Cape Cod

We just spent the last few days at the Cape. The highlight was spending three days with some old friends of ours from Massachusetts.  We have not had our families together in 2.5 years and since then we each have had a new addition.  The kids had a wonderful time together, Luna finally had a friend to play with and the parents got a date night!

We also had a wonderful time enjoying the local beaches but boy the Atlantic Ocean is COLD! Luna did not seem to mind but Rachel was not so sure.   Here are some of the photos from the trip.

Rachel loved the beach, she would play games with her shadow and even talk to it at times.  It has hilarious to watch.  She also refused to wear her bathing suit.

 Luna and Daddy worked on her letters while at the beach.  I have tried to have her practice with crayons but have had no luck.  This was much more fun and she did not have to sit still.  Here she wrote her name all by herself and then wanted me to take a photo.  She was so proud.

Luna LOVED swimming in the indoor pool.  She is getting really good at holding her breath and kicking her feet.  I think she just might be a little fishy and I could not be more excited.  You don't have to ask Momma twice to go swimming. A girl after my own heart!



Next we are headed up north to visit some more old friends.  We are loving being on the east coast again!  I can't wait to catch up with some old girlfriends and see how big their kiddos have gotten.

Precious Moments with Luna

These are some little things that have happened that made me smile.

I have recently braided Luna's hair.  Today we were in the lobby of our building and there was another little girl of color in the lobby as well, she was around 8.  Luna walked up to her and said "Where is your Mom and Dad?"  The little girl pointed to a man standing by the door.  Luna said "oh" and walked to the elevators.  I was following Luna and as I passed the little girl she asked me "did you braid her hair?"  I told her I had. She said "it is beautiful."  What a compliment!  That little girl made my day, I hope that when Luna is 8 years old she thinks it is beautiful too.

Luna is loving New York and talks to everyone all the time.  Today Luna wanted to ride her trike to the park.  The park is close, we walk on sidewalks and on a trail to get there.  So I decided to let her try, I was not sure how she was going to do staying out of the way of other people.  Overall she did well.  While we were coming back, she rode right up to two women walking along and stopped right in front of them, in such a way that they had to stop as well.  She looked up at them and said "Where are you going?"  She then proceeded to have a half way decent conversation with them all the while I was laughing.  Who is this kid?

One day, while at a playground, Luna was once again talking to everyone.  She went up to a man who was there with his daughter.  Luna asked him what was his daughter's name.  The man, in English, told Luna he does not speak English.  Luna said "what."  The man said it again.  Then Luna said "what."  This happened a few times before I intervened.  Luna and I had a very interesting conversation about how not everyone speaks English.  I thought it went well but then she looked at me and said "So he does not know how to talk yet?"

Luna is definitely challenging my parenting skills in new ways.  She is so friendly and I really see this as one of her strengths but it can also be dangerous.  She loves to ask people where they live and then tells them where we live.  If we are out and about she will point at our building and say I live on 25C.  When we are in the elevator in our building she loves to see what floor people get in on and then will say to who ever just got in "So you live on 8."  The person usually laughs and then Luna will say "I live on 25C."  I recently had a conversation with her about not telling people we don't know well where we live.  Of course she asked why and I had a hard time giving her a reason.  I don't want her to be scared of people we don't know, we just moved here and we don't know anyone.  So tonight while she was on the elevator a man got on and she did her routine "So you live on 18."  The man laughed.  Luna then started to say "I live on the ..." and then looks at me and starts to whisper. It was hilarious but at least she is learning.

On another note, I went and visited two private preschools this week.  I really liked one of them but to reserve a spot we have to put down a nonrefundable deposit.  We still have not heard about the public preschool yet.  I thought we would have heard by now.  So the question becomes do we put down the deposit and lose it if Luna gets into the public preschool or do we chance it and wait and if she does not get in just hope the opening is still there...

Park Days

The last two days have been gorgeous, 80 degrees with a nice breeze.  We have spent a lot of time at our local parks.  It is great, I feel like we are on vacation.  Although at some point here I will have to clean this apartment and then it won't feel like a vacation.

