Snow Day

The snow started around 10am on Wednesday, but from the looks of things I didn't think it was going to stick. As I pushed my cart down the hallway of our building Wednesday night, I was surprised at the mini blizzard raging outside. People probably thought I was little crazy as I hauled 2 bags of laundry a block and a half to the good laundromat, but I was rewarded when I had the whole place to myself. (Not that an empty laundromat is a fun place to be. I just knew I could use as many washers and dryers as I needed. I get excited about small things like that these days.)

When I got home from doing laundry I told Blake all about the snow and how we would go play in it tomorrow. He was so excited he asked to wear his mittens to bed. The next morning, after about 20 minutes of suiting up for a snowy adventure, we headed outside for a little frolicking in the snow. Well, as much frolicking as a city sidewalk will allow.

Snow days are also a great time to use the dollar Grandma sent you to ride the train you pass by on a weekly basis and have a minor meltdown when Mom says you cannot ride it.

And it was everything a little boy could dream of.

Conversations

Sunday, 9:30am:
Blake: You is Whitney. He is Evan. I is Blakey. We are family.


Tuesday, 5pm:
Me: It's almost time for dinner. What do you want to eat?
Blake: Suckers and marshmallows!


Thursday, 3am:
Blake: Mom! Moooooooooooooooom! Come here yittle second!
Me: (all sorts of grunting as I struggle to get out of bed) What do you need?
Blake: I question for you.
Me: Ok.
Blake: I want Toby.
Me: You want me to find Toby?
Blake: Yes. You help me?


Thursday, 9:30am:
Blake: What are you doing?
Me: I'm pretending your leg is a guitar and playing it.
Blake: That impossible!
Me: That's impossible?
Blake: That impossible for 'tar is weg.


Thursday, 1pm:
Blake: Moooooom! You come here?
Me: (enter Blake's room) What do you need?
Blake: You came! Good choicey!

Halloween and a Hurricane

Well, I guess it was really the hurricane first, then Halloween.

Our neighborhood  had a few fallen trees after Sandy hit, but we came out of it relatively unscathed. And while I wasn't really scared during the storm, it was the strongest wind I've ever heard. I can't imagine how frightening it was for people to watch rising flood waters invade their homes!

Fireman Sam is here to check things out.

Heading out to check on the nabe.

We didn't lose power or internet, so being cooped up for a week wasn't horrible. The worst thing that happened to us was losing cell phone service for a few days. I didn't really think it was a big deal until I started going through a scenario where I went into labor but didn't have the ability to call anyone to take Blake or get a ride to the hospital. Luckily that didn't happen.

With Hurricane Sandy hitting the week of Halloween, no one knew if trick-or-treating was actually going to happen. This would've been Blake's first experience with trick-or-treating so if it had been cancelled he wouldn't have known the difference. Luckily for Blake (and me, since I've been snacking on his candy) trick-or-treating was on, so we headed out with friends to collect some loot.

Come on, guys!

Trick-or-treating in Brooklyn is a lot different than trick-or-treating in the 'burbs. Instead of going house to house you go store to store collecting your candy. Blake seemed pretty confused about the whole process. All I could think about was the line from Jerry Seinfeld's bit, "What is this? Who’s giving out candy? Someone’s giving out candy? Who is giving out this candy? Everyone we know is just giving out candy?!" Blake couldn't process that people were just giving him candy, and lots of it!

The funniest part of trick-or-treating was when a confused Blake followed the crowd of trick-or-treaters into a pizza place and held his bucket up to a patron waiting in line and said, "Trick or treat!" to which the guy responded, "Sorry man. I don't have any candy!"

After a few blocks (it doesn't take much to fill up your bucket!) we called it a day and headed back home.

CAAAAAAAAAAAANDY!

Despite Hurricane Sandy, Halloween was a lot of fun this year. Can't believe next Halloween we'll have a 3 year old and an almost 1 year old!

It's the Final Countdown

37 weeks

I feel awkward. Even though this was my idea.

What is she doing?

Flying stick!

"What about me?"

With his head cocked back and his little hands reaching over my growing bump, Blake asked me that question. From the living room Evan yelled, "We're going to be hearing that a lot more once the baby gets here!"

Time froze. And just like you see in the movies, Blake's question, "What about me?" echoed in my mind several times.

What will happen to Blake once this new baby arrives? How wonderful it would be if we walk in our front door and Blake embraces this baby with open arms and never looks back. But let's be realistic:

Blake has had all of our attention for 2 and a half years. My whole life revolves around Blake. His schedule is my schedule. But that's going to change rather abruptly come Thanksgiving. And how do you explain that to a 2 and a half year old?

I think what I fear most is that Blake will feel less loved as a result of this new baby. That he'll retreat to his room one day wondering, "Why doesn't Mom love me anymore?" Maybe his thought processes aren't that advanced. Still, his "What about me?" question was enough to make me cry as I walked home from the grocery store on Saturday. (Well that, and being an incredibly emotional pregnant woman).

And while it will be a difficult transition for all of us once this yet-to-be named baby boy arrives, I do truly believe Blake will benefit from having a sibling. I love my siblings and can't imagine what life would be like without them. And the home videos my parents have of my siblings and me wouldn't be nearly as hilarious if it was just me in them.

Obviously there's no turning back. This baby is coming. Blake will be a big brother. We will be parents of 2 children very soon. And if the stack of parenting books on my night stand is any indication of my perceived lack of parenting skills, there's a good chance Blake is going to feel lost in the shuffle of all this baby stuff. But hopefully everything will work itself out and Blake and baby #2 will be best buds before we know it.

Or at least they won't kill each other.

Rubber Ducky, you're the one

Well, you were the one until you got all moldy inside and had to be thrown away.

Now dinosaurs are Blake's go-to bath toy. And by the looks of it, it'll be that way for a while.

Raaaaaaaar!!!!

My Kid is Cute

He hailed a cab. Just waiting for the driver.

You talkin' to me?

Aaaaaand this is the closest you'll get to having a puppy.