The England Family - theenglandfamily3

HOLY CROW! It has been FOREVER since I updated the website. Here are some fun photos from vacation. We had SOOO much fun! Melanie LOVED Disney and Jon and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing it from our little angels eyes! I may have also created a scavenger hunt competition for the family to complete at Disney. That was a blast seeing Jon and Dave get a Princess Aurora's signature or hearing Ry and Mike sing at the top of their lungs It's a small world during the ride! I think everyone had a good time!

The cruise started out a little rainy but then brightened up enough for some of us to get a little crispy!! Then we headed back to Disney for more fun! What a WONDERFUL time!!

So it's been awhile.... (common theme) Anyway, yesterday Jon and I took Melanie to the 4-H Fair! IT WAS SO MUCH FUN! We have quite the fearless little one. She went right up and pet the goats, sheep, horses, baby chicks, rabbits...what an unexpected GREAT time!

Melanie enjoyed her first playdate with Cosette. It is so great that my friend from school has a daughter 18 months just around the corner. Melanie was a little taken back at first by someone else playing with HER toys, but then I think she got used to the idea. So we have vowed to have the girls play more!! Check out the pictures!

Happy, Happy Birthday Melanie Lyn!! What a special little lady! It has been such a great, quick year! Jon and I are so blessed to have such a wonderful daughter! We can't imagine life without her!

 

Pictures to follow... now that school is almost over, and me taking the year off, I PROMISE to keep up with the site with pictures and entries!!

 

By the way, This past weekend Uncle Ry took Miss Melanie swimming in the pool!! We don't know who had more fun and a bigger smile, Uncle Ry or Mel!!!!

 

We have started whole milk and it's going great! She loves it!! It HAS to taste better than that formula!!!

So... despite taking a few steps, we are not walking yet! However, Jon and I predict Mel will go from crawling to sprinting!!! We have really been enjoying the little (or gigantic) personality Melanie has! It's so fun to see she has such a great sense of humor. She often makes a face and then starts laughing before Jon or I becuase she knows she's funny!!

 

We are in FULL BIRTHDAY MODE!! I can't wait for her 1st birthday! I can't believe it's been an entire year already. Each day that little angel blesses our lives more than Jon or I could have ever expected!

 

She has also bloomed into quite the little social butterfly. She LOVES waving to evryone in the store..where ever we go. She is growing into such a beautiful little angel!

WOW... So I'm a slacker, which mom reminds me often, I haven't updated on the lovely Melanie. Let's see we are just about on ALL table foods. We love pancakes, waffles, french toast, yogurt, fresh pears and apples for breakfast. We have grilled cheese sandwiches at Gram's house for lunch and for dinner she loves grilled chicken, tortelllini, (or any pasta for that matter... with pasta sauce of course) steamed carrots and broccoli (if mom puts some other flavor on it :P )

 

She drinks from her sippy cup like crazy and I love that she will point to it when she wants some. She points to just about everything. This morning she points to this mesh thing that we put frozen mango in so she can chew on it... and sure enough I filled it with mango and we went to town on it!!

 

We are sleeping a little bit better.... yesterday morning it was hilarious, I looked at the monitor and she ws on her tummy (somthing new because she HATED being on her stomach) with her cute little tushy in the air! hahaha... makes me smile!

 

While I was skyping Mike, Jon called me upstairs becuase Melanie was climbing the stairs. Earlier that day I showed Mel once how to climb the stairs and she got it... Genius.. we'd like to think so..  : ) 

 

So I have saved the MOST exciting news for last... MELANIE TOOK HER FIRST STEPS!!!!! I was picking Mel up at mom and dad's and Mike was home so we were playing in the nursery. I stood Mel up and she took 2 steps to her little table she plays with!!!! We were SO excited as you can imagine! It won't be long now before we are running after her!

 

I can't believe that on Monday she will be 11 months old!! Jon and I can't get over how truly blessed with are to have Melanie. She is so funny, silly, stubborn, adorable and loved more than she knows.

Melanie's 9 month appointment was yesterday!!

