Monday, May 31, 2010

......fleet Week......

......for days we looked forward to Fleet Week.....it even made the summer list.....big ships, lots of excitement, hundreds of men and women in their uniforms,  awe inspiring sights to see....and the experience blew our minds.....

......I thought I would leave satisfied from a fun day, but I actually walked off the ship humbled and proud.....the event was incredibly moving....and made me appreciate all the more the men and women who choose to fight for our country.....



.......we weren't really sure what to expect when we got all the way over to the west side of the island.....but we stumbled upon one of the most massive ships I have ever seen that towered several stories high......various helicopters perched on the top and a steep walkway lead to a middle entrance for visitors to embark upon the floating village...... 




......once inside, we noticed that all branches of the military were representing the week.....inside the ship and to the amazement of the 4 toddlers that traveled with us, there were hummers, tanks, torpedos, guns, and enormous trucks.....

......each branch of the military would be stationed near the equipment that they use, ready to answer questions to curious visitors, offer a hand to a child climbing a tank 10 times his size or to ask a Momma if she wanted her picture taken....so our first stop was next to a group of marines that drive what is formerly known as a LAV 25, an amphibious infantry fighting vehicle......


.....the two boys that were with us were in testosterone heaven.....climbing into tanks, pretending to drive the vessels that transport and protect our military....



.....luckily for me, juggling 50 pounds of toddler on my hips, my girls' interest was mostly running around the ship.......inquisitively venturing to see the things that were eye level......


......this bell occupied their interest long enough so I could take a swig of water and catch my breath from running after the two of them darting in separate directions.....usually the case when strollers aren't permitted..... 




.....we met new friends.....


.....and got close enough to some trucks so we could climb around, spin the wheel and grind some gears.....




.......but Callie was in her typical flirty and festive mood.....


......and after a few pictures with soldiers, that is ALL she wanted to do......






.....she would bravely walk up to each one and turn around to wait for me to grab my camera.....She loves people and as much as it pains me to say it, she loves a man in uniform.....






.....but when it comes to the true importance of the day, I hope we documented our outing enough for my girls to look back so we can talk about it......all of the men and women that stayed in NYC for the week left an impression on all of us.......proud to discuss the jobs they do, serious about the flag they defend.....they were some of the most polite and honorable people I have ever come across......all of them were generous with their time, gracious in conversation, refined in stature......determined to educate children and adults alike......all of them away from their families- their wives, husbands, children, siblings and parents........not only on the long Memorial Day weekend, but for extended periods of time to go to distant places......all to serve a greater purpose and to acclaim our country.....  

......I wanted to give each of them a big hug and thank them for their selflessness and sacrifice.....it was easy to get the sense that all of the visitors of that ship felt the same way.....regardless of political party, views, or beliefs.......we all had the same acknowledgement for these men and women.....we live in a safe and free country because of what they do........it's for the betterment of our families and the families that will follow behind ours......it was inspiring to be around them and I left with my heart filled with gratitude.....


......Sara and I walked along the Hudson River toward the upper west side in silence.....reflecting on our day, drained from the excitement and bone tired from lifting, carrying, pulling, raising, squatting and lunging after our toddlers....

......and then we lifted our eyes and came across this oasis......


......an open haven of smooth concrete, confined space floating in the middle of the Hudson River for our toddlers to run and play.....I love finding pockets of the city that are new to us....

......we were sold on the idea of staying for dinner when we took note of pinot grigio and sangria on the menu......after all, it was happy hour.....



......new experiences to embark upon......water surrounded us, the cooling end of a hot day breeze smelled of a long weekend.....and Elsie and William could not get enough of the view.....



.....Fleet Week was an ideal way to kick off Memorial Day weekend.....a time to really appreciate and observe those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the United States.....

.....and it makes me feel especially grateful to have my girls close to me and safe....to have a husband that, although has been absent a lot these past few months; he is still home....and that is more than a lot of other families have right now.....

.......so today we honor all of those fallen men, women and their families too.....and close the weekend with some of our own family time......and savor the moments of togetherness.....

......because they are such gift....


Friday, May 28, 2010

.....15 months and 2 days old.....

.....it hit me on Wednesday when Callie turned 15 months that she is the same age that Elsie was when Callie made her grand entrance into our family.....Elsie was 15 months and 2 days old, the exact age that Callie is today.....

