Warmest Winter Wishes!
December 10, 2009:
2009 has been another phenomenal year. The biggest event of course was the birth of Seamus. All of us are charmed by his sweet personality and we love him completely. We can’t imagine life without him. Other big events include Jack starting pre-school and Isabelle Kindergarten. For 2009 Mike and I feel blessed and happy. We have each other and three terrific kids. Every day is a challenge, but the stress is worth every moment. We continue to pray for health and happiness AND joy throughout 2010.
Isabelle:She’s sweet and kind and five years old already. For one so petite, she has a big personality. Always with a smile, she exudes fun and appreciation for life. She loves to draw, collect, do sports, run, play in snow, doing gymnastics, dancing, crafts, learn, etc. She is never bored and always creating something to do. When Jack cries she’s the first one to go console him. She’ll comfort and he’ll rest his head on her shoulder. Sensitive is the great descriptive word for Isabelle. She’s at a great age where I love doing things alone with her. She’s fun!
Isabelle has had a difficult time adjusting to school and we’re still adjusting. She misses home and me. She’s the tiniest in the class – everyone is a head or more taller than her. The class is large and the lunch room and playground is overwhelming. Academically, she’s doing great, learning all the letters upper and lowercase. These past few months have been months of extreme growth.
++Isabelle is close to 40″ and only 34lbs. Light brown hair and blue green eyes.
Jack: an extremely affectionate boy. He loves to hug with his WHOLE body. His arms and legs wrap around and he squeezes tight. He’s a bundle of enegry, personality, and seemingly tough character. He’s actually soft and much more sensitive than Isabelle. Jack is our most challenging child because he pushes us to the extreme. We love him though and love his soft cheeks, bright eyes and enthusiasm.
Jack is loud, loves to sing, bang his toys, play music, play any sports, play outside, and most especially play with TRAINS. The boy is tough on equipment and with anything he touches.
Jack started pre-school which he loves and excels at. He loves being with other kids learning in school. His classroom is directly across from Bella which is a comfort. He goes 3 mornings a week, bella going in his classroom to wait for her class to start. When Jack comes home he falls apart. He’s tired and cranky and it’s been a few months of adjustment. There are many times his hits me and then falls to the floor is exhaustion and tears. He’s a work in progress, but his hugs make up for it all.
++Jack is 38 inches and 37lbs. He has dirty blond hair with two cowlicks. His eyes are a light blue with light green/yellow tinting. They are beautiful.
Seamus: 6 months and the newest member of the Cooney Clan. A sweetheart boy, so snuggily and lovable. He smiles broad and bright to those nearest and dearest. When I pick him up from naps his eyes even smile. He gurgles and talks – Ah Gee is one of his main words. He’s tickilish, especially when I give him a bath. The boy promptly wants to go to bed by 7:00 and sleeps through to 5:00. This early morning feeding is the best as he is warm and half-asleep. He nuzzles close and drinks while holding my finger. Most especially Seamus loves the kids. He laughs and watches them intently. They are entertaining of course. I’m so enjoying this little baby and want to snuggle and eat him up. I breathe in his baby smell and wish he could remain small. I’m definitely charmed by him.
++Seamus has brown eyes and dark hair, unlike the others. His face is smaller than Jack’s but he’s the same weight at the same age, 19lbs at 4 months!
Mike is currently working as the foreman/carpenter on a large home in Lenox. He has been there over a year and will probably be there another six months. He works for the same company these past 6 years. Outside of work he’s my right-hand man and totally involves himself in the family.
Chris: a full-time mom still and I attempt to work my Web design side-job 20 hours per week during the evening hours. Outside of this, photography has become my main hobby this past year. If only there were more hours in a day.
Quotes of the week:
Jack while looking at our wedding picture said: “mommy, when you got married, you were a princess”.
Jack while talking about our family said “first you had bella, then Jack, then Seamus, THEN kitty!”
2009 Year in Review
December: deer week for mike; mild temperatures; first snow; cutting down Christmas tree at Chanticleer farm; decorating for Christmas; baking; playing in snow; eating snow; getting ready for holidays.
November: Raking; preparing for winter; hikes near Stockbridge bowl; second colds for year; Thanksgiving dinner at our house; cousins Becky and Katie staying at house; Aunt Pauline’s visit; Lunch at Eastover; Chris’ 20th reunion.
October: Leaves changing; weather fluctuating; leaves falling; colds come and gone and come again; gathering seeds and flowers; hunting for acorns; picnic at Tanglwood; mike replacing roof over apartment (huge project); soccer; ballet; trip to Taft farms; Seamus with first cold; etc. Carving pumpkins; dressing up for Halloween.
End of August/September: visiting with Deepali; the Cummington Fair; first days of school for Jack and Bella; tub parade; staying at the cottage; visit with Pauline; friends at the cottage; Cowhigs party; ABC party; Mike & me 10 year anniversary since we first met; first colds of the year (jack bad cold) and both missing two days of school; cold weather.
July/August: play in rain, play in rain, play in rain. Getting used to baby; Isabelle’s birthday and pirate party; Mike’s birthday; birthday at Jon Reinholts; dinner at Alberts; St. Ann’s fair; bike riding; zuccini festival in West Stockbridge with Bob’s family; Mom helping each day and spending time with her; Seamus’ baptism; Lenox beach for swimming; walks in town; ice cream in town; talking with neighbors Carol and Mr. Duval; popsicles on Duval’s porch; dinner at the Russo’s; blueberrying; Isabelle going to ice cream social at old school; getting together with friends; Eastover pool; Eastover circus; slip n’ slid; blueberrying with Loves; Terry a la berry at beach; hunting for Skuub martian at the library.
June: awaiting baby; Seamus’ birth!!!
May: tagsale with McCormacks and Reinholts; visiting my brother Bob and his family (watching Jackie dance and Dan play soccer); Isabelle starting T-ball; memorial weekend parties; Mike’s brother Tom visiting; mini-vacations at cottage; Replanting plants around barn; organizing stuff house and attic and getting ready for tagsale; tagsale with friends; baby kicking LOTS; t-ball for Isabelle; Mike’s trip to ER for cut on Finger (may 4)
April Review: Easter; hunting for eggs; Easter gathering in Richmond; throwing rocks in brook; going through attic and all our stuff organizing; Helen visiting from Germany; Walk at Shakespeare & Company with Uncle Marc and Aunt Helen; Mike redoing our dining room walls with new plaster and paint; photography class on portrait taking through IS183; stomach bugs and ear infections; planting garden; playing with wormies; playing in mud; stomach bugs, fever and sinus infections again with kids and Mike; Isabelle in school very little; visit to La’s house in Monterey and playing in his little brook; photoshoot of pregnant me by my friend Tricia; warmth and sun finally here and the kids loving to bike all over; good times spent with Memere; 80 degree days.
March Review: Jack turns 3, party for him; Uncle Marc’s birthday and a small gathering; kindergarten orientation; jack’s preschool screening; playing in mud and watering plants; biking; enjoying the wonderful sun.
January/February: trip to Boston for Isabelle’s stye (growing back); playing in snow, icicle hunting, snowshoeing; school; ballet; dinner out; girls night; happy kids; shopping; house cleaning and decorating (I call it nesting); exercise; finally feeling better from first trimester.