Santa!

This year Lucas is really into Christmas and Santa. Last year when I brought Lucas to see Santa he screamed bloody murder and jumped off Santa's lap. This year was a different story! When the elf unhooked the ribbon to walk down the aisle to see Santa, Lucas tore down the aisle and leaped into Santa's arms. I know I'm a little partial since he's my son, but it was really darn cute. Here's the pic we got from the moment.

After that class picture we got another one....

I can't tell you how many pictures my family has with me making the same expression as Lucas. I guess he was all smiled out after the first picture.

On another note...Sydney has started eating baby food and has rolled over!

Granny

After 99 years my granny passed away a few weeks ago. It was sad to see her go but at least she is with her daughter now.

I have so many memories with granny:

She was the one who taught me to put butter and then jelly on toast. Try it - it's delicous!

When my mom asked her to clean the decanter set, she would drink all the wine in it and then polish it. Sometimes Holly and I would be lucky enough to get a sip.

I always gave her my marshmallow peeps from my Easter basket. I never liked them but my mom always gave them to me and I would just hand them over to granny.

She's always buy a huge tin of flavored popcorn on Christmas Eve. I always devoured the caramel side.

Granny was the one who held me as we both watched my mom die.

She loved when I brought her those nutritious Honey Buns.

I'm grateful I had so many years with her and she was able to meet Sydney and Lucas. Miss you granny.

Thanksgiving

Sydney celebrated her first Thanksgiving with her family in Agawam. I have to admit it was quite fun dressing her in a cute dress, tights, and hair clip. I told Steve I had been waiting my whole life for it! Lucas had a blast destroying my dad's house and playing with his partners in crime, Theo and Eli.

I finally couldn't take waking up every two hours with Sydney so I tried sleep training a few weeks ago. For those of you who are lucky enough not to know about sleep training, it is basically a few days of hell while the baby cries at night. However, the outcome is fantastic because the baby learns how to soothe herself at night and therefore sleeps longer. It took Sydney a few days but now she is doing great. She goes into her crib at 7 and wakes up around 4 for a feeding and then gets up around 6. You may not think waking up at 4 is fantastic but compared to waking up every 2 hours, I'll take it.

Lucas has been continuing his mischievous ways. Steve had to put a lock on the snack cabinet after I found him eating a sleeve of Fig Newtons. A few nights later while I walked out of the baby's room I found Lucas eating a bag of frozen peaches. He had opened the freezer, crawled on a chair, grabbed scissors on the top shelf of our desk, and cut open the bag of peaches. I'm not quite sure if I should feel proud or annoyed.

;

Cute cousins

Halloween

Here are some pictures from Halloween. Sydney is getting huge and weighs 16 1/2 pounds already!

Getting Big!

Yeah, it's been a while since I last posted. But that's how it goes with two little ones at home and being a full time teacher.


Sydney is getting huge and is becoming so alert. She loves watching Lucas and giggling at his silly antics. She's also doing well at daycare. We're still trying to get into a routine but we're all over the place. I am hoping in another month or so things may go a little more smoothly. On a positive note, I have not been late to work once since I started back. We somehow are making it out of the house on time despite diaper mishaps, spit up, hunger and crying!

Sydney goes to the doctor in two weeks for her 4 month check up!

Ovarian Cancer 5k

Every year Steve and I (friends too) walk or run the Ovarian Cancer 5k in honor of my mom. Since I haven't run in a while and Sydney can't go in a running stroller yet, I walked it. Steve and Lucas decided to run it and Steve came in 4th in his age group. That's not too bad considering he hadn't run since March!

Here is the newest member of Carole's Crew!


Steve and Lucas enjoying some clam chowder after their 4th place finish.


Carole's Crew 2011

Christine and Maya

The complete Pevznamian family!

This is my last week home with the kids. I start back to work full time next Wednesday. I'm filled with a lot of emotions and am hoping everything goes smoothly. I keep telling Lucas he has to look out for his sister at daycare. He just smiles and says "sista" and rubs her head. Aww..what a good big brother.

2 Months!

Sydney turned 2 months last week! She weighed in at 13 pounds 5 ounces and is 24 inches long. It was her first round of vaccines and she did better than I expected.


For those of you who don't know, Sydney is a bit fussy. When I say "a bit fussy" I mean she screams for hours and nothing can settle her down. Since I am nursing, I gave up all dairy foods because I heard it can give the baby gas. She is actually doing a lot better. I'm hoping to start having dairy soon since my body can only go so long without Dairy Queen!


We have been having a lot of fun these past weekends. Here are some photos:

Lucas and Eli goofing around in Maine.


