It seems that I made it home from Dallas just in the nick of time. I landed Thursday night and by Sunday morning, we were under a severe hurricane warning for the entire east coast. To prepare ourselves for a likely power outage, we stocked up on batteries, water and non-perishables (anyone need Ritz crackers or Granola bars, per chance??). And then we waited. And waited. And we baked enough sugary treats to last through a cold war and waited some more. And by the grace of God, we didn't lose power, even though many of our friends and millions of our NJ/NY neighbors lost power and much, much more.
Our community is very blessed to have underground power lines and by the time the storm was over and we went outside to assess the damage, we felt so lucky. After seeing the horrific damage that Hurricane Sandy caused on the NY and NJ coastlines, as well as hearing from our family, friends and coworkers that they had no power, hot water or eeek! internet, we took it all in, made some donations and prayed for the people who were not as lucky.
We were also able to celebrate Halloween actually ON Halloween, which many people did not. Dressed as Woody and Jessie from Toy Story, Zach and Abby were thrilled to get out of the house and run around to our neighbors to get candy. As our little 2.5-yr old trick-or-treater asked at many houses - "more candy please?" it was easy to see why we ended up with enough candy for a year.
As the kids got back to school late in the week and mommy was still working from home due to a power outage at work, we reflected on the week's events and were ever so grateful for Mother Nature sparing us.
And now as we face the first snowfall of the season quite early, we are still just as thankful for our electricity and heat as ever. We'll also be collecting some donations of clothes, toys and supplies for those who were not as lucky as we were, and hopefully our kids will learn a great lesson in helping others.
In the meantime, we have renewed hope for the country in Obama being reelected yesterday, and a lot of great things to look forward to in the coming weeks.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Friday, October 19, 2012
While Mommy's Away
To A&Z: As you may (or may not) realized, Mommy is away for a week on a work trip to Dallas. This week won't be easy on any of us: Daddy, who has to take care of you both each night and over the weekend; Cora, who has to make your meals and get you dressed and ready for school each day; Sadie, who always misses her mommy; both of you and of course, me!
While I know you both have had your moments of sadness (Abby, crying the night before I left; Zach, crying when you woke up from a nap and I wasn't there), you can rest assure that I'm pretty darn sad, too. I miss being able to see your happy faces in the morning and kissing you goodnight before bed. I miss your huge hugs and smiles when I walk in the door from work. I miss seeing your pictures that you colored and the notes home from school. Above all, I miss YOU both terribly!
Traveling for work, especially for a really long trip like this one, is not my idea of fun. Yes, I stay in a nice hotel and sleep in bed without a dog laying on me and I get to eat every meal in peace and quiet without having to clean up after anyone. But what I miss the most when I'm away on a trip like this one is just being able to kiss you both and give you big hugs every day. I work to help provide a better life for you and I hope you know that I do this to give you the best that life can offer, even if there are some rough times in-between.
I will try my best to remember how much I miss you when I'm back at home and yelling to make you stop running around the house or screaming, but in the meantime, please keep missing me and know that I am missing you right back. And be good for daddy - he could use a little help :).
While I know you both have had your moments of sadness (Abby, crying the night before I left; Zach, crying when you woke up from a nap and I wasn't there), you can rest assure that I'm pretty darn sad, too. I miss being able to see your happy faces in the morning and kissing you goodnight before bed. I miss your huge hugs and smiles when I walk in the door from work. I miss seeing your pictures that you colored and the notes home from school. Above all, I miss YOU both terribly!
Traveling for work, especially for a really long trip like this one, is not my idea of fun. Yes, I stay in a nice hotel and sleep in bed without a dog laying on me and I get to eat every meal in peace and quiet without having to clean up after anyone. But what I miss the most when I'm away on a trip like this one is just being able to kiss you both and give you big hugs every day. I work to help provide a better life for you and I hope you know that I do this to give you the best that life can offer, even if there are some rough times in-between.
I will try my best to remember how much I miss you when I'm back at home and yelling to make you stop running around the house or screaming, but in the meantime, please keep missing me and know that I am missing you right back. And be good for daddy - he could use a little help :).
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Fall is Here!
October is off and running! We're only 10 days in but already I feel like November is an arm's throw away. With the start of autumn, there have been the requisite trips to go apple picking and pumpkin picking, plenty of fall festivals and more activities (and apples!) than I can count!
Abby happily started "big girl" gymnastics a few weeks ago - this time, she's with 5 & 6-year old girls so it's the big leagues! She seems to be enjoying it quite a bit, though it's a very long day for her when she goes right from school to gym and isn't home until after 5 pm. But since it's only once a week, she seems to be doing well, and she goes to bed quite early those days!
Zach has a schedule that seems to better fit a 12-year old than a 2-year old! He goes to school on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. In-between on Tuesdays and Thursdays, he enjoys a gym class and a music class - two of his favorites! But recently, we signed him up for a soccer class on Friday afternoons which he LOVES so far, and seems to fit him well since he loves to run. He is doing the class with some of his "older" friends (3-year olds) and is doing great. And of course, he still naps for 2+ hours a day so he's quite a busy little bee.
The rest of this month will no doubt fly by, with me being at a work event in NYC this weekend for 3 days (including on my birthday) and then I'm off to Dallas for a week for work. Soon after I return, we'll have plenty of Halloween celebrations, from a Halloween-themed birthday party to two parades and of course, trick-or-treating. I won't give away what the kids will be dressed up as yet, but suffice it to say that they will be adorable and can't wait to get some candy!
Happy Fall!
Abby happily started "big girl" gymnastics a few weeks ago - this time, she's with 5 & 6-year old girls so it's the big leagues! She seems to be enjoying it quite a bit, though it's a very long day for her when she goes right from school to gym and isn't home until after 5 pm. But since it's only once a week, she seems to be doing well, and she goes to bed quite early those days!
Zach has a schedule that seems to better fit a 12-year old than a 2-year old! He goes to school on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. In-between on Tuesdays and Thursdays, he enjoys a gym class and a music class - two of his favorites! But recently, we signed him up for a soccer class on Friday afternoons which he LOVES so far, and seems to fit him well since he loves to run. He is doing the class with some of his "older" friends (3-year olds) and is doing great. And of course, he still naps for 2+ hours a day so he's quite a busy little bee.
The rest of this month will no doubt fly by, with me being at a work event in NYC this weekend for 3 days (including on my birthday) and then I'm off to Dallas for a week for work. Soon after I return, we'll have plenty of Halloween celebrations, from a Halloween-themed birthday party to two parades and of course, trick-or-treating. I won't give away what the kids will be dressed up as yet, but suffice it to say that they will be adorable and can't wait to get some candy!
Happy Fall!
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Three Weeks In
It's officially 3 weeks ago today that Abby started kindergarten! On the big first day, she practically skipped onto the bus, sat down with her friend Jared and never looked back. Which is a good thing, considering mommy was crying! While the details have been few and far between, I do know that she is happy and excited to go each day, which can only be a good sign that she is liking it.
