NYC/ABC Kitchen

Wednesday was really fun. After the kids' afternoon naps I loaded everyone in the car and drove  to the train station. Andrew came home a little early, got off the train, into the car with the kids and I got on the train (it made one stop past us and then turned around a came back where I got on, so Andrew and I had a little time to talk in between). Once I arrived in NYC I walked around for a bit, then met Dana for dinner. She picked an awesome dinner spot (she always knows the best places to go!): Jean-Georges's new ABC Kitchen (just north of Union Square). It's a farm to table/organic place which I'm really into right now ;) It's nearly impossible to get reservations there right now but we were early enough (and it was a Wed. night) that we were able to snag a table in the bar area. After both talking a mile a minute for two straight hours (we had a lot to catch up on!) we were off to Pipa (another place I've always wanted to go) around the corner for one more drink. Then I was on a 9:00 train home (stopping quickly at the Magnolia Bakery stand in Grand Central for a cupcake for the ride home ;) and back in New Canaan by 10:00. Oh NYC how I love you so. I'm sorry that I've sort of neglected you since moving to the burbs, having another baby and moving to Asia but I promise to rekindle our relationship going forward. I've missed you and you always make me feel so good!

 ABC Kitchen. Hot hot hot!

 Yuuuuuuuummmmmm

Thanks to Dana for a really fun night, it was so great to see you. And Happy Birthday to Larisa, who we toasted. And a very special thanks to my awesome hubby for helping me pull that off (and in general- for just being so awesome).

Tracey's Sprinkle

Last weekend Tracey's Mother and sister in law hosted a really nice "sprinkle" (mini shower for a second baby) for her so off to Long Island I went. Tracey is due with Baby Boy!! Lynch in December and I'm so excited for her. As I've been telling her, little boys are so much fun! She looks absolutely amazing, baby boys are generally good to their Mamas right from the start, ha.

Tracey and Maeve, who just turned two.

We're not quite ready to get a dog yet (want to wait for the kids to be a little older) but when we do this is the one- a Soft Haired Wheaton Terrier- an adorable, medium sized dog that is hypoallergenic (Andrew is allergic) and they doesn't shed! Beth (Tracey's sister in law) has a Wheaton Terrier that I just adore! I seriously almost took her home with me. So cute. Took this picture to show Andrew ;)

Chocolate pretzel favors.

Congrats Tracey, and I'm secretly so excited that the Second Baby Train among my girlfriends is now beginning to board ;)

Pumpkin Pancakes

While it used to be reserved just for the weekends, I now make a big breakfast (pancakes or french toast or eggs and toast or smoothies, etc) for the kids every morning. I make any pancakes, biscuits, etc from scratch. They always get some fruit too. It adds a little extra time to the morning routine, but I think its well worth it. Connor used to be a cereal and yogurt guy, or frozen waffles (so easy!), but we learned that he has a sensitivity to dairy products, yogurt in particular. And I'm not pleased with all the preservatives and other artificial crap found in boxed cereals these days (even the ones that claim to healthy and/or "all natural"!) Connor really loves helping to make these breakfasts- particularly cracking the eggs and mixing the ingredients, and doing any flipping (I always help him do that part). His favorite role- adding a couple chocolate chips to the pancakes (of course!) I hope someday he remembers our special breakfasts ;)

Just tried a new pumpkin pancake recipe that was a huge hit! I usually make my pancakes with wheat four and substitute soy or almond milk for the milk because of the kids' issues with dairy. These I just made with the regular white flour and they were beyond delicious!! I usually make a double batch, keeping a couple in the fridge and freezing the rest- they make for future quick and easy breakfasts!

I found this recipe on the blog, How to Simplify:
http://www.howto-simplify.com/2010/10/pumpkin-pancakes.html

Ingredients (I didn't have the cloves and they still turned out awesome). I also typically add a couple chocolate chips to each just because it makes my boy smile :) 

• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 cup milk
• 6 tablespoons pumpkin puree
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 egg

Directions:

1. Stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, salt, nutmeg and cloves in a medium bowl.
2. Whisk together the milk, pumpkin, butter and egg in a separate bowl. Fold this mixture into the dry ingredients.
3. Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat.
4. Pour 1/4 cup batter for each pancake and cook approximately 3 minutes per side.

Loves climbing the slide!

Prayer for a Daughter

First, Lord: No tattoos. May neither Chinese symbol for truth nor Winnie-the-Pooh holding the FSU logo stain her tender haunches.

