Saturday, May 31, 2008

Sanibel Island, Florida

Clara and Emma returned last night from their first airplane trip to Florida to celebrate Grandma and Grandpa Frome's 40th anniversary. It was lots of fun. Mommy made sure to write stuff down so she could blog about it.

On Sunday, Mommy and Daddy woke Clara and Emma at 6:30 in the morning to get them dressed and fed before the car service came at 7:30. The drive to Westchester County Airport was short and the check-in and security only took 10 minutes! While a small airport, it was certainly easy to navigate with kids! Clara and Emma both had seats on the plane. The girls were overtired and cried themselves to sleep. Mommy was "that Mommy" on the plane, but she knows Daddy is right when he reminds her that it is okay! After a nap, the girls enjoyed showing off to the other passengers and making friends with the flight attendants. Emma even took a walk through the cabin with one of them. The girls enjoyed a nice lunch and bottle. After, Clara put her finger in the open Alimentum portable can and cut it. While it was bleeding, it wasn't too bad and Clara didn't really seem to mind, except for that it is the finger she puts in her mouth. After renting a car and a drive to the resort, Clara and Emma greeted Grandma, Aunt Christina and Lucas. Aunt Christina helped to put a band-aid on Clara's finger before everyone headed to the pool. The girls were really tired and didn't seem to love it at first. In the evening, Mommy went to the store and got food for dinner for her and Daddy.








On Monday, after everyone rested through the night, the girls enjoyed breakfast and played in the grassy, shady area before naptime. During naptime, Mommy went to Grandma and Grandpa's apartment and enjoyed time with them and Uncle Adam. After naptime, the girls went to the beach for the first time with Grandpa, Mommy and Daddy and tried the beach tent. However, it was too windy to stay. The girls did enjoy teething on big shells, which Grandpa said had calcium. In the evening, everyone came over to Mommy and Daddy's place while Clara and Emma slept for a Memorial Day BBQ.


Tuesday morning, Daddy and Mommy took Clara and Emma on a walk to the beach and saw Lucas, Uncle Adam and Aunt Christina. Lucas showed the girls how he can stand without holding on! Lucas loves the water too. At 11, everyone headed to Sanibel Cafe for lunch. Clara, Emma and Lucas left quite a mess, but had a ball. They enjoyed applesauce and grilled cheese. Mommy took Emma to the beach after she woke up from her nap and she played in the water with Uncle Adam and dug for shells. Mommy wasn't sure she would like the sand because she doesn't like the grass, but she seemed to love the beach. After, Mommy took Emma to the pool and put her in the baby float. She figured out that she could walk around in the water and had a big smile on her face. She even wore Grandpa's hat to help shade her face from the sun. For the first time, the girls had apple juice watered down and they seemed to drink more because of it, which was good, because Mommy and Daddy didn't want them to get dehydrated. Clara came after her nap and also loved the water. In the late afternoon, after a nap, the girls played around the apartment. Emma seemed to think that the curtains were funny and played peek a boo, while Clara stood around naked, boucing up and down and lauging. Grandma and Grandpa babysat while Mommy and Daddy went out to Doc Ford's for dinner. Uncle Adam and Aunt Christina told them that they had reserved a special table for them, which Mommy and Daddy couldn't figure out what they had meant throughout the dinner.. until the check came with a note. It was from Uncle Adam, Aunt Christina and Lucas and said the dinner was a treat for Mommy and Daddy's bdays and date nite- how sweet! After a walk on the beach and a rest in the hammock, Mommy and Daddy went home for the night.
Early Wednesday morning, the boys went on a fishing trip (except Lucas) and the girls stayed back. Aunt Alyssa came to help Mommy with Clara and Emma and took them to visit Grandma. After naptime. everyone headed to the beach. Clara seemed to like the water and sand too. Emma thought the sand was food and was dissapointed when she ate it. Everyone thought the kids were triplets because they all wore their giraffe outfits. Mommy found that the hoods were better to shield the babies heads and faces because they didn't try taking them off, like they did with the hats. After enjoying lunch at Coconuts- the pool bar, the girls took a nap. When they woke up, Daddy was back! Aunt Christina and Uncle Adam had bought baby floats for all the kids and they loved being in them. Daddy brought out watermelon in the afternoon and Clara decided to eat some by putting her whole face in it. She loved it and kept going back for more!

On Thursday, Grandma and Uncle Adam didn't feel well, so they didn't come to lunch at Hungry Heron's. The girls loved being out and about. Clara wanted to wear sunglasses to look exactly like Mommy. In the afternoon, everyone gathered at the pool. Mommy took Emma early while Clara slept a bit longer. Emma went with Lucas and Aunt Christina to the beach for one last visit. In the evening, everyone came over to Mommy and Daddy's for pizza and yogurt. On Friday, after saying goodbye to everyone, Daddy took Mommy, Clara and Emma on a drive to Captiva and then to the airport. Clara and Emma enjoyed crawling around and made friends with lots of people at the airport. Emma also stood for the first time by herself for a few seconds in the airport. The flight home was okay- Emma slept after her dinner and Clara didn't. All in all, it was a wonderful vacation.

Memorial Day Weekend BBQ

Clara and Emma wanted to tell everyone about their Memorial Day BBQ at their house last Saturday. Nikki, Scott, Ryan, Shon, Stef, Sammy, Ali, Steve, Jen, and Uncle Ilan, Aunt Sara, Matt, Andrew and Kayla all came over! It was lots of fun.

