I know how you feel

Parenting is tiring, isn't it, Hannah?

Farewell!

Hannah and Jane said good-bye to their good friend Caitlin today. She is moving with her family, our dear friends, to Wyoming.
I have been fond of this little girl since she came to town only months old, and since then, my girls have grown close to her, especially recently, and especially Hannah. She loves Caitlin. As with all of our friends that have moved away, and there are many, we love to think of the fun memories and cherish the relationships we've created. Come visit anytime!

Caitlin, you are sweet as sweet can be. Hannah and Jane will miss you so!

It's time!

It's happening earlier than we had originally planned, but we are going to be having a baby in March.
We are very excited and we know it is time. Everyone else that we have told seems to have been waiting for this moment, anticipating. Given the spacing of our first two, I can understand why, but that left few with a surprised reaction.
No matter what, however, everyone is very excited for us. Thanks for all of your concern and well wishes we have received. We appreciate them! Just to assure you all, I am doing great and staying busy, busy, busy.

Now, how to expand our living quarters...

Jane's first real haircut

Parents have to make some difficult and big decisions for their children at times in their lives. We felt it was time to cut little Jane's hair and so we did. We gave her bangs quite a few months ago, but this is her first full-head-of-hair hair cut.
I wanted to add music to the video at first, but after watching it, I kind of liked hearing my little chipmunks squeak throughout the event, especially when Jane started to protest (Hannah was barely seen, but she was heard).
It's fast, but try to count how many times Jane picks her nose.


Jane's First Haircut from dan dyer on Vimeo.

We were a little sad to see those baby curls go, but we think her short bob suits her well.

Homecoming... and an update

The best thing that happened to me yesterday was coming home from girls' camp (after being in the dry dessert heat just a day previous) and being escorted by Dan and our girls to the nail salon to get a pedicure complete with mechanical back massage. It was just what I needed! I'd show you the before and after, but I don't want to lose the remaining readers we have. My feet were unrecognizable.

******

We spent about a week in Utah/Idaho for some family time with a family reunion on Dan's side. I never met so much extended family at one time! I'm so glad I finally got to meet so many of them. We had a great time in Lava Hot springs, so much that we couldn't get the girls to leave the pools.
We planned on returning to NYC a bit earlier, but everyone seems to love to fly out of SLC so we were stuck for another day (Dan) or two (us girls). There was pressure to get home, but we took advantage of the extra time to spend with friends and more family.
After the reddest of red-eye flights, I had a little less than a day to get ready for girls' camp.
Feeling unrested but determined, I arrived at camp and I'm so glad I did. I had a great experience this year. The Young Women of New York are simply amazing! I'll just leave it at that.

While we were in Utah, Dan and I celebrated our five year anniversary.
Five years...
It seems like so few. I feel as if we've been together a lifetime longer, and I mean that in the best possible way. I won't go on and on about it though. I won't go on and on about how blessed I am or how wonderful life has been or about what a better person I am or how happiness abounds or how I've had some amazing, life-altering experiences, all because of Dan...
although, all of that happens to be true.

Gone again

We managed to stay home for nearly a month before leaving again.
We are traveling to and around the great states of Utah and Idaho for a grand reunion.
Be back soon!

Jane's Stats (and Hannah's too)

Jane had her two-year appointment. Here's how she measures up:

Weight: 24 pounds - 15th percentile
Height: 35 inches - 75th percentile

I guess she is taller than I thought.
She had a rough appointment. The doc decided to flush out her ears because of all the junk in them, and she howled in pain. It was sad to watch, so sad, but at least I got to hold her.

We thought we'd figure out where Hannah is at, just for fun.

Weight: 32 pounds - at the 42nd percentile
Height: 42 inches - above the 97th percentile

We knew she was tall but it's strange to see how tall. That girl is going to be taller than me by age eight- not fair.

••••••••

On a slightly unrelated topic...
Every time I walk to the pediatrician's office, I see this office sign and I laugh:

Maybe Jack (A.K.A. "L" Kevorkian) has moved on to euthanasia via laughing gas.

