WHAT did you just say Mom?

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We got some GREAT NEWS from the Heffernan clan this weekend... Not only is Francie going to have a baby brother or sister in the spring... there are also TWO MORE HEFFERNAN BABY COUSINS ON THE WAY!! Heff's brother Mark and his wife Sarah announced they are pregnant and due with their first baby March 26 and Heff's brother Craig and his wife Andrea announced they are also pregnant with her second baby and due April 20!!! We fall right in the middle, due April 9. We are sooo happy for everyone and can't wait for the Spring-time Baby Fest. Heff's sister Maureen is due with her third baby anyday now... It's a good thing Oma's new barn is almost done, there will be a house full of Heffernan babies in 2009!!

"Oh man this is going to be crazy!"

"You telling me this means I won't be the center of attention anymore?!"

"But look at me, I can stand on one foot! Attention right here please!"

Francie Tries the Potty

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Don't worry, we ARE NOT trying to potty train her yet!! And forewarning, if you don't have kids and don't talk about "poop" in common conversation (Uncle James) you may want to just stop reading right now...... If you are still reading this is still probably "TMI" but Francie did go poop in the potty! :) She has had a bad diaper rash and it's caused her a little distress when she needs to go number two. Heff thought that if she could sit on the pot, it might help. I got her a "cushie tushie" and the other night she started doing her little "poop dance" (sorry for telling everybody Francie!) so dad scooped her up, pulled he diaper off and set her on the potty. She seemed very proud of herself sitting up there like a big girl and indeed she was successful :) I'm not going to start "elimination training" yet... diapers do their job. But I thought I would share Francie's first potty experience, since we share everything else on the blog! (and it's been a boring week... not too much material to work with here, sorry!) :)

"Really Mom, I hope you're joking with that camera in my face right now."

"I mean it. I've got business to take care of in here."

"Outta here MOM! And don't let the door hit you on the way out!"

Francie's Family Weekend at The Beach

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This weekend we went down to Capitola to cool off and hang out with lots of family. It has been so hot here all week and our house cooks during the day, I feel so bad putting Francie down for a nap in her crib when she inevitably wakes up soaking wet with sweaty-bed-head. My parents were staying at K-Bac (Kathy's:) beach house and we were planning to go down Sunday to see my cousin Molly and her family anyway so we decided to just head down Friday night and stay all weekend! James and Em came down Saturday and spent the day at the beach with us. We missed Dad who came down Friday night but had to go back into the office at 6am Saturday morning and worked all day to drive back over the hill Saturday night to be with his girls! He's had a lot going on at work but we were glad to get him back both nights.

Saturday night we went to my cousin Connor's first High School football game at Cabrillo College Stadium and then Sunday the Brady's had us over for lunch at their beach house... The Brady girls are my second cousins, our grandmothers Mary (MarMar) and Marge were sisters and had their first grand-daughters 2 months apart (Molly and I) so it's really neat for Aunt/GiGi Marge to see the first great-grandchildren Brady and Francie who are also exactly two months apart! It was a fun weekend at the beach and great to see Kaky and Rich, The Kreefts and the whole Brady clan.

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BUSTED.... Francie doesn't realize I am watching her give Sophie a bite of her cracker... "No, No, No Francie!"

"It wasn't me mom."

Walking down to the beach for lunch on the pier Saturday

Uncle James, Auntie Em, Jannie and Grandpa took Francie-pants (in her new rash guard!) to play in the waves and in the sand while I got to lounge around the house reading my book on the patio :) She loves her special "Francie" time (and so do I:)

Francie-pants dressed up in her new red shoes Saturday night....

Walking a "ball-ball" to Dad. Now throw it to the doggie Dada.

Uncle James reading a book to Francie in the car

Francie snuggling with Gauntie Mimi at Francie's first High School Football game!

Watching cousin Connor... number 13 (just like his cousin Jerry:)

"I'm with you Gauntie Mimi... what was that call?!"

James and Em keeping warm in the stands

Cousin Drew was the official ball boy and took his job very seriously despite our best efforts to distract him. Uncle Andy was on the "chain gang" so it was a family affair :)

Ow. (Francie got another tooth and pretty much had her hand in her mouth all weekend)

And... she's out.

Daddy's Little Girl :)

Connor's Fan Club

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Back at the house playing Wii Fit.... James CHEATING in Wii Yoga (after he did pretty well on the easy "Warrior Pose" and told us it was harder than it looks. Nice try James.)

"What in the heck is Uncle James doing hula-hooping like that!?" (More like 'What the heck is this baby doing awake at midnight?' She outlasted her Dad and Grandpa on a Saturday night, Arnerich genes for sure.)

