Guests and Gifts

I guess that all Sean and I needed to do to get people to come to Queens to visit us was have a baby. REALLY?? That's all??? Apparently so. In the months prior to Alex we had exactly two guests visit us in our apartment, Mike Anderson and Iggy. Since the arrival of Alex we suddenly have many more people willing to make the trek to Queens to see us. Is it any wonder? He really is worth the trip.

This week Miss Kirsten and Titi Helen from PS/MS 194 came to meet Alex on Monday. (Titi, by the way, is Spanish for "little aunt.") After months and months of watching him grow inside my belly they were anxious to meet him in person. They oooed and ahhhhed about how beautiful Alex is, and they caught me up on all the goings on at school. Sean prepared a delicious dinner of cheese ravioli with a mushroom and asparagus cream sauce for everyone. We all agree that he is an excellent cook.

Aunt Carol and Uncle Bruce came from Richmond, VA to visit over the weekend. Carol called Aunt Jane back in WV to rub it in that she got to hold Alex first. Carol, like Aunt Jennie, is quite the photographer. We had a photo shoot on Sunday, and I am certain she got some excellent family photos. Bruce treated everyone to dinner out on Sunday afternoon at NY Style Eats. Alex is two for two when it comes to dining out!!! He was again a very good boy.

Sunday afternoon Sean's friends Irene and Jazzy came to visit with Jazzy's three kids. Irene and Jazzy must have bought out the entire baby section at Old Navy because they each gave Alex a bag of clothes...all very cute!! We had a house full of fun with coloring, videoing, popcorn eating, and of course everybodies' favorite, Alex spoiling.

This has been a busy week for our growing boy. His umbilical cord fell off this week, and we can now see that he has a real little boy belly button!! Daddy fed him his first bottle this week too!! He was having a little trouble going to sleep one night so we broke out one of the many pacifiers that we have for him (all gifts from the shower) and it worked like magic!!! He also attended his very first street fair on Saturday, a Strawberry Fair on 46th Street. Carol & Bruce, Grandma, and Sean & I looked at goods from the street vendors and ate strawberries and ice cream. Alex was content to ride around in his carrier with his daddy. Whew!!!! With all of that excitement it is no wonder that Alex likes to sleep so much!!

We have gotten so many cards and gifts from people who are excited that Alex has entered the world. Uncle Vernon, Kathryn & Dick Minnich, Jim & Wendy and "Uncle" Alex Applegate sent cards. The Edmonds Family, a former student Ms. Krista, an aerobic friend Ms. Scarlette, and the Cutlip Family all sent gifts this week. Alex is ready for the NFL season now with his Dallas Cowboy pacifier and his very first football card (an Emmitt Smith card from the Cowboys of course), both gifts from Mike Cutlip. He is a very lucky boy to be so loved and have such generous friends.