A Fitzgerald goes Footloose...

Can you guess which one of us this is?

Good news for Mama and Lynn...

After almost 20 years of living in south Georgia, my Mama and younger sister are moving to metro Atlanta to be closer to my Grandma. I'm very excited because I know this is something Mama has wanted for a long time and it will enable her to be closer to her own Mom and spend time with her.
I'm hoping a new location will help Lynn find a job (she already has a really good lead on one from a link I sent her yesterday) and Mama will have the chance to spend time with Grandma as none of us know how much time we have left in this world.
I hope their move goes smooth and quick this weekend and I look forward to seeing them soon in their new house.

Julius' 1-year check-up...

Julius had his one-year check-up today and it's no surprise he measured in the 90th percentile for weight, height and head circumference. He weighed in at 28.75 lbs. and measured at 31.2 inches (I think this is a little off because it means he only grew .2 tenths of an inch in three months and I know that is wrong) and his head circumference is 48.1 cm.
I just looked at Savananh's first year measurements and she was 22.8 lbs. and 30 inches after she celebrated her big day.
It's amazing to me how fast time flies and how wonderful it is to have two healthy children.
I didn't remember that Savannah got her big toe pricked and three shots during this visit... poor Julius actually got the toe prick and four shots because he had the second H1N1 shot.
He had a hard time with the shots and it was a sad sight to see.
I hate to see my Little Man upset!

Julius' 1st Birthday Bash...

Julius got to celebrate his birthday in style on Sunday with a big party at his Aunt Sharon's house in Stafford. Unfortunately for me, Savannah woke up with a fever that morning so she and I stayed home while Pat took Julius to his big party (Savannah is feeling much better now).
According to Daddy (and all of the pictures and video he brought back, a good time was had by all in attendance.
Pat said Julius did not devour his birthday cake like we all thought he would... instead he just looked at it and everyone else waiting for him to dig in. He did devour a piece of the main cake and Pat brought the little one home for us to enjoy this week.
Here are some photos from his special day ... and I'm thankful for all of the help from my sisters-in-law and Mom and Dad Fitzgerald to make sure the event went off without a hitch.

Mama's book club...

The kiddies and I went to the Mommies Group's first book club this morning and we all had a blast. This month's book was "Twilight," a book that I've avoided in the past because I thought it was for the younger crowd.
I was pleasantly surprised to find the book was actually a great and easy read... two important things for a Mama of two little children.
I actually read most of the book while I was at Mom and Dad Fitzgerald's house escaping from the snow.
I hope the next book we're reading, "The Shack", is just as good.
The children enjoyed playing with other kids (there eight children there and two on the way) and I enjoyed sitting around with the other Moms and just having good conversation.
It was a nice time for all of us...

Cupcake time...

I made Julius some cupcakes for his birthday... a little preview to the fun he will have on Sunday when he gets his own cake to "eat".
As you can see, both children enjoyed their cupcakes... and quickly went into the bathtub for a scrub down.
Although he won't remember it, I know that Julius had a great time today on his special day.

Lunchtime celebration...

We met up with Daddy for a birthday lunch for Julius, but as you can see he had other things in mind. He had so much fun at the play date that he slept through most of our lunch!

Birthday Boy meeting new friends...

The children and I ventured out today to a story time play date and had a great time. The other mommies knew it was Julius' big day and everyone wished him a happy birthday.
We had a nice time and enjoyed meeting all the little children and here are a few pictures from our time this morning.

Happy 1st Birthday Julius!

This is a video I made to celebrate Julius' first birthday. It's hard to believe a year has passed since Julius came into our lives and completed our little family.
Here are some of the best photos from Julius' first year to the tune of Lynard Skynard's "Simple Man" (this was Pat's pick of song as he didn't want anything cheesy) ... please enjoy and celebrate with us.


Simple Man lyrics
Songwriters: Ronnie Van Zant and Gary Rossington

My mama told me when I was young
Said sit beside me my only son
And listen closely to what I say
And if you do this it'll help you some sunny day
Oh, yeah it will

Oh, take your time, don't live too fast
Troubles will come and they will pass
You'll find a woman and you'll find love
And don't forget that there is a someone up above

And be a simple kind of man
And be something you'll love and understand
Baby be a simple kind of man
Oh, won't you do this for me son if you can?
Then you can

Don't get your lust from the rich man's gold
All that you need now is in your soul
And you can do this, oh baby if you try
All that I want from you my son is to be satisfied

And be a simple kind of man
And be something you'll love and understand
Baby be a simple kind of man
Oh, won't you do this for me son if you can?
If you can

Oh, don't you worry, you'll find yourself
Follow your heart and nothing else
And you can do this, oh baby if you try
All that I want from you my son is to be satisfied

And be a simple kind of man
Be something you'll love and understand
Baby be a simple kind of man
Oh, won't you do this for me son if you can?
So baby be a simple, be a simple man
Oh, won't you do this for me son if you can?

