Resolution

Ellie and I visited her daycare teachers today - I can't believe it's been a month since she's been home with me! - and they chastised me for not taking (and posting on Facebook) enough pictures of Gabe. Okay. Point taken, universe. I'm resolving to take more pictures. Here's a start.

Gabe at 8 Weeks

He's started smiling, but not so much for the camera. I also realize that I used to spend A LOT of time taking pictures of Ellie as a baby (selecting the background, snapping shots till she had the perfect smile...) and now I'm so busy chasing Ellie around that I don't have that luxury with Gabe. Poor neglected second child.

Curls

There was a little girl, who had a little curl

Right in the middle of her forehead,
And when she was good, she was very, very good,
But when she was bad she was horrid.

A Little Light Reading

...on the changing table.

Spring Cleaning

With the warm weather finally here, it's time to clean up and plant the backyard. So of course I put Ellie right to work. (Gabe is supervising.)

Happy Easter

Easter came with Cadbury Eggs, peanut butter cups, and tons of family in Jersey. With even more family to come - one of my cousins announced she's pregnant with twins! Hooray!

Ellie was bound and determined to collect as many eggs as she could. Check out the size of her competition!

Found one!

So proud to show her dad.

Kathy finally found her grandmother-name! Here's Mémé and Baby Gabe.

And Cousin Nancy swinging with Ellie. It was 80 degrees and GORGEOUS out.

My dad and Baby Gabe - proving the clothes make the men. Aren't they handsome?

Ellie surrounded by cousins watching the sponge capsules grow in hot water. Magic!

Children's Museum

Today Bri, Mike, and I loaded up the kids and headed to the Brooklyn Children's Museum. It was kind of insane - super crowded and intense - but definitely fun. They have a whole play area specially designed for kids under 5. If they handed out Valium for parents with the price of admission, it'd be perfection.

Bri shows Ellie how to make a racket banging pipes.

Leila takes a scooter for a ride.

Ellie catches her first fish. My dad will be so proud.

Leila hoards all the balls.

And proof Gabe and I were there too.

Top Beauty Tips From My 18-Month Old Daughter

1. Spaghetti sauce makes a surprisingly flattering blush. Just smear all over your cheeks, chin, forehead...anywhere you want a natural glow. Don't be shy. More is always more!

2. Looking to tame your unruly eyebrows? Have a runny nose? Take advantage of nature's abundance. Just a little snot will shellac those puppies in place. No more flyaways!

3. And most importantly, own your "flaws," don't be ashamed of them. A little round in the tummy? Just lift that shirt and show all the boys your beautiful belly.

An Artist's Struggles

Something tells me Picasso didn't have to deal with a cat like Sophie.

Birthday (Observed)

Happy Birthday to me! Since Brian and Ellie were in Florida last weekend celebrating Steven's 60th, my 36th celebration was postponed until yesterday. We really wanted to go away for the weekend with Todd and Bess (Todd shares my birthday and we love to celebrate together) but the thought of traveling with Gabe at this point felt overly ambitious. So instead we did everything we would at a vacation rental, just at home - the ultimate one day staycation. There were bloody marys for breakfast, french onion soup, homemade pizzas, beer by the campfire, and a rousing game of Taboo. It was awesome. The only thing we were missing was a hot tub.

Brush With Fame

Oh, those rough and tumble boys from this morning?  Has anyone seen that "talking twins" video that was all over the internet and tv last week?  Yeah, that's who Ellie was chilling with this morning.  She's so five degrees from Kevin Bacon.

Bullet Points

Wow....a six-week old and seventeen-month old can really wear a girl out.  Too tired for fully formed thoughts, so thank god for bullet points.

• When Ellie is a teenager and can't stand the sight of Gabe I will remind her of the days she was so enamored of him she hopped up to replace his pacifier the minute he started crying.  Actually, maybe she just wants him to be quiet.
• Gabe is starting to look more like a "baby" and less like an alien-newborn.  I knew this would happen, but still find it reassuring that I didn't birth some strange bat mutant.
• When out walking in the park today I was so proud of Ellie.  When the terrain got rough she'd hold my hand for a moment of reassurance, then take off running.  She also held her own playing with three rough and tumble boys this morning.  That's my girl.
• Every time an American Idol contestant gets sent home we are one week closer to Gabe's magical 3-month mark.  I don't care who wins, I just can't wait for the finale.
• Ellie first slept through the night at 8 weeks.  No pressure, Gabe.
• At this moment, both babes are sleeping.  Time for a glass of wine on the couch!

Leaving on a Jet Plane

That's Ellie sitting on Uncle Mike's lap on a Jet Blue flight to Florida.  Lucky girl.  Bri, Ellie, Mike, and Cousin Leila went down for the weekend to celebrate Poppop Steven's 60th Birthday.  Happy Birthday, Steve! 

Hugs

Day Care Graduate

Well, picking up Ellie for the last time yesterday was an exercise in restraining tears...but check out this adorable framed collage her teachers put together for her.  Ellie's first graduation!