tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80315923186288068302024-03-18T20:10:58.115-07:00me you and luMsKOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14905142209796598567noreply@blogger.comBlogger127125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031592318628806830.post-27442909887468396762014-11-21T19:59:00.000-08:002014-12-07T05:33:39.671-08:00Nana and Pop-pop take NYCMy mom and dad came to town just in time for our blissful colds to really take hold. We all still managed to enjoy ourselves, despite being up most nights with one or both of the littles. Lua got to see daddy perform in ALADDIN! My dad mentioned it at one point - seeing her father perform on Broadway may be one of Lua's first memories. And although I'm pretty sure Lu remembers and can recount her experience just out of the womb, it's great to think about the things that have stuck in my head throughout the years and I hope Andrew and I can help plant some amazing ones for our kids to hold on to:).<br>
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Did I mention the girls LOVE their grandparents? Esmé was a little nervous/under the weather on the first day, but she got right over that by the next morning:)</div>
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We spent much of our time playing, cooking (thanks mom) and eating in the apartment. It was so relaxed and nice. </div>
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My parents ended up booking a flight for me to come home with the girls for nearly the entire month of January! It's so expensive to travel, only going for a week or two is hardly worth it. Plus, someone pointed out <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">that January is like, the WORST month to be in NY, so we're going to spend it in a house, with a yard for snowmen and a car with a heater and cousins close by to play with!</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> I'm still holding out for my honeymoon:) hopefully when Esmé is a little older, Andrew and I can leave them to go somewhere awesome;) for now, I'm content to "vacation" a little closer to home!</span></div>
MsKOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14905142209796598567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031592318628806830.post-2052039798411209142014-11-21T09:41:00.001-08:002014-11-21T09:41:32.755-08:00Out for deliverymeans my diapers will be here soon, right?<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mh4YmwIscCTHKzz8PzatcO7wBQ-KOdSqvv1E_o7DQvV98caNB_pEyjxBhKSTEbgeoCeZBJmUCS6JbkAHmW6nswx_d4ii1Bb8pb5IGcVBwBSL4OE1H9n24bVQ5G2IyK33lTIFf8ksvAT6/s640/blogger-image-1979723688.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mh4YmwIscCTHKzz8PzatcO7wBQ-KOdSqvv1E_o7DQvV98caNB_pEyjxBhKSTEbgeoCeZBJmUCS6JbkAHmW6nswx_d4ii1Bb8pb5IGcVBwBSL4OE1H9n24bVQ5G2IyK33lTIFf8ksvAT6/s640/blogger-image-1979723688.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>FYI: that's a burp cloth shoved in some of Lua's baby doll undies...</div><div><br></div><div>Its naptime over here - let's see how this bad boy holds up!</div>MsKOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14905142209796598567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031592318628806830.post-8104744921711324842014-11-08T20:55:00.001-08:002014-11-08T21:52:38.268-08:00Hair. did this last night....<br>
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Whacked off about 5 inches in the bathroom, after a shower that can only be described as Marcia Brady in The Craft.<br>
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Of all the postpartum joys, losing wheelbarrow-full amounts of hair from about month 4 to month 8 has got to be my personal fave. So, I'm working my way closer to something like this.</div>
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Or perhaps this?</div>
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I've always been way too chicken to chop my locks, but these days, the old ponytail-bun-thing is my go-to and it's just....blah-yuck-boo. I also have always been envious of those of you who do extreme things with your hair and never dreamt that it was something I could pull off because, well, I'm not so sure anymore! Why can't I be adventurous? It's just hair! If I had beautiful, dreamy, thick, luscious locks I may be singing a different tune, but my hair has always been very fine (sorry Lua) and kinda scraggly, so maybe it'll look 10x better short?!? Maybe I've been missing out this whole time?!? </div><div><br></div><div>But what if it's spikey like Kate plus 8? Or a mullet? Or I look like a drag queen on his day off? I don't know! Stay tuned!</div>
MsKOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14905142209796598567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031592318628806830.post-79555787936165473302014-11-06T13:20:00.003-08:002014-11-06T20:14:05.787-08:00It's the Most Wonderful Time...<div style="text-align: center;">
WE'RE REHEARSING FOR THIS YEARS HOLIDAY VIDEO, PEOPLE! </div>
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Hooray! </div>
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After last year's bust, I think this year's video is going to be extra special magic sauce. We're trying to get Lua used to taking direction and being video taped by herself (last year she was really scared), but as you can see, I don't think we'll have that problem this year;)</div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3x22C5biaw&list=UUizHxhfhKEC7WJv06TM5_pg" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Click HERE to watch!</span></a></div>
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PS - this video has zero things to do with our Holiday video, so don't go gettin' any ideazzzzz!</div>
MsKOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14905142209796598567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031592318628806830.post-39534303969418623982014-11-06T12:51:00.000-08:002014-11-06T12:51:15.295-08:00Halloweeeeen.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'm just going to mention, so I can remember later, that we have had an awesome summer/early fall here in NYC. I think we used our air conditioners a total of 5 times this summer. Going to "lua's park" has become part of our every day and I am so thankful that this particular New York City park has a fair amount of green and trees and rocks and mud that Lua is absolutely obsessed with. I'm sure, when she spends an hour making "soup puddles", a fair amount of that water contains pee and/or beer, but I'm focused on making these lemons into lemonade here, people.</div>
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For Halloween, even though I had some pretty awesome ideas (Esmé would have made a fantastic Lt. Dan:), we let Lua pick and she chose to be a pirate. A lady pirate. A lady princess Lua pirate. </div>
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The weekend before Halloween, the cast of Aladdin hosted a little trick or treat party at the theater, which was super fun! Each dressing room was decked out and the candy was plentiful! Then, on Halloween, we decided to venture out to try and find some real, door-to-door trick or treating. I remember as a kid, being dropped off at one end of a block. Set free to go from house to house, with mom or dad waiting around the corner in the car. Those days are long gone for most kids, but we did find a few blocks of storefronts that were all handing out candy, so that had to suffice. We also stumbled upon a street that was closed to traffic and the brownstones were all decorated:) It turned into a madhouse pretty quickly, but both girls were awesome and I'm so glad Lua was able to experience a little Halloween spirit!</div>
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<br />MsKOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14905142209796598567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031592318628806830.post-26152123142759731682014-10-26T13:16:00.001-07:002014-10-26T13:16:27.373-07:00Some days.Some days are really awesome. Naps time out perfectly, kids are happy, you get time to clean and time (30 whole minutes!) to look at Pinterest :). On those same days, you also get all the way downstairs with your crew and outside, only to realize that you've left your shopping list in the kitchen and are walking down the street in your slippers.<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAvTS9QpuI4aWzyU1uqCM9nTtHaaWM-f6nIw2xDG7hqSkZfXya7Oz-u_XMH9L1r-dMU-OZlbQC4FfiiIAa9jsFELqhpUPKJSdK8iGmBk191bxmV56jdp1tLflE5Om1YbRaUodQ3nl9JN-G/s640/blogger-image-1597768934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAvTS9QpuI4aWzyU1uqCM9nTtHaaWM-f6nIw2xDG7hqSkZfXya7Oz-u_XMH9L1r-dMU-OZlbQC4FfiiIAa9jsFELqhpUPKJSdK8iGmBk191bxmV56jdp1tLflE5Om1YbRaUodQ3nl9JN-G/s640/blogger-image-1597768934.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Do you think I turned back?</div><br></div>MsKOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14905142209796598567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031592318628806830.post-47073333600190308892014-10-25T20:38:00.000-07:002014-10-25T20:38:54.934-07:00Harvest Festival<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Lua has been taking a few classes this fall and one of them is the Dance Project of Washington Heights. It is a 'by donation' class and, by far, Lua's favorite. Last weekend, our neighborhood hosted a Harvest Festival and Lua's dance class was invited to dance in a "parade" around the park! Lua was so excited:)</div>