Another one I see from time to time is Dr. Rotman, Dentist.
I wonder if either of them have lost potential patients because of their names...

Jane's birthday, the play-by-play

Note: below may contain info and photo overload. Be prepared.

"Good Morning, Jane! Happy Birthday!"
I was more excited about Jane's birthday than anyone, I think.
I wasn't so excited about Jane turning two as much as I was about the potential fun to be had for the day.
We started early, our schedule running on zoo-opening hours. But we looked outside.
Oh, oh- It might rain. We better hurry.
Hey, let's open one of Jane's presents!
Jane got her very own Hello Kitty umbrella. She acted as if she has waited her entire life for her very own umbrella.
We had to test it out immediately... in the non-existent rain.

Jane kept pointing to the kitty, "Kitty, kitty, kitty... " She was so proud. Ah, the joy! (Thanks, mom!)

Before leaving, I asked Dan to take a birthday photo of Jane with me and Hannah.

Yes, isn't that sweet. What can't be shown, is how wet and mad I was two minutes after this snapshot was taken, when Hannah sprayed me and the camera down with a hose.

Time-out for Hannah and then for myself to go get me and the camera dried off.

After picking up Jane's friend, Caitlyn, (and apologizing to Hannah) we were off.
We're going to the zoo, zoo, zoo...



This was an exciting new feature. Don't my little chicks look excited?
The Queens Zoo is small, quiet, picturesque and perfect for two-year olds with little to no attention span. We breezed through most parts. The highlights, as much as I can surmise from the little ones' P.O.V., were:
the sea lion feeding, and the barking
the alligator
snack time
the flowers
the "do not cross" cables that are so fun to cross
petting the coyote skin that the zoo youth educators had
watching ME feed the sheep

I think their favorite part of the zoo trip was riding on the carousel, which really had nothing to do with the zoo. That's always a sure thing for everyone's entertainment.


Except maybe for Dan's. Cheer up, Dan!


That's better.
Right as they got off the ride, BOOM... CRACK and then the rain.
Good timing.

Hours later, after a wicked storm with a sky dark as night, we headed to the subway for a downtown trip. Our destination?
Ellen's Stardust Diner.
Our friend is a singing waiter there on occasion, and as it was his last shift before he and his family leave our ward and move to Wyoming, we thought we'd pay him a visit.
The food is as good as to be expected for a diner, but not as good as the prices suggest. Nonetheless, the atmosphere was fun and entertaining. The girls loved watching the train go 'round and 'round the track up above. Dan and I loved watching our friend belt out show tunes and golden oldies. We had no idea he could sing so well! Actually, all the waiters had amazing talent.
At one point, one singing waiter sat down by Jane to serenade her. At first she looked right at him with a "may I help you?" look, then she looked at me as if to say, "who is this guy?"

Don't worry- she's not about to cry.
See her full mouth and that brown goo under her lip? That's Tootsie Roll juice, an appetizer before her fried meal. We're such good parents.
With all the loud singing, the place seemed like some off-Broadway theater which featured dining room seating and a strange medley of songs. We had a great time.

Home again, and time for the good stuff, at least the stuff that matters to Hannah- presents and cake!

Hannah had requested cow pies for Jane's birthday dessert, but after I suggested a cupcake cake, she changed her mind. Maybe it was the double "cake" that sold her. We'll have to talk to her about cow pies later.



Jane went nuts on the frosting, kind of like last year.


Just like last year, that's all she ate- the frosting.
Presents this year, including the aforementioned umbrella, were:
a raincoat, (thanks again, mom),
Dora DVD,
baby doll stroller, could be the winning gift this year, and
lots of books, three of which are about sheep and lambs- her favorite.

Our DVD player provided the girls' entertainment for the remainder of the evening, and I didn't feel an iota of guilt.
Looking back on the day, I can say it will be a memorable birthday of our little Jane O.
She may not remember it, but some day, she'll know about it.