Alert!

As in, Baby's alert.

Daddy EST. 2010

A gift from Seren to show her appreciation for Craig and his superb coaching through labor and delivery.

Why we have no power

A tree on the power lines on the next block over. It's worse live than in this pic.

Passing the time during the storm

We have a blackout, so we've relocated to cousin Lois's house in White Plains. Belle is happily playing and eating chicken with cousin Carly.

our family

 

A Hospital Anachronism

I always believed Belle would never know what a payphone is. She found this in the hospital lobby and knew what it was immediately. I doubt she'll figure out why it is though.

Belle Holds Her Little Sister

A New Member of the Team

We are filled with joy to announce the birth of a baby girl last night as the newest member of the team that has been rechristened the "QuadriCeps."  Our beautiful baby girl was born on Saturday morning, October 27, 2012, at 1:37 a.m.  She measured 7 lbs, 13 oz. and 19.5 inches long.  Mommy and baby are doing well.  Belle is very excited to be a big sister and to have a little sister.

Information about a name will come later.  In the meantime, we're all going to recover.

Love,
Seren, Craig (An absolutely beaming father), Belle and a gorgeous new baby

Belle Enjoying Autumn

The scene in front of a neighbor's house.

Grocery shopping

With her basket (in which she put her rock) and a cell phone.

Belle wanted to be helpful and carry the basket, but when the items I placed in the basket made the basket too heavy for Belle to carry, she asked for me to hold the grocery item while she carried the basket.  Not so helpful.  Also fun but not so helpful: Belle walking around the store putting light-weight, colorful items in the basket saying, "Let's buy THIS, Mommy!"  I retraced our steps around the store and returned the items to the shelves before we checked-out.

I'll take her shopping again, though.  She's fun to have around.

Mom to the rescue!

Belle's teacher at nursery school spotted a splinter in Belle's right ring finger.  No nursery school staff member is allowed to touch boo boos except to put on a bandage.  Someone at school contacted Craig who notified me.  So, I ran over to Belle's school as soon as my schedule allowed to remove the splinter myself.   I worried that a Mommy-sighting in the middle of the day would disturb Belle and that my departure after the splinter removal would cause tears.  But I didn't want Belle to be all day with a splinter in her finger.   I  went to the school office where I called to Belle's classroom.  I spoke to one of her teachers explaining how I want to remove Belle's splinter but then will leave.  The office sent another adult to the classroom so there were enough adults to cover Belle's classmates and then one of her teachers brought her to meet me in the office.   Belle came in with toy binoculars around her neck holding a naked baby doll in one hard and holding her teacher's hand with the other.  She was excited to see me, and eager to show me her boo boo.  I put on my best doctor hat and used the limited resources I found in the school office medical kit to successfully remove Belle's splinter. No tears (from either of us!).   When I was done, and Belle's boo boo was re-bandaged with anti-bacterial ointment, Belle said, "bye bye, Mommy!"  She took her teacher's hand and was eager to get back to her classroom.  What a relief!  What a pleasure to know that Belle enjoyed school!  What a big, brave girl Belle is!   Belle's teacher was kind and helpful to both me and Belle.  And she wouldn't let me leave before she told me how much she enjoys seeing Craig every morning when he drops Belle off.  She said Belle and I are both very lucky to have him (as if we didn't already know that).

Belle's Halloween

"Belle, what are you going to be for Halloween?

"A big sister! A SUPER big sister!!"

We certainly hope so :)

Today's Outfit

My only contribution was the rainboots because of the weather. Actually, the skirt was insisted upon. I insisted upon pants underneath.

Belle and Marc

Belle was unhappy to share her ride with her friend Marc, despite the fact that it was his birthday party.

Where's Belle? Post-swim edition

Can you find Belle?

Here she is.

This is how Belle busied herself while I got dressed after swim class last Sunday.

Cousins!

Watching the Giants game and celebrating Uncle Mitchell's 30th birthday with Cousins Isabelle, Noah, and Owen:

"Come play, Mommy"

Life is so busy. Craig and I both work full time, there are countless chores to do around the house, errands to run, holidays to prepare for, special events to attend; there aren't enough hours in the day.  Prioritizing is the greatest challenge to parenthood.

 A few weeks ago, we had plans to spend a weekend away to attend a family wedding. I picked Belle up from day care at Nadia's after school that Friday afternoon and raced home to get ready to go away for the rest of the weekend. Belle invited me to play with her in her playroom: "Mommy, come play."  But I had breakfast dishes to wash and lunch bags to clean out. Then, I went upstairs to finish laying out clothing to pack. Belle asked me to stay downstairs to play: "Mommy, downstairs. Play, please."  But I had to pull pajamas, dresses, shoes, toiletries, etc from our drawers to lay them on our bed to pack. Belle climbed the stairs to our bedroom and asked again, "Mommy, come play, please."

I looked at Belle and then at the clothes strewn about our bed and the empty suitcase next to the bed. I could almost hear Harry Chapin's "The Cats in the Cradle" playing in my head. I said to Belle, "you're right, Belle. Let's go play."

I left the suitcase unpacked and followed Belle downstairs and into her playroom. So things wouldn't get packed so neatly. So we'll leave for our weekend destination a little later than we'd planned. So what?

With the revelation came tears...from me. I was so sad to think about all the times I have already and will continue to refuse Belle's invitations to play because I have to work or complete chores.  Belle, in her mature compassion, said, "Mommy's crying. I hug Mommy" and she gave me a hug.

I won't always be able to play with Belle when she wants me to, but there also aren't so many more years when Belle will choose Mommy as her playmate. I will to try to play as often as I can, especially when Belle extends the invitations to play.  Striking the balance between fulfilling responsibilities and enjoying Belle is by far the hardest part of motherhood.

One eye on the Giants game

"Yes"

There was a point in Belle's life when she could only answer "no" to questions.  She has now turned to answer "yes."  But her "yes" is a very agreeable, enthusiastic yes.

This morning when I dropped off Belle at nursery school, I asked her teachers how she's doing.  She's "agreeable."  And with that, I heard her "yes" in my head.

Our book worm

Belle is now sleeping in a "big girl bed" (a toddler bed we borrowed from a cousin). The other night, she got out of bed after we tucked her in and she picked out her favorite books from her bedroom bookshelf. We found her asleep like this: apparently she fell asleep part-way through the book. Hope her enjoyment of "reading" continues.

Belle Loves Sukkot

Shaking the Lulav

Belle in this picture is either shaking our lulav or training to be Zorro. Either way, she had fun.

Our First Sukkah

We're ready to go.