Miles of Smiles

Post-Christmas Visit to Mississippi Campbells

2012-02-03T11:27:00.004-05:00

Troy has been growing up way too fast recently (as children usually do, we are told). Recently, he so desperately wants to be involved in a conversation that if he can't think of anything to say he will fake cough twice and then say "bless you," to which he expects you to respond, "bless you Troy." As with all conversations with Troy, if you do not acknowledge the word he has chosen to say he will repeat it until you do, and Troy is very, very patient in these matters. His favorite words to repeat are: a.) prayer; b.) Amen; and c.) bless you. What a righteous son we have! Sometimes over supper we have said four or five prayers just to satisfy our child's need to bless the food. I mean...come on...we're eating vegetables -- it only needs to be blessed once, right? Nope. Not in our casa.

We will have to do a new blog post soon about Troy's new favorite games, but this is probably one of them. We'll call it "Cape" because it has no other name and because what you do is put on a cape and pretend you are flying. How about that for originality.

January 11th through the 16th we decided to visit the Mississippi Campbells, despite Troy and Dad each being independently sick (Troy with Croop; Dad with a Virus). Both were medicated and everything was supposed to be peachy. But then Troy kind of got worse and Dad experienced a series of unfortunate events that left him out of commission for almost the entire vacation, mostly quarantined in the bedroom. (As such, most of these pictures were taken by Cristy, and unfortunately we didn't do much because of aforementioned sicknesses.)

As evidence of said sickness, please see exhibit A, Troy's unusually slender belly (for him it was slender -- really).

One of the first things we saw in Mississippi (and Nathaniel's favorite part of the vacation) was Jack's awesome display of Jedi mastery in the lightsaber. We have two videos of this, but sadly the videos are too large to post online :( We have a new camera and we didn't lower the quality of the video enough :( But take Nathaniel's word for it -- some of Jack's move will be written in the archives of the Jedi Masters forever. That's the truth. You should see his roll attack!

Kevi was a quite observer for most of the vacation (symptom of three older siblings?) but boy does that boy love to climb around in the kitchen.

The weather was nice and though we didn't get out too much it was fun to watch the kids play in the backyard.

Cheerio Necklace for the Green Giant!

Sadie is all the fashion these days :) Take tips Cristy :)

We never thought a person could do 100 cartwheels without having some sort of negative physiological reaction. We were wrong. This was probably Maddie's 39th out of over 100 cartwheels, exactly 100 of which she did in a row. IMPRESSIVE! Look at that form.

Going for a walk to deliver food whilst Nathaniel sleeps. Again.

We were entertained by no less than 4 acrobatic shows over a two day period. Pretty good stuff here. Cirque du Soleil quality really. Maybe even Vegas -- who knows. But remember you read it here first.

No matter what Aunt Cristy tries to do, she is physically and emotionally incapable of bringing/buying gifts for family on vacation. There are far worse traits :) Enjoy the video camera girls! Enjoy the bow and arrows Jack!

Maddie says, "what WHAT?!?"

Moreira Christmas in Cincinnati 2011

2012-01-19T09:45:00.005-05:00

After our Christmas with the Alexandria and Burke Moreiras, we left town and headed West to Cincinnati for Christmas 2011 Part Deuce. The trip was quite eventful, and rain and WV roads delayed the Moreiras one night in a hotel. The trip was worth the wait, however, because when Cristy, Nathaniel, and Troy finally arrived little Hallie had a very fun present for Cristy: an early sonogram at a Pregnancy Spa! Cristy and Nathaniel were able to find out a whole month early that they are having a little boy and were happy to receive the best Christmas gift ever.

Little Hallie and Troy didn't waste any time patching up their old relationship.

Cheese :)

Hallie says, "Uncle Nathaniel, why are you standing on the bed?"

Troy showed Hallie his favorite bed game, which involves flinging yourself face-first onto the bed, then pointing to your friend and having him or her do it next. It's a winner. Look how happy he is!

Christmas morning couldn't come soon enough and the adults probably had more fun stocking the tree than the kids had opening the presents.

Hallie got a new bag as her stocking and lots of cool stuff inside from Santa.

Troy says, "Matthew McConaughey doesn't wear shirts, why should I? Also...school buses are cool. That's how I roll."

It took Mama Bear a year and a half to finish the Moreira stockings, but we love them! Good work Cristy! Now if they were only a little deeper...

Kodak moment!

Lego Truck! Awesome.

Bag o' Legos. Also awesome.

Grant got some baby clothes for his to-be son and also lots and lots of rounds of golf.

In her mind, Liz is thinking, "This Kindle Fire is mine, not yours Grant."

Enough said.

Hallie got several pairs of Princess shoes, which were adorable on her little feet. But the best parts of the morning were seeing the looks on Hallie's face as she opened up the gifts.

M. For mysterious.

Yay for learning DVDs and getting smart!

Thanks Liz for Grant getting these psycho gloves. He will put them to good use.

That boy sure does love him some books.

On the outside, this face says, "socks? really?" But on the inside, Nathaniel was thinking, "man I sure did need some new black socks :)"

Pop up tents! Yeah.

Troy says, "this dog is not real. Or maybe he swallowed a slinky or something."

Troy discovered Elmo on this trip. And our lives will never be the same again.

Christmas dinner was very yummy. It was made even better by the expert trimming of the Master Chef, Uncle Gunk.

And we had more fixins' than man could eat!

Liz literally made a new dessert every day, so that by the end there was more than any of us could eat. Oh the shame.

Enjoy our video of Christmas morning!

Christmas with the Alexandria and Burke Moreiras 2011

2012-01-06T14:14:00.003-05:00

As I think is true with most parents, Cristy and Nathaniel are fascinated with their children -- Troy and B-2000. (Note: B-2000 is short for Boy Model 2000, which will be his name until we can come up with something better. And no Polly Scott, we will not be calling him "Ed." Sorry.) Almost all of our pictures have Troy in them, and he is an amazing little boy. Following are some of his fun new quirks.

Looking at someone upside down is a perspective that Troy finds very humorous. Also humorous: sitting on Dad's head as he gets a close-up.

It can't be said enough -- Troy loves crackers. Salty, sweet, bitter -- it doesn't matter. He loves them all. Sadly, we decided as long as he was going to be eating crackers all of the time, we were going to remove this one from his diet. (Yes, we do realize that an Oreo is technically a cookie, but Troy doesn't so shut your cookie hole.)

Cristy is very frugal. I imagine she takes after her mother in this way. Part of being frugal means keeping certain items for an obscene amount of time after their usefulness has expired (please note the date of this map). Solution? Take a picture and scrapbook it. Who discovered this solution? Frugal Cristy :)

One day at work Nathaniel noticed one of his co-workers had done a photoshoot with her daughter that involved tangled Christmas lights. Inspired, Nathaniel set to work!

BAM! Eat your heart out fat-cheeked Gerber baby. You ain't got nothing on Troy-Boy Who.

This year we were more conservative with our Christmas lights and only set-up about half. Sadly, this is the only surviving picture :( But we did have the honor of entertaining the local Decorations Expert, Sue-Mom Extraordinaire. Thanks for the help Sue!

Troy loves to wear his parents clothes. Nathaniel prefers when it is Dad's clothes, but does not always win this battle. (Sun Tzu says: "he who is prudent and lies in wait for an enemy who is not, will be victorious."

Old Virginia Baby. That's how we roll.

This year for Christmas we decided to visit Grant, Liz, and Hallie Campbell is Cincinnati, Ohio. Because of this we decided to have Christmas locally beforehand, and that involved opening presents in Virginia early! Woot woot!

We celebrated with a yummy lasagna dinner at Sue's house, lots of music and good desserts, and of course good family.

As the only grandchild on all sides of this family, Troy was quite the center of attention. He wasn't real sure about this present thing at first...

...but then he got the hang of it and wanted to open up everyone's presents.

Full disclosure: Nathaniel cannot remember who gave Troy what gift because toys and books were flying everywhere. So...we are going to start throwing out a bunch of "thank yous" indiscriminately and hope we don't upset anyone too much. With that said...

Thanks for this book Abuela :)

Abuelo ran out of wrapping paper (or so we were led to believe) and so decided to wrap one of Troy's gifts in the traditional way. Troy didn't seem to mind though and all of the adults got a good laugh out of it.

Thank you Abuelo for my Mr. Potato Head!

Thank you Grammy for my sweater! Don't I look like a Beltway Baby.

What did Cristy get from Vanessa? A baby ice cream maker?!? Who knew? What will they come up with next.

Like almost every toddler, Troy loves Bubbles. Vanessa loves blowing bubbles at Troy. Like many talking toddlers, Troy associates people by his favorite things, words, animals, etc. So Vanessa is now "Bubbles." Thank you Bubbles!

Was our description off? Well here is a little clip to let you know what Christmas 2011 Part 1 was like for the Moreiras.

Next up: Christmas in Ohio 2011

Christmas Family Photoshoot 2011

2011-12-13T10:08:00.002-05:00

In preparation for the holidays, Cristy and Nathaniel decided to have a fun family photoshoot (courtesy of Susan Moreira, Inc.) for their family Christmas card. It was a little cold but a lot of fun, as Moreira photoshoots always are!

