Celebrating two years!

We had a small ball pit in an inflatable pool.

Friends Diane, Lili, and Henry

Colorful cupcakes.

Yum!

We threw a party for Isabella's second birthday and it was a blast. We invited all of our toddler friends that we hang out with on a regular basis...which meant there were a total of 9 toddlers! yikes! It was crazy and fun! We had such a good time having all our friends over.

An Older Post

I meant to post these photos of one of our adventures in Wenatchee a while back...but forgot.

We went up to Lake Chelan one morning and went berry picking. (Yes, one of my all-time favorite things to do!) Lake Chelan is absolutely gorgeous and I hope the next time I visit we can spend some more time up there. It was the perfect picking weather, the perfect picking spot, and the perfect picking people! I loved that Gillian and Isabella would run around eating berries and smiling.

Sailing the Liberty Schooner

My good friend Sarah is full of fun adventures. Recently she became friends with a lovely family (with two children, ages 7 & 4) who live on and operate the Liberty Schooner in the New York Harbor. The last time they invited her to come out on a chartered ride she asked if she could bring me along. I was completely thrilled and honored! Sarah and I helped them prepare and serve food for the passengers. We even learned one bit of pulling the boat back into the pier (and actually got to do it...pulling ropes, yelling commands, etc.) I loved getting to know the family and the crew. All amazing people!

The whole evening was fabulous. There was something magical and harmonious about being on a beautiful sailboat gliding around the harbor as the sun set on the city.

I can't believe she's TWO!!!

How did this happen? Where has the time gone? I can't believe Isabella is two! The baby in her is fading more each day and a sweet, spunky little girl is emerging. So sad and so fun all at the same time.

I can't help but remember two years ago. She's a girl who likes to take her time and do things her way. (Favorite saying right now, "I do it!") She was born 10 days late (with the help of some natural induction techniques) and didn't even show signs that she was ready to be born until three hours before she was finally out at 10am on a Saturday morning.

Isabella Margaret Carini is named after two amazing women. Isabella is her maternal great, great grandmother who has been deemed a saint in my family; must be where she got her sweetness from. Margaret is her paternal great grandmother who is a spitfire woman, full of life and vigor; must be where she gets her spunk from. ;)

Isabella has brought more joy and love into our lives than we thought possible. How can such a little human bring so much life and light into our hearts?! What an perfect miracle and amazing blessing she is!

Some favorite things:
"I do it!"
"a Bella." Not commanding, but stated as a matter of fact.
"Oh boy!"
"funny"
"whalk"..."steirs"..."and" She prefers to walk down the subway stairs, holding my hand, rather than being carried in the stroller. This rarely happens but is requested every time.
"NOON!" She gets so excited on the rare occasions we spot the moon above the city buildings.
"See it." When she hears something she often wants to see it...which isn't easy in the city. There are a lot of sounds and few open visual spaces.
She is a fabulous helper: "backuum" vacuum, "poon" putting the clean spoons away, "push" pushing the full laundry baskets into the elevator and down to the basement.
"Tank ou!" 'Thank you' is rarely prompted anymore but frequently given.
"dan" She loves to dance in circles on her own or with daddy.
Her many facial expressions lately are priceless. Oh, how I wish I could capture some with the camera.

Thank you Minde for the fabulous cupckes at the playground!

Swim Salmon, Swim!

Isabella refused to turn around.
You gotta keep a close eye on those fish!

One afternoon we went to the Rocky Reach Dam and got to watch the salmon swim upriver to spawn.

Oh, Suburbia!

I love New York City, I really do. But it was so so nice to sleep in a quiet land, play on clean grass and sidewalks, and have a backyard to throw the kids out in. How dreamy! ...sigh...

Hiking

Isabella, Gillian, and Silas

We went for a great hike to the top of a waterfall in the Wenatchee National Forest. I loved how beautiful it was and the fresh clean air!

Getting aquanted

When we first arrived to Seattle my oldest brother picked us up from the airport and we stayed with them for the first night in Issaquah. I haven't seen their kids since I was 8 months prego, so it was great to see them (but I'm bummed because I forgot to take photos!). Josie, who is 10, had a hard time going to school in the morning. Isabella loved her and would laugh at everything she did.

Then my sister picked us up and we drove 2.5 hours to her town, Wenatchee, WA. (A very beautiful drive!) We had not seen her and her family since last Christmas. Isabella and Gillian are only 6 months apart and got along wonderfully!

Have Toddler, Will Travel

I was so very nervous about traveling with Isabella on our last "free" trip (before she turns 2). She's such a demanding busybody lately. Fortunately everything went fabulously. We got a seat next to an empty seat (so she had her own) all the way to Seattle and then we sat in first class all the way back. (Oh, how I love first class!) She napped well en route, watched shows on the iPod, flirted with the passengers behind us, ran up and down the aisle (making all the grandmas smile and wave...so cute) and was overall well behaved. The last half hour she was always a little antsy, but aren't we all?!

Above are a few items I picked up before traveling that were fantastic at keeping her in her seat and happy. I highly recommend them when travelling with a toddler. The "Doodle Pro" was the favorite. I swear I traced her hands and feet for at least 30 minutes non stop; and then drew a "ig ish" (big fish, said in a deep voice with arms raised high) over and over again for another 30 minutes. The "Lace and Trace" was great too. Her attention didn't last as long on it, but when she was doing it she was so focused; I could actually get some reading done myself. And the crayons I think she'll grow into. She used them, but not too much. The thing I love about them is they are triangles, so they don't roll away! Perfect for travel!

ABC Magnets

I just found this post about how to make your own ABC magnets on The Purl Bee. I really, really love them! It is now on my list of "things I want to make". Anyone have fabric scraps you want to get rid of?! Hmmm....I have a lot of fun paper, maybe I'll use that!

A Day in the Life of a Rockstar...Baby!

Photo shoot in Tribeca.

Cab ride around the city.

Grabbing a tres leches treat at Doughnut Plant on the Lower East Side.

Riding dolphins in the East Village.

Practicing with the band (friends Angela, James & Baby Gabriel) in Midtown.

Labor Day Weekend in Connecticut

Just cute.

A typical, wonderful moment at the Carini's: talking, sharing, eating.

An accident waiting to happen!

A difficult life--being pulled by cousin Mina.

Beach Babies

A fabulous day at Jones Beach with friends. Specifically, Isabella's BFF: "Manoo" (Morgan). More fun beach photos found on their blog.

Breakfast Bar

My sweet, wonderful family enjoying breakfast.

About a month ago I finally bought a couple of bar stools for our kitchen. One of the best purchases of the year! I love cooking up pancakes, waffles, or whatever while my favorite people are near, enjoying the warm meal and chatting with me.

Movies with a View

I met up with some good friends to see The Shining at an outdoor showing near the Brooklyn Bridge. I had seen parts of the movie before and had a general idea what it was about but, man, it was freaky (and the sound was WAY too loud...I hate scary music!) . We actually left before the movie was over...just too freaky.

Here's a fun trailer spoof of The Shining: