Healthy eating

While grocery shopping, Belle asked me if she could eat a head of broccoli. I wasn't gong to say no to such a healthy request! So, here's Belle in the shopping cart noshing on a head of broccoli.

Play date with Molly

Pack-N-Play: an effective regression

Belle can open doors, and so she does.  That means that when we tuck her in her bed for "night-night time," if Belle doesn't want to go to bed, she simply doesn't.  She comes downstairs and asks for our company.  What were we to do?  Put a lock on the outside of her door?  Put a childproof doorknob on the inside of her room?  No, those options seem as though they'd scare and then scar poor little Belle.  So Craig offered Belle the opportunity to sleep in the Pack-N-Play, which she cannot get out of.  Belle excitedly said, "yes, please."  A regression from "big-girl-bed" to portable crib? Perhaps, but it sure is effective.  Tonight marks night four of Belle staying in her room (because she can't get out, but of her own volition) at bedtime.

Celebrating end of school

With grilled cheese at the diner and her project today - a birdie.

T-U-F-T-S!

Jumbo pride

One happy great-grandma

Happy Birthday, Grammy!

Belle's best nursery school friends

Belle reads with Molly and awaits her snack with Molly and Spencer. I love Belle's nursery school teachers, Ms. Lori and Ms. Cathy and Miss Amanda, and will miss them. I can't believe Belle's school year ends tomorrow. How quickly time flies!

Happy (early) Father's Day

A new seat for Belle (and Emily after she turns one) on the back of Daddy's bike.

Belle took this pic with my phone!

All smiles: )

Uncle JoJo visits

Uncle JoJo visited. The girls played nicely with him and showed him their smiles.

This really happened

After I put Belle down for her nap, I heard her leave the room and I heard her call to me from the top of the stairs. I ignored her, in an effort to encourage her to sleep. Soon, I heard snoring. Loud snoring. Snoring coming from a location closer than the bedroom. Yup, Belle had fallen asleep on the steps. I of course carried her back to the bed. Unreal.

Sunday Funday

We went to a BBQ event/festival on Long Island today. While Craig enjoyed sampling the BBQ, Belle had fun bouncing on the inflated toys in the Kid Zone. For instance, she impressively climbed the to peak of the below inflated activity, but then remained at the top, afraid to descend the fast slide. After taking the below pic, I climbed up myself to meet her at the apex (yes, that's Belle sitting hesitantly at the top of the slide, the challenging climb behind her) and take her down the slide with me. As for little Emily, she was content to enjoy the view from her stroller and get in some shut-eye.

It's raining, its pouring

Belle is delighted for the opportunity to use her new purple umbrella in today's rain.

Playing catch with Lital

Belle hanging from the monkey bars

Bedtime shenanigans

After completing the bedtime routine:

Me: Goodnight, Belle.
Belle: Stay here with me, Mommy.
Me: I am going downstairs, Belle. I will check on you in ten minutes.
Belle: No, check on me now.
Me: OK. I am checking on you. Now I am going downstairs.
Belle: No. Stay, Mommy. I get a little only when you go downstairs.
["Only" is how Belle pronounces "lonely"]

I am once again living the bedtime book parody "Go the F#*@ to Sleep."

Watching the mowers mow

Belle and Owen took a break from playing to peer out the window at the gardeners at work.

Cornell class of '34?

Thinking about it....