Need to update

Just wanted to update on recent happenings with the kids. Sadie's school year seems to be off to a great start. There are some really nice kids in her class, and overall, she seems at ease, which is a great relief to me. We attended the first birthday party of the year and it was really nice to get to see her interact with the kids. I'm pleased to say that she really jumped right in and was very comfortable. I was also pleasantly surprised to see that she didn't cling to Abby - in fact, she spent much of the time talking with another classmate and didn't seem in the least worried about where Abby was. This is good. As thrilled as I am with the friendship with Abby, I know how girls can be and I keep stressing to Sadie that she needs to be open to friendships with other girls and not so dependent on just one friend.

Speaking of birthday parties - Sadie's 'birthday week of festivities' wrapped up on Sunday with a trip to American Girl Place. What an adorable place. Sadie and Eden (and, yes, Mommy and Daddy) really enjoyed the 'fancy' restaurant, and had fun browsing the store. We spent a bit of time walking around NYC afterwards, and overall it was just a great day.

As for Eden, what can I say? She has been unbelievably adorable lately, even if the tantrums and freshness continue. I know I shouldn't laugh when she says things like "shush! Shut out!" to me, but Eden being naughty is awfully hard to resist. She has this imaginary friend, Una (Oona?) who she talks about all the time. We're probably making some grave mistake by encouraging it, but again, it is just very cute to hear what goes on in her head. All the lead up to Sadie's birthday has Eden jonesing in a big way for her own. She tells anyone who will listen that her birthday is in January, and she's going to have a party and wear a crown and have a cake with Belle (from Beauty and Beast) on it.

She is also outgrowing some of her most adorable misarticulations, which is bittersweet. She no longer calls her friend Joseph "Jofess" and she repeatedly tells me "I don't say Opiseye anymore..I say Octopus!" Thankfully, she still mangles a few words like Leyow (yellow) and asketti (spaghetti) so I get to relish the baby talk for a bit longer. At Cindy's, she is learning to write her name and, miraculously, poop on the potty.

We will be moving Eden to a big girl bed this winter and saying goodbye to the crib forever. at some point in the next few months, I will be buying the last pack of diapers for our household. When "Madagascar 2" comes out next month, we plan to take both kids - this will mark Eden's first trip to the movies, and the end of man-on-man parenting, where one of us does 'big kid' stuff with Sadie while the other entertains Eden.

It is an interesting place to be in the parenthood journey - kind of at the crossroads where we are starting to leave babyhood and all its trappings behind, and look ahead to just parenting kids.

I do feel like I was able to cherish Eden's babyhood a bit more than I did the first time around, because I knew how quickly it would pass, though there is a part of me that is sad to see it end. Mostly, though, I'm looking forward to what lies ahead.

I couldn't resist

The Very Good Taste's Omivore's 100

Here are the instructions:

1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you've eaten.
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
4) Optional extra: Post a comment here at www.verygoodtaste.co.uk linking to your results.

And here's my list....

The VGT Omnivore's Hundred:

1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare (I've had carpacio, which I believe is the same thing?!?)
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses (I had to look this up, and I'm pretty sure I haven't had it, though I have enjoyed many a pungent, unpasterized cheese!)
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans ( one of my favorite meals)
25. Brawn, or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar (yes to the congac, but no to the cigar)
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects
43. Phaal (in my dreams... or maybe my nightmares)
44. Goat's milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth $60/$120 or more
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala (mmmmmm....)
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin (never again, though...)
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald�s Big Mac Meal (
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini (not with gin, no...)
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips
61. S'mores
62. Sweetbreads (no, but I came *this close* to ordering them recently...they're on my list to try)
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs' legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears, or funnel cake (
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers (nasturtium!)
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam (never! amazing...)
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake (I can't even be in the same room as one, let alone have one on my plate. No thanks!)

