Events

Today has been eventful!

First, in an effort to earn my keep around this place, I installed an air conditioner!! I spent the morning sweating, swearing, and praying I wouldn't drop this expensive device through our window and down six flights into the courtyard below. And guess what?! I didn't! I managed to wedge our AC in just the right position, and now I'm sitting in the living room, praying that it has then strength to cool off our apartment. I have to say, I feel burly. In a good way.


Then, while feeding Alice, I felt the earth move!! I emailed Michael, feeling ridiculous even asking, "Uh... did you just feel the earth shake?" He didn't. But the New York Times did! Ha!

And, the big news of the day: Alice rolled over for the very first time! As soon as it was over, I gave her gobs of kisses and she just stared at me with this look of utter boredom. Like, "Hello, Mom. It's no big deal." I tried to get her to do it again for the camera, but no luck. Instead she just talked to me. So here's a clip of her chatting:

Remnants

Michael & I have never been very good at leftovers. After big meals, we always fill Tupperware and - more often than not - "forget" about them. Unless it's lasagna or a particularly delicious ratatouille recipe that I sometimes prepare, the leftovers hang out in our fridge, untouched, until it's time to toss 'em.

Well, now that Alice is around and expecting to be clothed and cared for, we've entered a new era of fiscal conservatism. As a result, leftovers are the new dinner. Here's the carnage after tonight's meal of london broil & mac & cheese for Michael and pasta for me (with a side of fresh veggies and cantaloupe):


Let's be honest - leftovers just aren't as good.

A Big Day

Five years ago today, this happened.

Happy Father's Day!

Daddy!

Grandpa!

Great PapPap! and...

Bumpa!

Adorable

Naomi being too cute!

Garden 2010

It's that time again! This year, we planted tomatoes, cucumbers, and a host of herbs. Wish us luck!

And also..

I am my mother's daughter (as discussed here). And I am my father's daughter too!

Yesterday I spent much of the day drooling over the new iPhone 4. I had managed to dismiss its arrival previously because I thought we weren't eligible for an upgrade until November. But yesterday I found out that we could get the new iPhones NOW. So, of course, I WANT TO PRE-ORDER MINE NOW!

Periodically, I am overwhelmed by very intense desires for cool gadgets. This, without question, I get from my dad. I would like to own (in no particular order, mind you) the newest iPhone, a flat-screen TV, a fancy camera... I have these days every now and again that are almost unbearable with desire for some cool, fancy, high-tech and low-need device. Michael does his best to ignore me, knowing that the urgency will pass, reminding me that we are not early adopters.

But, MAN! Some days I sure want to be... So much for maternal zen.

Alice Plays Games!

In the last two days, Alice has learned to play! It's pretty amazing. Here she is, actually anticipating a kiss and loving it:

Recommended

I know all I do these days is talk about Alice, motherhood and our changing family. So here are some recommended articles that talk about the same exact thing, only much more eloquently:

• Ad-Libbed Parenting
• Priorities: Children or Spouse
• When to Buy Your Child a Cell Phone
• The Risks of Parenting While Plugged In
  

Alice's New Toy

Relief?

Can I just say that my daughter is the best baby???

On Thursday, Alice had her 2-month doctor's visit, where she received 2 nice big shots. Since then, she has needed to be carried in her sling the entire time. I attempted to take her for a walk in the stroller last night and she flipped.

This morning, after sleeping from 7 pm to 6 am, she is sitting quietly in her chair, easing in and out of sleep. I've had time to write some emails, clean the apartment up a bit, and get a shower.

Thank you, my sweet!

More Visuals

Courtesy of my very talented Aunt Jess!

Someone's Excited!

Yipee!

Home tomorrow!

Similarities

Me with my Grandma

Alice

I Love NY

Tonight's Walk
(in pictures)

Howdy!

Alice - 2 Months Old!

The Met

On Friday, in search for air conditioning and entertainment, Alice and I went to the Met!

We wandered through two exhibits: "American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity" and "Picasso in the Metropolitan Museum of Art." Alice liked Picasso...


