One of Venezia’s favorite things now… making Sadie laugh.

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Venezia’s eyes. Sadie learning how to suck her index finger.

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See the exquisite quilt from Dave and Carrie Brumbaugh. Hint: Dave didn’t make the quilt.

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Medoras Photos

This past weekend I celebrated my 36th birthday. On these kinds of holidays, it’s assumed that it’s up to the celebrator to choose what he or she wants to do. For instance, on Father’s Day, Tony wanted to sit home, have a big breakfast, watch the US Open, and practice his guitar. On my birthday, I’d rather just have some donuts and coffee, and take a shower without having to schedule it with three other people first. Which is what Tony granted me in the morning by taking BOTH the girls out! How glorious! I was even able to make a few phone calls without editing my conversation!

Speaking of taking the girls out, Tony has been a Super Dad in the last couple weeks by watching both Venezia and Sadie, while I have tiptoed out to enjoy a few moments of “me-time” and to reclaim a life outside of spit-up, tantrums, nursing, poopy diapers and Dora the Explorer. The first time he watched them was for me to take my first hip hop aerobics class since having the baby. He also watched them both while I redeemed a gift certificate for a heavenly 90 minute post-natal massage, and also when I went back to teach my first hip hop class at the University since being out.

Finally, (back to my birthday) he watched them while I went to take a Bhangara/Indian dance class and also while I took a relaxing shopping trip for 3 hours! This meant I was able to shop at non-marathon speed, take the time to try clothes things on, and actually THINK what I was doing instead of being sidetracked by Venezia climbing into the clothes racks pretending she was taking a shower.

So it was a great birthday thanks to Tony’s williness to take on the job of watching 8 week old Sadie, and 3 1/2 year old Venezia…both unpredictable, with different needs, at different times, with the ability to scream and cry simultaneously really loud, yet who are still really cute–when they’re sleeping….just kidding! Of course they are ALWAYS cute!

COMING UP: Dance camp for Venezia….a trip to Portland…Mony and Chief visit San Francisco! Stay tuned!

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First of all, check out the cheeks on this girl! makes you want to pinch and kiss ‘em!!

Sadie's Chubby Cheeks

Second…these series of photos describe a little scenario. Last weekend, we were trying to get Sadie to smile and actually capture it on camera! She’s very close to smiling, and we think we got a little smirk out of her. All the attention on Sadie was leaving Venezia a little put-off and annoyed, as you can see from one of the pictures. You will also notice she’s still into role-playing a baby…hence the bib she had put on. We quickly changed her mood by pretending that SHE was the baby we wanted to take a picture of smiling (see big grin pic).

Finally, Venezia wanted me to take a picture of her holding Sadie, even though she was crying. She’s very patient and calm with her crying, and insists on holding her even under loud, screaming circumstances. So even though you often see calm, quiet pics of Sadie–this is the other normal side to how she is too!

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Medora took this snapshot of our cutie last week (at 4 weeks)… click image for larger size.

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Well, our new baby girl finally has a name. We decided on Sadie after many rounds of the family name game… we would sit at the dinner table, and go around and around just thinking of names. Of course Venezia’s were always the most creative: “sheeka,” “barotee,” or “shmookie” may have been suggested more than once. One night Sadie just came up, and eventually it made it through til the end. Lea is Medora’s middle name. So there you have it…

Sadie and Medora are coming home from the hospital today…

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