The Booster seat

...has revolutionized nap time around here.
We got one that "just barely" fits in between the car seats.
When our lease is up this summer, it may be time for a larger SUV.
Never a mini-van though, promise!

(pic caught mid-buckle)

As a result, we have spent most of the week bringing buddies home from school with us.
The excitement as they hold hands and walk to the car together is super sweet.
The giggles and chatter in the backseat make me smile all the way home.
Lexi races through the house to show her friends her dress-up clothes, her jewelry,
her critter house and her room.
She seems so proud of her belongings,
and she's always eager to share, thank goodness.

One daughter gets to play while the other gets to nap.
That makes this mom happy indeed.
Though, I must confess, at times I feel like the universal bottom wiper.
I thought it was enough helping my own little ladies.
But every friend that has come here has gone number two...
and then asked for my help.
Is that sharing too much info?
I suppose it's a small price to pay for some mid-afternoon fun.

(mom, can we climb into the back for an adventure in the driveway?!)

4 Generations

Disclaimer: Though it may appear so via recent posts,
I do not always wear this particular teal dress,
Lexi wears more than just her Lilly flamingo dress
and Ryleigh is not always in her purple Polo dress....I promise :)

Now that my Binghamton-based Grandmother is no longer driving,
it's a lot harder to see her frequently.
Ronnie, known for her wonderfully red hair and her quick smile,
is beloved by all.
For every event - big and small - throughout my childhood,
you could count on Ronnie being there (and being the biggest cheerleader).
And so, to ensure that she could finally meet Ryleigh,
we went home for a visit to Sparta last month while she was in town.
Wendy, Matt and Courtney were there also,
so it was a great celebration of four generations!

We visited my elementary school and paid a visit to the playground
(which frankly, isn't looking so hot these days),
but brought back a ton of wonderful memories, nonetheless

Then, Dad and I took Lexi to Lake Mohawk, one of the prettiest spots in town,
for a walk along the boardwalk, some sunset spotting and some frozen yogurt...
TCBY is back, folks!
We rounded out the night with my mom's delicious spaghetti before making the trip
home to CT for bedtime.
The more things change, the more they stay the same!

Catching up

We've been trying our best to spend time with the people
and at the places that mean the most to us these days.
While we can easily hop in the car and visit family in NJ
or jump on the train for a trip to NYC,
we better take advantage.
So a few weekends back, with no plans to speak of,
we took the girls into the city.

Why?
Because every little kid should experience the excitement of Grand Central
and, of course, American Girl and FAO Schwarz.

And, because what's a beautiful Saturday without a visit to Central Park?
And, what's a trip to Manhattan without a quick taxi ride?
And, how can you consider yourself a true Northerner without racing
to make the Metro North on the way home (double stroller and all)?

It was good to be back in the city where Vic and I first lived together.
It was even better to be back with our children by our side.

9 Months

Ryleigh-

At 9 months...
-you are 27 inches tall and weigh 18.4 pounds
-this puts you around 40% for both, still a good bit smaller than your sister was at this age

-you still have no teeth
-you are moving and grooving more each day
-you recently figured out how to crawl with just your hands and knees
-and you're pretty quick at it
-most of all, you love pulling up to a stand (on everything - crib, fireplace, gate, ottoman, diaper bag, kitchen chairs and stools, playground equipment, anything will do)
-you can even hold on with just one hand, and you are beginning to cruise

-you love knocking over Big Sister's block towers
-you love trying to steal the iPad when My Little Pony is on
-you are starting to babble more each day, you've also learned how to scream
-bababa seems to mean: bottle, binky, food, mom and dad thus far
-you are very shy in new settings and seem to be going through a bit of stranger anxiety

-you are truly just like your dad: sweet, silly, easy going, determined, active,
and like him, your arms are amazingly strong
-and you look just like him too

-you are so over pureed foods and beg, borrow and steal finger food like nobody's business
-you are holding your own bottle and learning to drink from a cup

-you are still a wonderful sleeper, and you adjust your nap schedule as needed (thank you!)
-you love going for walks, you still love the bath, you love "reading" books, you are starting to climb stairs and boy do you love your binky
-you also love music, bopping those cute little legs whenever you hear a new song
-Oh, and at 9 months, you are eating the cute little paper 9 that your mommy created

The first day

At long last, Lexi's preschool started today!
It's by far the latest start date of any program in town.
We're not sure how much of the year she will finish out in CT,
but Miss Mary and Miss Jackie are known around school as the "dream team",
so we're thrilled for Lexi to be in class with them
and all her same buddies for the 4's.

She told us yesterday she was "a little bit nervous" about the first day,
which is the EXACT same thing I told my own mom at this age.
But this morning she woke up raring to go,
and with distinct outfit ideas that differed from mine, to boot.
I stood my ground,
and she looked cute and "on trend" if I do say so myself :)

Despite all the smiles, there were a few moments when panic set in...
because today, of all days, my car wouldn't start.
The battery was dead, dead, dead no matter how hard I pushed that start button.
Turns out a little miss didn't close her car door all the way last night,
and her parents didn't catch the mistake.
With both girls happily strapped into their car seats, along with a
lunch box, backpack, snack bag, water bottle, diaper bag, school paperwork,
cell phone, big camera, and two lovies all set and ready to roll,
I jumped out of the car wondering what on Earth to do next.
Annie's mom couldn't bring us in her car since there was no room
for all the car seats.
All my other mom friends in town had their own drop offs at the same exact time.
Vic would never make it home from work in time.
Should I call the town taxi service?
Could we walk? (panic was clearly setting in now - for those of you who know
the haul that Greenfield Hill is from our house).
So, I did what any wife/mom would do.
I called for reinforcements (and a more level head)
Vic reminded me that our neighbor's son's car was likely parked in their garage
since he's away at college.
A quick call to their cell phones, and I was typing in their garage code,
dragging two heavy car seats (and their occupants) through the bushes,
and reloading all of our gear,
while attempting to remain calm for my little preschooler.
I billed it as a fun first day of school adventure,
and she totally bought into it.
Most of Fairfield could hear us racing to school in that Blazer today,
but we arrived with time to spare.
And Alexis had a wonderful first day - which is really all that matters!
Now...here's hoping tomorrow morning is not quite as eventful.

So Long Summer

Summer 2012...you have been a fantastic one.

In between keeping our house clean, clean, clean for showings
and wondering when we might be moving to Dallas,
we have been soaking up the sun
with our friends and our family.

For the first time in a long time,
I am not anxiously counting down for all that fall brings.
We have been content just to live in the moment
and squeeze as much out of these days as we can.

And like that...it is gone
(little Usual Suspects right there for you Vic and Tom)

Hanging Tough

Look who learned a new trick on Wednesday:

How proud does she look?!
And all I have to say is thank goodness for that fireplace baby proofing
(still left from Lexi's days as a cruiser)
because I walked into the room to this little lady standing
and couldn't believe my eyes.
I thought it was a fluke,
but then it happened again at nap time, bedtime and even in the middle of the night.
Poor Ryleigh is still figuring out how to sit back down.
So what did her mommy do?
Ran to get the camera, naturally, and then helped her out.