Sex in the City Reunion and New Member

This is my rough and tough Spring Valley look
I love the Ramapo Girls

Leah and Mommy went to Rockland for the day to visit the old work crew. Leah is the newest memeber of SIS ( she will replace the martini for a bottle!) She was such an angel during lunch and it was really nice to see them!

Me and my girlfriends

Me and my girlfriends

Miss Independent and Queen of the Adventure

I look sweet ( and I am ) but I am going to tear this house apart!

So this is what the 9th month is all about. Leah is not even walking on her own yet, but has found her new calling. The house is her new playground and she will discover, eat, throw, rip, pound, climb....on anything and everything. Maybe I am noticing it more now that I am home with her for my vacation.......but it is back breaking. She wants to get into EVERYTHING. And without putting the whole house in a bubble, she will get to it. I have tried to "block" things...but oh no, she will find a way. She also does not want me to feed her anymore and she MUST hold the spoon herself or she will get MAD ( seriously baby diva in action). My new line is "you can't have everything you want sweetie" I think I said that 20x yesterday. This also includes sleeping and changing her diaper. It took her 9 months to figure how to really roll over and that is all she wants to do when you put her for a nap or change her. Corey got to witness this first hand this weekend ( he thought i was exaggerating). So his new name for her is LuLu with a new attitude.

More Xmas Pics!

I love my Barack Book Aunt Steph!

Dancing to the music

Watching the parade

Merry XMAS everyone!

Merry Christmas

Christmas with my big brother
Don't even think about touching my gifts!

ohhhhh ahhhhhh

Christmas Morning

I like my silly hat

After a week of Chanukah celebrations Christmas finally came. What a lucky girl to celebrate both in the house. We had a beautiful day with her brother Christopher opening and playing with all of her gifts. It was just us since most of the family is pread out all over the country. We miss them and hopefully we can get everyone together for next year. Most importantly we are so grateful to be able to celebrate these holidays as a new family.

Happy Chanukah!

I love my new book!

Lighting the candle ( too bad you can't hear the singing in the picture!)


The ladies in the house

My bib says it all

Leah's first Chanukah and we spent it with the only other Jews we know in CT. Thank g-d we found some...just kidding. But really is was a great night over at Amy and Elad's. Seriously some of the best latkas I've had in a really long time ( I didn't know you could put powdered suagr on them). Noa got her helmet off this week and she was showing off her new look ( yeah Noa, you did so great!) Jodi and Mike came too with Syd and Liv. We got "Our First Chanukah "Books and love them. We attempted to say the prayers and sing a song....thank goodness for Elad! Thanks Jodi and Amy for being such great friends and we can't wait to share all of our Chanukahs together!!!!

we got it....SNOW DAY!

Does this mean I get to watch Blue Clues?
Trying to get the snow in the background

When can we go outside and play??????

ummmmm......this is colder than i thought

My first day in the snow

We got that phone call this morning we love so much....no work and all play. We started our day with some snugglying and then outside it was. I can't really tell how much she liked the snow, she didn't look very excited and yet was unhappy at all.I think she was taking it all in. She did love the snow plow. Hopefully we 'll get to sleigh riding this weekend.

snow day, snow day, snow day!!!!!!

It was the night before a snow day and all mommy could do was hope and hope for the snow to come.........It could be our first snow day all year. Now, since I've been in education for 10 years I have always loved snow days, but now they have so much MORE meaning. It means I can stay home all day and play with Leah in our pajamas ( or go to the mall)!!! Leah would have loved to play with her friends but they are all sick. Most of the babies and mommy's got a serious virus , so unfortunately everyone is quarantined ( and we hope they get better soon). I guess that has been one advantage of being at work. So if you are ready this tonight please dream of big white flakes falling down tomorrow.

She'll do anything for that remote!

Guess who's cruising? Our little monster is on the move......but only for the remote!

New adventures in eating

What was a few months of very pleasant meal times has turned into serious messy time with some real independence. Leah will no longer let me feed her and yells until I give her the spoon. I was very excited about this at first....."wow, she is so grown up feedin herself", but that was short lived until she takes the spoon and flings the food across the kitchen. Thank g-d for Tyson, he is my portable vacum ( hope he is enjoying pureed veggies). Either way it is cute as anything but alot more work. I think jar food is coming to an end.

