Trip to SC - Part I

We have had a busy but wonderful summer so far! Mommy and Daddy are slowly adjusting to having two kids and are finding that there is not as much free time to blog. We promise to try and do better as the summer continues. Here's a little bit of what's been going on with us......

Michael continues to grow daily. He is really holding his head up well and is cooing and smiling up a storm. He is a great baby and is already showing us that he has an easygoing personality. Mary Pat is quite the helper. She loves her baby brother very much and is always helping Mommy, especially when he is crying. She is also talking nonstop. Not only will she repeat EVERYTHING we say, she is also stringing together sentences of her own which is just adorable. She has also started to dance whenever she hears music on the tv. Unfortunately, she got her dancing skills from Mommy and usually looks like the gopher from "Caddyshack" when doing so! We are hoping to get a video of this since it is adorable and hysterical.

In late May/Early June we went to visit South Carolina for three wonderful weeks. Aunt Shay Baby was kind (crazy?) enough to fly to NY in order to make the 13 hour drive to Spartanburg with Mommy, Mary Pat and Michael. Everyone was wonderful on the drive down and we managed to make it in one day! Daddy joined us for the third week of the trip after taking the second part of his CPA exam.

The trip to SC was fantastic and full of many fun things! Michael got to meet the rest of Mommy's family and Mary Pat got plenty of quality cousin play time with Victoria. We did lots of swimming both at Hillbrook and in Victoria's blow up pool. We also played for hours in Nana's back yard in the play house, on the swing set, and in the bouncy house. Most importantly, we got to see Victoria perform in her very first ballet recital. She did wonderful and even showed Mary Pat how to dance on stage after the show!

Below are some pictures from the first part of our trip. There are more pictures here and here. Stay tuned for pictures form part II of our SC visit including the fish camp, Monkey Joes and the Children's Museum!

The three stooges in the bouncy house.
Aunt Shay Baby with her best buddy Michael!

Mary Pat loved the blow up pool in Nana's back yard, especially the hose that filled it!

Nana and Mary Pat waving to the camera.

Aunt Shay Baby and Mary Pat waiting on Victoria's ballet recital to begin.

Mary Pat and Victoria dancing on stage after the recital.

Best friends!

Fun on the swing set!

Nana with her newest grandchild.

Nana with both of her "yankee" grandkids!

"The Michael Whisperer" aka Aunt Shay Baby with her little friend.

A dirty Mary Pat helping clean green beans picked from Victoria's garden.

One Month Old!!!

We can hardly believe that Michael is already one month old!! It seems like only yesterday that we were a family of three instead of four. We are slowly getting into a routine. It isn't perfect yet, but it's getting there. Michael and Mary Pat both go to the doctor on Tuesday for their respective check ups (1 month for him and 21 months for her) so we will see how big they are both growing. Hopefully Mommy and daddy will survive two kids getting shots at the same time prayers may be in order!

We are very excited that Aunt Shay Baby is coming on Friday afternoon to accompany Mommy, Mary Pat and Michael as they drive to South Carolina on Saturday. Yes, Mommy should probably have her head examined for making this trip with a newborn and a toddler but it will be all worth it once we get to Spartanburg! We are VERY happy to have Aunt Shay Baby coming along for the ride.

Enjoy the bath time pictures below and at this link!

Testing the waters in the bath tub.

Deciding he would like to make an escape.
Not very happy to get washed.

Mary Pat was a big "help" constantly taking Michael's towel back to his room and dumping water down the front of herself!

Mary Pat "helping" Mommy some more.

Not a fan of getting his hair washed.

Daddy and his big guy!

Thanks for my towel Nana!

Daddy and his kiddos!

The big boy ready for his pajamas.

Striking a pose.

Seriously Mom, more pictures?

Happy to be warm in his pjs.

Yes, my children have coordinating pajamas. I couldn't resist!

Do You Like My Miniskirt?

Nana bought Mary Pat this adorable miniskirt and matching shirt. Mommy tried really hard to get a good smile out of her before school last week but failed! Excuse the drool, she has more teeth coming in!I can't tell if she is posing here or giving me the evil eye for taking her picture!

You can kind of see a smile behind the paci!

Mother's Day Weekend

We had a wonderful Mother's Day Weekend! On Saturday we had a nice visit with Aunt Amy and cousins Patrice and Emily. Unfortunately, we lost power while they were here and we had to make an impromptu visit to Big Papa and Pat's house to spend the night. Lucky for us, they were happy to have the four of us for the night and both kids actually slept well!

On Sunday, Big Papa made us a delicious pancake breakfast which Mary Pat gobbled up! We then headed home to power (thank goodness!) to relax for a bit. Mommy was surprised with two great cards and some fantastic perfume for Mother's Day before heading out for a yummy BBQ lunch at Swingbelly's in Long Beach. Mary Pat and Michael were both on their best behavior during lunch which was a perfect way to spend the day!

We hope everyone had a fabulous Mother's Day as well! Here are a few more pictures from the weekend! Mary Pat loves to copy everything including Mommy's head leaning pose!

Three Weeks Old!!

Michael turned three weeks old on Friday!! We can hardly believe that three weeks have gone by since we welcomed him into our family. He is getting a great eater and sleeper and we are slowly starting to develop a routine. Some days are better than others and it's definitely been a challenge for Mommy to adapt to having two kids!

Mary Pat loves her baby brother more every day. She loves to help Mommy change his diaper, give him his paci, and sing to him. Some nights she even likes to snuggle with him and Mommy before bed time which is always an interesting experience!

We have had lots of visitors the past two weeks. Aunt Michelle and cousins Jocelyn, Noelle and Kiera stopped by to meet the newest Kolenik. Big Papa and Pat spent the afternoon playing with Mary Pat and helping Daddy with some things around the house. Brian and Colleen Marchand stopped by with their new addition, Brian, who is a couple weeks older than Michael for a "play date" and Michael Moriello came by one evening to say hello and hold baby Michael!

Enjoy the pictures below and many more at this link.

A little smile for our three week old boy!
Mary Pat doting on her baby brother.
She gets so excited to hold him!

Holding baby Michael is becoming an afternoon tradition when Mary Pat gets home from school.

Giving her baby brother kisses.

Waving to the camera.

Having a "Mom-mom breakfast" a.k.a a piece of pound cake one morning before school.

Being a silly goose as usual!

Trying out the changing table on the pack and play. She is just a little too big for it.....haha!

Nana with two of three grandkids before heading back to SC.

Mary Pat modeling her sunglasses on a sunny day.

Mommy, Mary Pat and Michael taking the double stroller out for the first time (thanks Aunt Amy for lending it to us!)

Mommy, Michael, Brian Avery Marchand (BAM) and Brian.
Jocelyn holding her newest cousin
Aunt Michelle and Michael

Moriello conquering his fear of newborns and holding baby Michael!

Like Sister, Like Brother

Last weekend the kids were taking their naps and both ended up in the exact same position with their arms on either side of their hands. It was too funny! It seems like baby brother Michael is already taking after his big sister!