HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!

Happy Birthday to me! I'm a whole 1 year old! WOW! I didn't think that this was such a big deal, but apparantly the grownups think that it's a big deal, so we're having a party for me. I like parties....lots of presents and people to worship the Princess Elizabeth!

I ate my chocolate birthday cake...it was yummy and I was way hyper until after 10 pm...poor Mommy was very tired--I wasn't--I was ready to play...see here how I got cake all over my face (and you can't see but all over my pretty white dress too)

Mommy offered me a shotglass (ok it was a medicine cup in honor of me being sick), a silver dollar, and a rosary. I guess that this is some sort of family tradition...I picked the shotglass for a partying life! PARTY ON SNUGGLE BABIES!

Our Family Vacation

We spent months planning for a family vacation to Florida with FIL and SIL. We were going to go to WDW and the other Disney theme parks. After much planning, we finally had the big trip. We left on a Monday and got settled into our time-share that we swapped from SIL's friend. Tuesday we hit Animal Kingdom...that place is WAY COOL! We got to see lots of animals and rode on a safari. Wednesday we went to Kennedy Space Center to see the shuttle sitting ready for the 12-7 night launch (which was scrubbed due to weather and rescheduled for Sat night). The tour is really cool and we got to see the shuttle sitting ready and all the work that they had to do to get things ready for launch. Thursday was our WDW day and we had reservations for the Princess character lunch (Cinderella's Royal Table--HIGLY RECOMMENDED it's cool--make reservations 6mo in advance as it's quite popular) where HRH got to meet all the princesses and get their autographs and Elizabeth screamed at the Fairy Godmother.

We stopped to see a show and then ride Space Mountain (which HRH braved) where our vacation came to a screeching halt as FIL was passed out after the ride. He spent the next few days in the hospital and I tried to keep the vacation as normal as possible as DH and SIL tried to figure out what was going on with FIL (he had a heart attack). We went to EPCOT Saturday and had some fun and Sunday was the hardest day of all as FIL passed away. We did manage to go home Monday and are still trying to cope with this loss.

More Playing peek pictures

See...Sissy put a smiley face stamp on my forehead. Silly Sissy. Mommy wasn't too happy about it, but I seem to be just fine with it! Check out my pretty smile and big blue eyes!

OK Mommy...I'm here...we're only playing peek...I didn't go anywhere...you didn't have to get so worked up when I hide!

Mommy---you need to take a sucky break....put that camera down and take a break. Life is more fun. And by the way...I need a snack too so can you get me a wagon wheel? Please?

Some Random Pictures

Here's me and Sissy all ready for Trick-or-Treating. Daddy took us and Mommy handed out the candy. I didn't get any candy, but enjoyed the ride in my stroller and Sissy got a big haul of candy.

















Mommy and I were playing peek. I just made this face at her when she asked me where the baby was! Silly Mommy.....I'm right here...geez those big people are so silly sometimes...can't even find one baby like me.

Soccer Season Part 1 is Over

Just a quick update right now. HRH's soccer team (the Thunderbolts) finished the first half of the season at an AWESOME 6-1 with 1 rainout. Let's hope the second half goes just as well. It starts in late March or early April. GO THUNDERBOLTS!!

Scenes from the Pumpkin Patch

We visited Auntie Pam for a weekend. We went to her company's pumkin fest at a local farm. We all had a lot of fun. I tried to eat my mini-pumpkin and Sissy tried to pick the biggest pumpkin possible. I had to wear my coat and hat and gloves...I look like Nanook of the North--not ready to pick pumkins.

I'm 9 months old!

Wow where has the time gone? I'm 9 months old now. I love to eat pretty much anything (except for peaches!) and am working on trying out new sounds besides "da-da." Mommy took me to the doctor today and I didn't scream this time. Well, I did a little when the nurse gave me my shots, but shots are no fun.