First words with meaning

She has been doing the baby talk thing now for about 2 months. She's got Dada down but we're not really sure she means it towards Corey since she says it ALL DAY!!! But she now says "doggie" ( or really "yoggie") when she actually sees Tyson. I knew she liked him the best :).Her friend Rylee did this a while ago at her dog and I wondered if Leah would do the same thing. I guess this would be a good time to talk about our other child, Tyson. Corey bought him for me as a surprise in June 2007, about 3 weeks BEFORE we found out we were pregnant. He says that he got it just in case it was hard for us to get pregnant. Luckily it wasn't and so having a brand new puppy and finding out we were having a baby was alot to take in. I was in love with this little puppy but VERY nervous about how we would handle both and if the dog would eat the baby. But Tyson really has become our other child. He has such a personality and you can really tell how much he loves Leah. We have watched him grow alot of amazement too. All of his milestones were important too;first time he
jumped on the couch, sat on command, and stopped peeing in the house ( well that still happens once in a while). But I have to say it's been very cool to have them both in our lives and to experince them at the same time.

On my way to work this morning

So on my hour commute each morning and afternoon I have alot of time to think and ponder. My mind usually races between....... Leah, my students, what i'll eat for lunch, when and how can i go on vacation with corey, what i'll eat for dinner, looking foward to the weekend, how can I lose 10 lbs, etc....... This morning I had some random things on my mind so I figured this is the place I can write them down. Why in the world in Leah waking up at 4am this whole week? Does she know I wake up at 5 and wants to spend some extra time with me. Winter is tough getting up, I won't lie....I am exhausted each morning , but can I really complain since she sleeps all the way from 7pm. I am contiplating starting to drink coffee. I know I am one of the few not on the coffee express. Or is it a sign I should stay awake and work out..........yeah, I don't see that happening. I feel selfish but I would do ANTHING for that extra hour. Another thought....I heard that Tracey took Leah yesterday to go see Santa, and she lost it, crying hysterically. I never want her to be sad, but I think it is kinda of funny, because that means she is totally Jewish. I guess she made up her mind already( hehehehe). Friday is her 9 month checkup and I can't wait. Why???? To get her weighed. Sounds nuts, but I love these milestones and hearing all of her stats. I never imagined a doctor appoinment would make me so excited. And lastly, on my way home yesterday I stopped at this really cute consignment shop , the Preppy Turtle and got the best clothing for Leah ever and they were like 5$ each!! I am ofically done with real stores ( goodbuy Gap, Old Navy, and defaintly Denny's and Buy Buy Baby ....where for the past 9 months I have thought it was okay to spend 30$ on a dress, that she will wear once). We are in a recsession and I have to do my part. Plus , if you are really smart you will go to a consignment shop in a rich town because these people sell their beautiful/expensive cloths with the tags still on them! NUTS! Okay I should start my work for the day.....I wonder what Leah is doing right now. Between blogging, facebook, email, and looking at pictures all day I should squeeze some work in........Oh great my Assistant Principal just walked in while I was blogging, if that isn't a sign!

Pics with Casey

Last week Casey came over and took some family photos. She did an amzing job and we are so lucky to have met her ( and all of the other mommy bff's ).
Click on the link below to look at the video ( keep your volume on).Enjoy!
http://homepage.mac.com/ryanandcaseyragan/Sites/showfolder/shaw08/shaw08index.html

In the past 3 days

Besides it being a crazy weekend filled with family and friends for the holiday, I think Leah has been inspired to reach some milestones so she can show off to the family. In the past three days she :


1. Has started standing up!! This is CRAZY to me. I put her down to nap and 10 min later I look at the monitor and she is standing in her crib. Now it is all the time trying to stand up....very cool.


2. Will clap on command. I know that sound likes a dog, but really when we sing "Leah likes to clap", she actually does it.


3. She is now pointing at things.


4. Shakes her head no when she is done with food.


5. Sings and I think I even heard a MaMa this weekend ( but that one I could have been imagining)

Thanksgiving Part II and Early Chanukah...(hey we create our own holidays!)

Aunt Marcie and Uncle Jeff are the best!

Leah can tickle Lainey too!

I love my cousins!!

Candy shopping!

So we kept the holiday rolling all weekend in the Shaw house. Since Aunt Marcie, Uncle Jeff, and Leah's favorite cousins Jared and Lainey couldn't make it on Thursday we celebrated over the weekend. We also did a little Chanukah gift exchanging, yeah we really do celebrate ALL MONTH LONG! Leah got to open her first Chanukah present and LOVES it. She seriously has not left this toy for the past two days. It was so great to see them and psend real time together. We went shopping in Ridgefield, put Jeff to work installing the big girl car seats,out to dinner, early morning breakfast, watched the first real snow stick this season and then off they were. I miss them more than anything and always feel sad that we don't live down the street from each other. But we always make each time we see each other meaningful and special. Love you guys!!!!

