Etc.

Eleuthera, 2015

Love this photo of our little nutter...

Secrets

Eleuthera, 2015

One of the things I love most about this island is how you have to do a lot of digging (turning down unmarked roads, asking around, finding dead ends, serendipitously finding your way home) to figure out how everything works.

For instance: the best rum cake in the island comes from the hardware store in Rock Sound. You have to happen to be there at the right time, when Yvonne is at the counter. Ask nicely and she may just make you one.

Finding fresh bread is another feat....you wake up early on Tuesdays or Fridays and head to the Island Farm, or meander through the back roads of Governor's Harbour and happen upon the bakery. Then there's the fellow at the Front Porch in Hatchet Bay, who will dive for conch in the morning and serve it up for you, alongside freshly caught crab, that afternoon (if you call in advance.)

It's very much an "I know a guy" kind of place. The island definitely rewards those who come back time and again.

Of course, you could find all that hunting and gathering kind of maddening, but it's my idea of the perfect holiday (accompanied by a pristine, deserted beach.)

Island Time

Eleuthera, 2015

The boys are getting a little more adjusted to the beach though our city kid Axel keeps saying, with great concern: "Mama, there's ants on it!"

At Last: Back to Eleuthera

Eleuthera, 2015

Okay people in the great frozen north, don't hate us too much.

We arrived on Eleuthera on Saturday, after a long travel day (otherwise known as "meltdown city.") But it's amazing how quickly we've adjusted to island life...by which I mean, sorry, never coming back.

Home Sweet

Williamsburg, 2015

So part of the reason I have been so scattered here lately is that we are up to our old real estate shenanigans.

Specifically that means we have been busy getting our rental property ready to be sold, which means lots of painting and organizing over the last several weeks. Our real estate broker suggested we stage the apartment ourselves, so that's also been an endeavor! The finished result is lovely in a minimalist sort of way, I think.

It's such a bittersweet decision for us...we had great fun in this apartment for more than six years (and wow, how different it looks from when we lived there.)

Anyway, it's been an intense experience but it feels good to be moving forward with this. And I love how bright and clean and airy it looks here. What a nice blank slate for some other family.

And not to be all sales-y, but if anyone is interested, you can find more info via: nathan@parkadv.com

V Day

Williamsburg, 2015

Ack is there anything cuter than nursery school Valentines?

Countdown

Williamsburg, 2015

Oh hello there. Eleven days 'til we leave for sunshine. (Bear with me, it's pretty much at the top of mind lately.)

I get ludicrously type A about packing for trips (and still sometimes fail to bring diapers) so when I haven't been madly trying to tackle my work deadlines I have been organizing lots of piles of tiny sun hats, swim vests, shorts, and new T-shirts for the boys.

I think we are all nature-starved, color-starved, and fresh-air starved so even though I'm a bit daunted by the travel I think it will be well worth it just to put our toes in the sand and see the turquoise water.

Poor Ozzy was so little this past summer he couldn't really crawl in the grass or experience the sea so I can't wait to see his reaction especially.

We have to remember to pack a few little birthday presents for the big 1st birthday as well (though I have a feeling a lick of ice cream and plenty of time crawling outside will do just fine.)

Etc.

Williamsburg, 2015

Obviously I have not been on top of the blog of late and there are a host of reasons.

Work, slush and snow and ice, boys bickering, Oscar becoming more toddlerish by the second, grey skies that mean we are not outside nearly enough and there are only so many pictures I can take of the same kid in the same chair with the same permanently runny nose!

I've been doing plenty of grumbling about New York in wintertime and struggling to push a stroller over the ice banks that are everywhere, fielding work calls and trying to figure out a suitably child-friendly activity when it's 9 degrees out. We've been watching a lot of Frozen. Obviously.

But I'm still here, hanging in there, counting down to our upcoming holiday which I am sure will be FAR more photogenic and creativity-inspiring than day to day life has been recently.

And I've been reading a few good passages about these baby-filled days that hit the nail on the head. Like this one and this one.

Axel: Two and a Half

Axel, 2015

The other day, I was pouring myself a glass of wine as I cooked dinner (Will was out) and Axel said, "Mama, are you having a party?"

He loves making paper airplanes and origami boats and watching Youtube videos of space ship launches with his papa.

On the way to school he'll say, "Not the green stroller, let's take a space rocket!"

He's missing our Christmas tree quite a bit, and sometimes says forlornly, "There's no more trees in the house."

Occasionally when someone refers to Oscar as his little brother, he'll say "Ozzy's not my brother!"

Other times he says, "Ozzy's funny." Then they'll push each other out of the way or grab each other's toys and shriek. And repeat.

If you notice long gaps between posts over here it's because he occasionally likes to do things like "hide" my camera's memory card in the laptop's disk drive. Oh, so that's what that rattling noise was. He's also prone to shredding books and taking things out of his closet in the wee hours of the morning.

What a jokester!

He especially likes to hang out at home these days, and transitions to school or swimming or a new activity can be tough (he likes to say "It's not fun!")

It's not that I think he doesn't like school, I think it just takes a lot out of him to sit still and be so structured. Makes me glad he's only in nursery three days a week and does get those more relaxed days of playing at home.

He's also a tough guy to feed. Meatballs, yogurt, applesauce, oatmeal, rasberries. Repeat. He weighs about 31 pounds and is stretching out by the day.

He really likes adding the word anyways to sentences, as in (at bedtime): "Don't go, anyways," or (to avoid putting on his coat.) "I can't wear my coat, anyways."

Curious George and Cars are quite popular around these parts lately.

He is happiest when on the run, full of mischief, and very verbal. Needless to say, we love him to bits.

And here's a look back at Axel at two, eighteen months, one, and brand new.