Introducing our sweet baby girl...

...Nora Catherine!
Here I am, with Nora on the inside, before things got too intense for pictures...

Brand new!

Proud mommy and daddy

Can't get enough!

Daddy and his little girl

Dylan was a little unsure about our new addition, but he was willing to check out her tiny toes...

He slowly warmed up to her though:)

Aunt Lisa brought Nora her first barrette...hmmm...maybe she'll grow into it...

First picture as a family of four

All buckled up and ready to go home!

Catching-up on June...

I'm cheating a little here to sneak in a pre-Nora catch-up post about June. Wouldn't want to miss out on Dylan's first trip to Williamstown, his first trip to the BEACH, or his first time sitting at the big kids' table!

Early in June was my 10 year Williams College reunion. Since I missed my 5 year reunion, I was determined to make it to this one despite being 34 1/2 weeks pregnant! Tim, Dylan and I stayed in the dorms, along with some of my friends:) Dorm life seems to agree with Dylan...
The girls' and me before heading to our class dinner on Saturday night. We missed you Reb, Tara, Erin, and Krisko!
The next morning...looking a bit sleepy:)

The next weekend, Dylan took his first trip to the beach! Nonna, Uncle Andrew, and Auntie Alex (Andrew's girlfriend) were visiting and my brother and Michelle generously let us use their cabana at Nickerson beach. Dylan was mesmerized by the ocean and enjoyed hanging out at the water's edge and playing in the wet sand.

Our analytical boy, trying to make sense of this huge body of water with it's strange, crashing waves...

Relaxing as a family of 3...

Almost a family of 4!

Discovering seaweed with Auntie Alex

The next day was Father's Day and, after Tim's family headed back upstate, Tim, Dylan and I had quite an adventure driving down to Uncle Dave's house in the rain with a mattress and boxspring strapped to our car roof (another story altogether!). Once we got to Uncle Dave's, the weather was clear and we enjoyed a fun afternoon in the sun with all the Frisone cousins. Dylan made his debut at the big kids' table, which he seemed to enjoy. Still, I'm sure he can't wait til Brian is big enough to do the same - he needs a little male company!

Happy belated Father's day to my fabulous dad, my amazing husband, my brother, and brothers-in law! You all work so hard for your families and do a wonderful job!

Lake Placid

The weekend after Dylan's birthday, Tim and I celebrated our 5th year wedding anniversary! I love you honey!! We also took a trip up to Lake Placid with Tim's family: Nonna and Larry; Ben, Emily and Sophia; Tim, Dylan, and me; and Andrew and Alex. We stayed at a beautiful resort where Emily's parents have a time share, which they (generously) let us use for an extended weekend away.

Here's Sophia and Dylan on Saturday morning, checking to see if Uncle Andrew and Auntie Alex were awake yet...they couldn't wait to play!

Family pic in the pool
Bathtime with pink water!?

Blue for the boy...
Day trip to a nature preserve near Saranac Lake
Checking out the fishies and turtles inside...

We walked a bit on the trails and found this "playground", which Dylan loved!

An amazing fallen tree provides some good climbing fun...

The back/bottom of the fallen tree, all fixed up for the big kids to climb

Toddler lean-to for exploring

Daddy doesn't fit in this house...

Nonna and her boys

Thanks again to Emily's parents - we had a wonderful weekend away!

Dylan's 2nd Birthday, Part II

On Dylan's actual birthday (5/12) we celebrated at our house with our weekly playgroup. This is a great group of moms and babies I found soon after Dylan was born. These ladies kept me sane during my first year of motherhood and continue to provide me with friendship and support - and their little ones are some of Dylan's best buddies. We've been so lucky to have them in our lives!


"Okay guys, you can play with my toys, but nobody touch my balloon!"

A moment with Monkey-Do (Tim's old monkey)

Blowing out the candles on the rocketship cake! (I love my puzzle cakes!)

"Cake tastes gooood..."

Cheese!

Mother's Day

I had a very relaxing, low key Mother's Day with my boys this year. Since we were all happily exhausted from Dylan's birthday party the day before, we spent the day at home just hanging out (oh, and I got to sleep in late and take a nap:).

Last year for Mother's Day, Tim bought me a pink flowering Dogwood tree. We said we'd take a picture of me with our child(ren) in front of the tree every year on Mother's Day. There are two unfortunate things about this idea. Number one is that usually by Mother's Day all of the flowers have fallen off the Dogwoods. No big deal - I'm sure we'll get lots of pictures of the tree flowering in early spring.

Number two is that, on this particular Mother's Day, Dylan did not feel like standing in front of the Dogwood tree and smiling with Mommy. I'm sure it won't be the last time someone is unwilling to stand still and smile for the camera! Still, I love that tree and so does Dylan. So, we'll try again next year for a happy photo with both of us (and a 10 month old baby girl!) smiling at the camera.

Dylan's 2nd Birthday!!!!! (Part I)

On May 12th Dylan turned TWO years old!! Can you believe it?! The weekend before his actual birthday we had my side of the family over for a barbeque to celebrate (we had plans to see Tim's side of the family in Lake Placid the following weekend). We had so much fun - and every one of Dylan's six Frisone cousins came to play!

Our backyard was still a little muddy and swamplike from all the snow and rain we had this winter/spring. At first the girls weren't sure how to handle all the mud...
...but they soon got comfortable with it.

Post-mudfight hug

Cute pic of Papa with Scarlett

They look like they are arguing but let's pretend they are all playing harmoniously with Dylan's new sink (Dylan was happy as long as he got to control the pump).

Uncle Dave supervising Tim while he assembles Dylan's new tricycle

Cake time! (Yes, Dylan had a train cake for his first birthday, too).

Smile if you like cake!

And frosting!

"Girls, you do realize that the more cake you get on your face, the less you get to eat..." Happy birthday to our happy boy!