New York, New York

Alexander's first day showing the Goodneighbors & the Ronnies around New York, New York was X-iting!

After snoozing 1.13 miles over the Brooklyn'd Bridge, the little guy was ready for some excitement. And how we ended up in a graveyard during the "time for excitement," I am not sure... Well, the dead need some excitement too... right?

The 18th Century Saint Paul's Chapel, across from the World Trade Center work site was our first stop. The chapel, which welcomed so many post-9/11, was an interesting place to begin the boy's history lesson. Rather than revere the site, the little guy joyfully played between the headstones. Giggled & explored. That was much more pleasant than our first visit...

In search of a better view of the work site, Brad led us into the fantabulous World Financial Center Building.

The Ronnie's loved the Godiva Chocolate store best... but the little man, he fell in love with the escalator!

Next stop, Little Italy... OK, way of the financial district...

We were SO hungry, and when Papa suggested lunch in Little Italy, Mama got a little confused, ie. annoyed. I had no idea Little Italy was right there in the mix with Chinatown. So 4 train stops later & we found ourselves at Sal's, right on the edge of Little Italy.

The babe still wasn't in the mood for chill, so his spent the meal refusing to enjoy a slice of Sal's Little Italy, but enjoying his water & milk (and his mess) completely!

We also enjoyed the heavy traffic(??) and crazy limos...

After our late lunch, the Ronnie's split to explore a little more of Italy, while Papa took the Goodneighbor's uptown for a little American Girl/FAO via Grand Central.

I will not mention the craziness that was American Girl. Just know that I will have my eye out for any and all American Girl (cha-ching) crap I can find at yard sales from now on!

We arrived at FAO Swartz about 10 minutes before closing, and just in time for the last "Big Piano" show. Good times.

Did I mention my aching feet? Well, my aching feet!

But we couldn't pass up the opportunity, so we hoofed up past Trump Tower, through Central Park, and then on to Times Square.

As you could imagine, the little poopsic can't sleep in a nice, quiet, dark bed in the apartment, but the bright lights and taxi horns that are Times Square on a holiday weekend, now that makes for some good Zzzzz's.

Seriously, the boy slept the whole way back to Booklyn'd. But that was where he drew the line...

(Im not sure what picture, but I just deleted one here... stupid Blogger editing...)

Alexander slept the whole way back to Brighton Beach. And what, you might ask, happened when we got back to BB? Well, Mama and her trash digging ways turned up a fantabulous Graco Stroller, barely used, in our Pack-in-play fabric. In the trash.

Turns out, according to Uncle Afanasi, that when I spotted the stroller, there were 3 Russian Girls scoping it out. When they say us, they backed away... they didn't want to look... like... trash diggers... And when I scooped it up, Uncle Afanasi told them, something along the lines of, "Crazy Russians..." But I'm too tired to verify sources...

Caution: Toddler Content

I know at least one of you (Auntie Lynn) is going crazy wondering/worrying about why we haven't posted any awesome babyboy news lately... Sorry!

Alexander is, HOPEFULLY, recovering from his latest double ear infection. He is on his third round of super antibiotics... but regardless of the outcome of this one, we're headed to the ENT on July 13. Tubes, ugh.

But before we can even worry about tubes, we have to worry about the babe's first (and hopefully last) yeast infection. Double ugh.

One good, okay, there's nothing "good," but anyway, the crap crouch has helped quite a bit with the potty training. To help "air" things out, we've been putting a G diaper cover with no liner or insert on the babes & plopping him on the frequently.

But, he does require privacy!

And a post-pee Raisenette!

The Brooklyn'd Bridge

The first time Papa & I walked across the Brooklyn'd Bridge, we were on our "first date." Well, we were ending our first date. Kinda. Anyway, the second time we walked across the Brooklyn'd Bridge we were pushing his favorite little boy (and his favorite uncle)!

Due to the sleep deprivation, I can't remember if I mentioned that the awesome Ronnie & Ellen came to Brooklyn'd to visit Anna while we were in the city? We rented a 4 bedroom "apartment" about 2 blocks off of Brighton Beach for the Ronnie's, Goodneighbors & the babes. An interesting mixture, and fun for all. Well, fun for everyone who didn't have to wake at 2am to cuddle the little ear infection...

Cajuns, Mountain Men & Papa, Oh Boy

After a week in Brooklyn'd missing our Papa, Daddy D finally arrived in the city Friday night. And he brought reinforcements.

Papa rode into Brooklyn'd with our West Virginia Goodneighbors & the crazy Cajuns showed up on the Q train after a busy day in Manhattan site seeing. Together Again! And to top it all off, Papa's uncle Afanasi, Anna's brother flew in hours earlier from Moldova to spend the month visiting with Anna & Yevginy!


Because there were SO many of us (4 Goodneighbors, 2 Cajuns, 6 related Russians & 3 of us), Anna took the whole krewe to Sweik for a late NYC ethnic dinner. Yum.


Sweik is like a German restaurant in a Russian neighborhood with all Russian chefs. And again, Yum.

Anna smuggled a few recently imported bottles of Moldovan vino & Cognac onto the table, and it wasn't long before everyone was feeling the hospitality.

While we waited for dinner (OK, I was really just waiting for the babes to fall asleep), the little man ran all over the balcony until he finally ended up climbing up onto the arcade car. Dedya Genya came to the boy's rescue with a couple of quarters, but when that didn't start the machine shaking he just explained that it was a Russian toy. So Julie & Ellen started smacking & kicking the quarter box until finally a penny & three quarters popped out & the machine started rumbling to life. Alexander wanted off. Pretending to drive was much funner.

Check out Ronnie's HUGE pitcher of beer!

Shortly before dinner was served Alexander & I took a long walk along the bay. A LONG walk. That boy did everything in his power NOT to sleep in Brooklyn'd. A little too much Beastie Boys blaring in utero, I guess?

Baba Anna is a fabulous host. She's embraced all of our friends and loves them as if she'd brought them all over from Moldova herself!

So, I'm sure the invitation is open to all of you too; she'd love to see you in Brooklyn'd soon!

Stay Off Grass

Breakin' the law in Brooklyn'd. Hope the babes & his Babushka accomplice don't get caught...