.....It still awes me at times, just like it did the day we found out we were expecting again; as Callie still seems like she is my baby.....it also seems like Callie just arrived....I can still remember every detail of her delivery like it was yesterday.....and as I regarded this noteworthy age in my babies' lives, I started to feel torn by two different emotions....
......I am excited and appreciate that my two girls will grow up so close in age.....I am thankful that God's plan for our family gave us two sisters that already love and cherish each other immensely.....each of them is always looking over their shoulder for the other, always aware of each other's presence in the room.....always thinking of each other when one sister offers the other the last squishy piece of banana or the chunk of string cheese that has already made it's way on the sidewalk a time or two......they love each other without the knowledge of stereotypes, judgements or prejudices......

......it's pure, wholesome love...

               March 2009- Callie, 11 days old. Elsie, 15 months

......there is also a part of me, however; that feels the need to overcompensate in giving Elsie my time... I have distinct memories of teaching her how to bring me diapers and burp clothes at the mere age of 18 months......I remember giving her time outs for curiously poking her sister in the baby swing.....I remember taking her to gym class with a newborn strapped to me, unable to jump wildly on the trampoline or unable to roll like a log; however still encouraging her to do the Mommy and me activities alone while I cheered her on from the sidelines.....

......all the while, we weren't having our story time before bed anymore, we weren't spending lazy mornings at the park learning how to navigate through new playgrounds, and meals consisted of me making her food with one hand, while I nursed Callie with the other.....I tense up thinking about those first few unorganized and sleep deprived months....I was engulfed with newness for several weeks.....

......but after a while, I did get a routine back.....books came back around bedtime, I learned to time Callie's feedings around Elsie's mealtimes, sitters were established to help me balance time with both of my girls......I was able to carve out day dates with each of them alone.....able to treasure the moments where I could inhale both of their sweetness for different reasons.....

......but if I could do it all over again.....those first few months......the 15-18 months of Elsie's life, I would have treated them both as the babies they were......I would have cared less about the spit up on my shirt, the burp rag I needed immediately, the errands I had to run or the thank you notes I felt like were overdo......maybe I still would have taught Elsie how to fetch diapers and burp rags, but it would have been in her own timing and not because I needed her to be a Mommy's helper......so there is an emotion that arises of a bit of lost time with my first born.....

              

                         January 31, 2009- 26 days before Callie's arrival
                          Sara Blackburn Photography

......I am thankful, though, that I can look back on things I have done as a mother that I wish I could change.....it's how we grow.....it's the recognition of imperfection that makes us humble, authentic and truthful....and it's the times that I didn't savor every moment that make me want to take bigger and deeper breathes of my life today.....

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

....summer is here......

......maybe it's because today has been our hottest day of the year or that tomorrow is going to top 90 degrees, but it is really starting to feel like summer......

......and for some reason, I am full of abundant excitement for heat, sand, sunblock, stylish sun hats and ice cream......maybe it's because the winter was so brutal or maybe it's because my girls are a year older, which opens up the possibility to do many more adventures......

....I do know for certain that much of the excitement has to do with the fact that Stefan's test will be behind us.....11 days......and we can have some foursome family ventures.....whatever the driver for my overwhelming zeal, this summer can not get here fast enough.....I am ready to jump in with both feet.....and so are my girls.....




......we got started this week.......bare feet, sand, shovels, dirty hands, & sidewalk chalk.....

.....and lots of beaming smiles.....


......even at 2 years old, Elsie stops for a minute to take it all in......I love that about her.....


.....and summer isn't complete unless it's spent with friends, family and neighbors......


.....speaking of friends, Sara and I have a list going of all the places we want to take the kids this summer.....I love lists.....always have.....it's a way to feel accomplished, productive, goal oriented......I thrived on lists during my career; taking pride in scratching off each action item....I admit there were times I would accomplish something, notice it wasn't on my list, only to write my completed challenge down so I could immediately scratch it off.....exhilarating....

....since some of that Type A behavior flows into being a Momma, I make lists for each season.....experiences I want to have, places to visit, styles to try.....and since summer is here, it's time for our family summer list......

