Monday, January 31, 2011

Sister Visit

My sister Elizabeth flew in from Nashville on Friday night for a nice little visit. Saturday we headed into Hoboken for my baby shower. My girlfriends planned a lovely, lovely get together and Devon did a fabulous job hosting!  I promise more on that soon.  :o)  That evening we sat by the fire at home, had sushi takeout (not long until I can have tuna and other raw fish again), and headed to Bloomfield for Warren's 30th birthday party. Sunday morning E and I ventured into the city for a full day. We decided to head up to Central Park to see what it looked like all covered in snow.




It sure was pretty!  Next we ventured into the Plaza Hotel and then walked down 6th Avenue with a coffee in hand.  We made our way to 42nd St to check out the matinee, The Importance of Being Earnest.  It was really funny and very well done.  E loved it.  Then we tried to find a place to grab a refreshment, and ended up at Pershing Square.  We took the subway down to Bleeker Street and walked east on Houston to the restaurant WD-50.  E had seen it on Top Chef and wanted to try it.  We met up with Pat and Maura and Mike for an amazing dinner there.  The food and service was definitely some off the best I've ever had.  A very memorable meal!  Also, we were seated next to the band The Black Keys which is pretty cool.  Today E and I slept in, visited more and then went for a day of shopping.  First stop: Babies R Us to buy our glider - the last item needed for our nursery.  Then we went to Bergen Town Center where we hit up Nordstrom Rack, Century 21 and a few other places, including Bobby's Burger Palace for lunch, yum yum.  E flew out earlier this evening and it's back to work tomorrow.  Thanks for the great visit E! Love you!

And good work Pat for putting together the glider tonight! xoxo

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Snow Day Snickerdoodles

We got a lot more snow last night so I took a snow day today.  I had printed out this recipe around the holidays that calls for a cookie mix but never got around to making it.  I figured I'd give it a go today!


You basically just add some cinnamon to a sugar cookie mix and then roll the cookie dough into small lines, dip one side into extra cinnamon and then roll them up.
I don't think I got the sizing quite right and I definitely didn't space them out enough.
 But I just felt like using one cookie tray so that's how it goes.
 They baked at 375 for about 8 minutes.
The glaze didn't look like their picture but it still adds a little something.  Though I liked the cookies without it just fine!  A tasty little afternoon snack!

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Last weekend I picked up several mirrors at Target to possibly hang on one of Charlie's walls.  Right now they are just on the floor in there and Winnie has been very curious.  I wasn't able to capture a picture of her looking at herself in them, but she has and it's pretty cute.




Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Baby Blanket


The little guy already has several cute and soft store bought blankies...and also a knit blue blanket made by my cousin Frannie.  My cousin LaShanta (Pat's cousin Brian's wife) is a quilter and made him this, which we received in the mail a few days ago:
Sorry for the poor photo, but how freaking cute!!?
It's so soft and it's got some great texture.  I can just picture Charlie having some "tummy time" on this.  Side note: my mother in law Kate did a great job of saving some of Pat's baby items, one being a little blue hat like the duck is wearing.  Too cute!
Thank you LaShanta!

PS More snow here...I was able to leave work early and made it home by 5.  Quite nice to get home in daylight. 

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Slumber Party

Since Pat was going to be away for Sean and Mary Clare's wedding, months ago some girlfriends and I planned a sleepover for last night. I picked up Ginny, Rachel, Andrea, Sarah, and Laurisa in Hoboken yesterday evening. We drove on out to Oradell and got ready for TACO NIGHT. The girls had wine and we just visited and visited, and even played MASH, channeling 10 year olds at a sleepover.

There was magazine flipping, movie watching (It's Complicated - love it), painting of nails, etc.
This morning we lounged with coffee and mimosas (well, not me) and a couple girls even had ice cream for breakfast, my oh my. 