Today I had the opportunity to visit her classroom for the parents breakfast. It was a chance to see/meet the other kids and their parents, and see where Abby spends 6.5 hours of her day. The teacher seems great so far and the classroom is cute. The class is diverse and Abby is meeting new friends and she is lucky to have her very good friend Jared as well. She is also enrolled in kindergarten Hebrew school, where she'll hopefully continue to build on the Jewish foundations that she learned in preschool.
And as for the little guy (who, yes, is still quite little), he started preschool just about 2 weeks ago! Since he is attending the same school where he went to camp, he had no problem transitioning and is having a great time so far. He has some camp friends and some neighbor friends in his class, and so far, the word on the street is that he's enjoying his first school experience.
Here's to a new (Jewish) year and new opportunities for all!
Today I had the opportunity to visit her classroom for the parents breakfast. It was a chance to see/meet the other kids and their parents, and see where Abby spends 6.5 hours of her day. The teacher seems great so far and the classroom is cute. The class is diverse and Abby is meeting new friends and she is lucky to have her very good friend Jared as well. She is also enrolled in kindergarten Hebrew school, where she'll hopefully continue to build on the Jewish foundations that she learned in preschool.
And as for the little guy (who, yes, is still quite little), he started preschool just about 2 weeks ago! Since he is attending the same school where he went to camp, he had no problem transitioning and is having a great time so far. He has some camp friends and some neighbor friends in his class, and so far, the word on the street is that he's enjoying his first school experience.
Here's to a new (Jewish) year and new opportunities for all!
Thursday, August 23, 2012
The 2-Week Countdown
The countdown to kindergarten has begun! Two weeks from today, my first born will step foot into her first "real" school classroom. I'm not sure who is more nervous - me or her! There is so much to be nervous and excited for: the bus ride, making new friends, learning new things, eating in a cafeteria, recess, homework, new teachers and more. And if I know my daughter, Abby will make the most of it by showing her sparkling smile and bubbly personality, and the teachers and kids will adore her (I hope).
So in the spirit of this significant occasion, I have compiled a little list of my hopes, dreams and desires for her, to achieve during her first year of school. In no particular order, they are to:
1. Learn all of your classmates names and get to know everyone individually
2. Enjoy the comfort in having your best friend in your class, but be sure to spend time with other kids at lunch, on the playground and on the bus
3. Tell me one great thing and one not so great thing about school each day
4. Learn to read
5. Not be bullied or be a bully, and say something if you see bullying happening
6. Befriend someone in the class who doesn’t know anyone
7. Learn a little math, a little spelling and a little science
8. Bring home a new library book once a week
9. Try something new from the cafeteria each week
10. Be yourself
11. Do your school assignments carefully and ask for help when it’s needed
12. Be kind to everyone: the custodians, librarians, bus driver, teachers and other kids
13. Remember to wait your turn, raise your hand and overall, be a good student and friend
14. Learn from your mistakes
I know that come September 6th, my big girl will board the bus with excitement and trepidation and I’ll watch with tears in my eyes and wonder how she grew up so quickly. Good luck, Abby – I am so proud of you and wish you much success at the start of this huge journey in your life.
So in the spirit of this significant occasion, I have compiled a little list of my hopes, dreams and desires for her, to achieve during her first year of school. In no particular order, they are to:
1. Learn all of your classmates names and get to know everyone individually
2. Enjoy the comfort in having your best friend in your class, but be sure to spend time with other kids at lunch, on the playground and on the bus
3. Tell me one great thing and one not so great thing about school each day
4. Learn to read
5. Not be bullied or be a bully, and say something if you see bullying happening
6. Befriend someone in the class who doesn’t know anyone
7. Learn a little math, a little spelling and a little science
8. Bring home a new library book once a week
9. Try something new from the cafeteria each week
10. Be yourself
11. Do your school assignments carefully and ask for help when it’s needed
12. Be kind to everyone: the custodians, librarians, bus driver, teachers and other kids
13. Remember to wait your turn, raise your hand and overall, be a good student and friend
14. Learn from your mistakes
I know that come September 6th, my big girl will board the bus with excitement and trepidation and I’ll watch with tears in my eyes and wonder how she grew up so quickly. Good luck, Abby – I am so proud of you and wish you much success at the start of this huge journey in your life.
Monday, July 30, 2012
July Flew By!
It is hard to believe that I last posted a MONTH ago, when the summer was just kicking in! But alas, as summers tend to do, this one has flown by. This past month was filled with plenty of sun and play.
At the beginning of the month, I took the week off from work to give my nanny a well-deserved vacation. It afforded me the opportunity to see what the “other” half is like by being with my kids full-time during the week. And what an eye-opening experience it was! In just the two days before July 4th, we had one PT session, three camp drop-offs and pick-ups, one 5-year doctor’s checkup, a playdate, a trip to the vet and of course, the “regular” chores that somehow get done during the week.
Having the opportunity to spend time with my kids doing what they normally do during the week was wonderful; I got to meet their camp counselors and see where they are enjoying their summer, I took the kids to the pool, I actually hung out with Zach (who I rarely get one-on-one time with) and I even had a few minutes of quiet time when he was napping and Abby wasn’t home from camp yet. Of course, that quiet time was punctuated with loads of laundry, loading/unloading the dishwasher, making lunch and dinner and paying bills, but it was still uninterrupted nonetheless.
After those few days, we packed up the car and headed to the Jersey shore, where we met up with Jason's sister, parents and grandmothers for a long weekend in the beach house they rented last year. While it was a quick trip, the kids had a great time and it was fun to get away (though a bit tiring, as expected).
The rest of the month was filled up with birthday parties, a trip to Dutch Wonderland with our friends and plenty of pool time. The best news of the summer so far is that Abby is really and truly learning how to swim!! In just a few days time, she learned to swim the width of our pool, even with her head under and eyes open, unassisted! She also loves to jump off the side of the pool now, which she never did before. It's really fun watching her newfound confidence and I am beginning to relax, just a bit, when she is alone in the pool.
Abby's 5-year checkup was good - she is still quite small for her age - 33 lbs (7%) and 40.5" (12%) - but she got two shots and did great - and was rewarded with an ice cream sundae after! I also took Zach to an endocrinologist in the city to see if there is anything we can do about his (lack of) height and weight, and while the exam was normal, she'd like to run some bloodwork to just be sure there aren't any deficiencies. So that will be a lot of fun when I have to take him back for that!
All in all, it's been a fun summer, with both kids loving camp and having a great time. Seeing their tired, happy faces at the end of the day is a wonderful, and I just can't believe we are 5 weeks out from Abby starting kindergarten and 6 weeks from Zach starting preschool! In the meantime, we'll all try to enjoy the last few weeks of the summer, with mini-camp, classes and visits from friends & family on the agenda.