But she LOVED American Woman:

It was a really a fabulous outing. Alice enjoyed the air conditioning and the opportunity to see so many new things. She kept her eyes open the entire time we wandered through the museum, only falling asleep when we walked outside into the heat.

She was also quite the hit, as you can imagine. Wherever we walked, people ogled at how cute she was. The best was when a 9-year old girl stopped me to say what a beautiful baby Alice is. When I told her that Alice is just 2-months old, the girl waved her hands in the air and said, "Welcome to the world!" just a little too loudly for the Met. It was just a magical moment - such sweetness all around.

Explorations

Dear Alice,

Happy 2-month birthday!

This past month has been about exploring. You have decided that saying awake is pretty cool. And we love it!

Your adventures have included trips to new neighborhoods, new boroughs, and new states. We strolled through the Village, visiting our friends at the gym and the bookstore. We traveled to the New York Botanical Gardens in the Bronx, admiring peonies and orchids and millions of gorgeous flowers. We even ventured down to DC, where we showed you off to all of our family. You loved all these adventures - and we loved taking you on them.

You are an excellent starter baby, my Alice. You sleep well (even through the night on occasion!). You smile and coo and keep us entertained. You let us take you out to dinner - and sometimes happy hour. You enjoy being outdoors, but don't demand it. You enjoy sleeping in your crib, but don't demand it. You like to sit quietly in your chair, feeling its vibrations and looking at our ceiling fans whirl above you. In sum, you are perfect.

Everywhere we go, people comment on how cute you are. The other day, an elderly woman pushing a walker down the street stopped me to say that if she had a baby just like you she would spend all day kissing your adorable cheeks. I assured her that I spend much of my day doing just that.

My darling Alice, we are loving every minute of being your parents. You bring such joy to our lives, and we are so thankful for you. Thanks for being you, my sweet.

Love,
Mom

Reading?

More like napping...


But wonderful all the same.

My Perfect Life

I have it so good.

A snapshot of my life right now: I wake up to the sunshine, my husband asleep to one side, my baby to the other. Alice is up and ready to eat, so I pick her up and bring her into the living room. Occasionally she will give me enough time to make my tea, while Michael gets ready for work. Alice enjoys a leisurely breakfast, while I sit and enjoy the quiet start. After she finishes, Alice asks for some attention, needing a new diaper, a walk around the apartment, or just some quality time with her parents. Occasionally Michael & I get smiles.

Michael packs up and heads to work, with much more comfort and relaxation given the new job. He kisses Alice & I goodbye and we all wish one another luck with the day. Michael walks the sunny 10 blocks to work. Alice and I start our day.

Our days are varied. We try to go for walks at least once a day, getting out to run some errands or just to enjoy Riverside Park. We go to the grocery store, or the drug store, or to meet friends for lunch. Throughout the day I email and text with several girlfriends who are also at home on maternity leave. Alice is generally happy, though fussiness occasionally permeates the day. We share laughs, read books, play in her baby gym. Sometimes, when she has a particularly good, deep nap, I have time to read a little.

Around closing time, Michael gives us a call. On pretty days, we will walk to his office to meet him. The three of us walk through Riverside Park or down quiet, pretty, tree-lined streets and enjoy some time out and about together. This spring has been glorious - bright, sunny skies, green everywhere, flowers blooming in every last corner of the City. We do our best to soak these days up, remembering last spring (all rain) and last winter (all cold).

Once home, Alice, Michael and I start an evening routine. Michael changes into comfortable clothes, I prepare dinner, Alice demands attention. Sometimes she sits quietly in her chair, watching me work in the kitchen. Sometimes she hollers at us to walk her around the apartment.

Eventually Alice goes to bed for the night. Michael and I enjoy time together, reading or (most likely) watching trashy TV. When we call it a night, we kiss and say, "I love you." I close my eyes and feel sheer gratitude for the overwhelming love contained within our little bedroom.

