Nick & Joy's Wedding

This past Saturday our friends Nick and Joy were married. It was also Ava's first and might I say LAST wedding for a while, at least. Now I know why people don't bring children to weddings. I will skip the getting ready part, she was great during the ceremony as she played with my bangles and toys. There was a guy playing the bagpipes and as soon as Ava saw him she freaked!! The child had me in a death grip. I of course, couldn't stop laughing at the whole thing.

On to the reception, introduction of the bridal party, food, and drinks, pictures taken - things are good. Time for the toast, silence - my child hits her head on a chair letting out the biggest scream. Out we go. All night Ava wanted to crawl around on the floor in her nice dress putting rose petals in a cup and dumping them out. Overall, we had a great time and it was so nice to see everyone.

Ava and Quinn playing

Up to something

Logan and Annaleise lovin on Ava

Walking Daddy to the car

Girl's Day Out

This week Matt and Ann Marie were in NYC and one day Ava and I had her all to ourselves so we did what girls do best - SHOP!! We bravely hit Macy's on 34th Street after lunch at our favorite spot, Cosi. Since Ann Marie and Matt live in Israel when they visit the States they soak up everything that is American...can you blame them!! Ava did pretty well for being out and about most of the day and we survived the day without a meltdown. She took a nap just before we met up with the guys for dinner and she was ready for round 2 as you can tell from the pictures. I miss my BFF and wishes she lived closer. Even though our time together was short it is always such a blessing to see her.

Music Together

Every Saturday morning for the past 10 weeks I have taken Ava to Music Together here in our neighborhood. We wrapped up the Spring session this past weekend. The class teaches young children to recognize patterns in music and to develop their love of music, because it is the universal language, right?

Ava has made a few friends in class and we will continue to see them over the summer. She has learned so many songs from class. Now, I can't sing, I mean at all, ask Joey. I don't even like karaoke but when I sing her songs from class she looks at me with her big blue eyes, like I am the best mommy ever!! In class we sing, dance, play instruments and do silly things that toddlers seem to love. As you can see my child loves to put everything in her mouth.

Now that class is over what will we do?? Perhaps stay horizontal for a little while longer...yea right!!

Sunday's in the Park

It's rained 16 of the 21 days this month in New York City. So when the sun decides to make an appearance we head outdoors. Every Sunday for the past few years Jackson Heights has Sunday's in the Park and last Sunday Audra Rox was in the park. For those of you who don't know Audra Rox, she's the biggest thing since Laurie Berkner (Noggin) -- kids absolutely love them and know all their songs, yea, who knew?!?!?

After hitting up the Farmer's Market for some fresh ground turkey and fruits and veggies we headed to the park where Ava played with some of her friends and wrapped it up with the kiddie concert. It was a sun and fun filled day and by the end Mommy and Daddy were exhausted.

Griffin's Birthday

I'm a little late with the posts, last week Ava and I headed to Griffin's first birthday party which ironically seems like a Carlyle reunion. Ava enjoyed Griffin's room and I'm sure in her own way was giving me the stink eye because he had so many amazing toys. And you can believe she played with all of them. I didn't get any pictures of her and Griffin together because the little man feel asleep shortly after we arrived...all the kids seemed to have sensory overload which made for great nap time later in the day. It's hard chasing after a one year old and trying to take pictures, I had to steal some of these pictures from Susan's Facebook.

Ava eyeing a toy that she is about to swipe from a little boy

Ben & Lucas hangin' in the kitchen

Ava did not want to pose for this picture

Our little Coqui

The Puerto Rican Day Parade was this weekend in the city, in keeping with the Puerto Rican theme Ava stood proudly next to her flag as Lela snapped a few shots. She's not 100% boriqua but if her dad has anything to say about it she'll be dancing salsa by the time she is 3 years old. Ava has no problem putting down some latin food, sometimes she puts Daddy to shame.

For all you gringas out there (like me) a coqui is a little tree frog that lives in PR and makes this chirping sound at night when all is quiet. At first it's a sweet sounds but when it gets louder and louder it can drive you crazy. We have a little coqui living with us named Avita.

Toddlerville

When people ask you how old your kid is, they often say "that’s a great age"—no matter how many months-old you spit back at them. When Ava was strapped to my person 23.5 hours a day and not sleeping at all, people would say this to me. These people were surely out of their mind.

But you know, now when I answer 14-months-old and people say "that’s a great age," I’m all, "I know! I am loving this." This is what I’ve been waiting for. This is when it all starts getting really good. Not that babyhood isn’t awesome on many levels, but toddlers, these are my people.

When I see Ava try to take something apart for 15 minutes and get totally frustrated that she can’t do it yet, I feel for her. I’m totally impatient, too! When she takes the spoon out of my hand so she can feed herself, I’m thinking, Yes! Independence! I am an I-can-do-it-myself kinda girl. I can soooo relate.

And then there is the laughing, the honest-to-goodness sense of humor, the ticklishness, the smart-alecky way she looks at me when she knows she’s doing something she shouldn’t, the sleeping from 7 to 6:30, the great napping, and the utter cuteness of this child.

This is when trouble starts. This is when parents forget the hard, hard, hard part of raising babies and think, we should totally have another one.