At the beginning of the month, I took the week off from work to give my nanny a well-deserved vacation. It afforded me the opportunity to see what the “other” half is like by being with my kids full-time during the week. And what an eye-opening experience it was! In just the two days before July 4th, we had one PT session, three camp drop-offs and pick-ups, one 5-year doctor’s checkup, a playdate, a trip to the vet and of course, the “regular” chores that somehow get done during the week.
Having the opportunity to spend time with my kids doing what they normally do during the week was wonderful; I got to meet their camp counselors and see where they are enjoying their summer, I took the kids to the pool, I actually hung out with Zach (who I rarely get one-on-one time with) and I even had a few minutes of quiet time when he was napping and Abby wasn’t home from camp yet. Of course, that quiet time was punctuated with loads of laundry, loading/unloading the dishwasher, making lunch and dinner and paying bills, but it was still uninterrupted nonetheless.
After those few days, we packed up the car and headed to the Jersey shore, where we met up with Jason's sister, parents and grandmothers for a long weekend in the beach house they rented last year. While it was a quick trip, the kids had a great time and it was fun to get away (though a bit tiring, as expected).
The rest of the month was filled up with birthday parties, a trip to Dutch Wonderland with our friends and plenty of pool time. The best news of the summer so far is that Abby is really and truly learning how to swim!! In just a few days time, she learned to swim the width of our pool, even with her head under and eyes open, unassisted! She also loves to jump off the side of the pool now, which she never did before. It's really fun watching her newfound confidence and I am beginning to relax, just a bit, when she is alone in the pool.
Abby's 5-year checkup was good - she is still quite small for her age - 33 lbs (7%) and 40.5" (12%) - but she got two shots and did great - and was rewarded with an ice cream sundae after! I also took Zach to an endocrinologist in the city to see if there is anything we can do about his (lack of) height and weight, and while the exam was normal, she'd like to run some bloodwork to just be sure there aren't any deficiencies. So that will be a lot of fun when I have to take him back for that!
All in all, it's been a fun summer, with both kids loving camp and having a great time. Seeing their tired, happy faces at the end of the day is a wonderful, and I just can't believe we are 5 weeks out from Abby starting kindergarten and 6 weeks from Zach starting preschool! In the meantime, we'll all try to enjoy the last few weeks of the summer, with mini-camp, classes and visits from friends & family on the agenda.
Friday, June 29, 2012
Little Campers
This week marked the start of summer camp for most Westchester residents, including my TWO kids.
On Tuesday, Zach took a huge step in his first time separating from Cora or I at Training Camp, where he'll be going for 2 hours, twice a week. Cora said he happily went in to the classroom, and when she said "Zach, you're going to camp!", he said, "ME?!?" And yes, it was him who didn't cry, who had a great day and who was so wiped out that he napped as soon as he got home!
Abby started Camp Rainbow again on Wednesday and this year, she is in a group with her 4 girl friends and 1 boy friend from school. I expect that they will all have fun together and I hope she gets more comfortable with swimming as well. Luckily, her private swim lessons once a week have helped, and she is taking a few strokes on her own now!
This week I found out that I have a "tilted knee," (my kneecap is misaligned) so I have to start PT to help strengthen the muscles around my knee. Luckily, Zach's great physical therapist's husband works with adults, so I will be seeing him 2 times a week.
Next week, it's mommy and kids week! Cora is off on vacation so I took the week off. Monday and Tuesday will be our somewhat "regular" routine - Zach's PT, camp drop-offs, Abby's 5-yr checkup, etc. Wednesday the 4th will hopefully be a low-key day and then we'll leave for the beach (the IL's rented beach house) on Thursday after camp for the weekend, and Jason will meet us there on Friday night. Hopefully I can hold everything together like Cora does without losing a kid or my mind!
On Tuesday, Zach took a huge step in his first time separating from Cora or I at Training Camp, where he'll be going for 2 hours, twice a week. Cora said he happily went in to the classroom, and when she said "Zach, you're going to camp!", he said, "ME?!?" And yes, it was him who didn't cry, who had a great day and who was so wiped out that he napped as soon as he got home!
Abby started Camp Rainbow again on Wednesday and this year, she is in a group with her 4 girl friends and 1 boy friend from school. I expect that they will all have fun together and I hope she gets more comfortable with swimming as well. Luckily, her private swim lessons once a week have helped, and she is taking a few strokes on her own now!
This week I found out that I have a "tilted knee," (my kneecap is misaligned) so I have to start PT to help strengthen the muscles around my knee. Luckily, Zach's great physical therapist's husband works with adults, so I will be seeing him 2 times a week.
Next week, it's mommy and kids week! Cora is off on vacation so I took the week off. Monday and Tuesday will be our somewhat "regular" routine - Zach's PT, camp drop-offs, Abby's 5-yr checkup, etc. Wednesday the 4th will hopefully be a low-key day and then we'll leave for the beach (the IL's rented beach house) on Thursday after camp for the weekend, and Jason will meet us there on Friday night. Hopefully I can hold everything together like Cora does without losing a kid or my mind!
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Birthday Girl!
On June 19, 2007 at 8:59 am, my beautiful first child was born, and it feels like it was just yesterday. How on earth did 5 whole years fly by and now I have a kindergarten-bound 5-year old?? The weeks and months must have sped up the last few years, because I don't remember a time when 5 years went by that quickly (maybe college?). Abby is 5 now, and we have so many fun things to look forward to in the next 1-1.5 years: losing her first tooth, learning how to read, perhaps removing training wheels from her bike, taking the school bus, eating lunch at school and so much more.
Abby has become a little girl in every sense of the phrase - she is independent and head-strong, yet still wants to ride in a stroller and get dressed herself. She is silly and funny and sensitive. She is creative, outgoing and smart. We often can't believe how our baby girl seems to be a teenager at times!
My wish for her is to let herself have a great summer and year in kindergarten. I want her to continue to be the carefree, happy child that she is, even when homework and bullying threaten to take away the innocence. I want Abby to be grateful and appreciative for everything she is able to do but at the same time, realize that she is a tiny person in a very big world, and to help make a difference wherever she can. I hope she treats others with respect and stands up for herself when necessary. Above all, I want Abby to remember that she's smart, beautiful and strong, no matter what comes her way.
Happy birthday, Abigail Jordan, we love you!!
Abby has become a little girl in every sense of the phrase - she is independent and head-strong, yet still wants to ride in a stroller and get dressed herself. She is silly and funny and sensitive. She is creative, outgoing and smart. We often can't believe how our baby girl seems to be a teenager at times!
My wish for her is to let herself have a great summer and year in kindergarten. I want her to continue to be the carefree, happy child that she is, even when homework and bullying threaten to take away the innocence. I want Abby to be grateful and appreciative for everything she is able to do but at the same time, realize that she is a tiny person in a very big world, and to help make a difference wherever she can. I hope she treats others with respect and stands up for herself when necessary. Above all, I want Abby to remember that she's smart, beautiful and strong, no matter what comes her way.
