......our week was packed with episodes and events that have been firsts for our family or individually for our girls.....and in the ebb and flow of normal routined life; it helps me to savor the moments with my family recognizing the significance of firsts.....
.....last weekend began with both of my babies being knocked down with the shakes and chills, accompanied by a 102.5 fever.....no other symptoms.....no cough, no snot, no sore throat.....just a fever......after battling it out for two days and temps still not drastically declining, we made a trip to the pediatrician and they tested negative for everything under the sun.....I probably would not have been as concerned about it if Stefan hadn't come down with the flu on our return trip from Florida......but it seems the girls just caught a bug that contained a fever and no other symptoms.......that was a first for our house.....
Nothing but a fever.....
.....for the record, however; if your babes are going to be sick; a fever with no other symptoms is the way to go.....there is lots of cuddling, lots of lounging and lots of movie time.....we watched Shrek twice in one day......another first for our house......however, after keeping the girls quarantined for 3 days so not to infect friends or neighbors, they were ready for some fresh air.....
....and as much as the snow can get a bit tedious, I have never seen Central Park so breathtakingly beautiful......I know I say that at least once every season because Central Park is my favorite place in NYC, but it really was a sight to see with 20+ inches of accumulated snow......
......it took me the entire time we were there to forgive myself for not bringing my camera, so the iphone pics have to do......and they don't serve justice to the beauty of our day......
......but the whole purpose of getting to Central Park was to give the girls an adventure they had been craving after so much indoor time.....I think they ran through the snow for hours.....needless to say, they took great naps after our visit......
Picture day at nursery school.....
......Elsie had been practicing her smile in the mirror since hearing that her school was going to be taking pictures of all the classmates......after meticulously selecting her outfit the night before, we took some extra time before school to use the blow dryer on this special occasion......
......and once the hair was bouncy and shiny from the extra attention and care, she was all set.....and of course, Callie shared in the enthusiasm of being excited about Elsie's first picture day.......Callie loves being a part of taking Elsie to school three days a week.....she follows Elsie to her cubby and helps her hang her backpack and jacket.....so it was no surprise that Callie kept screaming, cheeeese to Elsie.......
......giving her plenty of opportunity to practice showing off her pearly whites......oh, my first born.....she is growing up so quickly before my eyes.....and I am loving every minute of our beautiful journey.....
Visiting the farm in the city......
.....for months I have been meaning to take the girls to the Art Farm....just blocks away, it's a mecca for art projects and also has a basement full of animals that the little ones can touch and hold.....at the tail end of the ice storm last week, we decided that it would be the perfect place to host three girls who needed a change of scenery.....
......lots of glue, lots of stickers, lots of mess......and the best part was, I didn't have to be the one who cleaned it all up.....
.....and as we entered the petting area to see the animals in the farm, I expected the girls to be immediately captivated.....instead, it was the rocking horses that drew them in first.....
.....then the animals.....
.......and when they decided they were done, they were done......they darted right up the stairs, passed the registration desk and from 50 feet trailing behind, I watched as they opened the main door and sauntered out to the sidewalk.....stomach in my throat, I have never run so fast in a children's establishment......after collecting, securing, lecturing and then confining both of them in the stroller, I forgot all about our art projects......sorry Daddy......we made you some pretty cool picture frames......
Elsie's first ballet class......
.....there is no doubt that I adore having girls.....and I certainly fell a little more head over heels in love with the reality that I have two of them after observing Elsie and her friends at her first ballet class......
......and just like with everything, Callie throws herself in the mix with sheer confidence and determination.....I love that about her.....
.....and because both of my girls are determined, Elsie ended up with the baggiest leotard in her class......since ballet runs 6 months long, I bought a long sleeved leotard for winter in her current size and a short sleeved one for spring in her next size......Friday morning arrived and she would not have anything to do with the long sleeved leotard.....leaving us with material hanging everywhere off her 3T frame.....but I have learned to choose my battles.....
......besides, seeing her pink underwear hang down below her gaping leg holes is so funny.....
......but laughing aside, I was so proud of my sweet, little sprite.....we have been having a bit of separation anxiety since the two week holiday break at Christmas.....and because we are experiencing it at school on most days, I knew that the 3 year old drop off class would not be an exception......we had a rough start.....we stepped out of class initially to watch the others, then we moved back in to sit in the circle with the other ballerinas, then I crept to the side of the room and waved encouragingly......but trying to contain Callie at the same time wasn't possible.....I had no choice but to leave the room and at that point, Elsie decided to leave with me......