Here are her stats:

Weight: 24 lbs 2 oz (not 30lbs as Jon thought)

Height: 29 1/4 inches

 

The doctor thought she looked great and was as healthy as a whistle. He did recommend a doctor kit for her after she kept going after his stethescope... wouldn't even let him listen to her heart... to which is said, "Well looks like we have one that has quite a mind of her own." (Don't I know it) The doctor also gave us the green light for table food!! WOOHOO!! So when we went out for lunch we tried Cheerio's .... and liked them! It was a great face..complete confusion!! We also switched to a big girl car seat, which she loves.  BIG STUFF!!

 

So Melly made my morning after a rough night (Jon sick) She woke up and called out.... Ma-ma, Ma-ma, mama

So we are currently trying the "cry it out" method with Melanie... I can't report how it's going in fear of jinxing it.. but...  : )  I feel more refreshed!!

Our little ladybug is 9 months old today!!!! And she learned (or refined) a new trick!! Last night I was home while Jon was at the basketball game (doing crowd control) and Melanie learned how to crawl. When I brought Mel to mom and dad's this morning they got to see the little girl in action!! So of course Gramps got out the video camera and started taping.. the little one kept posing for the camera.. what a cutie pie! Now... if only she'd sleep!! Sooooo tired!

 

Still counting down the days until the end of school... 68 days baby!! CAN NOT WAIT!!!

 

(Also, I know the password is off.. I'm tired of having it up there... its' our family blog....)

Day two of our snow days was a LOT of fun. We all got into our snow gear and went GHETTO sledding!! I called it ghetto sledding because we didn't have a sled. Jon went to try and find one but alas there were none to be found. But we didn't let that stop us... we carved out our track, grabbed a pampers box and went to town!!

 

Melanie's first sledding experience! She wasn't sure what to make of it but by the end she was rocking to add momentum to go down the hill! When we got back in the house she was jumping and smiling!!

 

Okay... so maybe we'll have to find a legitimate sled for this weekend! Lots of fun had by all! Check out the videos under the Feb. page!

Melanie is 8 months old and SO totally cute!! She is climbing all over the place. She can now pull herself up..(with a little help) and is blabing up a storm!!

 

(And I got her 8 month picture up ON her actual 8 month day)... progress!!

Wow! Okay so I'm quite the slacker when it has come to the website!! Last month was quite a rollercoaster! We stayed with mom for a few days while dad was out in California. At the end of the month we traveled to California for my Grandma's funeral. While an upsetting trip in nature, we truly enjoyed reuniting with all my cousins! We haven't seen everyone in 15 YEARS!!

 

We found out that Melanie is a WONDERFUL traveler!! On the way out to CA we took a night flight and Mel slept the whole way there, even changing planes! The next morning she woke up and was adjusted to CA time! On the way home if was LOTS of fun watching peoples faces when we walked on with a little baby in the wee morning! We knew (and they knew by the end) what a great little girl she would be!!

 

I have been teaching a class to teachers two nights a week. It's exhausting but enjoyable, which makes me think of moving to teaching college at some point!

 

Life is crazy!! I will post pictures soon! I promise!! When I get a few minutes.... haha...

Happy New Year!! So poor Melanie has a cold. We are working on day 4!! If there is one thing I HATE, it is listening to that sweet angel cough (hack) have a runny nose and know there is nothing I can really do about it. We went to the doctors on thursday...but just a cold!! The poor thing went to bed last night at 6pm and tonight by 7pm! I guess that's the best thing for her, sleep... allowing her body to fight back. So no big hoorah's for Melanie's first New Year.

Last night we brought the swing up to her bedroom so she can sleep sitting up. She seems to like this better (of course she doesn't notice we have her strapped in, afraid to death she would lean forward and fall out of the thing.)

Hopefully, this is not indicative of 2010.

So... many pictures to come~ 383 to go through...

Melanie's first Christmas was very fun... Mel was a little overwhelmed Christmas day but by the next day was playing with all her new toys!! Jon and I have thoroughly enjoyed being home with Melanie and being able to relax and spend time playing with her. She has changed so much in the past 6 months, it amazes us. She definetly has her own personality which at times is stubborn and firery and other times so tender and sweet. She smile just melts our hearts. We are so blessed to have such a little angel/princess in our lives.

