Noah's Ark Exhibit at the Skirball Center

Well, we made it today!  After a fabulous, fancy lunch we got to enjoy the exhibit and a beautiful day atop the Santa Monica mountains.  The exhibit is extremely well-maintained and well-run and filled with moving animal sculptures, toys and puppets and lots of things to climb on and touch.  It was tough to get pictures...most were like this:

or this

Many coveted Oola's Medieval Times hat (a gift from Abba), while Noah enjoyed gnawing his hand and gazing at the rafters filled with beautiful animal sculptures....a great change from the kitchen ceiling, I imagine! 

Oola did pause for a moment to hang out with a walrus.....and then she was off!  I highly recommend the experience (it's free on Thursdays but you do need to make reservations...and next time I would pack a lunch).

p.s.  Noah's post-bath spa routine -- a little rest and relaxation with his favorite toys.  Mom -- he LOVES the beating heart and sleeps with it often.......oddly, the bear was from my dentist.....they will do anything to be liked...just kidding....;)

 

I Wish The Paparazzi Would Leave Me Alone

Wait---you aren't really leaving?

You can take the girl out of Hollywood........

Not According to Plan

I prefer a plan...and today, it seemed like the entire world conspired to throw us off course.  The day started on track --- baby Noah and I went for a jog while Claudia and Oola went to gymnastics. Then, we readied ourselves for a trip to the Skirball Center to see the Noah's Ark exhibit.....we thought we had tickets but discovered we did not, so we got tickets, then we discovered we had no gas so we got gas after having to confront a line jumper at the pump, then we found we were locked in the Santa Clarita Valley because of accidents and the resulting traffic backup....so we aborted the trip and decided to go feed the ducks and have lunch (and being the super prepared mom, I often carry some bread in the car in case there are ducks to feed)......and then the day got better.

After lunch, EVERYONE napped and then we played in the pool until dinnertime.  So a good day after all.

Heat Wave

It's been a hot one here in So Cal (110+degrees) --- so we have been busy with indoor activities and playing with the million or so toys we have all over the house, taking Noah along for the ride.  He loves any room with a fan, while interestingly fans are Oola's only fear --discovered last year adjacent to an industrial sized blower at the zoo and reaffirmed during a recent trip to Bed, Bath & Beyond-- the store entrance was a gauntlet, according to Drew.  Noah is much more alert now....he's awake for 8-10 hours a day so we try to change his surroundings often and give him new things to see, feel, kick, mouth and smell. Oola is trying new things too --this week: a radish.  What a fun thing to try or do something for the very first time!!!  I tried to explain this to lady in the produce section as I was buying the radishes (inspired by the crudite platter in a Fancy Nancy Tea Party book) -- but she did not seem to share my enthusiasm.  And, Oola spit out the radish.  Who really likes radishes anyway?

Meet Mr Pinata

The party crib

Oola's fort

Drew found this fantastic construction set at the book store --- we built it...but the decorating was all Oola....and she was tolerant of Noah's visit....but preferred to play alone.

It's starting to cool off so we are headed outside for a swim today and perhaps will endeavor to visit Legoland later this week. Stay tuned!

Walking the Cake Off (this one is for you mom & dad)

.....and the ice cream and the chicken tenders...Shye keeps reminding me it was fun to thumb my nose at healthy eating for nine months. Oola came in later to use the exercise ball.  I'm glad the kids are supporting me.

Baby Dancing

Noah sailed through his two month check-up today, enduring three shots and some icky medicine.  Poor little guy....he was having such a great day, cooing and gurgling, and then all of the sudden he looked at me like "what-the #@%$&."  My mom said when we were two there were only two shots so I guess the world now is twice as safe!  What a difference a week makes at this point.....truly.  Exactly at six weeks Noah suddenly (and miraculously) stopped crying and became happy, angel baby.....and in the last week the smiles have turned into grunts and coos and gurgles and it is FANTASTIC!  Abba caught him dancing below.....

Next stop-- rolling over!!!

4th of July

Ok - so we skipped the parade this year because of the baby and enjoyed spending time with friends, brunching al fresco and looking at pictures of their Alaskan cruise (amazing!).  Other than that we've been playing outside alot and doing what we do  -- going to gymnastics and ballet classes, visiting chuck e cheese and the train museum and the park and playing at home.  The days (and nights) run together as time flies by and my return to work fast approaches.


I've been wondering why our blog postings have been so intermittent...and I think it is because I've tried to post great pictures of big days -- like Days Out with Thomas or museum visits....and invariably I'll forget the camera or only get silly pictures.....and then I won't post.....and I guess I've realized it is the every day...the little things I don't want to forget and that's exactly what should go on the blog.  Hopefully Oola can start to help me this year.


Here's a sample of what playing at home is now:  dressing up (for about 3 min), dancing to Mamma Mia (2 min), reading Max the Minnow (1 min), acting like Max the Minnow (2 min), begging to make a pizza (1 min - because Max makes them)....going downstairs to assemble all ingredients for a pizza (10 min)....and then changing our minds to go into the playroom to build Bigopolis out of Legos (15 min)....which then becomes Disneyland.

Right now Oola has a lot of rules (baskets are worn on the head, socks on hands) and likes (baseball, glue) and dislikes (parties, fans) which we are all grappling to learn....it's Oola's world, and we just live in it. ;)

It's definitely fun but keeps you on your toes!!!

Summer Daze

Ok....Noah is now 7 weeks old and the family is beginning to stabilize.  We have been so touched by the outpouring of well wishes from our family, our colleagues, our neighbors, and our friends.  This whole experience again reminds us how lucky we are to know so many thoughtful and generous people.  We are especially grateful to a number of folks:  1) Shye and Charlie, who so selflessly helped us almost every moment the days before, during and after Noah's birth....and in fact continue to go above and beyond -- thank you, Aunt Shye and Uncle Charlie!  We are grateful to Claudia, Abba and her family for all of their help and guidance ....you have been a blessing!!  And we are grateful to the grandparents who all came to visit and each helped us as we learned to how to handle two children. 


It's been quite a journey these first couple of months, and it is amazing how much we had forgotten about babies since Oola....how little they are and slippery in the tub...the funny faces and noises they make...how many diapers you use in a day.....how your heart melts when they actually smile at you...and how quickly they change.


Oola has been fairly indifferent about the arrival of "the brother" -- we believe thanks to the extra attention from Claudia and her family.....maybe she'll even want to hold him soon....though she does enjoy touching his hair, bringing him his pepe (pacifier) and throwing away his diapers. 


So now we are finding ourselves a little better equipped and able to handle our expanded brood and ready to reengage with the people and activities we enjoy. 


So what happened today?  It's been a great day!


We continue to log Noah's sleeping and awake times -- trying to discern a pattern so we can move him into some semblance of schedule.

Noah helped me continue to explore the world of facebook and hopefully I can figure how to use the facebook/blogger/youtube combination to best connect me and the family to you.  Please bear with me as I learn, and please feel free to send any tips or advice along the way.


Oola was out with Claudia and Abba for most of the day and then came home to play "claydough" with me and Noah outside.

Then, Oola went on an "adventure" with her daddy (trip to Staples and maybe the yogurt shop).  Anyway, sorry again we've been absent, and thanks to all of you for your love and support.  xoxoxo