Happy birthday, Abigail Jordan, we love you!!
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Graduation Day
Veni, vidi, vici: I came, I saw, I conquered. To Abby's nursery school graduation, that is. I had been anticipating the day ever since her first “moving up” ceremony in the 2s. I watched the seemingly “old” 5-year olds get up on stage (not run off the stage, as my almost 3-year old did), sing all the songs and know all the moves to their choreographed dances. I watched as the 4s parents took pictures, cried and congratulated each other on their children graduating from nursery school and moving on to kindergarten. And as I sat there, with my 5-week old baby boy near me, I did not think that my time as a parent of a grad would be here anytime soon.
Yet, in a flash, it was. Fast-forward 2 years to watching my 2-year old trying to run to his sister on stage and the same little girl who 2 years ago ran off stage crying who was now singing along with her friends. My big girl, all grown up and ready for kindergarten. Well, sort of…she still needs my help every now and then and still acts every bit her age of “almost 5.”
In some ways, I feel that I’M the one who graduated – from my first experience with nursery school, making new friends of my own, navigating the PTA/school board world and draining my bank account for every school fundraiser, photo and field trip. And what a wild ride it’s been for me, one that I’m anxious and excited to start all over again this fall with Zach, who will entering the 2s. I’ve learned that graduation, while not as sad as I anticipated it would be (I brought a stack of tissues with me), was an emotional time to look back on the people and place that helped shape Abby's first few years. I realized that without this experience, she might not be the person she is now – happy, funny, smart, sensitive and caring. I hope she made friends who will stick with her for years, despite attending different schools and living in different towns.
And as for me, I hope I’ll have the strength I had at Abby's nursery school graduation come time for my “baby” boy’s graduation 3 years from now. Which should be interesting considering I am already teary at the thought of sending him to camp alone for 4 hours a week!
Yet, in a flash, it was. Fast-forward 2 years to watching my 2-year old trying to run to his sister on stage and the same little girl who 2 years ago ran off stage crying who was now singing along with her friends. My big girl, all grown up and ready for kindergarten. Well, sort of…she still needs my help every now and then and still acts every bit her age of “almost 5.”
In some ways, I feel that I’M the one who graduated – from my first experience with nursery school, making new friends of my own, navigating the PTA/school board world and draining my bank account for every school fundraiser, photo and field trip. And what a wild ride it’s been for me, one that I’m anxious and excited to start all over again this fall with Zach, who will entering the 2s. I’ve learned that graduation, while not as sad as I anticipated it would be (I brought a stack of tissues with me), was an emotional time to look back on the people and place that helped shape Abby's first few years. I realized that without this experience, she might not be the person she is now – happy, funny, smart, sensitive and caring. I hope she made friends who will stick with her for years, despite attending different schools and living in different towns.
And as for me, I hope I’ll have the strength I had at Abby's nursery school graduation come time for my “baby” boy’s graduation 3 years from now. Which should be interesting considering I am already teary at the thought of sending him to camp alone for 4 hours a week!
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Busy Little Bees
This past weekend was whirlwind at my house! Well, technically not AT my house, considering we were rarely home, but with my household.
Saturday, we trekked by car, subway and foot to "The Great Googamooga," a food, wine and music festival in Brooklyn. I had received comp VIP passes through a work acquaintance, and figured with the perfect 75 degree day, it would be a fun adventure for all of us. It's possible that the last time I was in Brooklyn was while running the NYC Marathon in 2005, and I know it was the first trip to Brooklyn for Abby and Zach. In fact, it was also their first time on the NYC subway (which of course they loved and I hate). After eating, drinking and navigating our way through Prospect Park and the crowds at the festival, we were ready to hit up the next borough, Queens, to pick up Grammy Sheryl.
We were exhausted after wandering around Prospect Park for hours, but we still managed to get Grammy at LGA and head into yet another part of the city, one which we used to call "home," on the Upper East Side. There, we enjoyed a quick and delicious meal at BareBurger and watched as Zach fell asleep for the night on the way home after a long, long day.
Sunday was no less exhausting, with back-to-back activities from 11:30 am - 6 pm. With two birthday parties and a school BBQ during that time, we also somehow managed to squeeze in a trip to Bed, Bath & Beyond (Jason), Buy Buy Baby (me and the kids) AND Stew Leonards (all of us). WHEW! It certainly was a whirlwind of a day and I was very happy to put the kids - and myself - to bed.
While these types of weekends don't happen all that often, it does remind me to stop, sit back and enjoy these times when the kids are happy, busy and full of energy. Now if only I could stay as full of energy as they do!
Saturday, we trekked by car, subway and foot to "The Great Googamooga," a food, wine and music festival in Brooklyn. I had received comp VIP passes through a work acquaintance, and figured with the perfect 75 degree day, it would be a fun adventure for all of us. It's possible that the last time I was in Brooklyn was while running the NYC Marathon in 2005, and I know it was the first trip to Brooklyn for Abby and Zach. In fact, it was also their first time on the NYC subway (which of course they loved and I hate). After eating, drinking and navigating our way through Prospect Park and the crowds at the festival, we were ready to hit up the next borough, Queens, to pick up Grammy Sheryl.
We were exhausted after wandering around Prospect Park for hours, but we still managed to get Grammy at LGA and head into yet another part of the city, one which we used to call "home," on the Upper East Side. There, we enjoyed a quick and delicious meal at BareBurger and watched as Zach fell asleep for the night on the way home after a long, long day.
Sunday was no less exhausting, with back-to-back activities from 11:30 am - 6 pm. With two birthday parties and a school BBQ during that time, we also somehow managed to squeeze in a trip to Bed, Bath & Beyond (Jason), Buy Buy Baby (me and the kids) AND Stew Leonards (all of us). WHEW! It certainly was a whirlwind of a day and I was very happy to put the kids - and myself - to bed.
While these types of weekends don't happen all that often, it does remind me to stop, sit back and enjoy these times when the kids are happy, busy and full of energy. Now if only I could stay as full of energy as they do!
Thursday, May 17, 2012
May Days
I am not entirely sure how it came to be the middle of May when I swear it was just April! Regardless, the first half of this month has been hectic, with a trip to the Ardsley Firemans Carnival, a dual dentist appointment, Mother's Day and our typical errands (Stew's, Costco, Target, etc.).
Mother's Day weekend was a lot of fun, starting Friday night with dinner at PF Chang's and receiving my early Mother's Day gift - a spa day at Red Door! Yay! Saturday was a combination of errands and the carnival, followed by pizza out with friends. On Mother's Day, Zach did not want to leave my side, so he and I relaxed in bed while Abby and Jason whipped up some delicious pancakes, followed by a huge brunch at my ILs country club. After all of the eating out we did, we chose to stay in and BBQ on Sunday night, ending the weekend off nicely.
