A Spectacular September!

This month began with some very sweet, and very surprising, news!  On 9/4, we found out ... (dum, da da, dum!)

 

 

 

 

that we're having another girl!!!

Once again, we really did think we were having a boy, so it truly was a surprise.  But a sweet surprise at that, and we are thrilled to add another little lady to our family.  It was a special "reveal" for us as we had one of our dearest friends bake a cake filled with either pink strawberry icing, or blue blueberry icing, and a few close pals came over to help us celebrate over pizza and cake.  Well, actually, cake then pizza.  Because, hey, this was a special occasion that required a dessert-before-dinner exception!

Since we found out Maelee was a girl basically by "tasting" the raspberry filled chocolate sticks (click on this post as a reminder.  Check out the crazy sonogram resemblance between Maelee and baby girl #2!), I kinda wanted to stick with that idea by closing my eyes for the first bite and letting my palate figure out what was in store for us.

But...  our excited little girl couldn't contain herself when she saw the pink icing that Steve cut into and started exclaiming, "it's strawberry!"  :)  So I found out before tasting, but it was still pretty fun.  I'm admittedly still a bit shocked since I was so sure it was a boy, but the idea of having another girl and a sister for Maelee gets me more excited to meet this little lady each day.

The growing belly around 22 weeks along!

Slideshow from "gender reveal!"

The month started with quite a bang with the news of another girl on the way, and it continued to be pretty packed.  To give a quick update on the school drama, we did end up withdrawing Maelee from the preschool program she had been enrolled in due to the change in location, among other things.  In the end, we just couldn't justify having up to 2 hours out of her day being spent simply getting to/from a preschool.  And such a full day would also mean there would be little room for anything else.  She's used to her new schedule now of a few different activities and I think we are both enjoying this more than had we kept her in the initial program.  Our little social butterfly loves to be out and about so we have her in an "ABC co-op" class twice a week that she really enjoys, a gymnastics class, and a fun program at one of our favorite little city gems around the corner, the Art Farm, where she enjoys time with the animals in their petting zoo, plus baking, art, and music.  All in all, we feel it was the right choice.

Now, onto more pics!

Getting the hang of her new bike!

First "class" at the Art Farm

 

Enjoying the calzone she made in class!

Cuddling on the couch over popsicles with Nana during her quick trip up here to help us get a start on organizing her room!

A small sampling of the clothes sorting!

First day of "ABC School!"

Taking in the High Line in the Meat Packing District

 

Yummy krispie treats for a snack!

 

Having a blast in the little kid and big kid bounce houses at our church' Kids Fall Carnival!

 

A new-found interest in bigger puzzles this month!

A couple Saturdays ago we had a super full and super fun family day that began on Coney Island at the aquarium, then the rides at Luna Park, followed by a birthday party, and ending with dinner at a local burger joint with several friends from the neighborhood.  Maelee was a trooper and enjoyed every bit.  (Except for the "really bumpy" roller coaster...)  It was quite a day!

Admiring the penguins

Fascinated by the horseshoe crab at the touch pool

Loving the rides!!!

 

 

  

 

At the birthday party, posing as one of her favorite creatures- the T Rex!

Enjoying the Central Park Zoo with one her favorite pals, Ethan, as the month comes to a close

Starting off the fall season with a family favorite- pumpkin chocolate chip cookies!!!

 Special treat during the last weekend of the month by seeing dear pals, Brooke & Joey


 Best buds after ice cream cake :)

Slideshow of more Sept pics:

Our little girl continues to show some "Dr. Jeckyl and Miss Hyde" tendencies with her personality... When she is happy, she is very, VERY happy, but when she's not... she's NOT.  But we'll take the drama and stubbornness as long as it continues to come with that super sweet, smiling, cheerful side of her that loves life.  We have so enjoyed watching her grow into such a friendly, outgoing child who waves to her neighbors, whether she's met them before or not, and easily makes new friends wherever she goes.  She really is our little sunshine.  Toward the end of the month, we finally gave up on trying to stick with her nap, so that's proving to be a big change for us.  But so far, we think it was time. We're looking forward to a beautiful fall season!