Restarting

 Before she is an adult, no more excuses. There’s still so much to share while still living in the suburbs. 

It’s been a busy 10 years. There’s no energy to retell it all.  Let’s hope I am much better this time around as I am certain it’s all about to get interesting. 

Garden Grower

I'm certainly no green thumb.  My inclination is to kill plants. Somehow, incorporating a storytime to the "Garden Growers" at the library sucked me in.  ACY took to it immediately, anticipating Wednesday morns to check on her plants. So ironic they planted Impatients.  Then sheep ears. Or were they elephant ears? 
The weather hasn't been cooperative for my beach bum this summer. Some days are over the top hot. And getting burnt  wasn't fun for me. Lobster, red bell pepper....the shade of my back. Got a cool tanned "X".  So perhaps the Garden Growers was a blessing in disguise.  
The marigolds look promising. Another mom told me basil works well in crappy soil. That's verbatim. Lol.  Maybe this was more for me? 

Then, of course, we have spent much time at "Safari Park" with EGP, her partner in crime.  Best amenity other than the "safari" is the spray pool.

Summer fun! Simply put, nothing is better than this. To just be a child and live free and carelessly as one. 

The Big Apple Circus & Beach Return

The charm of the Big Apple Circus is the old skool feel of the tent. All seats are good, and some are better.  Thanks to Pandora's commercial, we jumped on tix.  ACY loved the circus. Not just liked, but loved every act and enthusiastic in every sense. She asks when she can go back.
And so we did go back. Not to the circus, but to Lido! She couldn't contain her joy of becoming a beach bum for the second summer in a row.  Just today, she made a new friend. And watching the kids play at the beach is relaxing for mommy, indeed. Other than the lobster/red bell pepper sunburn shade I've turned from somehow not applying enough sunblock. *ouch*. Lucky munchkin, she inherited her father's genes on that one!

She wanted to volunteer to be part of an act! 

Wedding and The Bx Zoo

My brother got married. Feels like yesterday I was changing his dirty diapers. Much love and happiness his way!! Surreal how it all goes with life events such as marriages, divorce, and babies.  

Then the return to the Bronx Zoo! ACY loves going so much, I bought a membership and plan on hitting all 5 zoos, plus the Acquarium down at Coney Island. Every child should know what Coney is. There's no doubt the Dora 4D Adventure had a lot to do with the return visit. The animals were very cool, too. ACY insisted on the Mouse House & Reptile House. Ugh....no fear in this girl. 

Rising of the Phoenix/Easter

There are times when wondering if a new beginning is possible, where you can just close your eyes and be back in Kansas leads me to the beginning of all this. 
The life of your own child. A new fresh start to be who you always wanted to be. And then the mistakes. The impatience. The lack of experience. 
Gratefully, these little people are so forgiving and full of love. They teach us that everyday is a new start by just letting go and moving forward.  There is awe in my soul of her.
Easter. One of my personal holidays. Celebrating the rebirth, the infusion of life eternal. Spending it peacefully, what a treat. 
Dressing up the tomboyish ACY in a frilly dress! Loved it. 

Those terrible twos

Did they ever really hit? Tantrums? Somewhat. More of a temper anger management issue. But underneath an amazingly sweet girl. Emerging from her babyness into her full blown independent toddlerhood. Embracing her newfound skills as though she couldn't wait for her physical to catch up with her mental prowess.
She truly believes she is a female Max from Where The Wild Things Are swinging from limb to limb as I lift her to simulate such action on the monkey bars at the local park.
She's also becoming quite the beach bum. Summer is only so long, so we try hitting the beach once a week with weather permitting. How she loves it! 

La cantante

There is nothing sweeter than watching a child in their natural state.  She loves singing, dancing, reading. Most toddlers do, I just hope she continues so we can keep watching. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyfwkSiFW_w

Hearts Everywhere

Valentines Day...oh the fun of finding the perfect outfit for an unknowing 2 year old who has no choice but to wear it.  Got a Tshirt and a dress.  ACY loved the hair tie once I said she would look like mommy. Too funny.  She got lots of goodies from the NJ Yabuts and my mom.  Not that her parents didn't want to give her anything...the jungle gym came in not too long afterwards. No pix yet. Too busy keeping both eyes on her as she rock climbs the side...

Madonna and Alicia Keys

What is up with ACY putting up the volume on the kitchen radio every time a Madonna or Alicia Keys song comes on? Yesterday was "Vogue".  She danced all around the kitchen.  It's not often the station is changed from classical, so she doesn't hear pop all day. But as soon as "Empire State of Mind" comes on, she is rushing for some volume. 

Year of the Rabbit

So, it's the year of the Rabbit. Do we follow it down the hole and find the Wonderland? Seems like everything now has a story or some kind of mystical explanation...must be all the Mother Goose and crazy sing a longs. 
Terrible twos...Oh, the rebellion, the desire for independence and freedom.  It really is a vibrant thing, watching the soul of a two year old want it's own agency.  No one teaches this, we come preprogrammed to find our way. I can only pray for the virtue of Patience and her divine intervention, for my parenting skills are not honed.  They are as raw as her newfound favorite word. NO.  And running as fast as those two little legs can take her...