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And then she wasn't so excited...</div>
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Until we found her teacher, Miss Heather!</div>
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We were joined by our dear friend, Simon and his mama, Ashley:) Simon didn't like Lua leaving him to dance! I don't have any pics of the actual parade, because it was pretty crowded and Lua insisted on me walking next to her the ENTIRE way (pushing the stroller and carrying her sister). Ah well.</div>
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After the parade, we got to have some fun at the Festival!</div>
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I'm starting to feel more and more like a functioning human some days (this day was one of them). And on the days when I feel just like a machine that goes through the motions of being a teacher, janitor, milk maker, cop, chef...something like this happens at the end of the day that just fills my little heart and reminds me that we're going to be okay.</div>
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I was getting the girls ready for bed and I was tired. And irritated. And tired. Andrew was gone a lot last week and I missed him, Lua missed him and we just all get along better when daddy is here to pick up some of the playtime-always-on-the-move-i-ness that Lua throws down.</div>
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Esmé was getting cranky and yelling to be picked up, Lua was STILL eating supper and jumping on the bed (not at the same time) and "helping" her sister learn to roll over. She spilled something on the floor and I stomped off to the kitchen to grab a towel. I came back to this. The girls were talking to each other. Esmé was babbling and Lua was telling her a story and holding her hand and they were just so....sister-y. I love it. How could I be upset?</div>
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Have a great night, everyone!</div>
MsKOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14905142209796598567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031592318628806830.post-71436955020612788452014-10-17T11:00:00.001-07:002014-10-17T11:00:19.634-07:00Short and sweet.Two things:<div><br></div><div>1. She is so scrumptious. </div><div>2. Where did that middle aged lady come from?</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHxkmzYmsJCX5SNC68F9e_1PvOONR4kDVSJsy3NEu5RAr1hW3gL5rNPikh5qaufvG1B8svz_hUiTb9D5V03UxWOjiQCntc5hVfDkjcw5Aks0ssjSvzK5gmSJ-xUZLtZz0F0NyT5zY1Rpl_/s640/blogger-image-1374213415.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHxkmzYmsJCX5SNC68F9e_1PvOONR4kDVSJsy3NEu5RAr1hW3gL5rNPikh5qaufvG1B8svz_hUiTb9D5V03UxWOjiQCntc5hVfDkjcw5Aks0ssjSvzK5gmSJ-xUZLtZz0F0NyT5zY1Rpl_/s640/blogger-image-1374213415.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Hope you are all enjoying Autumn! We are spending the day picnicking in Central Park!</div>MsKOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14905142209796598567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031592318628806830.post-81979940485597282922014-10-14T19:49:00.000-07:002014-10-14T19:49:56.164-07:003rd Annual Cao Family Trip to the Amazing Maize Maze!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So, I know we didn't make it last year, but we've been going to the <a href="http://www.queensfarm.org/" target="_blank">Queens County Farm Museum</a> every year since Lua was born. See our very first trip <a href="http://meyouandlu.blogspot.com/2011/10/sundayfunday.html" target="_blank">here</a> :)</div>
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This year we went as a family of FOUR! and were joined by our dear friends Becca, Audra and her adorable babe, Hugo! It was just about the perfect day. </div>
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<br />MsKOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14905142209796598567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031592318628806830.post-53314566052846284632014-10-12T20:13:00.001-07:002014-10-12T20:13:47.710-07:00The baby ladies...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="text-align: start;">Can you really tell nature vs. nurture? Are these two girls so incredibly different at this age because they just ARE, or are Andrew and I doing something crazily different?</span></div>
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We started out just the same with Ez as we did with Lua, waiting for my milk to come in and dealing with about a week of a supremely hungry (and fussy) baby. Even weeks two and three were a bit rough. She wouldn't let me put her down, wouldn't let anyone else hold her...I thought we were in for another high needs baby (not that there's anything wrong with that...!).</div>
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And then, after the first few weeks of figuring out the whole, "I'm out in the world and able to cry and breath and see!" thing, which was a bit (scary/crazy/sob-filled) rough, Esmé blossomed into this dreamy, zen babe. She sleeps! She is delicate and talkative and just so amiable! We walked the city all day yesterday without so much as a peep and every time Andrew looked at her, she busted out this big, gummy grin:) </div>
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Now, before we get ahead of ourselves, or I write any further, know that I fully expect this to end at some point, maybe tonight, so you can just shut-it with the, <i><b>Wait until a sleep regression</b></i>'s and your smug, <i><b>YA, you say that nooowww</b></i>'s. I know we may lose this. I know it, and I'm okay with it. Just let me roll around in the big pile of happy that is my second baby for a bit, will ya?!</div>
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Lua came out with a thick skin and a loud voice. She slept in 1 hour naps all night until she was almost two. She is wildly funny and smart. She is emotional, passionate, eager. She experiences feelings very intensely - be that shyness, happiness or anger;) Or am I just describing your typical 3 year old? Is Esmé just your typical second baby?</div>
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I've asked myself that a lot lately. Because, inherent in having a second baby is the, also having to tend to the needs of your first baby, thing. Inevitably, Esmé has cried a little more - waiting on the floor while I wipe her sister's nose - and has had to figure out how to be soothed with little more than an, "it's ok, baby!" from mama. Lua never waited for ANYTHING. I think I probably tried to hold her for the first 9 months of her life:) Though, there's another big difference. Lua didn't really like being held 24/7. She loved to face out, ride in the stroller, etc. She was an explorer like that. Esmé startles easily and would rather be worn in a sling than ever ride in a stroller.</div>
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My pregnancies were different for sure. Lua's was super easy. While I was tired and a bit pukey-feeling, I only actually puked twice (ask me the story about swallowing in a subway tunnel someday) and was able to work all the way through. I was managing an animal shelter at the time and there were many stressful days and many sleepless nights. I felt connected to the pregnancy, but more in a <i>look at how freakish this thing looks!</i> kind of way. I was rough on my body. I ate poorly, exercised less and, honestly, felt a little more than weirded out the first time I felt Lua move. Esmé was...you guessed it...different! From the moment I found out I was pregnant, I was puking. All day, every day. We're talking a good two months where I barely got off the couch. As miserable as I was, I was still eating healthy and doing what little exercise I could. Mostly, trying to keep up with a 2 year old (while puking). And this could be inherent with all second babies, but I felt closer this time and more connected from the get-go.</div>
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I, of course, could also be looking at my tiny, happy baby being helplessly "snuggled," "patted" and "mama, I'm just going to touch her eye"-ed by my crazy-active kid, and that could be leading me a little more in the <i>they are so different </i>direction;). I guess only time will tell!</div>
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I do adore them both and am amazed every day at what beautiful souls I've been blessed with to raise!</div>
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ps....that's me under there;)</div>
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MsKOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14905142209796598567noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031592318628806830.post-17781130016057658342014-10-05T08:43:00.000-07:002014-10-05T08:43:21.807-07:00On the night you were born...Esmé Aurora's birth story.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So, we (and, when I say that, I mean, "I") spent a whole lot of time figuring out how and where we were going to have this baby. If you want to have a home birth in NYC, unless you have fantastic insurance or a whole lot of extra cash, it's not super easy. I had a midwife and then all of a sudden the insurance decided it would only pay a fraction of what they said they had. Like, 1/8th as much. </div>
