Thinking of Aunt Katie

Thoughts are with our Katie today as she prepares to go back to Colorado for more treatment and a bone marrow transplant. With luck and lots of prayers we know she will kick this illness for good this time. We're praying she's clear and healthy soon so Zoe can be baptized in her arms.

We love you, Katie!

A Rainy Day with Baba

We'd been planning for weeks. Baba (aka "Grandpapa" or "Mommy's Daddy") was coming for a visit. We were going to spend the day in the Big City brunching, walking in Central Park and seeing the "Mythical Creatures" exhibit at the Natural History Museum.
We made lists of things necessary for a day trip to the city and packed enough snacks, books, crayons and extra clothing for a week. The one thing we didn't count on was rain, rain and more rain. Somewhat damp, we managed a lovely brunch, crammed into taxis in lieu of walking and, in the end, couldn't get tickets for the exhibit as every other person with a stroller in NYC had the same idea.

Oh well. It was still a very, nice day.

Athena's Guide
to Making the Best of
a Rainy Day in New York City

Catch raindrops with your tongue

Spend time with someone who loves you

Enjoy yourself no matter what

Sleepover with Mimi and Yia Yia

Babies slept over with Mimi and Yia Yia Friday night so that Chris and I could celebrate our Greek Anniversary and have some "grown up" time (no pictures were taken).

All photos here are courtesy of Aunt Mimi.

As it was told to me, the girls swam, played, ate well and tore apart Yia Yia's house. Zoe woke several times during the night, and Mimi (who was on Zoe nighttime duty) now understands why I'm tired all the time.

Mimi is currently taking a nap.

Zoe's 9 month check up

18 lbs 9 oz
29 inches
95% for height
25-50% for weight

Dr. Payne determined Zoe is "long and lean," healthy and "very cute." She's pleased with how well her lip repair has healed and how she is growing and hitting her milestones. Zoe got a Hep B shot and the nurse took blood from her big toe, all of which was terribly upsetting. We talked about her teething woes and, silly me, I've checked for teeth on the bottom gum but Dr. Payne pointed out that her first tooth has already broken through on the top (kinda crooked) and the second is about to come through. Poor baby. No wonder she's been such a sad little person lately.

Baby say "duck"!

Bath time happens right after dinner so that the sticky clothes can be peeled off the baby and she is carried (preferably away from the body) and immediately dunked into warm, soapy liquid. Following is a period of fun, discovery and individual one-on-one Zoe and Mommytime.
Tonight, Zoe said "duck" at bath time. This is officially her first word outside of "Mama," "Dada" and "Yia yia." She said it, like, three times so it's not just an anomaly (well...one time it was more like "Der"). Oddly, "duck" was Athena's first word after "Dada" (hmm...interesting). I called Athena and Chris upstairs and tried to get Zoe to say it a fourth time, but it didn't happen. Athena was still thrilled however... "Baby say duck!" Athena is so excited by Zoe's milestones. She is Zoe's little cheerleader and always lets us know what Zoe is doing. She's amusingly empathetic when Zoe is fussing and will tell me why Zoe is crying, for instance, "Zoe need milk," "Zoe sleepy" or (when we're in the car) "Mama, Zoe miss home." Apres bath, nothing smells better than a freshly washed baby.

Birthday Celebration

Today was my birthday. Chris took the day off and we spent the morning at Minnewaska State Park, hiking (sort of), enjoying the view, chasing butterflies, trying to catch frogs and wading in the lake.

We were ill prepared for everything this beautiful park had to offer. We should have brought bathing suits, snacks, Chris's trail running gear...but we count it as an exploratory visit and next time we'll know better. Here's my family enjoying the day with the most healthful snack the nearest gas station had to offer.

Greek Anniversary

Today is the 8th anniversary of our greek wedding, the day we exchanged vows at sunset on Paros. Chris says that the best days of his life are the days the girls were born, as those days both involved surgery for me, it is this day that tops my list.

A Magical Morning

Not being a family that willingly wakes up with the sun, we thought the 6am launch time for the Hudson Valley Hot Air Balloon Festival would be too difficult.

Luckily (?) Zoe decided for us all that 5:15 am was the time to get up today (something she hasn't done for awhile) and since 3/4 of the family was already up, we decided to wake the other one and go on an adventure.

Armed with apple juice and Duncan Donuts coffee (the only place opened) we made it to the launch site just in time...6:05 am (gasp) and it was quite a sight. About 20 or so brightly colored balloons about to lift off and float down the river.

I think the wonder and excitement on their faces pretty much sums it up...

Athena's Haircut

Although I forgot to take the camera for the actual event,
here's the "after" shot.

view from the side...

and "before" the haircut...a messy tangle of curls with
the same cheesy grin.

Not too drastic of a change. I probably could have cut it myself, but I
was terrified of ending up with a mullet and, frankly, couldn't find any
sharp scissors.

Baby's First Sign

Okay maybe we are deluding ourselves, but we have been using the sign for "milk" with Zoe and she seems to be doing it back to us. She also will use this sign when she wants something, like her sister's bear or a paper napkin, perhaps what she is really trying to communicate is "Gimme!" Because of Zoe's little cleft, she may take longer to form words and speak clearly so we're hoping to teach her signs to communicate basic needs.

Whatever she is trying to say, it's really encouraging!

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Zoe is 9 months old today!

Twins

Chris and I have long seen a resemblance in the sweet sleeping
faces of Athena and Zoe. Here's trying to prove our point.

Zoe at 8 1/2 months:


Athena at 10 months:

Happy Birthday to Granpapa!

After much cajoling, we finally got Athena's Happy Birthday song on tape. She sings it all the time, but the distraction of the camera was too much. Each song was disrupted by a "I see, I see" followed by little hands grabbing for the camera.

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First blog

Ahem...this thing on...