BirthdayPartyHallowTime

Birthdays, Halloween, Daylight Savings Time...we like to jam it all in to two days.  There is so much going on but we always love to do it all. When will we learn how crazy it is to attempt!? 

Evangeline, 5 1/3 years old

For Halloween Evangeline was a butterfly for school and Belle of Beauty and the Beast for Trick-or-Treating. Rowan dressed as soldier and loved being in camo.  Cillian put up with being in a Tigger suit for most of the day but was sound asleep before we hit the streets for candy later that night.

Baby's First Halloween...dug up a Tigger suit for this bouncy babe!

Both Eva and Rowan has class parties where Mom, Dad, Cillian and Memme were welcomed to be active participants.  That morning there was a school-wide parade where Evangeline was the lead!

Dad visits Rowan's classroom for their Halloween Party

Rowan's birthday moments were early in the morning and before, during, and after Trick-or-Treating. He really enjoyed opening presents throughout the day as they arrived from family and friends and he enjoyed celebrating and being with just about all his favorite people.

If you are familiar with Sandra Boynton you'll understand that I think a-cake-a-day keeps The Birthday Monsters away! We had Cookies n' Cream cake and cupcakes for Rowan on Friday and then Reese's Peanut Butter Cup cheesecake (and Halloween candy) for Alan on Saturday.

Happy Birthday Alan!

Thanks to Memme and Grandpa for being with us as we celebrated and for enjoying the beautiful fall weekend we had in Upstate New York. Thank you too for being the photographers for the weekend!

The Birthday Clean Up Crew

Next year there will be a scheduling reprieve as Halloween will fall on a weekend. This will help us to break up the school festivities for one day and then celebrate Rowan's actual birthday and the Halloween trick-or-treating for the 31st.

But, as always, our time is so much more a treat than a trick :)

Keep Back 200 Feet

The morning bus stop is one interesting place.

All the school age children and their guardians emerge from their houses at the same time each morning to join the micro-community that is the bus stop. At the corner:

• the children circle each other for small talk or to see if someone has something 'new'
• there is one other parent and I who have a hot beverage in hand
• babies are in tow - always
• younger siblings run up and down the grassy hill to the neighbors tree. every. day.
• they are giddy with excitement to go to school
• there are crazy hugs and kisses when we hear the buses very loud brakes around the bend
• the children have to line up at 'the crack' (in the road) so they wait until the bus comes to a stop.
• lots of pictures are taken
• and Friday is Flamingo Friday, but maybe that's for a different blog post.

Why are lots of pictures taken? I guess because we have anywhere from 2 to 10 minutes together!

First Day of School at the Bus Stop

Circling Up 

Mr. R just so happened to have extra hair mascara in his pocket 

Crazy Hair Day 

Cillian's Ride in the Rain

Posing on Picture Day

"Really Mom?" I guess the paparazzi of these cuties gets

to be a bit much.

Cast of Characters

Halloween come early? No. We're just always monkey-ing around. Or, should I gorilla-ing around! It's often that we have to tell Rowan to 'turn the sillies off' when he's much more interested in being the jokester than knowing when enough is enough. But, one of the best things about Rowan and Evangeline is their willingness to play, pretend, and most definitely to entertain.

So, in order of cast appearance here is our dear Evangeline playing Tigger. And here is our goof Rowan playing the bare-bottomed gorilla.

Rowan, Age 6 and 5/6th

Eva, Age 5 and 1/6th

Not to leave the crew out .... there is also Mommy and Daddy (not picture) and this adorable babe, Cillian, in charge of special effects!

Cillian, Age 5 and 1/2 months (24 weeks)

The Boyz of Summer

The summer is coming to a close fast...like it kinda just slammed its door on us. I peer around this slamming door getting one last glimpse of what summer was and I can smile at having spent it with family and friends. I especially loved the time I had with my children.  

These two. I mean you guys, really? It's gotta be the glasses. Or maybe it's just how the Rudnick boyz roll!

Happy 5th Birthday Evangeline!

Evangeline Christine Rudnick
Born July 18, 2009

At 1 Year

At 2 Years

At 3 Years

At 4 Years

At Almost 5

Seeing Rainbows

 

Cillian was gifted a Rainbow Maker.  How sweet and lovely is this?! Even though I received it at a shower in March it wasn't until Cillian occupied his room that I opened the box.  And how we've ALL enjoyed it since!  My friend Kate spoiled us with this beauty!  The Rainbow Maker is solar powered. So, at just about 8 A.M. every morning when the sun rises over our neighbors house and hits Cillian's east facing window the solar panel is charged and the prism starts to turn. Then, the rainbows begin to dance, yes dance, all around the nursery.  It is beautiful. And, as it turns out, very hard to capture on camera!  The walls and armoir are white and the rainbows are beautifully red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple against them. Rowan and Evangeline come in in the morning to capture their arrival. Evangeline twirls as they land on her and Rowan tries to catch them. Cillian gazes as they come and go out of his sight.  I am in awe of their crisp colored spectrum.  These rainbows are a beautiful reminder each and every morning of God's many promises and abundant blessings for His children. Thank you Kate for this gift!

