Tale of Two Sisters & A New Brother

Today my cousin Trinity made her first communion (yes I have alot of cousins!) and last night Grammy came over and watched me while mommy and daddy went to a wedding. Grammy brought a little table for me and princess plates, bowls and cups! I kept trying to get Grammy to sit on the chair with me but she shook her head no!

My cousin Ryan made his first communion today at St. James Church in Sewickley. Last night I slept over at Aunt Kelly's and had a great time with Trinity, Joey, Sydney & Jack!

Tonight we went to Magee Hospital for a dedication ceremony for the Emma T. Whalen Family Resource Center. I never knew Emma but her mom and dad are good friends with all my aunts & I know her sister Lizzy. Emmma Whalen was born in 2001 and died 24 days later. She was 3 months premature and weighed less than 2 pounds. Her mom and dad raised money for a library at the NICU at Magee to help other parents that have premature babies get information while their babies are staying in the hospital. Here is a link to the article about Emma Whelan... http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/rss/s_499582.html.

I asked Emma to watch over my brother Stephen in heaven.

Can you believe I'm 18 months old already? AND, I finally crossed the 20 pound mark (wahoo!), I'm 20lb 7 oz to be exact and 29 + inches. Mom says I'm hanging onto the 3rd percentile by my fingernails! But that's ok b/c I'm talking up a storm and too busy chasing my cousins to eat! Unless its ice cream or a popsicle :)

Oh I forgot to mention that the mark on my nose in the April pictures is from when I wiped out in the driveway! It hurt but I got back up and went on collecting rocks! I love to play "outshide"!

Today was a very sad day. My baby brother was born but he was too little so he became an angel and is watching over us in heaven. His name is Stephen Joseph and he was only 19 weeks old. My mommy and daddy are very sad so please keep us in your prayers.

"Some people only dream of angels, I held one in my arms"

Its Easter Sunday so I got dressed up in my new Easter dress and went to mass with all my cousins and aunts & uncles! Then we went to Great Grandma's house for brunch and then over to Aunt Bridget and Uncle Matt's for dinner! We had an easter egg hunt and I found lots of eggs. And my Grandma and Grandpa gave me two golf clubs and balls and I already made a hole in one!! Watch out Pap Pap, here I come!

I went on my first real easter egg hunt with Grammy and Pap Pap! I found alot of eggs but no one let me eat the candy inside of them - no fair! There was also a big horse there but I didn't want to ride him!! We had lots of fun and I ran around and played with my new friend Austin.

Today was so much fun! We went over my aunt Kelly's house and I ran around in the mud and got my pants, shirt and shoes all dirty! Then we went to the park and I slid down the slide over and over, and then I played with Brady and Dudley and! I really like the slide, but not the swings. I was so tired I fell asleep on the way home in the car!! I have two new teeth on the bottom too! They are called molars and are really big!

Oh boy, what a day!! My mom, dad & I went to look for a new house and mom slipped coming down the steps and broke her toe! So now she has a funny shoe to wear! My dad said he hopes I don't inherit her clumsiness (whatever that means!!).

My first St. Patrick's Day parade! It was really cold but we saw Irish dancers (my friend Julia was dancing!) and lots of bagpipers, Irish wolfhounds and bands. My great aunts and uncles were there and my daddy's cousins. I called Pap Pap later in the day and said "Pap Pap" to him !!

Yea! Finally some nice weather - I rode my new tricycle on Sunday (thanks Aunt Franny) and we went to the park and then played outside all day at Aunt Molly's house. Too bad its getting cold again!

Today was my last baby signs class with Beebo and my friend's Jesse and Joey! We learned signs for balloon, ice cream and cake!! I had lots of fun until mom wouldn't let me hold the cone by myself, then I got really mad!!

Wow, thank goodness February is over!! It wasn't the best month- let's hope March brings alot of nice weather and good health to everyone!! Did you see my picture - I'm going to be a big sister in September (or maybe late August!). I don't know what that means but I do know my mom has been sick alot and my dad is exhausted!

My great grandpa Matkovic died today. He was such a great grandfather and I'll miss him. Please keep my great Grandma and Grandma in your prayers.

Please keep my Great Grandpa Matkovich and Great Grandma Duffy in your prayers. Great Grandpa fell and suffered a stroke Saturday night and is in intensive care at the hospital. Great Grandma fell and broke her hip Sunday morning and had surgery yesterday and is also in the hospital.

Thanks everyone!

Today was Valentine's Day and daddy bought me my favorite foods like goldfish and animal crackers! I got all kinds of neat cards and I got $20 from my grandma and grandpa. No school again today so I went over Aunt Kelly's again and played outside. Boy was it cold!!

Yea! No school today for my cousins so I went to Aunt Kelly's house and played all day. We even went outside and played in the snow! I cried when we had to go inside! I hope there's no school tomorrow too!

Mommy and I went to signs class again today and I learned signs for play, car, rain, snow and airplane! Its hard to remember them all but I like to play with Joey and Jesse. We do crafts and I like to hand out all the paper and glue sticks. And the teacher always reads books so I stand right in front of her when she reads.

