Belle Paris

We did it! Trekked 5 kids through the streets of Paris for a whole week. We met with the Breits and cousins Noah, Anna, and Nathan for a family reunion in the belle city.

Our itinerary included lots of walking, the big sites (eiffel, arc de triumph, Notre Dame, Tuileries, Seine, Sacre Couer, ...) several playgrounds and carousels (they're everywhere!) a day trip to Euro Disney, the science museum, lots of ice cream eating, cafes, crepes, delicious goodies from local food shops, bread, pate, croissants and more bread, a parents dinner out night and several family meals together at home.




Laila was a total trooper, taking all her needed stroller naps. She really started to crawl while there and is now obsessed with pulling up on everything - we often find her standing in her crib waiting for someone to rescue her because she's not great and getting herself back down. Totally untrustworthy.

And would you believe that we had sun and 70 degree weather the entire week! It was marvelous, and quite cold when we returned to NY. We did get bumped off the flight on the return but they put us up at a nearby hotel and almost completely reimbursed our ticket, so no complaints.

Maya had a total blast with her cousins, especially big cousin Anna and she was sad to leave them. Overall a great trip that will hopefully be repeated in the future.

July it is!

38 weeks and counting - official due date 7/21. We'll see if this little girl makes it to then (I'll suspect she will) or if she'll be late like her sister (although I really hope not a whole week late). Still feeling fine thankfully, managing the heat as best we can (it's consistently 90 degrees in NYC these days) and taking it easy now that work for the time being is over with no foreseeable timeline of resuming in the near future.

We started off the month as if on a vacation - childless! Maya went to East Hampton for the long July 4th weekend with my parents and brother - and really how easily one adapts to being childless. We slept in, ate out nearly every meal, saw Billy Elliot on Broadway, Bridesmaids one night and Midnight in Paris the other - both really funny and worth seeing. Sad to say but it's been ages since we've been to a movie - and it will be ages I'm sure before we get to another one. We live by movies on demand and netflix (although we are working through all the episodes of Lost at the moment which we never watched and are rather hooked - averaging about 2-3 episodes a night, I highly recommend it if you've never seen it).

Ms. Maya had a ball and went to the beach with her grandparents and apparently didn't ask about her parents once. She knew she was going to be spoiled and they would put up with her shenanigans - which included driving around until they found some deer grazing in a field because she asked to see Bambi - an indulgence her parents would likely have little patience for. But that's what grandparents are for I guess.

She started her summer program at her preschool this week which carries a whole rainforest theme for the summer. Her challenge has been to say goodbye to her favorite teacher who did all the art and yoga for the school and who Maya adored and was very attached to. Her not being there resulted in some tears this week when I dropped her off. But she won't be back in the fall so sadly for Maya she will have to adapt to not seeing her there everyday.

And so the waiting game begins in these last few weeks of my pregnancy and being able to take it easy and stay local with lots of trips to the neighborhood playground and sprinklers is pretty heavenly. And yes... the cake in the picture was as fun to make as it was to eat. Butter cream cheese frosting, mmmm.

Disney World!

Our trip to Disney World is perhaps best told in pictures. Overall it was a fun and action packed trip and Maya did really well - it is a lot for a 2.5 year old to take in. We met all the princesses, had dinner with several of them one night at the Akershus Banquet hall in Norway at Epcot, stayed up late to see the light parade in the Magic Kingdom one night, went on all the key rides that we had our eyes on (immediately discounting all roller coasters not suitable for little her and pregnant me) including an animal Safari and saw shows and even made time for the hotel pool and man-made white sand beach.


We stayed at the Polynesian which is conveniently located across the lake from the Magic Kingdom giving us easy access to the monorail and ferries. Maya even made it through the Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted House! It was a really fun time with beautiful weather. Made it back Thursday night so we have the weekend to rest up and get ready to hit the routine again next week.

Vegas, baby - literally

We thought it was time Maya went to Vegas and hang with some high rollers. In truth, Vegas was a fun place to go with a kid. There is a lot to do during the day. The hotels are amazing (Paris, Venetian and Mandalay Bay  - they built a beach including waves in the pool! -  were some of our  favorites).

We went to see the dolphins at the Mirage, the very cool shark reef aquarium at Mandalay, lionesses and their cubs at the MGM Grand, and some animated creatures at the Rain Forest cafe were a hit as well - so there were plenty of animals to keep her entertained.


We kept her up one night to see the dancing fountains in front of the Bellagio set to music which she loved. She was rather freaked by the wax figures at Madam Toussaud's - I can only imagine what she was thinking (but we did take a picture with the President!).

It was in the 80's but felt much hotter in the dry desert air and we spent some time poolside as well. Overall a great trip.