The Governor has declared a State of Emergency for the entire state of New Jersey. We headed across the street to our park to see how Daniel would deal in the crazy wind, snow and general fun. If you remember last year's massive snowstorm, Daniel didn't know which side was up - so Matt and I were so excited to see how he would react today. He was slightly cautious but started screaming as soon as we said "let's head home". Guess he liked it! Unfortunately we ended the snow excursion on a bad note: we put Daniel on a slide (alone) that was covered in snow. He basically shot off like a cannon ball and skidded on the snow on his flat back. It was kind of hysterical, but not so much when he started screaming (luckily the snowsuit Mimi bought him cushioned anything that could have possibly hurt him - but the surprise launch was enough for him!
Check us out:
Daniel is amazed. And warm in his snowsuit big enough for 2 kids!
Also, thanks to Wade Holsapple for handing down his snow boots. Perfect fit!
Matt teaching Daniel to throw snowballs
And to eat snow (Daniel wasn't super into it)
Loving the snow - can't wait to see it when it hits 14+ inches tomorrow morning!
And, if the pictures weren't enough... here's a video. Daniel loved it.
Let's put it this way: Matt and I bought a 2009 Jetta Sportwagen TDI (a diesel) last fall. I have put more time, energy, research, agony and arguing into our strollers than I did over the brand new car.
As you all know, I have one son. He is 17 months old.
Today I bought our 5th stroller. Yes, our 5th.
Here's how it happened (I'm writing this to come to terms with myself but to justify my reasoning as much as possible to my husband):
Stroller #1: 2009 Uppa Baby Vista. I love this stroller. Daniel was comfy. I had numerous random issues (turns out Matt was closing it incorrectly causing it jam) and the amazing customer service took care of us each time. 2 problems: it's heavy and the seat didn't go completely upright so Daniel would kind of be leaning back which became an issue when he was about a year old.
Stroller #2: Because our Uppa is heavy, we decided to buy a lightweight stroller to take in the car, on the subway, etc. It was between a Maclaren Triumph or the City Mini. We went with the City Mini and basically stopped using the Uppa simply because the City Mini was pretty much perfect and lightweight. When we were in Atlanta in September Hertz decided to "upgrade" my rental car and gave me a huge SUV. It was so big I could barely get into my parent's garage. I hated it. I ran over our City Mini accidentally (I literally bumped it while reversing but the SUV was so big that it literally popped the stroller in half). I hate that damned rental.
Stroller #3: In Atlanta with a snapped-in-two City Mini, I ran out and, being such an Uppa Baby fan, bought their lightweight umbrella stroller, the G-Lite. I loved it. So light, so easy to carry, folds up into nothing. I thought I was golden.
Stroller #4: I knew I would end up doing this, but I recently started running (my friend Lauren Stout signed me up for a 10K) and I wanted to run with Daniel. I bought a BOB Revolution and it honestly inspired me to run and I've loved it. Decided it's the best stroller ever made. Handles like a dream. Daniel is so happy in it. Makes me run. ALMOST perfect. Bad part: so heavy and very hard to get in and out of our brownstone as the doors are narrow (will be great when our renovation is done in a few months and I have a garage). I decide that I should have just bought the BOB to begin with. We use this every day.
Stroller #5: Over the last 2 months, we've realized that Daniel HATES the G-Lite. It's actually quite small and we can't adjust the straps so Daniel doesn't fit very well. Now that it's winter and he's in his coat, we can't even get the straps around him. UGGGGHHH!!! So what do I do? Refer to Stroller #2. I buy the Maclaren Triumph and it's perfect.
And that's where we are today. Matt totally annoyed with me. I'm totally annoyed with strollers. If I get pregnant again soon and need a double stroller I'm going to take a shotgun and shoot every (empty) stroller that I see.
I knew I had some amazing pictures from October. Good thing I finally found them. Reminds me that our photo storage is totally out of whack right now and we must get this fixed.
We went to a really cute farm with our friends, the Kriegsmans, and that's really when Daniel started calling all animals "Kitty" (he's not really doing that anymore, by the way). I also love the love-fest going on with Daniel and Benjamin at the end of the day.
Also found - the Halloween pictures. Honestly, how on earth did I let this happen? In any case, here was Halloween in all of it's rockin' cuteness. On top of the Daniel pics, there are a few that showcase the fabulous park that we live on and it's kind of obvious why I love my neighborhood so much (future post).
Remember when I used to post about the fact that Daniel's teeth were taking their time coming in? Well, my little boy is now getting his molars... all at once... and it sucks! He is crying. A lot. He wakes up crying. He wakes up in the middle of the night crying. He cries when he eats. He cries when he drinks.
