A visit from Madalyn

Leah loves seeing her "godsister" Madalyn

Uh-oh......Maddie has a juice box and a microphone,and we know what that means.....crazy Maddie will soon follow.


" Hey Leah, did I tell you.......... I'm gonna have a baby sister!"

Innaugartion Day 2009....A letter to Leah

Dear Leah,

There have been many new ways that I now know I am a mom. One happened today and I wanted to share it with you. I woke up this morning so excited and proud to watch Barak Obama become the President. Both the inspiration I have felt and the historical context made this day one that I knew I would remember forever. I have always been into politics , history, and social change for the good. I can remember being a little girl and wanting to join the Peace Corp. But with all of the excitement and anticipation about todays's events...all I could think of was you. First off.....I just wanted to spend the day with you. I couldn't , which made me sad but it was really important to me that you see it ( even if you have no clue what's going on). And mostly, all of this hope and change made me think about how much I care about your future, the world you live in, and who will be your role models. Obviously I think it's amazing that the year you were born, a man born to white woman and black father became our President. I think before this event happened I would have always told you "yes, you can" but now it just has such important meaning. So hopefully one day you will grow into a socially conscience , bright, and inspring young woman and you can say ......I saw the day this happened. For me it just puts what is really important to me into perspective. I love you more than anything and hope your future is filled with all the possibilities you can dream of.

Love, Mommy

Holiday Party.....Rescheduled

The baby crew showing off their hats from Emma!

Leah loves her secret santa gift....she got them a few weeks early, here she is modeling them.

We had tried for weeks to reschedule the holiday party that had to be canceled due to all of our munchkins being so sick. Even though everyone couldn't make it to Janelle's ( poor Riley, both Sophia's, Layla, and Noa off in Israel) we had the party ta it's new location , casa de Madilyn. It was so nice to see everybody and share some holiday spirit even ( yes, you can still celebrate well into January). Mommy may have been happier than Leah since she spent the first half in tears. That's okay little mama you will soon be in daycare and around alot of babies. Thanks so much to Ana and Steve for hosting the last minute party , Emma for our beautiful hat and to our Secret Santa Layla.........we love the boots!

Playtime is back...now we just need some healthy friends.

Getting more and more confident where she can stand

" Welcome to my house!"


"Look Daddy ....one hand "

Helping Mommy get ready for work

Lele looking for what she can wear in Mommy's closet

"Mommy, you should wear these....."

Ahhh, nothing like getting dressed for work in the morning. The work day mornings have been very interesting lately. For a few months now Leah has been happy playing in her crib, but lately she wants to be in on the fun of the morning routine and is not happy until she is out among us. So here she is in her favorite place.....my closet.

Look who's feeling better!

Chris helping Leah feel better

I like food again

"Look Mommy I am all better.....can I please go out with Daddy and Chris?"

Nothing can make you feel better than some brotherly love. It has been a while since we have entered some new posts because there were so many days of not feeling well and no action in the Shaw house. Finally.....Leah has started to become herself again, playful, happy, engegaed, and curious. While Chris was over for the weekend there was a mini snow storm ( although we were gearing up for 8+ inches). It was so cute to see how excited daddy and chris were for the storm....the whole day was built around it.....wake up, go buy new snow pants/boots, visit the sled store to but a small one for Leah and blow up the monster one we have, hang at house until snow falls.........well the snow arrived and daddy and chris went out for some snow fun. We decided that fater 2 weeks of being sick it may not be so great to bring her out there the day she is finally better , so we will just have to wait until the next one.

Such a sad week

What a week it has been for Leah. She came down with that dreaded stomach bug and we soon followed a day later. Having one day in the house with all of us VERY sick was not easy but thank goodness mine passed after a day. We are now on day 7 and it has been truly horrible. Today was the first day that Leah ate food in a week and it shows. In addition to her not keeping anything down ( i have a new respect for grabage bags as bibs) she now has........ a cold, horrible cough, and her 5th ear infection ( which also means we will be most likely off to an ENT doctor soon). She just sits there and moans, won't move an inch, tears falling without crying, tries to talk and can't (lost her voice), stares into space, and lays on us for hours. Needless to say this has been the most heart wrenching experience. Of course we want her better, but I am most concerned that we won't have the same Leah back. The value of your child's smile is EVERYTHING and I would do anything to get it back. I am home from work with her again today and just praying that it will make some kind of turn around today. I really understand that your health means the world. We just feel so bad that we actually see her in pain, which we have never seen before ( other than a fall and 2 second cry). While yesterday was my birthday and tomorrow is her 10 month birthday , I can only wish for her to get better.

Happy New Year 2009!

The New Years Crew (minus me)
Lucas ( the Tank) is doing fine in 09

The Shaw Family bringing in the new year

Leah and Lucas's first date

What a wonderful year 2008 has been. Our Leah has come into our lives and nothing in my life has been so special. We are truly grateful for what an amazing year it was and can only hope that 2009 is even better. We went over the Jen, John's and Lucas's for the Baby New Years Bash...but to make it interesting Leah threw up all over Mommy just as she finished getting them both dressed. This was SERIOUS throw up (haven't seen that in months) and it looked like a bomb went off in the kitchen...but we cleaned up and headed to Fishkill. We had such a perfect night, John cooked an amazing dinner ( he needs to be a chef), Leah slept all night but Lucas got to see the ball drop, we drank ( of course) and play games till 3am. We stayed at Bed and Breakfast Redahan (heheh)and loved it.....we even topped it off with a trip of all 6 of us to Cracker Barrel( what a way to start a diet!). Oh wait I forgot........Leah threw up all over their living room the next morning before we went out for breakfast........another outfit GONE!( which promted me to realize it was not overeating and she had a stomach bug :(((. Once we headed home I headed for the doctor and Leah spent the first day of 2009 in my arms wimpering with a stomach virus. I just put her to bed and realize even with craziness like her throwing up all over Mommy I am sooo excited to see what this year has in store for us. I am off to do ALOT of laundry.

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