Happy Birthday Sandra...

I could not let this day pass without writing something about a lady who has become a second Mama to me, my dear friend Sandra.
I met Sandra more than 10 years ago when I briefly dated her son. Although he and I were never meant to be anything more than longtime friends, I've always believed that we were brought together in that way so I could meet his wonderful family.
I clearly remember the first time I met Sandra and have so many memories of our times and talks together. She still considers me one of her own although both her son and I have married different people (who were were meant to be with) and have families of our own.
She loves my husband as if he was her son-in-law and she loves my children as if they were her grandchildren. If I need someone to bring me up or listen to my concerns, I know that I can always call Sandra and she'll be there for me.
Sometimes the most important family members aren't the ones you're born into, but the ones you create for yourself.
So this is my little way of celebrating her today on her birthday... I hope she has a wonderful one!

No more babies...

In just a few days, Julius will officially be a toddler and we'll have no more babies in the Fitzgerald house.
Where has the year gone?
This time last year I was begging the doctors to take Julius early as he was causing my heart to flutter and was making the last weeks of my pregnancy exhausting! In fact, I'm not sure I would have had Baby #2 if Baby #1 has caused me so much grief... luckily, Savannah must have known she needed a sibling!
I know how blessed we are to have two healthy and happy children and I'm thankful for them every day.
Although I know several women who are pregnant, I don't wish to go through that again and will just enjoy seeing and holding those babies.
I'm excited not to have formula to mix and hopefully one day soon to have two children out of diapers.
Hopefully this week we'll have a chance to come together and celebrate Julius.. the last Fitzgerald grandchild and the second in the next generation of our growing family!

Happy Valentine's Day...

I hope all of you have a wonderful Valentine's Day and remember to be thankful for all of the loved ones you have in your life... both family and friends.
I hope you enjoy this little video made up of moments from the last year and to the tune of one of Savannah's favorite new songs from one of her toddler CDs, Skidamarink.
Here are the lyrics...

Skidamarink

Skidamarink a dinky dink,
Skidamarinky doo,
I - love - you!
Skidamarink a dinky dink,
Skidamarinky doo,
I - love - you!

I love you in the morning
and in the afternoon,
I love you in the evening
and underneath the moon;

Oh, Skidamarink a dinky dink,
Skidamarinky doo,
I - LOVE - YOU!

Snowsuits.... FINALLY!

It only took me four snow storms this winter to decide I needed to buy the children snowsuits. I bought Savannah a snowsuit last year, but it never snowed afterward and I actually took it back to the store and returned it unworn.
I don't think we'll get that luxury again as the snow just continues to be in the forecast.
I ordered these online and bought both of them a size larger (they are actually both 3T) in the hopes the kids can get two winters of use out of them.

Valentine's Day Party

I took the kiddies to a Valentine's party sponsored by our mommies group and they had a blast.
I joined the group last summer, but freelance work and crazy weather has kept us from participating as much as I would like. But it's going to events like this that make me realize how much both kids need to be around other little ones (and I need to be out with other mamas).
There was more than a dozen kids (most of them older than Julius) there and both children enjoyed all of the activity. As you can see, the kids quickly found a few friends (doesn't Savannah look sweet holding her new friend, Kaeden's, hand)?
I enjoyed being around the other mommies and eating some great food and look forward to getting together with some of them again.
We left the party and started an afternoon of running errands... and I finally got poor Savannah's hair cut (as you can see she needed it!).

I-64 pile-up...

There was a multi-vehicle pile-up on Interstate 64 this morning between Newport News and Williamsburg. This is the same route we take to get back and forth to Virginia Beach and the one I was on Monday when we came home from our "snowescapade" to Mom and Dad's house.
It's scary to think that this would happen less than 48 hours later!
According to the news reports, there were 60 to 70 vehicles involved in this crash in the westbound lanes of traffic and it shut down the interstate all morning as emergency crews worked to clean the mess.
I've covered a multi-vehicle crash in Georgia and it was crazy (I actually had to drive on the wrong side of Interstate 75 to get to the scene).
I can't imagine how wreckers could remove all the vehicles without getting stuck themselves with all of the crazy weather we've experienced in the last few days.
According to the Newport News Daily Press, there were 70 accidents reported this morning and at least one fatality.
It's amazing there wasn't more.

Snow and more snow...

