While We Are Away...

We will be traveling over the next week so I am not sure how many opportunities I will have to post updates on this little blog of ours.  But if you want to know what we are up to, you can still keep up with our adventures by following us on Instagram as I am sure we will be taking a lot of pictures and videos!  Just click on the camera icon below.

Have a wonderful holiday weekend everyone!

A Lucky Boy?

Like rain on your wedding day, Olin received one of the ultimate so-called omens of good luck on Sunday when a pigeon went potty right on his head while having lunch in Central Park.  While I was mortified and disgusted, Olin was entirely unfazed.  Thank goodness for diaper wipes and thank goodness it was Olin and not me (or Josh) because I am afraid that neither of us could have ever recovered from it!  I am still grossed out just thinking about it.

Post incident, Olin had a wonderful time attempting to feed the birds that Grandpa Carl lured to our table with handfuls of french fries.  I don't know that Olin actually managed to get food to the birds, but we all had a great time watching him try!

Oh, we love him so.

Odette and Grandpa

There are many wonderful moments in one's life, however, there are those special few that you cherish forever.  For me, introducing my daughter to my dad was one of those incredible moments that I will never forget.  

It was so wonderful when my dad first held Olin, but perhaps because of our special father-daughter relationship, I just couldn't wait for him to meet Odette.

Well, the day finally came last Thursday and it was everything I had hoped it to be.  Here are a few photos of our little girl getting to know her grandpa this past weekend.  

 Olin was pretty excited to have Grandpa Carl and Grandma Lisa here too... more pictures to come.

First Yoga Class!

The day finally arrived last week Tuesday when Odette and I were able to go to our first Baby and Me yoga class!  Our doctor recommended that she have her first round of vaccines prior so we had to wait until her 8 week appointment before we could begin our yoga regime. 

I have to say that the class was a bit surreal for me because it was at the same studio that Olin and I took our classes and even our same instructor, Mary.  It felt like I was just there taking that class with Olin and now there I was with another baby.  I know this probably sounds silly, but often lately I find myself stopping and saying to myself, 'oh my gosh, I have 2 kids!"  You would think after 11 weeks, it would have fully sunk in by now.

Anyway, Odette didn't embrace yoga like her brother did at his first class.  She started strong, laying on the mat, kicking and cooing as she looked at all the babies around her.  But then, about 20 minutes into the class she lost it and never really fully recovered.  So most of the class was spent feeding her or walking her around the room, but it was fun to get back in it nonetheless.  We have our second class in about an hour from now so my fingers are crossed that the little one finds her "inner calm" this time around!

Namaste....

By the way, her leg warmers were the talk of the class!

Bonjour Odette

Over the weekend we had a party to properly welcome Odette into the world. It's always nice to get together with friends and we could not think of a better reason than to celebrate the arrival of our little girl.  

We decided on a french theme for the party given the french origin of Odette's name and our love of France.  In addition to several french cheeses, baguette, crudite, tea sandwiches and truffles, we had the most delicious cake from our very favorite bakery, Two Little Red Hens (okay so the cake was not really french, but well worth the diversion from the theme).  We also created a signature cocktail with Lillet Rose, gin and elderflower in her honor which was the perfect shade of pink and appropriately dubbed "The Odette".  It took a lot of trials the week before (a tough job for Josh and me!), but the end result was a hit at the party.

True to her nature, Odette slept most of the time while being passed from person to person.  And Olin had many of his friends in attendance so he was not lacking for entertainment. 

While we often miss having our family near, we feel so blessed to be surrounded by such wonderful friends in the city.  It was a lovely party for a lovely little lady who is very much loved by all the special people in her life. 

Sweetness

On Saturday, we drove out to Brooklyn to get a few things for the new place at Ikea and like most of our trips to Ikea, it was a big mistake.  That place is pretty crazy as is, but add an infant and a toddler and it's pure chaos.  And after all of it, we ended up spending $50... all on food... and the next day ordered the needed furniture online from Crate&Barrel from the comfort of our living room as the little ones slept.