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At one point, I was certain I was going to have to deliver in a hospital and, well, to be honest, a hospital birth in NYC really, really scares me. I was lucky enough to have Lua at a birthing center with little/no need for intervention and so the thought of being hooked up and poked and prodded just seemed humiliating and terrifying, to say the least. During this "what are we going to do" period, I really and truly thought about just doing it on my own - a free birth -which is pretty dangerous and I don't recommend. I remember, with Lua's birth (read her story <a href="http://meyouandlu.blogspot.com/2011/10/becoming-rockstar-birther.html" target="_blank">here</a>), I went deeply into myself and didn't want anyone, not even Andrew, around. I am a pretty independent lady and for both my babies, I half joked that I'd love nothing more than to, when it was time, walk out into the woods and come back with a baby. Little did I know that, with Esmé, I would come pretty close!</div>
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Monday, June 30th - "due date"</div>
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10pm - After eating super-healthy, home-cooked meals all week (my mom was in town), Mom, Lua and I splurged on Famiglia Pizza and some fantastic gelato on the Upper West Side.</div>
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11pm - Maybe a cramp or two? Andrew got home from the show. I decided to take a shower, braid my hair, put make-up on (Ya. I did that. Don't you dare judge.)</div>
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Midnight - We decided to get some sleep. </div>
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At this point, I'm pretty sure something was happening. Contractions were regular and anywhere from 30 seconds to a minute. With second babies, you think you would know, "Ok. I'm at transition, " or, "There's still a ways to go," or, "Holy Shit I'm ready to push!" (ok, maybe you know that last one when it happens:). But, I was so much more present and prepared - I actually took a birth class this time, guys! - that I wasn't sure exactly what was going on. I felt good. And calm. And ready. I was able to smile and breath through contractions until about 2:30am, when I woke Andrew.</div>
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2:30am - I'm pretty sure it's because I <i>was</i> so calm and I woke him out of a deep sleep, but Andrew for sure told me to go back to bed! Little did either of us know that Esmé would be coming in less than two hours:) I was like, "ummmmmm, nah dawg. this is for shizzle. get yo punk ass up". Or, something to that effect.</div>
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3am - Andrew called the midwife and her assistant. They were 30 minutes away. I spoke with them through a few contractions, so they could get a feel for where I was in labor. Usually, midwives are very good at recognizing the sounds of active labor, but I guess I was confusing everyone with my zen-like-awesomeness:) The assistant asks me, "So, is this the call that means we should come? Or is this the call just to tell us where things are at?" At that point, I remember being a little (super duper) annoyed. Like, "ladies, this is YOUR JOB. YOU TELL ME WHERE I'M AT." But you'd never be able to tell from this photo!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy0Biu_kCt00gpH-S1owtsQWCleHytdsIxcmTG9giYCpRN1Cluyk0ruf4wnh38XVeO2TtxJMWMNjLGxJsSNBVaZvb52ScjeVhDQOTmKLyuWldaeYjSi8kTpWdJRJciczAYC51BkrydTtK_/s1600/IMG_4579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy0Biu_kCt00gpH-S1owtsQWCleHytdsIxcmTG9giYCpRN1Cluyk0ruf4wnh38XVeO2TtxJMWMNjLGxJsSNBVaZvb52ScjeVhDQOTmKLyuWldaeYjSi8kTpWdJRJciczAYC51BkrydTtK_/s1600/IMG_4579.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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After I got off the phone with the midwives, who had decided to pack up and come on down, I remembered a bit of advice from birth class. Peeing is good! A full bladder can make contractions painful. I'd also been lying down this entire time and I felt like my labor with Lua was 12 hours, in part, due to the fact that I was completely still in the tub for most of it. So, to the bathroom! BUT THEN THERE WAS THE SHAKING. Any other mamas experience this? I mean, like, uncontrollable shaking. It wasn't painful, but made me super tense and was super annoying. Going from the depths of a contraction directly into the shakes is no fun. And a great way to kill the zen. And this, I suspect, was transition. No more screwing around.</div>
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3:30am - After one failed attempt at a potty break, my mom and I finally make it. Andrew has begun the process of filling up the birth tub, because, God Bless Him, he knows from last time how much I loved the tub. I swear, just the sound of the water filling in the next room was blissfully relaxing.</div>
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4:00am - While the tub was filling, Andrew was able to sneak around the corner to snap some pictures. I'm secretly holding the baby in at this point. He's able to stay with me for the next contraction.</div>
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4:15am - During this contraction my water breaks. Then the midwives are on the phone with Andrew trying to figure out parking and which elevator to take and stupid stuff that only happens in the city and I wish he would've just hung up on them, but what are you going to do? He runs downstairs to let them in, and...</div>
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Next contraction - Her head comes down and crowns. My mom is there and helps me sit forward on the toilet. She doesn't believe it. I don't believe it. I am somehow able to slowly breath her head out (zero tears, people!). We sit there, together, stunned and wait for the next contraction.</div>
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4:20am - Andrew comes around the corner with the midwife's assistant in time for the next contraction, shoulders and body. </div>
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She's here! The midwife finally makes it in and helps us to the floor.</div>
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Eventually, we wrap our heads around what just happened (Andrew kept saying, "that was so easy!") and head into the bedroom for all the cleaning up and eating breakfast and celebrating. Lua woke up around 7am. Yes! She slept through it ALL. She was so very excited....about the princess stuff we had purchased the night before:) I happened to be in the bathroom when she woke up and she ran in to get me and brought me back to the bedroom to show me the new baby. Yeah, kid. I know.</div>
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Some cute, interesting, weird facts:<br />
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*Esmé was technically born at 4:20am and shares her birth date with our two, loveable, wonderful, pot-head friends:)</div>
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*My midwife had encouraged me to write down my ideal birth. I had written down that I didn't want her to be there. I wrote that I wanted labor to be 4 hours. I wrote that I wanted to labor through the night and give birth in the wee hours and have Lua sleep through it all. To be able to cuddle in bed with my new family and have breakfast is what I wanted - and got!</div>
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*For two days after the birth, we used the birth tub as a swimming pool for Lua:)</div>
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*I ate my placenta raw this time (in smoothie form). Last time I had it encapsulated and I would absolutely recommend fresh.</div>
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*Arnica tablets are the bomb-diggity. </div>
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*Much different than with Lua, I was PREPARED for this labor. Laborade, birth music, stretches, exercises, birth ball, labor food, tub, oils, candles.....and I used approximately NONE of it!</div>
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Like I said before, I'm a really independent gal. For both births, but especially with Esmé's, I really felt a strong sense of it just being the two of us (me and Ez). I still can't look at these pictures or any of the videos without feeling a tiny bit of....oh, I wish it were just me, alone....? Is that totally crazy? It is such an intimate experience. One that I even feel weird sharing with my husband. You would think, I'm such a fan of oversharing, that I wouldn't mind who was in the room - this is why one-million people were invited to Lua's birth. But, I quickly realized there is something so so different when you're actually IN IT. </div>
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Don't get me wrong, it was just about as perfect as could be with only my mama and baby daddy present:) What a fantastic gift to be able to have my baby safely, in the comforts of my own home, surrounded by my family. </div>
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I'm also glad to be able to finally write and share my birth stories with all of you! Thanks for reading!</div>
