Happy (Belated) Birthday Grammy!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRAMMY!!! A few days late :)  I asked Lucy for a quote and she said, "I am so lucky to have my Grammy, who takes such good care of me and lets me do whatever I want when I come over.  She always spends time with me and reminds me how cute and smart I am all the time so I love her."  

We hope you had a great trip to Boulder and are having a nice, warm week in Arizona!!!  We know you will have a great time celebrating New Years Eve in AZ!

Merry Christmas 2011!!

I have always loved Christmas - as a kid of course it is the best day of the entire year, when I was in college it was fun to come home for a few weeks, and then when Joe and I met it was fun to have someone to spend the holidays with and a new family to celebrate with.  But, nothing is better than being a parent at Christmas time.  Although we were parents for the last Christmas, Lucy was only 3 months old so we were really more concerned with getting her to take a bottle and trying to get sleep than how much she loved her stocking. And, although Lucy is still too young to get excited about Christmas, or understand what it is, we had the best time trying to make it special for her.  For the first time in a while, I woke up this morning with the same excitement I did as a kid, but it was because we were so excited for the day with Lucy.  Maybe she really never wanted applesauce in her stocking and could care less about her new tennis racket, but for the few minutes she was interested, it made our morning.  We can only imagine how much fun it will be in the years ahead when Lucy runs down the stairs (yes, we will be moved into a real house one day) for Christmas morning!

We spent Christmas Eve at my parent's house and Bill and Chris visited, so we were happy to have both set of parents with us for some of the evening.  Every year the house gets louder and more fun, and this year was no exception.  Lucy loves to watch Abigail and Caitlin who have the best imaginations and somehow find endless things to do regardless if there are toys involved, and follows them around - always trying to drink from their cups and trying to be part of "the group."  Luckily they have excepted her into the group.  But, most of all, she adores Kramer.  There were gifts, and gifts and gifts and the girls got completely spoiled by Grandma and Grandpa and their aunts/uncles.  I really don't think I will need to buy a dress or toy until summer :)  Lucy told me she is SO GRATEFUL and wanted me to let everyone know that.  

This morning, after what was a pretty quick gift-opening session since most of Lucy's gifts were unwrapped, and after a few hours of opening and playing with everything, we headed downtown to the Renaissance Hotel for brunch and although we weren't trying to, we think a new tradition has been started!!! It was so nice to get up and head out on Christmas Day, and the brunch was was really great.  After naps, we just spent the day playing with Lucy as we are leaving for Mexico on Tuesday morning and tomorrow is our last day with our sweet pea.  We wanted to spend as much time with her today as possible.  I can't imagine how much I am going to miss her sweet smell in the morning (it really is so sweet) and her huge hugs.  But, she will be busy with Grandma and Grandpa, and Beth, Rob and the girls so hopefully she won't even notice we are gone. 

So, it was an amazing holiday this year and we can't wait until next year.  And, congrats, congrats, congrats to Kristy and John who got engaged this weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!! You guys are perfect for one another and we couldn't be happier for you!

MERRY XMAS!

The girls and Kramer

One of my all-time favorites - this one will make the wedding video one day (although by then it won't be called a wedding video)

Our sexy husbands - Joe is wearing a children's headband and Rob is wearing a cat sweatshirt

Our studious bunch taking a little time to read

The trio checking out Abigail and Caitlin's sleeping bags - Lucy is in with Caitlin so they may have to have a slumber party this week

Some one-on-one time with Grandpa

The trio reading books, they are a studious bunch

All ready for bed - after gifts of course!!

The tree!!!!  Yes, I know the picture makes it look like it was a sad morning for Lucy, but Lucy got a table and bean bag chairs so most of her gifts were unwrapped or in the table drawers.  Next year I may have to wrap some empty boxes for photo purposes.  

My table and chairs!!

Joe stuffed our advent calendar with lotto tickets and gift cards for me - I won $17 :) 

Lucy playing with her new Doodler

And having a tea party with daddy

Checking out her baby tennis racket (look how giant the tennis ball is!!  I sense this will be more like a golf club for a while.)

WEEEE!!!  Riding in her new ride/pull/push toy for Beth and Rob.  This is really for baby dolls to ride in, like a stroller, but now she thinks it is a race car for 16 month olds

Taking her babies for a little stroll

Merry XMAS!!!!!

Happy Birthday Abigail!!!

Today Miss Abigail turned 4 years old!!!! Happy Birthday!!!!  We are celebrating tomorrow with a trip to see Pinkalicious, and maybe a visit to the American Girls Doll store.  I am excited for my day out with the "ladies."  Abigail, you are such a special little girl and we love you to pieces!!!
Love, Aunt Julie, Uncle Joe and Lucy

I am so excited to be 4!!!