One of the great features of all the parks in the area is that they are fenced in, so the kids can not get out without someone opening the gate for them.  Which when you have two busy kiddos and roads near by that is critical.  Most of the time I can keep an eye on both kids without too much of a problem.  But today we went to a park, the elementary school had just let out, and it was over run with kids and parents/nannies.  It was CRAZY.  I was constantly scanning the area to find my kids, once I would find one I would start looking for the next, it was CRAZY.  Then to top it off, I was pooped on by a pigeon, lovely.  By the time we left the park my blood pressure was through the roof but the girls had fun.

Their favorite part of the park is the sand and like it even better when there is a water spout near by.

Checking out the koi in the pond.

Sorry, I did not get a picture of the crazy park.  I was a little busy myself.  Tomorrow is a day of packing and then Friday we are heading up to Cape Cod for a little family vacation.

I Love Peanut Butter

Today I conquered one of my biggest fears in moving to New York.  I took both girls out and about all by myself and we had a great time!  For Christmas, I received a book called "New York City with Kids" by Mindy Bailin. It is a great book with a bunch of ideas of things to do with kids.  I had been keeping a running list of things I wanted to do.  Then on a blog I read about this restaurant called Peanut Butter & Co.  Once I read about that place, I knew I wanted to go there.  The website is:  www.ilovepeanutbutter.com and I love peanut butter.

So for my first day solo with the kids I decided we would go there for lunch.  The adventure was not walkable so we had to take the subway with the stroller and it required a subway stop that does not have an elevator.  Just imagine a mom with two little kids carrying a double stroller up and down some stairs while holding the youngest.  It was not pretty, but who cares, I did it!  The only blunder was when I had both kids in the stroller and we were exiting the subway train. There was a small drop down (maybe 2 inches) and as the stroller leaned forward and down, Luna went tumbling out onto the platform.  Now Luna is one tough kid and it did not phase her but boy did people come running to help her up and get us out of the way of the closing train door.  Not my shining moment, there are so many things to think about, I just did not see that happening.

The one stop that did have an elevator I could not figure out how to get to the street level.  So after riding it up and down a couple times we got out and walked up the stairs (which smells much better than the elevator).  We then had to find the restaurant.  I can read maps pretty well, but I had written down the address wrong so after walking around for about 30 minutes while pushing the double stroller and carrying a sleeping Rachel I called Brian (hubby) and asked him to look up the address.  Luckily we were only about 3 blocks away, oh so close.

We got to the restaurant and ordered.  I was exhausted and boy was I sweating, again not pretty but who cares, I was there!  Luna had a Peanut Butter Cup sandwich (pb & nutella), Rachel had Fluffernutter (pb & marshmellow fluff) and I had the Cookie Dough Surprise (pb, vanilla cream cheese & chocolate chips).  They were all delicious!  There are many more I would love to try, I guess I will just have to go back.

We walked back home and along the way stopped at two different parks.  It was a fun but exhausting outing!

Wonderful Weekend

This weekend was perfect.  It was dry and on Saturday sunny and warm.  Both days I went for runs along the Hudson River.  There is a trail and it is well used, many many people running, walking and biking.  We visited multiple parks, all within walking distances.  Almost all the parks have huge sand boxes, well it is not a box more sand areas.  All the kids love to put water into the sand and it makes a huge mess.  Each time we leave the park, we have to come home and change clothes.  Which I am not a huge fan of but the kids are loving it.

Something I am going to have to get use to is how warm our apartment stays.  We are on the 22nd floor and all the heat from the lower floors comes up and keeps us toasty warm.  It can be 76 degrees in our apartment and only 65 degrees outside.  We are able to open our windows but there is a safety feature on them that only allows you to open them up to 3inches.  Which is great so the kids can't fall out but not so great at cooling down the apartment.

First Subway Ride

Today we went on our first subway ride.   Both girls responded to it very differently, just like their little personalities.  We were planning on going to the children's museum in the Upper West Side.  It was warm but raining.  We ended up just taking the subway uptown, getting lunch and then stopping by Trader Joes.  It was an successful outing the girls loved being out and about even if it was raining on them.

