Still in MD

This is an old photo...from last spring.
Amelia's first haircut, including Amelia (pudgy stage),
Mommy, Bubbie, Aunt Jackie and big cousin, Ezra.
Too precious to keep to myself!

Amelia and Maya, Thanksgiving 2007

We've been here since Thursday. We went to our friends', Shawn, Donna and Darmia for Christmas Eve and it was really lovely. Amelia was a true people magnet. There must have been at least 3-4 people around her at all times thru the nite. What a fun time. Spike came with us and it was great having him there.

Tuesday we went to Evelyn and Carlo's. Nestor's mom, Regina was in a great mood. Dancing and singing to Amelia all afternoon. Really terrific. For those of you who don't know, Regina has Alzheimer's and it's always a crap shoot to see how she is that particular day. We had a perfect day with the family.

Wednesday we went up to the house and spent the night. We saw Titi Terry and Uncle Artie while we were up there. It was freezing when we got there, but by late afternoon it had warmed up. Don't worry, we had the girl all bundled up in an extra heavy sweatsuit. Poor little Amelia...she rolls with the punches!

We left first thing Thursday morning and headed back to the city for a VERY important lunch date. We met Spike and his new squeeze, Christina. She is everything we could want for Spike. Sweet (so similar to Spike, very quiet), smart (double major: Anthropology and Asian Studies) and beautiful (exotic -- Greek and Romanian). We were so happy to finally meet her and she was very forgiving when Amelia kept stealing her menu from her. She very reasonably gave it up and shared Spike's menu! After lunch, Nestor dropped "the kids" off in Chinatown so they could go exploring the city and work their way thru Little Italy, up thru Soho and on up to Chelsea Piers to ice skate and go bowling. Ahhh, to be young with no responsibilities.

We packed up and left for Balto later that day and made it here in only 4 1/2 hrs and 2 Disney movies! (usually it takes 3 hrs.) And we've been here ever since. I'm very happy to report that my Mom, sis and I went shopping today and I landed my first pair of jeans, that look relatively cute, in 2 years. The best is the memory I will have for the rest of my life of my hilarious mother...2 babies (Amelia and her 6 month old cousin, Maya), 2 big strollers and a big mirror in the dressing room area at Chico's -- my mother pulling every song and rhyme she knows out of her hat...singing -- loudly, dancing and making a very big spectacle of herself, to keep the girls amused while Jackie and I tried on clothes with our poor, stretched-out-of-shape bodies. I walked out at one point and my Mom had pulled her scarf off and was playing peek-a-boo. OMG!!!! Soooo funny! Only a Bubbie/Mommy would make such an ass of herself in a public place for a smile and giggle.

We'll be heading to NJ for New Year's to be at Evelyn and Carlo's with Regina. Eventually we'll be back in the city and then Amelia will be out of this big ol vacation she's been having and have to get back to work. This little party's almost over! It has been luxurious tho...no therapy schedules to adhere to. Just us. I really love that.

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S EVERYBODY. HERE'S TO A HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR WITH LOTS OF WONDERFUL SURPRISES AND ACHIEVEMENTS!!!!