Fall Milestones

Ahhh September. My favorite month of the year, lots of sunshine and cooler temperatures mean open windows and bearable subways rides, and it's safe to turn on your ovens to roast all the amazing produce available at the farmer's markets.

This month we celebrated our 4 year wedding anniversary (that's right folks, count 'em - FOUR years!) with a dinner cruise on the Hudson river and around New York harbor. We started on the west side at Chelsea piers, went south on the Hudson, around the southern tip of Manhattan and up the East River a little before turning around and sailing south to New York harbor. The highlight of the cruise was sailing right by the Statue of Liberty (picture below although a little hard to see and doesn't do it justice). It was very fun, the NY waterways provide you with a whole new perspective on this crazy city. Highly recommend.

The other significant milestone was little Miss Maya starting nursery school and she's done so well with the transition it's been so fun! She whines a little when I leave but settles down very quickly and continues with whatever art project or activity she is engaged in. I've started my part time work schedule (which I'm loving) and need to be at work during the hours that she is at school and the fact that she has transitioned into school quickly and easily has made the whole experience very pleasant and fun. I pick her up at 2pm and we come home for a nap.  Here she is on her way to her first day at school with her Disney princess lunchbox. So grown up!

Happy Birthday Maya!

Although this post is coming a tad late, we did do a good job of celebrating Maya's 2nd birthday on August 30th. Yes, little munchkin turned 2 and firmly secured her status in toddlerhood. We celebrated with cake at home and presents from family, followed with an informal and very festive gathering of neighbors on the shared terrace of our building. Luckily we have quite a few neighbors who love to gather and have children all around the same age. They played, ran, ate pizza, cake and cupcakes, sang happy birthday and opened gift bags before heading home for some much needed baths :)

Maya was a very fortunate little girl and received presents from all her buddies, several books and alphabet cards and puzzles. We gave her a scooter which she is far from mastering and currently entails her standing on it while we pull it along (the intention was to foster some more independence). To further mark her 'twosome-ness' she can tell you how old she is when asked, and has started school at Little Ones, a nursery school across the street that is well attended by several kids we know. So far she's had an additional visit to drop off some items and meet some of the teachers and see the space. This Tuesday she attends school for an hours, Thursday for two and maybe in an additional week build up to the full schedule of 9-2pm. We'll see how that goes (fingers crossed).

Some pictures of her birthday celebration.