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<br />MsKOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14905142209796598567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031592318628806830.post-39287732970380675252014-09-29T05:56:00.001-07:002014-09-29T07:55:24.248-07:00Good morning!Here's where I'm at this morning:)<br><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBAcTEKrK_mS_sYlZs3dXg6DUfUiq6OpbRymO1_YCeMXKwCRdjyazIupQtPl9yTDSxfZi24T39NwUtfiMOklHNUAPUMXqDmYJgoigNNbtxvFhaW98TD9hzzllIJgEqooE3S7f86NsQZfg/s640/blogger-image--1626318457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBAcTEKrK_mS_sYlZs3dXg6DUfUiq6OpbRymO1_YCeMXKwCRdjyazIupQtPl9yTDSxfZi24T39NwUtfiMOklHNUAPUMXqDmYJgoigNNbtxvFhaW98TD9hzzllIJgEqooE3S7f86NsQZfg/s640/blogger-image--1626318457.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>You may look at this pile of dishes and think, "Crap. That looks terrible." What I see is 45 minutes when I don't have to think about anything but Ryan Gosling;)</div><div><br></div><div>I love Monday mornings - Andrew's only day off - especially when we don't have anything scheduled and the girls are in good moods. This morning we built a fort, played with puzzles and ate cold pancakes (leftover from yesterday) that were surprisingly good cold - or maybe that's me simply trying to justify feeding them to Lua;)</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr6O2l6Y5hhcDrnANQ3ywEOh6vC8YaraD3ztU2GfHhdusLP1smbCqUgRomWySpvicfwVxnCrMoA6ujke1KZabtSPIE_LOtCoYteNjSfDNwVjK4V8u3g8i91kVoxrg3E5KDAVzHJeYjkQ41/s640/blogger-image-1127379954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr6O2l6Y5hhcDrnANQ3ywEOh6vC8YaraD3ztU2GfHhdusLP1smbCqUgRomWySpvicfwVxnCrMoA6ujke1KZabtSPIE_LOtCoYteNjSfDNwVjK4V8u3g8i91kVoxrg3E5KDAVzHJeYjkQ41/s640/blogger-image-1127379954.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioxKtY6DU1kvvIpL7Cqzv4qnu4SIqehL3PEnNHqGd-MEwCVHFDduF0uj4qdybLrXcIbrn-SUmNMD6Fgv6dxgDc38vDuFXRQ1QfBpQDppY8va3DYHXMQGvZLsN5DwFRnnhyxJGZoMCObWFI/s640/blogger-image--1507709659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioxKtY6DU1kvvIpL7Cqzv4qnu4SIqehL3PEnNHqGd-MEwCVHFDduF0uj4qdybLrXcIbrn-SUmNMD6Fgv6dxgDc38vDuFXRQ1QfBpQDppY8va3DYHXMQGvZLsN5DwFRnnhyxJGZoMCObWFI/s640/blogger-image--1507709659.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>This one. So much a different baby than was her sister. I've been working on my birth story and hope to post it soon! </div>MsKOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14905142209796598567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031592318628806830.post-23503183330095585162014-09-28T19:00:00.001-07:002014-09-28T19:00:01.671-07:00Maternity leave: OVER!Here we are! We're back:). I took the summer off to figure out how the heck to push a baby out and raise said baby alongside a three year old in NYC....<div><br></div><div>And - it's been a struggle. Bigger than I ever thought. More on that later;)</div><div><br></div><div>I want to shout out to all the mamas in my life who manage to make it look so easy. Know that I stalk you all on Facebook and am baffled and amazed at all of you and what beautiful lives and children you all have:)</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb0zcGHKt8o6jltHwgI7eui9HWMi-W2k-zhn1PXtP-Kgo6U9bCPpv-rJsRHzn7vT7r8X4MHAs3xqKuyZ1nOytiasBtq9qUFj0FsbLFD4-p6LkQqzhhtvSvZ97MOmD-GAm692Nr8OCDiWE5/s640/blogger-image--271575863.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb0zcGHKt8o6jltHwgI7eui9HWMi-W2k-zhn1PXtP-Kgo6U9bCPpv-rJsRHzn7vT7r8X4MHAs3xqKuyZ1nOytiasBtq9qUFj0FsbLFD4-p6LkQqzhhtvSvZ97MOmD-GAm692Nr8OCDiWE5/s640/blogger-image--271575863.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5b0C8OJ823QL1msIIkejbLDU9durru1C1ma2jO_lJIlgQ6gfiyt6Ou-jMWYy89bvdrUoJJ81_Mm1NKjy9iLa2wkaYg7Ztt0AINqpPNoPD2AmLwC3esoqEsITqW7bCKRUx420-r2zkGxi/s640/blogger-image-1341910319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5b0C8OJ823QL1msIIkejbLDU9durru1C1ma2jO_lJIlgQ6gfiyt6Ou-jMWYy89bvdrUoJJ81_Mm1NKjy9iLa2wkaYg7Ztt0AINqpPNoPD2AmLwC3esoqEsITqW7bCKRUx420-r2zkGxi/s640/blogger-image-1341910319.jpg"></a></div></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEdU-CFN5eQAnEYV_KKAMdi0PRq2fNrxpPisa3N4AOqPYqgG61FTozZAEfsSFktzyxuVz-pzh5Mz-LeaqDqIWkKZcFRG9KdDxsCUh-Zo3OU-Vz9oGRqu98fO62z1i0RCY8a2WCGAH35kIv/s640/blogger-image-1127818698.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEdU-CFN5eQAnEYV_KKAMdi0PRq2fNrxpPisa3N4AOqPYqgG61FTozZAEfsSFktzyxuVz-pzh5Mz-LeaqDqIWkKZcFRG9KdDxsCUh-Zo3OU-Vz9oGRqu98fO62z1i0RCY8a2WCGAH35kIv/s640/blogger-image-1127818698.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>So glad to be back!</div>MsKOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14905142209796598567noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031592318628806830.post-36693500904665997912014-05-15T20:10:00.000-07:002014-05-15T20:10:09.877-07:00Family and Friends.Happy Mother's Day! As Andrew and I get even closer to becoming 2nd time parents, we find ourselves lamenting over the fact that our own mamas are so far away. There is a new breed of mother appreciation born with your first child and it only grows (and grows and grows!).<br />
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The month of April was a full one for us - first with a very first trip to NYC for Andrew's mom! She was able to stay for two whole weeks and we were so happy that she was able to make the trip:)<br />
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We had one day between the day Andrew's mom left and the day Lua and I left for Nebraska, during which Lua had the misfortune of eating some bad food :( We weren't sure we'd be able to get on the plane (what with the puking and all), but thanks to liquid-tight tupperware, we made it! Lua was actually feeling about 90% by the time we landed and stayed stupidly happy for the entire trip:)<br />
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We also had the amazing fortune to hang out with my dear, lovely mama-friend Laura and her two girls:) Laura and I were roommates in college and to this day, she is one of the few people who I know loves me for me and isn't afraid to tell me what's what when I need to hear it. Friends like this happen very rarely and I am so lucky that we have kept in touch to see and support each other through motherhood!<br />
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I'll say it again, Laura, I wish we were closer than an entire country apart :( Your gals are beautiful (sorry I didn't get any good shots of Genevieve!). <br />
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And then it was back to Aurora for more family and fun at the zoo, where Lu got to ride her first horse!!!<br />
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Hope you all enjoyed your April as much as we did!MsKOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14905142209796598567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031592318628806830.post-74451926748352078552014-03-29T06:33:00.001-07:002014-03-29T06:33:17.245-07:00pictured, not pictured.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I stole this lovely post idea from one of my favorite blogs, <a href="http://www.longestacres.com/" target="_blank">Longest Acres</a>. Her photographs and writing about life on a farm in Vermont are just beautiful. Check it out!<br />
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<b>Pictured:</b><br />
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1. Ingredients for my dad's famous oatmeal. Seriously, I was never an oatmeal fan (the texture is just...so...vomitty, right?) until my father forced me to eat this concoction. The secret is an ample (AMPLE) amount of cinnamon and a bit of maple syrup. Put these two things in first, to taste. After that, the sky's the limit! I, personally, always have bananas, apples, walnuts and craisins on hand, but have been known to add peaches, dried pears, blueberries and almonds as well.<br />
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2. This happy chickadee. She is so into books lately, which is great, but she has this new found love for baby books...like...colors, sounds, touch n feel....which I guess is okay, right?<br />
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3. Our redone serial killer bathroom. It's hard to get a decent picture of the whole thing, but it looks SO MUCH BETTER.<br />
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4. Me and babyKO2. I am so excited to meet her and can't believe I'm soon to be entering trimester THREE. Whoa.<br />
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<b>Not Pictured:</b><br />
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1. The terrible weather we've been having. It's gone from 20 degrees and blowing to 50 degrees and raining all day. Last night, I took Lua to the park at 7pm, because the rain had stopped for just a second and we were both so stir crazy.<br />
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2. The now-infamous orange tutu (size 6-12months) that Lua insists on wearing all day, every day.<br />
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3. Poor old Tank, who needs a good spring brushing, but keeps being put off because...well...he's an asshole.<br />
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4. The pile of baby things on the dresser, just begging to be set up into a little babyKO2 corner. I've promised Andrew that I won't buy any more clothes until I've gone through what we already have in storage (I pretty much saved everything) and I am feverishly itching to get to that 0-3months box! Something about those tiny tiny clothes, you know?<br />