More Thanksgiving pics

Mommy's princess
Leah gives Noni her first real hug!

Look at my new cool toys

So much to be thankful for.....

Leah is thankful for her Noni!
Quana and Sean came to visit also.

Daddy is cookin up a feast.

Who is bigger Leah or the turkey?

Thanksgiving morning with our two little ones.

Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays. Since I am usually a poitive person ( glass half full type of girl) giving thanks is my kind of holiday. Yes, I've always been cheesy in that way (making everyone go around the tabel and say what they are thankful for). Well each year in my life there has been something that has stood out to be expecailly thankful for ( going to college, meeting Corey, buying our new home, and last year being pregnant). But NOTHING compares or comes even close to being thankful for our amazing daughter. Everyday has felt like Thanksgiving since she was born. But not only are we so thankful for the blessing of having her in our life, but it has made us realize how great life is.......our family ( near and far, mostly far since our closest family member lives an hour and a half away), our friends....old and new ( who mean the world to us), our jobs ( which actually make us pretty happy most days), our marrige, and just our day to day joys we have. So let's just say it was a pretty amazing Thnksgiving. We actually did the cooking and most of it came out good ( ok, so we are no chefs!). Noni came over and we all know that Leah knows her Noni by now. Being able to make Thanksgiving dinner for my mom kaes me very happy and proud. Quana and Sean came by too. It meant alot for them to be with us since Angel is still in Iraq. Sean and Leah got to play on Leah's new stand-up toys! Of course Leah had to make it extra special and decided to start standing up by herself today.

it's getting COLD outside.....

Okay, so it is not easy having a baby in the winter ( I know it's still fall but it feels like winter in CT). There is so much to figure out:

-How do I get Leah in a car seat when she looks like a marshmellow and doesn't fit ?

-I watched her nose turn a slight shade of purple today and lip actually shiver when I had her outside.

-How do they wear gloves? I can't get ANY of them on...Jen suggested wearing socks and I'm going with that one (thanks Jen).

-I wake up at least 5 times a night frightened that she is either suffocating from the heat or freezing when i turn it down.

At least when there is snow it will be fun to play in...

Is it summer yet???????

Wrapped around his finger!

There is nothing that makes me happier in the world than to watch Leah and her Daddy just being silly. She is such a happy little girl and lights up everytime she is with him. I just see this glow that is in her eyes when thet are together. The whole time Corey and I have been together he has wanted ( and knew we would have ) a little girl. There is something so amazing in the bond they have. Obviously we have one too, but this is my point of view of them. So here is a glimpse into their moments.......

what a week!

See how one email can get a crew together...you guys rock!
I like toys that help me stand

Tyson had a playdate too! Those boys were getting "busy"


Shafdog and Maya with a suprise visit to Danbury!

Aunt Steph came to hang out for the night...yipee!

The past few days have been so great since we've gotten lucky and seen some of our friends. This time of year is normally so busy with Corey and I working really hard that we have to remind ourselves to really enjoy the weekends. We can't wait for the holidays( to see family, eat, and be on vacation!), and although they may be spent at home ,as long as we are with Leah we are so happy. In one weekend, we went to Gymboree ( and got to see some of the mommy group which made Leah and Mommy very happy!), went holiday shopping, food shopped for Thanksgiving, went out to dinner, had our "photo shoot" with Casey, watched the Jets beat the undefeated Titans ( oh yeah baby!), attended a jewlery party, had housekeepers for the first time ( for most of you who know me , that was a VERY difficult decision since i am already such a neat freak!) and got to see some friends! Wheew.....

our little comedian

Even though she has been doing "rasberries" for months now, she has stepped it up a notch.This is her new favorite thing to do. She is also waving and pointing, but I can never seem to catch those on camera. Love you LeLe.

Eva's 1st Birthday!

Can I squeeze your nose?

Happy Birthday Eva!! It was a great day out in Long Island. We can't believe Eva is 1 already. She got so big and was walking all around her party. Leah had a blast ( we've really got this nap thing down good!). All the bagels, lox, and ice cream cake an 8 month old can handle! She loved Minney Mouse and is looking foward to meeting Baby Jalosky when he arrives in January!