Approaching the Terrible Twos

So here we are in November with autumn's beautiful leaves...Ashima has done nothing but grow like a weed. SO many fun times with her, she's turning into a fun little toddler.  Headstrong as ever, but sweet as sugar.
Lil' Ms. Barney on Halloween!!  Didn't want to keep the hat part on, but didn't mind sporting the costume. 

when in doubt, blame Shrek

In learning cause and effect, Ashima throws many things off the changing table: clothes, diapers, anything left in her reach. I ask her, "Who threw these things?" One day, I started giving her an option of blaming Shrek. Now she blatantly blames every nefarious deed on the hideous ogre, waving her finger, saying, "No,no, no" because I chastise Shrek, of course.
She still enjoys singing, dancing, reading, running, and just moving around. Her appetite for learning is insatiable, which I do my best in taking advantage of by constantly making time for learning moments. I really should instill more advanced material and include some religious stuff, what a bad mommy I really am. My mom taught her to pray, not me...I should kick myself in the pants for that one. But in my defense, I did teach her who she's praying to. That's gotta count for something.

Six months later

Slacker, slacker, slacker me! Just haven't found the time to share all the fun renovation fun we've had. The house has been steadily coming along...Ashima has been growing by leaps and bounds. She gratefully had no problem adjusting to her new home & is taking full advantage of her backyard. Returning to work has proven a challenge for everyone, but somehow all family members have gone above their call of duty in making sure Ashima is well taken care of. Somehow,though, she's turned into mommy's little girl.
Today She was given a shopping cart and had a blast pretending she was shopping! At the grocery store, she constantly helps me pick out items she thinks we need. The other day at Toys R Us, she took a diaper genie refill, put it in the cart without my knowing until checkout. We needed it, what a good helper.

In the midst of hustle and bustle

   In the midst of all the madness with our new home, Thanksgiving and Ashima's first birthday came and went in a blur.  Thanksgiving was relaxing at the NJ Yabut's, and Ashima enjoyed her turkey dinner.  

   Shortly afterward, we had a quiet day for her first birthday.  It's not b/c we don't think it's important, b/c it is the most important date in our hearts.  We wanted to just enjoy her company without bells and whistles everywhere.  Ashima loves being social, and we know she prefers doing her favorite activities.  We took her to the Kew Forest Park, where she was all smiles playing, running, and interacting with other children.  Even though she cries at adult strangers, she rarely shies away from kids.  Tita Myra was coming home from a business trip, and she cut Ashima's  cake with us.  Let's not mention they spelt her name wrong...but Ashima had her first taste of birthday cake!

   Later this month, we will have a small family gathering for a more formalized birthday "party".  We made the executive decision against inviting 50 plus adults to a restaurant where we know Ashima will not be at her best, or even truly happy. She will be around those she loves the most in her life, which is what counts.  As parents, we celebrate her birthday everyday, for we are grateful to have such a special girl in our lives.

Closing time

   We did it! After months of challenges, we are now homeowners.  Scary, but exciting to tackle the new obstacles in our way.  So much to do, it's all a work in progress. We are grateful for all the support of family and friends in this endeavor.  It's our little patch of land and we will make it our home in time.  
   Funny how our perception of closing was so different than reality. You sign a bunch of different legal papers and then all of a sudden, someone says, "Congratulations".  That's it.  For some reason, we thought there would be some ceremonial presentation to make it official. 

  As for now, we will be in the Kew Gardens apt until the end of December.  As posted before, we are nostalgic, but we can't live in Queens forever. There's not an affordable backyard to put a swing set or have bbq's- and we are all about that! 
 

A love hate relationship

   For some reason, Ashima greatly dislikes the vacuum.  If she can hear it humming, she will cry until it is shut off.  So we left it in the "dining" room where she could see it, telling her, "the vacuum does whirr" in hopes of a better outcome.  Now that she discovered how fun throwing food around is, vacuuming has become a daily affair. So, it would be best if she developed a good rapport with it.  At first, she ignored the vacuum, then started yelling at it, and finally started touching it.  We thought she could handle hearing it on, but no...not yet. She continues to cry.

Kew Forest Park

   After more than 7 years of living in the same neighborhood, it's a bittersweet feeling thinking about leaving for good.   We look at the street where we first met and smile, knowing Ashima was just a gleam in our eye then.  We have enjoyed our time-Danni's pizza, the Trade Fair supermarket, Midway movie theater and Forest Hills, Alba's, D and D, Joy Fruit, The Associated, Jackpot, and of course the plaza with BB and CVS.  
   It's only appropriate that we take pics while strolling Ashi in the Kew Forest Park.  The canopy of leaves are beautiful in the autumn and she enjoys being outside there.  It's a runner's dream, with the falling leaves serving as nature's confetti celebrating the goodness of life.  

 

 

Vampirita's Halloween

   We loved Ashima's costume.  We had sooo much fun just watching her walk around with her cape.  The slight gloominess added to the mood of Halloween.  We took her trick or treating to the stores around our house, it seems like it's the thing to do. It's so sad that kids don't have the liberty to go from house to house like we did when growing up.  But then again, I don't know if we would feel comfortable trusting other people.  Xenophobia has taken its toll over the years.  Certainly next year we will try to do something with other children her age so we can show off her costume and gush with other parents about how darling they all look.  ;)

  

Chocoholic in the making

   Ashima's first Halloween is quickly approaching! The costume is washed and ready to go.  The traditional cupcakes are baking, but unfortunately with Christmas liners. But who needs 75 Santa liners, anyway? It's not like we have 75 people to give cupcakes away to for the holidays! :)
   She had a great day today (other than getting to sleep without Dennis tonite).  She tried to eat a Reese's and a Crunch already! But that's not surprising when both of us are major chocolate lovers.  She must have caught us dipping in the pail and knows it's food.  Hee hee.