Auntie Em knitting away at a new winter blanket for Baby Jackson!

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Sunday afternoon at the Brady's beach house, they had us all over for lunch... Brady and Francie had so much fun tearing up the water table and playing around together!

Brady showing the ladies all of his cool toys

Francie found the crackers and hung out there for awhile

How can you resist his little "faux-hawk" and BLUE eyes!? Brady is adorable.

Francie was in heaven with so many new toys (and a few familiar things too, Molly and I have the same stroller, same push "cah-cah"/buggy, same Tuffo beach blanket and the same diaper bag!

Bryan and Brian with their babies!

The little stinker... it looks like she is sharing her cracker in this picture but really she just STOLE it right out of Brady's hand! He was a very good sport.

We all had fun out on the deck enjoying the beach sun!

The middle Brady girls Beth (congrats on your engagement!!) and Megan

And of course the guys around the snacks... Heff, Grandpa John and Uncle Rich

Molly's mom Toni, Mimi and Drewby

Gauntie Kaky and Gauntie Mimi with cousin Molly... they brought cute matching o'Neils Surf Shop t-shirt for both of them!

Francie and Brady at the water table

GiGi MARGE!!! My Aunt Marge (my grandmother's sister... we love her!!) with her grandson and her sister Mary's first granddaughter... we all know Marmar was smiling down at Aunt Marge holding both these babies!!

Francie was being a little bit of a brat for this picture... Brady is looking at her like "Do you know how lucky you are to share MY GiGi's lap? What is your deal?" GIRLS Brady... what are you going to do with them?

The Wolfes! Bryan, Molly and Brady

Francie's mood turned around to give Kelsey kisses and play with AUnt Marge's pretty bracelets

Look at those eyelashes! Brady hanging close with his mom

Bryan attempting to keep Francie out of trouble

Francie and I with the Brady girls and Big Man Brady! (Beth, Molly, and Kelsey... Megan was busy shopping!)

Francie on the third flood deck knocking on the window to the house trying to get cousin Brady's attention!

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Sunday morning we all went for a walk to look at all the cute beach houses on the bluff and then had a big breakfast on the lagoon. Daddy had the Little Doo on his shoulders when the cah-cah was too precarious on the cliffs path.

My Dad :)

Jannie showed Francie a HUGE pelican on the lagoon (she got up close and personal with one Saturday on the peir!)

Tea at Lovejoy's

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Last week we had a girls luncheon Tea at our favorite spot in San Francisco, Lovejoy's Tea Room. I look soo forward to Lovejoy's tea sandwhiches and scones!! We met the usual crowd... The Coogan girls, Mary, Anne, Sarah, Molly and a good friend Barb, and Jannie, Francie and I of course! Francie wore her new pink outfit Jannie made her (the old fashioned kind that crosses in the back to "show a lot of skin" with an oversized diaper cover to match.) We all got to catch up over a long and relaxing ladies tea... always nice!

"More cucumber on white please."

Francie in the sunlight (we got our favorite round table in the window)

Francie asking for her "hat" but Sarah next to her showing a bit of a shocked look, she can't believe Francie doesn't remember that "Lovejoys ladies do NOT wear their hats to tea!"

Francie's New Red Shoes

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Jannie took Francie shopping at Nordstroms on Wednesday for her very own big girl walkin shoes! They had a "date" to go Tuesday but they were having too much fun playing at Jannie's house and Francie fell fast asleep half way to the shopping center :) Today was a successful trip! Francie got red, velcro top, mary-jane style "See Kai Run" first walkers. She liked all the nice people at Nordies who measured her big feet (sz 5) and gave her a pink balloon. Jannie spoiled her of course and got lots of new white socks, tights, new jeans, a new red dress (she's wearing) to match the shoes, and of course a new white bow! (she gave in to my love of bows:) Francie-pants is a lucky little girl and she is VERY proud of her red shoes.

Trying them out on the walkway...

And she's off!

THANKS Jannie!

Red Bluff Dove Season Opener Weekend

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We were in Red Bluff for Labor Day weekend... September 1st is opening day of Dove Season and my husband hasn't worked or been to school on Sept 1st since he was 10 years old. (Can Francie use that excuse too dad?) I've gone out hunting with the crowd the past three years but stayed home with the babies this year. Last year I was 8.5 months pregnant and our OB swears shooting a gun at "innocent little birds" was what made Francie flip breech! Heather and Kevin Sakai came up with us for the weekend with their NEW baby Ryan! Francie

"You finding us a ranch Dad? I need to start my petting zoo."

