Uncle John Comes for a Visit

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Uncle John (Brian's Dad's brother) was in town this weekend for Stanford Alum festivities and met us for brunch in downtown Palo Alto. We walked into town with Mark, Sarah and Baby Clara and had brunch and Bloody Mary's at Empire Tap Room with a paranoid waiter who was no so fond of our two stroller, three kid moving table outside. We had to get out and enjoy the sunshine while it lasted!

Just hanging out waiting for Uncle John

why would the 9 month olds let me take a picture of them together ? ;)

kids on the move


We walked downtown and passed Heff's favorite barber shop. Francie pleaded to get out of the stroller to say hi to Harardo- the 'silly' Cuban :)

We all had brunch and then Fraiche fro-yo. Francie "shared" her's with Maisie

Clara was skepitcal

Cruisin' Cousins

sisters. out.

up

Welcome Uncle John!

and say hi to Rocket

Bed Bugs

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I can post this picture now that the girls aren't wearing those PJ's anymore (it may have been close to 24 hours :)- Francie got hit with a bug yesterday and has had a really high (it hit 104.8!) fever. She was up last night screaming with night terrors and hallucinating, it was pretty scary and of course happened on the one night in like a year Heff is out of town for work! But we love Dr. Cisco and he helped us through the night and came over this morning to make sure she's allright. Seems to be a virus she's fighting but she's pretty sad and sick. We've had lots of Motrin, OJ, milk and Mickey this morning.

Still look pretty happy (although these pics were from the night before last)

Maisie knows she is lucky to be invited to play in her big sister's bed

so she doesn't complain a bit when she gets wrestled into the pillows

Always with the bink Maise...

wait, voluntarily taking it out?!

and giving it to mom!? are you ready to give it up Maisie Moo?!
(no way, she just likes to GIVE things lately :)

and it's back

No fever for Maisie yet... let's hope Francie is the only one to get bite by this bug

Naps

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My girls have always been sleepers... besides the fact they don't go to bed until 9 or 10pm ;) But they usually sleep in until 8 or 9am and take long naps during the day. Maisie is now on the same sort of routine Francie was at the same age- a two hour morning nap around 10am and another around 3pm. Francie is down to one nap around 2 or 3pm for 3 hours, sometimes 4 hours... hence the night owl tendencies! Some people think this is crazy but it works for us and the girls are pretty mellow at night after our 8pm-ish dinner. My mom said we were all the same way and slept 10pm-10am until school ruined our day ;) It's hard to stay home for Maisie's naps though so she usually sleeps on the go in the morning and if we're doing something fun she tries to hold out until after lunch and literally falls asleep sitting up.

But sometimes Francie and I get a little time together at home while Maisie sleeps...

and after naps we video chat Auntie Baby Ann in Nashville! Jannie and Grampa were visiting Ann last weekend and we chatted them one night- so when we got on this time Francie said "Hi ABA, Where's Jannie?" ABA was not so happy she was second choice :)

Cooped Up

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We've been cooped up in this gray weather (kind of a nice excuse to stay in PJ's and stay cozy inside) It's been raining for like 10 days straight- not that crazy for most parts of the country but we're so not prepared for it here and all chaos breaks out (schools closed, power outages, streets flooded!) One day driving into town we saw this little car get swallowed up in the notorious MA puddle:

So we've been having fun inside...the girls maul Dad to the floor when he gets home

and my favorite rainy day activity... organizing baby clothes :)

And Heff has been bartending up cocktails for me at night... my favorite- his version of a Sidecar (with Brandy and Grand Marnier instead of Triple Sec- improvising :) YUM.

Sushi with Kids

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We went out to dinner Friday night with our friends the Courson's at Naomi Sushi since it's pretty kid friendly for four kids under 3. We got a table in the back and Francie sat next to her friend Max - he told her she was his little helper and they were going to fire all the bosses (moms and dads) They were hilarious together!

Baby Beau (three days older than Maisie Moo) Maisie slept under the table in her baby sleeping bag since we don't use the bucket seat in Heff's car anymore-

but she woke up for half the party

ICE CREAM waffles for the BFF's Max and Francie

Natives getting restless

Awwww... best buds

SF Zoo on a Rainy Sunday

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Heff took Francie to the SF Zoo last weekend with Uncle Mark and Baby Clara when Maisie and I were gone - the Carter's gave us a family membership (great gift!) so we decided to go back again this Sunday with Maisie Moo and Mom too. It was wet and rainy out but meant there were no crowds at the Zoo.