Troy, the Mad Bomber

Dad, the Razzy Reindeer

Mom, Mrs. Claus-in-Training

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-12-08T16:13:00.003-05:00

For a little break in tradition we had Thanksgiving dinner at Nathaniel's mother's house in Alexandria this year. The food was made prepared via "assigned potluck" and there was PLENTY!

Troy was pretty happy that there were multiple form of cracker on hand.

Nathaniel was delighted to partake of his step-mother's famous coconut pecan brown sugar sweet potatoes. Yummy in his tummy.

Cheese!

Vanessa made the turkey this year, and is was marvelous again. She is now 2/2 and 1/1 on being an incredible host. On top of much food and drink, all guests were supplied with copious holiday music, pool downstairs, and Ghirardelli chocolate :)

Many of us went back for multiple plates because we had to try everything at least once!

What do I spy with my little eye? Grandma Campbell's Famous Rolls! Delicious!

One of Vanessa's work friends at the Patent Office also had a little boy named Aiden that attended. Troy, wanting to be a big boy and do everything that Aiden did, went right over to Aiden's mom and chomped onto her GRANOLA BAR!!!!! HE LOVED IT!!!! We are so proud of Troy for branching out and trying new foods. (Note: he remains a textbook "Sensory Food Aversion" eater and tries two new foods a month.)

A few days later we went over to Nathaniel's step-mother's house in Burke and helped her put up her Christmas tree. It was a lot of fun, and besides having dinner with her -- we <3 you Chinese takeout -- Troy spent some time adapting to her dog Hallie (who he will not stop talking about) we also snagged a few family pics.

You have to give it to Troy -- he's thinking with his noggin'!

Our eating issues continue, but Troy is becoming more and more comfortable eating with his hands and face (and hair, and ears, and...) messy, and that's good news.

In this picture, we believe Troy was saying, "What...you want to get punched in the face!?!"

Troy says, "that's it Dad. You mess with Troy, you messin' with the BEST!" **Jab to the Nose**

Next Up: Family Christmas Photo Shoot!

Fall in Northern Virginia

2011-12-06T13:44:00.003-05:00

Fall is a very pretty time in Northern Virginia. Below are some pictures that my mom took recently while walking her dog Hallie around a local lake.

PS We are now accepting visitors for Fall 2012 :)

Next Up: Thanksgiving 2011

Halloween 2011

2011-11-14T15:46:00.002-05:00

Our Ward Halloween Party is one of our family's favorite events of the year. We look forward to not only seeing all the creative costumes and seeing the bright smiles of the parents as their kids show off, but also the chili cook-off competition and the trunk-or-treating at the end.

Troy was so happy that he was actually bored with happiness. He told his dad, "I'm just gonna stand in this box until something better happens to me."

Unfortunately, this year we didn't get a lot of pictures. Maybe if we told you that Cristy was a bear, dad was a pig, and Troy was a giraffe you could guess our oh-so-clever costume idea?

Xander Taylor: Dragon
Amanda Taylor: Mouse
Nate Taylor: Patent Examiner

Scott Family: Dumbo and two circus performers.

Larson Family: the "Incredibles" baby and Edna Mode (thank you Google).

Clemans Family: A Fairy Princess and a Nerd.

The little Bullock baby was an octopus. HOW cute!

Next Up: Thanksgiving!!!

VMI 5 Year College Reunion

2011-11-03T12:47:00.002-04:00

On October 21-22 the Moreira family traveled three hours south to attend Nathaniel's five-year college reunion. Everyone had a really great time and it was great to catch up with the nearly half of the class that returned from across the country.

They couldn't stay the whole time though because they had to hustle back for Nathaniel's ten-year high school reunion!!!

Nathaniel really enjoyed his department (English & Fine Arts) and made friends with several teachers during his time there. One of them, Penny Ticen, met us for lunch and a tour of the newly renovated campus. A lot had changed!Troy seemed to enjoy himself and was always taking in the new sights. He was particularly interested in the Saturday morning Alumni Parade.
And the band! Go Tubas!
VMI Alumni are proud of their heritage but not so fond of marching, as the picture illustrates. As one of Nathaniel's good friends put it on Facebook, "going to watch a parade on Saturday because I forgot what it was like to march in 1,000 of them as a Cadet.

(Note: if you look in the center of this picture you can see Troy sitting on Dad's shoulders.)
After the parade we all walked into the courtyard of "Old Barracks" for "Old Yells" for the participating Alumni classes. Much like Computer Science, Engineering, and Mormons, the VMI community has it's own microcosm of language and jargon that must truly be lived to believed or understood.
The Best Class in Barracks!
There are a hundred little things about this school that you are forced to memorize as a young "rat", and a million more you learn as you continue on as a Cadet. This picture alone brings back dozens of memories regarding the administration, architecture, statues, and of course fun, painful, and all together momentous remembrances shared with good friends and Brother Rats.

Enjoy this video, which may seem odd to everyone, but is filled with rich traditions and many proud alumni.

Nathaniel was so happy to share these two days with his family. Nathaniel is also proud to be from the first and only university to send its entire student body to fight in combat, and that continues to send its brothers and sisters into combat today. No less than a half dozen of the class of 2006 have already died on the field of honor, with many more having been injured, and we are all very grateful for their sacrifice, as well as the sacrifice of those that are currently serving (that is, the other half of our graduating class that was not able to attend our reunion).

The following quote was read at the commencement ceremony of the class of 2003:

"Cadets remain stronger and more aggressive than their male counterparts at civilian schools. They eagerly play sports such as rugby, boxing, karate, lacrosse, and football. They drive fast cars or big trucks. They play hard. They drink hard. They are physical, often abusive among each other. They are not trying to prove their manhood: they are celebrating their masculinity. They are competitive, often vulgar, and tough, and every citizen who may someday send a friend or relative into war should rejoice, because combat is competitive, vulgar, and tough, and they will be leading men in combat."

This post is dedicated to us, the Virginia Military Institute, and all of our soldiers who defend our freedoms. Rah Virginia Mil.

The National Portrait Gallery and Grandmas

2011-10-25T10:48:00.002-04:00

Cristy and Nathaniel have wanted to go to the National Portrait Gallery for several years, and in September finally found the time to do so. The Gallery has literally thousands of portraits of American historical figures, and we found many neat pictures. Instead of boring you with those, we also snapped some cool artsy shots which are more aesthetically pleasing.

Troy preferred this high vantage point to the stroller.

The Preamble, with plates from almost every state.

Each "state" was filled with television featuring short videos depicting images and movies from that region. They repeated and it was pretty neat.
One of Troy's favorite past times is to act exactly like his parents, and this involves putting on oven mitts in the kitchen (and sometimes outside as well).
But Troy has always taken to "reading" and will do so by himself for long periods all by himself, though he much prefers story time with Mom or Dad. He even likes books with words and few pictures, including Hymnals.
Troy continues to look nothing like his father :( and very much like his mother :)
How do you get your pillows to fluff like that?
Troy just loves being with him parents, even if that means sitting on their heads during back-rubs. No pain, no gain.

On October 1st Nathaniel's Uncle Randy got married in Knoxville, TN, and we made the long haul down there by car. Troy fussed for a total of 10 minutes the whole 16 hour round trip, and both times immediately following naps. What a champ.

We got to spend a lot of time with family, including some pool time the morning of the wedding ceremony.

Nathaniel's Uncle Patrick is only three and a half years older than him and has two kids, the oldest only a few months older than Troy (Brendan). Because Patrick and Troy were flying solo over the weekend, Grandma and Aunt Sarah were quick to lend a helping hand.

Troy says, "Dad...is this how I do it? Just like mama?"

Question: which young man is more focused on the task at hand?

Troy says, "Dad, I always see you put on these shoes like this. Then you walk around. I like it, so I am going to do it too. This is how it works, right?"

PS: How adorable are those eyes?

A week later for Cristy and Vanessa's birthdays we decided to play minigolf. It was a lot of fun and the holes were challenging. Even though Vanessa did not want to keep score, Robbie (Nathaniel's Mom) is a little too competitive for that, and Nathaniel is only a smidge step behind. So they had a 9-hole showdown. Who would emerge the victor?

Nice line on 4 Mom. Too bad there is a giddup' in your swing and you bogeyed the hole, losing the lead :( Who won? Well, it is a gentleman's game, and the winner should never brag ;)

We had a lot of fun and Troy enjoyed throwing, kicking, and chasing the golf balls, and once even putting a hole in one (legit).

Troy: "Sometimes Mom and Dad, I just like to do my own thing. I'm growing up, and becoming my own little man. But don't worry -- it's only one step at a time."

Next Up: Rah Virginia Mil

Peach Picking

2011-09-14T16:19:00.002-04:00

The first weekend in September we went with some friends to pick fruit at an orchard in Maryland that we had not been to before but had good reviews. We had such a good time!

Troy loved to walk around in the grass and helping us unpack our fruit.
And he also loved picking the high fruit up in te trees.
The Riches (Jamison, Katie, and Des) had a good time as well. Gotta taste it before you buy it right?
And the Trujillos. Good find guys!

No Troy -- it's on your left side.
We tried picking rasberries too, but they weren't as good :( We settled for a cute picture of all the kids + Cristy.
Our little boy was whupped pretty bad and slept the whole way home, then some more in his crib.
No we did not move this sign to take this picture in front of a tractor. That would be scrupulous.

