Right Now

Flying on Virgin America from Seattle to San Fran. Free wi-fi. So cool.

Right Now

I was working, she was quiet. Too quiet.

"What are you doing Isabella?"

"I'm not doing something."

That was enough reason to check on her. I found a chunk of her hair
missing, luckily, only to the chin. She said she wanted short hair,
like me. I debated taking her for an expensive NYC kids cut ($30, no
joke!), but instead turned on a movie and grabbed our sharpest
shears. It's horribly crooked, but surprisingly stylish. And
extremely adorable, if I do say so myself.

She said she wants it shorter. I said "It might look funny."

"I want it funny." she replied matter-of-factly.

"Ummm. Let's wait and talk to daddy."

Way Behind

Apple + Pumpking picking in CT.  So beautiful!Isabella's third celebration of her 3rd birthday.Celebrating her birthday--the acutal day--at the Children's Museum of Art in Soho.We met Daddy for pizza at Lombardi's afterward.This really sums up 90% of my time.Just plain cute.She loved pumpkins this season.  Spotting all pumpkins withing seeing distance and shouting, "PUMPKINS!"Beautiful Central Park.This is how we go pumpkin picking in New York City: wait in a REALLY long line in the pouring rain, and then finally pick a little pumpkin off the asphalt.  It was free and I encouraged her to pick the smallest one she could find--because I had to carry it home!  Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater showing Peter Pan.  Isabella loved it and frequently asks "Are we going to see puppets tomorrow?"

 Playing with friends in the Shakespeare Garden in Central Park.

I can't believe I haven't posted so many fun things we've done in the last month.  From Isabella's multiple birthday celebrations to pumpkin picking in NYC.  I'm not exactly sure what's up with blogger, but I don't have time to figure it out right now...I've got a diaper to change!  Hope you enjoyed the photos!

Halloween--Take 1

Just a couple of photos from Halloween on Saturday.  We had SO MUCH FUN!  Tons of candy, free gelato, adoring adults, bubble show with a happy, sugar intoxicated girl. 

All my really good photos were saved in the wrong place, so those will be coming shortly; after Brian fixes it for me.

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

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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

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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.

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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 ;) )