sea life as well as all the writing and sounding out words! I'm very impressed, but not surprised!!

Maddie's still working on those 2 front teeth. She was bearable today, though missed Morgan terribly. She loves playing with the learning home...opening and closing the door. She especially loves it when Morgan or Mommy are on the other side playing peek-a-boo. She still loves that game most of all. And her great efforts in crawling continue...backwards. She is moving faster and faster backwards, disappearing in corners until hear a giggle or screech for help. She gets frustrated pretty quickly as most of the toys she's going for are right in front of her and she moves further and further away. But, a happy baby she is...and such a cuddler! She cuddled with Papa as soon as he got his hands on her, leaning her forehead in so he could give her kisses. She'll do the same with anyone who's willing, even while she's in the middle of a meal in her high chair. Too funny!

I did get some picts of Maddie in action playing with the house...I will post them one of these days. Morgan has her last gymnastics class tomorrow...as she wants to sign up for something else in the spring. I asked her tonight what she wanted to sign up for and her answer was a killer...she said,

"the beach. I want to sign up for the beach on Martha's Vineyard and go there and swim. All the time." [insert sound of heart breaking].