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Our first time in our apartment....

... and our last.

These pictures have the same orientation. The space behind Brain in the first picture is the kitchen, you can make out the doorway also behind Lynn that became the door behind me in the second picture. There are also a few more people in the picture that didn't exist before. We will miss our cozy 2 BR, our first experience as home owners and the place where we became a family, having moved from Murray Hill when Maya was 3 weeks old, and welcoming Laila home to it the day after she was born. Where we said goodbye to Kahlua, and welcomed Burger. Maya started school, we both changed jobs and I transitioned into full-time mommy hood. Couldn't imagine packing more into 4 years then we did while we lived there. But it's all in the planning for the next big change sometime next year. Onwards!

Happy 1st Birthday Laila!

 Awwww.. little girl turned 1 year old. The year was a crazy blur managing two kiddos, part-time work and planning for our future moves, but she is at an adorable age if I do say so myself - has already taken several steps on her own before hitting the 1 year mark but doesn't trust herself, only two teeth (bottom) but we're working on that and already a dessert connoisseur (did Maya have sugar before a year old?). Hey it's the second, you're a little more relaxed and probably so are they.

But we had a little celebration for Laila (albeit in the middle of a hail storm!! no seriously hail the

size of peas crashing to the ground as we stared
 out the windows in the lobby of our new apartment building wondering when we could make a run for it!). Laila had herself an ice cream party at Malu, local shop with several brave neighborhood friends who came out with their kids despite the end-of-the-world summer thunderstorm we were experiencing.

It was super cute - ice cream for everyone and strawberry ice cream cake for Laila. Of course when we got home the storm was over and the clouds parted, I'm sure rain (and hail?) are good luck on your birthday in some cultures.

After her party we packed it up and headed to East Hampton to celebrate again with Tata and Abuela for a double whammy re-do for Laila and a happy birthday to my mom who turned 45 +/- the next day.

Nice dinner, and two cakes of course for a double singing. Happy birthday Laila! Happy Birthday Mom! What should we do next year? :)