I am now up to 20#7.5oz and 29 inches long....mommy says that's a gain of 13#6.5oz and 10 inches since I've been born. I don't know if that's good or not, but I'm a-growin' and getting cuter every day...I plan on taking over the world with my powers of baby cuteness! (I have big plans already)

I love to roll everywhere and annoy Doby-dog. I refuse to crawl, and daddy says I'll be walking soon..as I love to stand and try to move my feet. (Gee...I didn't know those things were down there...they appear to be useful appendages)

Nikki's Soccer Games

Here's how I spend my time at Sissy's soccer games. It was chilly that day so I was wrapped up in mommy's blanket. I need to remember to bring my jacket! It was naptime, so I was getting really cranky but I liked watching the game. This soccer is confusing...a bunch of girls in red or blue chasing after a little white ball. What's the point?

















Here's Sissy and her team. Sissy has a lot of fun playing and her team won that day 8-3. The referee had to pull a player off Sissy's team since they were winning by 5 by the second quarter.
GO THUNDERBOLTS!

Announcing the Royal Birthday

Nikki is 7 years old today. Where has the time gone? It seems like only yesterday that we were bringing home this little teeny baby and she has somehow become this amazing little girl. HAPPY BIRTHDAY NIKKI! We all love you lots here and can't wait to see what you grow up to be.

She did get lots of cool presents including 2 videos, a Game Boy game, a digital camera, a fishing pole, marshmallow launcher, and a Bratz doll. All in all a pretty good haul.

I can sit!

Wow! I can sit now. Oh the new possibilities that this opens up.....more stuff to try to grab. Don't I look proud of myself?

A day at Bristol Faire--pictures

We went to the Renaissance Faire again this weekend (8-12) since it was so nice---not over 90 and humid like it's been here. I had a lot of fun just looking at the different people and having everyone make a fuss over me! A French lady made sissy a princess and told everyone to bow to Princess Nicole. That's silly. Sissy got a new flower crown to wear and mommy's happy that the flowers won't end up all over her room.

There was a bit of excitement as I made my first bid at freedom--note to self--do NOT make bids for freedom while propped up against a tree! I kicked in my stroller so hard that I made it get off the tree mommy put it against and it just rolled down the hill with me in it! YIKES! I tipped over and bumped my head on a rock. Mommy didn't see me go, but some very nice ladies rescued me and I smiled at them. Mommy took me to the first aid area so that the paramedics could look at my head. I have a hard head--I just have a bruise there and it was already going away Sunday.

Gotta love those Puffs!

Mommy got me a treat! She got those puffs that I've been hearing about. I guess I'll have to try them. I have banana flavored ones, but mommy told me that they come in cherry, sweet potato, and some other flavors. I really love bananas. See right here where I'm pointing? It says "bite size" Am I bite size too? Dunno....gotta go ask Daddy about that.














I can pick them up all by myself, I try really hard to get them in my mouth. Here I'm actually not trying to eat them, but serving them to Doby-dog. Mommy foiled my plan...she picked them up before Doby-dog got a chance to eat them. And as you can see I'm now sitting in my high chair for my meals. I'm growing up. (and I have more baby-fuzzy hair too now)

7 months old today

I'm 7 whole months old today! Isn't that exciting......so exciting in fact that I'm asleep in Mommy's arms as she's typing this. Good mind control huh? Gotta practice if I'm gonna help Curtis in the BWDM.

I have finally mastered the rolling over thing! It's my most favorite trick. Mommy likes to watch me sleep at night now since I have learned this new trick. I'm a little crib monkey now. I'm all over my crib at night. I'm secretly practicing my escape routine...but those dang bars are in the way! I have one tooth now and am working on another one....this teething thing isn't too fun. It hurts. Maybe mommy can put some of that yucky orajel on my gums...that stuff makes it better.

A day at Bristol Faire

We went to the Bristol Renaissance Faire this past Saturday (7/8). It was opening day, so there were tons of people. We had to go visit all our friends there and introduce Elizabeth to them.

Elizabeth loved looking around at all the people and we enjoyed lunch there. HRH had her traditional turkey leg. We bought a few things for ourselves and DH got his three girls their yearly roses (he buys us each a copper and brass rose every year). HRH picked out a switch plate for her room from the pewtersmiths...it has fairies and purple crystals on it. Everyone thought Elizabeth was very cute and the pewtersmith commented that it must have been a busy year last year since everyone he knows has brought 3-6 month old babies to visit the faires that he goes to.