In spite of the unproductive shopping trip, it was still fun to get in the air conditioned car and drive (rather than walk) all around the city as we peacefully listened to Jim {Brickman}... it's our little hybrid haven in this crazy city of ours.  

In addition to the peacefulness, the best thing happened while we were in the car.  Let me preface by saying that Olin's vocabulary has really increased over the past several weeks, however, we still find ourselves trying to translate some of the things he says.  We usually ask him, "can you point to it?" or "what color is it?" in an effort to try to figure it out and he so patiently says 'no' and smiles when we guess wrong.  

So while in the car on Saturday, Olin kept saying something to me from the backseat.  It was the same thing that he was trying to tell me on our walk to school one day last week that I was never able to figure out.  As he kept repeating the sentence, it finally clicked with me and I asked, "Olin, are you saying, 'Mommy, you are special to me'?".  "Yes!", he replied with the biggest smile.  In that moment, all the naughty things that this little boy has ever done were erased from my memory and I desperately wanted to climb over that car seat and give him the biggest hug.  

My goodness, he really is the sweetest little person that I have ever met.  He is so kind and thoughtful - he always asks us if we want this or that, he's always eager to share with others, and he doles out hugs and kisses whenever we ask for them... which is all the time.  He really is just pure sunshine 99% of the time.  How blessed we are to have this special little person in our lives.

I hope everyone had a great weekend and as Olin would say, I hope you all know that you are special to us.

Photo by Jane Goodrich

Movin' on Up... to the East Sde

We moved (yet again) on Tuesday.  And we literally did move "up"... from the 3rd floor on the Upper West Side to the 41st floor on our beloved Upper East Side.  And as if to solidify our residence in the new location, the Google Maps van drove by as we were walking down our block... so at some point, if you look at the street view of our new place on Google Maps, you should be able to see the four of us walking down our block.  However, let me warn you that it happened on the day we moved so we probably won't look happy, rested or particularly put together!

Although we consider ourselves professional movers at this point, Josh and I realized that it's not so easy any more now that we have two little ones and it seems that our period of frequent moves (aka our "flakiness") is coming to an end and that we need to settle down for good sooner rather than later.  Now if only we could figure out a way to "quit" this city that simultaneously frustrates and delights us on a daily basis.

We're still unpacking boxes, but as soon as we are settled, I will post photos of the new place. 

Until then, here are a couple photos of our little lady in her vibrating chair.  Unfortunately, the chair only buys us a few minutes so we quickly go from this...

to this....

Have a great weekend everyone!

Two Months

Today, Odette is 2 months old.  Words can not express how in love we are with this little girl.  She is a shining light in our lives and every moment spent with her... even the ones in the middle of the night... are pure joy.  

Happy two month birthday, Odette!  We love you more than all the numbers.

Two Month Check-up

Bright and early this morning, Odette had her two month check-up with the pediatrician.  She weighed 12 pounds 10 ounces and is developing nicely.  Her weight is in the 85th percentile while her length is in the 30th percentile... not exactly a supermodel physique, but it makes for a super cute baby!  I had fat rolls for days as a baby so I think this little one is taking after her mommy!

Today, our girl also got her first round of vaccines - three in her chubby little thighs and one administered orally.  I have never heard her cry as hard as she did when she felt that first needle, but she had calmed herself back down before the nurse even had the band-aid on.

Although Odette is doing just fine, I, given my hypochondriac tendencies, will be taking her temperature every hour on the hour to ensure she is having no adverse reactions to the vaccines.  Unfortunately, I have to take it rectally so her day just keeps getting better and better!

Have a great weekend everyone!

A Lesson in Skipping Rocks

I think these two are just a little young yet, but you've got to love Josh for trying.  To Olin and Millie's credit, they both watched Josh as he demonstrated, but then went right back to chucking the rocks and shells (overhand) into the water.  Maybe next time...