29 Weeks

Taken on our walk today @ Sutton Place Park

My Sadie Lady

Sadie is at such a fun age!  Everytime I think she can't get any cuter, she does.  She definitely has her moments and can be as stubborn as a mule (she must get that from her daddy, there's no way I'm that stubborn :)) but her cute moments always trump the others.  Just some things I want to remember about her at this stage.

- She has to carry a purse with her EVERYWHERE she goes.  We don't leave home without at least one purse, often more.  They are always stuffed to the brim with her essentials: keys, cell phones (usually 2 or 3), her 'Cosi card' (which acts as her credit card), her 'wips' (pretend chapstick) and various folded up papers that she finds around the house.
- Loves to sing.  She makes up songs and sings songs she has learned in nursery or songs from the media.  Her latest song she has made up is called 'Dr. Huevo.'
- Is the most polite little girl.  When people compliment her on anything, she immediately says, 'thank you.'  And if Brett or I forget to say thank you, she always prompts us, 'Mommy, say thank you' and then follows up with a 'you're welcome.'
- Recognizes the difference between Spanish and English.  Her library contains a mix of Spanish and English books.  When I translate an English one into Spanish she says, "No Mommy, that's not Spanish."  And when we read about the Big Sur coastline in her Good Night, California she laughs because she recognizes that sur is in Spanish.
- She knows all of her letters and as we are out and about in the city, she points out the letters that she sees and tells me how many of each letter there are.  She particularly loves to point to all the letters in the taxi and tell me what they are.
- She's pretty good at her numbers.  She can count to 15 in English and 10 in Spanish.  She recognizes the numbers but gets a bit confused between the Spanish and English.  She's better at correlating the number to it's Spanish name than to its English one.
- Sadie is very generous and always volunteers to pay for things.  Just yesterday she paid (with her 'Cosi card') for a pair of shoes for Daddy.  She always has to take a turn sliding her card at the grocery store and in taxis.
- She gets SO excited to see Daddy at church on Sunday mornings.  He has pretty much always had early meetings since she was born, so we meet him there.  And now that he is in the bishopric, she loves to hang out with him before church starts and then check in with him after Sacrament Meeting is over.  It helps me get there on time because I know if I don't, she'll run into church yelling "Daddy" while Sacrament Meeting is in progress.
- After she has spent all day with Yoselin, while Brett and I are at work, she gets used to directing all her commentary to Yoselin.  So, when we get home, she'll get confused and still say 'Yoselin look!' and then laugh at herself when she realizes it's actually mommy or daddy.
- Sadie is super friendly.  She will have a conversation with just about anybody.  But once she starts talking, you can't get her to stop.  She'll tell them everything - 'Look at my pink dress.  I have a cell phone. I have a baby brudder.'
- She loves a good back rub.  Before nap or bed, she'll say, 'Wub my back please.'
- Loves to give daddy shoulder massages after she has finished her dinner and he is still eating his.  It's not the same with mommy, I don't get diddly when it comes to shoulder massages.
- Has taken a particular liking to her daddy lately.  Mommy is always the one to read her books at bedtime, but after I tuck her in, she says, 'I want my daddy.'  So he has to go in and sing her a song and rub her back.

Quotable from today:

As I was draining the broccoli I had steamed: "Look mom, the broccoli is getting the pee-pees out."

We just love her!

Irene @ 28 weeks

We survived Irene.  I was so busy with work in the days leading up to the hurricane that I didn't follow much about it, but instead heard more updates from family and friends wondering if we were going to be ok.  We had plans to leave on a road trip yesterday, but decided our destination would be following the storm's path and additionally we unfortunately need to spend our much needed vacation time looking for apartments in preparation for our end of September move.  So, we decided to can the trip and do a staycation of sorts.  I finally headed to the store to stock up on supplies on Saturday morning, just in case it knocked out power, etc.  I have never seen lines like that in Manhattan.  I was lucky and picked the right one which only took 20 minutes, but the line next to me took over an hour.  What?!?!  The shelves were looking meager, particularly in the water and bread sections.  I found plenty to stock our cupboards though.  

Once we locked ourselves in for 24 hours, we were just crossing our fingers that the hurricane wouldn't negatively impact our apartment search this coming week.  Thank goodness it was not as bad as it was forecasted it could have been (though I recognize not all areas of the East Coast were as lucky as Manhattan).  In our neighborhood there was nothing much of note.  We just hunkered down and enjoyed some family time inside.  We all slept through the night though baby boy managed to wake me up a few times allowing me to hear the strong winds and pouring rain.

Here is the aftermath of it all.  It's pretty eerie to see the streets of Manhattan so bare - that NEVER happens even at 4am.

On our Sunday afternoon walk to check out Irene's damage.

Peach Picking 2011

We've been doing the apple picking thing for a few years now, but just last year discovered all the fun summer fruits and veggies to be had.  So, yesterday we rented a car and headed out for the day.  As part of my birthday present, Brett had scheduled me a prenatal massage at a salon near the farm so while he and Sadie explored the area, I indulged.  Then we headed to the farm to pick.  I think we did it backwards because after trekking around the farm, I was ready for another massage!  

Last year, little city girl Sadie wouldn't walk through the orchards because the leaves would touch her feet (how dare they) and she would just hold her arms up with a helpless 'rescue me' look on her face.  This year, was totally different - she came out 100% dirty, 100% happy and 200% exhausted (exacerbated by the lack of a nap).  She was quite the helper, though after picking a handful of peaches, she decided collecting sticks was much more fun.  

In addition to peaches, we checked out the raspberries (which were unfortunately very picked over) and then when our friends arrived, we headed to the veggie garden.  I love city living, but it was SO nice to get out for a day.

Baby boy @ 26 weeks

With BFF Madeleine

Can you tell it was the end of the day and someone was tired?  'I will not smile, I won't, I won't, I won't'

Greenwich

 When Brett asked what I wanted for my birthday, I told him that I just wanted to rent a car and do some fun things outside the city.  So I rented a car for three days and for today and tomorrow (while Brett is working), Sadie and I made some fun plans.  Today we spent the day at the beach in Greenwich, CT.  Our friend Julie came along and Sadie wouldn't let 'Joowie' leave her side.  It was a perfect beach for Sadie with a toddler friendly wading area.  She kept telling me that she wanted to go out in the water by herself - so big and independent.  We're definitely going back next year!

Venturing out with Julie

Julie @ 8 months - isn't she adorable?

Sadie collected lots of shells and rocks to take home and show daddy

1 day shy of 26 weeks

24 Weeks

Nap time

Today for nap time, Sadie decided to have a little slumber party with duckie and pink baby (as opposed to baby funny, original names, I know).  She carefully placed them on either side and then asked me to cover them all up.  Of course her blankie was a part of the party too.  She's so funny these days.  Every time it is time to go to sleep there is something different she has to have - her cell phone or a little book or her camera or Dumbo or baby funny...  In the last few months she has been asking for us to cover her up and scratch her back before we leave the room.  And did I mention that we transitioned her crib to a toddler bed a few weeks ago?  She's so grown up!  And doing so well in the big girl bed.  She fell out a few times the first night, but has been fine ever since.  And she waits for me to open the door and turn off her white noise in the AM before she hops out of bed.  I miss getting a big hug when I pull her out of her crib.  I guess this means it's time for another baby since she's a big girl!