Here they are waiting for the subway train

On the train, Rachel, Miss. Serious, not so sure of the whole thing.

Luna taking it all in and loving it!

What I Know

What I know, so far, about NYC I love.  My comfort level is not there yet but I am really enjoying being out and about.  I have yet to leave the apartment alone with both girls but I have plenty of time for that next week when Brian goes back to work.

I have been sleeping much better, thanks for all your tips.  We do have a noise maker but I have been hesitant to use it because I want to make sure I can hear the girls if they wake up.  But we do have a vent/ac unit in our room and do run the fan at night, which is like white noise.

Here is a little glimpse of the cost of things.  Yesterday I stopped by a store here in Battery Park to by a box of Life cereal it was $6.50, I could not buy it, too painful.  Today we went over to Target in Jersey City and bought a box of Life for $3.30, much better :).

Today, my dear husband called around to some private preschools to see if they had any openings.  I have two appointments next week to go check them out!  I am shocked that there are spots out there, hurray!  Now I just hope I hear about the public school preschool soon.

First post about Preschool

Today I met with a Mom who runs an online message board for Moms in the area.  We were talking about preschool options for Luna.  I told her that I applied to the public pre-k program but no private ones.  I said that I thought I had no chance at a private one so all I applied to were public.  We are suppose to hear if we got into the public school option this next week.  She then told me that I had a better chance getting into a private school at this point than I do at the public school. I am feeling a bit deflated about that news.  Luna is a kid that would love and do well in preschool and I would really like her in one for the fall.  So a new task on my list of things to do is call the local private preschools and see if they have any openings for the fall.  I really hope I find one....

Here is a picture of the girls playing while enjoying the view (another overcast day)

Today we went to the storytime at Barnes & Noble. Luna got to meet some other children, finally! We sat down next to another Mom, who was very friendly. She started off telling me about how last week she was getting her nails done and Luna was at the Salon with her Mom. I then told her I was Luna's Mom and that we just moved here this weekend from Seattle. She said the girl she saw could have been Luna's twin :) Maybe we will bump into Luna's doppelganger while we are here. Anyway, the women was really nice and gave me some recommendations on good places to take the kids.

Day 2

I woke up early today 6am (3am west coast time). The street noise is so loud, will I really get use to it.  I can't imagine not even hearing it any more, right now it is pretty much the main thing I hear

We met our neighbors, very nice and friendly.  They have two kids, a 10 year old and 13 year old (potential babysitter).  Luna was very excited to meet the neighbors and when I showed her all the other doors in the hallway and told her people lived there she wanted to knock on each door and meet them.

Our neighbors have been in their apartment for 9 years.  At the beginning, they will likely be the ones I ask all my crazy questions like:

Do you tip the porter in the building every time he brings something to your apartment?
                                                        or
Do you really not hear all the street noise, are you really that use to it?
                                                         or
Where can I buy Life cereal, it is a staple in our house?

Until Tomorrow

We Made It!

Today was the day and we made it.  Feels like it was a long time coming, many months of planing but it has arrived.  As I type the girls are asleep in their beds in our New York City apartment.

The kiddos did great on the plane.  We were an hour delayed out of Seattle because of weather at the Newark airport, we ended up landing an hour and a half later than planned.  But we are here and ready for bed.

Funny Quote of the Day
We were waiting outside for our ride from the airport and a taxi honked.  Luna looked at us and said "What was that noise."  We both laughed and said "a car horn, get use to it."

Eye Opening Experience
I spent a lot of time reading about how people get around with small children, car seats and all.  What I learned was that in a taxi they are not required to be in a carseat, shocking I know.  Well our ride from the airport to our apartment just confirmed that my kids will always be in a car seat for sure, it was crazy.  I had to bite my tongue many of times.

Interesting Tidbit
While at the airport we saw the actor Tom Skerritt.  He played Drum in the movie Steel Magnolias, which just happens to be one of my favorite movies.

As I type this, I think I am feeling the building move but Brian is telling me I am crazy and just tired.  Not so sure about that.