May she be Beautiful but not Damaged, for it’s the Damage that draws the creepy soccer coach’s eye, not the Beauty.

When the Crystal Meth is offered, May she remember the parents who cut her grapes in half And stick with Beer.

Guide her, protect her
When crossing the street, stepping onto boats, swimming in the ocean, swimming in pools, walking near pools, standing on the subway platform, crossing 86th Street, stepping off of boats, using mall restrooms, getting on and off escalators, driving on country roads while arguing, leaning on large windows, walking in parking lots, riding Ferris wheels, roller-coasters, log flumes, or anything called “Hell Drop,” “Tower of Torture,” or “The Death Spiral Rock ‘N Zero G Roll featuring Aerosmith,” and standing on any kind of balcony ever, anywhere, at any age.

Lead her away from Acting but not all the way to Finance. Something where she can make her own hours but still feel intellectually fulfilled and get outside sometimes And not have to wear high heels.
What would that be, Lord? Architecture? Midwifery? Golf course design? I’m asking You, because if I knew, I’d be doing it, Youdammit.

May she play the Drums to the fiery rhythm of her Own Heart with the sinewy strength of her Own Arms, so she need Not Lie With Drummers.

Grant her a Rough Patch from twelve to seventeen. Let her draw horses and be interested in Barbies for much too long, For childhood is short – a Tiger Flower blooming Magenta for one day – And adulthood is long and dry-humping in cars will wait.

O Lord, break the Internet forever, That she may be spared the misspelled invective of her peers And the online marketing campaign for Rape Hostel V: Girls Just Wanna Get Stabbed.

And when she one day turns on me and calls me a Bitch in front of Hollister, Give me the strength, Lord, to yank her directly into a cab in front of her friends, For I will not have that Shit. I will not have it.

And should she choose to be a Mother one day, be my eyes, Lord, that I may see her, lying on a blanket on the floor at 4:50 A.M., all-at-once exhausted, bored, and in love with the little creature whose poop is leaking up its back.

“My mother did this for me once,” she will realize as she cleans feces off her baby’s neck. “My mother did this for me.” And the delayed gratitude will wash over her as it does each generation and she will make a Mental Note to call me. And she will forget. But I’ll know, because I peeped it with Your God eyes.
Amen.

~Tina Fey, Bossypants (which I'm reading right now!)

Weekend with the Eichs

As I mentioned in my last post, Andrew's parents came from Michigan to join us for Leyla's birthday party. We had such a nice visit with them!

Friday night Andrew and I went to a cocktail party hosted by the Newcomers Group and Connecticut Cottages and Gardens magazine. It was fancy schmantzy, and really fun! We hung out with people we knew, and met a lot of new people too. And the Eichs were here to watch the kids, double score! (Although in hindsight- planning a big night out the night before you're to host a birthday party at noon the following day- NOT the smartest of ideas). The result was me getting up in the middle of the night to finish wrapping favors and do room set up and chop veggies, etc. (it's much easier to do things when the kids are sleeping!) But here we were before heading out:

Connor and Nana

On Sunday I brought my camera out and snapped a bunch of awesome pictures of the kids with their Nana and Granddad! Seriously I just love all of these.

 

Thanks for such a wonderful visit!

Leyla's 1st Birthday Party

On Saturday we had Leyla's birthday party! We ended up with about 30 people, and it was a really fun crowd. We are so lucky to have such fantastic friends and family that came to help us celebrate our little girl! Thank you to everyone that could be here, and a special (HUGE) thank you to Andrew's parents (especially Mom!) who were so helpful leading up to and during the party. It would not have been such a great success without them!! And we got to mingle and enjoy ourselves at the party that much more ;)

I did not do a great job of taking pictures during the party, just captured a few things here and there. The favors- Curious George birthday books and a CD I made of Connor and Leyla's current favorite music (CD cover designed by my Dad- thanks Dad!!) Birthday crown for Leyla made by Connor.

 Kids food table, I made mini pizza too. The adult food was brought in from Brother Jimmy's in NYC, Annie and JB picked it up for us on their way ;) So yum!!

Leyla and Maeve.

 So sweet!

 The adorable Sadie.

 Connor and Brendan.

 Cupcake time!

Yum!

 

Girlfriends and babies!

The party scene.

Connor totally passed out on the couch after most people left. Birthday parties are exhausting!

 Another tired camper.

Once again, Happy 1st Birthday to my little miss!
More pictures from our weekend with the Eichs to come!