Thanks for reading! Until next time!

Triathlon

2011-09-04T12:42:00.014-04:00

Awhile back, Cristy and Nathaniel purchased a voucher to go to a shooting range at a discounted rate. We received shooting instruction for handguns and some ammunition. At about '15 feet Nathaniel showed that target what would happen to him/her if they showed up at our place unannounced and after not heading our wishes not to advance themselves into our bedroom.
August 12-14th the Moreiras, Millers, Bees, and Taylors all took a vacation to Luray, VA, for some fun times and to participate in a Olympic distance Triathlon Relay. The little toddlers (plus Micah baby) all "needed" a bath, so the Moms took care of that.
Nathaniel prepares to run the ~6 miles...
The swim (thank you Hyrum Miller, swim champion of the world) was 1500 meters. The bike event was next (~25 miles, thank you Nate Taylor, the most tenacious biker ever), followed by the run (no thanks to Nathaniel, who is fat).
The toddlers cheered like only toddlers can :) -- SQUIRREL!
Please note that the ambulance behind did not transport Nathaniel, but instead was merely an unfortunate back-drop to the picture in question.
Nathaniel would like to think that Troy was thinking, "Dad, you are awesome," judging by the look on his face, but he was probably staring at a plane or something.
Days later, Troy hugged his Dad for finally allowing him to have the controller in his hand.
Troy then went on a hugging frenzy.
We love our son for many reasons, one of which is his unflinching ability to unfold clothes. What a little helper :)
He also helps us in Cristy's Cucumber garden (what a great Mom she is!)
Very recently Troy has learned (again, thanks to Mom) to feed himself, though he only does so after much persuading.
Yo.

Troy feeding himself!

Sadly, it was not Nathaniel, but Cristy who would teach Troy how to use the nerf gun. Alas.

Next Up: Peach Picking!

Campbell Family Reunion July 22nd - August 2nd 2011

2011-08-24T14:39:00.007-04:00

Troy is so smart -- he likes to think outside of the box.

In the middle of July the Ohio Campbells came to visit and we all went to the National Zoo. No one could see anything except Hallie.

There were lots of pretty lion cubs, although they are not so little anymore.

This bear was petrified with fear when the ferocious Hallie and Troy attempted to mount her.

Grant was too tuckered out after the long drive down, not much sleep, and a long morning in the son. So he took a nap in the living room while everyone else played with toys.

Near the end of July Cristy flew to Idaho to surprise her sister for her 30th birthday as well as to attend the Campbell Family Reunion.

George Poteet -- he also thinks outside the box.

They did lots of fun things before the road trip to Oregon, including attending a baby shower.

Thanks Uncle Alex. You are a great ball-roller.

Troy knows. Just listen.

Cousins!

Here Darren demonstrates his best moves from Bourbon street.

Who won the game? We'll never know.

Cristy also visited some friends.
Soon the time came to start the road trip to Oregon.
Safety First!
But, alas, the Poteets and Moreiras stopped at a beach to defrag a little bit.
And it was windy!

Hopefully Mandy will invite us back to her home after we publish this picture of her on the Internet.

Apparently this is the beach that the movie The Goonies was filmed at. Nice.
Poteet 4 Life.

Troy says, "Get out of the frame Mandy or I'll take care of you like I took care of Dad."
Troy did so love the sand. We can't wait to take him to another beach!
Georgey and Grayam were such big helpers! Thanks guys!

Stonehenge Replica. Duh.

Celtics? Ninjas? What's the difference.

The group was pretty sure that Stonehenge was actually a place where families gathered for scenic cave wall paintings, as demonstrated above and below. Those ninjas -- they know how to build 'em.

At the reunion each family had a talent. The Hayden Campbells are awesome at circus performances. (We all know Tom is a great contortionist, as demonstrated by his (in)ability to wrestle George and Nathaniel on multiple occasions.)

Hip hip hooray! Check is in the mail bud :)

Other Campbells were great thespians.

Back at home in CDA Grayam wanted to show off his talents -- one of which apparently is mimicry (in this case, Georgey).

Cristy visited one last friend before heading back to home to her excited husband. What a great way to end a tremendous trip!

Fourth of July in Cincy

2011-07-31T20:02:00.006-04:00

The Ohio Campbells and Moreiras did some last minute planning and decided to congregate in Cincy for the Fourth of July Holiday this year. We all had a lot of fun and it was great for the adults to take turns taking naps throughout the weekend.

Saturday morning we went to a local water park and had all kinds of splashing fun. You can't tell, but Hallie did in fact have a good time.

Troy was excited to realize that water comes in more cool forms that from the bathroom and from the sippy cup.

Thank goodness it isn't Christmas yet.

Hallie pretending that looking not impressed is "the new cool."

Grant taught Nathaniel that a determined parents can do anything they put their mind to :)

Best Smile of 2011 Award(s)

Kisses!!!!!

Hallie says, "...please help me..."

What a ham.

Wonder where he gets it ? :)

Toddler baby time!

We also went to a parade, though we only got pictures of the kids.

We're pointing at...something good...

Troy getting up the attention to touch a dog.

Dad felt like one cool guy after he snagged this super cool water bottle for Troy.

Thanks to Grant, Troy started to feed people food...

...and he even started licking chips :)

Families are Forever!

Back home, Troy, likes his Dad, watched the Women's World Cup. Go USA!

Next up: Campbell Family Reunion

Random May-June 2011 Pics

2011-07-21T15:30:00.002-04:00

Haircuts, Funny Faces, the Zoo, and Troy's First Carousel!

Troy says, "You touch me again with those scissors and I will cut you down like the super soaker 2000 back in the day."

"Troy says, "Problem Child III, starring ME!"

Nathaniel says [in reference to family pictures], "Brady, is this what you meant by "Cool Dad"? Ohhhhhh...I was doing it wrong. I got it now."

Troy says, "Maybe if I look away for long enough people will think we're not related."

The National Zoo in D.C. has all kinds of cool stuff, including female lion cubs. They, too, bicker among themselves.

In the spirit of "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" (August 5th) comes "I'm a Lion and I'm just Chillin' on this Tree"

This Tiger reminds me of Samuel L. Jackson -- he always looks like like one bad dude.

The baby ape was awesome.

Momma says, "If there wasn't a 15 ft. wall here we'd be gone."

True Story: Elephants are awesome. They use their trunks for all kinds of cool stuff, like shoveling dirt and throwing food in their mouth. Wouldn't that be cool if I threw cheetos in my mouth from 5 feet away?

Pandas. They're big.

I'm not sure if you can tell, but Troy is holding on for dear life and his hands turned white. Happy Birthday Bud!

You're a man now.

Sort of...

Birthday Cakes and Madame Tussauds Wax Museum

2011-07-10T09:59:00.003-04:00

We didn't get a lot of birthday pictures for Troy's #1 or Nathaniel#28 because we were so busy setting up and cooking burgers. We did get one video that we can post later of Troy trying his first cake (that is, first cake icing).

We did manage to get a bunch of shots of the cool-looking cakes afterwards.

In case you didn't know, this cake is a Bontrager front wheel rim. It has a low spoke count and probably a carbon fiber hub. I imagine it to be the race light series. Good job wife!

The cupcakes also had bikes on them. Yesssssssssss....

And for those of you who fancy the tricycle, we had a few of those too :)

The week prior we went to Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in Washington D.C. It was smaller than we expected but still action packed. And by action packed we mean not boring because we were really just observing hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of wax statues.

This first one is former D.C. mayor Marion Barry.

Who knows!

Cristy and Troy and President Washington crossing the Potomac.

A close up of Thomas Jefferson's face. If you look to carefully, he will bite your face off.

The worst President ever, Andrew Jackson.

Cristy trying to warn Honest Abe of something...

Nathaniel saddened that Virginia's own Robert E. Lee couldn't have use sounder judgement.

Look Teddy -- lunch! Wait...is that a bald Eagle?

Presidents...you don't have to be very tall...

Troy and Nathaniel were checking down the line during WWII. One of them is doing better then the other...

Head of the CIA Hoover doesn't let anyone slip under his radar. Anyone.

Cristy has a dream also. But then she forgot it.

Malcolm X. He was too angry so we did not get any pictures with him.

Girls got class.

Carter.

The most handsome boy in the world. And Hillary Clinton.

I'll show you hostage takeover! How do you like me NOW?

Troy says, "you guys...you guys...it's the President!"

Thank you Madame Tussaud for the wonderful wax museum.

Hey bud. I know your really rich and famous and a former professional wrestler and current movie star and everything...but you played football at the University of Miami...so take off that belt and show some self-respect!

Pretty woman...laying on the coach....pretty woman....

J-Lo -- your butt is bigger than your shoulders. Just thought you wanted to know.

Denzel Washington still looks mad that he didn't win Best Actor for his role in Hurricane. I'm sorry too bud.

The King of Pop lives on in Nathaniel. For real.

Ali does not look happy that he just got Rafiki punched in the jaw. Good job Cristy.

If only Tiger had not fired Nathaniel as his Caddy maybe his life would be a lot different right now. It's all downhill from here bud. (Get it...downhill?!?)

Oprah's secret last show.

