I believe in Santa

It looks like little Axel Ivan is pondering his Christmas list

but I can tell you that me and Yahtzee must have been very good this year to have been blessed with this little gift from heaven

Christmas time is magical for sure, even the days after as I wonder around my mothers house in my new slippers or look out at the snow covered lawn, I am still carrying the Christmas spirit.

More christmas songs please!

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday.

 

Santa takes NYC

The holiday season has taken on a whole new meaning this year.

Axel's first encounter with Santa Claus is a bit unconventional. 

On Saturday, we saw thousands of Santa's as they embark on the yearly pilgrimage across Manhattan to spread holiday cheer- along with elves, reindeer, Ms. Claus...polar bears! you name it.

If you are not familiar, just have a look here or see Axel in action here.

Last weekend my sister, brother in law and kids visited. To give them a taste of NYC over the holiday, we ventured to mid-town despite the crowds.  We managed to get a glimpse of the tree and watch the ice skaters at Rockefeller Center. It was a lot of effort to be an observer, especially for short legs.

Bryant Park was a little more manageable. 

We got together with friends for some ice skating of our own. It is a little harder than i remembered it.

See ya soon

 

Being thankful

I just love looking at these little tootsies, 

and I am most thankful for these 10 toes this year.

Life has changed here at Urban Disco. 

Rather than planning for our yearly christmas party, i am planning for childcare and preparing to go back to work.  Still we are enjoying the holiday season none-the-less, starting with our visit to Pittsburgh over thanksgiving where we had a fantastic visit with friends and family (and a right good meal -- makes me want to try my hand at cooking again),

right to decorating the christmas tree.

i hope you're enjoying the ramp up to the holiday too.

 

Time flies.

Axel is already a month old and a lot has happened in this little boy's life over this span of time. Let's see, there was the extended hospital stay that had us all on edge for the first few days, a visit from Honey and Pa who are already spoiling him, baby showers and in house visits from wonderful friends, a week long power outage - care of Hurricane Sandy, where feedings were all by candlelight and a little habit of sleeping with mama and papa developed, and a dotting and crazy mama trying to figure out what every little coo and cry means to satisfy the every whim. Not to mention the first Halloween, a new mothers group, meeting the nanny and countless skype sessions.

I already know that I am really going to miss these days where we are getting to know one another and am not ready for them to end -  but this handsome little boy is growing in leaps and bounds - already 1" longer and 2lbs heavier than at birth, and changing with every day.

For those who have given our Axel cards and notes and gifts, who have visited with us over the past month bringing love and food!, who have checked in with us to see how it is going and offered your help, gave advice (including decorating the baby room) - it is so much appreciated and as soon as I can put Axel down for more than two minutes, I promise to send pictures and respond properly. I have found that being a mama is 24/7 and much harder work than i anticipated, though it is worth every cuddle.

I just keep falling in love again and again with this little Schätzelchen.

first bath

in papas baby clothes

weathering the storm

Axel's room begins to come together



Running Man



honey love

 

Handsome.

little rockstar is here, all 6 lbs and 11 oz of him.

in between snuggles and squeezes and feedings over the past week, i am finally able to share the arrival of our handsome Axel Ivan Urbane into this world. Axel already has a feisty little spirit and I can just watch him for hours no matter how exhausted I am. Every little hiccup and coo and sneeze is a blessing.  I was a little sad to today to think that the first week is passed, but boy do i look forward to more of these magical moments in the weeks and months and years to come. 

 

Fashionably late.

Well October 11th has come and gone

and we are still waiting on bambino

given mama's track record i doubt anyone is very surprised

but i like the fact that he is already taking after me

anyway these extra days are giving me some time to dream a little

and i am now sitting here in the baby room looking at some of our own baby clothes

… wondering if its a little Yahtzee or little Dasha who will don these clothes

…and what she will smell like

…and if he will sleep hours like his papa or be a night owl like mama

…or what that first big smile will be about

no matter when baby arrives, 

I'm so looking forward to that moment where Yahtzee says "its a boy" or "its a girl"

either way, it will will melt my heart to meet this little one in person

 

Just another day in the park.

I wouldn't be very truthful if I said that every day has been like a day in the park since the pregnancy began….if i said amusement park…well, that might be closer to the truth

But Sunday WAS actually a day in the park, from at least 3PM onward. At 38 weeks pregnant, I decided to finally take a day off from work and my never-ending "things -to-do" list-- and forget about life for awhile.

It looked something like this:

benched at 38 weeks

….and a doting husband

a 9th Street Espresso treat!

and sweet little gifts for baby

And the day ended with a nice dinner at 

Northern Spy with these lovely ladies

Life is good

 

Announcing...

Husband and Wife

congratulations Brother and sister in law

By brother got married a week ago and it was a beautiful day all around - from the ceremony to the party to the lovely couple themselves

Celebrations like this always make me think about my own marriage and family values, 

and when everyone is in "prep-mode" to make the day perfect i am reminded how blessed i am in both these departments.  

Family traveled in from Missouri and Minnesota for the occasion and it was sure nice to spend time together at the kitchen table and on the dance floor.

And these two!
Can you picture anything cuter???

And as a sister of the Groom,
i have to say i was quite impressed by my brother's own attention to the little things to make the day a special one.
He planned a few surprises over the course of the day including a little note and gift for the bride in the bridal suite ahead of bridal march and a song for the bride on the dance floor.

Made me realize my brother is all grown up and I couldn't be more proud of him.

Congratulations you two -- and welcome to the club.

You are gonna love it!

 

What!!!! We're going to be parents???

Wow I woke up with this overwhelming feeling today and its carried on all morning. 

To sink in, it's taken 8 months, a baby room in the making, a husband who is traveling this weekend which is making me nervous!, a friend helping me clean out the kitchen to make room for BOTTLES and baby stuff, a few baby items in the closet, "how you feeling?" calls from family and friends, a list of names that we keep adding to and never talking through (can a kiddo have 5 names??), filling out maternity paperwork, a shrinking stomach despite my ever-growing belly and slowing-down body, a "hospital" bag by the door,  a little booklet of sonograms and doctor appointment after doctor appointment, and emotions so out of control 

that some days I barely recognize the woman I was just months ago

I am going to be a momma, or is that spelled mamma??? gosh, i don't even know - 

but God willing, i will be one or the other in just weeks

So much to do! 

Off to take a nap

 

Life's a beach

Much as i love seeing Yahtzee's excitement getting ready for 'baby' (it's very endearing)…

bath time

a day at the beach was in order.

And once we got going, what a day we had

Long Island

34 weeks

Island Bridge

Labor Day

taking care of Dasha

person or dog?

Fire Island

local festival

a little sunshine goes a long way, beach day part 2 in store for tomorrow

 

i believe in love

happy anniversary, Yahtzee

Boy do i love this guy

Shine on