So this year for New Year's we will continue our tradition of starting off the year in a new place by going to the exotic and wonderful location of.... drum roll please.... FLEMINGTON, NJ... okay not that exotic but we've never spent New Year's at home and so this will be a first.

Hope all your New Year's are wonderful, safe and memorable.

So as Christmas nears... Jon and I have a new theory on Mel's mysterious and miraculous new sleep pattern... she knows SANTA'S watching!!! She's no dummy.. she wants to make sure she's on the good list!! This momma ain't raisin' no fool!!

OK... I know I know... it's been awhile for an update. Let's see... our angel is 6 months old!!!! I can't even believe it's been a half a year already!!! There was a stretch were she wouldn't sleep in her crib or on her own... that was fun..(hence no updates)

 

If you remember cereal did NOT go very well so we put it away for a while and started her back up a couple of weeks ago and LOVES IT... well rice with fruit that is. She is such a big girl she tries to take the spoon and feed her self... do I sense an independent little girl.. OH YES!

 

And, oh yes, she has become quite the strong and independent little "sitter" now! We have enjoyed playing with her as she has already begun to demonstrate the desire to be able to get up and motor around on her own.

 

For the last week or so we have her sleeping in her crib and just about sleeping through the night on a more regular basis. We went to visit her Dr. for her 6 month check-up.... she's doing wonderful! We can now start fruits and veggies... oh my!

Her specs:

weight: 19lbs 11 oz

height: 26 3/4 in... (okay 3/4 really? let's just call her 27 in)

 

Yesterday we started off with peaches. she wasn't crazy about them on her own but was okay with them in her cereal. Mom and Dad have begged to be there when we do veggies.

 

Last weekend we went to get our Christmas tree!! We actually found a place by us that would let us cut them down ourselves...so after selecting the perfect tree with Mel strapped in the Bjorn, Jon chopped it down and when we went to put it on the car, we were dubbed "newbies" by the lady at the car next to us because we strapped the tree on backwards and through the window so after it was set up on the car backwards.. I said to Jon... how am I going to get Melanie in the car... TAKE 2... Jon unattached the tree and switched it around and through the doors... Ok.. we're new at this stuff.. haha... at least we got a great laugh out of it.

WOW! What a crazy, busy month it's been. Thanksgiving was great, Dave flew in and so it was much nicer having him home. Melanie even slept for a short while so we could all eat dinner together!!

 

Dave, Ry and Mike have been so surprised how much Melanie has changed since they last saw her. Jon and I think in the past week she looks and acts so much older.  She grabs for everything...with pretty good accuracy too!! As you'll see in nov. 4 pics she gets Uncle Mikey's glasses right off his face!!

We all agree she is going to be QUITE a handful when she's 2... she has got some SASS alright!!

 

Still waiting for the stinkin' teeth!!!!!! All I want for Christmas is Melly's 4 front teeth!! ha-ha!

Last night Melanie and I were playing with Pogo, our cat, and I put Mel on the floor on her tummy... and.... SHE ROLLED OVER!!!! Woohoo!!!!

I can't believe she is 5 months old today!!! Wowsers...how time flies!! I can tell you the first 5 months of my pregnancy hasn't gone this fast!!

TEETHING.....UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OH MY GOODNESS!! Halloween is SO much more fun with little ones!!! I was SO excited this morning because Grandma was bringing Melanie in to my school dressed in her costume!! Mom and Melly were both ladybugs!!! I have to say... YES, she is the cutest lady bug I've ever seen!!!

Poor Grandma had to also bring Mel to Dad's school so he too could show off his adorable little one (and grandma can show her off too!!)

SO MUCH FUN!!!

So I survived my first week back at school... BARELY!! Well... I call it my own personal HELL! It's different than I imagined, no fire breathing dragons : P but Hell none the less. Don't get me wrong I love teaching I would just rather be with my angel. Mom has made it easier since she is watching her but... it's still not me with her. I tired to be strong.. but it didn't work...I came home and cried every night... my heart hurts so much having to leave her.