Abby and Zach's school is coming to an end soon - Abby graduates on June 4 and Zach's last day of the "Wondrous Ones" is next week already! I can't believe my babies are growing up so quickly. Over the next few weeks, we have a lot planned - including the end-of-the-year school BBQ, many May/June birthday parties, a trip to Hershey Park, graduation and of course, a month from now, Abby's birthday :). These May Days are flying right by, and before I know it, summer camp will be in full swing!
Mother's Day weekend was a lot of fun, starting Friday night with dinner at PF Chang's and receiving my early Mother's Day gift - a spa day at Red Door! Yay! Saturday was a combination of errands and the carnival, followed by pizza out with friends. On Mother's Day, Zach did not want to leave my side, so he and I relaxed in bed while Abby and Jason whipped up some delicious pancakes, followed by a huge brunch at my ILs country club. After all of the eating out we did, we chose to stay in and BBQ on Sunday night, ending the weekend off nicely.
Abby and Zach's school is coming to an end soon - Abby graduates on June 4 and Zach's last day of the "Wondrous Ones" is next week already! I can't believe my babies are growing up so quickly. Over the next few weeks, we have a lot planned - including the end-of-the-year school BBQ, many May/June birthday parties, a trip to Hershey Park, graduation and of course, a month from now, Abby's birthday :). These May Days are flying right by, and before I know it, summer camp will be in full swing!
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
2 Years Old!
My little boy turned 2 yesterday and I can't believe how far he's come. In the last year, he learned to sit up, crawl, walk and talk in full sentences. He is funny, smart and adorable in every possible way. Does he throw food, pull hair, throw a tantrum and hit? Why, yes he does. But overall, our little guy is still just as sweet as he was when he was born.
And still as little. He weighed in at a not-so-impressive 22 lbs, 10 ozs (0%) and is 32" (4%) at his 2-year checkup. He is smaller than his "big" sister, who has always been little but weighed more at his age. Our doctor would like for him to see an endocrinologist in a few months to hopefully rule out any issues like a growth horomone deficiency or pituitary gland. In the meantime, we are supposed to keep him on whole milk and a diet high in good fat.
Zach's birthday party was a blast! We bought (yes, bought) a huge bounce house which the kids LOVED. Also had finger painting and picture frame making, both of which were a big hit along with the Papa John's pizza and monkey face cupcakes. Zach had a great time and napped for 3 hours afterward while we cleaned up. Overall, it was a success and I am just glad it's over!
Coming up in the next few weeks, we have birthday parties galore and will be getting ready to watch Miss Abby graduate from preschool! We also need to decide where to send Abby for kindergarten as the debate between private and public school continues.... Stay tuned for more in May!
And still as little. He weighed in at a not-so-impressive 22 lbs, 10 ozs (0%) and is 32" (4%) at his 2-year checkup. He is smaller than his "big" sister, who has always been little but weighed more at his age. Our doctor would like for him to see an endocrinologist in a few months to hopefully rule out any issues like a growth horomone deficiency or pituitary gland. In the meantime, we are supposed to keep him on whole milk and a diet high in good fat.
Zach's birthday party was a blast! We bought (yes, bought) a huge bounce house which the kids LOVED. Also had finger painting and picture frame making, both of which were a big hit along with the Papa John's pizza and monkey face cupcakes. Zach had a great time and napped for 3 hours afterward while we cleaned up. Overall, it was a success and I am just glad it's over!
Coming up in the next few weeks, we have birthday parties galore and will be getting ready to watch Miss Abby graduate from preschool! We also need to decide where to send Abby for kindergarten as the debate between private and public school continues.... Stay tuned for more in May!
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Will Travel With Toddler
This past weekend marked a milestone for me: My first time traveling with one of my kids who is old enough to not need the typical travel gear (i.e. diaper bag, change of clothes, stroller, car seat, etc.) that one would usually take on a trip. Abby and I boarded the plane from New York to Chicago with our two carry-on bags and a large tote. That’s it. 3 bags total! Our necessities for this trip were simple: snacks (for her), iPad (for her) and magazines (for me). Of course, I forgot that a 4.5-year old still touches everything on a plane and a small bottle of Purell would have been helpful, but I digress.
It felt like a treat to be able to breeze through security without the stroller struggle, and have her walk through security like a big girl. And her new Trunki (rollable suitcase that she can pull herself or ride on) was a HUGE hit – literally, people were stopping and staring at her cruising through the airport in style, and even asking what it was and where to get one. Score one for mom!
A minor setback occurred at the car rental agency, where an agent swore to me that the car seat would be installed when I reserved it and of course it was not. Thankfully, Jason had given me a last-minute refresher the night before, and another agent gave me a few pointers as I installed it myself. Abby even took a little nap on the way from the airport to our destination in the ‘burbs. What a treat!
While the purpose for our trip was to attend a mother/daughter party for my mom’s stationery store, we also made time to visit a children’s museum, have breakfast with a friend, and enjoy a playdate at another friend’s house. It seemed like such a nice change from the stress and hassle of traveling with Zach. She even allowed me to “sleep in” when she woke up and played on the iPad one morning in her room.
I never imagined that the day would come when I’d be relaxed while traveling with my child(ren). I never thought it was possible to go away without a diaper bag, stroller, change of clothes and all of the other “stuff” that one needs for a plane ride with young kids. This gives me hope that in 2.5 more years (or less), I might actually enjoy a trip away with both kids!
In the meantime, I’ll make sure to never leave New York without a Trunki, iPad and Purell handy for whoever may need it!
It felt like a treat to be able to breeze through security without the stroller struggle, and have her walk through security like a big girl. And her new Trunki (rollable suitcase that she can pull herself or ride on) was a HUGE hit – literally, people were stopping and staring at her cruising through the airport in style, and even asking what it was and where to get one. Score one for mom!
A minor setback occurred at the car rental agency, where an agent swore to me that the car seat would be installed when I reserved it and of course it was not. Thankfully, Jason had given me a last-minute refresher the night before, and another agent gave me a few pointers as I installed it myself. Abby even took a little nap on the way from the airport to our destination in the ‘burbs. What a treat!
While the purpose for our trip was to attend a mother/daughter party for my mom’s stationery store, we also made time to visit a children’s museum, have breakfast with a friend, and enjoy a playdate at another friend’s house. It seemed like such a nice change from the stress and hassle of traveling with Zach. She even allowed me to “sleep in” when she woke up and played on the iPad one morning in her room.
I never imagined that the day would come when I’d be relaxed while traveling with my child(ren). I never thought it was possible to go away without a diaper bag, stroller, change of clothes and all of the other “stuff” that one needs for a plane ride with young kids. This gives me hope that in 2.5 more years (or less), I might actually enjoy a trip away with both kids!
In the meantime, I’ll make sure to never leave New York without a Trunki, iPad and Purell handy for whoever may need it!
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Kindergarten, Here We Come!
Last year at this time, I saw many of my friends' Facebook status updates that mentioned how they just registered their son/daughter for kindergarten, with lots of exclamation points. I figured I'd be just as excited when our time came. Wow, how wrong I was!
