Right Now

Trick or treating New York City style. Crazy fun!!!!!

Right Now

Enjoying a PERFECT day in Central Park.

Can you see those pearly whites? She just had her first dentist
appointment and did great! And Oliver charmed the dentist; he made
her laugh until she cried.

Oliver: 4 Months

Isn't that THE sweetest face?! I love the smiles, giggles, squeels of delight he so freely gives. He's quite proud of his new accomplishment: grabbing things. Seriously, the first few times he slowly grasped that toy, the proudest little grin spread across his face. Now he grabs stuff, pulls it to his mouth and devours it. I love his coos and sweet sounds. He's such a wonderful little boy.

For comparison's sake here's Oliver: 3 months, 2 months, 1 month, birth

Right Now

Freezing at the playground. She says she's too cold to play (it's 53
degrees). Motionless, just wimpering. Little does she know...

"More zucchini please!"

Yes, that is what Isabella (my picky 3 year old, who rarely eats vegetables) says every time I make this recipe. "Mama, more zucchini," while there is still pasta hanging out in her bowl. That means we eat this dish almost once a week. (Sorry, Brian!) I've even been doubling the zucchini lately because she will pick it all out all and leave us just pasta. Crazy, I know, but this is how it goes in our house lately.

This recipe is simple and delicious. Seriously! And I meant to post it during the I'm-drowning-in-zucchini season that is now on it's way out. Maybe you Californians can still get a few batches in.



Zucchini Fedelini
adapted from The Figs Table by Todd English and Sally Sampson

1/2 pound fedelini or thin spaghetti
1/2 cup olive oil
2-3 sprigs fresh rosemary, chopped
4-5 fresh garlic cloves, minced
1 pound zucchini (preferably baby ones), sliced thinly
2 cups chicken broth
salt & pepper
Parmesan cheese

Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente. (You want the pasta to be slightly firm because it will soak up the chicken broth.) Drain and set aside.

Place a large skillet over medium-high heat and, when it is hot, add the oil. Add the rosemary and garlic and cook until the garlic is lightly toasted, about 3 minutes. Add the zucchini and stir well; braising it. Add the chicken broth and cook until the zucchini is tender, about 20 minutes. Add the fedelini, salt and pepper and cook about 1 minute.

Serve immediately with Parmesan cheese.

Right Now

Riding the C train home. We played in the city for 10 hours today! It
was so much fun. But we are all ready for bed now. yawn....

Happy Birthday Isabella!!!

5 days old

1st birthday

October 2008

Last week

Things my vivacious birthday girl is into:
**Huli & Co.--Huli is her imaginary friend, but frequently new ones are introduced. Yesterday I think it was Keytow and Keyta.
**Her imagination, in general, is fun and amazing. I just had to go get a pen out of the closet for her because we couldn't find the pen Grandma gave her. When I told her there aren't any pens in the closet, she gave me a "duh!" look and said, "A pretend pen, mom!" She smiled as I handed her the pretend pen. The other day she was drinking milk and said it was coffee. "But we don't drink coffee." "Mom, it's pretend coffee." Right...
**"That's my favorite ______ !" Everything seems to be her favorite! Especially billboards, "That's my favorite movie!" She'll exclaim while pointing to the ad for Cloudy with the Chance of Meatballs on the side of a city bus. Funny thing is she is really only referring to the preview...those are movies to her...and we'll keep it that way as long as possible. She frequently requests the "movie" UP. But I love that so many things are excitedly her favorites.
**She admires and adores the many women in her life. Yes, she loves her friends, but she really loves her friends' mothers more. If I say, "Let's go play with Chase at the playground." She'll reply, "And Minde too?!" Maybe it's the fantastic snacks or the sparkly shoes. But I'm already learning that my little girl looks up to the many women in her life.
**She's 3 going on 13! Recently she took my phone while talking to Daddy at work, went in her room, shut the door. She LOVES the phone, nail polish, high heels, makeup, etc.
**Running! She can run, run, run. Recently Brian took her one evening and she ran around the entire Reservoir in Central Park which is just over 1.5 miles. And she's fast.
**Singing! There is always a song coming from her sweet lips while playing, reading, going potty, bathing. It is so, so sweet.
**Independent! She knows what she wants and she will make sure we know it too!

