…and now it’s the middle of June so the title of the post is no longer appropriate but I feel a need to leave it just so I can laugh at how long it’s taken me to get this up. Here are some highlights and media galore from our past 6 weeks that I haven’t had a chance to capture for the blog yet.

The first weekend in May, we had a wonderful visit from cousin Addi, Aunt Crystal, and Grandpa Busath, who flew up to Portland from Utah for my nephew’s blessing. We got to host them at our new house and test out the “guest quarters” in our basement, which worked out nicely. Maddy loved having Addi around for 3 whole days, and has missed her a lot ever since she left.

Below are a couple photos from that awesome weekend.

Since then, we’ve also had lots of other playdates with the rest of the cousins, which we always enjoy thoroughly despite the intensity of the chaos that ensues every time that many toddlers and babies converge (hence my lack of photos of said playdates). If it weren’t for naps and distance, we’d get together with them every day.

In addition to our fun cousin time, Maddy has been lucky enough to go on a couple other cool outings of her own when weather permits. I took her out for coffee with a friend at the cutest little coffee shop and Maddy got a kick out of playing with their dominoes and chess set while drinking a very grown up milk next to my cup of coffee. I also took her to the Rose Festival, which is a fun waterfront fair they have in downtown Portland. She loved the fire truck ride we went on, but was a little scared by the hot air balloon ride. Dave also took her back for the Dragon Boat races on a different day, which amazed and thrilled her – she seemed especially smitten with the drums they have on the boats.

Today she went to her first gymnastics class, which we hope gives her a safer place to practice the “routines” she’s been performing for us lately (basically rotating through a few yoga poses and then running around in circles). Next week Maddy starts preschool/summer camp three mornings a week! We’re very excited for her to meet some new friends up here, because she definitely misses and talks about her Cali buddies all the time, especially Sydney, Sierra, Lily and Chloe.

Oh and here’s the only video we’ve been able to get so far of Hayden’s little steps, a fun one of her giggling, as well as great videos of Maddy reading a story to her “babies” and then taking them to the “dentist,” Maddy “performing” with Uncle Gavin, Maddy “dancing” to New Kids on the Block, and Maddy at gymnastics class:

It’s been a busy couple of weeks in PhamsterWorld. I think the girls would sum them up as funfunfun, and Dave and I would sum them up as simply exhausting. Before getting into our recap, let’s pause for a moment to celebrate Hayden’s latest milestone. Yes, the little bubba is now a movin’ and groovin’ 8-month-old who says “dadada,” but not much else yet.

With all her locomoting, she hasn’t been gaining as much weight as we’d like – she’s now at just over 15 lbs, which keeps her in the 5th percentile for her age. She’s crawling/ trying to climb all over the place and gets very antsy if we leave her in the exersaucer or high chair for too long. Her favorite places to crawl to are under our coffee table and behind the recliner.

In other news, Maddy had her first real experience in the snow 2 weeks ago when we met up with my old college roommates (Amy and Joanne) and their families at Lake Tahoe. Pictures here. She loved building a snowman with Dave, and gave sledding a try but got tired of that after 2 runs down the hill in our backyard. Most of all, she loved making friends with Amy’s boys Nathan and Chase.

After that, my dad came for a brief visit and Maddy and Hayden got some good grandpa time in. Last weekend, we also had one of our super-fun playdates with Syd and Sierra and Lily at Burton Park in San Carlos.

This weekend Maddy and I have already had some fun playing around the house with Hayden and at our little neighborhood park.

Two weeks ago, the Noonans came all the way out from Rhode Island to visit us and it was so great to see them. I just love my Auntie Leigh, Uncle Jim and my boyfriend Blakey. I miss them so much now that they’re gone and ask mommy about them all the time.

While they were here, we went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Pastorino’s and Lemos farms in Half Moon Bay. We had close encounters with all kinds of fish and farm animals. I especially liked meeting the penquins and going on hay rides.

Everything was so much fun until poor Blake had a too-close-for-comfort encounter with the H1N1 virus. After that, he spent the next 5 days cooped up and miserable in our house.