The girls went out to lunch and left the boys in charge of the babes... we were all proud of Kevin for changing and dressing baby Ryan all by himself, even in a cute outfit!

Dad had the little Doo well taken care of too... in her matching camo pants of course

Baby Ryan the Lion... a little mad getting into his carseat, the only time he cried all weekend! Francie says "nah-nah" when we ask he what a baby says, but when we said "What does Ryan say" she said "Raaarrrr!" We were puzzled until we realized she thought we said "What does a LION say." :)

The Flynns had all the dove hunters, wives and kids over for dinner. Madeline taking very good care of Francie and teaching her to play the piano :)

Greg and Trisha... almost newlyweds!

Always lots of good food to go around at the Flynns

The GIRLS room! Looks like fun :)

Francie sees a strange animal on the other side of the door

Dad tells Francie it's a Kitty

Kristie broke the house rules and brought the cat in to show Francie... she's not so sure up close

I think Francie shares the same sentiment about those cute little kittys that her mom does :)

"Mom are you gonna make her stop? Can we show Mrs. Flynn dad's hunting video so we can torture her lke she's torturing me right now?"

The girls... new mom Heather, Kristie (still with the damn cat) and Aunt Kat (the "cat" we like!)

Francie fell fast asleep in the bean bag chair

Dad being silly behind Tyler and his "little" glass of wine

Kevin and Heather checking on sweet baby Ryan

And they broke out "Whistling Wings" Heff's hunting video which aires today if you are watching the Outdor Channel!

Kristie loved seeing the geese shot down out of the air :)

Driving home early Tuesday morning... Francie hugging tight to her dolly (and for some reason biting her clothes:)

Naked and Nana's

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I know everyone os sick of seeing pictures of Francie in her CAR but seriously she plays in this thing all day!! She asks for it when she wakes up and squirms out of your arms if she sees it in the distance. She's nuts! She is also crazy about her "Nanas" better known as bananas. Here is her ultimate afternoon... naked (almost), in her Cah-Cah, eating a Nana with her "Ow-wa" (Ollie).

Sharing with her doggie...

"Wait, this is MY nana."

Life doesn't get much better than this!

Chowing down

"Haha... it's SO funny to share my food with Ow-wa!"

"Hum. Still tastes good with doggie slobber on it."

"Allll gone!!"

Playing "Where's the Bellybutton!?"

"THERE IT IS!"

"Is there another one down there?"

"Nope just one cute little Francie Belly button!"

Beer in the Cah-Cah

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The other night (I've been slacking on the blogging front, sorry) we walked down to our neighbors for dinner with Francie's car in tow. Our neighbors Louis and Jessica have a baby 6 days older than Francie named Ruby (she is so cute!) and Luke (5) and Lily (3) too. Our friends the Ryan's were there too with Willie (5) and Anna (3) so everybody had a buddy to play with. Francie and Ruby were dualing in their matching cars (Francie was only a little jealous that Ruby's was pink) and sharing toys in her playpen. They all behaved relatively well while we had a nice BBQ dinner outside.... Heff only had to turn the water gun back on Willie twice, may be a new record.

Lily and Anna chowing down on chips and salsa

Luke in the "pink" car

The baby girls chillin' in the playpen swapping binkys

Francie forgot which way these things go

Lily post-dress up chest raid

The warrior-princess three year olds

"Nap time" in the stroller for Francie-pants (and yes, I realize 7pm is bedtime for most 11 month olds but Francie rocks the 7-8:30pm NAP and then rallies for Letterman before going down for the night)

Those Shoes are Made for Walkin'

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Francie still doesn't have any "real shoes" so she's been wearing the old high-top walkers everyday. When you get them out to put them on her she gets all excited and sits very still
like a big girl while you put the shoes on the little paper-towel roll chubby feet :)
Then she gets up and shows off her new big girl accessory!

"Huh!? I'm still wearing these old thing!? When are you gonna spring for some NEW SHOES mom!?"

Reaching for trouble

Reading her board books

"Do you see these old laces Jannie? About to break. I need new ones don't you think?"

Francie's Fun Date Night with James & Em

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Em sent me some cute pictures her mom, Marla, took on Saturday night when James and Em babysat Francie-pants. They took her over to Em's parents house to meet cute Baby Jackson who just turned 1 month old on the 22nd! They took along Francie's "cah-cah" to keep her occupied and along with the banana puffs she felt right at home :) Thanks again guys!

Auntie Em showing Baby Jackson to Francie.... for a kiss ;)

Puffs on the face makes everyone laugh... except Francie.

