Self-feeding

Piper's first time weilding her own spoon. Notice the spoon is in her right hand and her left hand is doing the feeding. Cue messy kitchen, messier baby.

M-I-C-K-E-Y

Mouse ears, that is. This was $10 Disney didn't get from us. I popped them on to take a picture, knowing that was about as long as a hat would last on her head.

Teacups

Disney World, Aug. 31, 2010. Mason's second trip, though first that he remembers.

Birthday girl

Like the cake face? Live, from Spring Hill, Fla., home of Grandpa Robert and Grandma Julie

Mutton Bustin'

From Fraser, Colorado at the High Country Stampede Rodeo. Video to come...

Greetings from Grand Lake!

Mason's Big Catch

One of them anyway. By my count, he caught seven that day. By Papa's many more. Mason's got to work on the big-fish-stories told skill, though. I overheard him describing the fish he caught as "shrimp" and "so small you couldn't even see them," when he was re-telling his adventure to Dad-O on the phone.

Piper shelf?

Um, troublemaker? This is what happened after I moved the stuff I didn't want her to play with off the shelf. She showed me...

Queens Zoo

The Visuals

Because I can't be bothered to re-post pictures to go with the letter I just wrote you, here's the best I can do:

Late winter/spring photos.

Summer photos.

Mason's Spring Concert

Christmas in July

All right, all right, I know I've been away WAY too long from this poor blog. Six months to be exact. Today, Sweet P is 11 -- ELEVEN!?!?! -- months old. Hard to believe, no?

So, like I said, I've been away too long. Many times I've thought, "Hey, I should update that blog..." and then I haven't. So, today, I offer you a present in the form of one of those corny Christmas letters my siblings and I love to hate. Without further ado, Christmas (letter) in July:

Dearest Friends and Family,

I write to you from New York City on the sixteenth day of 90-plus degree weather in this month of July. Our last correspondence seems so long ago. Since we've been in touch, much has happened in the world of the Mercier family.

February brought with cold and snow. A pair of snow days for Mason let Mommy re-live the fun that they could be. During Mason's mid-winter break, we made a trip to the Bronx Zoo, Piper's first, and visited the another old-reliable spot, the Dinosaur Museum. Ice-skating season continued at school and the end of the month brought Mason's stint as Star of the Week in PreK. Piper and I were regulars at school that week. We schlepped in with his "collection" of puzzles one day and his favorite food, mac n' cheese (with broccoli, natch!) another day.

In March, we made like tourists and took the kids to visit the Statue of Liberty. It was lots of fun, though Mason was more impressed by the wide-open space at her feet than the Statue itself. He and Dad-O played "pretend" baseball in the shadow. We didn't make it off the island in time to go to Ellis Island, and have vowed to go again -- this time with tickets to the crown in hand. March also found Piper and I jetting off to Colorado sans boys to visit my Grandpa Seeley. He passed away on March 15, but we were there for his final few days. I had a visit I'll never forget during that time and Piper learned to wave -- at the Colorado Spring Hospital, through the glass of the ICU doors. She wasn't able to go in and see him, but the first time they locked eyes, he sat up in bed and waved to her. She waved back. It was a tough trip, but so important to be there to say my goodbyes and to be with family after he had passed. He is in a much better place. Piper and I returned from that trip at month's end to spend another school break with Mason. Spring break meant another Bronx Zoo trip, an outing at The Met -- where Piper almost got us booted because she was laughing and squealing too loud -- and heading out to Coney Island for the aquarium and amusement park with some good friends. Easter came and went. There was much candy and many eggs to hunt in Central Park.

April brought more sad news from Colorado. My Grandma Woodman died on April 16 and so I packed up both kids and headed home again with my second "eu-google-ly" in as many months in hand. Again, it was so tough, but as a family we got through the weekend, shared some tears and most important, some laughs. In kid news, Piper went from scooting to downward-dog poses to crawling. She developed a super-speedy move for whenever the gate blocking her in the living room was opened. Mason cruised through the end of skating season and into beach season.

In May, I joined Mason on one of those beach trips, to Orchard Beach in the Bronx. It was so much fun to see him and all his classmates splashing in the water. It was a big month in karate class, too. At the dojo's annual gala, Mason was given a special award for his development in karate. He was so proud when they called his name to receive the plaque. As he told everyone who would listen, "Everyone got a trophy, but not everyone got a plaque." We celebrated with dinner at IHOP. He ate mac n' cheese and a pancake and now thinks this is the greatest place on earth. Piper went from crawling to pulling herself up and tried to do away with the gate problem by ripping it from its hinge a few times. We closed out the month with our first family trip to the beach -- this time the Rockaways -- and celebrating Dad-O's birthday.