Six Years Ago

Dear Sadie,

Six years ago today, I looked down at that tiny sleeping face, and tried to imagine the whole lifetime of things I would need to protect you from. I remember being simultaneously overjoyed and terrified at the prospect of raising this helpless baby. And to think, I really had no idea the amount of joy and pride and love you would bring me, nor did I really understand the levels of irritation, frustration, and hurt I could also feel - for and from you. I don't know how I couldn't have felt the vast emptiness in my life before you filled it...yet somehow, I didn't.

It's been a wild ride, Sadiebug...and I couldn't love you more if I tried. Six years have passed in what feels like a fraction of that time...somehow those long, sleepless nights which I thought would last forever, are such a distant memory that it is almost as though they never happened.

I walked behind you and Abby on the way to school this morning, I looked at you with your enormous (to you) backpack on and listened to you chirp to your best friend about the cupcakes you guys were going to be eating in school in honor of YOUR birthday, and was almost overcome with emotion and the knowledge that as fast as the past six years have gone, the next will fly by even faster.

I think tonight I'll linger just a little longer at bedtime and read you an extra story because unlike six years ago, I am now fully aware of just how fleeting and precious this time is, and how soon it will be gone.

Happy Birthday, Big Girl.

Spectacular

The weekend was really great, overall. Highlights:

• Sadie's birthday party! I think we found just the right formula this year (just a few friends, dinner out and then back to the house for make your own sundaes and presents). She was so happy and comfortable, and it seems like everyone had a great time. As a bonus - my house wasn't trashed (woot!) and it didn't really cost much more than if the four of us had just gone out for dinner (double woot!).
• Sadie's big day in NYC. Her grandparents took her in to see Mary Poppins, which she loved. My MIL said the look on her (Sadie's) face when the lights dimmed and the orchestra drumming started was just priceless.
• A gorgeous beach day! At this time of year, any days spent on the beach are precious, so yesterday was a nice treat. It was beastly hot and humid at our house, but there was a great breeze at the beach, and the water was perfect. Eden, my mom and I had a nice 'girls day' out there.
• The Oyster Fest in Asbury Park. Even though we got there too late for oysters, we enjoyed good food, good beer and great music. It was great to see the city buzzing with people out enjoying themselves. Definitely a good time.

All in all, a great weekend.

Friday Five

Five things I'm thankful for today:

1. It's Friday! Sadie has made it through her first full week of school with less than expected tears and drama.
2. That I mustered the energy at 9pm last night to hit the supermarket for two weeks' worth of groceries, so I don't have to spend any part of the weekend dealing with it.
3. Sadie's birthday gift arrived last night. I'll get it wrapped up while she is out over the weekend.
4. The thirty minutes of cuddling Eden gave me first thing this morning - what a great way to start the day.
5. That all five kids on the invite list can make it to Sadie's party tomorrow night.
   

Block Party!

Yesterday, our neighborhood held its block party. The event was originally scheduled for Saturday, but the rainy weather forced us to postpone. I have to admit that I was somewhat bummed to have to leave the beach early yesterday for it, and not totally looking forward to it. It ended up being a really good time. I know I have devoted more than one post to extolling the awesomeness of our neighborhood, but I just have to do it again. Our n'hood rocks! I can't really describe the feeling I had watching my girls run around with the posse of about 20 kids (ages 11 and under) having the time of their lives. I hope these are memories that they will carry with them when they think of their childhood.

As for the adults - we had fun, too! I ate way too much, and probably drank too much, too (the white wine, sprite, triple sec, and peach schnaps 'punch' went down just a little too easily). It was great to just sit and talk and not really have to worry/focus on where the kids were, since everyone's yard was part of the party.

We're already planning the next event - pumpkin carving at our house, followed by outdoor movies at another neighbors' place. I love living in Mayberry.

Tick Tock...Tick Tock

today may very well be the longest day ever. ever.

we dropped a crying Sadie off at her first day of first grade this morning. While I tell myself that she most likely stopped sobbing as soon as she got into her classroom and saw that her best friend was there, I guess I won't really know for sure until the end of the day, will I?