Next Up: National Zoo

Moreira Boy's Birthday Bash

2011-06-06T12:40:00.002-04:00

As a birthday present from my Mom and Vanessa our family took a trip out to the National Baltimore Aquarium in Maryland. We had a great little day out there. Here are some of the exciting images from the day:

Giant Dragon Turtles bigger than Troy with webbed feet.

Did you know alligators sleep underwater with their eyes open (or is it a crocodile?)

A huge sea turtle -- even bigger than the giant sting ray! Apparently this is what the bay looks like in Maryland. (It's a replica.)
The vertebrae of a whale compared to that of a human. (Envy! Envy!)
One of the many ugly fish in the sea.
A giant blue whale skeleton
Another ugly (but huge) fish in the sea. Look at those lips!
Shell fish?
Of the penguin variety.
The red fish had a prosthetic eye -- really cool looking.
Why couldn't it be called a dog fish? Dogs have whiskers too...is it because dog is man's best friend?
Happy Birthday from the Jungle!

You can't tell from this picture, but those critters do an amazing job at blending in so they can getcha when you least expect it!
Blue frog.
Yellow frog. There was also a frog named "Venomous Ugly Death Frog" or something like that. Very creative :)
The poor sawtooth shark had some of his teeth busted off. Poor guy. (Note when you have a second google image "shark teeth" and tell me you don not want to get bit by one of those guys. Crazy!)

Don't forget the jelly fish! They are so cool looking way deep in the ocean (or in a pressurized tank).

Some of the other stuff we got to see were a video of a baby dolphin that was born earlier in the morning (way more cool looking than a human birth) and all the other big sharks.

Thanks for those who came with us and for the great birthday gift :)

White House 2011

2011-04-25T13:04:00.002-04:00

These pictures go with our last post -- I just hadn't pulled them off of my phone yet. Enjoy!

Forrest Gump put it best when he said, "And wouldn't you know it. A few months later, they invited me ... to visit the White House. So I went... again. And I met the president of the United States again." That is pretty much what happened with the Moreira and Taylor families.

Except unlike last time, we got to take pictures outside the front entrance!

As we walked away, we saw Secret Service agents (snipers) repositioning themselves on the roof
so hopefully we weren't doing anything we weren't supposed to!

We later learned that the White House has around 40 bathrooms and is 6 floors! It has a movie theater, basketball court, and bowling alley. among other things.

Cherry Blossom Parade 2011

2011-04-14T13:10:00.004-04:00

This year the cherry blossoms came in a bit different because of all of the cold and rain so late in the year. Nonetheless, we were determined to make the journey into D.C., fight the crowds, and get some good pictures and exercise!

Our best investment ever (and by "our" I mean our grandparents) No, I don't hate my Dad for trying to take back his tie. I pity the fool, and I will destroy any man who tries to take what I got! You know what Spring means, right? UPSKIRT TREE PHOTOS!

Look how cultured we are...Tao and American all in the same location. The Taylors came along with us too, which was exciting for them because they had never been to the festival before. Remember that scene in Superman I? This is not it.

Man can that boy laugh!

Next up: White House Tour and...

Experts: Low-Risk Breach Has High Stakes

2011-04-05T13:29:00.002-04:00

----- The New York Times reports that privacy experts say a large-scale data breach at e-mail marketer Epsilon has put millions at greater risk of being scammed through phishing attempts. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/05/business/05hack.html?_r=1&src=busln ----- The bottom line is that this: no company, organization, bank, etc. that you do business with will call you and ask for password, account, or other user information. If you get a call or e-mail from someone asking for this information, never give that information. If you suspect that the call or e-mail is semi-legitimate, hang-up and call back the institution yourself with contact information you find from a valid source. Remember: 1/3 of Americans will become victims of identity theft in their lifetime!!! And the numbers go up every year...

January - March 2011

2011-04-04T13:12:00.004-04:00

Here is a quick recap of everything not included in the pictures: 1.) our family was sick for all of January with several different ailments, including family pink eye, and 2.) we went to the Temple for the first time since Troy was born and had someone babysit in the visitor's center for us.

Onto the pictures --

Troy seems to learn best (worst?) from his friends these days. Too bad Addie recently moved away :( Troy has become increasingly agile. He now likes to roll "one-handed" (not pictured).

Mom is serious when she says "NO ONE in the kitchen."

...some are more distressed than others about the kitchen restrictions...

Best pals share everything together. EVERYTHING.

Cristy and Nathaniel bought discounted tickets to the Newseum and the family took a trip there one Saturday. Here are several slabs of the Berlin Wall...

...the other side of the wall was quite progressive.

The recovered antenna tower on top of the World Trade Center tower. This was a very emotional exhibit.

A visual depiction of which parts of the world have freedom of the press (green is free, yellow is restricted, and red is none).

A touching memorial to fallen journalists around the world...

...there are quite a few more names than we expected.

Our boy is getting clever and sneaky.

...as is Mama Bear. Those little orange chunks are ground carrots, which she neglected to tell Nathaniel until he had already admitted to liking the sweet potatoes.

On this day Troy learned how to swallow food from a spoon. His parents were so happy!

"Thanks Abuelo for helping me with my pants," says Troy. "Your badge tastes really good too."

Troy says, "This vibrating toothbrush is pretty cool Mom. But what does it taste like?"

We (read: Cristy) decided that Troy needed a haircut. This is his story.

"Mom! What did you do to my head?!? I want to be your baby boy forever, not look like a little toddler already."

All that cutting for this little hair!

Like all boys, Troy isn't very helpful with the chores at all.

It's all fun and games when Mom is around.

Work Smirk.

Laundry? That's what Dad does while Mom and Troy play.

Oh Hi Dad. I was just folding this laundry with Mom ;)

Troy and Dad actually play a lot too. Some of our favorite games are "Upside down Troy."

"Fingers in Your Face."

"I'm Gonna Getcha!" (Trademarked by Mom)

And Nathaniel's personal favorite, "Mi Casa Es Su Casa."

One thing Troy loves when Dad gets home from work is too eat his clothes, especially his accessories (e.g., belt, tie, rings, etc.) The more things he can get into his mouth at one time the better.

By the end of March Troy had four top teeth and two on the bottom. He uses those teeth to eat utensils and other non-perishable items. Sometimes, if we're lucky, he eats a half-cup of blended baby food.

Regardless, Troy's diet is intense enough that it fuels him for his rigorous workouts of the day, to include crawling, climbing, flinging, lurching, plopping, gnawing, screaming, shrieking, crying, and pull-ups.

"Watch this Dad," Troy says. "I'm gonna do zero again."

Next Up: A Video, the White House, and Cherry Blossoms.

CDA Christmas Part II

2011-02-17T12:55:00.007-05:00

After Christmas the Moreira clan had fun relaxing with kids and family, even though Troy was a bit feverish and Nathaniel had who knows what.

Troy continued to surprise his parents by climbing onto things. Getting down was another story.

"I'm totally going to eat that camera Dad. Watch..."

"...and this book..."

"...but this Truck is too big for my mouth. Instead I will just push it around -- how dumb. These people are so dumb." (Gibson: "...hair.......")

Wisdom from Grayam the Destroyer: "Building it up isn't half as cool as tearing it down."

We were also so happy to spend a night with the Brady/Lani Campbells and all of their cool gadgets and toys.

Some were more excited than others ;)

And some even cheated to get the upper-hand in a simple game of chase. Gotta love that Campbell competitiveness.

Which one is older again?

"Hey...dude with the camera...how about you get outaa my way before I pulverize you!"

Attempt 1 at Family Picture. Fail.

Attempt 2 at Family Picture. Partial success. Thanks George. You should have been in the back. Every child's face tells a different and unique story.

With Nathaniel back in Ol' Virginia, Cristy had fun with old friends in Idaho.
Naked babies make everyone happy. Even naked babies.
"WhoooOOH.........what?"
Wisdom from Nathaniel: "Grandma Sue...I'm pretty sure you should chose a new book."
"Girl time. Best for girls," says George.
"I don't care that I'm trapped because this toy is amazing."
"Hey...guys...where did George go?"
Grayam -- Full-Time Destroyer, Part-Time Dexterous Machine.

Next Up: Wrapping up the CDA Vacation.

Christmas Day in Idaho, 2010

2011-02-02T11:55:00.004-05:00

Nathaniel was so happy to see someone elses name pinned onto a stocking. Misery loves company!

Handsome menfolk! (Note: The Lakers lost! Yeah!)

Opening presents was very chaotic, as could be expected with so many kids. Cristy did her best to distribute the presents in a law-abiding way. Thank you Grandma Sue for our bean bag search toy thingy!
It is fun to watch kids get really excited about something!
No wonder Grandma Sue couldn't get any good pictures ;)
I'm fallen, and I can't get up...
Thanks to Matt for getting Sue Thomas Monson's biography. She liked it!
Brittany = wrapped gift. Dman = empty green box. Who is the family favorite?

George spent considerable amount of time explaining to Troy how he could make this gift better by giving him cooler clothes, a switch blade, and by painting black skulls on him. Thanks George.
The perfect gift for the newly engaged. It says, "we know you are too fat to just want enough food to fit into one pan, so we got you this really really big pan to make you happy."
If this is what 4 kids does to parents facial expressions then we're not interested.
Sadie is becoming such a good helper. Every time Nathaniel or Cristy turned around she was helping some baby with something. Thanks Sa!
A little basket time for the kids...
Troy says, "Get outta my barrel!"
Kevin says, "Squirrel!"
Gibson says, "I'm pooping -- leave me alone!"
Troy says, "I'm going to push you out of this bucket and steal your hat..."
...yeah...