June brought the end of the school year. There were Spring Concerts to attend and field days to take in. In mid-June, we joined our friends for a day trip to the country and went to their daughter's school function at her school farm. Seriously. And seriously fun ... even when you consider the six hours we spent in the car that day. Nothing beats some farm-fresh cooking and some fresh country air. Mason and Rob made a whirlwind trip to Colorado to enjoy the birthday festivities of our nephews. It was less than 24 hours that they were away, but even a microburst couldn't prevent them from attending. From what I hear, it was quite the shin-dig, complete with a bouncy firetruck slide and appearances by Spider Man and Sponge Bob. We continued our tourist run with a trip to the top of the Empire State Building. Mason said NYC looked like it was made of legos from up there. It did. Piper thought she was Marilyn Monroe when she stood on top of an AC on the 102nd floor and let her dress blow in the air. She wasn't, but she was much prettier.

July has been all about Camp Mom. That's what I'm calling the summer. I am working freelance from home and spending every waking moment with the kiddos. Piper is jabbering up a storm and cruising all over the place. She is even -- ever so tentatively -- standing on her own. We gave up on the old gate and got a new, more expensive one in its place. She has yet to take it off the wall. We are at the pool at least three times a week for swimming lessons. Mason is fearless and nearly swimming on his own. We have been to the Bronx Zoo (again) where Mason and his friend, Kellyn, rode a camel. We have been to the Prospect Park Zoo, where they milked (fake) cows. We have been to the Queens Zoo, where we took in some really exotic animals, like elk and antelope! We have been to Jersey to visit friends. We have flown kites on Governor's Island. We went to Orchard Beach and had a great day. Found out Piper loves to crawl in the surf, and that it's a big pain to get home from there! Mason's graduated to a Yellow Belt in karate. He tells everyone he's almost a Master.

All in all, we're blessed. It was a tough spring, but the kiddos have given us plenty to smile at. As Grammy says, our hearts are beginning to be happy again.

From our family to yours, a very happy August. Hoping for a little more time to blog in this "new year."

Love from The Merciers

Five Months

Dear Sweet P,

You are now five months old. The clock on your first half-year of life is tick, tick, ticking away and this month has been a big one!

It started off with the whirlwind of your first airplane trip -- we went to Colorado so you could meet all our family there. You are a champion flier (so far!). On the ride out, you slept peacefully for four of the four-and-a-half hour flight snugly on my chest. On the way home, you were up a bit more, but content to watch Mason or nurse.

You can roll over easily both ways now, and regularly do. You don't like to play on your tummy, but you sure like to sleep on it, with your little tushie sticking straight up in the air. If you're not on your back, then you're on your side doing this adorable little pose that makes it look like you're running across your crib. (Note to mommy: capture this on photo!) You are a wiggle worm, in perpetual motion. Your hands or feet are always kicking or flailing. You love your toes. You eat them with regularity.



You are full of coos and babbles. You've giggled twice. You put EVERYTHING in your mouth. This makes me very nervous because big brother has approximately 4,000 little Lego pieces, 265 army guys and a selection of plastic-bagged toys.

You now eat solid food. We started with oatmeal (no rice cereal for you, my once-a-week-pooper, says the doctor.) You still poop about one day a week. Lately it's been Wednesdays. And it looks like guacamole. Must be your second food, the avocado, doing that to you. You're up to sweet potatoes, pears and bananas now. You make funny faces when you eat. Especially the first few bites of something new. I laugh.



Your hair is long enough that it gets in your eyes. I've started pony-tailing it. You have two looks. Straight-up and Alfalfa-like, or a little curl depending on whether it's wet when I put it up.



Your smiles and squeals are infectious. Right now, you're chilling on the bed behind me. Screaming in delight. Daring me to stare at the computer and now your cute self. We are buddies. We spend lots of time together while Mason is at school. We are inseparable. When we are not in our apartment, we are on the road -- you strapped snugly into the sling and perched on my chest. I love the way this feels, and think you do, too!

You love your Dad-O and your brother. You light up when Mason walks into the room. Sometimes you blink and flinch when he comes running toward you to smother you in kisses or 'zerbert' your tummy, but you love it -- and not so secretly. When Dad-O is around, you do this funny, very intent stare at him. As soon as he looks at you and smiles, you get coy, smirk and turn away. I love that, too.

I love you dear child!

Mamamamamamamama (that's how you say it ... I'm sure you know exactly who you're talking to when you babble that, right?)

The Big Four

Mason's fourth birthday has come and gone. Hard to believe he's already that old -- and believe me, four sounds SO much older to me than three!

We had quite the week of birthday celebrations, beginning with a chocolate explosion at preschool. Mason shares a birthday with Alexandra, one of his classmates, so her mother and I teamed up to bring chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting (me) and chocolate Klondike Bars with chocolate coating -- which we fed to the kids at afternoon snack and then sent them on their merry, sugar-filled way home. Sorry other mommies and daddies!