Santa 2011

Lucy visited Santa this weekend, and as we anticipated the minute she sat down she had looked a little scared, but mostly mad at us.   So the reach is for daddy who always saves the day, who then preceded to sit in between Lucy and Santa for a second shot.  I really SHOULD have purchased that one so that we can use it as a blackmail photo for the rest of his life.  A grown man, in a long black wool coat, sitting with his arms around Santa.  Maybe I can still get that one from Woodfield.

Pic of a pic of Lucy and Santa

Merry Christmas....Part 1

This weekend we celebrated Christmas with Joe's family and it now it officially feels like Christmas!!  We had the annual Lacny family party on Friday night and, as usual, it was a great night with a lot of traditions and a new one that seemed to go over really well - the White El gift exchange.  I walked away with what seemed to be a hot item (thanks Grandma!!!) as Joe was harassing me to steal it from someone - the Travel Emergency Kit with jumper cables and all.  I kept telling him I don't need one...reminding him AAA does a great job and that I definitely would kill myself trying to use jumper cables, but he started to reference his Country Insurance salesman days and all the benefits of a travel emergency kit so I am now the proud owner.  Joe won a nice picture frame that he exchanged for a car clipboard.  And, Lucy got spoiled with so many fun toys, clothes and books.   She is a lucky little girl!

Saturday we celebrated Christmas with Jill and Jake who flew in from Boulder for the big weekend of festivities, and Grammy and Grampy.  And after a morning of opening gifts (way too many this year, but thanks Chris and Bill for everything!!!!) and probably too much Lucy-watching, we had a really relaxing day and Joe said it was one of his "best days ever."  Everyone needed a nap after Friday night, especially our host who stayed up cleaning the house until 4:30 am.  But, it did look spectacular Saturday morning. Lucy definitely won the title of "most spoiled 16-month old" this weekend as we needed giant garbage bags to bring her toys home in, but she is loving them.  We are slowing going to bring one or two out a week, so hopefully the new toy excitement will stretch us all the way through the winter.

Thanks Bill and Chris for everything, to Jill and Jake for coming in for the weekend, and to all the family for thinking of Lucy and us - and Merry Christmas!!!

All ready to go! 

I missed my grandparents!

The newest member of the Lacny family, Jayden, with his mom and grandma. I love the cute hat!

Our 2011 family pic, since we seem to get one per year

 \

This is where Lucy gets her good looks!!

Checking out her new minnie blanket from Aunt Kristy, Aunt Pat, John and Will.  I am using it as I type!

Proof that whatever Lucy wants, she gets at Grandma's.  You want to sit in your quacking duck to open gifts?  Ok!  

Jill and Jake with a few of their new gifts on

                                            My own guitar from Auntie Jill and Uncle Jake!!

My first laptop from Grammy and Grampy

A cute pic of Chris 

Happy St. Nick's Day!

Lucy was surprised this morning with a visit from St. Nick who left a few gifts in her tiny shoe!  Like always, the cheapest, most random gift always wins over any gift that had some thought put into it.  Lucy just wanted the $1.19 fruit pouch, but eventually got around to the rest and it was great to have some new distractions while I got breakfast ready.  Happy St. Nick's Day!  In other Christmas news, we did get our first holiday card in the mail - from our good friends Barack, Michelle and girls.  Happy Holidays Obamas!!!!

Thanks St. Nick

Lucy posing with her advent calendar (kind of big, I didn't read the dimensions before ordering)

Only 3 Years?

Yesterday Joe and I celebrated our 3rd anniversary, which feels like 30 to us!  Maybe because we have been dating/married for 6 years, or maybe because our lives have changed so much in just 3 years and the past 15 months has flown by quicker than any chapter in our lives.  But, it has been the most amazing 3 years and although I can't speak for Joe, this isn't anyone else I would rather have been through it all with.  Joe had tennis and when he got home we wanted to do something special so we decided to open a bottle of wine I had been saving since my trip to Italy back in 2006.  When I was opening it, Joe asked if it would even be okay to drink as we don't have a wine cellar and as I opened it, the cork just broke into a thousand pieces and fell in, and the wine didn't smell like wine.  So, maybe we should first invest in some sort of wine cellar/storage before pretending to collect vintage wines.

Keeping with a tradition we started on our first anniversary, we are heading to dinner at Roy's, which reminds us of our honeymoon in Hawaii, and I am sure we will have the "when are we going back to Hawaii?" discussion like always, and dessert at the Sofitel.  Happy Anniversary to us!!!