"Let me see your face..."
"and your hairs..."
"...and your hat again -- I wasn't done with it yet."
Wii -- bringing fitness to new generations of gamers every day.
Some are more intense than others...
Sweet girls!

Damon: The Baby Whisperer

Next up: The rest of our CDA vacation!

Christmas 2010

2011-01-25T11:41:00.007-05:00

Christmas at the Burke Moreiras this year was a lot of fun because it was our first Christmas with a baby in the house for nearly two decades.

And Momma was so happy that Troy's first present was...his two bottom teeth! Good job son.

Grammy wanted Troy to open this present first, which he was very happy to do (with a little help from Mom).

(Cute M&M outfit, by the way, also provided by Grammy)

The Alphabet Train! This very advanced toy will keep Troy happy for many years to come while giving him lots of satisfaction and learning along the way. (Right now he is more into banging the blocks around).

"Fascinating" says Troy. "Look at this engineering."

Troy also got lots of clothes and this cute singing bunny from Vanessa.

"That's how I roll."

We were all so spoiled. Cristy got some frames she had been asking for, some clothes, and a massage, among other things.

My sister got a new iPod and a new weird face.

Cool bowling t-shirt Vanessa. You are a way better bowler than I am.

Some more of Troy's clothes...but where is Troy?

Pajamas (for motherly lounging)

Thanks for this cool toy Grammy. Let me show you how it works. I got this.

Next Up: Christmas in CDA

Mid-November to Mid-December 2010

2011-01-19T14:30:00.004-05:00

Mid-November through mid-December was a quite time for the Moreiras -- not a lot going on. Troy started crawling around. We had a few work Christmas parties, but not much else. Just lots of friends, family, and pictures!

Thanks for coming to visit me Grammy. This toy you bought is so cool.

What did I miss?

I caught you looking at me!

A couple times a year Jeff and Rachel come into town and visit, and we are always so happy to see them. Jason is getting so big and it was great to share our new treasure with them. Why don't children cooperate?
This is how I stand?
I love my Mama!
This picture should be evidence that Troy looks more like his Mama than his Dada. The smile...the eyes...
"This is how we do meatball subs in our crib" Troy says.
More Grammy! Yes!
The boys watchin' some TV with their remote controllers.

I love you too Abuelo...
...but I love your tie more!
Hey! Where's Ove? How did Rudolph get in here?
Before our Christmas break we wanted to go see Ice! How the Grinch Stole Christmas, which is a depiction of the classic story in a giant tent with ice sculptures. It was awesome.
We had to bundle up because it was only 9 degrees inside.
"He's a mean one....Mr. Grinch..."
Don't Cristy! He's got termites in his smile!
That's what it's all about, isn't it? That's what it's always been *about*. Gifts, gifts... gifts, gifts, gifts, gifts, gifts. "I want golf clubs. I want diamonds. I want a pony so I can ride it twice, get bored and sell it to make glue."
All right, you're a reindeer. Here's your motivation: Your name is Rudolph, you're a freak with a red nose, and no one likes you. Then, one day, Santa picks you and you save Christmas. No, forget that part. We'll improvise... just keep it kind of loosey-goosey. You HATE Christmas! You're gonna steal it.
And they'll feast, feast, feast, feast. They'll eat their Who-Pudding and rare Who-Roast Beast. But that's something I just cannot stand in the least. Oh, no. I'M SPEAKING IN RHYME!
Oh, no, the sleigh, the presents, they'll be destroyed! And I care! What is the deaaaal!
The Grinch: Who wants the gizzard? Drew Lou Who: I do. The Grinch: Too late. That'll be mine.
I'm glad he took our presents. You can't hurt Christmas, Mr. Mayor, because it isn't about the... the gifts or the contest or the fancy lights. That's what Cindy's been trying to tell everyone... and me. I don't need anything more for Christmas than this right here: my family.

Next Up: Christmas at the Burke Moreiras

Out of Order :(

2010-12-17T16:33:00.002-05:00

Oops...forgot to order the blog posts correctly.

Here is our latest blog, a little out of order.

Mid October - Halloween 2010

2010-12-08T11:12:00.004-05:00

We hear that lots of babies love food -- they can't wait to get their little lips around any bit of food, even the types they don't like. Troy is not one of those babies.

Troy likes to make gagging faces when anything thicker than milk is in his mouth. We have tried every trick we can imagine, but he is too smart for us. Different textures, food he has never seen, helping him feed himself, sweet / sour / salty -- nothing works!

But put a sock near him what a delicacy. Sigh.............

Oh the pain!

A classic case of deflection.

On a positive note, he does love his sippy cup. Water is all right too :)

We celebrated Cristy's birthday party over at our house with some homemade chicken noodle soup and other yummy potluck items.

This Halloween we were an American Indian family. Cristy made all of the costumes by hand and they turned out marvelous!!! Troy (aka Many Diapers)

We invited all our neighbors to the Halloween party. They had a great time. Thanks for coming Alamedas :)
And Howison / Colemans :)

A Drug Free Student. How witty!

Luke Skywalker and Hannah Montana. Nice.

Xander the dragon. Scary!

Many Diapers really missed spending time with his girlfriend Elena. They had some catching up to do.

Nathaniel tries to tell the boy he moves too fast, but he hasn't gotten the picture yet.

They were both too sleepy for any great shots, but it was good so see them together, and everyone else for that matter, all dressed up.

Next Up: Rally to Restore Sanity and / or Fear

Beginning of October - Cristy's Birthday

2010-11-12T13:56:00.003-05:00

Wow. We are only a month behind now! Isn't that incredible!

Good morning Harrison. How are you enjoying October conference? Harrison says, "It's excellent. Thanks for asking. Troy and I are enjoying it very much..."
...to which Troy replied, "you're breathing my air Harrison! Get off me!"
[In a Austrian accent] Harrison: "I will crush you."
So Dad had to save Troy from his first brawl, but otherwise was really grateful for the opportunity to watch General Conference and be spiritually refreshed.
Jeanine's pregnant, so she gets a pass on this one...
...but the Millers get NO PASS. No soup for you!
Recently Dad and Troy have had a really fun tradition of Sabbath Day Showers. Troy is really liking the water and his rubber duck toys.
To be fair, Troy likes everything (except big person food) so this isn't really much of a compliment for Dad.
Troy has also started sitting up a little bit. "Rolling over is for babies," Troy says. "Real toddlers just figure out walking and roll with it."
Hey Harrison. How did you get here...? Where are your parents?
Birthdays are Christmas are an adventure for the Alexandria Moreiras because we usually have three of each - one with family, one with friends, and one with each other (sometimes more). So following are pictures of Cristy's Burke Moreira/Wright family birthday party.
Troy says, "Thanx 4 this hat Grammy. It fits my dome piece real good."
We had an awesome picnic down by Teddy Roosevelt Island, followed by a walk around the island (it's about a mile).
Cristy turned 1.
Has Abuelo forgotten about blowouts and spit-up?
Out boy is so handsome. We love him.
Nathaniel says (or wanted to), "if you fail to blow out this candle you're really show your age Cristy."
"Abuela, please teach me how to be skinny."
The memorial on the island is small but fun. You should come and see it ;)

Next up: Feeding Troy solids and Halloween

Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear

2010-11-10T22:58:00.006-05:00

On 30 October, 2010, the Moreiras and some friends ventured into Washington D.C. for their first rally as a family. The Rally To Restore Sanity and/or Fear was hosted by Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert from Comedy Central. Its stated purpose was to provide a venue for attendees to be heard above what Stewart describes as the more vocal and extreme 15–20% of Americans who "control the conversation" of U.S. politics, the argument being that these extremes demonize each other and engage in counterproductive actions, with a return to sanity intended to promote reasoned discussion. The rally drew about 215,000 people, according to aerial photography analysis.

The day turned out to be very eventful, though we will spare you the minor details.

Cristy, Nathaniel, and Troy arrived in D.C. via metro and were not able to meet up with their friends. Apparently, when you have a big rally, cell phones don't work. Is it the lack of cell towers, or "the man" keeping us from launching a coordinated attack?

The family walked around for a little bit and then decided to split up. Cristy would walk around a little more, then return home via metro before the crowd hit the metro stops again. Nathaniel would walk around, take in the sights and posters, then head home later.

And there was A LOT of signs!

And security too!

It was a real pleasure to see some people came just for fun and to give their own initiatives face time, like these folks supporting our Space Program.

Nathaniel had worked in D.C. for 4 years and never seen such a group assemble. People were everywhere! Even the trees...

Many people wore costumes just for fun!

At one point Nathaniel climbed a giant wall by a museum and starting taking pictures, but then a very mean security guard threatened to call the police on everyone, so most of us got off the wall (the ones of us she could see!)

Horses. Just because.

The event ended with a really powerful speech by Jon Stewart, which Nathaniel recommends for anyone who considers themselves a moderate and/or independent voter. Actually, Nathaniel recommends this speech for anyone is isn't nonsensical, because it should make a lot of sense to most people.