Well, we got another snow storm.
Guess it's no big news if you've watched television or checked this blog from time to time.
I can't even begin to describe the disgust I feel at the thought of getting more snow. I'm afraid that Julius' birthday party in two weeks might have to be canceled because we'll get some crazy weather (not that he'll notice, but it's something I'm looking forward to).
Here are a few pictures that Pat took earlier today of the house and driveway... it's crazy to think we've been living with this for the better part of three months now.
I thought Virginia was in the South?

A little color to brighten my day...

Pat brought be a beautiful bouquet of tulips home Monday to cheer me up after a day of traveling home to a yard filled with snow. When you look out the window and see nothing but white it's nice to look up and see beautiful yellow flowers in my makeshift vase (a large glass).
I thought it would be beautiful to set the flowers out in the snow and take a few pictures... just to capture the yellow against the stark white.
I've promised myself that I'm going to go out and plant some flowers as soon as the snow melts and spring arrives.
I can't wait!

Made it home...

The children and I returned home today after five days with Grammy and Papa in Virginia Beach. We had a wonderful time, ate some great food (thanks Grammy and Papa for feeding us so well) and most importantly (and regretfully) wore both grandparents out.
We also brought some snow with us as it snowed a few inches in Hampton Roads, but not nearly what we got here at the house.
Pat had to work all weekend so he spent three nights in a hotel near his office... I swear we should buy stock in Doubletree Inn as he's spent more than a week there in the last two months.
I don't think he would ever survive (and neither would I) becoming a traveling salesman as he craves being home as much as I do.
On the way home today, I could see the snow piles get higher and higher the farther north I drove. Along Interstate 64 there north of Richmond there were trees toppled over.
I got home just in time to have Pat try to get the van up the driveway (he wasn't able to) and we lugged the kids and most of our belongings up the rather icy driveway (we had a contractor come out yesterday and clear most of the two feet of snow we got here over the weekend).
Low and behold, we're expecting even more snow tomorrow as the local weather man said we can expect another foot or more to fall on Tuesday and Wednesday. I'm now beginning to think spring will never arrive all I want to do is see the green grass again.

When will it be spring?

I've tried to be patient, but I can no longer say anything nice about the snow we've gotten this winter.
I just looked at the 10-day forecast and they are predicting snow for half of those days! This weekend they are predicting a foot or more of wet snow... the heavy kind that weighs down the trees and kills the power.
Pat is sending us to Virginia Beach for the weekend to stay with Mom and Dad Fitzgerald because he's got to work and is afraid the power will go out and I'll be stranded with the kids.
I'm so ready for the sunny days of spring...

Chez Fitzgerald...

I took these pictures of Savannah this morning while she was waiting for her Daddy to finish making a breakfast of blueberry pancakes and turkey bacon. Pat does most of the morning cooking and I take care of his meals and dinners when he's at home.

Our own Cat Whisperer...

I caught Julius talked to one of the feral cats this afternoon... he's very interested in animals although he seems slightly scared of them when they come up close (although he seemed not to mind Maggie and Jasmine, Kathy's dogs).
He's such a sweet little boy and it's hard for me to be blue about all of the snow when I get to witness this little exchange.

And later in the day...

Here are some more photos from our shoveling out from today...

I can't believe it....

"I can't believe it!"
This is the phrase Savannah has copied from me and now I'm borrowing it back to describe the sight that came this morning with the first light of day.
My last post was about missing Savannah as she was visiting her aunt and uncle last weekend and ended up staying an extra day because we were snowed in. When I wrote that post I had given up hope of getting her on Monday and was just hoping we could get her on Tuesday... then I watched the 5 p.m. news and realized my window of opportunity to get Savannah before the next snowfall was getting shorter as they were predicting snow to start falling Tuesday morning.
Well, I packed Julius up, braved the icy street we lived on and drove up to Centreville to pick up my girl. We went into Charlottesville and picked up Pat and he drove us home (after leaving my car at his office and almost getting stuck coming up the driveway.)
The snow didn't start falling until the afternoon Tuesday, but it continued well into the night.
These are a few of the photos I took at first daylight this morning... and as you can see all of the work Pat did to shovel our driveway Sunday has been covered with more snow (and I'm afraid ice).
This means he'll have to get up this morning and shovel another pathway so he can get back to work tomorrow. Thank goodness he's off today as I'm not sure he would have been able to shovel the driveway before he would have to leave for work.
We're expecting more snow this weekend... and forecasters aren't sure if it will be a little or a lot. To say I'm sick of the snow would be an understatement as I worry about Pat's safety while shoveling and all our of safety when we get on the roads to escape from it.