Trip to the Mountains

So, a MONTH ago today, we were returning from a wonderful weekend in the mountains of North Carolina. We went to Boone, NC with our "old" neighbors and wonderful friends, Shannon, Phil & Samantha Helm. We have enjoyed several weekends away as a four-some and now it was fun to bring the girls' and watch them spend time together.
For Mike and I, it was our first time to Boone and our first chance to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway. The mountain air was clean and crisp and the 70 degree days and 40 degree nights were a welcome change from the 95 degree weather we left behind in Raleigh.
Rachael enjoyed having time with another "little person" and learned a lot by watching Samantha.
We enjoyed a short walk in the Linville Viaduct, hit up several parks -- the coolest one was in Blowing Rock and bought candy and other goodies at the General Store.
Overall, it was just great to getaway and spend quality time with our friends!
Here are some pictures:

Month 7 -- in review

Well, now that Rachael has been 8 months for 11 days -- it's time to review her 7th month! Yes, slacker mom-blogger of the YEAR! :)
In my defense...here are some excuses reasons for the void on the blog: 

1) our camera was in the repair shop after a run-in with one of our favorite two year olds. The camera lost. 

2) the fall semester started for me at work and that means absolute craziness of the college-student type.

3) Rachael got two teeth and this momma lost countless hours of sleep and therefore brain cells fell out of my head at the time.

Alright, enough of that -- just get on with it!

We celebrated her 7th month birthday with a fun evening at the Helm's. Rachael and Samantha enjoyed a wonderful ride in Samantha's two person wagon. The adults enjoyed grilled pizzas and fun conversation. (Pictures of this experience are on Phil's cell phone -- see camera war above)

Other fun times -- we played with Sue, Shane and baby Claire who was showing Rachael what a big girl she is -- pulling up at 6 1/2 months.

I traveled by myself for the first time since R arrived to host cousin Mary's baby shower. It was a great day to celebrate Mary and the pending arrival of baby boy Smith. As of my typing, we're still waiting for baby boy to arrive, but, it will be any day now. While I was gone, Mike and Rachael enjoyed several long walks and she slept pretty well overnight for a tired daddy. I arrived home to a happy baby, a clean house and the laundry washed and folded -- what more could a girl want?????? I'm the luckiest-- I swear!

Also, Mike installed an infant/toddler swing on the playset just for the diva -- she loves it. 

As for developmental milestones -- there were many this month! 

Weight: 13lbs, 2oz.

Her two first teeth appeared on the bottom gum on August 15th.

Began eating stage 2 foods this month. She just adores anything that is delivered via spoon. Pictures below!

On Sept 5th, Rachael was sitting up for the first time on her own for a long period of time. 

She began rocking on all fours...really wanting to crawl and in the meantime, perfecting her army crawl -- it's pretty quick! 

Enough talk -- here are photos:

Up next...the 8th month post, a post about our Labor Day trip to the NC mountains and other fun things!

Hope you are doing well -- thanks for checking in on us!
Lots of love,
Sara 

Six Years Ago Today...

Mike made me one very lucky and happy woman....he asked me to marry him!
The day is almost a blur, now, but, I do recall him getting on one knee in the middle of
the academic quad at West Chester University...the place from which we both received our degrees.
He knew all too well that WCU was a very special place for me and that it was the place that our
friendship deepened and that, ultimately, set the groundwork for our relationship today.

These years have gone by at lightening speed...but, one thing's for sure: I love  you more today than I did on that day! And, trust me, I didn't think that was possible!

Sealed...

by the cross of Christ forever.
On Sunday, August 8th, 2010, Rachael Lenore was baptized. We started the weekend with our families coming to town, including her Godparents, uncle Doug as Godfather and my cousin Allyson, as Godmother. Thank you to you both for playing this important role in Rachael's religious life. We spent Saturday making preparations for Sunday's brunch...I couldn't have done it without all of the help from everyone! Saturday evening, we had shared dinner together and then ushered Rachael off to a bath in preparation for the big event. The next day was a very special day for our family! Rachael was such a trooper....she didn't cry when George (the head Rector/Priest) took her in his arms, nor did she cry when he poured the water on her head. She was quiet during the rest of church and even fell asleep during communion! This is one of my favorite pictures from the day:

Rachael reaching her hand up to touch Rev. George's face...precious!