Rainbows dancing around the nursery

75+

9 1/2 Weeks
Ht: 24" (78th %)

Wt: 13lbs 3oz. (76th%)

HdCir: 16.25 (75th%)

That a boy!

These Two

Evangeline and Cillian:

• Precious
• Cute
• Darling
• Adorable
• Sweet
• Loving
• ...

I could go on for hours...these two are too much!

7 Weeks

Deja Vu

Those who didn't know Rowan as an infant ask if Cillian resembles Rowan. Some people who knew us in the fall of 2007 say that they think Rowan and Cillian look alike. What do you think? Which of the photos below are Rowan?  Which ones are Cillian? Do you think they resemble each other?

A (grand)Parent's Love

Mother's Day was extra special this year now that I am a mother to three of God's beautiful children. Each day with Cillian continues to be a blessing. Each day watching Rowan and Evangeline marvel in Cillian's life continues to be a joy too. 

Just as Alan and I rejoice in our family of creation we rejoice that our family of origin surrounds us still. As we celebrated Mother's Day this past weekend we also celebrated the nurture and support we received from our families. How wonderful to have received our parents nurture and care and now to be able to watch our parents share their love again with our children. Even after multiple grandchildren there is plenty of love to go around again...Cillian has received love that will never end.

My mother...with us through it all
#myfirstselfie ~ Cillian

Cillian, at 24 hours old, sits with Grandpa

Memme meets Cillian

Cillian, at two weeks,
already listening to Pop's stories

April Showers Bring...

April showers bring May flowers…and May brings more rain.

The rainy season in Ballston Spa has hit its stride just in time for the beginning of the town rec sports season. Rowan and Evangeline don’t mind playing in the weather and would much rather play than have practices canceled. But Mama is praying for drier days to come.

Evangeline is pumped for outdoor soccer as a Kinder Kicker.  Rowan is finding his stride in his Little Dribblers soccer division. And, Rowan (and Alan) couldn't be happier to be running drills and taking shots on goal in the Ballston Spa Lacrosse Learn to Play division. 

Rainy spring sports practices aren't much of a spectator sport. But we are making the best of it!

"Mommy, can I sleep?" said Eva waiting out a lacrosse practice in the pouring rain.

"This is how I roll!" - Cillian

Cillian Holt Rudnick

Cillian Holt Rudnick arrived at 8:05 P.M. on Monday April 14, 2014.

Alan and I started that day attending an Obstetricians appointment. Being 40 weeks 5 days I received a fluid and growth ultrasound and a non-stress test along with my checkup. This ensures that baby was still growing and developing well. Check!

My physician ensured me that I was already laboring and that I would not be making to my next appointment.  We had heard that before and I personally did not put much stock in it.  I've learned not to 'get my hopes up' with expecting babies on a timeline. 

After lunch and a delightful conversation with my sister I grew very tired and laid down to rest.  I tried to sleep but began to feel uncomfortable and noticed some new contractions. I have had hours of contractions within the two weeks of my pregnancy and they were nothing new.  It wasn't until 1:30 that I decided to track the contractions to see if there was a pattern.  From 1:30 until 4:30 I think I remember watching TV, putting away laundry, and watching the children play outside. But mostly, I remember wandering around. I was doubtful that I would be delivering that day even through the gaining contractions of the afternoon. My Mom, who had been with us the final two weeks of my pregnancy, smiled that 'we were going to be having a baby today'! I was unsure and preparing myself for the contractions to stop or for a very long labor in which this baby was not going to be arriving today. But he did!

I called Alan for him to come home at 4:30. I packed and bathed. At 6:00 we left for The Saratoga Hospital. I interacted with the nurses for a short period of time, managed to answer a few questions and settle into laboring in my room. My mother arrived after getting the children settled with our dear friend.  Then, it was a fast progression through dilation, my water breaking, and knowing it was time to push. I try to remember what a blessing natural labor and delivery is while I'm in the moment. During the work of labor I pull from the strength God has blessed me with and the prayers I knew I was surrounded by.  They are enough to sustain me.  At 8:00, and with two pushes, I birthed my second son. Cillian Holt was born. He was perfectly knit by God. 

It was then, once he was placed on my chest, that I was able to open my eyes, come out of my laboring work, and awaken to the miracle.  I saw and felt such joy. You can imagine the joy in the room.  Alan's elation was overflowing! Lolly's love exuding! My Dr.'s face was beaming! 

Cillian weighed in at 7 lbs. 13.7 oz. and measures 22 in. in length.  He has long fingers and toes and we love every inch of him. Welcome to the family little one!

My First Day

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