Back in NYC

And had a 2nd Christmas.  Hell yes!!!

Most of the kids are in bed...

...but this one just had to stay up for the movie.

Wireless Home Security

Who needs ADT when you have this?

Our Power Ranger!

Cavan may be the Power Ranger, but Grandma is our super hero.  Cavan just scored this super awesome early Christmas gift which came via USPS from Denison, TX this morning.  Thank you Grandma, you rock!

Cavan Loves Lulu

This little girl has no idea how much she's loved by her awesome big brother.  Cavan took time out of his busy Thursday morning to give his sister a snuggle before heading off to school.  I can't think of a better way to start the day.

xo
MamaMac

Bird Feeding

Big Brother Cavan (aka "The Bird") gave his Little Sister Lulu (aka "The Hippo") a bottle for the first time this past weekend.  He is so helpful and loving and takes his job very seriously (even if his arm does  get "tired" a little too quickly).  I love my kids.

xo

Lele Mac

Giving new meaning to the term "Air Guitar"

And the Halloween costume keeps rearing it's ugly (but, very cute) head.  You've got to admit that he's got something going with the whole acoustic glam rock thing.

Our Tiny Reindeer

Post Bath Silliness

Nothing like a bubble bath to unleash the toothy goof.

Brother + Sister

When Hippos Become Chicken Hawks

Monday morning.  All bright eyes and stubborn hair.

Little Pink Bear

Bundled up in her stroller.  Not a bad way to get around town.

Outtakes From Lulu's First Cover Shoot.

The hero shot is coming via USPS soon.

One From The Vault.

I dug this one out of the dusty old trunk in the attic last night.  It's one of my all time favorite memories...teaching Cav how to drive the tractor on the farm.  We spent at least an hour every morning that trip two summers ago moving dirt with that big old front end loader.  Good stuff.

-GMac

Boo!

Bend It Like Big Brother

In addition to basketball and swimming, Cavan is playing soccer this year and is getting really good (i.e. actually listening to his coaches).   Before the kids on the "Kickers" team hit the field at the East River park this morning Cavan showed me some of his mad skillz.  I was impressed. And not just cause I'm his mom.

xo

Proud MamaMac

What's Wrong With This Picture? (No, really.)

...trick-or-treating...on a Saturday afternoon...with Henry and Ruby...and the baby in the stroller...Milk Duds.

The Most Awesomest Big Brother on the Planet.

Cavan rocks!  This kid, RIGHT HERE, is the best big brother in the world.  Every time Lulu gets within an inch of him, he tells her how cute and wonderful she is.  Even when she is bawling her eyes out, he's doing whatever he can to soothe and comfort her.  To make her laugh.  He made us laugh with this one.  He's the best!

It's official.

Now she, like the rest of us, can answer to The Man.  Funny, though.  I came home Thursday night and saw this on the kitchen table.  An overwhelming sense of PROUD came over me.  About 3 years after we came up with how to put them together, those 18 letters are living, breathing, and printed in three words on a flimsy little card Uncle Sam paid $.42 to send us.  We'll get her to sign it later.

-GMac

Ten Years and 4 Dozen Cupcakes From My Former Self

If you'd told me ten years ago I'd be baking 4 dozen cupcakes for a bake sale at my 7-year-old son's school while my 3-week-old daughter napped I'd have spit my straight-up-dry-and-dirty martini out on your shoes.

xo
Haven't Showered and Yet Happy LeleMac

Fight the Power!

Rock 'till ya drop!

OMG!  Henry came over again last night and we rocked until midnight.  He is sooooo cool!  Michael, Nikki, Marianne, Coby, Dad, and Mom ate some sausagey pasta thing while Henry and I hung out and looked cool for each other.  I've decided that he looks like Vin Diesel.  So CUTE!

-LuluMac

How pissed off can a two week old get?

The Little Lulu Doll!