HOWEVER, Nathaniel left before this speech to beat the crowd, knowing he was recording it at home. He took a very interesting route to get to his metro stop, going what would be considered "out of the way" by some, in order to beat the large crowds that would form shortly. And then...

...he found his wife, also in a very weird part of the Metro station.

Cristy did not look happy, in fact, maybe a little weepy. She told him a crazy story about how she was on an escalator that broke while she was riding it, then plummeted 3/4 of the way to the floor before its emergency brakes engaged.

Nathaniel will let Cristy write the story another day, but here is the news article as it was covered a few days later: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/31/AR2010103104563.html

Four people went to the hospital, but Cristy was unharmed! Because she was the last person on the escalator before it broke, she was not thrown into the dog pile of people at the bottom. Cristy ran back up the escalator when it stopped, and a helpful man grabbed the stroller and hauled that up after her. Troy slept through the whole event in his front carrier!

That Cristy and Nathaniel met again is a miracle -- neither of them should have been in the place they were when saw each other. Needless to say, Cristy was relieved to see Nathaniel, and he was very happy his family was safe and that he could take care of everyone now.

Troy, asleep again!

End of September Ohio Campbell Visit

2010-11-01T13:29:00.004-04:00

During the last week of October we got a visit from the Ohio Campbells. Everyone had a very good time.

Hallie Berry just loved Mr. Happy. Interestingly, most babies/toddlers do...
Troy took lots of notes from Hallie on how to walk and do other fun stuff too.
One day we went to the pool. Everyone had a good time, even Troy Boy.
But seriously, when you go out with "that guy," doesn't everybody have a good time?
Everyone give Liz a big "thank you," for keeping up the Ohio Campbell "weird face" tradition for family photos. Thanks Liz. Good thing Troy was asleep for that hyena impersonation.
Big time asleep.
We all took turns on the high-dive and we all took longer than expected making our first jump, including Cristy, who took around 2 minutes. A little boy was trying to motivate her to jump so he could start doing his flips.

What a precious family!
The next day we went to a beach in Maryland. The water was a little too cold, but we had a nice walk down the coast. Nathaniel was soon exhausted from all the excitement...
...but nothing can rejuvenate a parent like a folksy dance with Captain Adorable.
Everyone gave half-smiles because the boardwalk was scorching hot.
Who doesn't love swings? Probably the same people who don't get upset when their ice cream falls off their cone. We also went for a walk around a local park. We saw a lot of turtles in the pond and tried to get pictures, but none really came out, so we settled for these Jokers instead :)

After the weekend, Cristy continued home with the Ohio Campbells for a week in Cincy. Hey, by the way, have you ever read that book "Brave New World?"

Cristy helped Liz wrap up some projects around the house and plan a baby shower. They had such a good time getting to know each other better.
And
Taking
Pictures
Of
The
Kids
Apparently this is Grant's idea of showing Cristy a good time around the town. She's never going up there along again!

Cristy took this picture just for Nathaniel, who loves Kentucky basketball. The football shoulder straps just made it that much better.

Next Up: Surprise!!!

September 2010

2010-10-20T12:38:00.004-04:00

We did a couple of fun things in September. We also performed a lot of care-giving for our then (and now) teething son.

Troy says, "Hanging with one of my main dogz, Xander Pants. What WHAT!?!"

"Ove is one of the cool older kids I look up to," says Troy. "He can walk and that's kewl."

On Labor Day a bunch of our neighbors got together and had a picnic at the park. We were rebels and invited non-neighbor friends.

Around this time Cristy got a new front career because the Baby Bjorn wasn't so good for her back (our son is too fat). This other carrier (than you Craig's List!) has a nice back strap that offers more lumbar support.

Troy loves sporting his Troy gear. Also, Troy's parents love it when Troy sports his Troy gear.

Sometimes Dad and Troy even switch clothes (mostly just clothing accessories). They are so cool.

And happy.

One night Papa Bear caught Mama Bear walking around in the dark living room brushing her teeth. It was creepy funny. (Note: the flash destroyed the forensic evidence.) This event is only really funny because Nathaniel gets made fun of for doing it all the time, and he finally caught Mama in the act.

September 18th we went fruit picking in Maryland with our Ward. It was awesome. Everything is cheaper because you pick it yourself, and its fresh.

Our leftmost neighbors Jim and Lisa (standing on the left) also came.

We could not understand why Troy kept picking so many apples. He doesn't even like apples (or any non-milk food, for that matter).

Please note how much happier Troy is when he sees Mama than when he sees Dad. If only Nathaniel's mammary glands were active :(

Parents are always so happy to give their children new experiences. And children...are sometimes so aloof.

Why the Moreiras were so excited to see the cow we will never really know. But wow...how about that cow! (Troy says, "it is a nice cow Dad.")

Next Up: The Ohio Campbells Visit!

Labor Day Weekend--Troy, Alabama

2010-10-12T13:09:00.002-04:00

Ever since Troy was born we have been looking forward to introducing him to his Great-Great Grandmother. Over Labor Day Weekend we got that chance. We also took many other photo opportunities (we had a lot of time to kill).

Hi Great-Great-Grandma Seaton!

Troy is her first great-great-grandchild. Way to produce one one for the team Cristy and Nathaniel.

"Make WAAAAAAY...For KIIIIIIIIIIIIIING ALIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII." (Name that movie)

What amazing toe dexterity you have Troy.

Carly tried using a film camera over the weekend. Lightning is different, but she enjoyed herself.

Troy slept in a drawer over the weekend. A heavily padded drawer, but a drawer nonetheless.

Being that we were in the town of Troy, and that the University of Troy was so close, you can imagine that there were quite a few "Troy" and Troy Trojans" items available for purchase. Troy was so proud of his Jersey.

With Great-Grandma Wright.

Troy with Grandma and Great Aunt Sara.

(From left to right): Great-Grandpa Wright, Cristy, Nathaniel, Grandma, Carly, Troy, and Great-Great Grandma Seaton.

They were both pretty happy to hang out together.

A mother with her daughters.

Great Grandma has a pretty intense collection of pictures adorning her walls. Maybe about 100. Here is Nathanil and Carly's section (badly outdated).

This is kind of like a memorial for Nathaniel's Great Grandpa Seaton.

They are country road people.

This is Aunt Sarah's lake, and the house across the way is Great Grandma Seaton's house. They live across the street from each other.

Nathaniel used to gather eggs from this barn, but these days it is just used to house farm equipment.

Farm equipment like this.

Lastly we wanted to visit the University of Troy. Go Trojans!

Next Up: Mid-September Activities + Apple-Picking in Maryland

August 2010

2010-10-06T13:10:00.002-04:00

August was an uneventful month for the Moreiras (as far as events and vacations and such). Here is a brief overview through our pictures:

Mama catches some sun with the boy

As usual, the water is too much fun for the boy and he passes out. Who knew the love of his life (Elena) was so close. And he missed it!

The boy playing dress-up with Dad's cool threads.

Yay for families!

Troy still struggles with Tummy Time in August, so Mama and Papa Bear try and make him feel better by adding company to his misery. (Note: Nathaniel is not in a diaper).

For her bi-monthly recipe night, Cristy prepares chocolate covered fruit (it was chocolate night).

Yum! Oranges are the best!

Every Friday, Grammy spend some time with Troy while the parents go on a data/exercise. How fun for Troy Boy.

Oh what big guns you have Troy.

What's the matter? It's just poop!?!

Our bike riding FHE didn't work out so well. But we were blessed that it did not, actually. Nathaniel insisted that he did not need a helmet to ride his slow(er) mountain bike, especially if were going to be riding on the sidewalk. How fast could Cristy go, anyway? Well, before Nathaniel could pedal 15 feet, his dérailleur hanger broke off and his dérailleur cage bent inwards at a right angle (stuck in his spokes). Thankfully Nathaniel was riding through the parking lot and not down a hill, which could have ended up really bad for him. What a smart wife he has!

Caring for the boy can be too much sometimes. How does Mama do it so well?

Moment like these make it all worth it we guess. We love you boy!

Next up: Sweet Home Alabama and Great-Great Grandma

Troy's Baby Blessing: 27 June 2010

2010-08-23T12:13:00.005-04:00

The time finally came for Troy's Baby Blessing.

Dad wanted to make sure a.) he was prepared with plenty of time to get everyone there on time, and b.) Troy was well-rested and not too cranky

Family picture after the blessing.

Though the boy was fed before the blessing in an attempt to call him, Nathaniel did everything in his power to try and calm him during the blessing (on the verge of crying the entire time). Afterwards, McCrankster cried a bit in the hallways and then passed out.

What you lookin' at?

Oh, me...I guess that's OK :*

Dad, Troy, the Temple, and baby Hallie

It only took us five times to get this shot. Matt actually smiled like a non-cyborg.
But...Cristy couldn't hold hers back.

Baby Hallie was done with playing church dress-up after just a few hours. She was ready for mischief!

A huge thanks for everyone who could make Troys' special day so memorable for our family.

Next up: C'nN's 2nd Anniversary, Troy Has More Firsts, and Troy Gets Bigger!

Ohio Campbell Visit

2010-08-12T13:46:00.000-04:00

We're so behind. Oh well.

Here's lookin' at you kid.

Your tongue is red.