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Hope everyone has a fantastic weekend!!!MsKOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14905142209796598567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031592318628806830.post-22601789905534564402014-03-20T10:09:00.000-07:002014-03-20T10:09:48.710-07:0010 things I wish I would've known as a new mama.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So, I've been thinking a ton about this lately. Maybe it's because I'm going to be a mama to TWO very soon. Maybe it's because a few of my friends are becoming new mamas this year. Whatever the reason, I thought I'd jot down my 2 cents. <br />
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10. Starting here. Don't listen to anyone's advice. Ha! Or, rather, don't take any advice as fact. Someone tells you, "the only way to do <i>this one thing</i> is THIS WAY." Run. Or smile politely and think about Ryan Gosling. Babies are each their own, special, incredible beast. Some need 5 forty minute naps, some sleep for two hours at a time. Some babies love to be held/swaddled, some would rather have their space. And to go with that, every family is different. It works for some mamas to babywear their wees all day long. Some mamas can't even sort of entertain that idea. It never hurts to listen and try-out advice to see if it works for your family, but in the end, don't be afraid to chuck it all out the window.<br />
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9. Get in the bathtub! Seriously, don't buy a silly baby tub. Just get in with that babe. Put a towel over your legs (it's going to get wet in the water and can double as a washcloth) and enjoy that soaking time. If you can't do that, or plain-old don't want to, the sink is a nice alternative:)<br />
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8. Get some postpartum clothes that are comfortable and make you feel good. Seriously. You're going to feel like a hot mess and you're not going to have time to shop or even think about what you're wearing. I'm not saying to go buy some skinny jeans. Maybe more like yoga pants? <br />
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7. Breastfeeding hurts at first. Why some (most) lactation consultants tell you that, <i>if it hurts you're doing it wrong</i>, I will never ever ever know. It hurts. Don't say it doesn't. Even if you have the most perfect latch. Your baby's mouth is small. Your boobs are 17x larger than they ever have been before. Both of you are new to this. And this is (most likely) the first time someone has sucked on your nipples for an hour at a time, ten times a day. So, it's not comfortable. Or kumbaya. But I'm here to tell you that it will be. Stick with it. MAKE SURE you have a proper latch. Stick with it. It will become kumbaya.<br />
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6. Make time for daddy. Not baby/daddy time, although that is important. Mommy/Daddy time. Whether it is a 30 second hug in the kitchen or catching up on the latest episode (or 13) of House of Cards. You're not going to be able to (read: feel like) get down and dirty with daddy for over a month after baby and while he totally understands that, remember that this whole baby thing is as much of a life changing experience for him as it is for you. He suddenly has a whole new set of responsibilities and worries and it's pretty easy to feel neglected when almost all the attention is piled onto you and the wee one (as well it should be:).<br />
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5. Figure out how to use the shit you bought before that baby comes. Take two hours before you get too close to your due date (2 weeks, maybe?) and figure out how the car seat attaches to the stroller. How to use your Moby wrap. How the heck to swaddle. I'll never forget, 3 days after Lua was born, we had to go down to her first pediatric appointment. We didn't have time then to figure out the whole car seat-to-stroller thing and ended up carrying the car seat onto the subway and for about 10 blocks after. If anyone has carried a car seat before, you know that you kind of have to carry it up and away from your body, so baby doesn't bang against your legs. Let's just say we barely made it. <br />
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4. The whole "sleep" thing. Ya. So. I was pretty determined NOT to sleep-train my babies. I personally thought sleep training was stupid and inhumane and if you weren't willing to be sleep deprived, then maybe you shouldn't be a mama. Please don't take me seriously. I was pretty sleep deprived at the time. I will say that this time I plan to make a teensy effort to help babyko2 by creating a distinct difference between night and day. No more midnight movie screenings with lights and sound. This doesn't mean that I've hopped aboard the sleep train (get it?), but I do think that you have to do what makes <b>you</b> the best mama. There were some days after I'd only gotten about 45 minute stretches of sleep that I felt really crazy. Crazy enough to do something stupid? Not quite. But I would be bouncing/shhhhing/rocking/dancing Lu to sleep for the 50th time and she would be wailing and I would think, <i>I can totally see how some people throw their children</i>. Don't throw your kids. <br />
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3. Frozen witch hazel pads and a postpartum support band. Both of these are for vaginal deliveries only. Get some witch hazel and pour a bit into a large, cheap sanitary pad (or 10 or 20...I recommend closer to 20). Then, stick them in a couple plastic bags and pop them into the freezer. After you get home from the hospital/birthing center/wherever you pushed that baby out, you will most likely be SORE in so many delicate places. Take a pad out and let it thaw for a few minutes, then use just like a normal pad. So heavenly and cool and relieving. The postpartum support is not just to get your pre-baby body back sooner, but also because every time you stand up, you may feel like everything is just going to fall out of your butt.<br />
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2. Relish the immobile phase. We are in full toddler mode around here, complete with imaginary forts, lego-building, monster-hiding and games where the rules are little more than, <i>chase me around!. </i>How I long for the days when she would stay where I put her:) When the activity mat counted as exercise. When I could wash the dishes without someone trying to climb me like a tree. <br />
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1. Take your time, but not too much. Four months after Lua was born, I found myself, still in sweatpants, in front of the computer, finishing another season of Parenthood while Lua slept. I realized I had taken the <i>take it easy </i>'s from everyone far too seriously. I found out later that I had undiagnosed Hashimoto's disease, but I think if I would've gotten moving sooner, I would've realized sooner that there was a problem. Give yourself time to just sit in your pj's and enjoy your brand new baby, but try to move, even a little bit, every day. I like this rule of thumb: 5,5,5 - 5 days to just enjoy your new family. Don't get out of bed if you don't feel like it! 5 days of sticking around the house. Take it slow, stretch and breath every day. Take the last 5 days and try and make it out for a walk at least once a day. Continue to stretch, breath and enjoy your new family!!<br />
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<br />MsKOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14905142209796598567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031592318628806830.post-84923402483673169792014-03-09T12:52:00.000-07:002014-03-09T12:52:10.223-07:00thirty-one.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
What better way to celebrate my 31st birthday, than to share a (guilty pleasure of mine) little peek at BabyKO2's wishlist! There aren't many things we NEED for this babe, especially because she's a she and we saved everything. There are a few things though, that I have discovered in my wise-old-two years as a mother ;), I think will surely be of use. These things I kinda wish I had purchased last time, and I'm saving our pennies for this time around. Though, to be honest, most of our pennies will probably go to a double stroller...how are the nice ones so expensive!?!</div>
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*<a href="http://www.babyktan.com/" target="_blank">Baby K'tan</a> - I feel like this will be much more efficient for city living than was the Moby. I liked the Moby - all except for the football-field-length fabric. Hopefully, the K'tan is an answer for that.</div>
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*<a href="http://stores.blessednest.com/organic-nesting-pillow-paloma/" target="_blank">Blessed Nest Nursing Pillow</a> - Now, I know. Ringing in at just under 100 bucks, this little number might have you scratching your heads. Why am I dying to try this pillow? Mostly because my back is pretty much humped from the first two years of nursing. Even with the Boppy, it was difficult for me to get Lua up high enough (without 5 extra pillows) to be effective. My hope is that this buckwheat-filled number is super conform-able to baby's shape and will allow this nursing journey to be less of a strain!</div>