 Ginny was not in the mood for photos...  :o)
 Rachel and her mini harmonica necklace.
Sarah and I were the "early to bed, early to rise" out of the bunch and she helped me finish my new puzzle while the others slept in a little bit.  Paul and Kate gave it to me for Christmas.  1000 beautiful pieces.
Mash has changed a bit in the past 20 years...instead of choosing boys in our class, we mostly opted for celebrity crushes, like Clive Owen, Gerard Butler, Ryan Reynolds, etc.  Very silly.
The scrapbooks came back out today and it was so fun looking through college scrapbooks with some of my best college friends.  Such a fun get together with girlfriends.  Hope you've had a great weekend...and GO JETS!

PS Thank you Ginny for the party favors - conditioning gloss, mascara and razors...nice!  And thank you Laurisa for the Girlfriend/Slumber Party Stickers...they will be great for scrapbooking this occasion.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Surprise Visitors!

I got a text around 9:30 this morning from my cousin Sarah saying that she had just arrived Newark airport, along with her husband Matthew.  They're in town for a wedding.  Funny enough, I had dropped off Pat at Newark airport a few hours earlier for a flight to St. Louis.  He's going to a work friend's wedding - Sean and Mary Clare. 

Anyhow, Sarah and Matthew asked if I had time to see them...OF COURSE!!  They came and picked me up and we went out for a bite to eat at the River Edge Diner.  Then we lounged around our house for a little bit, and Sarah looked at my scrapbooks...I didn't even have to force them on her!  It's so nice that they've seen our house and town and now know where Pat grew up.
Cousins!
Matthew entertained himself with phone/TV/Snuggie while we were looking at scrapbooks. :o)
What a treat!  I'm sorry that Pat missed our surprise visitors, but lucky me! 

Pat's 30th

I'll still be 29 when I give birth...but Pat turns 30 today!!!
Happy birthday to the best husband ever.  You really are the best.

This picture is from roughtly 4 and a half years ago but I've always liked it.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Bump Update

WOWSERS!  Here is the belly at 8 months.  I'm 34 weeks tomorrow, so just 6 more to go.




And to compare last month....

7 months vs. 8 months

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Mom and Dad's Visit... plus more Nursery Pictures

Mom and Dad booked flights just a couple weeks ago because they wanted to come see us (and my growing belly).  We'd left a key out for them on Friday and they were waiting for us when we arrived home from work.  We went out for a yummy dinner at Bacari Grill nearby.  Saturday we lounged around with the New York Times, coffee, and biscuits and then it was time to get to work.  That's right - the boys had a crib to assemble and the girls had some shopping to do.  Mom bought me a LeSportSac diaper bag that I wanted and we got some fitted sheets for our used little bassinet (thanks Liz and Mark!).  That afternoon we all went for a nice neighborhood walk and then lounged by the fire, watched football, had some baked chicken, smashed potatoes and salad, and caught part of the hilarious movie It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.  Today we drove to the Palisades Medical Center so Mom and Dad will know how to get there when and if (fingers crossed) they can make it for Charlie's arrival. 
 After that we drove into Hoboken for a delicious pizza lunch at Grimaldi's.
We've had sunny but very cold weather for their trip.  What a great visit it's been!
I can't believe they head home tomorrow!  :(

Now for the latest nursery pictures:

Cute little mobile:

The Europa Baby crib with our Carter Bumble bedding:

 Belly shot (I'm wearing green to support the Jets!)

Mom and Dad also helped us set up my little window treatment.  I'm going to pick up a second burlap drape for the right side. (also, check out the icicles outside!)

 New blinds too:

We still need to get our glider, but it will go in the corner by the window here:

Cute little musical bouncer I put together today:

 Pat and Dad hung up these little canvases I picked up:


The dresser/changing table has 3 drawers and a little cabinet with two shelves.  I picked up two of these little baskets to use inside there.

My Hoboken street find lamp from a few years back:

Some of Charlie's adorable wardrobe is hanging up, but still needs to be washed.

It was so nice to have Mom and Dad's help.  We're getting there!