A Wonderful Town

So March has brought many joys to our family.Noah got to spend some quality time with a baby from church (he kept hugging her and she's too young to be able to move away from him!)

Pancakes that accidentally come up shaped like a duck are always noteworthy.

My birthday and the accompanying celebrations were way overdone by Jared.

Of course, Isaac never got any birthday cake because he fell asleep in his chair first, bobbing his head all the while.

The next evening we were off to New York. Why, you ask? Spring Break! Oh how we've enjoyed having Jared almost to ourselves for a week.

Isaac and Noah had a favorite feature in the hotel room: the wardrobe. Lots of fun knocking and opening of that door.

On the subway

We had one day without a stroller so we could go into the Statue of Liberty. Unfortunately, that was the day we had a LOT of walking to do, and, also unfortunately, they sold out of tickets for going into the monument (you can't go all the way up anymore anyway).

But we still got to stand in line and get on the boat.

On the boat...

See the statue?

Getting closerAnd closer

We love our liberty

("Hey, wait up, guys!")

Ellis Island

Then we passed the New York Stock Exchange...

to Ground Zero, where they're doing some serious construction. It should be really cool when they finish.

By this time, Noah was sleeping on my head. I tell you, we're both still sore from the "no stroller" phenomena. This was on Broadway (just the street).

We did some more wandering around town before heading back on the subway, totally POOPED.

The next day, after much deliberation as to what we should do, we decided to hang out at FAO Schwarz for a while. It's the oldest toy store in the country, and it was a lot more fun than I remember it being when I was a kid (why is that?) What better way to get people to buy your toys than to let them PLAY with them? So much fun.

Isaac admired the MANY displays of toys.

So did Noah.

Of course, Isaac and I had to dance on the giant piano.

Almost too much fun, right?

I don't think Isaac fully appreciated what went into the giant lego creations that were everywhere...Hagrid was especially impressive!

We stayed for storytime, which Isaac enjoyed immensely.

Then we headed to Central Park, just down a couple of blocks, where we watched some fun performances.

We even ate lunch while being serenaded by a jazz band.

New York City hot dogs for Jared, Noah and me

A giant pretzel for Isaac

Tasty.

One last view of the Big Apple from the George Washington bridge. I could kick myself for not documenting what we did next: we spent a couple of hours with my Uncle Bob and Aunt Jeanne at their home in New Jersey. We had a great time with them (and they're still amazingly young)! So Jared has finally met all my uncles and aunts. Finally.

Now we're recovering from our vacation. But Isaac keeps saying he wants to go back to New York!

"Thank You"

I've always been a big fan of saying "thank you." It's just polite. Even if the cop is giving me a ticket, I somehow manage to thank him. It shocked me when I moved to Utah and my new friends who were getting a ride home would exit the car without saying "thank you." To make up for it, I would thank the ride-giver profusely when it was my turn to get out. Growing up in the South did have some advantages. But no one hates a thanker.
Lately, I have come to appreciate "thank you" in a new way. Noah does 80% of his communicating with the words "thank you," or more accurately, "dank doo." If he wants something, he thanks you for it preemptively. If he gets what he wants, he thanks you. If he wants to play with a toy or read a book with you, he brings it to you and thanks you. Last night he woke up screaming and after I showed him his blanket, he immediately stopped and stated calmly, "dank doo," and layed down again. He cracks us up, including Isaac.
I tell you, there's nothing like a thankful baby around the house. It's fun and it's funny. It makes us more grateful. So thank someone today!

Mornings at Our House

One Year Older and Wiser, Too

Happy Birthday to Jared on the 26th! We had crepes for breakfast (a first in this household, and not the last...)

When Jared finally got home from a long day at school (where no one knew it was his birthday, by the way), we had birthday pie-- it's common on the Laney side to request a pie instead of a cake. Cherry streusel pie.Neither of us can believe how old he is.

Isaac helped sing "Happy Birthday"...

...then promptly buried the candles in the pie while we were getting plates, ice cream and utensils. Here lies a thirty-one.Jared looks like he's practicing some newly-acquired NP skills.

And now for something completely different:

We got this beautiful quilt in Jared's birthday package from Mama Laney in CA. It goes with a Noah's Friends pillow/book she made for Noah around Christmastime. Check out the corner animals-- they have moving tails! It has all different textures and pieces...we love it and I can't stop raving about it.

Letting Grow

I know my experience is not unique; all parents have some sense of the fleeting time they have with their children.

Isaac is all grown up to me: about three weeks ago he declined sleeping with his "froggies" and has never gone back. He doesn't even suck his thumb much anymore. I've finally accepted that maybe he doesn't need a nap anymore, either (even if I do). And tonight he did something I never thought would happen: he ate salad with me. I watched in awe as the first leaf of lettuce ever to stay in his mouth was chewed and swallowed. He ate it all! Maybe there's hope for Jared? Nah.

As for Noah, his dropped nap and dropped milk feeding have given me a feeling that babyhood will soon be over. After all, he is one (and boy, can he be a picky eater!).


I confess I do have some comforts despite all of this. Today and yesterday, being the windiest days we've experienced here yet, we went outside for "adventures"-- Isaac still wears and loves his cape. Especially when it blows in the wind. I think he gives hope to all who see him ("Excuse me, is that a superhero?")...what a guy! And Noah is still walking and talking the baby way. It's not what I want for eternity, but I still want to enjoy it. You know?

Discovering History

Fort McHenry It was beautiful and sunny, but also windy and frigid!
We were educated and intrigued by what we learned here. Did you know Fort McHenry was still used by the military until 1912? Lotta history there.

"O say can you see..."

It was Noah's first day in a forward-facing carseat.

Two days later...

On the way to D.C. (and Noah still loves facing forward!)

After an exasperating time finding our way there (never forget your ID if you want to park with the Navy), we finally made it to Washington!

So happy to be there: Jared and Isaac in front of the National Air and Space Museum

At first, it was hard for Isaac to focus on any one thing and enjoy it.

Sensory overload.

We realized quickly that he needed to be reined in to have the best experience.And he did have a great time.

Noah did, too.

So did Jared.

The best part was the Discovery Room.

We learned about weightlessness, aerodynamics, the power of air pressure, and all kinds of other good stuff.

It was so cool for Isaac to be in control of a real plane!

Noah was so impressed by it that he decided he wanted a turn. Up he went!

I'm jealous of all the Asian people who got better pictures of my kids than I did here. But I can't blame them for taking them. Even if they did so unabashedly.

Noah had fun.

( The National Gallery of Art)

Sorry, we never got out the camera in the Natural History Museum! But that was awesome, too.

Jared's first time in his nation's capital

Can you believe this place was packed with millions of people just a week ago?