Also, overdue, we had a great Thanksgiving and a few pictures to share - we all noted how loud this year's Thanksgiving was.  Not sure if it was the Muskovich ladies all talking over one another or the girls all running around, or me constantly chasing Lucy saying "no" as she headed towards the stairs the entire evening.  But, we had a great dinner as always, thanks to my mom for all of her hard work (and Beth too) and my dad's hard work outdoors with the turkey fryer.  We missed Bill and Chris but know they were enjoying the Arizona weather :)

The rest of the weekend was super relaxing - having Joe home Wednesday through Sunday allowed us to get a million things off our to-do list, address our holiday cards, put up our very convenient and nice-looking fake tree (I got a bonus surprise this year when I realized the lights are already attached to the tree) and all our holiday decorations, took Lucy swimming, went to an indoor playspace and got nearly all of our holiday shopping done.  Sounds boring, but it was all exciting.

Enjoy the rest of the week!

The girls by the toy closet

                                        

The guys doing what they do best

The chef and the chef-wanna-be (Joe)

Enjoying their wine spritzers

Turkey Carving Watching

Lucy's favorite 4-legged-friend, Kramer

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

This photo has a lot of significance because it was the first time smiled on command!  It was so cute, she wasn't up for being posed and then I asked her to smile and she gave me one!!

Hope everyone is having a great Thanksgiving!!!

Meet Maddux and Lucy updates

Just got home from a great day in Iowa, finally meeting Maddux (Ericka's cutie-pie son) this weekend!!!!  Of course Maddux was the best baby ever - and for one slight minute made me miss the teeny baby stage.  And, while we chatted and shopped, Lucy and daddy had a "day out" at the Children's Museum and lots of playing.  Sadly, it doesn't sound like she missed me much because I kept waiting for a call that she was crying for no reason - which I would happily assume meant she missed me - but I kept calling them and would just get a "got to go. We are busy!"  So, I guess she didn't notice I was gone.  But, at least they had fun.

A few pics of Maddux - a handsome 3 months old:

Hi world!

With mommy

Children's Museum (from daddy's phone):

And now onto the promised Lucy updates!

Lucy is now 14 months old and using one word to describe her - BUSY.  Her personality is spunky and she reminds me a lot of her cousin Caitlin in that she is independent, opinionated, social and behind that sweet smile is a little sassy attitude.  But, I had it all coming to me after my sweet, angelic teen years.  She is into exploring - from trying to climb into and out of the bath tub when I am not looking, into boxes, lockers at the gym, hanging onto the shelves in the fridge so she can get to her milks (kefir), and figuring out how to remove her pants, and last night, diaper, herself.  

We are always amazed at what she understands!! When we say "bath" she runs and starts getting her bath toys out, and if she sees a winter hat out, she knows to put it in the bin by the back door.  She knows some of her colors - and can find the "green ball" when we ask.  She is pointing a lot - at the cabinet when she wants a snack, at her toothbrush when she wants to brush her teeth, at the gate when she wants daddy :)  And, we know she understands "no" but still thinks our reaction is funny and likes to test us by going right back for more.  oh lord!

Outside of playing with her toys, of which her favorites are her stacking buckets, her ball/penguin shoot, her kangaroo shape sorter and recently her tea set, she loves to hide behind the curtains until I find her, having daddy chase her around the house, brushing her teeth, taking baths (until it is time to get out) and dancing when she hears music!  Oh, and playing with my iPhone. She thinks it is her phone. 

We don't have any new words - and strangely, Lucy has entered into a non-talking stage.  But, recently she started clucking which daddy taught her, and yesterday we took her to Macy's and she tried to say "ball" everytime we saw an ornament on the trees.  She also tries to say "K-K" when we say Caitlin.  So hopefully we will get some words soon.  

She is currently in two classes - Kindermusik, which I absolutely love, and a Creative Movement class at Bubbles.  I love both classes for different reasons - Kindermusik is a smaller group, where she has a lot of teacher interaction, and Creative Movement is bigger with some older kids so she gets to observe a lot (and burn A LOT of energy).  We are hoping to add in swimming over the winter once we get this one-nap-a-day routine down.  But, I am enjoying the not-so-packed schedule we are on this fall - giving us more time to just play, be together, and most importantly, get naps when they are needed.

Lucy is our little peanut, and we love her to pieces!!!  We love how she will run to us for a big hug at a random moment or will hug our legs when a stranger starts talking to her.  We love how she will sit in the back of the car and start giggling and how excited she gets to run to daddy when he gets home from work.  

A few random pictures....

Doing what she does best - emptying our cabinets

Trying out my new snowsuit. Now we just need some snow!

Hanging out with daddy

Bath time is the best!

Hiding spot discovered....

Our sweet girl