Dadadadadada

Dear Daddy,

Dadadadadadadadadadadadadadada Dadadadadadadadadada Dadadadadadadadadadadadada NnnnnGaaaa Dadada! 

Loosely translated: Sorry it took me so long to say "dada".  Mostly I was just messing with you.  I loved how you would get flustered after repeating "dada" over and over and all I would do is smirk at you and say "mama".  I'm over that now so here you go... Dadada!

Love you biggest,

Marcus

It has been a long time coming but let it be known that on Thursday, May 26, 2011 Marcus finally said "dada".  

In an earlier post I mentioned that he said both "mama" and "dada"... yeah, we're not sure if he actually did then went on strike or if we *think* he said it.  Either way he says it now... in fact, that's pretty much all he's said all morning.  

On the move

Marcus is mobile!!!  It's amazing how drastically our lives have changed in the last week.  Marcus hit a milestone explosion... On Monday, 5/16 Ace witnessed Marky take 3 crawling steps.  On Tuesday he was successfully and consistently getting into a sitting position from his back, belly and knees .  On Wednesday he was full on crawling... across the room!  On Thursday he was pulling up on furniture and cruising.  I cannot get over it.

 

   

Here are some still shots of our big boy...

With crawling comes bruises... just the first of many, I'm sure

Daddy and his mini-me

Oh yeah... and somewhere in the middle of this milestone explosion Marcus finally cut the two stubborn bottom teeth!  Needless to say, we are having some sleeping issues!!!  Yaaawwwnnnn!

Not the best quality photo but you can see his two toofies... they're so cute!

Lookin' like a bigga boy... :)

WVU Graduation weekend...Go Mountaineers!

Auntie Alexzndra is a college graduate!  Congratulations!!!  Marcus and Mommy flew to Pittsburgh with Ace and GG then drove to Morgantown, WV for Alexzndra's graduation from West Virginia University.  It was a VERY busy weekend and Marcus was a trooper.  Aaron stayed home with Daddy and had a boys weekend.  We missed them bunches!!!

Marcus did so great on his very first plane ride... he charmed all the passengers around us until take off.  Then he sucked down a bottle and fell fast asleep for the majority of the hour and a half flight to Pittsburgh. 

When we arrived in Morgantown we stopped for lunch at the Texas Roadhouse.  This was GGs pick because it was the first place they ate at in Morgantown 4 years ago when they dropped APL off her freshman year.  It seemed fitting that they end it there too.  

After lunch Ace gave me a tour around Morgantown.  He calls it the Fairhaven of WV... kind of dumpy and definitely student focused.  We went to Alexzndra's house to see about packing up her car... she hadn't started packing yet!  So we left her there to check in to the hotel.  APL met us there a little later to hang out...

Marcus was enamored with her... he showed off his pre-crawling skills and overall goofiness.  APL went back to her house to get ready for dinner and at 8pm we picked her up to go to the bar she worked at throughout college... the Vintage Room.  She and her roommates arranged an event for all the families in the private room downstairs.  It was very nice and the food was great.  It was really nice to meet her friends and their parents.  The girls all looked amazing... completely decked out!  I'm just sorry I didn't have my camera.  It was a very late night... we didn't get back to the hotel until after 1am.  Marcus did great... although I'm pretty sure I lost my place in the running for mother of the year!
Graduation was at 9:30 in the WVU Coliseum.  She is part of the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design (strange!).  The speaker was Dr. Franklin E. Boteler, Assistant Director of the Institute of Bioenergy, Climate and Environment with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  I hate to say it but it was THE WORST graduation speech I have ever heard!  He spoke about the mess that the world is in and how it is their responsibility to fix it.  He attempted to make it relevant to each of the sub-colleges within the Davis College... Forestry, Plant and Soil Science, Landscape Design, Interior Design, Nutrition, Fashion Design and Merchandising etc.  I think the worst was the part meant for the Nutrition majors.  He talked about how their generation is the first generation that will not outlive their parents due to obesity and how it was their responsibility to make sure that they were the last.   The overall tone of the speech was negative and there were no words of encouragement or inspiration.  It was soooo strange!  The best part about this commencement address was its brevity!  :)  I think it was only 15 minutes... thank God, I'm pretty sure we couldn't have taken much more! 
Here are some shots from the Coliseum, the princess graduating and photos around campus (with her boyfriend, Drew Dumont)...

