This is NOT what it looks like.

Because it looks like more gratuitous pictures of my babies.  

When actually this is photographic evidence that both kids were fed, dressed, and ready for errands at 8:30 a.m.

Huzzah! 

 

And while I'm talking about how things look...does anyone know how to reach the middle ground between freaky flash and a totally washed out image?

How To Have A Good Day

1. wake up around 7.  read books and watch maru videos in bed. 
 (search "maru the cat" on youtube. you will not be sorry.)
 
2. have an indoor tea party / picnic.  work on "cheers"ing when you drink and ignore babyzilla knocking over the china and gobbling up the kix.

3. if you're < 2 take a long nap between 10am-1pm.  if you're > 2 take advantage of the two hours overlap.  maybe even shower.  more importantly, take advantage of the one-on-one time with awake baby.  

4. be prepared. get organized.  hummus doesn't hurt. 

5.  collect sticks and pine cones. walk to the mail box.  look for airplanes.
or all of the above.

6. paint.  use the pine cones you collected. who really wants them hanging around anyway?  

and don't bother naming the colors over and over.  just make a mess. 

7.  take a destinationless train ride. 

(this step requires a grandmother who is willing to drop you off and pick you up a few towns over.) 
 
8. watch blues clues.
9. make a train with cardboard boxes.  < 2 hop in for a ride.  > 2 push it all over the house.

10. be exhausted.  < 2 act cranky for at least half an hour before bed.   > 2 remain calm, ignore the crankiness, and put the little people to sleep.

(some days are better than others.  today was great)

What Kind Of Mother Were You Going To Be?

Before Stella, I talked up what a minimalist mother I was going to be.  Who needs piles of toys?  My kids were going to collect sticks and play with spatulas and rolling pins.  If you want to get them gifts, books only please. 

But a swing is great for a fussy baby and a bouncer helps too.  Before long sitting in a Bumbo provides a different way to see the world.  Then all those excellent mothers I know swore by different baby products.  Then there was that steal on Craigslist and something we couldn't  pass up on the street ("Are they really throwing away that Hotwheels jeep?") and the gifts. 

And before I knew it we accumulated a lot of stuff.  Guess we'll just make a small fortune reselling it after our baby years are behind us. 

oh thankful day.

- stella was somewhat quiet during sacrament meeting.  when she wasn't quiet she was being pretty flippin' cute. 

- the babies napped at the same time.  i napped too.

- the weather was perfect so we went for a long walk with friends.

- noelle snuggled with anton.  he was in heaven. (check the picture. also check out her adorable two tone nails.  love.)

- we had grilled steak with sauteed mushrooms and onions for dinner, and big diet cokes with snikers bars for dessert (better combinations do not exist).

- i got a lot of help with the babies.

 and now i'm off to bed, what could be better than that?

When you try to take pictures of one baby while holding the other...

Put This Cliche In Your Pipe And Smoke It.

During nap time I have to decide between cleaning the apartment or myself, plan ahead for lunch/dinner or pack the diaper bag if I have dreams of leaving the apartment.  I desperately try to fit in blogging, reading, my church calling, making doctor appointments, maintaining friendships, etc.  At the end of most days,  I feel like nothing "got done."   Blah blah.  Everyone's life has challenges.

But in moments of clarity, I realize none of that matters.  I was looking through my iPhone (which yes, I am falling in love with) and found these pictures.  Ready for those cliches?  My babies are so beautiful they move me to tears.  I look at Anton and feel like we've written a symphony.  Professional cheerleaders have nothing on me when Stella tells me a train says, "Choo choo" or folds her arms to pray. 

I finally get what Maurice Sendak was getting at, "Please don't go. I'll eat you up, I love you so."  

I really could eat 'em up.

Stella pushes me to new limits Every. Single. Day.  I call her my handful and half.  But what comes with her energy and determination is the best sense of humor and intense affection.  She is passionate and clever.  She is a darling with Anton and now that he'll smile at her, forget it.  I've been reminded by several wise people that these personality traits make successful adults.

 

And Anton.  Sweet Anton.  He is peaceful and happy.  He smiles whenever his dad enters the room and is easily comforted.  The gas that was burning our nostrils seems to be fading.  He lets me know when he needs something, like "Um, are you going to put me down for a nap today?" but goes with the flow.  The other day I found myself thinking if our next baby is like Anton, I could have it next April.  (NO not an announcement).

 

Stay tuned.  I'll try to out-do my cheesy level soon. 

If you live in Harlem

be careful about what your kids pick up on the sidewalk.

Of course I swatted that dimebag right out of her hand after I snapped a quick picture.

over it

the newness of changing the water cooler is gone. i went this morning needing hot water for my oatmeal and it was out. instead of feeling empowered or proud, i felt irritated that i was the one having to hoist up the big bottle. i just wanted the water to be ready for me. isn't it amazing how quickly things change?

A Sighting

Lots of our friends ask about famous people sightings. Many people who have lived in NYC for awhile, or live in a "hot-spot" area, have a sightings list. From the pages of USWeekly, it looks like celebs are always on the NYC streets (or in the stores). But I have close to NONE. Actually Tony Bennett downtown and Cynthia Nixon in an UES diner are the only two that come to mind. I have seen a couple familiar faces that I can't find the name for. My hinderances are that I'm a. usually in a rush, b. not looking, or c. my mind is somewhere else. If I slowed down to register faces things may be different.

Last night, after make a jeans exchange at the J.Crew at Columbus circle I hopped on the escalator heading down to the exit. ((Sidenote: I was trading in regular lengths for a short...how am I possibly a short? I'm 5'6" for heavens sake. What do the 5'3" people wear? Guess I should be grateful that I can get jeans there to wear with flats or with heels. Anyway, back to the story) . I was fishing through my bag to get the receipt ready for my next return. Near the bottom, a person waving from the up escalator caught my attention. It wasn't an obnoxious wave but more of a slight, with a moment of hesitation wave. A quick look at the person and I realize, I don't know him...he must be waving to someone else. I glance behind me to see if anyone is recognizing this guy. And who is riding a few stairs up...Larry King. This is man easy to recognize. Not only does he look quite unique, he was leaning on the handrail the same way he leans on his desk, as if it's supporting his whole self and thought processes. Since there were very few people around, I say ,"He acts like he knows you?"...to which Mr. King replies, "Probably thinks he does."

Isn't it funny how we feel like we know the people we see on T.V all the time??

I'm glad someone else had enough wits about them to wave, drawing my attention to my escalator neighbor. Otherwise I'm quite sure my head would have stayed in my bag until I stepped off...missing the opportunity to add Larry King to my super exciting celebritiy spotting list.