On August 13th Alex and I went to the beach at Pageant Park with Johnny and Dylan. Alex really loves her Uncle Johnny … he is really good at calming her down and she is actually able to fall asleep when he is carrying her around. And Johnny has been such a big help for me and has enabled me to have some time to myself.
Monday August 12th was Alex’s 2 month birthday - it was a fairly uneventful day in Vermont … Mom went to work and Johnny and Dylan went shopping after dropping Marc off at the train station (he went back to Philly before I did). Alex slept most of the day (I guess she was worn out from slepping through her baptism the day before 
Dylan carried Alex around for the first time on this day.
Yesterday was Grandma in Vermonts birthday. Happy Birthday!!!!
Alexandra is 11 weeks old today - and she decided to celebrate with sleep. Last night she slept 9:30pm - 5:30am, woke up to eat and went back to sleep until 7am, and then went back to sleep from 8am - 10:30am - wow!!! I’m never quite sure what to do when she sleeps so long - this morning I decided to indulge myself and read.
Since her two month birthday on the 12th, Alex has shown a lot more interest in the world around her and in her toys. I already mentioned her mirror, which she loves and she also likes rattles, stuffed animals, and books - I’ve even entertained her with one of Dylan’s guitar catalogs. And recently she has started to really like her mobile - she likes the music (Twinkle, Twinkle) and tracks the bears as they spin by. Yesterday afternoon I put her in her crib for a minute to get a couple of things done and started her mobile - when I went back to get her she was fast asleep!!! I was amazed because she hates sleeping on her back and she usually only falls asleep by nursing. Her nap wasn’t for very long but I was so excited - it’s a step forward everytime that she can fall asleep on her own.
She is also developing her motor skills - she is really good at holding her head high while resting on her forearms and at pushing out her legs and scooting forward. When we hold her she also loves to be held in a standing position - it’s like she wants to be off somewhere but just can’t quite do it yet
Alexandra at 11 weeks old.
Alexandra’s baptism was wonderful … the weather was perfect, she slept through the entire service even when the water was poured on her head, she looked adorable in her baptism outfit (the same one I wore 34 years ago), and the gospel reading was the one about Jesus walking on water. Plus Mom and Johnny make great godparents and Dylan took great pictures. She was baptized at St. Pauls in Barton Vermont - the same church where my grandparents were married in 1933. And August 11th is the feast day for St. Clare (my confirmation saint) and St. Philomena.
After the service we went out to eat at Eastside in Newport - Alex got a little fussy but Johnny walked around with her outside by the lake and she fell asleep and she slept in her sling while we all ate.
She also had her second bath in the sink and this time she really enjoyed it - she has liked her bath ever since 
Talking to Daddy before the ceremony
Kim, Alexandra, and Marc
Baptism
Alexandra and her godparents
On Saturday August 10th my cousin Karen, her husband Peter, and their two boys, Kenny and Eli came to visit in Vermont and we all went to the beach at Pageant Park. It was a perfect day - not too hot and not too cold. Alexandra slept most of the time but when she was awake Marc dipped her toes in the water. It was great to see Karen - the last time that I saw her was at the wedding and I hadn’t seen her kids for 3 years!!! Here are some pictures from that day - it was so much fun …
Dipping my toes in the water
Dylan, Johnny, Mom, Kim, Alexandra and Marc
Sleeping at the beach - where are my feet?
Friday August 9th was a nice, relaxing day in Vermont. The weather was great and we hung out outside - it was great for Alex to be able to be outside and play in the grass.
Alexandra and Uncle Johnny
Uncle Dylan watches over Alexandra while she sleeps
And Alexandra had her first bath in the sink. Here’s a picture …
On Thursday August 8th Marc, Alex and I rode Amtrak to White River Jct. Vermont to visit with my family. The train ride was great - the train was quiet and empty and Alex was SO good. She was, however, held all day so that may have contributed to her behaviour The train ride was 9 hours long. When Alex wasn’t eating Marc held her which gave me a chance to rest and read.
Mom picked us up and we then needed to drive 1.5 hours to get to the house. After being held all day Alex did not want to be in the carseat - she cried so hard - we made two stops to calm her down but ultimately nothing would work and we had to drive the rest of the way home with her crying. I felt so bad for her (and my Mom who was driving). I felt better the next day when I talked to my cousin Karen and she said both of her boys were the same and hated the carseat. And Alex never rides in one since we don’t have a car - it is just a very occasional thing. Over the course of the week, however, she did get more used to it and we had her new mirror toy to amuse her while in the car.
I have added more photos from our trip to Vermont on August 2002.
Alexandra is 10 weeks old today … I can’t believe it. The weather is a lot nicer so we are going to go meet Marc this afternoon in Center City.