 

Yesterday, Jon had a game an hour away so needless to say he didn't get to see his little girl for most of the day. Then we went to a surprise party. So, Jon realized I did know what I'm talking about when I predicted that spending 3 hours in the car would result in a little girl being WIDE AWAKE when we got home at 10pm (hours after her bedtime). Then we stayed up until midnight when I finally crashed (b/c I was up early with her yesterday morning). So at 3:30am Jon tried to put her to bed but.. alas no.. she wanted mommy to hold her in order to sleep... (didn't predict that one) SIDE NOTE: So Mel has recently grown out of her diapers.. especially during the night.. but we had gotten so many of them we were trying to make them last a little longer...using the bigger ones for only at night.. since we change her so often during the day. RESUME STORY... so at 4:30/5am this morning I smell pee.. and I'm thinking... wow that's pretty pungent... yes, she wet through her diaper and all over the boppy i was holding her on... so wardrobe change at 5am..... So i feed Mel at 5am this morning and go back to bed since my hands and legs were tingling from the lack of sleep....

SOOO... what can we conclude from this???

well many many things.. one, that Mom, Dad and Melanie did not get much sleep last night...... and above all else that Jon and I DO in fact know what's best for OUR family, that our daughter comes first, despite whatever anyone else thinks. We just wish that when people are making demands they would think about Melanie... wouldn't that be a novel idea?!?!?

 

On a lighter note.. despite our lack of sleep we decided to salvage our weekend (the only time we get with our daughter) and went pumpkin picking... well selecting really. We started our venture to a place I used to go to as a kid, where we could go out in the fields and pick our pumpkin, only to find it's not there!!!!! Why can we no longer go out and pick our own pumpkins??? So we ended up at a farm which had already picked pumpkins displayed for our selecting... we did find the perfect one and Jon had a great time carving!!

So back to the grind stone tomorrow!

(Pictures under October!!)

 

Melanie went for a doctor visit earlier this week.. stomach bug... :( Seems to be getting better... less loose bowels...

 

Mel went for her 4 month check up this week too... 17 lbs, 25.5 inches long!! Doctor says she's doing well and everything is good. We can start cereal now! She also got 2 shots :(

 

Started cereal today... didn't go quite as I would have thought.. though she was "off" today.. not quite herself... I think it's a combination of things, teeth, reflux was bad today, and perhaps shots yesterday... The doctor wanted us to feed her 2 -3 Tbsp.... lucky if we got a 1/2 with both feedings combined.

 

Hopefully tomorrow she'll feel better... could also be that she feels what I'm going through since Monday is my first day back to work.... major frown face

 

So we will try again tomorrow and see how it goes... lately we are wanting that close connection... aka... being held... which of course we LOVE! (maybe not quite as much in the wee AM hours..)

MEL BEL is 4 months old today!!!! My little girl is growing up SOOOO fast. We put her in her seat and put some toys on the tray and she sat there playing with them where a few weeks ago she wouldn't really. I just can't believe how much she has changed in such a short time. Ever since I put her in the jumperoo...she just LOVES to stand up and is very strong and able to stand for a while. You can see how much she wants to become mobile. Jon and I just love every minute with this little angel! (how can we not!)

This past weekend we lost Jon's Grandmother Clifford. Thursday we celebrated her life of 92 years and laid her to rest. Melanie and Great-Grandmom Clifford were so lucky to have met. We have all been touched by her and have fond memories. She will be missed greatly.

I can't believe it is OCTOBER!!!! So Uncle Dave surprised Mom and came home for her birthdday weekend! We went apple picking!!! I promise she does have a mother!! I'm sure all you moms know what I mean by that! I have to get the pictures of all of us from Grams' camera!

 

Uncle Dave got Melanie's first giggle from Mel... and what an adorable sound that was... I luckily caught it on video!!!

 

By the way... Melanie is 16 lbs 3 oz!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! However, still in 3-6 month clothing!

So Melly added two new firsts to her list yesterday!!! First time to New York and first baseball game!! Yankees vs. Red Sox!!! For those of you that don't know Jon is a HUGE Red Sox fan and I am a Yankee fan... so before we knew Melanie was a girl we decided girls are Yankee fans and boys are Red Sox fans..... So of course she sported her Yankee gear!!

 

Melanie was an angel at the game! Jon carried her to the game in the Baby Bjorn where she just looked everywhere, taking it all in....

 

As Uncle Mikey said, "She, like the Yankees, slept for the first 4 innings!!" Then she watched the Yankees beat the Red Sox 3-0!

