Erica's Birthday

The Tuesday before my birthday, the Young Women came over and surprised me.  They brought cake, cheesecake, onesies they decorated for Ty, balloons, and a card.  

Darby, Lenzci, the creeper balloon, and Isabella

They wrote a song in the card, which they also sang:
"Happy Birthday to you!
We really love you.
You're amazing and really grumpy,
But it's okay 'cause you're cool!"
The grumpy line is an inside joke :)

Then on my birthday morning, Marcus pulled out some presents.

Of course Chase had to help open them

It was a beautiful Brighton bag that I had basically been coveting.  There are pictures later.

It was a Sunday morning, so we were all home for breakfast together.  We had the fancy breakfast of Pillsbury cinnamon rolls -- so good!

Chase enjoyed his breakfast too

Chase had also gotten a present from Mimi and Grandpa when I opened the box from them.  (I got a really cute shirt!)  Chase opened a Big Brother gift of a Build-A-Bear Stuart the Minion.  They're BFFs!

The three of us, Chase, Stuart, and I, watched Despicable Me together.  

And we also played Donkey Kong on the Wii for a little bit, which was another gift from Marcus.  We were given a Wii from one of Marcus' coworkers awhile back, and now we officially have two games!

Ty slept through most of the morning festivities.

It was a great birthday week.  Then on Wednesday I headed back to Connecticut to teach.  My new bag was able to have its inaugural trip, and I must say, it did a classy job.  I felt much more professional (and cute) with it.

The Bag on the 7 train

The Bag on the MetroNorth

Definitely bag success :)  And birthday success.  Here's to being 28 -- if that's the right age.  I can't remember.  haha

Family Outing

To celebrate Marcus having the day off as part of his paternity leave and Chase using the potty all week, we decided to have a short family outing to get a treat.  We didn't go far because we were a little intimidated to take both Chase and Ty out, but we successfully made it all the way over to Wendy's :)  (We had decided that Frosties would be the best treat!)

Stopping to check out the fountains next door

Chase telling us about the dog he met

Testing out his treat

Unsure of all the white stuff on the spoon

A straw was definitely a better choice. Chase loved his junior frosty!

Chase even went out to Wendys in his big boy underwear.  He's getting really good with his potty training.  It took many days of lollipop and candy bribery, but now he is just enjoying picking out which underwear to wear.  He's got some great choices-- Mickey superheroes, Jake and the Neverland Pirates, Pixar characters, and Planes.  Now the problem is trying to convince him to wear the same pair all day - he wants to wear them all :)

Ty did a pretty great job of sleeping through our adventure

Which apparently tired him out 

Noni Visits

We had a plan.  Cozette was going to fly out before the C-Section and watch Chase while Marcus and I stayed in the hospital.  Ty's early arrival obviously ruined that, but it worked out even better.  Marcus was able to take paternity leave when I was in the hospital and stay home with Chase.  When he came to the hospital, Chase stayed with some of our friends.  Then Cozette came out for a week and a half to help me figure out life with two little ones -- and do more than her share of nighttime feedings.  (Marcus then was able to take the last half of his leave after Cozette left, before my mom comes.  It works out to be three or four weeks with help!  It's been wonderful!)  

While Cozette was here, she took lots of pictures and also played play-doh a ton with Chase.  Here are some of the pictures.

Tired boy after playing all day

Showing off his purple tongue from a lollipop (a potty training reward)

More tired buddies

Ty's first newborn bath with Chase commentary

Talking to Grandpa on the toilet

Playing with Daddy

Play-doh was a huge hit -- Chase enjoyed making spiders

More "yuckies" while Ty sleeps in my lap

Jumping out of the big car seat box

SMILE :)

Chasing a Bird

Chase cracks me up.  He loves to play and explore and TALK!  He seriously never stops talking until he crashes in his bed at night.  Wednesday, Chase and I went on a short walk around the block.  He saw a pigeon and decided to follow it down the street and talk to it.  It was super cute.  Too bad we only have pigeons around here.  New York City pigeons are gross.  But for now, we'll let Chase think they're cool.  I tried to get some pictures and clips of him asking the pigeons questions.

"I see a bird!"

"Where'd it go?  It's over there!"

It was a great walk around the block, and of course somehow the pigeons know of Chase's love for the laundromat.  They led him there, where he helped the employees put clothes in the dryers, add quarters, turn on the machines, and watch the clothes spin.  What a super helper.

Ty's First Sunday at Church

While Cozette was here,  I was a little more adventurous about going outside.  We made it all the way (about six blocks) to the pediatrician one day, and then on Sunday we went to church.  On the way there, Marcus took Chase on the train, and Cozette, Ty, and I took an Uber.  Chase joined us in the car on the way home.  It actually went pretty smoothly.  I was anticipating the worst, but we did it!  

In his NEW car seat

Sweetly sitting in the car

I'm still shocked at his dark hair - it's so soft and cute

Napping during YWs

I still have two big bruises on my arms from shots in the hospital.
One of the YW decided she needed to kiss it better.  Thanks... :)

Trying to get a picture with Chase, but he was way too tired after church to even look up

Yay -- we lived through the first eleven days of two kids!

Crocheted Baby Shoes

I had seen a super cute pattern for little crochet shoes online that I really wanted to learn to make.  That's what started my earlier project to crochet Marcus a tie.  I wanted to practice some of the stitches.  I am not very good at fiber arts projects in general, but I've been slowly working at it -- and the millions of times I restart projects helps too :)  But somehow I finally finished the little booties.

Two soles that were finally the same size!

Just needing the straps

Testing the size - I made the 3-6 month size, so they're big on Ty

My final product:

Trying them on Ty's little feet

He seems to like them

Or maybe he just finds them funny...

I'm still proud I finished a pair!  Now I've knitted a Santa hat and crocheted a tie and these booties.  Not bad!  Just need to get that sewing machine back out :)