The Maine Beach

Last week we ventured up to NH again.  The weather was even more insane than it had been.  70s and 80s??  Definitely beach weather.  Stretchy had visited the beach in North Carolina and loved it, so we thought a good outing would be York Beach in Maine.

She had a blast.  And even though we're up North, this time, she didn't have to wear a sweatshirt!!

Unfortunately, the water wasn't warm enough for swimming.  At least for us.  My sister went in though!!

Taking a break while walking the Marginal Way

Smiling at the passers-by

So cute in a new sunsuit 

Maybe the sand tickles?

Leaving footprints

Relaxing in the sun

Our Trip to NC: Day 4

Friday morning, Stretchy, Bob's mom and I woke up early and let the boys sleep.  We decided to go to a cute little bakery near the beach for breakfast where we shared some fantastically delicious sweets.  Stretchy flirted with the men at the table next to us.

After breakfast we were so full that we decided to take a walk on the beach.  Stretchy slept the whole time.  It was so peaceful.  It was cool and overcast and a little breezy.  There were only a few other people and it was a great way to start the morning.

When we got home, we decided to venture in to downtown Southport for some shopping, coffee and a wine tasting.  Stretchy had a good time.

After a rest at home, we went back to the beach one last time so Stretchy could play in the sand (and we could take a video!).  

After Stretchy played the piano a bit, 

we set up a photo shoot of Stretchy in the same chair as Bob sat in when he was 5 months old... which is which??

Our trip ended with a great meal of fresh fish and some silly home movies of Bob when he was little.

The next day we flew home.  Aside from the delay in DC, it was a pretty uneventful trip.  We had a great time in North Carolina, but its always nice to be home!

Darth Vader

The past two nights I've been in the company of Darth Vader Baby. We're sharing a room since we're at my parents visiting, and let me say that sleeping with a baby who snores louder than my dad (think chainsaw) makes sleeping very difficult. Not to mention the possibly lethal levels of Vick's Vapo-rub particulates circulating throughout the room or the fact that humidity levels in there rivaled the rainforest. Let's just say I'm tired... Strethcy hasn't been sick yet (though I've supposed some days of not feeling so great to give her an excuse for being fussy 24/7), so the past couple days I've been the most paranoid mother on the face of the earth. Its probably a good thing that I'm here with my own mother to keep me grounded or we'd probably have been to every hospital in the state multiple times. ("What do you mean she's fine and just keep her elevated? Clearly she has brochitis or some other respitory disorder." "It's NOT pneumonia? Well then it must be whooping cough- those vaccines suck!!") Fortunately, Stretchy is still alive. She's clearly not a happy baby, but her condition looks like its not life threatening. Probably a good thing I didn't go to all those hospitals because now I'd feel like an idiot. Dear baby, Please get better soon. Mommy doesn't sleep well with a snoring baby next to her. Also, she's very tired from getting up every 10 minutes to check if you are breathing. Love, Mommy.

New York at Christmas

Last weekend we went to New York City.  I'm like a little kid, and as soon as we found out we'd be living within hours of NYC, I had to go at Christmastime.

It was Stretchy's 2 month birthday.  I thought a trip to NYC seemed like a pretty good present.

We got up early (we even had to wake Stretchy up) and arrived at the Saratoga bus station at 8am.

Stretchy wasn't sure about her first bus ride.

By the time we transferred in Albany, she was a pro.

We arrived in NYC around noon.  Stretchy was in awe.

It was bustling and crazy and there were people practically lined up to walk across the street.

Stretchy was a little overwhelmed and decided to take a nap.

We saw Times Square.

Stretchy woke up in time to see the Christmas Market at Bryant Park where we saw the ice skaters

and got our picture taken by the tree.

There were lots of interesting things to see

On the way to The Tree

We waited in line at FAO Schwartz.  Fortunately, the stroller line was short!

Daddy couldn't figure out how to use the camera... but here we are by the Ugly Dolls.

We went across the street to the Plaza Hotel

Where there was the best Santa ever.

 Stretchy got her first picture with Santa, and it was the cutest thing on the planet, but I'll save that for another post... but here she is afterwards in the fancy waiting area chair.

On the way back to the bus we tried for a family portrait...

And took a few more photos.

I have to say that looking back, was taking a 2 month old to NYC a very enjoyable thing to do?  When you are a crazy, worrying mom, No.  But was it amazing and awesome and would I do it again?  Totally.  If only for the Santa picture.

Weekend Foliage (or lack thereof) Drive

Since there's a good chance we'll be spending next weekend at the hospital rather than enjoying the mid-70 degree weather coming our way, we decided to take a drive to see the foliage... I've been so excited about fall in the northeast that this was one more thing I couldn't miss.  I'd been tracking the foliage progress on the news with the "foliage map" and even though we were at the "beginning to turn" stage, I figured we'd at least get to see a few nice trees and take a nice Sunday drive.

Unfortunately, the weather didn't really cooperate.  And by didn't really cooperate, I mean it was cold, damp, cloudy and drizzly.  Pretty much a miserable day for doing anything but sitting inside with a blanket and a cup of hot chocolate watching movies.  Yet there were were, driving miles from our house to see some trees in the rain.

On a positive note, I've heard that the best foliage viewing is on a cloudy day is best, especially for taking photos because direct sunlight is too harsh and a cover of clouds produces soft, uniform lighting.  It was definitely cloudy... with a smattering of showers...

Fortunately (or unfortunately) there were about seven trees the whole trip that were in full color so even if the conditions weren't exactly perfect for photographing (and were certainly not perfect for getting out of the car for a bit of hiking or leaf collecting), we didn't miss much.

Sweet artsy-looking mushrooms

Awesome store design... At least we saw something cool on the drive.

Hopefully New Baby loves driving in the car and we can go on a foliage drive when the "foliage map" shows that we're in "peak" foliage season...

Home, Sweet Home... Almost

So after months of stressing about the overseas trip and temporary housing and house-hunting, I'm finally sort of settled in Saratoga, NY.

How'd it go? It was better than I thought. But then again, I was expecting the worst...

Plane Trip Overseas With Cats:
They were a lot better than they were on the way over. I think they actually slept, and even when they were awake, the noise of the plane drowned out the meowing. The only hitches? The mean-looking man across the aisle who was apparently a cat hater, and when one of the cats bit my mom (who was awesome enough to fly all the way across the ocean to help bring the cats back) through the carrier. Apparently animal bites are pretty painful, though that was a week ago and my mom is now fine.
I think I was more upset about being on the plane than the cats. I was uncomfortable and the baby kept sticking feet in my ribs and I had heartburn and my left leg swelled up so I looked like elephant woman.

Temporary housing:
Awesome. With air conditioning. But no computer or business center. Pardon my lack of posting, but the iPod is NOT a computer...

House-hunting:
Stressful. The second day here in Saratoga I looked at a lot of condos we had seen online, but nothing lived up to my expectations. The last place we looked at, which hadn't really been on our radar was perfect! Things moved super fast, bit we're on our way to having our perfect new family home!

Bob gets here Friday and I can't wait for him to see it.

While we wait to get in to the house, I'll be working on paintings and sheets and other projects for he nursery!

Q