The Big Apple

We had such a fabulous time!  It was so wonderful to just enjoy being each other's best friends.

We tried to narrow the trip down to our favorite three things, but we couldn't do it.  They were all favorites.  Here are a few of them... 

1. Dinner on our first night with Andy and Emily York, who were up there on business for the last few months!  We were so thankful that our trip overlapped with their time up there!

2. Ridiculously good dessert that same night at Cafe Lalo, where "You've Got Mail" had a scene
3. Poured rain much of Monday, but we had a really neat walk through Central Park in the rain, mostly alone... which was such a cool experience
3. Dinner at this brand new cute place in West Village and dessert at Milk and Cookies (I want to open one)

4. Empire State Building and the only 15 minute wait we had to get up there!
5. Staten Island Ferry- great view of Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and the city

6.  Financial District- more interesting than I expected- amazed by all the security around the NYSE- cool to see the Federal Building where Washington was inaugurated

7.  An AMAZING night that Jake planned of a fabulous dinner at Thalia

8. And great tickets to Wicked!!!!  Phenomenal, phenomenal show!

9.  Snow falling on us at Rockefeller Center- absolutely crazy!

We packed in much more than that (Soho, Little Italy, Chinatown, Museum of Natural History, etc.), but those are a few favorite moments!!  The only things we wanted to do, didn't get to, and will just have to happen next time are the Met (which was closed) and dessert at Serendipity (too late, too long of a line, too cold to wait!)

Abby Jane had a delightful time with her Mimi and Bop Bop, evidenced by asking for them multiple times and making "phonecalls" to them several times since they flew out yesterday morning.  The great time had here at home was even more impressive since we discovered a new tooth when we got home!  Thanks again, Ken and Sandy!

NYC, baby! (or no baby as the case may be)

Tomorrow morning, while she is still asleep, we will leave our precious little girl with these folks...

while we go to New York for a few days of fun... by ourselves!  We just put Abby Jane to bed, and I miss her already!  But I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that she will have a fabulous time with her Mimi and Bop Bop.  They just got in town yesterday afternoon, but they already hit the playground and the beach today, so I know this visit will be packed with fun for all parties involved! 

Few things thrill my heart more...

Than hearing Abby Jane pull the tail of her Aubie (or "Aubay" as she calls him) crib toy so it will play the fight song (lullaby version) while she's going to sleep. 

Here are our current animal sounds!

"No"

Yesterday morning, Abby Jane woke up and started saying "no" to almost everything!  But she doesn't mean it.  Up to now, her answers have been about 90% accurate on "yes" and "no."  Not anymore!  "Do you want Mama to read you a book?" "No."  But hands the book to me and wants to get in my lap.  So it's just plain being contrary!  Aren't we a little young for that?  

As much as we're trying to re-train her ("if you do want  _____, then say 'yes'"... "yes")  we were laughing about it last night, though.  We happened to pick Jake up after work and I said, "Are you excited to see Daddy?"  "No."  "Do you love Daddy?"  "No." This is hilarious as Jake, his homecoming, and the hours thereafter are probably the highlights of her day.  So then Jake asks, "Do you love Mama?"..... "Yes."  

That's my girl- the brainwashing must be working.

Here's a few shots from our playdate at Griffith Park on Monday with our sweet friends and former neighbors Carrie and Mihret.

First Baseball Game

Right now, both baseball and basketball are "baball"- so she kept saying "baball!"  She sat and watched the first 15 minutes or so, then ran around and played the rest of the time with a few checks every now and then on how the game was going.

Pamela Anderson must have heard Abby Jane was coming and decided to show up for the event.  It's funny how even normal events can have a funny "only in LA" twist!  

Doesn't every child have a picture like this?

Choosing to forgo morning nap + a morning swim= an unfinished lunch!

As you either know or have gathered, Abby Jane is not your average relaxed baby who falls asleep cute places for a photo op.  She went on to basically sleep through getting cleaned up from lunch, having a dirty diaper changed, and getting placed in her crib.  Praise the Lord she's obviously not ready to lose that morning nap!

Rocking Chair a.k.a Bottom

Tonight, Abby Jane was trying to stand on her truck, something she is yet to execute, but already knows it's a bad idea because she says "NOOOO!" while she tries.  Jake pointed out that it was good practice for surfing, but we told her to sit on her bottom anyways.  She kept standing up and trying to step up on the truck, so I asked, "Abby Jane, where is your bottom?"

She pointed to her rocking chair.

Of course.  Abby Jane is frequently standing in her rocking chair as well, and we always say, "Abby Jane, sit on your bottom!"  And she does.  Because evidently her rocking chair has an alias.  "Bottom."  Such simple reasoning, really.