After the ceremony, we enjoyed a brunch at our house with family and friends.
The whole weekend was a great celebration of Rachael's big day...her first "white dress"
celebration! I have a feeling this one was cheaper than the BIG one in the white dress.
Another special memory -- Rachael was the fifth girl to wear the baptismal dress.
Here's the list of those who have worn it:
Barbara Louise (Eavis) Garman - 1946
Kathie Elizabeth (Eavis) Craft - 1948 (Rachael's grandmother - Nana)
Micki Leanne (Garman) Marquardt- 1968
Sara Louise (Craft) Concini - 3/6/77 (Rachael's mother!)
Rachael Lenore Concini- 8/8/10

Gammy (Rachael's great-grandmother) remarked that this was the fifth baby she'd held in this dress:

And, here are the four generations:

And, finally, Rachael with her parents and Godparents:

Rachael's been officially "welcomed"...

Our families hosted some celebrations in honor of Rachael's arrival.
The Concini/Hermance/Coombe crew gathered around Mimi and Papa's deck and pool to greet the little one. It was a very full day....full of love, laughter, food (of course) and of long-awaited hugs and conversations. We are so thankful to Mimi and Papa for hosting us and to Nana and Pops for helping us to celebrate with a Rachael poster and a delicious chocolate "Welcome Rachael" cake.
A few pictures from the day:
Christy holding Rachael while she loves on Cecelia, Mike's cousin's daughter

All of the cousins around
the cake!
















Then, the very next day, we were again surrounded by family at a
"Welcome Diva Rachael" brunch at Allyson's home in Springfield, VA.
It was a great afternoon and evening of chatting and catching up and more
hugs and kisses for Rachael. She loved playing with Alex, and it was the two
of them playing that explains the lack of pictures!

THANK  YOU to our families for celebrating Rachael...she is one lucky girl
to have you!

A Whole Lotta Catchin' Up to Do...

So...if ever there were faithful followers of this blog...I'm sure I've lost you with my ridiculously long, life-filled break from posting! I am in awe of blogs that I read (very sparingly these days) in which the author can post each day, or, at the very least, multiple times a week. I feel like I can't even get to all of the things that I WANT to in one day...just trying to get through the things that HAVE to be done.

Alright...so, enough with the excuses and whining. Here's the scoop with the Concini's:
Father's Day: We had a great day together. We took Rachael to church for the first time and I haven't seen Mike any prouder than when he walked Rachael up to the communion rail. We were all welcomed back to the physical community with the warmth of hugs, special greetings and excited voices to meet Rachael. We were never far from the spiritual community with all of the thoughts, prayers, cards, calls, food and visits from clergy and fellow members during our time away.
Later that afternoon, I surprised Mike with VA Tech onesies for Rachael and so, the two sat together with their VT t-shirts on after a homemade (by me!) dinner: herb-encrusted pork tenderloin, cheesy potatoes, cooked carrots, and escalloped apples. It was scrumptious, if I do say so myself.
Here's a picture of daddy and his little hokie:

A proud daddy and an admiring baby girl! Mike, you are an amazing father (already) and it is my honor and pleasure to watch you in your journey of fatherhood. Rachael is blessed!

Also on Father's Day weekend, our friends, Richard and Margaret came to meet Rachael. It was great to see them and very special to watch them meet the diva.

Don't worry, Rachael, you will (someday) have more hair than Richard! :)

And, then there was the "Gammylympics" and 90th birthday celebration at Holden Beach!
It was a fabulous time to be together (we missed  you Alaska/Arizona crew!) and we celebrated in grand style with Gammy and the overarching theme: ' Let's get on with it' (said by Gammy on her 80th birthday whitewater rafting trip when the river was too slow for her liking!)