  • Horse drawn carriage ride in Central Park  
  • Experience Fleet Week- take pictures with the sailors
  • Eat lots of peaches and apricots
  • Go to a concert with my college girls and our hubbies
  • Play in the rain
  • Spend a weekend at the beach with Stefan and our girls
  • Watch a sunset in Florida
  • Make mojitos from scratch
  • Go strawberry picking in Long Island
  • Row boats in Central Park
  • Wear my hair in braids
  • Play on the slip n slide at Amy's house  
  • Kiss Stefan on top of the Brooklyn Bridge
  • Eat lobster for breakfast, lunch and dinner in Key West
  • Go wine tasting
  • Wear a splash of baby blue eyeshadow
.....Callie has recently begun to mimic Elsie's every move....she is picking up some great habits.....like constantly wanting to brush her teeth.......I walked in on this right before lunch today.....


........of course she wants to stand on top of the toilet like her sister, but we also had to upgrade her toothbrush.....


......that makes her happy.....clean teeth and all.....

......Happy Summer.....

Saturday, May 22, 2010

.....an expression worth a million words.....

.......one of the best investments we have made this year is the annual membership to the Central Park Zoo......it's a beautiful walk over there and we can make a visit for the day or just to join the seals for dinner....it's always a special event whether we have 4 hours to spend or are just passing through.....

.....earlier this week we had an itch to make a morning of it and the girls could not wait to get inside......


.....we bee lined it straight for the petting zoo since Elsie has been asking to feed animals again since we made our Bronx Zoo visit a few weeks ago.....she is quite the pro at luring over the animals to a secluded area where she gets the exclusive rights to feed them....


......last time Callie was a spectator......I couldn't bare keeping her strapped in the stroller this time......she loves animals of all kinds......she has a distinct giggle every time she sees one......when we are walking around the city in our stroller and I hear that certain gleeful chuckle, I  know there is a cat, dog, squirrel, bird or duck within a 5 foot radius....

.....so I quickly justified that we had enough hand sanitizer to take us from the animals straight to the bathroom to scrub down our hands and fingers.....I couldn't leave her out of the slobbery fun.....

......before long, she had a handful of the smelly, brown pellets in her hand and it was the best fifty cents I have ever spent.....







......I could have watched her animated expressions all day long......
.......I thought they couldn't get any better until I saw the face of hers when she didn't have anymore food for her furry friends......


......our fast dash to the bathrooms proved to have several fun distractions......
.......ropes twisted to make pretend spider webs.....


......a bunny farm with pretend hopping bunnies......


......and oversized turtles.....


.....when I accepted a stranger's offer to take a picture of the three of us, I quickly thought of unwashed hair, sweaty skin and minimal make up......but I still accepted.....and am so glad I did or we would have missed out on these two precious expressions....



......which actually captured the perfect picture of our spontaneous, laughter filled morning at the zoo......and a morning like that with my girls is priceless......

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

....fiesta.....

.....if I would have had the energy, there would have been a "sick with the ick part III......that was one of my thoughts as I lay in my bed Monday morning after dragging my beaten body from the bathroom floor....

......I'm not sure what is worse....the thought of knowing your babies felt this bad or the thought of knowing even though Momma feels like she got hit by the subway, she still has to care for the babies.....
.....thank God for loving neighbors.....and for a sitter that finally said she could come over.....

.....After a few miserable days, a 12 pack of blue gatorade, Stefan quarantining himself in the guest room, 14 loads of laundry, fresh bedsheets and a house scoured and scrubbed in clorox, we are ick free.....

......and that's the last I am going to talk about the ick.....

....so, it was perfect timing that the girls received their long awaited crowns Mimi and JJ bought them from Fiesta in San Antonio......

......we had a lot to celebrate on our first healthy day in 7 days......



......my little loves are laughing again, their big blue eyes are glimmering and it's good to be back in the happy house.....

......after I fitted their crowns, we decided to have our own Fiesta.... 


......then it was time to have a pretend Fiesta parade.....I am so glad that this picture exhibits Elsie marching in her parade.....she has just started to enter into the imaginary phase and it's been euphoric to observe.....

.....I love her creativity and brilliance.....


.....when I called out that it was "nighty night" time, my little mischievous one tried to hide from me.....in her own bedroom.....behind the rails of Elsie's bed.....she can put a smile on my face in a nanosecond....


......fiesta turned to siesta in no time.....

.....and I am ever so thankful that we get to plan some outside adventures the rest of the week......that we get to see some friends.....that we can enjoy a hearty meal......and just make the rest of the week our own fiesta.....

......we just might wear these crowns for a long, long time.....