Mommy and I went to my first baby signing class today at our church. I already know signs for more, eat, please and banana and I do those ALOT (b/c I really like to eat!). Today we learned signs for happy, sad, angry, cold and scared and we sang all kinds of songs. Mommy even knew one of the other moms and her son Jesse. He's really cute. It was fun but I was tired when we were done!

I have a new baby friend to play with! My auntie Heidi had a baby girl - Corinne Elizabeth on Monday! She was 7 lbs 2 oz and her big brother Colin is very excited! Please keep praying for Heidi's mom, her cancer is back and she needs alot of prayers and good thoughts. I'll post some pics of baby Corinne soon!

Boy what is it with this month and people being sick?! Now my Aunt Kelly is in the hospital with mastitis. She was really sick on Saturday and went to the hospital yeterday and is staying there today too. The good part is that I got to spend all day with my cousins (Trinity, Joey, Sydney and Jack). We had fun and I only got one goose egg on my head, and one bloody nose!! My daddy said something about never having 5 kids though. Prayers for Aunt Kelly please!

Today I went to play with my friend Colin and Auntie Heidi. He has lots of great toys and a real piano! We played a duet together! Colin's grandma is doing better but she starts chemotherapy soon so keep her in your prayers. Auntie Heidi is going to have a baby girl soon!!

I went to the drs today for my 15 month appointment and I gained a pound and 2 ounces in a month! I'm now 19 lbs 2 oz and 28 1/4 inches! I'm back on the growth charts so mommy was very happy! Then I got 4 shots and they were terrible so I cried alot, but once I got to Aunt Molly's house I was fine!!

My daddy had off work today so we went to the Children's Museum and I got to dress up in a slicker and play in the water! I loved to drink it but daddy was not happy about that! Then we visited mommy at work but I was soaked so we didn't stay long.

We went to church this morning b/c there was a mass for my Grandma Burke and I wore my pretty velvet dress that my Great Grandma Duffy bought me. Then we went to see Great Grandma Duffy b/c she's been sick for a couple of weeks. I hope she gets better soon.

I stayed all night at my Aunt Kelly's house with all my cousins and it was really fun!!

I'm 15 months old today! Can you believe it? I can't, I feel so old! I can say all kinds of words like mommy, daddy, bye (and wave), tree (sometimes),and ho ho ho. I also like to sing "row, row, row your boat" and come down the stairs backwards! I do my signs for "more" and "please" and "banana" (i love bananas) and give kisses all the time. And I love to dance! Being a kid is great!

Happy New Year!! See what happens when my mommy doesn't pay attention to me?! She was using her computer and I pulled out all the pieces of paper in the basket and had them all over the floor (see the pictures!)

My mom said this is the last day of 2006 and I'm not really sure what that mean but daddy and I went outside on the porch and it was really warm! Then Aunt Bridget, Uncle Matt, Aunt Kelly & Uncle Joe came over and played cards. I played with all my cousins exc. baby Jack who was sleeping! I didn't stay up until midnite though, I was fast asleep!

My mommy asks that you keep her friend Heidi's mom in your prayers. She's sick and the drs said she has cancer and has to have surgery on Friday. Hopefully she'll be better soon.

Love
Caileigh

Today we went to my other grandparents and I met some of my daddy's cousins for the first time! We had pizza and opened presents again! I loved running around my great grandma's house! I got a neat hat and knitted poncho from my great aunt Sheila that I can wear on St. Patrick's Day! I'll post pictures soon!

Happy Birthday baby Jesus!!

Santa came to our house and brought me lots of fun books, crayons, and things to play with in the tub! Then we went over Aunt Kellys and I got fridge phonics and clothes from my godmother. Boy am I lucky to have such great family!

Today is Christmas Eve so daddy, mommy & I went to Grandma Butera's house for dinner. I got to open lots of gifts like my talking teddy bear! Then we went to church at Mt. Alvernia where Sister Ann lives. Mommy thought I would be sleepy but I laughed and talked the whole mass! Then we got cookies after, and then it was home to bed to wait for Santa!

Today mommy and I went to visit her friends from work. I got to see Ms. Lorrie, Miss Bee, Miss Julia, Ms. Carrie, Ms. Gelsina and Ms. Eileen! We ate pizza and danced and laughed! It was fun!!

Tonight we celebrated Christmas early with Pap Pap, Grammy, Aunt Amanda, Aunt Ashley and Charlie. I got alot of toys like a lawnmower, vaccuum, caterpillar, elmo table and lots more. We had alot of fun, I can't wait to open more gifts because I really like the paper!!

I've been coughing for a few weeks so mommy took me to the doctor and I have a ear infection so I have to take some medicine. Its not so bad. I got weighed and I'm 18 pounds!!

This weekend we went to Michigan to visit mommy's aunts, uncles and cousins! I saw Santa Claus two times! Once I sat on his lap but the second time I was scared! Santa brought me a neat book and stuffed animal!

Happy St. Nicholas Day! I went downstairs and there were gifts in my shoes!

I love Christmas music and especially like to dance to Rudolph and Frosty!

Today we went to get our Christmas tree and boy is it pretty! Daddy put lights on it and it looks so nice!

Today is my daddy's birthday! We had cake and ice cream and it was yummy! Daddy is getting old ! (ok my mom told me to say that!)