That was no fun because mommy and daddy wouldn’t let me play with him hardly at all and kept telling me to give him space and not wipe my runny nose all over him to make things worse. I think we heard “Catch your cough/sneeze!” about a gazillion times from the grownups. I guess it was all for the best, because so far Hayden and I seem to have steered clear of that nasty nasty flu and now Blakey is all better.

In other news, I’ve enjoyed cheering for the Yankees in the playoffs and wear my Yankees hat for every game.

I also squeezed in a visit to Ardenwood farm with all the cool Yahoo! kids – Gavin, Sydney, Sierra, Lilly, and Sienna. I wasn’t too fond of the peacocks I saw there, but I was so excited about these little pine cone-like things I found on the ground. Mommy let me bring them home and I’ve been carrying them around in a disposable diaper wipes container ever since.

Oh, and I did a great job of singing Happy Birthday to my mommy on Sunday. Daddy helped me make her a really neat card with a drawing of our family – we even put Hayden’s mohawk and everything on there!

I’ve also been Skyping a lot with my Ba Ngoai (Gramma Anne), who’s working in Afganistan right now. We keep reminding her to stay safe.

- Maddy

Day 1, Monday 9/21 – Chaotic morning trying to get showered and the girls dressed and fed (you wouldn’t think that would be so difficult, but I’m here to tell you otherwise…). Head to my sister Maren’s apt in the afternoon for a family party with birthday girls Eva and Maddy. Maddy and Eva display their swimming skills for each other in the pool, and then watch in amazement as the place is suddenly filled by their Great-grandparents, Great-aunt Sydney and [large] family, and Aunt Lorna and family.

Day 2 – More hanging at the hotel in the morning, where Maddy loves playing with the phone. At one point, she picks it up and says “Hello? Pizza? Chicken Nuggets?” Not sure how she learned the concept of room service already. That afternoon, we go with Maren and Eva to the beach at Sandy river in Oxbow Park, where Maddy and Eva compete over who can throw the most rocks into the water. On the way home, they also compete over who gets to tell Hayden “It’s okay!” when she cries (Eva wins).

Day 3 – Drive up to St. Helens with Maren to hang out with Maddy’s cousins Sage and Jude while my sister Lorna goes to a doctors appointment. We amazingly get Jude and Maddy to nap at the same time, but Hayden decides to keep us from enjoying it by entering fussy mode. Kids wake up and play in the backyard. Then have a yummy dinner with the family and crash.

Day 4 – More fun with the boy cousins in the morning, then take naps and leave to pick up Sage from kindergarten. Head straight out to meet Maren, Jared and Eva at the super-fun Portland Children’s Museum. Especially enjoy the Dig Pit and Vroom Room. Unfortunately get kicked out at closing time before we finish exploring. Head out for some yummy pizza with everyone. Maddy eats a large, very loaded veggie slice all by herself (no cutting up pieces or urging her on, she just picks it up and goes to town), and then asks for more.

Day 5 – Pack up and head to Maren’s for more fun with Eva until we had to head to the airport. Maddy was very sad to leave and has been asking about Eva, Jude and Sage ever since.

And, here’s my hopefully-not-too-long recap of the vacation:

Day 1, Tuesday, 9/1 – Woke at 5am. Maddy scared of cab driver, but fascinated by airport. Got 2 extra seats on flight to MN and 1 extra on flight to Albany, yay! Hayden did great sleeping and eating on flights, no crying.

Arrived in Albany around 6pm, went to Dave’s mom’s where Maddy was treated to a dinner of chicken nuggets and fries set up in front of the TV with cartoons on. And that was just the beginning of the spoiling, hmmm…

Cousins came over and Maddy was initially pretty overwhelmed by the chaos ensued by TJ (4), Kiara (3) and Lewis (6).

Day 2, Wednesday – Settled in to a much quieter house. Maddy enjoyed exploring ALL of TJ’s toys (especially the electronic and tool varieties) while he was at school.

Day 3, Thursday – Visited with Mrs. DiPietro (Grandma Di). Maddy took her sweet time to warm up, but LOVED the tinkerbell cell phone, My Little Pony, and cool bag she was given (as well as the animal crackers – more spoiling).