Matt and I are heartbroken for him. He goes from being the sweetest and happiest little boy in the world to being so sad and hurting. He takes my hand and pushes it into his cheeks, bites his fingers and just whines.
Moms - how long is this going to take? I cautiously stick my fingers in his mouth, feel all those teeth and I know it must feel like hell for him. All at once? What are the odds?
It's obvious when things are so hectically out of control that I don't even remember the last time I posted anything substantial. I've actually felt the absence of posting to my blog but haven't been able to pull together the time to do anything about it. So, here I am - months and months later with much too much to say for one blog post. So, I'll begin to make up for my absence with a little catch up on what's been happening with us.
Part 1: Daniel Bing
One word: INCREDIBLE.
Daniel is now close to 17 months old and my little baby has transformed into a full-blown, cute-as-can-be toddler. He's close to 25 pounds and got his 4th (yes, 4th!) haircut this morning. He is definitely classified as a "lover" and not a "fighter". Daniel hugs and kisses almost anything and anyone. He is a still crazy over anything fluffy and soft. Today we were hanging out at the Union Square holiday market with Lauren and Richie and while we were looking at some hats, Daniel literally started cuddling with a furry tablecloth. Strange, but adorable.
Physically, Daniel acts more like a 2 year old than a 17 month old. He skips the baby play areas and heads straight for where the older kids are playing. He shows no fear... well, except for today when he wouldn't stand on a sewer grate (I don't blame him). He's still very much into music and loves it when Matt plays the bass guitar at night. He loves to dance and the moves he pulls out are quite impressive... especially while he's in his carseat... he has some serious arm moves.
He still isn't saying many words. Only a few... kitty, uh-oh, mama (this means that he wants something), dada and he did say up and apple last week... but nothing since. He understands everything so I think he's just being lazy. I love being able to say "go give the baby a kiss" and watch him walk over to a baby or a toy and kiss it but I really can't wait for him to start saying more.
The big news is that he just spent 3 weeks in Atlanta with my parents (Nana Max and Papa G). 10 days of the 3 weeks were spent alone with my parents while Matt and I were in Argentina. Daniel was spoiled beyond belief and he had an amazing time - we're so proud of him (and so beyond thankful to my parents!). My parents had him booked up with more activities in 10 days then he does in a month in Jersey. He picked up some very cute new things: holding his nose and saying "pee-yew" when we change a poop, sweeping, helping with the dishes, covering his ears when the coffee maker grinds the coffee beans and, our favorite, spitting after he brushes his teeth (this really is just a pretend spit so it's really cute). Daniel is also officially a dog lover. While he had to defend his food at all times, he loved spending 3 weeks with my parent's crazy dog, Jake, and we can't wait to get him a puppy. He was also allowed to have his binky and his blanket ANYTIME (something he doesn't do at home) so now we're dealing with a very attached little boy to his bink and blanket as you'll see from the piano video below.
Matt and I are, like all parents, ridiculously in love with this child. My friend, Heather, always says that her favorite age is 18 months so I've been anxiously waiting for this time and I couldn't agree with her more. When Daniel sees me come into a room and runs over to me and hugs me tight around the neck, it takes everything to not cry. He is enamored by Matt and seeing my boys run around the house can keep me happily occupied forever.
Here are few recent pics and clips:
I mean, it doesn't get cuter than this
Tickling fit
The Family Pic (note that Jake is probably looking for food and Stella is trying to get out of the picture)
Security threat at Newark
Cuddling on the way to the Atlanta airport. Already sad to say goodbye to Nana, Papa, Andi, Gabe, Stella and Jake!
This was so fun that I got in there with him
The Cantilo family got new kittens and Daniel LOVED them
Part 2: Marni & Matt
I'll make this close... 10 days without Daniel in Argentina. It was not easy (I know.. those of you with older kids are laughing at me now). I think 7 days would have been fine, but 10 was simply too long. However, the trip was amazing for us. There were many times (in between talking about what we thought Daniel was doing) that it felt like it did before we had Daniel. Just funny and fun and nothing to do but relax and be together.
We are incredibly lucky that we were able to go on this trip but I think we're happy to stay put for a little while.
The wonderful thing about the trip was also the timing... my best friend, Jody, gave birth to her 3rd little girl, Lila Claire, right before we came home... and 6 weeks early. Loving on that little girl was a perfect addition to our trip and Daniel may have his first crush.
A view to die for in Bariloche
Our little rental car in Bariloche. The scenic drives were absolutely unreal
Perito Mereno Glacier in El Calafate. We hiked on this glacier for 4 hours and it was amazing!
Eolo Hotel in Calafate - view from a hike we did. This place was heaven.
