Update

Things have been so busy this last month! I desperately need to catch up on the blogging but in the meantime here is a pic of little girl with her Uncle at Thanksgiving. We went up to Boston again this year as my brother hosted the holiday. We had a lovely time! I will do the official Thanksgiving post shortly but in the meantime here is a pic of my little obsession for your viewing pleasure! Isn't she getting so big? I just can't believe it, I swear she doubles in size every night when I go to get her in the morning she looks so big! The poor little girl was so sick while we were there, but yet she still manages to ham it up for the camera...wonder where she got that from????

Happy Birthday Husband!

I just love this picture and I had to share it! It is one of my favorite pictures of him when he was little. Look at those cheeks, that bib and that blond hair! Oh I just love him, so cute!

Hope you had a wonderful day, I know we did! Love you!

Just in case...

anyone is looking to cross me off their Christmas gift list early go ahead and put me down for one of these cupcake cars!

I saw them in the Neiman's catalogue and thought I had died and gone to heaven! Now if only they made them with edible frosting so you could eat while you cruise...I'll take mine with white cake & white buttercream frosting please!

An Egyptian Murder Mystery!

On Halloween one of our good friends, Lord Witherspoon (aka Brian) turned 30 so his cute wife, Lady Witherspoon (aka Christine) threw him a murder mystery birthday bash!  It was a ball!  

The party was set in the 1920s and everyone had a part and a secret.  Jewels and mummies were stolen along with a gruesome murder committed and we spent the night trying to figure out who was being blackmailed, smuggling Opium (ya that turned out to be my husband) and who done it.  The best part was that Lady Witherspoon had rented out a spooky cabin in the woods to have the party.  Seriously, I went to the bathroom and I totally could have been bumped off and no one would have been the wiser.  It was the perfect location!

Here is Captain Andrean and myself all decked out in our Egyptian gear.  We ran a Cruise ship that sailed the Nile...all the more fitting to be an Egyptian Princess and Pharaoh!  

I totally got my craft on and sewed these costumes...it really was fun!  I must say the husband was such a good sport to wear my creation.  I can just hear Heidi Klum saying in her little German accent: "this looks a little home sewn"

Here are the jewels and part of explorer Lord Witherspoon's archaeological find!

Here I am with our host and hostess.  Thank you again for a lovely evening, we had a blast!  Happy Birthday Brian!

Oh and for anyone wondering, aside from the Opium thing...we were innocent! 

Hapbeeeee Halloween!

Little girl loved dressing up in her bumble bee costume, but as the photo shoot went on...well you can see the digression in the photos!



I love flying around the room like a bee!



Still having fun but getting a little sweaty in all this tutu...




Ok, Mom, I think I am ready to be unstrapped from these wings...



So happy to be out of my costume! (is it just me or does she totally have guns in this photo?!)

Hope you all have honey of a Halloween!

2,555 Days of Wedded Bliss

So today is our 7 year anniversary, WOW, I can't believe it. For some reason 7 just sounds big to me. Or maybe it is all that we have been through together up until this point, 7 jobs between the two of us, living in 4 different cities from coast to coast which by default included 4 moves (yuck), 2 houses one of which took us 1 1/2 years to sell, trips all over the world including MANY to Disney of course, law school, IVF and finally our sweet little Gwyn...and that is just the reader's digest version. I can only imagine what is to come next and I wouldn't want to do it with anyone else in the world. E you are my best friend in the whole world and my perfect match. In the words of the Beach Boys....God only knows what I'd be without you! I love you the most!

Apple Festival

Despite what you may think there are definite perks to living in Central Pennsylvania and a quaint hometown apple festival is one of them. Sister was in town two weekends ago (little behind on the posting since sister had all the pics, thanks again since my camera died!) on her way back to Boston from visiting the hubby in Indy...yes they are living apart for a year while she finishes her residency in Beantown. We feel so sad for her but are so happy to see her as she passes through from time to time!

We embarked on our adventure into no man's land (really and truly) and attended the annual Apple Festival in the middle of a privately owned orchard. What a ball! It was filled with delicious homemade apple treats and delightful little treasures from the locals. We loved every minute of it. Here are some pics from our trip!



A local Bluegrass band played and it was lovely! Notice all the "old folk" sitting in for the entertainment.



Pennsylvania is famous for their railroads, here is one of the antique trains for display.



Wild Bills was an old fashioned soda bar. If you look closely you can see barrels of homemade old fashioned soda that you just buy a mug for and fill up all day. Too cute!



Ok, we were totally out of the festival and noticed the cut outs that we missed...needless to say we HAD to go back to take some photos. We are such SUCKERS for the cut outs!

Here is little one peeking through the apple, I just want to smooch her face off!!



Sister as the scarecrow

Yes, I had to have my picture taken too!

Had to make a pit stop for little one....still getting used to that :) Although I would say I have mastered the quick diapee change. I think I could win in a race

Here are the orchards, not a very good pic but you get the idea. They covered the rolling hills of PA and the festival was just on the other side of that hill. Very picturesque.