Today I am going to register Abby for kindergarten at John Paulding school. While we are also in the process of applying for her to attend Solomon Schechter (a private, Jewish day school), we know that if that doesn't work out, she'll end up at our local public kindergarten. I am sad and nervous about this process for a few reasons:
1. My little "baby" girl is all grown up! Sure, she still has meltdowns and needs a reminder to wipe after going to the bathroom, but kindergarten seems like a HUGE milestone. It means a full day of school, homework assignments, a much larger class size than she is used to, riding the bus and making all new friends. Maybe she'll be ready for all of this come September, but I'm not so sure I am!
2. With the beginning of kindergarten comes the end of the innocence of preschool - the "fun" days, playtime, snacktime and friends. In preschool - you colored on someone else's paper? Don't do it again, please. In kindergarten - that will get you a trip to the corner of the classroom, or the principal's office if it happens again.
3. Parental involvement at preschool seems easy and fun - you can get involved if/when you want to, do drop-offs and pick-ups, check in with the teachers whenever you want. In kindergarten, unless there's a real issue, I'm not expecting to have much interaction with the teachers other than at conferences.
4. Preschool was somewhere Abby looked forward to and had fun at. Will kindergarten have the same feeling of excitement and anticipation?
5. And then there are my own fears for her: will she make new friends easily, be able to handle herself socially, will she be bullied or be a bully, will she learn and grow as quickly as the others?
I can't answer any of those questions today, but I can say that I am trying to get past my own fears and be excited for this new chapter in all of our lives. In about 5 months, Abby will be embarking on her first day of "real" school and I'll be cheering for her and rooting her on, even though I'm wishing I could pause time and keep her innocent and young forever.
Today I am going to register Abby for kindergarten at John Paulding school. While we are also in the process of applying for her to attend Solomon Schechter (a private, Jewish day school), we know that if that doesn't work out, she'll end up at our local public kindergarten. I am sad and nervous about this process for a few reasons:
1. My little "baby" girl is all grown up! Sure, she still has meltdowns and needs a reminder to wipe after going to the bathroom, but kindergarten seems like a HUGE milestone. It means a full day of school, homework assignments, a much larger class size than she is used to, riding the bus and making all new friends. Maybe she'll be ready for all of this come September, but I'm not so sure I am!
2. With the beginning of kindergarten comes the end of the innocence of preschool - the "fun" days, playtime, snacktime and friends. In preschool - you colored on someone else's paper? Don't do it again, please. In kindergarten - that will get you a trip to the corner of the classroom, or the principal's office if it happens again.
3. Parental involvement at preschool seems easy and fun - you can get involved if/when you want to, do drop-offs and pick-ups, check in with the teachers whenever you want. In kindergarten, unless there's a real issue, I'm not expecting to have much interaction with the teachers other than at conferences.
4. Preschool was somewhere Abby looked forward to and had fun at. Will kindergarten have the same feeling of excitement and anticipation?
5. And then there are my own fears for her: will she make new friends easily, be able to handle herself socially, will she be bullied or be a bully, will she learn and grow as quickly as the others?
I can't answer any of those questions today, but I can say that I am trying to get past my own fears and be excited for this new chapter in all of our lives. In about 5 months, Abby will be embarking on her first day of "real" school and I'll be cheering for her and rooting her on, even though I'm wishing I could pause time and keep her innocent and young forever.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Dr. Mom
Unfortunately, sickness hit our house (again!) last week, as the little man was down and out with a very high fever. And of course, that same little man not only refused to take any medicine, but he proceeded to throw it up (twice) and spit it out (numerous times). We had to resort to a suppository to bring his 104 fever down. After a visit to the pediatrician to rule out an ear infection or strep (Zach pointed to his throat and said "hurts"), we figured we would just have to wait it out.
When we thought we were in the clear on day 3 and after he had been fever-free for 24hours, we ventured out for a much-needed haircut. That afternoon, I noticed he had a little rash forming behind his ears, which I thought was related to the products used at his haircut. Well, the next day, I saw a lovely red, bumpy rash all over his back and had an "ah-ha!" mommy moment - it must have been Roseola!! I had heard about this tricky little virus from various people it had affected and knew that the rash meant he was not contagious anymore. Luckily the rash didn't bother him and seems to be better today. Poor little guy!
This weekend, we also celebrated Jason's birthday. Saturday night was a yummy dinner at a new restaurant in Ridge Hill and a movie. On Sunday, we ventured out to the Bronx Zoo. It was a beautiful spring day and while not all the exhibits were open, there was enough to see for the two hours we were there, and kept the kids busy and they passed out on the way home. The birthday celebration culminated at our favorite hibachi steakhouse, Noda, with Jason's parents.
Needless to say, it was a hectic weekend and one that I am happy is over!
When we thought we were in the clear on day 3 and after he had been fever-free for 24hours, we ventured out for a much-needed haircut. That afternoon, I noticed he had a little rash forming behind his ears, which I thought was related to the products used at his haircut. Well, the next day, I saw a lovely red, bumpy rash all over his back and had an "ah-ha!" mommy moment - it must have been Roseola!! I had heard about this tricky little virus from various people it had affected and knew that the rash meant he was not contagious anymore. Luckily the rash didn't bother him and seems to be better today. Poor little guy!
This weekend, we also celebrated Jason's birthday. Saturday night was a yummy dinner at a new restaurant in Ridge Hill and a movie. On Sunday, we ventured out to the Bronx Zoo. It was a beautiful spring day and while not all the exhibits were open, there was enough to see for the two hours we were there, and kept the kids busy and they passed out on the way home. The birthday celebration culminated at our favorite hibachi steakhouse, Noda, with Jason's parents.
Needless to say, it was a hectic weekend and one that I am happy is over!
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Vacation Week
Abby and Zach had no school and few activities this week due to the East Coast's winter break. Break - yes; winter - not much! It's been in the upper 40's and 50's this week, which obviously is not normal for a New York February, but we are not complaining, as we are able to spend more time outside!
On Monday, Abby and Zach went with daddy and their cousins and grandparents to the Norwalk Children's Museum. Tuesday, Abby enjoyed making a mini cherry pie at her cooking class. Wednesday was a group playdate at a former classmate's house with about 10 kids (so happy it wasn't at my house!) and today, mommy got a treat when the gang visited me at work and we had lunch at IHOP.
While no school always proves to be challenging to keep everyone busy, they seem to be doing just fine. The kids are tired and happy at the end of the day, and no doubt are looking forward to getting back to their regular routines next week. It seems crazy that February is almost over, which means spring is right around the corner, and I can't wait to see what's in store!
On Monday, Abby and Zach went with daddy and their cousins and grandparents to the Norwalk Children's Museum. Tuesday, Abby enjoyed making a mini cherry pie at her cooking class. Wednesday was a group playdate at a former classmate's house with about 10 kids (so happy it wasn't at my house!) and today, mommy got a treat when the gang visited me at work and we had lunch at IHOP.
