Happy Anniversary

Three years ago today, I married my best friend.

 

Today, I have two best friends and two dance partners. Pretty good deal if you ask me.

Drop and give me 20

Because we can't get to the gym as often as we could pre-baby, we decided to hire a personal trainer.

It's so convenient because we don't even have to leave our apartment and he pushes us way harder than we would ever push ourselves. He's very budget friendly too, he lets us pay him with yogurt melts and bottles of milk.

Mama's Boy

The time has come... Nathan officially cries anytime I leave a room. Part of me is flattered that he is so attached to me. But part of me feels incredibly guilty anytime I have to run an errand, go to the bathroom, grab something from the kitchen...

Tonight Will got home from work a little early and since it was a beautiful night out, I decided to head out to World Wide Plaza, a great open space a few blocks from our apartment, and enjoy the cool weather while taking a few moments to relax.

Nathan was distracted by eating dinner when I tried to sneak out. Apparently he was not as distracted as I thought and this was his reaction just as I closed the door:

But luckily just minutes later, he forgot all about me and remembered how funny his Daddy is. It makes me feel so much better knowing I am so easily replaced!

Peace and quiet

Today is the second day in a row that Nathan fell asleep in his stroller on the way home from the playground. He looks so calm and peaceful when he's sleeping... look at him on the left, holding his hands like such a sweet little boy.

But as my dad put it so well the other day, all he's doing is charging his battery. So I'm going to grab my iced coffee and snuggle up on the couch with a book and enjoy this moment while it lasts. Because I know the second he wakes up, there will be nothing calm or peaceful going on!!

Lost and found

A lot of things have been going missing in our apartment lately. Magazines, shoes, cell phones....

We've figured out there's a good chance whatever you're looking for is in Nathan's hamper. It has become his favorite place to hide things.

Sick day

Nathan woke up yesterday with a little bit of a runny nose. Today he's got a case of the triple Cs, congested, coughing, and cranky. I hate it when he doesn't feel good but he's such a little trooper. I gave him a dose of Baby Motrin, slathered him with Baby Vicks and I think I've wiped his tiny little nose 237 times so far. Fingers crossed a good night's sleep tonight leaves him feeling better tomorrow.

Rainy day fun

The weather forecast this week is possibly one of the most depressing things I've seen in a while. It's cold, dreary and wet. Yuck. So today Nathan, Nana, Papa and I headed to the Boston Children's Museum. This place is so great, Nathan had such a good time. There was a projection wall where he could chase butterflies. There was a bubble river where he could stick his fingers under a waterfall. There was a life-sized checkerboard, a gigantic train track, a fingerpaint station.

Before we left I bought some fresh fruit so I could feed him a quick lunch on the ride home but after all the running around and exploring, Nathan quickly fell asleep after just a few bites. We could have stayed there all day if he hadn't needed a nap but there are so many more fun and interactive things that he can enjoy when he's a year or two older so I have a feeling we'll be back many times.

Weekly Gratitude

• I am grateful that NYSC offers babysitting! Why, oh why did it take me so long to realize this?? I first found out they charge $5/hour which is SO inexpensive! Most babysitters around here charge $15/hour and will only agree to come if you guarantee 2-3 hours minimum!! But then a few days later I was told if I paid a $30 flat fee, I could come as often as I'd like. So I have been working out for an hour a day all week and I feel great. It's a win-win. I get to workout which makes me feel better, leaving me with more energy to play with Nathan and Nathan gets to play with other kids and climb all over the padded mats they line the floors with... much better than the hardwood floors he's used to falling all over.

•  I am grateful that Will got home from work early last night - an unexpected surprise which allowed Nathan some more Daddy time and me some more Mommy time :)
• I am grateful that I am going home to visit my family next week. Nathan hasn't seen my side of the family in over a month and I know they are dying to get their hands on those chubby cheeks. Plus they'll get to see him walk, the real thing is so much more fun than any video footage I send them.

First comes the black eye...

Then comes the bloody nose.

Boy oh boy, having a boy is doing a number on my nerves!

Uh oh revisited

Nathan loves to say Uh oh but he hasn't quite figured out when it does and does not apply. Can someone please explain to him that it is usually said when something happens accidentally. And it is usually said after said incident.