 

We are really proud of you, Alexzndra!  Nice work!  

While Mommy and Marcus were away, Daddy and Aaron had fun eating junk food, playing mini golf, going for a run and even got to see a movie!  Here are some photos Brad sent so I didn't miss a beat...

Marcus - 8 months

Happy 8 month "birthday" sweet boy!!!
Yesterday, Marcus turned 8 months old.  Not a whole lot has changed as far as milestones since last month although he has become a much more confident sitter.  He has mastered the backwards scootch pretty well and loves to wedge himself under furniture but he's still working on the forward motion.  He manages to shimmy on his tush while sitting to just about anywhere he wants to be... it's pretty impressive.  He remains a happy and sweet boy... even through teething.  Those two stubborn little teeth on the bottom have not cut through but we can see that they clearly bother him.
I didn't take an official 8 month photo but I did snap a few shots of Marcus' first time in a shopping cart yesterday (after a thorough cleaning with Clorox wipes, of course!)...

He had so much fun... he bounced and giggled the entire time!  We were stopped by lots of other BJs shoppers and Marcus was a prince!  We even picked up a sand and water table for the boys to share... photos of that to come once the weather warms up a bit.

Happy 8 Months little buddy!  You continue to amaze us... Love you BIGGEST!  xoxoxo

Christos Anesti! Happy Easter!

"Western" (Catholic or Christian) Easter coincided with Greek Orthodox Easter again this year!  We love it when that happens!  "Christos Anesti" or Christ is Risen is what we say at Greek Church. 
We traveled up to Vermont to celebrate Easter this year.  On Saturday we went to Sugar and Spice for an Easter Egg Hunt... it was pouring but still fun for Aaron

The Sugar and Spice restaurant is iconic... it's one of the best places in town for breakfast.  We used to go there a lot growing up.  After the egg hunt we went inside for brunch. I don't even look at the menu... I always get the Mendon Miler.  Mmmmm Mmmmm Mmmmm!  It's an english muffin with canadian bacon, poached egg and VT cheddar cheese. 

Marcus and GG
He tried lots of new things (thanks a lot, Ace!) including maple syrup, jelly beans and pancakes

Aaron ordered Cookies and Cream Pancakes... they were delicious!

We hung out at Ace and GG's for the day wishing the weather was nicer.  We did manage to dye some Easter Eggs... Aaron did a great job and didn't break a single egg! 

At 6 o'clock our food fest continued when we went to the Victorian Inn at Wallingford for dinner.  We had a very nice time.  Aaron had escargot for an appetizer and LOVED it!  He thought eating snails was the coolest!  Ace and GG know the owners, Soo and Stanti and I know Stanti from my fish slinging days at Mr. C's so their special attention to our table made for a special evening.  (sorry - everyone forgot their camaras AND phones so no photos!)
Aaron and Marcus slept like champions and waited for the Easter Bunny to come.  He left them baskets and eggs to hunt...

After our egg hunt and baskets we got dressed in our Easter Finest and went to St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church.  Much of the Louras clan was there including Uncle Gus and Aunt Ruth, Valerie, Mark and Tara Fathergill, Julie and Nico (cantor for the service) Louras, Chris (Mayor) and Judy Louras and their boys Augie and Ian (alter boy).  Uncle NoNo also came down from Burlington for church.  It was a really nice service and I think my Papa would be proud that we went.  I think of him often and feel especially close to him in that church. 
Here are some shots of the Libertore family... yes, I dressed us alike and will continue to do it as long as I don't get any push back.  Aaron LOVED that we were all "same same"

After church Uncle Nono, Ace and Daddy kept the boys busy while GG and I prepared dinner.  

Our Easter dinner was DELICIOUS!  Here is the menu...
Appetizer: Shrimp cocktail and Deviled Eggs
Dinner:  Lamb Kabob's marinated in a yogurt sauce (which we also used for dipping - yum!).  Sweet onion and orzo casserole with Gruyere cheese.  Brown butter and tarragon asparagus.
Desert:  Vanilla Bean Ice Cream Pie with Lemon Curd and blackberries