While no school always proves to be challenging to keep everyone busy, they seem to be doing just fine. The kids are tired and happy at the end of the day, and no doubt are looking forward to getting back to their regular routines next week. It seems crazy that February is almost over, which means spring is right around the corner, and I can't wait to see what's in store!
Monday, February 13, 2012
A Tiring Week
Our house was a den of sickness last week. We started off the week with Zach sick as a little pup and ended with him being ok but Abby developing one of her lovely, long-lasting and night-waking coughs. We knew she really didn't feel well when she chose to skip her favorite cooking class AND take an hour nap IN HER BED (which hasn't happened in over a year)!
Needless to say, not much sleep was had by Jason and I last week and I am still trying to recover. The area underneath my eyes is looking a bit like tea bags at the moment. Luckily everyone seemed ok for the 2 birthday parties we had yesterday, though by the end of the day, I had two very tired kids. One was lucky enough to take a 3.5-hour nap (remind me why adults can't nap again??) and the other was too tired to even eat a bite of dinner. Which left the 3.5-hour napper wide awake and ready to go at 5:15 am today. And that left mommy and daddy feeling like walking zombies the rest of the day!
We are lucky that the kids have remained pretty healthy during this mild winter, but here's to hoping everyone gets back on track and back to sleeping soon!
Needless to say, not much sleep was had by Jason and I last week and I am still trying to recover. The area underneath my eyes is looking a bit like tea bags at the moment. Luckily everyone seemed ok for the 2 birthday parties we had yesterday, though by the end of the day, I had two very tired kids. One was lucky enough to take a 3.5-hour nap (remind me why adults can't nap again??) and the other was too tired to even eat a bite of dinner. Which left the 3.5-hour napper wide awake and ready to go at 5:15 am today. And that left mommy and daddy feeling like walking zombies the rest of the day!
We are lucky that the kids have remained pretty healthy during this mild winter, but here's to hoping everyone gets back on track and back to sleeping soon!
Monday, February 6, 2012
Sunday Funday
Yesterday, my plan was to take the kids to meet friends at the NJ Children's Museum, which we've been to before but never with Zach. Unfortunately, the little guy came down with a virus and ended up staying home with Daddy, so Abby and I took off for a girls' day.
We met our friends (well, my 2 girlfriends and their 4 kids) at the museum and explored and played for 2 hours. Abby loved doing an arts & crafts project and playing with the pretend food in the kitchen & supermarket. After that, it was lunch at Applebee's where remarkably, 4 adults and 5 children sat and ate very nicely.
On the way home, Abby snoozed and I made my way back to Tarrytown, where I made an appointment for mommy/daughter manicures. After waking sleeping beauty up, we grabbed a yummy frozen yogurt from YogoBerry and then had our nails done together.
Jason and Zach didn't have much of a boys' day since Zach slept almost the entire day. We ended the evening between watching the Superbowl and taking care of a vomiting little boy.
All in all, it was a pretty fun day for the little lady and I and one I hope we can do again - maybe next time with a stop at Fairway or Dairy Queen, two Paramus faves! And hopefully next time, Zach can join us since we know he would have had a great time there.
We met our friends (well, my 2 girlfriends and their 4 kids) at the museum and explored and played for 2 hours. Abby loved doing an arts & crafts project and playing with the pretend food in the kitchen & supermarket. After that, it was lunch at Applebee's where remarkably, 4 adults and 5 children sat and ate very nicely.
On the way home, Abby snoozed and I made my way back to Tarrytown, where I made an appointment for mommy/daughter manicures. After waking sleeping beauty up, we grabbed a yummy frozen yogurt from YogoBerry and then had our nails done together.
Jason and Zach didn't have much of a boys' day since Zach slept almost the entire day. We ended the evening between watching the Superbowl and taking care of a vomiting little boy.
All in all, it was a pretty fun day for the little lady and I and one I hope we can do again - maybe next time with a stop at Fairway or Dairy Queen, two Paramus faves! And hopefully next time, Zach can join us since we know he would have had a great time there.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
A Bit of a Scare
I took the day off from work yesterday, in anticipation of my nephew's bris and Zach's 21-month height/weight check at the doctor. Then I planned on having a lovely "adult" evening in NYC, first having a drink with my old boss and then meeting my visiting mom for a yummy, kid-free dinner.
All of those things DID happen - but what I did not anticipate was the trip to urgent care at midnight last night (this morning) with Zach. You see, our little active 21-month old loves to jump on Sadie's dog bed, and plop down. He happened to plop down just hard enough to land on his hand, on our nanny's watch. Of course I wasn't home at the time (having drinks with the old boss) but Jason called to say Zach was absolutely hysterical and not moving his arm at all. He said it didn't appear to be swollen or bruised but he wouldn't let Jason near it and Zach didn't use it at all during dinner. Jason gave him Motrin and (carefully) sent him off to bed.
I arrived back home at 10 pm and just as I was falling asleep around 11, Zach woke up crying. He was clearly in a great amount of pain because he wouldn't move his left arm at all, and cried when I touched it lightly. After a call to Dr. Grandpa to see what we should do, it was determined we should bring him in. By the time I left the house at 11:30 pm for PM Pediatriacs (which is 20 mins away and closes at 12 am), I was just praying he wouldn't need a cast (or x-rays, for that matter).
Thankfully, the doctor was quick and precise and determined it was a common case of "nursemaid's elbow," which is found in kids under age 5 when their elbow dislocates from the joint. He popped his elbow back in place, and we were sent on our way back home, with a much happier Zach and a relieved (but tired) mommy.
Of all the things that could have gone wrong, I am quite happy that this was such a minor incident. I am sure there will be more trips to the doctor and urgent care in my kids' lifetimes, but thankfully this was a quick, easy one. I hope they are all this easy!
And speaking of pediatrician visits, Zach's height/weight check went fairly well. He grew 2" in the last 3 (really 6) months and gained 1/2 pound. He moved up to the 8% for height and is still not on the chart for weight at 21 lbs. But the doctor was happy that he grew and gained some weight. Next visit at 2 yrs will determine if we need to see an endocrinologist or if we stay the course and wait for our little guy to have a growth spurt. For now, though, it's a good thing he is small since he wants to be held all the time!
All of those things DID happen - but what I did not anticipate was the trip to urgent care at midnight last night (this morning) with Zach. You see, our little active 21-month old loves to jump on Sadie's dog bed, and plop down. He happened to plop down just hard enough to land on his hand, on our nanny's watch. Of course I wasn't home at the time (having drinks with the old boss) but Jason called to say Zach was absolutely hysterical and not moving his arm at all. He said it didn't appear to be swollen or bruised but he wouldn't let Jason near it and Zach didn't use it at all during dinner. Jason gave him Motrin and (carefully) sent him off to bed.