Notice how they aren't very excited? Nathaniel probably smells bad.

Hallie demonstrates her father's sense of humor.

Next up: (one of these days): Troy's Baby Blessing

More on Father's Day and Nana Sue / Papa Matt Joins the Party

2010-07-22T09:04:00.011-04:00

Troy was so happy that Nana Sue was coming to visit for two weeks. She arrived 15 June and would stay until 29 June.

So happy...

Nana Sue and Mama decided Troy needed a fashion show day. Strut your stuff boy!

Does Troy look better as a bay boy or a prepster?

On Father's Day Cristy took our family to a historical firehouse in Alexandria. We thought there might be polls and stuff to ride down, but we settled for cool pictures instead.

That's right. HONORARY.

Troy hanging out with Papa Matt.

Troy got a little bit too comfortable and used Papa Matt as a pillow.

Fun with Nana Sue. Troy is quickly realizing how much attention he can get with a smile!

Dad's favorite position--the Troy Burrito Roll.

Next up: The Ohio Campbells Visit.

Troy's 2ndish Month

2010-07-21T13:39:00.008-04:00

Yep--still 2 months behind. But we may catch up soon. We don't have a ton of pictures over the next two months. Here is what June and some of July had to offer...

Cristy and I spent our 2nd Anniversary at Macaronni Grill. We couldn't do too much with the little one still not taking the bottle, but we had a great tome together nonetheless!

Troy's first and only successful bottle feeding.

Like Hallie, Troy could love in his front carrier. He loves it! Don't stop till you drop--that's our motto :)
Our little boy loves watching television (much to our dismay). is it the flashing colors? The sound? Who knows, but he will turn his little head Exorcist style to find that screen.
We didn't have very much luck with his first pool party.
Family Photoshoot! We love them!
Sadly, we couldn't spend the fourth of July with out of town family, but we did have a BBQ with the Burke Moreiras. Abuelo sure does love his grandson.
We are learning tricks to do with Troy to increase his muscles and brain. Supposedly this balance drill is good for him, but not so good for Mama's nerves.
Dad likes exercise too :)
Baby Harrison often comes over for visits. Though he's not very bashful, he seems to take joy in hiding from his parents.
This is the best picture of Troy and Mama to date.

Next Up: Troy Months 2-3

Growing Big, Photoshoots, and Father's Day

2010-06-28T09:02:00.009-04:00

How quickly the months can pass! Here is a quick recap of Alexandria Moreira life in week five and six of Troy's life:

Troy outgrows his newborn diapers and Mama is quite sad her little boy is growing so much. On 8 June Troy had his 4 week appointment and he weighed 11.11 lbs and was 23.5 inches long, putting him in the 95% for both. His head, which looks small on his body, is 75%.

The Taylors had their baby, Xander Scott Taylor, one of Troy's buddies. Xander's hobbies include crying, boobs, and sleep (per Amanda).
Troy and Dad were watching the NBA Finals. At the time, the Celtics looked like they had a shot. Oh well.
More visits from Abuelo.

Troy's other good buddy, Harrison. Touchdown! Cristy and Tristen both think the boys look like little Daddy's boys.

And even more in this picture. Troy says, "Take that right in your ear Harrison!" BAM!

Troy says, "Thanks Mama and Tristen for this photoshoot."

Slowly but surely, Troy has taken over Papa's space. See Troy, here, all over Papa's pillow while he dresses for work in the morning. Also notice how he looks around, seemingly ambivalent to his megalomania.

Another photoshoot from Mama.

Troy says, "Are you my brother?!?"

Troy says, "Thanks Aunt Elaine for all my cool presents!"

Troy says, "Thanks Mississippi Campbells for my truck overalls!"

It doesn't look it, but Troy does love his sling-thing.

Tuesday, 15 June Grandma Sue came to visit for two weeks. Yay for grandparents!

Saturday, 18 June, Nathaniel, Nate, and Drew traveled to Warm Spring to compete in a Triathlon. The 750 meter swim had a current that left the three swimmers exhausted before the race had ever really begun. (Note: Drew's number is #12 because he accidentally signed up as a girl. Oops.)

BUT Drew also shaved a "W" into his goatee for "Win," which more than makes up enough man points for the above clerical error.

All three placed low on the finishers list, but raced well and were proud of their hard work in training for the event. Nate actually raced extremely well for the bike that he owns; his bike split put him in the middle of the pack (racing against people with bikes three and four times more expensive than his own).

20 June marked Nathaniel's first Father's Day.

And he got exactly what he asked for, "Hint of Jalapeno Tostitos."

Later in the day we went to a historic Fire Department in Old Town Alexandria for free pictures.

Troy needed a diaper change on the antique furniture. Unfortunately, a large group of people from a group home soon came into the building and went upstairs to check out the museum. Oh well.

Later at the Burke Moreiras home for a Daddy BBQ.

3/4 Moreira men.

[Background Music] "They see me rollin'....they hatin'...patrollin'...they tryin' to catch me ridin' dirty...tryin' to catch me ridin' dirty..."

Aunt Carly and her nephew exchange a heartfelt moment.

Troy says, "I love my Abuela."

Winners

2010-06-26T09:41:00.003-04:00

Grant, Liz, and Hallie Campbell are our favorite family members. The End.

PS: They are the contest winners from Thanksgiving. They brought their entire family here to see us before anyone else. (Note: Sue and Matt did NOT win because they did not bring all of their kids.)

Honorable Mention: Mandy and Gibson Poteet.

Troy's Fourth Week Home

2010-06-01T10:14:00.016-04:00

OK, so after this month, we aren't going to keep track of his "weeks" home anymore and we're going to switch to months. We will still post often though :)

We all know how advanced Troy is for his infant age. (Look at his tummy, for example.) What we didn't know (until Sunday evening) was how perceptive he naturally is. Troy has literally never met another "girl" before. Upon meeting first girl (see fascinated look on face) Troy remembers his distant parent Adam and immediately latches onto said girl (Eve/Elena). What a smart kid! We'll work on the "getting them while they're awake" thing later. For right now he's got the girl.

Elena's parents (the Clemens) brought over a dowry: Tigger socks. Troy has accepted the offer and they are to wed (at their own discretion) in no sooner than 21 years. Good job son. Nathaniel hopes this is worth it because Mama is not going to look favorably on this decision and will probably take it out on Dad.

Monday, 31 May: Happy Memorial day! Thanks to all those military families and citizen soldiers for keeping our country safe!

And thanks to Cristy for being such a good Mom! Touchdown Troy!

Troy's first real bath (in a bathtub, not on a changing pad). He screamed a lot.

Crazy-hair McGhee here doesn't know what just hit him. But he's glad it's over and hopes to have straight-looking hair soon.

Today we spent a lot of time traveling. We ventured to a wholesale market (BJs) to pick up some food, then arrived at the Burke Moreiras for good BBQ food and company. Troy slept most of the time, cried a little, but most of the time was a little angel. Mommy and Daddy were very proud of him for being a good boy/little man in the car.

We don't have any pictures from the BBQ, but we all had a lot of fun. Troy got time snug time from each family member and was very happy to see familiar faces. The food was delicious.

Tuesday, 1 June: Today we took our friends the Taylors to dinner. Nathan is the only reason that Nathaniel passed his Java class and remains a Masters student at GMU, so they thought this was the least they could do. Nothing beats Cheesecake at Cheesecake Factory! As always, Troy traveled well. No jinxing us!

Troy also SMILED for the first time today (that is, a non-gas smile). He has a beautiful smile, and it has been the most heart-warming moment for Dad so far. Mom smiles at Troy so much that the milestone belongs to her (though the smile was directed at Dad when he came home from work).

Wednesday, 2 June: Troy had a rough day and Dad slept on the coach because Troy wouldn't go to bed unless someone was holding him. Mama is so patient with him!

PS Nathaniel slept on the futon all through High School with no problems. Nathaniel slept on the futon for one night and has a sore back. Is it possible he is "getting old" at 27? Oh the shame.

Friday-Saturday, June 3-4: Nathaniel was the groomsmen for his friend Tom Mazzuchi's wedding in Lewes, Deleware. It was a three hour drive, and a good sea-worthiness test for little Troy.

Our hotel was great and really close to the wedding (a winery) and the hotel where most of the other guests were staying. Nathaniel needed to be at a lot of bridal party events, so Cristy and Troy spend a lot of quality time together. They went shopping and had several changing parties.

Frumpy over here looked more like he was in the Junior Surf Champ than anything else, but he had a tough, warm day.
The bride and groom.
The minister's daughter, who apparently is a Sears magazine model. She was so sweet and mature and wanted to hold Troy all the time.
Papa (proud) and son (quizzical).

Nathaniel and his elementary school/high school friends all-grown up (minus one).
We were trying to mimic Troy's "O" face, but he wasn't doing it this time.

Yay for marriage and babies!
Chris was a little shy with the baby-holding at first, but he got over it, even requesting a special picture with just him and Troy.

Sunday, June 6: Alas, the party had to end and the journey home was long (though with a very cooperative Troy).

And then came Sunday, a very sad day for Mama. Her little boy, her little precious son, wore his last "newborn" (N) diaper. Troy says, "It's OK Mama. I just grew out of my diaper to impress Elena, that's all. You're still the bestest!."

