Today was a Good Day

 

We had a wonderful family-focused day. We woke up a little late, went for a walk outside, met Naomi & family at the playground, and ate lunch in the park. Alice and I made her first smoothly, and she said it was, "so yummy." We came home for Alice's nap, I took a little snooze, then cooked dinner, and snuck in a walk before we ate. As we were enjoying the lasagna, Alice tested out how hot it was and reported that it was, "not bad." To top it off, Alice was ready for bed by 8:25. 

We've had a very hectic few weeks. Michael's job is always busy this time of year, and our nanny's growing baby belly has required many a day covering her doctor's visits. It feels like we've had very few nights like tonight - where I had dinner ready early, dishes cleaned before we sat down for dinner, and we were rested before the week ahead of us. 

Usually our Sunday's include a trip to the grocery store and the laundry. This weekend I managed to go to the grocery store on Saturday and we just skipped laundry, putting it off for tomorrow. I think those two little adjustments really helped make this weekend more relaxed and enjoyable. I realize these few sentences are SO boring, but they are the realities that make up our lives right now. We spend time together, we get food on the table, we prepare for life. And the more we can find joy in these routines - and small, simple ways to regroup - the better.

Bagels are YUMMY!!!

Birthday Baby

Dear Alice,

Happy birthday, my sweet baby!!! On Thursday, you turned TWO!! To celebrate, Daddy, you and I went to Virginia to celebrate with Grandma, Grandpa, PapPap, GiGi, Uncle Henry, Aunt Eileen and Bumpa. We had a lovely pizza dinner, with cake and ice cream sent especially for you from Grandma LeeLee.

At two, you love to do things, "all by myself, Mommy!" You eat your yogurt by yourself, climb into your car seat by yourself, rock in the rocking chair by yourself, take off your shoes all by yourself... Your personality is so unbearably sweet. You love to give hugs, and you have fun tickling Mommy and Daddy.

Your Aunt Kelsey sent you "Corduroy" for your birthday, and it has quickly become one of your favorite reads. You are also enjoying "Horses" and "Alice the Fairy." You bring lots of lovies to bed with you every night - Froggie and Zebra and Abby and Dora and Corduroy and books and blankie and soothie. There's hardly room for you.

I love you, and am so grateful for all the blessings you bring, baby girl. You are such a joy for Mommy and Daddy! And you just have the sweetest heart.

I love you more than anything ever!!

Love,

Mommy

***

PS You love singing, "I love you. You love me. We're a happy family..." And then you love to play with your imaginary big, pink, scary monster!!

Easter Eggs

Snow

Today, by a miracle of miscommunication, Anna and I ended up with all three girls for the afternoon. We all decorated Easter eggs - terrific fun - and did some painting as well. I'm not in the slightest bit artistic, but it seems like Alice has picked up that gene from her daddy - she loves to paint and color and draw. We had a great time.

Then we walked to Chipotle to meet Michael for dinner. The sunshine was out, and the weather perfect. On our walk home, we passed a huge snow mound - remnants of a film shoot on the Barnard campus today. Alice loved climbing up with daddy!!! A lovely evening all around.

HOME.

The View from my Window

Scenes from California

Third & Final

Perfect Saturday

Today started at 9 AM, when our sweet, sleeping daughter woke up. Happy. At 9 AM.

Our apartment was full of gorgeous sunshine, nothing but blue skies all around us. Alice was happy to let us put her sweet hair in pigtails, put her bangs up in a barrette.

We took our typical Saturday stroll through Central Park, including a stop at the Central Park Zoo. Alice LOVED the animals. We watched the Gus, the Polar Bar, swim:

We petted the cow and the alpaca:

We walked by the St. Patrick's Day Parade, clapping for the bagpipes and the drums. We went and ate Chipotle, and on the train ride home Alice said, "Momma happy. Daddy happy. Alice happy."

Yes, sweet love. Exactly.

Bronx Zoo

Here

Have you seen how adorable my baby is lately? Because it's pretty insane. Very overwhelmingly lovely.

There's a lot on the brain these days, but not enough time to write about them. But let me tell you about something wonderful: Today, I had to attend a training for work. We ended early, and so Michael and I met for a drink before picking up Alice from daycare. We were grown ups, spending time together, not chasing after a toddler. Fabulous.

Random Happiness

Hip

Alice's First Art Project

Higher!!

Family Photo

Lent 2012

A few years ago, my Lenten resolution was to turn off all computers by 8 PM. It was a shockingly difficult challenge, but one that helped me realize the depths of my technology addiction.

As my iPhone creeps ever closer to my bedroom and the number of screens that fill my day grows, I think it might be time to take this on again. It's harder now - when else do I have time to play Scrabble with Friends, or write blogs, or check Facebook a million gazillion times? But I also think that I need to (re-)establish some boundaries. So I think I will have to turn off my iPhone, my computer, and my blackberry at 8 PM every night, and only reach for it after 7:30 in the morning. Exceptions are inevitable (last minute Diapers.com orders cannot be ignored), and I am sure I'll fail somewhat regularly.

But if Lent is meant to be a daily sacrifice, then this might be a good challenge for me.

The Day

Dear Alice,

Today is the kind of day I hope to remember forever. Today you and I went off on an adventure. We spent the day at the Central Park Zoo, FAO Schwartz and Toys 'R Us. The highlights of the day:

• Seeing horses wearing "jackets" all along the southern edge of Central Park.
• Laughing at penguins diving through the water.
• Watching Gus, the Polar Bear, sleep, lift his head, and fall back asleep again.
• Eating our packed lunch of PB & J sandwiches and yogurt in front of the sea lions, soaking up the sun, and smiling.
• Watching a cow eating hay, chewing with eyes shut and mouth open, laughing constantly.
• Feeling you grab my waist as we watched the Dinosaur from Jurassic Park at the Toys 'R Us at Times Square.
• Buying you your first real girlie doll - a Dora with a hair brush - breaking all of my rules just because you were so freakin happy to have her.

These are special times, my love. I'm so grateful for this kind of day - a morning of adventures, an afternoon of naps and household chores. I pray for many more of these together, my sweet special babe.

I love you!
Mommy