Bethany Beach: Family, Food and Fun (part 1)

After a few days in DC, we (GG, Grandpa, Suza and the three of us) headed to Bethany beach for memorial day weekend. We stayed at a beautiful house a block away from the beach. Noah went straight to the beach that first evening and just had to test the water (while fully dressed of course :) ). COLD but it did not detract him. Next day, he could not wait to get back in the water this time with the appropriate attire.

Splashing in the water with Suza.... it does not get better than that!

On our first full day, we went for the traditional fries and oysters, crabs and the like at this little shack near the beach. While waiting for our food.

Still waiting...

And playing...

And hugging...

Oh no - he is upside-down!

After a reinvigorating nap in his own big boy bed, it's back to the beach!

And then off to a yummy dinner with a gorgeous view :) Our smiley little guy was at his smiley-ist! 

Official Blog Birthday Wishes

As we did not post while we were away, we failed to officially celebrate a few birthdays in the blog (though we did celebrate them in person). So here goes...

Notes: We made the HAPPY with Noah's new Bubber (a type of playdo that does not dry out) and Noah wrote the Abby on the shower door and the Nicole with his favorite pens. Hugs to a grasshopper and a Tata. 

DC Part 1: Blocks, Dolls and Museums

After a week in NY, we headed to DC (well I stopped in Missouri  along the way for my cousin's wedding). Noah was very excited to see his GG and Grandpa and of course Marnie the dog. But also... to rediscover Daddy, Suza and Abby's old toys and books. Here Noah playing with Seth's blocks in GG and Grandpa's basement in 2012...

And Seth playing with the same blocks in the same basement probably around 1981-82.

Noah was also a big fan of Aunt's Suza's dollhouse and of all the amazing books down in the basement.

We were in DC for only a few days before heading to the beach but Noah and I made it to the amazing Air and Space museum where Noah got to pilot a pretty cool plane.

As well as discover through various activities how planes fly. He was very interested in the exhibit and especially any part that involved floating a ball or whacking a button... We also went to the Art Museum - below Noah in the sculpture garden very excited because he could stand in/under this particular sculpture. 

We went to see the Miro exhibit which we both very much enjoyed. The monster almost ate Noah but he managed to get away and the balloons in the painting did not fly away. We played spot the animals and describe the scene and tell the background story and had a grand time - till nap time... I tested Seth's nap-on-the-go theory and to my surprise he just went to sleep on the bench in a quiet part of the museum!

NYC: Family, Alice and more

That first weekend, Mamie and Papy were in town (unfortunately, Papy had to leave on Sunday night so Noah barely got to see him). Noah snacking before going to play with Alice.

                            

Playing with Alice...

.... on the day of his 3rd month birthday!

He grew a little bit no? He's flying!

Mushroom make pretty good umbrellas!

Oh oh....

Suza to the rescue.

Hold on tight... this is one fast mouse.

Not sure what is soooo funny.

Maybe it's just being with Aunt Suza again.

Awwww...

Also, while in NYC, we saw some old friends and their kids (though for some reason, we did not take any pictures) and went to the Natural History museum to see the dinosaurs. He was interested at first but less excited than I expected. I guess bones are not very interactive or fun for a 2+ year old. The big hit was the Children's museum. Below, he is cranking the lever to get food up into the "stomach" of the machine in the Body exhibit. He had a blast.

Another hit was hanging out with his Mamie in Central Park... and of course playing with Aunt Suza.

NYC: bebe cousine

On the morning of Saturday May 12th, Noah and Seth arrived in NYC after a long but apparently smooth trip. Aunt Suza and I went to pick them up at the airport and after some hugs and kisses all Noah would talk about was meeting his bebe cousine.

He could not wait to meet his bebe cousine so we went straight to Tonton Charles and Tata Nicole's apartment to meet her (note that he is still wearing his plane attire!!!) and also see his aunt and uncle again.

Noah was eager to give Audrey her presents (some clothes Noah helped pick out, Sasha in Singapore books and some of his dvds he decided were for babies and therefore he wanted to give to his baby cousin).

And then baby cousin gave him some presents - a very cool construction set and some imaginets (colorful magnets in various shapes that you use to make figures like a boat, a car, a bird...). So young and yet already so great at giving gifts :) 

By the end of the week, they were fast friends (well as much as a three year old and a newborn can be). Noah sang Audrey some songs, did some mat time with her, got the diapers ready for changing her, picked out her clothes... and was not too jealous or needy when maman was holding and playing with Audrey for a while.

I look forward to seeing them grow up and playing together and being silly together and being mischievous together. Cousins rock!

We are Back! With Some Catching Up to do.

On May 2 2012, I left for LA to see my friend O, her partner G and their adorable little B. My first  night away from Noah since he was 11 months old!!! Crazy crazy. And from there, I headed to NYC to meet baby cousin, aka kiwi, aka Audrey Caroline Wolrich :) Seth and Noah were set to fly to meet me in NYC on the 12th of May (crazy wonderful Seth volunteered to take Noah on his own for the 24 hour trip...).

As usual when Seth is away on business, we made a calendar for when Noah would be meeting up with maman and bebe cousine. Everyday they crossed out a day on the calendar till departure day. And I organized his playdates for the week I left. 

From what I heard - the playdates went very well. Here he is with Jeanne and Matthias making a cushion house.

On Saturday, Seth took Noah to the open doors firehouse where he got to drive the fire truck

And then to the stamp museum where he was put on the 100c stamp!

Then to Little India for some chickpeas - still one of Noah's favorite foods.

And after an invigorating nap on daddy - they headed to the pirate water park and the beach on Sentosa Island. Here Noah dancing.

What a fun packed day! On Sunday they went to the zoo but there were no pics... 

The next week, Noah went to school for full days napping at school and having his gouter there before Seth picked him about around 5:30-6:00. Noah, Seth and Charmie fared very well without me it seems :)  

On May 11th, they headed off to NYC. At the same time our dear helper Charmie went back to the Philippines to prepare for her move to Canada. Here she was with Noah when she first started working with us a year and a half ago: 

Bye Bye auntie Charmie (more on Noah's reaction in a later post as we told him she was not coming back only later - about a week before we headed back to Singapore).

Bienvenue Bebe Cousine!

Welcome to the world baby cousin/niece!

We are so excited to meet you and see your wonderful parents again. We wish you three an amazing adventure together.

For weeks, scratch that, months, Noah has been very excited about having a baby cousin, being a big boy cousin and going to see his little cousin. He kept asking to make drawings for her and buy baby clothes for her... so little cousin - I know you were just born but here is a collection of drawings/collages Noah has been preparing for you.

                   
Noah insisted that the above "drawing" of an A and a B was for baby cousin...

Here Noah painting a painting for his cousin:



The finished painting:

Finally, Noah insisted on singing a little song for his bebe cousine so she could fall asleep easily:

Big big hugs from your Aunt and Uncle and big boy cousin Noah.