 

Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Ryan, Uncle Mike, Jon, Melly and I had so much fun and couldn't believe what an easy-going gal we have!!! How truly blessed we are!

 

(Pictures under September tab!)

So back in April (I think) I surprised Jon by getting him U2 tickets...He has been wanting to see them for forever... it was one of the things on his "bucket list." So the tickets were for last night. To be honest I was d-r-e-a-d-i-n-g going because I would have to leave my little angel for the first time. So I had Jon ask around but no one could go... so after having a major anxiety attack, and crying, I decided to go.

 

On the flip side, Grandma and Grandpa were VERY excited to take care of Melly...but for them she slept the whole time!! I have to say I did enjoy myself. U2 was great and I survived our first trip out without Melly... (ok it was just a few hours b/c we slept over Grams' house too)

:) baby steps..baby steps!!!

Today I put together the jumperoo and exersaucer for Melly. The Exersaucer is still a little to big for her but the jumperoo is perfect! She LOVED it!!! Take a look at the video's I got!!! (under september page)

 

SOOO much FUN!!!!

WOW! So it has been quite a while which I guess means little miss has kept me busy!! Let's see... Melanie turned 3 months!! I can't believe how time flies! We have definetly started pre-teething!! She is talking up a storm and her smile just warms our hearts! My one of my favorite thing is turning the light on in her room in the morning, saying good morning as I walk in and see her smilng face waiting for me!!

 

This past week we got to stay with Grandma and Grandpa since we were having our roads paved. Melly, Jon and I all enjoyed spending time with Grams and Gramps.

 

Last time we weighed Mel on Grandpa's mail scale : ) she weighed 15 lbs!! WOWSERS!! Last time we measured her she was 24" (however, i think she is longer than that now).

 

As you can tell from the pictures.. We have quite a ham on our hands. However, she has recently decided she is now shy in front of the camera!! So it was a little difficult getting a smile for the 3 month picture. As you can tell we were NOT that into the photo session that day!

 

I also added a video that is SO adorable of Melanie talking to her butterfly bear on her swing.. many times I have tried to capture her talking on video and somehow she knows it's on and stops.... but not this time!!!

So lots to update on since I last wrote! I have officially left Melanie for a day with Grandma! I had to work one day before my six weeks off. Cried on the way to grandma and grandpa's... Walked into grandma and grandpa's and started crying. Left grandma and grandpa's and cried again in the car.... hmm... mom didn't handle it well!! Even though Grandma brought Melly to see me at school during lunch!

 

Melanie went to her first birthday party for Nicholas! (Pictures under Sept. Pics 1) She had so much fun looking at the balloons and streamers hanging down!

 

So I have washed her 3-6 month clothes..we are moving to size 2 diapers... we are now 14 lbs and 24" long!!! I can't believe next week she'll be 3 months old! Wow...how time flies!!

Last week Melanie went swimming for the first time... with mom (a.k.a. shamu..ugh!! If those pictures aren't motivating!!) But nevertheless Melanie had a WONDERFUL time! She LOVES the water!

 

This past weekend Melanie got to meet her Great-Grandma England, Aunt Bonnie, Aunt Robin, Cousins Lisa and Heather! What a fun weekend with the England's!! Jon, Melanie and I truly enjoyed seeing the England's again! We do not see them enough!!! Check out the fun pics!

So after changing bottles, changing formula... the gas and stomach pains have continued!! Today we went to the doctors and she said it sounded like reflux!! : (  So now we have yet another new formula, new bottle, and a medicine to take twice a day!! : (   My poor little girl! Hopfully this will help her!!

 

Oh by the way.. she is now 11 lbs 11 oz!!!

Jon, Melanie and I had out first meal out together as a family. We went to Olive Garden for their yummy soup, salad and breadsticks!! The hostess asked if it was just the three of us... very weird to hear.. I almost corrected her and said two!! I guess I'm not quite used to the fact that it's the tree of us! While we were at lunch we had a GREAT surprise! We were just about done with lunch when in walks my mom, dad and DAVE!!!! Now see Dave was in Florida up until last night when he surprised everyone with a trip home before his semester at law school starts up again!! WOOHOO! What a great surprise!!