When you fall down and drop your toy - Yes, Uh oh applies

When you look at me, smile, say "uh oh" and then throw a handful of peas on the floor - No, Uh oh does not apply.

You should see the other guy

Nathan had an unfortunate incident a few weekends ago which involved his face and the bottom step of a staircase.

I expected his first smile, his first laugh, his first step . . . but I wasn't prepared for his first black eye!!

Mother's Day

Last year, Nathan was just a few weeks old for my first Mother's Day. Still getting to know each other, we spent a quiet day at home, Nathan sleeping most of the day and myself trying to believe that I was a mother! This year, I had another wonderful day which involved sleeping in, a handmade card, a new pair of earrings, a bouquet of tulips (my favorite flower) and brunch with my boys.

We ate at a restaurant I've been wanting to try ever since we moved to the neighborhood. Nathan was a little distracted however by the 10 month old beauty at the next table so I didn't get too much attention from him.

Until the food arrived of course. Will and I have mastered the art of eating with a toddler... push all plates, glasses and silverware to the opposite side of the table so said toddler's tiny arms can't reach them.

After we finished eating we spent some time in the playground and then Will took Nathan for a walk and I got my nails done, a luxury I never treat myself to. That night Will's parents came over and we got to wish another mother a Happy Mother's Day.

Weekly Gratitude

• I try to balance out my reading between non-fiction books that actually teach me something, meaningful fiction where the story stays with me long after the last page, and light fluffy "chick lit" that I can breeze through in a couple days. This week I started a book Sunday night and finished it Wednesday and I am grateful for the escape it gave me each night after a long day.
• I am grateful for the beautiful weather we've had the past few days. Nathan's been able to wander around the Central Park playground every day. It's so fun to watch him now that he can walk up to other kids and wave, walk over to their stroller and try to take their toys, and walk up to every single thing he finds on the ground and put it in his mouth. Walking around a few steps behind him has been quite the workout for me!
• I am grateful for the Limited Edition Snapple Papaya Mango, inspired from my favorite show The Amazing Race! I've been looking for it everywhere and finally found it this week, it was delicious!
• I am grateful that our neighbors gave birth to a beautiful baby girl and that they seem happy and well rested!
• I am grateful that Nathan's hair finally overcame its awkward stage! He was born with a lot of hair but he was definitely sporting a bald spot right in the back for the first few months of his life and later had a Kramer-ish hairdo but lately I've noticed it's looking pretty darn good! Sure, it's a little wild and crazy but so is he so it suits him quite well I think :-)

Loverboy

Today, after Nathan woke up from his nap, he immediately went over to his toy bin and started pulling out toys. He can't possibly start playing with anything until he has pulled out each and every item first. Each time he pulled out a stuffed animal, he gave it a kiss before setting it on the ground.

In a matter of minutes, he kissed:

1 gorilla
1 duck
2 bunnies
1 sheep
and 2 lions

The boy's got game!

Soundbites with a Teething Toddler

Please don't bite the couch.

We give people kisses, not bites.

It hurts Mommy when you bite my knee.

Phobias and Playgrounds

I have a package of pre-paid Mommy and Me classes that I hate to see go to waste so I took Nathan to another music class yesterday. I made sure to sign up for a different teacher and a different location, so he would have no association with last week's trauma. We got there a few minutes early and things were going great. He waved to the other kids, he practiced walking, he ate a snack... then the teacher walked in, pulled a guitar out of its case and Nathan started screaming. Red faced, clawing his way into my lap, barely breathing screaming. So yes.... it has been confirmed that Nathan is in fact terrified of guitars. And we had to leave yet another class early.

Luckily we live just a short walk away from Central Park so we headed to the playground and enjoyed the beautiful spring weather instead... not a bad alternative.

When we got home I googled "fear of guitar" and found out there is no assigned phobia although there is a phobia of flutes.... Aulophobia. At least I know he is not Melophobic (fear of music) because he LOVES music!!! Sing him a song, he'll smile and dance the whole time. Hand him a xylophone, he'll go to town! Pull out a drum and he'll be first in line to bang it. Whatever you do, just don't show him a guitar!!!

Walk this way

After several failed attempts, we finally got some video of Nathan walking!