It was warm, but with the breeze it was very nice....even though it was hot in the sunny areas. Later in the season we hope to present Elizabeth to the queen at the faire (since the queen is Elizabeth I, so we have named our new child after her majesty). Nikki and Elizabeth have matching dresses....to cute numbers in lavendar and pink. When we all dress up pictures will be posted, but as the only one to dress up was HRH, (and I forgot the camera) so y'all will just have to wait to see them.

Another day at the zoo

We were at the zoo again today. It was a muggy warm day, not too sunny. We got a late start on our trip out, so in my opinion things seemed rushed today. At least we got a good parking spot--close to the gate and more importantly under a tree for shade.

Again we were on the carousel...HRH rode on the cassowary and Elizabeth got to ride a manatee. Elizabeth smiled and giggled and even figured out that she had to hold onto the pole in front of her...that made her bonk her head, but she never cried. We ate our lunches by the fountain and then went to see the animals. We went to the Hamill play zoo and HRH did an art project (fabric collage) while Elizabeth watched. Elizabeth even saw her "friend" one of the workers that was pregnant at the same time I was...she smiled so big at her and displayed that shiny new toofer for all to see.

HRH was good and didn't bug me for stuff every 30 seconds.

It was a fun day at the zoo and we will be there plenty more times in the future! I like going once the fall comes and there are some cool Halloween things to do ("Boo at the Zoo") and come end-of-November the Christmas trees go up for decorating for their Christmas celebration ("Holiday Magic"-includes a night-time christmas light display that they start putting lights up for in mid-September). Of course, there are fewer people there, and on some days as we walk around the zoo in the winter I have to wonder if we are the only ones there. Those are nice times too. I think that this year we will go for Holiday Magic, as it is Elizabeth's first birthday and we have to celebrate.

First big trip

Well, I got to go on a long car trip to Wisconsin to visit my aunt and grandpa for Fourth of July weekend. It was a long ride and I was pretty good. I had a few crabby periods in the car going there. But when I got there...WOW!! Auntie Pam had a bed made up just for me--it has butterfiles on it. And Sissy got new covers too--they have flowers on them and she has a butterfly pillow. Pretty cool. I surprised mommy by actually sleeping in my crib there and not putting up a huge fuss. I even slept through 2 nights of fireworks going off in their neighborhood.

Doby didn't like those fireworks....I thought they were OK. Mommy and Daddy lit some off for me to see while I was awake. They were pretty. I also got to meet some funny-looking things that mommy calls "cats." They look like Doby--kind of....but different. I touched them nice then tried to pull those whisker things off their faces--note to self--they don't like that!

I had a good time. Mommy filled Sissy's pool and I tried to swim in it, but it was too cold! I cried to let mommy know I wasn't happy about that cold water. I watched everyone eat their dinners since we ate outside--just like a picnic! I tried to eat mommy's food..but mommy said that I couldn't have any of her food.

Sissy had fun playing with the new toys that Auntie Pam bought--Barbies and some Disney princess foam craft stuff. She played in her pool for one day and then used it for her Barbies after she got done with her Barbie pool.

Pictures are forthcoming as soon as Auntie Pam can get them off her camera and send them to Mommy!

I'm 6 months old!

I'm 6 months old. Don't I look thrilled about it. Well you wouldn't be either if your mommy told you that you had to go to the doctor for a checkup (and shots! I HATE shots!)

Some of my favorite things to do now are squealing and crinkling paper. The pediatrician told mommy to expect ma-mas and da-das anytime now (along with my first tooth) As usual, befitting my baby princess status I screamed through my checkup and shots. I had to get my anemia test again--still low, but rising (I have to take those foul-tasting vitamin drops YUCK!) There is now 16# 3 oz of baby princess to love (and I'm now 27 3/4 inches tall) I don't particularly like getting examined...baby princesses like me are not meant to be poked and prodded!! I screamed at the doctor lady when she wanted to see me practice sitting--yep I've got baby princess attitude too!

