It’s been a really nice, busy summer.  I love that there is never a dull moment here in the city.  There is always something fun to do, and for that reason alone I never want to leave.

With YiaYia at Victorian Gardens in Central Park

Victorian Gardens, Central Park

Madison Square Park Kids throws a free concert for children on Tuesdays, and has many other programs geared toward toddlers on up.  We can walk to MSP, so it’s an easy and fun option for us.  We go as often as possible.

Horrifying Parents at Madison Square Park

The Dirty Sock Funtime Band

Other days, our daily routine feels like groundhog day.  We wake up, eat breakfast, scramble to get out of the apartment to head to the park for the eleventy-billionth time this month.

Park Bound

As mundane as these days feel though,  they are the opposite of that in the life of a toddler.  Small, yet monumental changes are happening daily with the kids in between our normal routine.  Zoe is ready for her very own scooter.  The fact that she’s ready and able to ride a scooter absolutely blows my mind.  She’s also potty training herself, which is messy and blindingly frustrating at times but at least we’re moving in the right direction.  I wasn’t quite ready for this, but she is a child that does things on her own watch, not mine. Clearly.  I estimate she will be using the potty, emptying my pocketbook, and wearing my make-up by the time she turns two next month. Sigh.

Jack is expressing himself so much better than a couple of months ago.  He’s been in some speech therapy and it seems to have really helped him.   He’s building Lego castles, cutting shapes from his KUMON workbooks, and spelling nearly every word he sees.  We have difficult, power-struggle days, but the majority of the time he is a cool, laid back kid.  I fear I will be one of those moms that cries her eyes out on his first day of real preschool.  I cried at the parent orientation for Pete’s sake.

Justin is taking the last final of his summer courses as I type this.  We’re headed back to our home town in California next week and will be spending some much needed time with family and friends.  I’m hoping it grounds me a little.  I’ve been piling things onto my plate at a breakneck speed and am struggling to find a balance.  It’s a complex place that I’ve found myself that I wasn’t anticipating.  But it feels really great.  I’m trying to find a way to improve myself and my place in this world apart from being a stay at home mother.

Yet I am a mother, first and foremost.

Reminding myself constantly to capitalize on the sweetness of their babyhood.  The moments in between the chaos of life are the most crucial.  Especially during the long, dog days of summer.

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First Dates with BlogHer

August 13, 2010

in Events

This past weekend feels like a blur.  It’s now Thursday, incredibly, and a week has past since the craziness of BlogHer ’10 started.

I had a great time.  I had wonderful room mates at the Hilton, and made some great friends and memories.  I even got to spend some time (not enough) with one of my closest friends, Sue, who inspired me to start this blog.

Loukia of LouLou's Views and Me

There were some chest-tighteningly-beautiful moments, ones that made the whole weekend worth it.

Grown women wearing bright, beautiful tutu’s and big smiles all in the name of one boy who needs a little lift (and maybe a miracle).

Women that had lost children and husbands and parts of themselves, some of whom weren’t afraid to share their stories and heartbreak out loud, in front of hundreds of faces at the conference.

I cried, then laughed, then cried harder, then laughed harder at the Voices of the Year Ceremony.

I made dear friends that couldn’t have been more lovely, wonderful, and real.

Emily, Design Her Momma

Adam Avitable

Casey, Moosh in Indy

My friends here in the city threw some fabulous, rockin’ parties and I couldn’t seem to make it to all of themI even ate McDonald’s.  At night. At a party (those who know me know this is rare).

Aimee Giese, Greeblemonkey

I got carsick in cabs with out-of-townies, and even that was fun.  I’m usually sick in cabs by myself.

Some of us ventured out to the Meatpacking District to get fancy on the roof of the Gansevoort Hotel.   How there are no pictures of this night, I’ll never know.  Later on we met up with more friends for an unforgettable-and fantastic-night of karaoke.

Update! Found the link to Maria’s video of karaoke. Awesome.

That, to me, is the magic of BlogHer.

There wasn’t nearly enough time to see everything or meet everyone that I had wanted to.  It felt like a really incredible first date, and then BlogHer ’11 called for a second date.

I’m in.

*I took only two photos the entire time I was at the conference, and I took them on the bus tour that I hosted with New York City Mama.  I didn’t want to lug around the DSLR with the 75′ lens, so I relied on my friends.  If I didn’t LOVE to take pictures, I’d do this more often!

The building building that the one in "Friends" was modeled after. Think "Central Perk".

View from the tour bus

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BlogHer 2010, NYC, and Me

August 4, 2010

I’ve been contemplating whether or not to contribute to the massive list of posts relating to this week’s blogging conference in NYC, BlogHer.   I finally decided to cave  for three outstanding reasons: I’m hosting the NYC Sex in the City Tour with my lovely friend Carol of NY City Mama I live in NYC [...]

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Momma Love: An Introduction

July 30, 2010

Every so often, something happens in life that is so poignant, fantastic and incredibly random that it makes you stop and think. About 4  months ago we decided that it was time to sell our high chair.  We posted about  it on a local bulletin and a woman called that was interested in checking it [...]

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Roadtrip to my (other) Homeland

July 29, 2010

I wasn’t really sure what this summer was going to bring for our family.  Last year, we spent the long days packing and preparing for our big move across the country.  The year before that, Justin was cramming for the DAT (Dental Admissions Test) and we were all getting ready for the birth of our [...]

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Project Mom: Life is a Highway

July 26, 2010

When I think back to my life a year ago, I feel like I was a completely different person.  A different mother, a different wife, a different daughter.  Before my family uprooted and left everything remotely familiar to live in Manhattan, I was a fraction of the person I am today. Life was  a diluted [...]

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Paying it Forward

July 14, 2010

There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t recognize and feel tremendously grateful for the wonderful people and things in my life. Some days it’s easier to feel that way than others. Today was one of those days. Tomorrow is going to be another one of those days, but slightly different and incredibly [...]

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Of Nick Swisher and Legos

July 10, 2010

Lego just recently moved into their flagship store in Rockefeller Center, and Bubba and I were invited to attend the Grand Opening. I jumped at the chance to check it out both because my son is an avid Duplo fan, and well, mommy wanted to see Nick Swisher in person. Let’s be honest. Nick Swisher [...]

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Letters From My Husband

July 6, 2010

My husband has never had an entire night with the kids alone. That is, until I went to the EVO Conference last weekend for three nights and four entire days. It was definitely difficult for me to be without them, but I was more worried about them being with out me. Not that I didn’t [...]

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New Life, New Traditions

July 5, 2010

The Fourth of July used to mean BBQ, picnic blankets, fireworks, festive desserts and lots of family activities. Holidays away from family and friends have been the hardest thing to adjust to after our move. I’ve always been a big fan and celebrator of holidays, and since having children it’s only gotten more fun. It’s [...]

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