Mom and the girls by the fountain (we fit right in with the SF yuppie parents in our matching camo gear and huge klunker hunting boots- Heff dressed me so I couldn't complain about being cold :)

I can't even see him can you? ;)

Heff didn't let it go easily that my arms are almost as long as the gorillas. I felt better knowing Uncle Mark's arms almost reached the fingertips :)

Someday Francie... they'll call you "The Missing Link" just like mommy.

"Let me outta here guys!"

Bears Are All Asleep... Shh, Shh, Shh...

View from the top

Maisie Shark

Riding the Choo-Choo train with Dad

Taking turns in the Chariot

Maisie's favorite- the flamingos

Lunch at Leapin Lemurs Cafe- Fruit juice in a lion and cold beers - everyone is happy

"Let's Goooo!"

Francie showing off her cute new jacket Daddy picked out all on his own at REI- half off too!

Next stop- the Carousel

Heff pointed out she was "white knuckling" the whole ride

You are HERE

"Watching chicks hatch isn't very exciting mom..."

Tractor ridin

Goat petting (no fear here)

Mom and the girls in the mud

Children's Zoo tack room in the barn

If she runs like lightening to "pet" the sheep they are less scary

Nervous biting of the jacket, but a big improvement from last time when she wouldn't get out of dad's arms near the big, scary sheep

On to the next

See you soon ZOO!

Midnight Potty Break

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Last night I heard heavy footsteps stomping in the hallway at 1am (I should have been in bed but was catching up on Grey's Anatomy instead :) so I peaked in the dark bathroom to see Francie sitting on her little potty in her Hello Kitty underwear, pink PJs AND ballet skirt she wore to bed. She was only half awake and half way fell asleep on the toilet, then finally stood up and meticulously pulled up her undies, then PJ pants, then fixed her ballet skirt just right before stomping back into her room and getting in bed. She noticed Ollie sleeping at the foot of her bed and told him "get back in your dog bed Ollie!" I couldn't resist how hilarious she was and I laid in bed with her for a few minutes to snuggle... until then she started her subconscious scratching at my arms in my shirt sleeves as she falls asleep and I went on to my own bed :) At least the Big Girl bed seems to have stopped her from coming into our bed in the middle of the night when she wakes up!! Yay for less than four people in a double bed.

closest I could get to a photo- from a few days ago...

and a New Big Girl Room!

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Emmy was here overnight and we got some great stuff (bed, bedding, cute flag decorations!) at the big Le Cirque bin sale so we recycled other stuff from around the house and spruced up the old office/closet room into a new Big Girl Bedroom for Francie! I am kinda sad they aren't sharing a room anymore but this seemed the best fit for moving things around in a small house. Francie thinks she is a pretty big deal now.

Thanks for all the help Em! (she took Francie on a special train ride to San Carlos for lunch today too- lucky girl!)

Maisie checking out her sister's new digs


She LOVES it :)

the bed has yet to be put together all the way... tomorrow's task and tonight she's sleeping on the trundle :)

Top 10 Reasons I LOVE Heff :)

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(sorry this is cheesy- might want to skip this post if you aren't Heff!) But he gets jipped on Valentine's Day since it is his BIRTHDAY and it's my parents 33rd wedding anniversary TODAY so it seems like a good appreciate your spouse day.

The Top 10 Reasons I LOVE Heff...

1. He is PATIENT. Way more patient than I am. Sometimes when the girls have me down to my last nerve I think "WWHD?" He is so calm and collected even when the terrible two's rage and the baby has a blowout and the dog is barking at the neighbors. I need to work on that :)

2. He is so THOUGHTFUL. He always thinks ahead to call someone with a little friendly advice, to be a good friend and to do nice things for his family.

3. He LOVES his baby girls. When people ask if we want a boy next (like we have control over that one) he says "Nope. I'll take 5 little girls if I'm lucky enough!" (although of course I know he would love to have a little mini mountain man too!) He puts bows in their hair and makes sure they have tights on to keep warm. He plays dress up and reads Fancy Nancy 100 times. And I love that left to his own devices he picks camo and jeans everyday and takes the little Doo out for her Tom Boy adventures.

4. He reads books. I sometimes get too busy and tell Francie "as soon as I am done I'll read you another book." but Heff always stops what he is doing to read her books in his big booming voice over, and over, and over. Even Good Dog Carl when you can totally cheat and read through it so fast- he has a full on dialogue for every page in Carl!

5. He is my Mountain Man :) Heff loves all things outdoors, hunting, fishing, guns, scopes, dogs and camo. I love that he "brings home the bacon" on his hunting adventures and I love that he likes when I get to tag along to do these things with him! Just wait until Francie and Maisie can hold a rifle....

6. He is a hard worker. Heff has a great work ethic, morals and he really cares about what he does and the people he works for. I am always so proud when I meet clients of his who just love him for his work and who he is :) Just like my Dad which I always admired and wanted to be like to. I feel so lucky I found someone just like my Dad in those ways.

