Back East

We headed back east for a few days and introduced Wave to some family, met the newest family members ourselves and tagged along on the business portion of the trip. 

Bri had a last minute trip to NYC come on his radar about 2 weeks ago.  We decided it would be best to all go, spend Saturday and Sunday with family in NJ and then go to NYC from Monday to Wednesday morning.  The timing couldn't have been better. Not sure if I've mentioned it but 2012 is a bit of a baby boom for our family.  First, Abby had her 3rd (!?!), Ryan, in June, then I was due with Wave in July, Dana (cousin but really more sister) due in Sept with her girl and Michael (ditto but brother) and his wife Jenn are due in November with their little girl.  Crazy, right! 

Dana gave birth to the beautiful Gianna on Tuesday the 19th, so we were surprised we would be able to meet this precious peanut on our unexpected trip.  We also met Ryan and celebrated Chase's 2nd birthday.  Anderson had a blast playing with Emma.  It was a great weekend to say the least - we topped it off with a brunch at Aunt Sharon's house. The kids played, the adults chatted and we got to quiz Michael and Jen on everything going on with their pregnancy.  We are blessed this year for sure.

Onward to NYC - Bri went to work.  His new company is housed in the Empire State Building, so we walked him to work on Monday morning and headed to the top because Anderson asked. After playing in Madison Sq. Park, grabbing lunch and a nap we headed to the Central Park Zoo.  Picture it: Dawn, Wave in the carrier, Anderson, stroller and a small diaper bag.  Down the stairs to the subway, up almost 40 blocks and lots of walking.  Repeat back to Chelsea.  It was actually really easy! I love our Maclaren - so easy to fold, carry and sling on my back. After the Zoo we walked around, went on a carousel ride and hit up the Heckscher playground.  It was a packed day with lots of walking and fresh air.  We were along for dinner, so I spoiled the dude and got him some Shake Shack since we were staying by the original.  Tuesday was equally as busy for us - first we headed to Brooklyn to meet up with an old friend and her daughter who used to live in SF.  We met at the Brooklyn Children's Museum - where Anderson and Ivy had a ball playing around.  After nap back at the hotel, Nan visited and we went to the American Museum of Natural History.  Wow - Anderson LOVED this place.  I mean, who wouldn't.  Three year old boys dream of dinosaur bones and this museum delivers!  Later that evening Dad and John met all of us and we went out for a bite all together.

Great trip.

Visiting great-gram

Nan & the grandkids
(l-r: Chase, Emma, Ryan, Waverly & Anderson)

Anderson & Emma saying goodbye

Batman & Major

Wave in NYC

Empire State Building

Favorite part of trip - subway rides

Central Park

Dinosaurs!

Wave chilling in the AMNH

First cut

Gaaah! I feel horrible. I was clipping Wave's nails when I heard a new sound not "clip" more of a "crunch". Immediately I stopped, looked and my heart sank. At this same moment a small wail started and then blood. I clipped her thumbnail and part of the tip. So sad. She cried, I was on the verge and Bri sat there tellingly that's why he doesn't clip her nails.

*sniff*

Here she is with her first non-shot bandaid and note to the right the culprit laying on the couch.

Sweet article

I just read this on the Huffington Post.

I thought it was sweet and a good reminder to stop and take time to enjoy all the moments, not just the firsts.

2 months old

Waverly is two months old today. She's a peanut - hovering in the 15th percentile for all features. Her stats from her 2 mo appointment on Friday 9/7:

Weight: 9 lbs 5oz
Length: 21.5"

So yeah, people have babies as big as our 2 month old.  She has great head control and looks like she's close to figuring out how to roll from front to back.  We're getting a lot of smiles and coos, which we are savoring.

2 months old!

Close up.

1st Day of school 2012

Anderson returned to Merry Moppet preschool this week.  After a loooong summer break - just kidding, they were only off for 1 week.  He moved up to the 3's class. What a difference a year makes!

Labor Day Weekend

Apparently a long weekend now means we'll head down south.  This time we went to the San Diego area, specifically Carlsbad, which is about 30 minutes north. We flew there because we received a  buy one, get one flight from Virgin America at he baseball game earlier this summer.  It was Waverly's first flight.  I forgot how easy it is to travel with the little ones! Anderson was great as well, it was the first time we flew without the carseat and I was nervous he would just want to get up the whole flight.  The last time we flew with his carseat he kicked the tray table for a good portion of time, yeah terrible.

Carlsbad is a great little beach town.  Unlike the Bay Area you can actually swim in the water in So. Cal, it was great. Anderson loved the ocean and the pool.  Another feature Carlsbad has is Legoland.  It's smaller than Disney and almost every ride is accessible for children 36" +.  It was okay. I don't know if we'd go back again, but Anderson had a blast.  He got his first bee sting while we were there, right near his eye, but some ice and tlc made it go away quickly.

It was great little spot for a long weekend and I have bookmarked it as a place to return to.

Waverly's first Flight

Legoland Pirate

Beach day in Carlsbad

Sophia & Anderson

Anderson swims! (a little bit)

Balboa Park, San Diego

On our way home

Anderson enjoyed the flight

Picture please

Anderson loves his little sister - he calls her his cutie pie, a phrase neither Brian and I used; he started calling her that on his own. He frequently nuzzles up to her or asks me to put her in his bed/next to him/on him etc...and then says "please may you take our picture." For real.  Its adorable. Now I present, the Anderson and Waverly gallery of love. All pictures were taken by request of Anderson.  Enjoy.