In the morning, Daddy went to the store and when he came back, Mommy went and got her nails done in Dobbs Ferry for the first time. Daddy put Clara on his shoulders for the first time and she loved it! At around 3, everyone arrived and after taking folks on a tour, the group gathered on the deck. Clara and Emma went to sleep at 6 and Mommy and Daddy enjoyed a beer... or two.

The BBQ was also a chance to celebrate some good news. While Clara and Emma have know officially for a few month and Mommy unofficially for longer, everyone is excited that Aunt Jen and Uncle Steve have a baby on the way! Clara and Emma can't wait to teach him/her all the things they've learned so far.

Friday, May 23, 2008

Pretty Sunset and Clara Standing

Thursday, Mommy took the girls to the Gap and bought herself some clothes. Yesterday, Mommy stopped for a moment to enjoy the sunset.
A sunny Friday! If anyone spoke to Mommy since November, you will know that almost every Friday, it has rained, so to see a sunny Friday makes Mommy happy. Mommy promised Clara and Emma that they will go to the city on a sunny Friday to see their friends soon! The good news is because it is a holiday weekend, Daddy is going to come home early.

Clara loves waving hello and showed off in a short video today. Emma is trying to wave too. Clara stood again today by herself and enjoyed it so much, shekept doing it! She can do it for a little and then falls or lowers herself down slowly. Also today, Emma's bean bag chair arrived. Thanks to Linda and Walter again for these great chairs! Clara loves to sit in hers while Emma likes to climb on hers. Funny that they both decided to play on the one that said their name- such smart ladies!

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

New Pediatrician and Stew Leonard's





Today, Clara and Emma woke up around 6:45-calmly again. Mommy couldn't believe it! After their bottle, they enjoyed a finger food breakfast of mini waffles and bananas and some cheerios , of course, Clara and Emma played and pushed the ball back and forth. Clara also stood up for about 5 seconds without holding onto something before falling!






The girls took a nice long morning nap- from 8:45-1030! After lunch of yogurt and avocado, which ended up everywhere, Mommy loaded everyone into the car. The first visit to the new pediatrician went well. The girls were quite tired for their 1 pm appointment- see the picture. It was not so easy for Mommy to be at the doctor herself and therefore, Mommy decided to hold off on a blood draw and shot for another time. At almost 9 months and 3 weeks, Emma weighed in at 17 lbs 1 oz and Clara at 18 lbs 7 oz. They are both still on the small side, with weight and height, but from where they came from, doing very well. The doctor was very pleased with their skills! Afterwards, the girls fell asleep on the way home. Mommy fed them and then took them for a walk in the neighborhood.




Daddy got home from his business trip at 4 and with Mommy, took the girls to Stew Leonard's to buy groceries. What a place! The girls were a huge hit and helped pick out stuff for Saturday's BBQ. They were facinated with the singing puppets throughout the store! Mommy had been there before, but forgot about all of the great stuff that is available. While Daddy paid, Mommy took the girls to see the small farm. The girls saw a baby cow, sheep and goats. Mommy fed them dinner right when they got home since it was a bit later than they usually eat and they were tired. Clara cried when Mommy gave her some spinach pancake, but enjoyed trying to pick it up herself and looked like she bathed in green afterwards!



Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Music Class

Clara and Emma woke up peacefully (read: Emma didn't cry- Mommy thinks this is the first time ever).

For lunch, Mommy made a grilled cheese sandwich and the girls thought it was the best thing they could have picked up.


Today, Clara and Emma went to their first music class, Musical Munchkins. The girls loved the class and Mommy liked seeing other mommies! Clara seemed very interested in the guitar and sat down right in front of it. It was lots of fun and they had huge smiles on their faces. The class ended around 12:45 and is a short drive to the house-the girls were exhausted but Mommy sang to them so they wouldn't fall asleep. The girls went down without a fight!


They took a 1.5 hr nap and were still tired. They girls continued to talk- lots of "ma, ma and ba, ba." They also loved to climb on Mommy today. They barely made it to 5:30, when Mommy fed them and put them to sleep.

Monday, May 19, 2008

Straw Sippy Cups and Sharing Toys

Clara and Emma woke up around 6:35 today and were able to say goodbye to Daddy as he headed out for his business trip.
The girls enjoyed drinking water from their straw sippy cups. Emma also showed Clara how much she loves playing with her by hugging her and pulling on her- Mommy even had to separate them today and put Clara in the playpen!

The girls didn't want anything on a spoon today and loved eating finger foods. For lunch, they enjoyed avocado and cheerios and ate some yogurt off the spoon. For a snack, they had some cheese. Clara didn't like it today and Emma did- it changes everyday. For dinner, they enjoyed Israeli couscous, sweet potato and chicken.


Mommy took the girls on a walk in Dobbs Ferry. It was a little chilly, but nice to be out. Mommy visited Affordables, a very nice consignment baby store. She got some books and a push toy at amazing prices! Clara and Emma played very nicely in their play area in the afternoon. Clara enjoyed using the activity table as a tunnel too.


PS- These are the first pics with Mommy's new camera! The old one was broken, but still sort of worked. Thanks, Daddy, for a great mother's day gift.