7. He lets Francie nap in his office when he works. I LOVE that we are so lucky to work in the same building. It lets me stay home or go play with the girls knowing he has things under control at our little commune of an office. He takes Francie some afternoons and gets her to sleep on his couch while he is on conference calls and sometimes just takes her into play and destroy his piles of files with highlighters so I can get something done or just have some mom time. Yesterday we carpooled into work and went in opposite directions at the top of the stairs to BB and his office- I love that he is right here all the time!

8. He takes good care of me. He washes my car, fills up the tank, takes out the trash (even the diaper one- yuck), cooks us yummy dinners and even does things when I'm not even thinking like moving my car from a 2 hour zone when I get busy at work and with the girls.

9. He loves me! Even though I am crazy and insisted on moving the entire house around (MAJOR furniture) at 11pm last night. He got out of bed to get the drill and help me :) and didn't even complain about it.

10. For the 99 other reasons too :)

I love you Heff!

X Y Z

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We're Home! So glad to see my Little Doo and my sweet husband who had the house spotless, flowers waiting AND stocked the fridge with groceries (and he actually went to Safeway instead of our little Market just so Francie could ride the big blue car) I had such a fun trip and made me appreciate being back with my little family :)

Sisters in the bathtub...

H... X, Y and Z

so much color! (color bath tabs... and water turned murky brown shortly after ;)

and speaking of color. Jannie, the girls and I went to Target yesterday and when we were driving home Francie said "Oh man you guys! You know what we forgot?!" what Francie. "JELLO!" (yes random) and then she goes "DAMN IT." and slaps her knee. I told her damn it wasn't a very nice word to say and she goes "But Damn it rhymes with Janet!" so of course it must be a perfectly accetable word to say right?

Babies... It's Cold Outside

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The weather was so nice the first few days we were here but turned COLD and rainy today... we've been checking out indoor kids places, cafes, doing a little shopping and making the most of the big apple before we head home (I miss my little Doo!)

Maisie ready to hit the town

But fell asleep at our first stop

We went to a little cafe where they have a room for kids to interact with an ecosystem of lights... it was amazing!

It was so cool I had to try it... and might have nudged Maisie enough to wake her up so she could too. You make tree's grow by standing still, then use pillows on the floor to make "water" lights divert to your tree so it flowers and you have to hit the bad bugs away to keep your tree alive. WOW, I want one.

then we bundled up for a little playground time in Tribeca

Can't pull up so well with these mittens on

See ya.

Big girl

clammy hand on cold metal

My Moo

Walking home along the river with Anne and the babies

Skeptical of why we bundle up to walk in this cold

and we found some other cool places to play inside...

having fun seeing the sights in NYC!

NYC Friends

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I've been so lucky to get together with so many NYC friends while we've been here!

Molly and Sarah Coogan both live here- we grew up together as family friends and Molly and her band, The Rooftops, did the very famous (in our family!) Kaky's Song.

It was great to see them and catch up!

We met up at Pastis in the Meat Packing District for drinks

Jen, Zach met us there too! and Ann Skidmore, Jen's mom! How did I not get a picture of Ann!? I was so excited to see them

"Hey Zach, my Dad has one of these scratchy things too"

No feet on the table Maisie Moo

Jen and Maisie

We went out for a late dinner at a fancy restaurant called Corton. I didn't know it was quite so fancy and I figured it would be easier just to bring Maisie and let her sleep next to me... we walked down to Tribeca with my favorite cozy Bill Amberg carrier

She slept like an angel the whole walk to the restaurant and then as soon as we sat down she was wide awake. WIDE awake. The people at the restaurant must have thought I was so obnoxious for bringing a baby to a 9pm fancy dinner. (Anne and I didn't know it was going to be so fancy!)

Maisie was pretty good (despite looking mad in this picture :) and sat on my lap or got passed around most of dinner. Anne jokingly asked the waiter for a high chair and crayons. They were not so amused. But by the end of dinner (3 hours later) the waiters admitted she was a good baby. Even Chelsea Clinton at the table next to us said she was 'amazing' ;)

We joked that Maisie was a little hungover the next day from her big night out. She slept until 10am and then took a nap again shortly after :)

Then Saturday I had lunch with my friend from W&M Pete and his wife Kerry- they are expecting a baby in July!

and later that night Maisie and I took a cab down to Tribeca to some other W&M friends apartment for dinner and to meet their new baby Charlie- just 2 months! (that us Charlie above with Pete and Kerry)
Jackie, Mary, Maisie and Kerry

Pete and Greg Rotz- the old roommates- doing the dishes for the ladies!