Week as a Single Parent

Week as a Single Parent (Non-Crappy Collaboration)

THIS IS ME every single time Justin goes to China. Except it's usually 10 days - 2 weeks, not just a week. And I am much less ambitious to start. It's all about survival, baby! Speaking of, we are looking at another trip in November...sigh.

Visit from dear friends!!

This weekend we were very lucky and honored to have Sam Breen and her daughter Raegan visit us from Boston. They took the late-night flight on Thursday and spent three days with us. Raegan is a little bit older than Jack and they have both known each other since they were born. Leaving the Breens was one of the horrible things about leaving Boston, and we were absolutely enthralled with how much both kids had grown.

Here is a picture that Tony, Raegan's dad, dug up from the last time the kids were together:

How little were they?!

We had such a great, whirlwind trip. The kids quickly remembered how much they loved playing together. Here are some of the things we did...

On Friday, we took the kids to Happy Hollow. It was a fun trip, but both of them had been up late the night before and poor Raegan was still working on east coast time. It was short-lived and served to get just enough energy out jumping before we headed home for naps.

 

Raegan, Jack, and some random kid in the bouncy house :)

 We had a great dinner out at Aqui, the park, and bath and early bed on Friday. On Saturday, we all got up and headed up to San Francisco. Chrissy, Gordon, and Spencer kept baby Caroline for the day so that we didn't have to haul her all around (even though she's so good, that's a lot of car time for a little baby!) Thanks so much to them!! It was awesome for us to spend some one-on-one time with Jack.

First we went to the Golden Gate Bridge, but it was super foggy (go figure, San Fran!)

You can barely see the bridge, but at least the kids were happy!

Adorable kiddos!

 After the bridge, we contemplated heading up to Muir Woods to see the Redwoods, but opted for a true San Francisco crab lunch instead. We kind of did everything on the fly based on how the kids were doing. They hung in there!

Enjoying the view from our table!

Finally, the sun came out.

Trying to see the "bad guys" on Alcatraz.

After lunch, we chased some birds...

And we walked some of the city's famous hills (sorry, Sam!)

She was a trooper. TWO KIDS in the stroller and the steepest hill ever!

We wolfed down some milkshakes and ice cream at Ghiradelli and headed home. Both kids were wiped out.

Sleepy girl!!!

Sunday, we had a great breakfast out at Hobee's and then had a super long play morning at the park. Jack and Raegan were in their prime - they had a great time together!

Breakfast out. Caroline is getting so big! (And yes, Jack is drinking his own coffee. He is MY kid.)

Walking to the park together. OMG. So cute.

Lunch while watching Ninja Turtles.  

Everyone was enthralled.

Raegan adored Caroline. She kept singing her songs
she made up like "sweet little Caroline-y!" It was cute.

Love!

Raegan picked out Caroline's outfit for dinner out on Sunday. Can't you tell???

She's so big now!!! 

We were so sad to say goodbye tonight and we hope it won't be another year and a half before we see them again. They are such good friends and we are so lucky to know them.

Reflect.

My kids are crazy...there's no doubt about that. Jack told me that he wants me to be an elephant for Halloween. He is insistent on sleeping with the bar on his bed down now, because he's a "big boy." He corrects us all the time (and he's usually right.) Caroline is a chatterbox, smiling and laughing and cooing at anyone that will look in her direction. She loves to be thrown around, she loves the swings at the park, and she's super cute. I get so caught up in the daily worries of being their Mom...am I doing it all right? Am I doing it all wrong? What could I do better? And most days, I am frazzled and exhausted and my patience is thin.

But I have to remember these moments...because everyone keeps saying they will be gone in the blink of an eye. And they are. Caroline was 6 months old yesterday. Jack is 3.5 and growing every day. I have to thank my dear friend Samantha Breen for sharing this article with me....oh how fast this time goes by!

A Letter to My 50-Year-Old Self

Houdini Crosby

Caroline likes to sleep tightly swaddled...except when she doesn't. Justin likes to watch her on the video monitor while he works on his computer on the couch at night, because she's always doing something crazy. One arm out, the other arm out. Rolling over one way or another. And her latest ... What looks like humping her mattress to wiggle like a worm all around her crib. It's absolutely hysterical! I've tried unswaddling her, but she won't sleep. I guess she likes the challenge of freeing herself before drifting off to dreamland :)

Here's tonight's photo. Notice her on her back (which she hates,) with both arms out. Funny girl!!!

enjoying Fall!

We've been busy. Jack and Caroline are growing like weeds! I had to buy Jack all new pants today because none of his from 3 weeks ago fit anymore! And I put stuff away daily that Caroline outgrows. It's crazy how fast they get bigger! Here are some recent pictures.

Bathtime! It's become a family ritual now after bath for both kids to have
"jumping" time on the bed. I bounce Caroline around while Jack
jumps and she giggles uncontrollably!

She loves the bouncy seat!

Chilling at the dentist with Mommy.

Jack loves these popsicles. Ugh. Mess.

It's gotten chilly here!

Rings and watches fascinate her. She loves trying to take the
diamond out of mine. It perplexes her to no end.

HATED the carousel!

Jack the Dragon!

Sleepy time.

What she was doing on Saturday night when she was
supposed to be sleeping!!!

Thanks to our awesome dentist, this is her new favorite chew toy :)

Out to dinner at Olive Garden. What a big girl!

Baby blues.

One of Jack's million "tents" around baby girl.

Sibling love :) Melt.

Playdate with Mommy to the bouncy house!!!

He was a fan.

One of my favorite pictures.

He was amazed by this pirate ship!

I have been practicing my photography skills, and our sweet friends Chrissy and Gordon and Jack's best friend Spencer let me do a practice session with them. Chrissy is about 8 months pregnant now and due on 12/31 with Daniel, their new baby boy. We can't wait to meet him! How adorable is their family???...We are lucky to have such great friends! I am going to do some more reading and research and hopefully some more photo shoots soon. I am really enjoying my new hobby!