MELANIE IS 2 MONTHS OLD TODAY!! WOWSERS!!!

 

Here are some youtube videos of Melanie that we got last night at Grandma's house.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOLwFd15UEI (this one I linked to this website under August)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVkTajBIM7g

Today we went for Melanie's 8 week check up and shots : ( We weighed Miss Melanie and she now weighs 11 lbs 1 oz! As we were weighing her she evidently got a little nervous and peed on all over the weigh table... haha... oh wait then after we cleaned her up, the nurse was leaving and said "she's peeing again."...haha... good thing mom packed enough wipes! We also found out our little angel has grown two inches since birth bringing her to 22.5 inches long.

So after the doctor gave her two thumbs up it was time for the shots!!!!! I had told Jon I didn't want to hold her when she got the shots... well there I was zooming in next to her face, holding her hand, when the nurse gave her the shots... guess my mommy-dar took over...a child in need... I didn't cry until the nurse left and she was still crying : (  Luckily Jon was

Big news the little miss has graduated to all 0-3 month clothes!! That's good because mom likes to play dress up.

We are graduating this weekend to the crib since the little peanut can touch the sides of the bassinet. (Which is fun when she hits it in the middle of the night and wakes herself up...hence the move to the crib).

At night we've started giving her massages as part of our night time routine. SHE LOVES THEM!! Who wouldn't?? I think I have got my hands full with this one.

Daisy is very cute with Mel! She loves to give her kisses.. which we limit!! When Mel cries she comes running to see if she is okay. We are so lucky to have such a wonderful dog!!

Mel is smiling more than ever and starting to give us better giggles. It is such a true joy to see her smile. We are SO blessed to have such a happy little girl.

Today Melanie and I went to Auntie Paula's birthday lunch at Olive Garden where Melanie was an angel! Our first trip out, eating at a resturant!! Success!!

Yesterday we had some CUTE pictures from our daily photo session! Check out Melly in the photo album...(More July Pictures under the Cutie Pie tab.)

So it was a sad day for this momma... my little one has offically out grown her newborn jammies!! (just jams for now...not that she has a shortage of 0-3 outfits!) Then after blow-out #2 she has offically grown out of her newborn diapers too... :( she's growing up  :(

 

Haha.. so I orginally posted this as June 24!! HAHA... I guess it's true what they say about after pregnancy...your brain goes out the window!! Bummer I just lost a whole month!

So I woke up this morning to find my little girl's right eye covered in yellow goop!!!! Thankfully after a trip to the doctors it's just a clogged tear duct... phew!! While we were there I had them weigh her... 9 lbs 10 oz!!

So it has been a couple weeks since I updated. Melanie went down to Ocean City to visit with Grandma and Grandpa England and the Clifford's after the 4th of July. It was a little rough for the little one...too much action! Melanie is 5 weeks old and I can't believe time is flying by. Uncle Dave has come home for two weeks to spend with little Mel and she's loving it. Check out the video of them! We don't go back to the doctors until she's 2 months!! (which isn't that far away!)

MEL'S BACK TO BIRTH WEIGHT!.. exactly... 8 lbs 2 oz at our doctor appointment today!

We went back to check Mel's weight and we are now at 7 lbs 12lbs. So we are gaining slowly!

Melanie is 2 weeks old!

Attachments:

We went today to the doctors for another weight check! We have packed on some ounces after some feeding frenzy!! Melanie is now 7 lbs 9.5 oz!! We go back on Friday to check again!

Well since it finally stopped raining we went for our first walk today! (A little over zealous for mom)

We went to see Melanie's pediatrician today!! We have gained 2 oz since we last had a check up. We go back on Monday to check her weight again! Again another happy and healthy check up!

Went to the doctors today to check her weight! We went from 7 lbs 10 oz leaving the hospital to 7 lbs 2 oz. She said everything else looks great! Melanie was great!! (not our pediatrician)

Melanie Lyn England is here! She was born at 5:54pm at St. Peter's Hospital.

 

Weight: 8 pounds 2 ounces

Length: 20.5 inches

 

 

Well... our daughter will be here by Wednesday!

Awaiting the arrival of our little girl!

Melanie tries to crawl!!..well.AVI

Uncle Dave and Melanie.AVI