we're graduating from the club...

...you know, the two kids under two club. Well, on Monday, we will officially have a two year old, and I've got to say, I'm really excited. I know know, terrible twos, blah blah blah. But, this little lady of mine is becoming such a fun little person, and sometimes I just look at her in awe and wonder where she gets some of her stuff. Sigh. And, J. Oh, baby J. He is dreamy. Just like with his big sister, each stage keeps getting better.

We like to stretch birthdays out around these parts, so today we started celebrating S's big day. She and I went to the farmers market, where I let her pick out a cupcake...for me to eat later. Ha! The lady selling the cupcakes was so excited that it was her birthday, that she let S pick out a little fondant butterfly to take home. We let S have it after dinner and she loved it. After Pato took his morning nap, we went to Jamestown beach. It is an absolutely perfect little beach.

Her new favorite is playing ring-around-the-rosies. Over. and over. It's looking at this picture above that definitely convinces me that one of the best things we've ever done for S was give her a little brother.

We had a perfect day together and look forward to even more celebrating :)

Central Park

The weather was amazing today. I think I commented on the weather about 8.32 million times today. We knew we had to take advantage of it, and what better way than by wandering around Central Park.

My biggest request of the day: walk over to the Bethesda Fountain. Every time we go back to Central Park I am reminded of our wedding day and taking pictures there.

S had such a great time running around.

Really looking forward to coming back here in the fall.

My favorite temple.

And then we walked over to the Lincoln Center. The pacifier ring is all the rage.

*Oh, and hello 100th post!

last of...

The last of our Brooklyn pictures...

Jane's Carousel is a gorgeous carousel with equally gorgeous views of the East River and the city. It's such a beautiful work of art that dates back to 1922. It has been painstakingly restored and that easily shows. J was the only one brave enough to try it, but didn't crack a single smile because he was just so sleepy. S didn't want to have anything to do with it. That's okay, though. We'll try again another time :)

Such a daddy's girl. I don't even mind that one bit.

Liberty State Park

This morning we went to Liberty State Park to check out the gorgeous NYC skyline and let our girly get her wiggles out. The weather here has been simply a-mazing this week, and we are looking at an equally amazing rest of the week. 

They built a September 11th memorial there that we stopped to look at. What was extra special about the memorial is that it was placed in the spot where the World Trade Center Towers used to appear in the skyline. As we walked in between the the walls of names, I was reminded that even though I have my day-to-day worries and struggles, they are nothing in comparison to what the families of those who lost loved ones have been through. It's been almost twelve years since the attacks and it still feels so raw.

I wonder how we'll teach our children about that day. I know lots of people worry about bringing their children up in this day in age. But you know what, I'm not! Yes, there are bad things out there, but there always has been. And I think there is SO much good out there, too. I'm so glad that I get to raise my kids at this point in time.

This girl is turning into such a chatterbox. She loved waving to all the boats, airplanes and trains.

"Mama, do you really have to kiss me all the time?" Yes, my dear boy. I do. Till the end of time.

S the Explorer

Ever since Dada got her these binoculars, they are always by her side. We went out and explored for a little while yesterday morning. One of our very favorite things about this girly is how curious she is. I hope she'll hang on to that forever.

"Oh, no!" Over and over. You can actually see how dramatic she is in this picture. This girl needs a new catchphrase.

We have a little collection of her treasures by the breezeway door. She even managed to bring a stick she collected from the Isle of Man (specifically, the old Cannon home) all the way across the Atlantic. It's sitting on her bookshelf right now...wonder how long it'll survive before it's tossed.

What I love about summer...

Summer has arrived in Williamsburg. Anyone who knows me knows that summer and I are practically enemies. I'm allergic to temperatures exceeding 83.5 degrees Fahrenheit. As I was unloading the kids from the car today (both of them with cute sweaty foreheads) after letting them play in the nice, cool bookstore, I thought, "You've got to make a list. At least five nice things you can say about summer."

So, here is what I love like about summer:

watermelon

pedicures that show through your sandals

a real excuse to let my kids run around in diapers

knowing that fall comes next

corn

bright colors in my closet

SIX! I even surpassed my goal. Yes, I did not include water activities such as the pool or the beach. I like going to the pool. It's fine. The beach is cool, too. But, one day of beach is plenty for me. 

On a totally different note...yesterday I was at the (same) bookstore...

Okay, pause.  I should stop before I continue. I'm having a hard time thinking of indoor places to take my kids in between naps to beat the heat. This bookstore has a) trains b) blocks and c)books (duh) d) cupcakes e) not a ton of people, so my kids are really happy there. So if you're thinking, "Gosh, do they go anywhere else??" The answer is no. Well, yes. But mostly no.

Back to the story. I ran into a lady from S's music class. We hadn't seen her since around the time J was born, so we chatted for a little bit. She asked me what I did to lose the baby weight, and I told her honestly (and I recognize this is not the same with everybody) it was mostly from nursing baby J. "Huh? You're still nursing him?" she asked. When I told her that yes, I am still nursing him, she looked at me like I had just told her I was born six feet tall. J is just short of nine months...that's not crazy long. 

Additionally... I am of the mindset that if a mama wants to nurse her baby till he's fifty-five, she has every right to. (But, don't get mad at me if I give you really weird creeped out looks.)