There was an impromptu dance party preceding the snack (see!) so maybe that helped?!?




After school, Dad-O and I whisked Mason away to Radio City for our second-annual birthday viewing of the Christmas Spectacular. Mason was well-prepared before the show started with his 3D glasses. After fulfilling his request for an "Old" McDonald's birthday dinner before returning home to open a pile of presents!







The birthday fun continued on Saturday with his ballpark-themed party. We had lots of fun with all his friends and their families. There was a bunk-bed to climb on, many toys to play with and a pinata to bash ... all before devouring a Dallas Cowboys cake and ice cream.

Monkeying Around

I was lucky enough to accompany Mason on his first field trip -- ferrying 20 preschoolers to the Bronx Zoo.

The morning started off with a first ride on the school bus. We literally stopped traffic on Madison Avenue trying to get all 20 kids onto the bus. First, it was just the parents blocking off the lane, but then some passing police officers offered an assist.

After our very bumpy (Mason and I were in the WAAAAAAAY back ... I seem to remember that's where all the cool kids sat in my bus-riding days) ride, we arrived. We didn't see the usual array of animals that Mason is used to seeing when he goes with Mommy and Dad-O, but we had a great time. I have a new appreciation for lisa, his teacher, and her assistants. It's no small feat to keep track of that many kiddos!





The highlight of the day -- for me, at least -- came after lunch, when the kids decided to show-off their "Grizzly Bear" song. We had just seen the grizzly bear sleeping in his cave, so the song was perfect.

"Tree" months

Piper hit the three-month mark today. As you can see, she's a growing girl -- and now bigger than her bear!



We celebrated the day by decorating the Christmas tree ... well, we would have done that whether we had a three-month birthday to celebrate or not, as we always do it the day after Thanksgiving.

Mason LOVED breaking out all the ornaments this year and asked about each one -- who it belonged to and where it came from. He did a great job finding a special spot on the tree for each and every one of them.



Dad-O (with Piper propped on his other shoulder, no less) gave him an assist for the finishing touch.



Mommy had to pose them in front of the tree ... and under the tree! Too bad we already had the Christmas cards printed, because this one is a winner.

Breaking out the baby monitor

Last night was Piper's first in her own room -- and by own room, I mean of course the one she shares with Mason.

She looked so tiny in her big ol' crib, but she was getting way too big for her little ol' bassinet!



Mason, as you can see, was pleased to have a roommate!

Piper's Baptism

We had Piper baptized today at our church, St. Catherine of Genoa, here in NYC. We started attending church there when we moved into the neighborhood before Mason was born and since then it's become more of our home. Rob was baptized there, too, when he joined the church, so it seemed only fitting to have Piper baptized there.

Her baptismal gown was a gift from Grammy T, and will be returned to her for future grandbabies.







Kevin and Melissa were her godparents, and Kellyn, who tells everyone that she has a baby sister is now telling everyone that Piper is her godsister. It's too cute! We're so lucky to have friends like them among our New York family!



Rob's sister, Auntie Nay, was able to come for the ceremony, too.



Here's a slideshow of some of the moments from the big day. Afterwards, we had some friends over for brunch, which was great fun for me -- as we finally have a space large enough to entertain in!

Community Meeting

Every Wednesday morning, Mason's school has a community meeting where each class is expected to participate by sharing something with the group. I have yet to attend one -- as Rob is the usual dropper-offer, but here are some scenes from yesterday's meeting courtesy of another mother and the Pre-K teacher, lisa. They sang "We Went to the Animal Fair." Mason is on the left side in the front.







And the video:

Halloween

Running low on time, but here's the album I threw up on Facebook. I'll try to post more later...

A Sweet Pea and a Tiger

Goin' to the Series

For those of you who don't know, Mason is quite the Yankees fan. So, naturally, Rob and him walked over to The Stadium to drink in the scene for Game 1 of the World Series.

You know, just to walk around and see the sights (while Mommy stayed home with fussy, just vaccinated Piper.) Here's what they saw:

The outside of the stadium



The blimp hovering overhead



People standing in line to get in



A World-Series car



And, oh, yeah ... the inside of the stadium! Turns out they crossed paths with a woman who worked at ESPN and just happened to ask them if they were going to the game. When they said no, she immediately asked if they wanted to. Who wouldn't, I ask?!!?! So, she tells them to follow her, and gives, yes, GIVES them two tickets. They end up watching from Section 208!



Mason enjoyed some popcorn-y. His favorite...





And also made an appearance on the JumboTron late in the game (that, in case you're wondering, is not him!)

Needless to say, I was J-E-A-L-O-U-S, but oh-so-happy for them. Especially Mason. I keep telling everyone I was happy for him, but just jealous of Rob! Now, I'm off to hang up his World Series pennant. Here's hoping we will be able to post a World Series Champs one next to it...