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*I've heard from numerous new mamas that the <a href="http://www.fisher-price.com/en_US/brands/babygear/products/51903" target="_blank">Fisher-Price Rock n Play</a> sleeper is where their baby lived for the first few weeks. It's portable and its sloped design keeps baby semi-upright. A feature I wish we would've had for Lu!</div>
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These last two wish-list items are a bit frivolous, I'll admit:)</div>
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*The headband from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/180220192/baby-headband-girl-headband-vintage?ref=shop_home_feat_2" target="_blank">wildjuniper</a> is a perfect alternative for a summer baby newborn cap, don't you think?</div>
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*I labored in a too-tight sports bra with Lua. This time, I want to be beautiful and comfortable. <a href="http://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/121824748/white-nursing-maternity-hosptial-gown?ref=shop_home_active&ulsfg=true" target="_blank">So there</a>.</div>
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Thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes. I am so so so so lucky. I mean, just look who I get to hang out with today...</div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">check out BabyKO2's entire wishlist <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/263SGSJCCSEXG/ref=cm_wl_rlist_go_o?" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
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MsKOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14905142209796598567noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031592318628806830.post-11415456934161455712014-03-05T11:41:00.002-08:002014-03-05T11:41:56.312-08:00So many things.Well, we are just feeling a little overwhelmed here lately.<br />
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We moved into this apartment exactly a month ago, signing a two year lease to lock in our astronomical rent (this apartment is not rent-stabilized, meaning every year the landlord could raise it to whatever he sees fit). We looked at a ton of apartments and settled on this one, because, well, it's big. And in a nice neighborhood. It has an elevator and laundry. That's pretty much it. I'm embarrassed to say that I grossly neglected to really check out the bones of this place when we moved in and it seems like every day I find something else crusty and old and outdated in this apartment. Every time we find a crumbling wall or loose outlet, the go-to phrase has been, "whoever did this/repaired this/built this - sucked at it." It could be a beautiful, old apartment if someone had just taken the time to, when things went wrong, repair it the correct way, instead of - literally - slapping a coat or two of white paint over it. I swear, this 'someone' even used white paint to fill in the missing tile grout. This all sounds very negative, but don't get me wrong, I'm still really happy overall with our decision and think that this apartment is going to be great for us for two years (or more) while we grow our family. It's just scary and disappointing to think that we're spending so much money on something so neglected. Hopefully soon, we can stop spending money to fix this place up and just enjoy what we've created for ourselves.<br />
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Also, taxes. Yuck. <br />
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Also, insurance and medical bills. Yuck.<br />
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Also, Andrew is still in rehearsals and gone 10 hours a day.<br />
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Also, it's freaking freezing STILL.<br />
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Ok. I think I'm done.<br />
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Life is not all crap, all the time, I have to mention. Lua is beautiful and the most amazing and funny kid ever. So funny, that we're thinking of starting a twitter account to remember all the funny stuff she says. BabyKO2 is kicking and moving and hiccuping all day and this trimester of pregnancy has been a breeze compared to the first. I love my new midwife and I can't believe we're already pretty darn close to having a teeny, tiny, weensie babe in our lives again :) <br />
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<br />MsKOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14905142209796598567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031592318628806830.post-26841411912034551632014-03-01T08:18:00.000-08:002014-03-01T08:18:07.860-08:00Nana & Popop.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We are pretty lucky to have two sets of super amazing grandparents for Lua (and babyKO2!). We don't get to see them nearly often enough and, while we had planned a trip back to the midwest after Canada, we just didn't have the time (or cash) to make the trip this year :( A few weeks ago, my parents - Nana and Popop - came to NYC instead!...at just the right time. They were here for our big move and we are forever grateful for all of their elbow grease and emotional, financial and more financial support as we transitioned to our big, old apartment:) My mom is basically Martha Stewart when it comes to cooking, cleaning and organizing and dad can make/fix/repair anything. I mean, ANYTHING. He completely rearranged our kitchen appliances in one afternoon using a hacksaw that he borrowed from the superintendent. Really. And it looks great.</div>
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As you can see, Lua loved having them here. Maybe it's because of the pregnancy and my general sluggishness this winter, but my parents seem to have boundless energy - especially when it comes to playing neverending imagination games with a two year old. Like I said, we got pretty lucky in the grandparent department.</div>
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Speaking of pregnancy, we decided on a homebirth this time around (more on that later) and I have my first prenatal visit with our new midwife today. I've only had three prenatal appointments this entire pregnancy (one of which was an ultrasound - it's a girl, btw!), and I'm ready to have some regularity. They say the second babe is quicker in every way and, so far, that's absolutely the case. Where did that first half of my pregnancy go?! I feel like there are so many things I still need to do...potty train my first child, perhaps? ;)</div>
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<br />MsKOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14905142209796598567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031592318628806830.post-85244646704774309862014-02-04T06:31:00.000-08:002014-02-12T14:14:46.578-08:00the move.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Let me break this down. Mostly, so I can try feverishly to wrap my brain around the experience we just went through. In NYC, they say, "finding an apartment is more difficult than finding a job". Before now, Andrew and I had always gone out on the first or second day of looking, found an apartment we liked, made an offer, the offer and application were accepted and Bingo: New Apartment.<br>
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It works like this sometimes: if you're extremely lucky you hear about an apartment from a friend, relative, etc. that is being moved out of. You convince friend to inquire about apartment with the superintendent of the building. The super says, "why, of course! it's going to be available right after the renovations are complete! How much would you like to rent it for?". Then you move in ;)<br>
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It works like this most times: you have no friends with apartments magically up for rent. You must then go through a broker who is going to try to charge you 15% of the annual rent for his/her fee ($2,000 a month rent = $3,600 fee). You pay first month's rent and security deposit up front as well. Starting to feel the burn a bit? Oh, ya. And with the application for an apartment, you almost always have to fork over $75 - $100 per person in order to run a credit/background check.<br>
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Pretty not awesome. In our case, we applied for 3 apartments total. The first, a BEAUTIFUL and HUGE apartment... loaded with bedbugs. The second, a more modest, but updated 9th Floor apartment with GORGEOUS views of the sky ("what's that, you say? Yes, the sky. As in, we're not staring out our windows into the trash alley or neighbor's kitchen"). Number two's management company, which we later discovered was voted one of the top ten WORST management companies in NYC, never ever ever got back to us. We waited for 2 weeks and had to move on. <br>
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And then we get to #3. Ah, number #3. <br>
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I mean, Lua could build small forts in these closets. </div>
