Saturday, February 26, 2011

.....she's already two.....

......today you are two years old......

                                                                                10 minutes after your arrival, 2/26/2009
......you were the baby who moved us with your sweet disposition from the first time you were placed in our arms......

                                         Enjoying our one on one time with you just 14 hours after you were born.
......however, arriving into this world yelling and screaming so loudly that we were shocked into laughter at how someone so little could shake a room like you did.....and your vibrance has only shone brighter in the two remarkable years we have spent with you.....

.....your humor and zest for life is infectious.....

                                                        August 2009
                                                                              September 2009
                                         November 2010
......you light up any room with your enthusiasm and quest for fun......and you manage to accomplish this without even realizing how endearing and charming you are to those around you.......you have moved me in ways you will never know......you have already given me more laughter to keep me full and happy all the days I have left on this earth......

.....and from the moment your sister laid eyes on you, the two of you have been inseparable......all of her memories of life will have your beaming face shining in the pages of her mind.....

                                           Your first night home and Elsie would not leave your side.
......and you are not satisfied until you know where she is if she's not by your side......you two have had an extraordinary love for one another since the beginning.....and that has been another gift to us in itself......

                                                       July 2009
                          December 2009
                                           April 2010
                                           July 2009
......and it just seems like yesterday that we were celebrating your first year.......



......the night you showed us that you love a room full of good friends.....laughing, enjoying and amused with those around you; all celebrating the beautiful toddler you had become.....





......and each day with you is cherished, so I am thrilled to celebrate you today.....highlighting all of the joyfulness you so willingly give us......

......our family is so fortunate to have been given you as a gift from above.....



.....thank you for the feisty, loveable, compassionate and exuberant little person you have become....we love you deeply and anticipate each day ahead that we can share with you......

.....Happy Birthday, Callie Anne......

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

.....low gear.....

.....this weekend I rattled off my intended schedule to Stefan for the day over our morning brew......

......Gym with the girls for Ultimate Workout class, home to shower; could he help with feeding the girls lunch on a study break, btw?, Target with Elsie while Callie naps because I had a list a million miles long, home to drop the goods off; put them all away later, run to a late afternoon birthday party with Elsie and then leave before pizza to meet up for our family Mexican dinner at the new joint that just opened on 84th Street......

......Stefan just looked at me with a blank face reminding me that it sounded like a long day for a weekend.....then he proceeded to tell me that I am really pregnant, reciting out the wrong week of my pregnancy; but I knew his point......and I reminded him that it was a drop in the bucket and that it would be a good, productive day.....


......and instead of Target, my oldest and I had quiet time together......nestled and curled up in my bed, I watched her suck her little fingers furiously to sooth herself.....and just when I thought she may swallow them whole, they popped out of her mouth and her breathing became rhythmically slower.....inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale......so peaceful and tranquil......reminding me to slow down and to enjoy these tiny moments of weekends or any day for that matter......and although I could not will myself to sleep, I rested with my eyes closed for an hour.....forcing out of my head the to do lists for baby, the gripes of discomforts as its head or an elbow or some newly formed body part smashed into one of my organs on the lower right side of my body......willing out the urge to get up and be productive around the house......instead, I quieted my mind, occasionally opening my eyes to watch my oldest sleep so undisturbed......and it was a much better way to spend the afternoon.....

.......although, we did make it to the birthday party......



......and I am glad that Elsie had her nap because she was hot and sweaty after leaving this fun house.....





......and although all was good once we arrived at dinner, she did not want to leave the party......even to meet up with Daddy and Callie.....but she found her niche once she arrived.....one time an avid avocado lover, she now has to be forced to eat them.....which left more guacamole for the remaining three of us......so Elsie loved to scoop and feed to participate in the ritual of appetizers......




.....until it got to the point that we were all being force fed so fast that Stefan had to take the guac and set it in his lap and call out a slow down, girls at the table......a theme that seems to keep resurfacing in our family.....

.......and my husband is known in our house for reminding all of us to take a moment to breathe.....it's one of the things I love most about him.....he's our balance.....I'm ying, he's yang.....

.....so some musical chairs and chocolate ice cream later, we were jolting back home, running frenzied from the cold to wind the day down......




......and even then, Daddy picks us up to remind us that we are running too fast......


......and so we slow down, we cut our to do lists in half, I remind myself that I don't have the energy of my usual spirited self.....and that's ok.....

.......because we eventually make our way to Target.....a small taste of suburbia we get to experience up in Harlem.....still a treat for my two girls to score a double cart that holds both of them perched up high to be my shopping helpers......