Lucas enjoying lobster!




We went to an air show on Saturday. Lucas loved it! And,there is a small possibility that Lucas may be in the newspaper again. A photographer for a local paper took his picture. We'll find out soon if he made the cut.







On Sunday we went to the Armenian picnic where Lucas got a dog painted on his face and stuffed his mouth with rice pilaf and lamb kabob!

Bath Time!

11 Pounds of Love

Sydney just turned a month and weighed in at 11 pounds 1 ounce. She doesn't even fit into some of her 0-3 month clothes! Lucas better watch out she's going to start stealing food off his plate.

Well, having two children is challenging to say the least. When Steve is home it is manageable but the problem is Steve doesn't have one of those 9 to 5 jobs. It almost laughable trying to bathe Lucas with Sydney strapped to me while I'm trying my best not to bang her head on the sink or tub. Lucas has been really good though. He likes to point out to everyone that Sydney is his sister and he always waves and says hello to her.

Sydney already has a strong personality to say the least. In other words, she cries a lot. I've been trying everything. Right now, she's a mama's girl and likes to cuddle with me all the time. Hopefully she'll feel a little more "at home" in the world soon so her brother doesn't have to bang on the wall when she's crying.

My Big Girl!

Sorry for the lack of posting but, you know, I have a 2 1/2 year old and a 3 week old. Not much gets done around here except for diaper changing and feedings. Anyway, when we brought Sydney in for her check-up she weighed 9 pounds 1 ounce. The doctor weighed her twice because he couldn't believe that she gained 15 ounces in a week! He said they look for newborns to gain about 7 ounces in a week. Sydney doubled the expected weight. He suggested I bottle and sell my milk supply since there was so much. No thanks.

Our friend, Jenn, came by to take some pictures of the kids. She a great photographer and friend and she took gorgeous pics! Take a look at her website: http://jennalton.wordpress.com/2011/07/06/the-arrival-of-sydney-page/

More pictures of Sydney

Holly came to visit last weekend and took some great photos.

It's a Girl!

As some of you probably know, our new bundle of joy has arrived! Here is the story. I had been quite uncomfortable these past few weeks. My darling husband thought that getting me a massage might relax me and jump start labor. On Friday, I had a great massage but no labor pains. So on Saturday we all went to a birthday party on a farm where Lucas got to feed sheep and ride a pony. Once Lucas went down for his nap I decided to get some errands done. I still felt fine and figured I better take advantage of my free time.

At the same time Steve was putting up a fence in the backyard so Lucas would be contained this summer! While watching, I felt a gush of water. I told Steve "I think my water broke and we'll have to leave soon." He asked if he could finish up that part of the fence since we couldn't leave until Donna got to the house anyway. As soon as Donna got to the house, we were off to the hospital. I was so worried about Lucas and rushing off but I later found out that he did really well and I was nervous for nothing. My contractions had already started but they weren't as bad as I remembered from Lucas so I thought we had some time.

We walked up to the maternity ward, where they asked me all sorts of questions, hooked me up to monitors, and asked me to rate my pain. At first I said a "5" but it quickly jumped to a "7." The doctor took a look at me and said I was already 8 1/2 cm dilated and he would check back. Well after a few minutes the nurse had the doctor check back because the pain was getting worse. Sure enough, I was ready to push but too far along to get any pain meds. Needless to say, My water broke at 3:30 and Sydney Paige Shahnamian was born at 7. If you know my sister's birth story, you realize the Pevzner ladies don't mess around when it comes to giving birth. Maybe it was the massage?

Sydney is absolutely perfect and measured much bigger than her brother did at birth. She weighed 8 pounds 6 ounces and was 20 inches long! Everyone is adjusting well and Lucas likes being a big brother. He keeps bringing her toys to play with in her bassinet. It's very sweet and the Pevznamian family is now complete!


Oh. and congrats to my friend Megan who won the baby pool. Sydney was even born on her birthday! Thank you to all who played.

Baby?

Each morning this past week Lucas has come into our bedroom and peeked into the bassinet. Then he turns to us and asks "baby?" We keep telling him not yet. "Why?" he asks. Steve and I explained the baby isn't ready yet but will be here soon. Then Lucas runs to the door, points, and says "baby, door?" Luke thinks because the baby isn't in the bassinet yet that he/she will be coming through the door. Out of the mouths of babes....

Pictures from Memorial Day and Playdates

Lucas and Michael had a great time at the beach in Rockport. Lucas is now obsessed with Michael and asks about him daily!

A big mess in the sandbox.

Sleeping after a long day out in the sun.

Future prom dates Lucas and Maya?