Pool time pictures

Here I am, all ready to go swimming...don't you love the bathing suit? Grandma Sasha bought it for me in Hawaii (where is that? Grandma says it's far away) I don't know if I'll like this swimming thing or not, but I'm sure ready to experience anything.


















Here I am in the pool...that's me, Grandma Sasha, and sissy. What a nice warm pool...Grandma calls it her hot tub...well it is warm, not hot so why is it called a HOT tub? I really liked the water...just because I'm not smiling doesn't mean I didn't like it! It was LOTS of fun and I hope that Grandma lets me back in her pool again.

Hangin' on the couch

Well, look at that....I'm hanging with my big sister on the couch to watch cartoons. Boy do I feel like a big girl! It's not often that I get a cool treat like this to hang with my sissy on the couch. Of course with mommy hovering over us taking pictures, I didn't want to hang with sissy too long. I'm definitely a mommy's girl. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE MY SISSY! She's the bestest big sister in the world. She will play with me and sings silly songs to me...some of which she says she learned at school (whatever school is--I don't know!)

At the zoo

We went to Brookfield Zoo today. It's a lot of fun. There is a new carosel that just opened a few weeks ago. It is beautiful with lots of hand-carved wooden animals. Nikki loves to go on it and Elizabeth today was shrieking with glee when she saw we were going to go on it (for the third time). Now that she is more alert, she loves to watch all the people and of course the animals are interesting too. The butterfly exhibit gives her a bobble-head as she tries to watch every butterfly flit around. Too funny.

Today there was a little chipmunk foraging around where we were eating lunch. The people at the table next to us had some nachos, so the dad took a chip and broke a piece off and threw it to the chipmunk...he ate it all up. Then his older daughter tried to get him to take a chip out of her hand and that little chipmunk came up, put his paw on her hand to take the chip and she freaked out and scared that poor little chipmunk away.

Today's trip was marred by a phone call telling me that the website I host was down. So we had to leave early (we left at 1:45) when we would've normally left around 3 or 4. Of course I couldn't do anything when we got home, since I didn't know what to unplug and what to re-plug in. Maybe next time I'll leave the cell phone at home so I can enjoy my day more.

Of course I have to bring all the baby stuff-bottles, formula, toys (she usually doesn't play with them), a paci, and blanket. Plus our lunches, so I end up carrying a ton and pushing Elizabeth in the stroller. Maybe the last of the weight will come off and I will be down to my goal weight.

My first time swimming

Well, being 5 months old means that everything is a first! Mommy put me in my cute little purple swimsuit with flip-flops on it and I got to swim in Grandma Sasha's hot tub...it was nice and warm and I liked to kick my feet in the warm water. Grandma said I was a very relaxed baby....well wouldn't you be if you were dunked in a nice warm hot tub? Nikki tried to splash me and I didn't like that too much. Grandma wants me to like being in the water...not to be afraid. I wasn't afraid...I had mommy, sissy, and grandma there to keep me safe!

Where to begin?

Well--at the beginning of course! HRH was a surprise addition to our family after only being married 3 months. Nicole Alexandra was born by c/section after 22 hours of labor (belive it she was only 7# 4oz and 21 inches at birth) on 9-10-1999. When she was around 2 years old, we decided to start trying to make her a big sister.....we were trying and trying....and trying some more....finally near the end of May 2005, I found out I was pregnant again (and due New year's eve). I was going to VBAC, but this little one was very stubborn and was mostly transverse or breech. She turned a few days before my scheduled c/section. We found out that we were going to be having another girl in August. HRH was very pleased...she told me that if it was a baby brother she was going to give him back! After an uneventful pregnancy, Elizabeth Blackmore was born by repeat c/section 12-21-2005 (7# 1oz, 19 inches). We are still up in the air about adding a third child to our family..there are days that I am so against it and there are days that I would love 2 or 3 more. HRH has requested 2 more sisters and 2 brothers....I think I would be pulling my hair out with 6 kids.

Welcome to our domain!

Hi all! Wow--we're on the web now. So welcome to the royal domain of Princesses Nicole and Elizabeth. Hopefully this will be full of wonderful news about our family shortly.