Day 4, Friday – Visited Mrs. Di at work and played on super-fancy playground with TJ. Loved huge slides, and enjoyed tour of the gorgeous new elementary school.

Went back to grandma’s house and got to visit with family friend Barbara and all the cousins again – ate yummy pizza from The Fountain and enjoyed more chaos.

Left for 2-hour car ride to Syracuse with Dave, Jimmy and Maddy (who napped). Went to Faris’ house (Dave’s college roommate), where Maddy got to know Emelie (21 mos) and Jacob (4), and their cool kitchen toys, and had more yummy pizza before crashing.

Day 5, Saturday – Took way too long getting ready to go to Kristin’s beautiful house (my high-school friend, who I hadn’t seen in WAY too long), where Maddy was taken very good care of by sweet boys Atticus (6) and Thadius (4). Great to see Kristin and her family again, wish we had had more time to catch up.

Went to campus to meet up with Jimmy, Faris, Greg and Karen for the SU vs. Minn. football game. Maddy so excited that she COULD NOT sit still. After meeting Otto the Orange (school mascot), she passed out and spent last 45 minutes sleeping on my shoulder. Game was great until the end when The ‘Cuse sadly let it slip through their fingers.

After game, walked down to Marshall St., where Jimmy won an admirer for life by buying Maddy Otto doll, then back to Faris’ house for some delicious BBQ and a great night during which the girls crushed the boys in Taboo.

Day 6, Sunday – Back to Albany, where I was so happy to see Hayden again (and be done with pumping for a bit) and get more sleep. Rather than sleep, Dave for some reason opted to go to casino and loose money.

Day 7, Monday – Low-key day, hung around the house and visited with Lisa D. and her new man.

Day 8, Tuesday – Fun going apple picking with Malcolm at Bowman Orchards. Maddy loved seeing animals and picking apples – mostly dropping them in the bag. She also didn’t mind getting some homemade ice cream, cider and apple donuts.

Day 9, Wednesday – Off to Springfield Mass. to visit with old roommate Leigh, her son Blake, sister Lynn, and niece Addi. Maddy wasn’t so sure what to make of Lynn’s dog, but had a blast at the cool playground across the street – especially on the big slides, rock-climbing wall, monkey bars and swings.

Day 10, Thursday – Last full day was sad, consisted mostly of packing and some goodbye visits with the DiPietro’s.

Day 11, Friday – Up at 5am again to head back to the airport.

Thanks for all the love and hospitality from our favorite New Yorkers…until next time!

Hayden was an angel during her 1st plane ride, she was good for her grandma when we left her for the 1st time for 2 whole nights (we still have never left Maddy overnight), and she turned 2 months old on Sunday!

Maddy has made lots of new friends, including her cousins TJ, Kiara and Lewis, Dave’s college roommate Faris’ kids Jacob and Emilie, my high school friend Kristin’s boys Atticus and Thadius, and most importantly OTTO THE ORANGE!

Dave and I got to relive some college memories during the SU vs. MN football game, despite Maddy’s restlessness and the sad Orange loss. We’ve all loved the visiting with great friends and family, and are excited about more visiting before we head home on Friday.

In addition to all the wonderful gifts we’ve received for both Hayden and Maddy, we want to give special thanks to the people who traveled from so far to help and visit us…

My sister Lorna from Oregon was a huge help and amazing emotional support during our first week as a family of four. Not only did she keep me calm during the c-section and talk me through my painful nursing issues, she also made fast friends with Maddy while I was in the hospital and helped her adjust seamlessly to being a big sister.

Next my mom came from DC and spent two weeks changing a gazillion diapers, cooking dinners, taking Maddy to the park and swimming lessons, cooing over Hayden, and tolerating my hormonal nastiness.

Then my dad, stepmom and half-brothers Mason and Bennett came for a visit from Utah and it was so great to see them. We spent a relaxing day catching up, stopping by the Metro team picnic, touring Yahoo! and talking talking talking. I can’t believe how grown up my little brothers are getting – it seems like just a few years ago that they were born.

Finally, my cousin Allie just finished a two-week visit, during which she unfortunately learned the meaning of both “terrible twos” and colic. Especially because of Maddy and Hayden’s bipolar behaviors, Allie was a big help. We were even able to get out of the house and do lots of fun stuff with the kids, which I never would’ve been able to manage on my own.