So, Jeanie spent an insane amount of time recreating this really great "Little Lulu" doll from the 1930's for Lulu 2009. What an amazing gift! This lucky child will have something to pass down to her children and grandchildren that her grandmother made with her own hands. Jeanie's version of a quilt and we'll take it...and many more. Thank you, Jeanie!

My Girls.

I'm a lucky man.

-GMac

First Bath: Oh, this is not good.

Tonight we decided to delight our daughter with her first bath. Visions of joy and contentment were quickly dashed, replaced with the reality of flailing arms and accusations of betrayal. "Why am I naked?" "What's all this wet stuff?" "Get the hell off me!" Poor girl's parents had to pick a cold night for her first bath.

Buckle up and enjoy the ride!

Captain Cavan Miller has been patiently awaiting the delivery of his Halloween costume for 2 WHOLE WEEKS!!!! What's up with that? Mom and Greggie were on the horn with the shipper and UPS for days and days trying to figure this one out. FINALLY, today....the uniform has landed and we are all very happy about it. Prepare for takeoff.

Cavan and Lulu's Best Friends

No mention of the McHale family would be complete without Roxie and Peanut. Roxie is a sweet, somewhat aloof designer dog who keeps to herself most of the time. Peanut is a true hound...dopey, loyal and lovable. Cavan and Peanut snuggle up together every night and Peanut likes to keep watch over Lulu when she's in her swing. Roxie's main job is to keep track of feeding times. Our pups have adjusted beautifully to Lulu's arrival and although we're truly a full house now we wouldn't have it any other way.

Chillin' Like a Villain

El Burrito

Nothing restores new parents' sanity quite like a nice, tight swaddle.

Jeanie Comes to Town!!!!

At long last Jeanie arrived to see her new baby Granddaughter. And she brought with her a very special surprise....a beautiful "Little Lulu" doll which was made entirely by Jeanie's hand (with love of course). From "Little Lulu's" red and white pinafore to her shiny black curls, every detail was seen to by Lu's very talented (and patient) grandma. We foresee a lifelong love of this doll - which we're sure will be passed on to other special little girls. And since we're handing out credit where it's due, it was not the family photographer (Greg) who captured the smiling image of Lulu with her new friend Henry. That was Jeanie's handiwork. The stars were aligned when that photo was taken and we can't stop looking at it. Although we only had her for a few days, it was wonderful to see Jeanie and Lu bond and get to know each other.

So, anyway.....

.....I was at this party last night celebrating my first week birthday (all the best babies were there) and I met this really cute guy named Henry McDonald. We started chatting and have so much in common!!!! For example, we were both recently born! What are the odds?!?! Here's me with Henry. We're going out again next week....SO EXCITED! LOL!!!

-LuluMac

Our First Walk.

Mama was exhausted yesterday as expected, so Lulu and I decided to let her sleep and go for an hour and a half of fresh air. It was a beautiful and blustery day in the East Village. We walked down 7th Street and then up to 10th where we ran into Michael who took these pictures. Lulu especially loved all of the dogs barking and the old soulful saxophone player in Tompkins.

Grandma Comes to Town!!!!

Grandma Owings arrived late Wednesday afternoon and just can't get enough of her Baby Lu. As we were walking up the steps and into the apartment, she told me that there is no way I could understand how excited she was to meet this little one. Well, Lulu couldn't stop talking about how excited she was to meet Grandma. Finally, they met and it was love it first sight! They simply cannot be separated.

Sayonara to Another Tooth

Cavan has had this tooth dangling in his mouth for the last couple of weeks. FINALLY, he decided that thing was coming out! He had Grandma prepare the ice pack and started yanking away. The Tooth Fairy left him three bucks. Cheap fairy!

The Colonel

Amazing Big Brother!

Cavan has already been such a great big brother to Lulu. Mama, Grandma, Lulu, and I picked him up from Oasis and got home as quickly as we could, so he could hold her for the first time. He sat with her for almost an hour just looking at and talking to her. He's so kind and sensitive. Lulu is lucky to have such an amazing big brother. The A.B.B.!