Welcome Owen Michael

February has been a baby boom!  Our friends Jen and Scott, Darcy and Todd, and Kristin and Mike all welcomed babies this month!  We first got to meet Owen Michael, Kristin and Mike's adorable baby boy.  We went to see them Friday night after the storm had subsided.  Owen is so itsy bitsy and cuddly.  I loved holding him, but Lyla was a little bit jealous.  She was really curious and wanted to look at him up close but she's a little bit too aggressive with her affection (like Lenny from Of Mice and Men...), so we had to keep her away.  Kristin looks fantastic and Mike just looks really happy to be a dad :)

The big photoshoot

We braved the blizzard yesterday to go to DUMBO for Lyla's photoshoot. She wasn't exactly well behaved at the shoot. Let's just say she doesn't like it when people tell her what to do.

Pics to come on Tuesday.

Video from Lyla's Party

Here are a couple of short videos Mark took at Lyla's birthday party.

The Celebration Continues

I took the day off from work on Tuesday to celebrate Lyla's actual birthday. The weather was really yucky but we had a nice day. My little diva started her day by sleeping in! Once she was up, we went to Financier for coffee (for me) and croissants (for Lyla). We had a lovely ladies lunch at Otto with Grandma Linda, Aunt Phyllis and Eileen. And Lyla had a very special treat when Dylan joined us for dessert (to help Lyla blow out her candle, of course) and came back to our apartment to open presents and play.

My pizza girl


Playing with Grandma Linda



Learning "abracadabra" with Aunt Phyllis




And showing Dylan her new trick


Birthday gelato! It was Lyla's first time trying ice cream. She liked it.


We all took a cab back to the apartment (don't tell Mark...he doesn't approve of Lyla in cabs but it was pouring out)


Back at the apartment, Dylan was a huge help opening Lyla's birthday gifts


The girls had a tea party in Lyla's crib will all of Lyla's dollies and stuffed animals



Dylan was also a big help feeding Lyla a little snack

Lyla's 1st Birthday Party!!

On Sunday, we had a little family get together to celebrate Lyla's first birthday. She had such a great time playing with all her cousins (both sides!) and being passed around to her grandparents, aunts and uncles. We had the party at a local restaurant that just opened, the Open Door Gastropub, and it really turned out great. We had the big back room so the kids could run around and it was jut a nice, relaxing afternoon surrounded by the most important people in Lyla's life.

Our theme was "cupcake" because, naturally, Lyla is our sweet little cupcake and our color pallete was orange and pink. It turned out great and -- coincidentally, of course ;) -- the party room had orange and pink walls!






Even Lyla and I coordinated for the party


Lyla, Mommy and Daddy


Lyla with Grandma and Papa


Lyla with Bammie and Pa


She loved the balloons...but not as much as she loves Pa


Lyla and Aunt Laurie


We were so honored that Mark's entire family made the long trip to celebrate with Lyla




Me and all my favorite girls


This is her serious look (hard to take her serious with an "I'm 1" button)


Lyla had a ball playing with all her big cousins.



She loves her "little" cousin too



This is typical when we try to take a picture of them...looking in completely opposite directions


She had such a hard time crawling in her big puffy party dress. But Dennis and Nicolas tried to show her how to do it




Here's a great picture of Aunt Dina and Aunt Shushi


...but here's the even better behind-the-scenes shot :)


Cake time!



She was NOT interested in her birthday crown.


But was interested in a birthday cupcake



And, the aftermath. A room full of new toys, a baby wired on sugar and a passed out husband. What a day!