Oh, Isabella, we love you so!!!!

Right Now

Celebrating the birthday girl by creating at the Children's Museum of
the Arts. She's so into it!

Right Now

Sharing snacks with friends at the playground.

Over the weekend...

We stopped by St. John the Divine for the "Blessing of the Animals". I didn't have as much info about it as I should and if we do it again we'll do it differently. I recommend going to the cathedral around 12:30pm and wait outside to see all the animals come out (I had heard there was a yak and a donkey); that way you can see all the animals but don't have to sit through a service. Then afterward go out on the lawn and greet all the dogs, cats, turtles, and guinea pigs people bring to be blessed. This is THE event for all dog lovers...which we are not. (I like dogs, but I'm not a "dog lover".) But I did get to hold a macaw; which was cool.


We also went to the reading festival held at Columbia University. I had heard great things about that event last year and I'm glad we went this year. We got there pretty early (maybe around 10:30am) but within 20 min the place was uncomfortably packed with pushy parents and kids. It was great before then. So, if we go again next year, we will get there promptly at 10am!




This is where we enjoyed out nice picnic lunch (I actually remembered to make/pack one!) until a VERY aggressive squirrel decided he wanted to join us. Despite Isabella's terrified screams, me whacking it with a tupperware lid, and yelling at it, it would not leave us alone until it got Isabella's sandwich. A security guard (who was much louder than me) finally scared it a few feet away.

It reminded me of the last time we were in CT where two squirrels were chasing each other and ran right into Isabella's legs. Which, of course, freaked her out (me too)!

If Isabella develops an intense fear of squirrels, now you know why!

Isabella's 3rd Birthday Party

I really can't believe my baby girl is turning 3 years old!!! on Wednesday. We celebrated her birthday last Friday evening by inviting friends over for a glorified play date. It was awesome!

This is the look she gave Elliott when he attempted to help blow out her candles. (I don't know where she got her "if looks could kill..." stares from...j/k. Mom, you know ;) )

Right Now

Hanging out in Times Square.

Today at the Met

We went with some friends on a spontaneous adventure to the Met. It was crazy-fun! Okay, mostly crazy!

This one is for the Grandmas...

One afternoon I was in my room feeding/changing/burping Oliver and I heard an unfamiliar sound. After a minute or two I thought I better check it out, just to make sure... (A few weeks ago the kitchen flooded because someone left the water running and didn't instantly check out, "what's that noise?" We are learning!) This is what I found:

My first instinct was to say "no" but then I realized, she's really sewing. I had been working on some birthday crowns for friends and I guess she was watching more closely than I thought.
As I watched her closely I was amazed. She did every step in the right order: put fabric under foot, put food down on fabric, press on the pedal, stop at the edge of the fabric, make sure the needle is up, lift foot, pull out fabric, and snip with scissors. It was impressively odd.

And this is her finished product...all by herself!

Bronx Zoo

Last Wednesday (pay what you want day!!!) we went to the Bronx Zoo. It was so perfect. Not too hot, not too cold, not too crowded, and lots of animals were out and about. Next time we go I think Isabella is expecting to ride on a camel with her daddy...

What We Doing Today?

Most mornings Isabella asks, "What we doing today, Mom?" We've been busy, so busy I haven't stopped to blog. Busy just hanging out, having fun, and LOVING the fall weather. Well, today is a little chilly...and that's why I'm home blogging. Here are a few photos and more posts should follow...

This girl leaves the house prepared!
She almost always has to carry something out the door. I'll tell you, a pair of flip-flops, a makeup bag of finger puppets, and sunglasses are much easier to stuff into my bag than a large baby doll (or scooter)!

Babies!!!
All born within 3 months, and we all use to live within a few blocks of each other. AND three of our husbands are named Brian. Babies are lined up in order of age: Eleanor, Riley, Oliver, & Rial.

One evening Oliver started fussing when I thought he was asleep. This is how I found him when I went to check on him. I was cracking up, and then he was too. How did he do that?! Really!

Brian has started to teach Isabella how to use the camera. Not bad, eh?! Especially considering it is half her size.