HUGE thanks again to our helpers extraordinaire, and to their families and friends who helped make the visits possible. Can’t wait for our next round of visitors – in September my sister Maren and niece Eva are coming down from Oregon, and also my brother Gavin with his girlfriend Jamie and son/dog Lumas. Then in October my best friend Leigh, her husband Jim, and son Blake are all coming to visit from Rhode Island. We’re so lucky!

I know, I know, you’ve all missed my deep thoughts these past few weeks.

While my little sister Hayden has been getting all the attention, I’ve been keeping busy too (mostly by giving her attention myself). I love to give her kisses and hold her hand, and sometimes I get so excited to see her in the morning that I bounce all around on the bed and almost step on her head.

The first week Hayden was here, we also had a visit from my Auntie Lorna (aka “Noena”), who was SO fun to hang with that I can’t stop talking about it. I now use her name to refer to anyone who stays at our house. While she was here, we went to the park and the library and visited mommy and Hayden in the hospital.

On Sunday, my best friend Sydney came over to the house with her mom and dad to visit and it was super super fun. I showed her my rocking horse and car, and we ran all around being silly.

She’s way more fun to play with than Hayden, who just lays there.

This week my Ba Ngoai (aka “Gamma” or “Noena”) came to visit, and she’s been taking me to my first swim classes.

Some days I like it better than others, but overall I think it’s pretty cool to play in such a huge bathtub – especially when we get to check out the water toys. I’ve been blowing bubbles in the water, and kicking my feet, and singing water songs, and today I even bobbed my head under water. I didn’t like that so much, but I tolerated it okay.

Today, mommy’s cousin Becky is visiting and she’s great too. She knows just how to play with me and sometimes I even forget how to be stubborn when she’s around. I also think it’s pretty cool how good she is at changing Hayden’s diapers, because that gives my mommy more time to pay attention to me.

Oh, and we’ve all been reading lots of books. One that I like is Love You Forever. The other day I started singing along with my mom (don’t mind her PJs).

Having visitors is pretty cool – can’t wait for more to come over the next few weeks!

- Maddy

In the meantime, here are my thoughts on the first week of life…

Last Monday after some time listening to this really cool soothing music that my Uncle Gavin made for us, mommy’s doctor all the sudden pulled me out of her belly! I couldn’t believe how weird it was on the outside at first. There were lights and people everywhere. But it was worth it because I finally got to see my daddy and mommy and I think they’re pretty cool.

The nurses and doctors did all kinds of checks on me, and I passed everything – perfect hearing and no jaundice, although I did have a slight heart murmur at first. Then the cardiologist did an ultrasound and said I looked totally fine, it was probably just this normal PDA thing that closes up for babies after a few days.

I barely cried when I got my shots, although I didn’t so much like getting my temperature checked under my armpit. I weighed 7 lbs, 6 ounces – and now just a week later I’m already up to 7 lbs, 8 oz!

Later that day, I got to meet my big sister Maddy. She was really happy to see me, but then she started poking me all over and hitting me on the head. Lucky for her, I decided I’d put up with it in exchange for all the kisses she also gave me.

I also met my Aunt Lorna, who is really great and spent lots of time taking very good care of me, Maddy and mommy all week. She took the photo above (and many others) of me. As you can see, it depicts my favorite past time – sleeping! Both sleeping and eating are pretty fun. I enjoy pooping too. Oh, and daddy gave me my first bath the other day, which was pretty great.

I know you think my life sounds boring, but hey it sure beats being crammed inside my mommy’s tummy where I could barely move my legs or arms (although I did try).

In other news, I really like making this new face when I’m mad, but it just makes mom and dad laugh so it’s kind of a different impact than I was looking for.

Besides making silly faces, I’ve also been talking a lot. I have a few 2-3 word phrases that I like a lot – such as “one more book” (which I say every night when mommy is trying to get me to go to bed), “dropped it”, “love you”, “thank you”, and “bye bye dada.”

My uncle Gavin is gone now and I miss him, but I love the new giraffe he painted for me in my cool jungle mural – check it out: