December 10th, 2006

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah! This season leaves me nothing short of giddy. I love it, soak it in, spread cheer like peanut butter and can't help but sing carols all day. Aidan recently shushed me during the refrain of "Angels We Have Heard on High" he had heard so much of it. So far, I can only get him to sing Jingle Bells and 12 Days of Christmas with me. And he sings "almost fun" instead of "oh what fun" in Jingle Bells! Need I point out the irony?

Speaking of the irony of the holidays, I am doing pretty well on my commitment to not do one "should" this holiday season. We have been sleeping in, staying in jammies, and saying no. We did however, go to the Holidazzle parade tonight. I loved the group we went with, I could have fun if I were part of a chain gang with them, but it really was something we could have skipped. About 1/3 of the characters scared the bejeesus out of Aidan with their lit-up eyes. Now we know!

Hmmm. Let me see. In the realm of years, this one was an A+. We moved into our lovely home in the NE Minneapolis outcropping of St Anthony Village one year ago! When we moved in, we knew we had a lot to do in the house aesthetically. So far, we have painted every room but the laundry room, added crown moulding in the family room, gutted the first floor bathroom and renovated it, completed expansive gardening and landscaping projects, wallpapered the dining room, and replaced all of the window coverings. Although there is more, I'll move on! We love being home and now we can enjoy ourselves without looking around thinking of what needs to be done.

The boys are flourishing. Aidan is pushing 3 and a half, and Coleman will be 6 months old on New Year's Day. Coleman is just about to sit up and is long and lean, just like Aidan always was. Aidan and he are starting to "play" a bit and Aidan is realizing the fun that having a brother will be. Coleman is the definition of an easy baby, which is not to say it is easy, but he is SO laid back. He smiles thorough the cries! Cole cut two teeth at about 4 months--the two bottom ones in the middle. Today he started to buzz with his lips and he initiates games of this with Aidan--amazing to think five months ago he was still all curled up just after being born, sleeping 22 hours a day.

Aidan started preschool this fall and is doing well. He loves the structure of it and is especially fond of being the line leader and helper. His teachers, Miss Katie and Miss Lisa, comment on his vocabulary and his joke-telling capabilities. I have heard no such jokes, so I wonder what on earth he is saying. And that is the most surreal part of parenting: letting them go and hoping you did a good job to get them ready for the world! He loves trains and plays with them almost exclusively. Oh, and he reads books. About trains. We are thrilled that he picked that, with all of the junk that is out there. He also loves to play on the computer, roll his marbles down the stairs through a wrapping paper tube and basket contraption, and can't get enough spaghetti and meatballs to eat. Artichokes and sugar snap peas are also favorites.

Stats on the boys:
Cole 15lbs, 26 inches
Aidan 37 lbs, 40 inches

Joel and I feel blessed to have such a healthy family. Having all of our immediate family in the Twin Cities is really exceptional. And they are all exceptional people, too! They have all been so supportive and are all a big part of our kid's lives. Aidan loves his overnights with Grandma and Grandpa Hillesheim. And his trips to Nana and Baba O'Reilly's house are always so much fun he doesn't want to leave. My Dad found a Mac-based game called Alphababy that mesmerizes Aidan. They love to play it together.

Joel is coming up on his eighth year working for GE Water and Process Technologies (formerly Osmonics) in Minnetonka. His close friend Don, who is Coleman's godfather, just left the company after working there 12 years. Most, if not all, of his responsibilities have fallen to Joel for the time being. Joel was promoted this year, which sounds good in theory, but in practice means much more work and a "shorter fuse", to use a quote from Don. He enjoys cycling and gets out to do so as often as possible (which like all extra curricular activities when you have children is seldom). He started commuting to work by bike one or two days a week this summer and really enjoyed it. He had a few paved-path mishaps, but for the most part it was a great way to get the rides in an not make his wife pull her hair out.

I am full force into the motherhood. After the adjustment that all mothers go through, but especially the stay at home ones, we are settled nicely in to it. And I think we are doing well. I take myself and my job very seriously, and well I should (no change there for those who know me well). I always have something on the side to do when I feel overwhelmed by mothering, I have a couple of odd jobs, including childcare and home organizing, and I always have the movies. The movies are a huge respite for me. I love going alone, and I am secretly always trying to figure out when my next movie will be! It is an escape in the truest form. Most recently, I saw Marie Antoinette. And last weekend I broke my own rule and took Aidan along to see Happy Feet. Liked both movies. Happy Feet was a bit over Robin-Williamsed, but great otherwise and is essentially an animated March of the Penguins. Marie Antionette has a modern soundtrack, which is au current and well chosen.

We are so glad to have such a great group of friends that we have met since we had children. These are families that we love to get together with to have pizza. Not that we plan it that way, but we always end up eating pizza.

We hope you and your family have a healthy start to the New Year and we wish you a very Merry Christmas! Click here to see our family pictures taken last week.

