This little girl became my friend today.

As I opened the front door to grab laundry out of the dryer, Vivi walked out with me and laughed at something I had said to her.  I don't even remember what it was, but we walked out together laughing, like we were friends! And when I accidentally hit her in the head with the big bag of laundry as we were trying to squeeze out the laundry room door, she apologized and said, "Sorry, Mama."  "No, I'm sorry, Vivi.  Mama hit you in the head!" This morning after I changed her diaper she got up and said, "Thank you, Mama." And while she was drawing on a Doodle Pro, she asked me to, "Erase" the picture so she could start over.

My fondness of her really started a few days ago when I was feeding her and she said, "Peas. Mama. Please."

Snow day with sisters

Whip Cream Beater. :)

Enjoying my days with her and so glad we have them to share together.

Slippery Slope.

When we arrived back home from summer vacation in late August, something was different. (Besides the fact that many good friends moved away this past summer.)  People on the streets weren't being as friendly, there seemed to be more poverty in the area...I couldn't tell if it was us adjusting back to our lifestyle in New York, or if NY had really changed!  I got an awful comment on the street with my girls just a day after being home that almost put me over the edge!  Over the past few months, I've kind of built up a defense again.  Comments that my baby needs a hat or that she shouldn't be touching that or chewing on that and such have been getting my sarcastic remarks back in return again, and I've just faced that, that, is how it's gonna be from now on here.
With Vivi on the move and school starting with all of Ella and Paisley's activities, I was feeling like I couldn't cut it anymore.  It is hard work and often times we need to be 3 different places at once.  It's physically impossible to do!  Especially with the amount of overtime Scott has been working.  (Which we are so grateful for!)

It's February 2nd and I can almost say that we're feeling back in the swing of things after the much needed summer, back to school business, a lovely trip to Las Vegas in November for Paisley's baptism, a wonderful Christmas with Scott's parents and a month to recuperate from it all!  (And to top it all off, a baby girl that hasn't slept through ANY of it!)

Slowly, we're feeling love in the city again.

This weekend a few experiences helped me regain a positive attitude towards people again.  One example--

We were all on the train headed to Times Square.  I was standing and right as I rudely declined a women's offer for me to take her seat, I realized she didn't think I was pregnant after all and just wanted to tell me my sweater was cute. :)  So I was surprised and we talked and I was nicer after that.  Haha.

The Saturday before the Superbowl, my crazy self took our family to Times Square to see the Superbowl Boulevard, including this toboggan that could be slid down.  In our family, all forced Times Square visits require a meal at Olive Garden after. :)

Relieved to love NYC again.

An end to 2013.

 Scott worked NYE.  So the girls and I went out to dinner a new place-- Arte Pasta.  Vivi walked her new stroller and baby all the way to the restaurant.  2 major streets were crossed!  She ate up all the attention she was getting from people that passed by.

 In our lobby.

Their daddy got home just in time to ring in the New Year!  Got home at 11:40.  We poured some bubbly and at midnight, Ella and I ran to our freezing rooftop to watch the fireworks. (Paisley fell asleep literally 4 minutes to midnight.  You almost made it Paisers!)  A beautiful sight.  Especially with the Empire State Building in the background.  Scott and Vivi joined us towards the end.

Happy 2014!

A few Christmas Week Favorites.

Baby and Baby Voice

 (Paisley at her birthday brunch at Alice's Teacup)

My sister and I have talked a few times recently about the little things our children do that drive us up a wall. Please tell me you also deal with little annoyances sometimes...like certain noises or habits that only make our skin crawl when our own children do it.  :)  I'm not going to talk about any of those things today.  I've practically forgotten them because all I can think about is how much I love and how hilarious it is when Paisley talks like a baby.  The child can have us rolling on the floor with one word.

Today, Paisley walked in the door after her small Irish Step performance at school and while getting her homework out she says to me in her cutest baby voice,

"Mommy, if you ever have a little boy, can we name him Gaylord?"

Apparently she read the name in a book today and really thinks it is adorable.  She won me over, anything sounds adorable coming out of her mouth!

And then, on Sunday, we are walking home from church in a snow storm and all of sudden we're overwhelmed with a super strong smell.  Someone was obviously smoking a joint or a blunt....anyway, all I could think for about 9 seconds was how this was it, the smell that my girls will remember and someday, someday they are going to know what it actually is....and then on second 9.5 Paisley yells out in the snow, "Man!  I just hate the smell of SKUNKS!"

I. Love. Her.  Was rolling on the sidewalk in laughter. (Inside. )

Las Vegas in November. Part One.

 So sleepy, hard to get up for an early flight!

Traveling is obviously exhausting.  Sleeping again, already!

 Rainbow Loom on the plane.

 Joe-Joe and Vivi looking all cute.

 I heart lunch dates with family when we are in town! 

 Annnd of course Vivi almost broke her hip on Thanksgiving morning.  Her shoe got stuck on the side of a plastic slide, causing her leg to be pulled back in a scary position.  Her first trip to the ER.  All was well after about 5 days...she finally started walking again. 

 Game night with Family!

With Paka and Mimi in their hotel room.

 "Boots" with Gwama!

May-ish 2013

Playroom fun with a pencil grip!

Lots of Blues.

 

Jacob's Pickles with Daddy.

 

Matilda on Broadway!!

Ms. Trunchbull

 

Cousins.

 

Fete Paridiso -Governor's Island- Sept.7, 2013

 Games on the Train.

 Same Chipotle, different day.  In Grandma Sue's baby bonnet.

 On our way to the Governor's Island Ferry.  For Fete Paridiso, a vintage French Carnival brought to Governors Island.

 Vivi and I in a room of balloons.  Lots of squeals of excitement.

 Rough and Tumble.