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Is it in our favorite neighborhood? Nope. Is it within the budget we had originally intended? Nope. Is it renovated? Not even close. In fact, it's so old and crusty, Andrew wasn't sure I'd want to take on such a project. But I immediately saw something pretty special. First of all, it's HUGE for a 2 bedroom in the city. 2 King sized bedrooms, an eat in kitchen and a living room that could fit a banquet. Is the bathroom slightly frightening? Yup. But I'm confident that some elbow grease and a few plants will make it feel more like our home and less like a serial killer's.</div>
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And now we start the more fun process of moving in and making this space our own. We decided it was time in our lives to stop asking our friends and family to lift heavy things (especially because they'd have to do it totally by themselves while Andrew is in rehearsals 6 days a week and I am not supposed to be lifting anything heavier than a bowling ball (ha)). We hired movers on Friday after quite an ordeal with a NYC snowstorm and now my parents are here for an entire week cleaning, fixing, repairing, cleaning some more. We can't even begin to repay them! More pictures as the nesting continues!MsKOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14905142209796598567noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031592318628806830.post-9570223411294970872014-01-31T16:17:00.001-08:002014-01-31T16:17:58.279-08:00Baby KO2! First Trimester Life Savers.<br />
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1. Grapefruit was practically the only thing I could eat during the first few weeks of babyKO2. <a href="http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=25" target="_blank">Filled with nutrients</a>, I didn't feel bad eating 2 of these a day:)</div>
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2. Ok, I have to admit that the smell of this <a href="http://www.amazon.com/African-Shea-Butter-Cream-100/dp/B0009MHJE4" target="_blank">African Shea Butter</a> was too much to handle at times during trimester uno, but in my quest for no 'new' stretch marks this time around, I've heard it's the best.</div>
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3. One cannot live on grapefruit alone, I quickly found, and this cereal was an absolute go to. Stays crunchy. Packed with protein. Just bland enough for the tummy, and just barely sweet. </div>
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4. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bobble-Water-Bottle-Ounce-Magenta/dp/B003LTFS5Y/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1391211119&sr=8-12&keywords=filtered+water+bottles" target="_blank">These bottles</a> helped me remember to drink a ton of water. I could throw it in the diaper bag and fill it anywhere. Also, when you can smell everything, things start to taste differently, too, including tap water. The filter helps with that!</div>
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5. You can ask anyone who saw me in Canada. I lived in <a href="http://usa.roots.com/women/solid-color-sweatpants/womensSweatpants,default,sc.html" target="_blank">these</a> Roots sweats. If they weren't so expensive, Andrew and I would've gotten them for the whole family for Christmas presents. Along with those comfy sweats came loads and loads of SLEEP. Made fantastically possible by my toddler's blessed hour long afternoon nap, as well as my amazing husband's ability to somehow wake up with Lua in the morning, giving me an extra hour or two in bed:)</div>
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6. Later in my first trimester, when Shea butter was smelling too awful to slather, I turned to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bio-Oil-Scar-Treatment-60-PACK/dp/B0073HW8OE/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&srs=2583411011&ie=UTF8&qid=1391211352&sr=1-1&keywords=bio+oil" target="_blank">Bio Oil </a>and have liked it so far! It has a very unassuming scent and even the smallest bottle has lasted a LONG time.</div>
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Have a great weekend!</div>
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MsKOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14905142209796598567noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031592318628806830.post-59715742972653079222014-01-23T13:00:00.000-08:002014-01-23T13:00:33.302-08:00First Trimester, Back Home.The months of November, December and January have come and gone by like nothing I have ever experienced. I will try to be brief, as this was a 'trimester' packed full of ups and downs and in betweens and if I tried to elaborate on each and every happening, we would surely be here all day;)<br />
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- In late October, we found out we were pregnant with baby Cao #2! (YAY!!!!). What then proceeded was 8 weeks of puking every day and generally feeling like I could smell EVERYTHING and EVERYTHING made me want to vomit. This feeling was so much worse than I had with Lua. So much worse, in fact, that I'm debating ever getting pregnant again. It sucked. Especially with a two year old that just wants to play :( Andrew was really the captain of the ship and took over everything, from cooking to cleaning to taking Lu to play. I dare anyone to show me a better husband and father ;)<br />
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- Canada got cold. Fast. Thank goodness for good neighbors, playrooms and indoor swimming.<br />
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- Tragically, we did not get to make a Holiday video this year. We promise to do something before next year, though!<br />
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- Andrew had all of 3 days off the entire time we were in Toronto. Between that and my grossness, we pretty much abandoned all "exploring".<br />
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...and that, my friends, sums up our Canadian experience. Pretty fun, no?...<br />
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- Now that we're back, we have been furiously looking for a new apartment. And while staying with uncle Buster is pretty fun, we're totally ready to have our own space. It's proven to be much more difficult finding a two bedroom in our budget, in a good neighborhood than we'd previously thought. We're actually supposed to hear today about an offer we put in on a place. So, cross your fingers and toes that our search can be over!<br />
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- It's COLD here, too! Uncle Buster had a broken boiler and we were out of heat and hot water for a few days, which was actually kinda fun?.....but - I'm not a huge fan of the winter months and am really looking forward to the spring. I know it could be a long while yet, but a girl can dream...<br />
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- I'm feeling 200% better. Whew. Still don't know if I want to go through that again, but man, does it feel good to be hungry again!<br />
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- Andrew starts rehearsals again on MONDAY. Where did January go?<br />
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I think that's a recap! Hopefully, as we get settled back into our NYC lives, I'll be back here more often, too ;) <br />
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MsKOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14905142209796598567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031592318628806830.post-76231174597954653552013-10-31T19:46:00.001-07:002013-10-31T19:46:53.453-07:00Happy Halloween!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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What a great Halloween! I played Betty CreamCheese Homemaker this year and did some at-home decorating this year. I had planned for some mommy daughter craft time and that lasted about 5 minutes, so most of what you see (up at the top there) was done my Andrew and me after midnight ;) <br />
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With the show starting previews TOMORROW (what?!?!), I was surprised when the cast invited all us mamas and kiddos to come trick or treat at the theatre on their dinner break. I expected to go around to each dressing room and take a piece of candy, but they had gone ALL OUT! Everyone was wearing some type of costume, each dressing room was decked out in Halloween goodness and there was loads and loads of candy and toys (Lua nabbed playdough and a Mickey Mouse doll!). <br />
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Lua was given her awesome Sully costume by her uncle Buster and everyone thought she was cuter than cute. She has been watching some of the Aladdin promo videos and is still a bit overwhelmed and starstruck when she meets everyone in person, so all of the ROAR-ing and TRICKORTREAT-ing we had practiced kind of took a back seat to fingers in mouth, but she warmed up after a little bit. I'm sure by the end of our time here, she'll be ordering everyone around!<br />
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As for our everyday, we've been trucking right along! It's hard to believe we've been here for two weeks and are going to be here until January. I feel like I'm missing so much of my 'normal' life back home and yet, I'm glad for the change of scenery, the new friends and the three month 'vacation' I feel like I'm getting. <br />