Saturday, October 28th

We worked in the yard today, it was a bit nippy. Putting the yard and house to bed for the season is work, but it is so nice to have such a lovely yard and house, we are grateful. Speaking of grateful, Aidan is really doing well on his manners. I read something written by a teacher that said the students who come to Kindergarten prepared are the ones who can play well with others and are courteous, absolutely not the ones that can recite their ABCs forwards and backwards.

Why is our tendency to shove academics down their throats when what we all know that what matters is kindness? My family was into talking, playing music, laughing and hanging out when I was growing up. And I never had a lot of luck in school, and never saw the point of all that homework. Oh well, I guess with this, like anything, all in moderation.

Enough about that, I had dinner with some of the moms recently at the 112 Eatery. For those of you who have been there, you know it was a treat, and those of you who haven't, run don't walk (but make a reservation, the place is small & popular). Not small uncomfortable-sitting-on-the-laps-of-that-uptight-couple-next-to-you small, but small cozy I-wish-I-wasn't-nursing-and-could-have-a-gin & tonic-and-make-this-an evening small. After running about 20 minutes late, which is really on time when you have a four month old, I started with the bibb lettuce salad with fine herb vinagrette, then had the Nori Encrusted Sirloin with Ponzu sauce for dinner. SO DELICIOUS, every last bite.

Coleman cut two teeth, the bottom front ones. So far, no problems nursing.

**Pics: Coleman today!, Aidan's first day of school, working elevator made from TinkerToys, Elizabeth (my friend Adelheid's daughter) and Cole side by side, and Joel and I going to the reception.**

Time to cozy up the house!

Aidan started preschool about 6 weeks ago. He goes T and Th mornings from 9-12 and is loving it. He knows a lot of his "classmates" from ECFE, so that made the transition go well. He is emerging as a very articulate youngster with mad art skills. He lives for Cole smiling at him, balloons, marbles, and strangely and passively enough, loves Teletubbies.

We have been busy the last few weeks, but still spend most of our downtime as a family. It is our favorite pastime. Cole is 3 and one half months old! He started cooing, ah-gooing, and he laughed for the first time. He is also using his stomach muscles to try and sit up. He was sick with an ear infection and is just starting to feel better, which means Mama feels better too. It is so hard to have your tiny one sick, what am I saying?, it is the pits when anyone is sick, for different reasons.

I am doing a little part time work caring for friends' children and organizing homes. I enjoy staying at home so much, but a girl needs a break! Turning chaos into order does that for me.

We went to our friends' wedding reception (they were married earlier this year) on Saturday night, the 14th, which happened to be our 6th wedding anniversary. It was the most wonderful time. Great location, food was fabulous (Fabulous Catering did the food), and best of all, I wore "real" clothes! Kate and John were darling and are such a loving couple. Our anniversary was mentioned in the groom's speech, which was touching and thoughtful.

We are looking towards the holidays and not doing one "should" thing. Feel free to do the same, mix it up, and donate or save (gasp!) money instead of shopping and stressing.

**Pic details: our family, Coleman and Alexander (my dear friend Beth's son) side by side, Meg and Don, Cole's Godparents, and the brothers Hillesheim. Follow this link to more baptism pics: http://web.mac.com/williamoreilly/iWeb/BabaKarmy/Coleman%27s%20Baptism.html



2 months!

Coleman was 2 months old on Friday. And he has his first cold, which is a stinker. He has green snot, a fever, a cough and the like. Boy, is he brave though. He is smiling and cooing right through it. What a sweetheart he is!

What a different experience this time has been! Not only because it is our second child, which is typically better because you know what the heck you're doing, but because I am having no PPD symptoms thus far. I am experiencing Cole how I imagined being a mother would be: in total awe!

Coleman had his Christening last Sunday. We had a nice gathering afterwards at our house and it was a beautiful day to be outside. My sister Meg is Coleman's Godmother and our dear friend Don is his Godfather. He wore the same gown as Aidan (and Joel) wore for their baptisms, it is a family heirloom. I love the tradition and ceremony of it all!

We have been back in the swing of things meeting friends at the park; just this last Thursday we met our "Fairview" group out at Newell Park in St Paul (it had a grove of oak trees, and Aidan thought it enchanting). I met these moms when our kids were just 6 weeks old at a Mommy and Me class at the hospital where we all gave birth. Now, three years later, we all have our second children. It has been amazing to watch these kids grow and to see their temperaments and personalities flourish. My friend Rhona's son Jonathan has a new little brother, Anthony, and my friend Natalie's son Avery has a nearing one year old brother Luke. So there we were with our SIX boys! They played really well together (which is saying a lot), having the familiarity of time on their side.

We are settling into a routine and actually got quite a bit done this weekend in the yard. My Dad (Baba) and Joel are building a playhouse and swing set for Aidan in the backyard. It is Aidan's birthday present from Nana and Baba. It is coming along nicely and Aidan is very excited to be able to swing. They also built a sandbox and so far that has been a hit. We are home so much more now and it is awesome to have the playground in our back yard.

Aidan is starting preschool this week...more on that next post.