Here is sister with the little one just chilling in the beamer before we took off to the pumpkin patch. It actually turned out to be such a nice sunny day she was a little sweatball in that outfit.

From the festival we took off to one of the local farms to pick up some lovely home grown mums, fresh veggies and homemade peach preserves. I made a peach crisp with mine the next morning and it was to die for! So yummy.

Just outside the country store.

Me and G in the field of mums. They are EVERYWHERE in PA. All from local farms and so thick and full. Sister bought one to take back to Boston since they don't grow them up there like they do here...not to mention you get them for the local price, such a steal!

This is about as far as we got in the corn maze...with G we didn't think getting lost in all the corn would be the best idea :)

Attempting to get her first picture at the pumpkin patch. She is wearing her cute Halloween outfit from Gigi...love it! She was obsessed with something on the ground so she wouldn't look up.

Finally that cute face and *sigh* that double chin...I just love it!

We had a wonderful weekend with sister! Come visit soon we love and miss you!

4 months!

So E took Gwyn to the doctor on Wednesday for her 4 month appointment and of course that means shots! Part of me was relieved that he had to take her this time and not me. She really is such a good girl and only cries for about a minute after they give them to her but nonetheless, it is heartbreaking! But as sister the doctor says, she has to have them!

Sorry no pics this time but I just thought I would make note of her stats: she is in the 60% percentile for weight, 90% percentile for height and 95% percentile for her head! She is long and lean and according to these stats an orange on a toothpick, but it doesn't look that way since she still has plenty of biteable rolls, thank goodness for mom since I just want to eat her up everyday!

No wonder her onesies barely button and the neck comes down to a smiley face, time to buy some extenders!

3 Months

A few weeks ago I took Gwyn to have her three month pictures taken. Here are a few of my favorites.

Tres joli bebe!
I had some pictures taken of her in her blessing dress. I just love this picture because you can see the hand crocheted booties that she wore with the dress. They had little pearls on the tops of them, so cute. Love the Amish handy work around here! Thanks again Gigi, she looked beautiful!

Baby Einstein

Ok, first I have to say I am sorry that every post now is Gwyn, but I can't help it...I am OBSESSED with her!

So Eli and I don't let her watch tv (BabyWise says...for those that don't know BabyWise is my other obsession and what I credit to Gwyn sleeping through the night at 6 weeks...that tv for little ones before a certain age is too stimulating for their little nervous systems and can affect their sleep, etc.) but since she turned 3 months we thought it might be ok to let her watch Baby Einstein every once and while.

So this is a pic of Gwyn kicking back and watching her first Baby Einstein, which by the way she kept looking at Eli like "um, I know this isn't what you watch, cut the crap, this is for little babies and I am a big girl!"

Anyway, this is from his phone so it is kind of grainy but you get the idea...she is HYSTERICAL! Plus this really gives you a good side shot of her Mohawk and no I don't comb it like that and no it won't go down, it is out of control!

Gwyn Tour 2009

Three weeks ago we went to Utah to show our little bundle of joy off to all of our friends and family. From the second we touched down we were here, there and everywhere on our "Gwyn Tour." She was the star of the show...as she should be.

While we were there we blessed Gwyn and Eli gave the most beautiful blessing. Many of you know my husband is a very "non emotional" kind of guy so when he gave Gwyn her blessing we were all touched to hear him get a little emotional about his sweet little girl. After all we have been through I think it was an emotional day for us both to be holding our little one in her perfect little white dress and know that she will be ours forever! Thank you Eli for a beautiful blessing.

In the words of my mom, "Beautiful blessing, beautiful baby, beautiful day!"

The Veenendaal Family

Brothers & Babies...yes that is Eli's brother and yes they look nothing alike! Gwyn and her cute little cousin Avery

Great Grandma Aleen & Gwyn


The 4 Dawns...from the left:

Gayla Dawn, Gwyneth Dawn, Jennifer Dawn and the original Hazel Dawn


Gwyn with her Gigi




Nan & Gwyn

Great Grandpa Glenn & Gwyn

Great Grandpa Jim & Gwyn. Just before a little meltdown :)

Great Grandpa Emery & Gwyn

Great Grandma Doreen & Gwyn

Of course I had my hair done while I was there and of course I had to have Gwyn's picture with Ramez since he is pretty much a member of our family. Gwyn's hair is almost long enough for him to style...can't wait for that!

All tuckered out after a very very busy trip, gotta love the drool! I must say though she was perfect on the plane out and back, in fact most people didn't even know there was a baby on the plane, phew! She is a fantastic little traveler and the life of the party. I am so glad we were able to make it out to see our family and friends. Thank you all for making it such a wonderful trip. See you at Christmas!

Her future is looking so bright...

1st Day of Church!

So Gwyn is officially 8 weeks and I decided it was safe, I mean time for her to make her debut at church. Can you tell we are first time parents or what?

Here is baby with her proud papa.

This is what happened when I told Gwyn church is 3 hours and she has to go every Sunday for the rest of her life.