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Lua continues to be a chatty Cathy (when she's not meeting Jasmine and Aladdin;) and is entering the phase of "no mama, i do it". Everything from cracking eggs, to putting on socks and shoes, to playing at the playground, to swimming - she wants to do it all herself. She misses her daddy a lot when he has to leave for work and insists on saying goodbye with hugs and kisses multiple times before she lets him out the door. Some cute phrases lately: <br />
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"No, mama. I'm good." (when I tell her we need to get her coat on)<br />
"Come'on, Soph! Come'on Soph!"(asking to nurse in the middle of the night)<br />
"Hold on. I'll be riiiight back"<br />
"Thank you/I love you SOOOOO Much!"<br />
"Yer funny Dadda(Mamma)."<br />
"Whater ya doin dehr?"<br />
"Whole mouf? Whole mouf?"(EVERY SINGLE bite of food she picks up, she asks if she can put the whole thing in her mouth)<br />
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I guess that's all for now! Happy Friday!<br />
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Hope everyone is having a fun and safe Halloween!!!MsKOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14905142209796598567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031592318628806830.post-87051666186348939452013-10-21T05:56:00.000-07:002013-10-21T05:56:11.745-07:00discovering this city.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Lu and I are trying to get outside as much as we can while the weather is still above freezing (not for much longer!) here in Toronto. We haven't explored the subway system yet, but have an abundance of fun sights right near our "home"!<br />
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We are all quickly adjusting to this new life and home. Can I say again that it was a good idea to splurge for the apartment with a pool? and a playroom? Ya. This winter is going to be cake compared to our last winter in NYC. Watch, I just wrote that and tomorrow Lu will hate the pool for some reason;) The one thing I have to say that I miss compared to our old neighborhood is the lack of green and playground space. I mean, I get it - we're living in the equivalent of Times Square, but that playground you see in those pictures up there? I had to search and search to find it and it's a 30 minute walk away :( Good thing it's going to snow in, like, 5 minutes!<br />
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<br />MsKOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14905142209796598567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031592318628806830.post-22812456480026403652013-10-15T12:11:00.001-07:002013-10-15T12:11:30.542-07:00Oh, Canada!It is so so so fun to pack all your stuff into boxes to put into storage, while remembering to keep your winter stuff out, while trying to think about what you can travel with for three months, while remembering that you need to continue to live and eat and work for the next month. Add to that a two year old and a husband who is in the thick of rehearsals and has 1 day off a week that just so happens to fall on football Sunday (obviously no working on THAT sacred day). Oh, did I say fun? I meant<br />
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ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY WRETCHED.</div>
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So, that's where I've been the past month. </div>
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My family came out last week to help me move everything (except 5 suitcases, the stroller and the carseat) into storage. I don't know what we would have done without them. They continue to be such a selfless presence in our lives (as have all our family) and I often wonder how Andrew and I got so lucky. I'm betting it has something to do with the 23 pound wonder that is currently napping. She has managed to take all of the moving in stride and is so excited to visit "Canada's house". Ha :)<br />
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All of our hard work paid off, however, and we are in the nicest apartment, in the busiest neighborhood with some of the kindest folks. I'm so happy to be spending the Holidays with my loves - hopefully some more loves will come visit! - and so grateful that we can afford (financially, emotionally, physically) to all be together. Let the Canadian adventure begin!!<br />
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I haven't uploaded many pictures yet - we've only been here one and a half days - but here are a few pics so far!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-rZtYLV4FbfHyYNljGERLVEAh4uKu_jC7IiIl9Gg0udIrww00Sa5uCHO5ZRSV6fkgOgsZQ6oJD7UPuZnM_u_gn8Boeg4RXbaQcb8UO2rij1hI8NJfod4Ltx0a077AghyphenhyphenL15OVhtthFk9Y/s1600/IMG_3774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-rZtYLV4FbfHyYNljGERLVEAh4uKu_jC7IiIl9Gg0udIrww00Sa5uCHO5ZRSV6fkgOgsZQ6oJD7UPuZnM_u_gn8Boeg4RXbaQcb8UO2rij1hI8NJfod4Ltx0a077AghyphenhyphenL15OVhtthFk9Y/s400/IMG_3774.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">last meal with some astoria friends and family </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hnat2W1HC5nRglbSEdCavE0Fl2pcwFOpteEsSBAoETDvYvYNGXl4yMgkdZMprVyX8WkfW4uMBgyFmo0eUxKUQ5-1f3tbS1JU0J-6M_gNl8GNGnh-Rtk8wVimKOK_6Wy7YMICdTPcS4f3/s1600/IMG_3786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hnat2W1HC5nRglbSEdCavE0Fl2pcwFOpteEsSBAoETDvYvYNGXl4yMgkdZMprVyX8WkfW4uMBgyFmo0eUxKUQ5-1f3tbS1JU0J-6M_gNl8GNGnh-Rtk8wVimKOK_6Wy7YMICdTPcS4f3/s320/IMG_3786.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">such a cheesy lady</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1J0ookyePhO4B4cSAxef7_PehmF7eTRbtCRukWg8kt8h3tAvlvdPBzOtCtjbIHDBVMVCbxksKbEkLxdLPkBMzloebW9L6Mn5NhXakarwYgIRzwK8XNIQMCOawyWGIAzSDOOhZIAVorayc/s1600/IMG_3801.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1J0ookyePhO4B4cSAxef7_PehmF7eTRbtCRukWg8kt8h3tAvlvdPBzOtCtjbIHDBVMVCbxksKbEkLxdLPkBMzloebW9L6Mn5NhXakarwYgIRzwK8XNIQMCOawyWGIAzSDOOhZIAVorayc/s400/IMG_3801.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">thank God for moms :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfmL0CwZ08Uu-IDip19PcVpQn9jKE44VXspYVxF8W1SfH7C9rh82B9a1FQPrdipOUYcwTyKPlZ5S0ryarKW5xljuklX1vH8Pz5suSyi7C2XIKOlCHf2QHD0Sx1FokWoqIf2z4o-MTK3D8F/s1600/IMG_3809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfmL0CwZ08Uu-IDip19PcVpQn9jKE44VXspYVxF8W1SfH7C9rh82B9a1FQPrdipOUYcwTyKPlZ5S0ryarKW5xljuklX1vH8Pz5suSyi7C2XIKOlCHf2QHD0Sx1FokWoqIf2z4o-MTK3D8F/s320/IMG_3809.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">all packed up! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfXkMfQArbZCObBqkkC5hirctvBxvSVwK04t5DIEWGTqxXduylcyybUApwsfGNTqSR0ar8ZwpkKpbjRgreSXd279n7fEG_kxmjbHqogxXo54UBq3235rY1YEi2wsvsqeKVx3eA9qxj6FuN/s1600/IMG_3806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfXkMfQArbZCObBqkkC5hirctvBxvSVwK04t5DIEWGTqxXduylcyybUApwsfGNTqSR0ar8ZwpkKpbjRgreSXd279n7fEG_kxmjbHqogxXo54UBq3235rY1YEi2wsvsqeKVx3eA9qxj6FuN/s640/IMG_3806.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">myles and dad goofing off after all the hard work was done</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB73RN6lwGNd1N34kkH2CJlhBWNLyR-Lp2RA5yjN5p0zGirwm6AgPZ9BFnjfzh5YaJFO1KXm1xdJ4812BRO034MfMKq-icnKObFJqYau6mnyfzF6Ee0gR-7FKdGH6i14YLR2yJIi8wShg_/s1600/IMG_3839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB73RN6lwGNd1N34kkH2CJlhBWNLyR-Lp2RA5yjN5p0zGirwm6AgPZ9BFnjfzh5YaJFO1KXm1xdJ4812BRO034MfMKq-icnKObFJqYau6mnyfzF6Ee0gR-7FKdGH6i14YLR2yJIi8wShg_/s640/IMG_3839.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">selfie at the airport :) </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZC6T50sj7zaGQkDE0dPve6tvhk471jJqR51Tbp-RtW0N3DujP9_gfqhKbOPpR82ORwalfOFm_c_cnY6FIUJqEG0O0iBgVdAl0RxKmJBvlzSvnSpVDH48J5wrYk6-hqZQHbhKPlmJbFd6/s1600/IMG_3855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZC6T50sj7zaGQkDE0dPve6tvhk471jJqR51Tbp-RtW0N3DujP9_gfqhKbOPpR82ORwalfOFm_c_cnY6FIUJqEG0O0iBgVdAl0RxKmJBvlzSvnSpVDH48J5wrYk6-hqZQHbhKPlmJbFd6/s400/IMG_3855.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ALADDIN! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt3sN-n5estuqH9uShOA4U0djdmMCjbGeWR_0LYqILSstLcisVfNEplzYv-pckNQfK5vj-TmjIbPkAWJGc6Clg8N3dCj6BYYgKRBI1uV8fLzUE-eARNNlESIdGJfyciNw_42qps1_NolH7/s1600/IMG_3862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt3sN-n5estuqH9uShOA4U0djdmMCjbGeWR_0LYqILSstLcisVfNEplzYv-pckNQfK5vj-TmjIbPkAWJGc6Clg8N3dCj6BYYgKRBI1uV8fLzUE-eARNNlESIdGJfyciNw_42qps1_NolH7/s640/IMG_3862.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">our building gets some pretty great light </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdSAybD5zjHLZ6cFvEQPMnHha0cro4S_giTA3DlrU8x3vQ-LLWlUmh-dYVfnCAk5PJYg23acxsK_UTcVy6CTrT_xvWe95pjbnvHGQrYEg-WnQGni5p8aNLQ44rYJKihGTuslWExbUgDIcM/s1600/IMG_3864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdSAybD5zjHLZ6cFvEQPMnHha0cro4S_giTA3DlrU8x3vQ-LLWlUmh-dYVfnCAk5PJYg23acxsK_UTcVy6CTrT_xvWe95pjbnvHGQrYEg-WnQGni5p8aNLQ44rYJKihGTuslWExbUgDIcM/s640/IMG_3864.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">totally off topic, but i just picked up this candle for sale at Bed, Bath and Beyond (8.99, i think?). i'm used to seeing really expensive candles, so when i happened upon this yummy thing on the clearance shelf, well, fugghettaboutid :)</td></tr>
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MsKOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14905142209796598567noreply@blogger.com0