......persuading me to throw that pair of pink tights we need for ballet into the cart, as well as the family sized box of fruit snacks.....



......as well as new hair jewels I don't find until we arrive home to try them all on at once......



......and we slow down for Elsie to practice taking pictures.....a joy she loves and explodes in hysterical laughter after each click......



......documenting the nothingness of the weekend......the time we take to hang out and talk and laugh.....smile, baby, smile.....

......and I take time to slowly unwrap my first spring purchase as the snow quietly fell this weekend.....reminding myself that with the warmer weather and new life that spring brings, our family will also welcome our new addition.....and that is a bright and cheerful thought.....

.....so a Momma must dress the part.....

                                         I found it rather difficult to snap a photo of my feet with the protruding belly.....

.....and so we start off this week reminding ourselves to slow down, to stay in low gear.....


......and to enjoy every minute of it.....




......ever so slowly.....

Monday, February 14, 2011

.....the things we love.....

.....sometimes the week leading up to Valentines Day only needs a small preface.....to focus on the things we love.....so without further ado.....

sisters who love to deck out in their red and pink......

.....Callie chose her red dress and Elsie chose her pink dress to wear on the day of love.......and Elsie was so excited to bring all of her Valentines to her friends at school......I love to experience the intense anticipation through the eyes of my children......


crafts and cookies for our grandparents......



......I was quite proud of this half day, love project; as I am anything but crafty.....it's all a challenge for me.....but my girls love to get their hands messy......




......and we all love to eat the cookies as we make them.....

......a few pouts surfaced during our project, as I am trying to teach the girls that everything is good in moderation.....so when Elsie was denied more cookie dough, we had a 3 year old moment.....


.....but those moments pass as quickly as they arrive.....and before it's all said and done; we had some wildly decorated old chinese containers, filled with chocolate chip cookies that have been finger licked and loved.....


.......not to mention a little construction paper, glitter and glue all shaped into hearts to show four sets of grandparents they are loved, missed and cherished......



......and that very well may be the last craft we do until Easter.....

the switcharoo as we get ready for baby....

.....We have been talking about Elsie's new bed for months.....we have been talking about Callie's new crib for months.....and like most toddlers, they can be a bit resistant to change, so this talking and anticipation has been good....

......when the toddler bed arrived this weekend, Elsie was ecstatic to put it together with her Daddy......especially to assemble it with a Daddy she hadn't seen in a week......Stefan's travel schedule has kept all of us loving our family time because it's been scarce the last two weeks......but scarce doesn't mean it hasn't been filled with abundant engagement with one another.....because when family time can be few and far between, the quality can make up for the infrequency......




......and our little handymandy stayed engaged in this project for an hour.....engaged with her Daddy, asking him questions, offering her assistance, talking about what a big girl she is to be in such a grand bed.....


.....and when the bed was finished, Callie woke up from her snooze.....giving Elsie the perfect partner to test out her new prized possession......


.....and although Callie got Elsie's old crib, we did buy her a new mattress......she has to have some new things too.....and she has been sleeping like a baby since we made the change.....not to mention, Callie is thrilled to announce that her old crib is going to da new baaaaabyyyy.......


......everyone is having sweet dreams.....everyone is happy......


unexpected visits from an old  friends.....

......it has been a treat to see Veroushka twice in the last 3 months.....this visit, unlike the last, was filled with quality time with my girls.....of course, like anyone who meets Veru; they loved her instantly.....her warm nature and sincere interest in others is a true testament to her genuine love for her friends and family.....



.....and while Elsie frolicked at school and Callie napped, Veru and I had some time to talk, laugh, and sidebar different conversations.......we weaved and bobbed in and out of different subjects lurking in our lives......and at the end of our visit, I had my fill.....of course, I can always use more time with the ones I love and don't get to see that often; but we crammed in some good stuff during our 5 hour visit.....and I love good, laughter filled afternoons with the best of friends.....it's a high for the soul.....

.....and Elsie documented our 19 year friendship.....not bad for a budding 3 year old photographer......


50 degree warm fronts that remind us spring is near.......


......I love my walk home with Callie after we drop Elsie off at school......it's just the two of us, it's relaxed, it's slow.....we talk, we touch things, we stroll at a toddler's pace enjoying the view from a  toddler's perspective.....and today we were thrilled to see some new green peeping it's way out of the snow.....reminding us that spring is the next season on deck......



.....and being that it's the day for the one's we love, I am going to sign out and enjoy my time with them....wishing you and yours a Happy Valentines Day......





....savoring every minute......