New York City

 Happy Late Memorial Day!

We had an action packed weekend with Anthony's parents visiting.  It was a blast.  After taking the first couple of days pretty easy, we decided to take a trip down to New York on Saturday. 

 If you weren't already grossed out by germs on the subway, here's proof of them being spread.  Ira's been having issues with nose picking lately.  Some guy in Time Square came right up to him and said, "Hey Boy! Stop digging up yo nose!"

The Thun's came down for a couple of days...also a blast.  The girls handled the city like pros!

 Anthony got lots of stares with Eliot in the wrap.

 The highlight of the trip for Ira at least was seeing dinosaurs at the Museum of Natural History.  

He was in HEAVEN.  We'll have to make it back there sometime soon.

 We got some Pizza at Patsy's, but Ira preferred their amazing rolls.  Super crusty on the outside, soft and cloudy in the middle.

Their pizza wasn't what I'd say is typical New York style.  It was a healthy feeling, gourmet-ish version of the greasy stuff I'm use too. 

 Here's one of the Freedom Towers in progress. 

 The process of getting to the memorial at ground zero, felt almost exactly like the hassle of an airport.  The security is a little extreme, not surprisingly I suppose.  The memorial itself is breathtaking.  It feels more melancholy than most memorials I've seen.  It's vast and empty, gravity pulling everything around it down and disappearing.  It made me grateful for my knowledge of the Plan of Salvation.  Where we go after this life brings hope, no matter how tragic the death.  

You can't tell, but the Statue of Liberty is standing on Ant's fingertip.  We also hit Time Square, but it was a little too packed and crazy to pull out the camera.

I love New York.

Alright, I'm off to try and sqeeze in a nap.  Next post will include a more complete summary of the week.  Peace!

Hey Everyone!  

Happy Belated Mother's Day!

  Life has been generally really good.  Eliot had his one month check up.  He's 22 3/4 inches and 11 lbs 11 oz.  He managed his shots well, although we're pretty sure he had a bad reaction to them...or something else.  Anyway, it was definitely a reaction.  For about three days he went from nursing every 2 hours for 20 minutes, to nursing every 3-4 hours for a few seconds-a few minutes, and spitting up much more than usual.  I guess distress would be a good word for the state I was in.  sigh...  Now a week later, he's eating like a champ again.  Thank goodness!

 Our sleeping beauty.  We've moved him to his own room!...which means that at least Anthony is getting a better night's sleep.

 Ira is loving Eliot!  Though somedays I feel like I have to play the role of bodyguard.  A horrifying/hilarious example would be the other day, when Ira began composing an "Eliot Song."  In a monotone voice he started singing "Eyes, ears, mouth, hands..." When I turned around he was pointing to each appropriate lyric on Eliot, so I kept doing dishes.  Until Ira got stuck on the word, "body, body, body, body..." when I turned around again I found him repeatedly hitting Eliot in the diaper!  Not crotch punches!  Eliot wasn't responding at all, so I guess they were gentle punches?  Most of the time, Ira's been extremely gentle and kind to Eliot, with only a punch in the diaper here and there.

 It looks like Ira is kissing Eliot, but he's really roaring at him.

 Interesting.

 I think we got ourselves a smiler!

Since we set up Eliot's room with the pack-n-play, Ira's been spending more time in it that Eliot.  For some reason, he absolutely loves it.  Maybe for the same reason that autistic children, and cattle about to be slaughtered like small enclosed spaces?  Anyway, I heard Ira giggling and found he and Eliot "hiding."

 I think Ira must be socially deprived.  He woke up from his nap yesterday, and the first words out of his mouth were, "Friends coming over?"  A phrase we hear often these days is "Play with me!"  Here's Eliot trying.

The only way I'm getting a chance to write this post, is this awesome "Busy Box."  Thanks Hopkinsons!

We looked at cousin photos, so Ira knew who drew which picture.  He then hugged and carried them around the house for a while. He knows cousins are the best kind of friends.

This is my latest attempt at cake decorating when we took a couple of new(er) moms in the ward dinner.  Thanks for giving me the inspiring me Camille! I did it pretty hastily.  But I'm going to try the butterflies again this weekend allowing some more time. 

The job hunt is happening.  I guess it would be safe to say that options are beginning to present themselves.  We'll know where we're going to end up in a couple of weeks to a couple of months.  Eee!  I can't wait!  O.k.  I better take a shower while I still can!  Love you guys!

Familaversary

We celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary this weekend. Marriage really gets a bad rep. these days, but it is awesome. We celebrated as a family. First we went out to a little Pakistani 'Fish & Chips'  restaurant we have been eyeing since we lived here last time. We then took Ira and Eliot to the volunteer Firefighter fundraising carnival. 

If you can't tell Ira is a little stiff and stoic. He was sad when we left, so I can only assume he was having fun.

below are some pictures.

 They had a great assortment of rides for little kids. Ira finally got to feel like he was driving a car! 

 A rare smile before the ride started.

 He was pretty excited to ride the horse.

 This is the more typical expression he had most of the night. Quite the contrast to the other kids who were pure energy with their hands flailing and screaming.

Life is Carousel, I'm glad I get to ride it with my best friend.

Earth Day

Didn't have time to post this last week.

 Being a new dad (again) is awesome.

 Twins - Thanks Camille for the matching pillow cases.

 Me and the boys

 Last Saturday we went to an Earth Day fair.  They had a ton of stands and live music, but Ira preferred the park. 

 Ira liked this toy, unfortunately he still has a ways to go before he's big enough.

Sharon's Earth Day cake.

Sharon is still trying to perfect the sphere cake. She made this one out of rice crispies, which worked well, until they decided to fall apart. The world exploded. We didn't get an after picture. We took it to our Sunday school class and told them that if they didn't take care of the earth it would end up looking like the cake.  Fortunately, kids don't seem to care what their sugar looks like when they eat it.   

Happy Late Easter!!!

Anthony did a great job summing up the birth of Eliot.  The only addition I would make is that Anthony was the best coach a girl could ask for.  He was my supportive, massaging, cheerleader through every contraction. I couldn't have done it without him.  In fact, he was so good that the midwife was very hands-off.  She didn't need to step in much at all until I started pushing, I think because she could see that Anthony had everything covered.  

So, back to Easter.  I'll let the pictures do most of the talking.

I love this face.  Ira's trying really hard to balance the egg while attempting to smile for the picture. 

Mmmm.  Easter Breakfast.  Ira passed up his cinnamon roll for a bowl of jelly beans. 

The day before Easter, Grandma, Ant, and Ira went to the Danbury Railway Museum to ride the Bunny Express.

I'd be freaked out too Ira.

Hanging out at home.

Brother bonding?  And we were wondering if Ira would regress. 

Ira absolutely adores Eliot.  Sometimes to the point where it's hazardous to Eliot's safety. 

 Mom and Dad were lifesavers!  Ira had a blast with them, and I cried when they left.  

Hope everyone is doing well.  Next post, I'll try and keep the pictures to a select minimum.  I just can't help myself.