Troy's Third Week Home

2010-05-25T14:15:00.016-04:00

Saturday, 22 May: Troy can hold his head up for nearly a whole minute! When Daddy helps Troy pulls himself up with his super-grip, his head doesn't flop at all. And he must be going through a growth spurt because he fed every two hours today...hmmmm...

Sunday, 23 May: Congrats to Nathaniel's sister Carly for getting her first payed job. BuyBuy Baby has not only just got themselves a hard worker, but also a new loyal customer base!

Monday, 24 May: Apparently, Troy needs to just "cry-it-out" sometimes. He's fine. He just needs to cry himself to sleep, and he DOESN'T need your help or tender care to do it.

After baths we wrap him up real good and put a beanie on him to keep him warm.

Obviously, it works to warm hi up!

Maybe his umbilical cord is hurting? It is pretty close to falling off, and when he cries you can see the flesh-inside part of it. Gross, but satisfying.

Mommy continues to sleep OK and do little projects around the house. Nathaniel always knew she would be a happy Mom at home. Soon the scrapbooking will start :) Yay for scrapbooking!
Thanks the Lord for DVR/Tivo. A little cry here and a little cry there cannot taper Nathaniel's need to watch the Celtics dominate the Magic.

Wednesday, 26 May: Troy kind of ruffed it today. He just wanted to cry for no reason. It was difficult for Mom and Dad.

Mom has started taking her own pictures at home! Mom has also decided she wants to start blogging, so look forward to that little bit of fun! How will we co-exist? Different font colors perhaps?

Some have already seen these pics, but here they are again anyway. Here is scary bear.

Bear with friends in forest.

Hibernating bear.

Thursday, 27 May: Cristy went to the doctor today and they explained how the surgery went a few weeks ago. They also gave her a clean bill of health and said she is an excellent validate for a more traditional birth in the future. Yay for babies!

The boys are tuckered out.

Proof of the one-eyed peeper monster. More funny faces.
Usain Bolt in training.
Troy's first mail was his SSN paperwork. He was so happy...
Troy says, "I love you Mom."
Sometimes Troy rolls onto his side and sleeps like this, back and head arched. Nathaniel ask him why he would do that to his parents, and he replied, "It's more comfortable Dad. No duh."

Friday, 28 May: Nathaniel went to hang out with some guy friends Friday night, and Cristy had a girl party at home, including nail painting, baby oggling, and other stuff which Nathaniel does not comprehend.

Sunday, 29 May: We had the Clemens over tonight, who just had little Elena a month before Troy was born. They had a good time hanging out, and so did we! It's good to swap baby stories and make sure your infant is hitting par (at least--we're shooting for Eagles but you never know!)

Pictures of Troy and Elena's first handhold next week!

Troy's 2nd Week Home

2010-05-23T12:58:00.007-04:00

Tuesday, May 18: The Taylors brought over food for our family, and a few days before brought over these sweet onesies! Now Troy and his BFFs can all hang out in style :)

Touchdown!

The dragon sleeps...

Of course, grandparents continue to visit, and we love it!

After bath #2 (and first with Dad), Troy needed some snug time with Dad.

My sister is learning that not all babies cry when other people hold them :)

Friday, 21 May: Troy continues to grow! His head grew 1 cm and he weights another 1.2 lbs. than he did at his last peds visit! He is also another 1/2 inches taller. He has developed a second cry...this one is more of a whimper "wah wah" sound. (It's his fake "I want something" cry).

We couldn't be more proud of Troy. He continues to excel at everything he does. When he had his hearing test in the hospital he finished it twice as fast as most babies!

Troy's First Week Home

2010-05-23T10:46:00.009-04:00

Tuesday, 5/12: Troy came home from the hospital today.

Like most babies, he eats, sleeps, makes diapers, and cries when he needs to eat, sleep, or make diapers. Like most boys, he pees a lot. On Janelle. On Nathaniel. Once in his mouth and face in the hospital.

He is so strong already, He can already lift his head and arc his back, so much so that if you are sitting down in a chair and leaning back with his tummy on your chest, he can fall backwards if you don't grab him. His legs could break a finger if you don't watch while you change his diaper.

Troy's dad used to worry a lot about his respiratory system, but not anymore. His prior seeming weakness is now his greatest strength: his lungs. When he wants to tell you something, he does. He's not shy or passive-aggressive. He will go from calm to shrieking to calm in a minute. 0 to 60, just like his Dad (or at least that's what Mom says).

In the hospital his Daddy found he likes having his head rubbed to calm him down, and that he really likes to feed. He is still learning to control his face and appendages, but sometimes he gives Mommy a little smile, which is wonderful because he undoubtedly learned this skill from her.

Wednesday, 5/12: Troy and Mommy are doing well. Mommy is a trooper and a great Mom. She does so much with so little sleep and still stays happy.

Troy, Mommy, and Janelle went to the pediatrician today. Billy Ruben test was 1.9, so he has no problems with jaundice. He is a good at making diapers. He also pooped twice while diaperless on the table while they were taking his bum temperature. "Vengeance is MINE!" says Troy.

Otherwise, the day went smoothly. He cried a little less when we changed his diaper and is such a calm baby. We are organizing the house to fit his and our needs. He loves us and we love him!

First trip to a store (Target)

Trying to organize his clothes. Apparently, he is pretty little...for a big guy, that is...

First bath--and first moment of self-discovery?

All clean!

I'm not going to lie...this is his poop face. Whether he did it or not, Nathaniel doesn't know. But that's the face ;)

Thursday, 5/13: Troy has been able to lift his neck up since he was born. Today, while on tummy time, he lifted his head up and switched sides of his head. Like a professional baby. Wow.

Troy has also been suffering from hiccups. Daddy has read that this is normal and not to be worried. But sometimes his parents get sad because the hiccups distress him and he starts to whimper and cry :( Thursday there was several cry sessions :( BUT Daddy and Mommy did learn a few more tricks to keep baby content.

1.) Troy likes when Dad sings to him. Any song will do, even the "poop" song that Dad made up while everyone else was sleeping.

2.) Troy likes it when Mom talks to him while he is getting his diaper changed. He flails a lot less and kicks less passionately.

Cristy has continued to get better at an awesome rate. She can do everything but comfortably lift Troy from his bassinet, so he sleeps on a thin blanket in the living room at night sometimes.

Janelle has been just as helpful as Mandy. We appreciate them so much--life would be so much harder without their help this last week. From cooking to straightening to holding Troy and changing diapers, they have both been so helpful. Thanks so much!

We have visitors almost every day, and half of the time it is grandparents.

Snug as a bag, as Mama says.

Friday, May 14-Sunday, May 16: This weekend we are reminded of how much we love our family and how important it is to have support during this new time in our lives. From people wanting to come over and hold Troy (and distract him with a new(er) face) to Grant and Liz sending over that Equate gas solution liquid drop stuff (for his hiccups) to my parents bringing over dinner Saturday night, we are really grateful for everyone's help. It seemed like all we did all weekend was hold Troy while he cried from hiccup pain, change his diaper, or feed him.

And yet somehow, after all that, when we looked at his little sleepy face at night, its all worth it. Maybe it's seeing he has his Dad's big toe, one sleepy eye in the morning, and "perfect mouth" (whatever that means Mama), and Mom's sleeping posture (think "touchdown" when he's swaddled or a snow angel unswaddled) and facial expressions.

Whatever it is, we love him all the same.

Next Up: Troy's 2nd Week Home

Troy Hospital Day 3-5: Mandy Leaves :( Janella Arrives :)

2010-05-23T00:21:00.014-04:00

Alas, Mandy needed to fly home and tend to her own family. I'm sure the boy Poteets were so happy to see Mom on Mother's Day. For as grateful as we were to have Mandy with us, of course, there was no double birth in Alexandria! Yay for Troy and Poteet boy!

Mandy was so patient. Cristy says she only held Troy 15 minutes before she left because she just wanted other people to have a chance.

After Nathaniel took Mandy to the airport, he zoomed home to study for finals (for 8 hours). Nathaniel's mother was gracious enough to stay at the hospital with Cristy during the majority of that time to keep her company.

Day 4: Mother's Day.

Cristy claims that the best time to have a baby is on Mother's Day. Every member of the staff is so nice to you, and you get lots of cards and flowers from your kid. How your kid got the flowers or knows how to write is beyond me. What happened for us is that Nathaniel hung out with Troy in the NICU and Dad translated Troy's message.

What was that Troy? OK, Dad will include that in the Mother's Day card. The oxygen dome. Our frenemy. One great Mamma's gift was taking Troy out of the Giraffe and putting him in a crib free of IVs and oxygen. Next step/stop: Mamma's room!
Hey Janelle! If there's one thing you may have noticed about Janelle, it's that she likes to take pictures. How many pictures do you think she took while she was here? Hi grandma :D

Troy gets moved into Mama's room!

Flowers from Abuela (grandma in Spanish)

Friends visit...

And all of the sudden Tuesday morning (day 5) comes. Nathaniel went to work on Monday and Tuesday while Janelle stayed at the hospital with Cristy.

Dad couldn't be around for everything...but thankfully, with the help of Janelle, Cristy had lots and lots of help. Like helping Troy into his first car seat and first ride in a car. What at adventurous young man.

Next Up: First Week Home and LOTS more "Firsts"!