.....we took a break for some goldfish and some water and I gave her a choice.....we could go home and play and try ballet again next week or she could be a big girl and join her friends; Callie and I would stay and watch her through the window.....she pondered her options for a few seconds and bravely told me, with her lip quivering....I fink I want to staaaay.....
......and what started as a tearful, timid and unsure ballerina turned into this.......
.....and she continued to enjoy herself; which warmed my heart with gratefulness..... and I felt as if I was beaming with joy and pride for her overcoming her initial hesitation and turning the situation into a splendid morning of dancing with her friends.....
....and not to leave Callie out, we had a first for her too......
Callie's first swim lesson......
.....her fearlessness around a pool has made Stefan and I age, drastically.....she doesn't have any hesitation around water and our last trip to Florida pushed me to take action so that our summer can be a little less stressful around pools......
.....she was thrilled with anticipation in the locker room.....
......I, on the other hand, was having a ton of anxiety; as it didn't dawn on me until the night before that a swim lesson would mean that I, too, would have to take the plunge myself.....not a big deal, except that I am due to deliver in 10 weeks.....and even worse was the fact that I only have a maternity bikini.....
......and I have taken enough swim classes with babies and toddlers to know that Mommas's don't wear bikinis to their kids' swim classes.....a one piece or tankini if one is feeling extra confident......so I sucked it up and waddled in the pool as fast as I could to avoid the stares of disbelief or judgement.....and I got plenty of, you are so brave comments.....because by no means am I showing a little bit....
......and less than 2 seconds after making my plunge, I didn't care anymore......because here I was having some one on one time with my baby, who won't be the baby of the house for much longer.....and she was so brave, yet so scared at the same time.....this wasn't your ring around the rosie kind of swim class where we sing and splash in a big circle of Mommies and babies.....the instructor had Callie gliding two feet under water towards me within the first 5 minutes......and as he would see the hesitation on my face, he assured me that both Momma and child would be resistant at first; but that we needed to push through it if we were going to make any progress.....so Callie and I both clung to one another......me smiling real big and telling her she was doing great, while unsure if this was the right way to go in teaching her the fundamentals of swimming....... and she clinging harder and resting her sweet head on my shoulder as teacher Sam would come near to take her from me and try some new tricks like floating on her back or jumping off the side and letting her sink and practice blowing bubbles before assisting her to the top of the water....
......but by the end of class, I had more confidence in everything we were doing.....She and I would spend every Friday afternoon together for the next few weeks and she was learning how to handle herself if, God forbid, she ever jumps in and we aren't an arm's length away......
.....and as we dried off, I asked her if she wanted to do it again next week and I got her big, self assured, YESSSS, Mommy, reiterating that indeed; this was the class for her.......
......and for the record, I am going to keep flaunting this maternity bikini each week as my belly grows bigger and bigger.....and will do it as confidently as Callie has shown me she can be in the pool.....loving the lessons I learn from my children.....
......and the best part for Callie, blow drying her wet head before we headed back out into the winter afternoon.....
......I heard, one mooore time about 50 times.....but I wasn't in a rush; watching her giggle with glee at something new as she and I relished in our quality time was enough for me to take a seat on the locker room bench and laugh along with her.....
.....I love me some Callie time.....
big girl bath time.....
.......maybe it was spawned by the attention we gave her hair on picture day, but Elsie has now insisted that she wash her own hair.....this is a first that I welcome, as I have learned, just like any other Momma with siblings close in age, that when Elsie picks up on doing something for herself; it frees me up to help Callie with what she is demanding at the present......and before long, Callie wants to attempt to do it alllllll by myself too.....
......and the self assurance and excitement at accomplishing something allllll by myself never gets old......
.....and taking time to reflect on my girls, during a week it was just us; as Daddy worked from afar always makes me feel blessed....wrapping up one big, normal week and highlighting the special moments is what helps me appreciate the little things that add up this grand time in our lives.....
.....and since this post was long and full, I will take a big sigh and spend the rest of this Sunday afternoon with the ones I love.....
....savoring the rest of our weekend.....
