Thanksgiving in Colorado

We thouroughly enjoyed the holiday with family in Durango and Salida. Since Jonny dutifully took so many pictures, I think I'll tell about the weekend through captions on a slide show. If you'd prefer not to look at the 100+ photos, a few favorites are highlighted below.

We love you Rejholecs, Barretts, and Grandpa & Jenny! Thanks for the entertainment, delicious food, and excellent company. Hopefully we will see you all again before too long.

"This corn is an angel."

Last weekend Jonny and I watched Dan in Real Life. There's something about that movie that always has me wanting to watch it again - even right after it's over. Not only is Steve Carell hilarious, but the family seems so real to me. I feel like I spent the weekend with them in that cozy, cluttered cabin.

This is significant because there's only a handful of movies I "crave" about once a year. I was thinking of some others. Funny, the other two that instantly came to mind also have "life" in the title: It's a Wonderful Life and Life is Beautiful. It's about that time of year for George Bailey and Zuzu's petals. Can't wait.

3 more reasons to miss Maryland

Gabe and I left for MD on Friday afternoon and returned home yesterday. I had been looking forward to the trip (which was rescheduled several times) since the triplets were born two months ago. Now it has come and gone. And I miss my Maryland family more than ever.

The babies are beautiful and perfect and more darling than you can even imagine. I relished every minute I held them for the short time I was there. I loved being able to help feed, change, and bathe them. Em and KC's home is now a baby wonderland. There's something very sweet about being surrounded by cozy blankets, piles of burp rags, cribs, swings, bottles, and best of all, babies.

It's amazing how quickly the time passes when there are three babies around. Well, four, including Gabe - if you can call him a baby next to his 6 pound cousins. He looks like King Kong! We had a good laugh when Mom accidentally grabbed one of Gabe's diapers (size 4) and was so confused as she struggled to put it on one of the triplets.

The weather was lovely over the weekend so Gabe and I were privileged to accompany the family and Mom and the babies' first walk. I loved our daily walks through their gorgeous neighborhood. Maryland has a second-home-feeling to me. And right now I feel a little second-homesick.

I guess I feel a little melancholy as I write this post. I only wish these times with my sister weren't so few and far between. We just want to live next door to one another. Is that really too much for twin sisters to ask? This morning I had a little post-trip-with-Em breakdown. (This generally happens at the airport. Luckily KC dropped me off this time so I was able to keep it together on the plane ride!) I was feeling suddenly alone and crying. Julia must have figured I was upset because she hadn't put her clothes on like I had asked several times. She came running to her sobbing Mommy with her clothes in hand, and said, "You happy now, Mommy?! You happy?" That cheered me up enough to call Em and regain my composure. Thanks, sweet Julia.

Anyway, the trip was wonderful and I long for the next visit I will make to see Em, KC, Alex, Bennett, and Ruby. I miss you too, Mom. Keep up the incredible work, all of you. What an amazing, precious, exhausting, miraculous adventure you are living. Thanks for sharing a few days of it with Gabe and me. We love you.

Oh, I guess I want to write a little about my traveling companion on his first flights. He was actually quite pleasant. It wasn't easy for him to sit still for four hours on the way there and five on the way back, but he only fussed a little. On the way there I sat between two very nice people on the front row. The woman on my left couldn't get over "how cute!" Gabe is and the older man on my right was a more quiet admirer. At first he just played with Gabe's hands but before too long he had him in his arms. I smiled as this stranger made Gabe smile, giggle, and even - get this - fall asleep! I was struggling to calm my overtired little guy with no hope of him falling asleep. Jim, the nice Asian NASA employee to my left, gestured for Gabe and commenced to pat his back until he was sound asleep. And there he slept for an hour. I begged my new friends to make the return trip with us. No luck. But the flight on the way home was half empty so Gabe and I spread out on our own row. This time I was able to get him to take two catnaps. (Gabe is a crib sleeper. It's a lot to ask of him to sleep anywhere else. So I was very proud of him.) And that was that. I was relieved and exhausted when we landed, even though Gabe was such a good boy. I loved this special time with my buddy. As much fun as we had with just the two of us, we were overjoyed to run into the arms of Jonny and Julia. We missed our Js like crazy.