I arrived back home at 10 pm and just as I was falling asleep around 11, Zach woke up crying. He was clearly in a great amount of pain because he wouldn't move his left arm at all, and cried when I touched it lightly. After a call to Dr. Grandpa to see what we should do, it was determined we should bring him in. By the time I left the house at 11:30 pm for PM Pediatriacs (which is 20 mins away and closes at 12 am), I was just praying he wouldn't need a cast (or x-rays, for that matter).
Thankfully, the doctor was quick and precise and determined it was a common case of "nursemaid's elbow," which is found in kids under age 5 when their elbow dislocates from the joint. He popped his elbow back in place, and we were sent on our way back home, with a much happier Zach and a relieved (but tired) mommy.
Of all the things that could have gone wrong, I am quite happy that this was such a minor incident. I am sure there will be more trips to the doctor and urgent care in my kids' lifetimes, but thankfully this was a quick, easy one. I hope they are all this easy!
And speaking of pediatrician visits, Zach's height/weight check went fairly well. He grew 2" in the last 3 (really 6) months and gained 1/2 pound. He moved up to the 8% for height and is still not on the chart for weight at 21 lbs. But the doctor was happy that he grew and gained some weight. Next visit at 2 yrs will determine if we need to see an endocrinologist or if we stay the course and wait for our little guy to have a growth spurt. For now, though, it's a good thing he is small since he wants to be held all the time!
Friday, January 27, 2012
News in the New Year
The first month of 2012 is nearly complete (wow, that flew by!) and our family has a few new and exciting things to share.
Starting with the biggest news - the arrival of our nephew, Jake Ryan, on Jan. 23! This baby makes 5 grandchildren for my in-laws, and we are all very excited. As an only child, I had always wanted a sibling and to be part of a big family. While that didn't happen as I was growing up, it seems to be happening as an adult, with Jason's sister and BIL adding their third child to the mix. Lucky for my kids, who will grow up with cousins around their age (and different genders - I only had two older boy cousins, which proved to be rather boring when they didn't want to entertain their younger girl cousin). We can't wait until Jake is old enough to play with my kids because we know they will have so much fun together.
Also new this month is Zach's first "pre-preschool" class - the Wondrous Ones. It's his first "classroom" experience and as the eldest in the class, we know he'll have fun teaching the younger kids everything he knows. Which, by the way, is quite a bit these days! He is putting 2-4 word sentences together ("I want mama" seems to be his favorite so far) and he is really changing from a baby to a big boy before our eyes. We hope he'll enjoy this new class, especially since it's where he'll be going to preschool this fall! Oh my.
As for Abby, she had a great accomplishment at school when she rode 47 laps in the annual trike-a-thon to raise money for pediatric cancer. In previous years, she had little interest in riding, but this year we are really proud of her for doing her part - and she raised $100 for the cause! Also, Abby's friend Clara just lost her first tooth, so we know that milestone isn't too far from us. I don't think I am quite ready for that yet, though!
No major news to report (yet) for dad, but we are hopeful for some news on the job front soon! In the meantime, we'll be enjoying our new nephew and our kids' accomplishments one day at a time.
Starting with the biggest news - the arrival of our nephew, Jake Ryan, on Jan. 23! This baby makes 5 grandchildren for my in-laws, and we are all very excited. As an only child, I had always wanted a sibling and to be part of a big family. While that didn't happen as I was growing up, it seems to be happening as an adult, with Jason's sister and BIL adding their third child to the mix. Lucky for my kids, who will grow up with cousins around their age (and different genders - I only had two older boy cousins, which proved to be rather boring when they didn't want to entertain their younger girl cousin). We can't wait until Jake is old enough to play with my kids because we know they will have so much fun together.
Also new this month is Zach's first "pre-preschool" class - the Wondrous Ones. It's his first "classroom" experience and as the eldest in the class, we know he'll have fun teaching the younger kids everything he knows. Which, by the way, is quite a bit these days! He is putting 2-4 word sentences together ("I want mama" seems to be his favorite so far) and he is really changing from a baby to a big boy before our eyes. We hope he'll enjoy this new class, especially since it's where he'll be going to preschool this fall! Oh my.
As for Abby, she had a great accomplishment at school when she rode 47 laps in the annual trike-a-thon to raise money for pediatric cancer. In previous years, she had little interest in riding, but this year we are really proud of her for doing her part - and she raised $100 for the cause! Also, Abby's friend Clara just lost her first tooth, so we know that milestone isn't too far from us. I don't think I am quite ready for that yet, though!
No major news to report (yet) for dad, but we are hopeful for some news on the job front soon! In the meantime, we'll be enjoying our new nephew and our kids' accomplishments one day at a time.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
New Year, New Hopes
Out with the old and in with the new (year)! 2012 is finally here, like it or not, and the Strongins are ready! We spent the last few days of the year together, organizing our playroom, running errands, having playdates, participating in classes and hosting a low-key New Year's Eve party. Being home without our beloved nanny for 10 days didn't allow for as many opportunities to clean and organize as I had hoped, but it did allow for some brief time to look back on 2011 and look forward to 2012.
The year had its share of ups and downs - with Jason not employed, it was financially stressful on us, but rewarding with him being more involved in the kids' everyday lives. We started the year off with Zach barely able to roll over and ended it with him talking, running and climbing (all over furniture, I might add). Abby began 2011 barely potty trained and I could not be more proud of her for her accomplishments in the bathroom as well as in the classroom, where she is working on reading, writing, spelling and excelling in arts & crafts. As for me, I changed jobs early in the year and I look back on it with no regrets.
I am optimistic that 2012 will bring good things for us all. With huge milestones this year like Abby graduating preschool and starting kindergarten, Zach beginning preschool and Jason hopefully becoming employed, the year looks bright and hopeful (at least 2 days in). I'd like to get (back in?) shape and lose the few holiday pounds I put on, and maybe even start a workout regime. I also hope to reinvigorate my passion for writing, if I can squeeze that in as well.
Now if we could only get Sadie to stop peeing on our couch, we'd be off to a great start!
The year had its share of ups and downs - with Jason not employed, it was financially stressful on us, but rewarding with him being more involved in the kids' everyday lives. We started the year off with Zach barely able to roll over and ended it with him talking, running and climbing (all over furniture, I might add). Abby began 2011 barely potty trained and I could not be more proud of her for her accomplishments in the bathroom as well as in the classroom, where she is working on reading, writing, spelling and excelling in arts & crafts. As for me, I changed jobs early in the year and I look back on it with no regrets.
I am optimistic that 2012 will bring good things for us all. With huge milestones this year like Abby graduating preschool and starting kindergarten, Zach beginning preschool and Jason hopefully becoming employed, the year looks bright and hopeful (at least 2 days in). I'd like to get (back in?) shape and lose the few holiday pounds I put on, and maybe even start a workout regime. I also hope to reinvigorate my passion for writing, if I can squeeze that in as well.
Now if we could only get Sadie to stop peeing on our couch, we'd be off to a great start!
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