But Uncle James knows how to make her happy!

Go Spartans! Go EMMY!

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This weekend we went to cousin Emmy's Division 1 soccer debut games! She is playing for San Jose State University and has been working hard since last spring training with her team. She started in both games this weekend... Friday night vs Santa Clara and Sunday vs Cal. Emmy had quite the cheering section at her games! We are all so proud of her especially since she scored the FIRST AND ONLY GOAL OF THE SEASON!! She rocked and we are excited to be Spartan fans and go to all of her games this season. GO EMMY!

Jannie and Francie watching intently at Friday night's game

Uncle Jerry was up from Southern CA for both games!

Francie got plenty of passing around but loved to sit and watch the "baw-baw" (aka ball)

She LOVED cousin Luke (I think it was his fancy colored braces:)

The college girls Ari and Claire at the game to cheer Emmy on before heading off to college. Claire left the next day for her freshman year at Boston College. Good luck Claire!

My Dad and Heff watching the game (and probably not talking about politics or legal stuff at all:)

Just a small section of the "Emmy Belding Fan Club"

Ella's Go #10 sign!

Uncle John, Luke and Ella reading Francie her animal book

We got a visit from Emmy after the game up in the stands. We love Emmy!

Emmy and Kelly

End of the night after Emmy's first D-1 college game!

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Saturday we had two parties to go to without the little Doo so Uncle James and Auntie Em babysat for us! This was the first big night we've left her, James and Em did great keeping her busy and even getting her to go to sleep. Heff and I had fun at Icie's birthday party and Suzi's "Totally 80's" rager. We were decked out in 80's gear and didn't even take a picture! (just think me in my 7th grade windbreaker/2-piece-snowsuit in pink/purple/teal with giant neon goggles and a side ponytail... Heff in a vintage ACDC shirt, pegged jeans and a rocker blond wig with headband:) But Em said her mom got some shots of Francie meeting Baby Jackson so hopefully I'll get my hands on those to post later :) THANKS JAMES AND EM!

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Sunday's game back at Spartan Stadium was even more exciting as Emmy scored a goal!!!

SJSU reported: "San Jose, Calif. - In just her second game of Division I women's soccer, San Jose State University junior Emmy Belding found the back of the net for her, and the team’s, first goal of the season, but the Spartans ultimately fell to the #17 California Bears, 3-1.

"Scoring that goal was super exciting,” said Belding. “I just went in there and attacked. The goalie tried to clear the ball, but I trapped it and saw the open net. Two defenders came at me, but I was able to spin away from them and put the ball in the net.

"Tying the game really gave us a big boost. We played much better from that point on. Opening the season with Santa Clara and California has been a big test, but that goal showed us that we can compete and gave us a lot of confidence.”

Super fans Gary, Jerry, Connor and Johners

Sporting her Red Sox hat in honor of Claire's first day in Boston (from Goody!) and intently watching Em tear it up on the field

Another run at the net by #10

ALMOST in this time!

Emmy Belding Fan Club... cheering from the shade today!

Number 1 fan :)

Francie laughing with Lukey again

Connor "Big-man-on-Playa-Blvd-Now" Kreeft and Johners "I-Change-My-Facebook-Profile-Pic-Every-Hour" Belding

Francie cuddled next to Daddy

James with the Aunts and Uncles

Heff with the kiddos

Popular Number 10 being interviewed after the game

Uncle John and Francie Doo!

Aunt Kaky looking hot in Spartan Blue and white to cheer on her Superstar daughter!! (Em takes after her mom's excellent dodge-ball athletic ability:)

YAY EMMY!

After the game Sunday afternoon we all went to "OJ's" (Original Joe's) downtown San Jose for a big family dinner (it was the geriatric hour, but we couldn't turn down OJ's!) The "kids" table:

Not to be confused with the "not-kids-table" Nice Shirley Temple Con-man

Francie got to sit in a booster seat next to Jannie and Uncle Andy at the "adults table!"

Loving her first trip to OJ's

Uncle Jerry, Kaky and Rich

ALL DONE!

Francie Goes to the San Francisco Zoo

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The other day we snuck away for a family afternoon at the San Francisco Zoo. I hadn't been since a second grade field trip when Jannie got yelled at by the teacher for taking kids on the train ride (she was 8 months pregnant with Ann but go NO breaks:) and Heff had never been to this zoo. We didn't get up there until 3:30 so kind of did a zoo tour on speed but Francie loved seeing all the animals. We walked the whole thing in less than two hours and managed to see everything but we'll have to go back when we have more time and can stop at the "Leapin' Lemming Bar" for beers and hot dogs!