I am beyond words about my life right now. It is just perfect. Do I get annoyed? Yes. Do I miss sleep? Of course. And I could use an air conditioner, maybe a flat-screen TV - definitely a flat stomach. I could use some time at the gym. Sometimes I annoy Michael, sometimes he annoys me, sometimes we both annoy Alice.

But I know that this is a blessed time in our lives. I love spending my days with Alice. I feel fulfilled beyond measure when I care for her. My husband is my everything, and I am just completely in love with the people who surround me. I feel so blessed to have these glorious days at home, worrying only about the best ways to care for my little family. I see the return to work looming ahead and will eventually be excited to share some adult company. But I don't yearn for the stress those days will bring, for the running around I know will define my days.

Instead I savor the time I have now, joyful for all I have, for the way I spend my time, for my little Alice and my loving husband.

I have the perfect life. Or as perfect as any life can possibly be.

Country

With songs like these, how can you not love country?!?

This Lee Brice song, "Love Like Crazy," has been on near constant replay since I bought it from iTunes (thanks, Kelsey!). The chorus is totally inspirational, and I love belting out "and love like CRAAAAAAZZZZZAAAAYYYY!" to little Miss Alice.



And this Tim McGraw song is an oldie, but a goodie! Now that I've hit that 30-year mark, it's more close to home. And when he sings, "My next 30 years will be the best years of my life. Have a little family and hang out with my wife. Spend precious moments with the ones that I hold dear. Make up for lost time here, in my next 30 years," I can't help but agree. Vigorously.

Series

Story Time

Adoration

LeeLee

As most of you know, my wonderful mother has been visiting us for the past three weeks, getting to know Alice and our new neighborhood, spending some R&R time back in the States. She was supposed to arrive in mid-April, but the insane volcanic ash delayed her trip by a full two weeks. At the moment I am terribly depressed because I just put her in a cab to go back to Armenia. Her visit is over.

Alice, Michael & I had a wonderful visit with LeeLee (Mom's preference over "Grandma"). This was the longest we had spent together since the summer after my first year in college, over ten years ago, and its relaxed time frame really altered the dynamic of our visit. Rather than feeling rushed to catch up over a 24-hour time frame, we were able to take our time, sitting in silence over tea in the morning, laughing at Alice together, talking about not much of anything or about the most intimate of life's treasures. Alice learned mom's voice, began responding to her "Good morning!" and "I see you!" calls. Mom and I would sit on the couch, transfixed by this new addition to our family, enjoying her sweet smiles and adorable pouts.

Around the house, Mom was a God-send. She helped us get through laundry and dinner-making and grocery shopping. She helped me plant my summer herb garden and bought me a new watch. She encouraged me to go clothes shopping and admit that the baby weight means I have to actually own some shorts and shirts that fit me.

This visit was everything I hoped it would be. Thankfully her return to the States is in sight - only four months away. But saying goodbye was tremendously difficult. I'm eager for the days when her visits are a normal part of life, when she can just hop in a car, come up for a couple of days, and know her next trip will be a matter of weeks away.

I'm blessed to be very close with my mom, as she was with hers. I pray that the tradition continues with Alice and I. I look at her and pray that I can be half the mother to her that mine is to me.

Here are some more pictures from her visit:

Out & About

Alice Being Cute

Alice - 6 Weeks Old!

Look how much she's grown! And the beautiful baby let me sleep for SIX HOURS STRAIGHT last night! If that's an apology for your behavior yesterday, Alice, I accept!

Mama Said

Today did not go as planned. Which means no, I haven't learned to stop planning with a newborn.

Alice was in no mood for her mother today. No matter what I did, I couldn't sooth her or keep her cries at bay. She did, however, immediately respond to her daddy, smiling when he held her, patiently holding his hand as she sat with him and observed the environs of our living room.

Mama said there would be days like this, but it doesn't make them easier.

I'm just excited to put this day to bed and hope that tomorrow brings a happy baby. In the meantime, I'm loving this:

Alice's View of the World

This is not great quality, but it is highly amusing:

Family Photos