Victory

I used to joke that I was a Yankees fan by marriage. But now I think I can say I truly am a Yankees fan - only influenced by marriage. For the first time in my life, I sat down to watch the World Series. Sure, I was cooking, doing laundry, and perhaps dozing off during parts of the games. But a lot of the time I was next to Jonny on the couch of my own accord. To my surprise, I found myself enjoying watching the games. Sometimes I'd quip out a little baseball jargon, which would really impress Jonny. (Hey, he taught me everything I know. Which still isn't much, but I learn more each time we watch a game together.) I got to know the players a little and looked forward to watching them pitch, catch, and bat. It's odd, but it almost seems that I was more excited at their win Wednesday night than even Jonny. Maybe it's just because I'm new to the game. It was thrilling.

To celebrate NY's 27th victory, we all donned our caps the next day. Gabe doesn't own one...yet. Way to go, Yankees. You not only won an amazing series against the Phillies, but you made a fan out of me. Now, that is victorious.
Julia is giving the team a "thumbs up" in the first picture. She loves to wear her that is like Daddy's and Mommy's. All day she was saying, "Yay-ees won!"

Gabe's Lullaby

It's about time I document Gabe's lullaby. I wrote down all of Julia's songs a while ago. Except for her lullaby, they all work for Gabe (and any future little friends) as well. It took me several weeks to get his song just right. Song-writing is a great way to occupy your mind while nursing in the wee hours of the morning. And I think I finalized the tune while running with the kids one day. It's a simple lullaby, but it's all Gabe's.

Gabriel, you like to go, go, go.
But now it's time to take is slow, slow, slow.
Gabriel, the sun has said, "Good night."
The moon and stars are shining bright.

Chorus:
Gabriel, oh Gabriel-
Gabriel, my little babe.
Gabriel, oh Gabriel-
I love you, my darling Gabe.

Gabriel, it's time to rest your head-
Snuggle up cozy in your bed.
Gabriel, the day is done.
Now sleep and dream of tomorrow's fun.

Chorus

P.S. It's only two verses, as opposed to Julia's three verse lullaby with a long chorus. After much lullaby-singing experience, I decided a shorter one is better. If needed or wanted, I can always sing it twice or three times. But once is usually just right.

P.P.S. These pictures are of Gabe just after waking up from a nap. I know they aren't focused quite right. I am still learning how to use my camera and new lens. I just need to take the time to practice and play around with it. Seems like there was more time to do this before number two came along... but now I have twice as many subjects to practice on.

Check them out...

I just have to put in a plug for my sister's triplets. If you want to see something darling, take a look. What an adventure they must be having over there in Maryland. On Friday I will be joining it. Get ready for some hugs from Aunt Melody, you three! (I'd let Gabe hug you too, but he would smother you with his massive chubbiness.)

"More Halloween!"

The title of this post refers to Julia's response this morning when I told her Halloween was over. Not only was the holiday memorable for her, but Jonny and I haven't had so much fun on October 31st for years! I guess there's just something exciting about seeing and experiencing the holidays through her increasingly observant eyes. And soon enough Gabe will be a walking, talking little friend as well. The holidays can only get better.

As you can see, Gabe was a pumpkin (see baby Julia in the same costume at only two weeks younger than him on her first Halloween) and Julia was a candy "kern," as she puts it. Jonny spent the morning carving four pumpkins from our garden. In his family they always carved one for each family member. So I drew the simple faces and he did the dirty work. Can you tell who is who?

While Gabe went to bed and I greeted the trick-or-treaters, Jonny and Julia made the rounds. He told me she would say "Trick-or-Treat" really quiet at the door unless there were a lot of kids accompanying her. Then she'd yell it out to make sure she was given some candy!

Julia willingly went to bed as usual, even after eating several pieces of candy. While she was talking to herself in bed we heard her happily chirp out, "Trick-or-Treat!"