Francie thought it was funny to pretend she was a baby giraffe

"Do you see those giant monkeys mom!?"

Francie was wishing she could climb on the chimp's playhouse!

Chillin in her overalls by the baby elephant (Dad dressed her this morning in my old vintage Osh Kosh:)

On the shoulders and in charge... "That way Dad!"

Don't harass the tigers at the SF Zoo! ;)

"How'd that big chicken looking thing get out of it's cage?"

Walking on Dad's big feet!

and we found another Carousel ride! The "elk" was taken so she settled for a horsey

Dad checking the safety this time :)

Holding on tight and gripping with those little stinky toes!

Dad let her sit on the "elk" (or reindeer:) on their way out... she was making her elk sounds when she saw the horns

Francie stopped to take a picture with mom... but she just wants to see more animals! (signing her version of "more")

This silly Billy Goat in the family farm was her favorite... she was laughing so hard when he hit his blue ball!

And our last stop was the giraffe feeding barn... they were a big hit with Francie too

"That thing is even taller than Uncle Mark."

Dad had to take her in the gift shop... but resisted the urge to buy anything Ollie would probably destroy as soon as we got home

"Can we go back to that zoo all the time mom?!"

Laughing at her crazy dog

and her crazy mom

I love pictures of babies sitting on their feet :)

"Just getting the mail for you Mom."

Summer Playdate at Francie's

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Wednesday we had a Summer Playdate at our house for Icie's birthday and to get the babies together to enjoy the warm weather and get some use out of the playpit. Some of the older boys are walking and everyone is talking and playing together more than they have before... it's funny to see them fight over toys :) Francie was a little miffed when other kids got to ride her beloved "cah." It was a fun afternoon but our thoughts are all with our friend Aliza who couldn't be there :(

Baby Stella (who lives four houses away) hanging out on the blankets

Estelle and Francie scheming on how to get Leo out of the car

Estelle proud of herself for getting the drivers seat back

Wesley doing anything but napping in Francie's Pinked-Out crib

It was such a warm day I had to borrow the neighbors umbrella out of their yard while they were out of town!

Paige and Wes after the nap didn't happen

Cute half naked baking babies in the shade

Francie thought it was funny to climb underneath the bar table

again and again...

Icie the Birthday Girl!

Isaac with his new blond locks (and his mom Lindsey is expecting a baby in March... she's the first one to go for number two!)

Little Miss Natalie (who is also a neighbor and shares a birthday with Baby Stella!)

Natalie's mom Moriah (left) and Stella's mom Gretchen (right). We are so lucky to have so many baby girl neighbors!

Still under the table

The big guy Carson in his "shorts"

We were all trying to figure out why little boy shorts are all SO long!?

*Next few photos courtesy of guest photographer Paige Kron :) (happy now Paige?)
Francie says "Paige. WHAT are you doing with my mom's camera? She always tells me 'NO NO' when I touch it!"

Isaac with the ball before the fight over it begins

Lindsey, Heather and Erika. Moms to...

The big boys Isaac, Carson and Leo

We all very much missed our friend Aliza who was just recently diagnosed with and is battling leukemia (infant ALL). She is back east with her parents and their families and just started chemo on Monday. Aliza is in all of our thoughts and prayers constantly and we sent her our love from all of her CA playdate friends.

Obviously the babies all miss Aliza :(

Kelli and Landry

Moriah and Natalie

Gretchen and Stella

Icie "blowing out the candles" on her Jello-shot "cake" (yes, we think we are 20)

Leo says "Oh these mothers never stop talking"

Landry crawling on over to Carson and Leo

Michael and Leo... "Whatta you lookin' at?"

With Ollie locked safely away in the house I brought out the chickens... they were a big hit and survived the little death grips :)

Bath Time

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I used to slide by with only a few baths a week for Francie when she was a "baby" but NOW she gets so dirty multiple times a day she is in the tub all the time :) She loves to play in dirt and rocks and somehow gets mud and dirt all over her face, knees, feet, hands, fingers and toes. It's nice now that she is bigger she can take a bath in the tub without a babybath or anything so we just throw her in and let her go at it!

A Visit from Jen

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Monday night we had dinner at the Dutch Goose with our good friend Jen before she heads back to New York City to move into her new apartment. She was out here for the weekend meeting movers to get her stuff (hope it makes it:) and we got to spend lots of time with her over the weekend. She couldn't believe how big Francie was since she hadn't seen her in a couple of months. We'll see you next month in New York Jen!