August 15 2006


So, we haven't posted in a month plus. Sorry!

Coleman is 6 weeks old and Aidan turned three last Tuesday! We went to see and ride Thomas the Train (a real train!)in Stillwater Friday, Aidan had a very good time, Cole thought it boring and slept through.

Coleman has started to lift and turn his head while on his belly. He has been a very good sleeper; sleeping from 11-4ish for the whole time he has been home. Occasionaly, he wakes up at 2 to nurse, but since he is co-sleeping, it is easy on us all! This week he started to go down at about 8 and is waking to nurse when I go to bed at 11, then 4, seven or so, then sleeps until about 10. The sleeping has been a blessing, making everything a bit nicer (including me) the second time around.

Aidan is a fiery fellow with a heart of gold. He means well and is very dear, but also quite intense. He had his three year appt today. He is ahead of the curve in numbers, drawing (6 year level), and has 20/20 vision. He impressed our pediatrician with his good manners. He weighs in at 35 and a half pounds and is 39 inches tall!

Thank you for all the messages from all around!

**Pictures include Aidan on his bday (the party hat was a big deal), my Dad with Coleman, the Brothers Hillesheim asleep, my girlfriends Kristin (Gus), Adelheid (Elizabeth), Beth (Alex), and I (Coleman) with our new babes!, and Thomas.

We are home!

Aidan and Cole are already close and are getting in sync with each other. We are resting and all doing well. My milk came in early this morning, so Coleman is sleeping well and eating well, he latched on well right after birth.

We would love visitors later in the week. We are excited for you to meet our little Cole. Love to you.

Welcome Coleman O'Reilly Hillesheim.
Born 7:53 AM July 1, 2006
8 pounds 14 ounces
22 inches


More pictures to come.

39 W 5 D aka Thursday of the week I am due

The following sentence not to be read by non-Moms or the faint hearted: I lost my plug and had my membranes stripped yesterday. Just wanted there to be a disclaimer. :)

I went to bed last night at 8 and got up at 8 today. Good sleep, too! What a blessing. We are going two blocks to our last ECFE this morning...staying close to home.

Here are some pictures from the wedding. The others were from the rehearsal.

L to R My Mom and I, my sister Meg and her boyfriend Eric, the adorable couple, my sweet Joel.

39 Weeks 2 Days


No baby yet.

Everyone at the wedding thought for sure that I would have the baby later that night. It was an exceptionally beautiful afternoon and evening. Both Matty and Jayne looked amazing, Jayne glowing and Matty looking so handsome. It was very intimate and really the perfect night, surrounded by people who love Matty and Jayne.

Lurcat was a picturebook setting. The appetizers that were passed included gourmet mini-hamburgers on lucious toasted rolls, french fries, swiss cheese puffs, tuna tartarre bruchetta, and mini crabcakes. Dinner was guest's choice of sea bass, flank steak, or half chicken, two salads (one with apples, manchego cheese and chives!) and family-style passed sides. Aidan and Joel chased one another around until we gave up and brought him to a friend's house so we could eat our meals. All in all, Aidan did a great job.

The fact that I was there, wore heels, and looked acceptable is a miracle. Thanks, baby, for being easy on me that night.

Posted are a few pictures of the evening before the wedding at 318 (Matty's restaurant) and one of me today, anxiously awaiting.

38 weeks 4 days

"For goodness sake, haven't you had that baby yet?" said people that know Kate.

I smile my smile, look down, and reply, "Not yet, thanks."

We are due next Saturday (on or about) and although they predicted I would go early, obviously, I have not. I am literally the size of the Crysler Building and with the humidity, just as shiny. I am keeping busy in the garden and at playdates, the park and pool and library with Aidan.

I have had three bouts with false labor, the latest occuring last Friday. We have had lots of support from our amazing group of friends and our close-knit families while I rested and tried to keep this baby inside. Now I say, bring it on! We don't know the gender of the baby, so it will be a lovely surprise and a good goal to get through the labor.

In other news, my big brother Matty is tying the knot to his wonderful girl, Jayne, this Saturday. We are so very excited for them. The wedding and reception are happening at the local restaurant Lurcat (on Loring Park). The whole family is abuzz and it will be Aidan's first wedding!

Aidan will turn 3 in August, on the 8th. He is busy exploring the world and working on his manners, which are really coming along. He is interested in how things work, like toilets, bodies, drains, and most of all balloons and the air that fills them. He loves the idea of the baby and makes plans daily of how he will help, what toys he will share, and what food he will give the baby (that one makes me a bit nervous). He helped put the nursery together and has been "playing baby" in recent weeks, where he wants to wrapped like a burrito and rocked, all the while, making what he thinks are baby sounds, most of which only Ty can hear.

More very soon. Thanks for all of your calls, emails, and love sent from miles around.

Pictures above are of Jayne's shower two weekends ago (L to R my sister Meg, Jayne's mom, Nancy, me, Jayne, my Mom) and one of Aidan at his friend Sophia's birthday party.