The weather was perfect...with a cool breeze in the evenings, hence the blowing hair and Gammy's sweater.

Rachael didn't get to the sand much when the sun was bright overhead, but, we did sneak in a quick picture or two for posterity!










We are so blessed to have family that comes together (from miles and miles) for celebrations and just good times to spend together to create lasting memories! We love you guys!

And, last, but NOT least, Rachael is SIX months old! Where did the time go? Will the next 6 months go by as quickly? I'm afraid they'll go by even faster!

Beautiful blue eyes!










Here are some stats:
weight: 12lbs, 5oz (25th percentile)
height: 25 inches (50-75th percentile!)
What you are doing:
Rolling, rolling, rolling...unable to leave you alone for any length of time on the floor!
Army crawling...using your arms to go forward while getting up on your legs.
Grasping at all kinds of things and putting everything in to your mouth. You have noticed your feet and are trying to figure out how to get them to the mouth.
Sitting up with the help of the Bumbo for 30 secs- 1 minute. "Talking" all the time -- squealing even! Wonder where she gets that ability from? :) You are also "bossing around" the toys on your bouncy seat....no comment as to where that trait derives.

If you're still reading, at this point, you should get yourself a cookie! :)

Until next time...

Another first...(or two)

Little Rachael had her first virus this week!
I got the first phone call from daycare about a
low-grade fever. We had our first "sick" visit
to the pediatrician.
Thankfully, she doesn't have an infection and
never did act very "sick", but, it wasn't
an easy week, as she hasn't been
eating with her usual vigor, but,
she was sleeping an unusual amount.

Meanwhile, the determined (read: stubborn
where does she get that?) diva is
working on her Army crawl.
She inched her way across the room
and is rolling over from front to back
and back to front like it's her job. OK, so
maybe it is her job, for now. :)

Tsk, tsk...I don't have pictures to post
at the moment, but, when I get my act together,
I will be back, with photos!

ttfn!

5 months!

Happy month # 5, Rachael!
Here are some stats:

weight: 11lbs, 3oz

eating: 500-600mls a day

doing: sucking on hands, fingers, 

rolling from back to front (happened today

for the first time!), cooing, giggling,

smiling. following hands and feet

with eyes, watching others move

around. still in love with glowy,

the glow worm, who can bring a

smile to your face at any moment.

In the last two weeks, you have adjusted

to daycare very well...taking good naps

and eating well all the while enjoying the 

"big kids". I am trying to do as well

at adjusting being back to work full-time.

I'm just thankful to have a job that I love

and colleagues who are more like family

than "co-workers". 

Of course, here's a 5 month picture:

Hello Summer...Rachael's first beach trip

Well...it's a hot one out there today and it's not even noon!
We were able to take a few days to join Mike's parents
in Hilton Head, South Carolina before I started back to
work full-time. It was an adventure to travel with a 4 1/2 month
old! Rachael did great on the way down...slept the whole way there!
We woke her up once to eat, since it is a 5 hour ride. While on the
island, we took her to the beach (at 6pm!) and placed her tent poolside,
underneath the umbrella and underneath a lightweight blanket -- no sunburn
on mommy's watch!
Here are some pictures....thanks, Mimi and Papa for letting us crash your trip
and for watching Rachael so we could enjoy some pool & hot tub time
and a long dinner out!

The Cousins...

Cousins & kids...we're multiplying! :)

Mother's Day weekend brought a visit from
the cousins and their families! It was the best
way that I can think to spend my first Mother's
Day! We all enjoyed some play time...both
little kids and big kids. Saturday night we
took Rachael out for her first dinner out
to Mellow Mushroom...Shannon, Phil and Samantha
joined us for the big occasion.
Thanks to the cousins for coming all this way to see us!

Alex & Allyson lovin' on Rachael

Mary giving Rachael some breakfast

Alex checking on Rachael

Shannon, Phil & Sam joined us for R's
first dinner out- Mellow Mushroom!