Lots of play in the month of May!

Once again, this will be a post where the pictures must truly say 1,000 words (ok, maybe they don't need to say that many, but I am pretty wordy!)- there just hasn't been enough time in the day to get much typed up!  We are surrounded by boxes and can't believe how quickly the number of days left living in this great city is dwindling...  We have tried to couple the moving prep/packing, etc with enjoying some of NYC's sites and that makes for busy weekends.

The month started with a very short but sweet visit from my folks.  We filled the two days with a mini post-birthday celebration for Maelee, a trip to the World Trade Center site, dinner at one of our Favorite Food Network chef's restaurant (Alex Guarnaschelli's Butter), Lilee's dedication at our church, and a date to see Les Miserables on Broadway for Steve & I (a post-birthday celebration for me!) while Nana & Pop-Pop stayed with the girls.  It was a fun weekend!

 

The following weekend was Mother's Day and it was a sweet day with my little ladies, including lunch with friends.

We made one last trip to Bryant Park in the middle of the month and let Maelee enjoy one of her NYC favorites- the carousel.

And at the end of the month, we enjoyed another favorite- the zoo!  Lilee's first trip!!!

In between, we've been trying to enjoy Saturday morning family breakfasts at different fun spots.  One Saturday when Steve was away for work, the girls and I (well Maelee & I while Lilee snoozed!) enjoyed some scones from Alice's Tea cup; another, we got some classic NYC bagels; and tried a new place, "The Lexington Candy Shop," where we sat in the same booth that Woody Allen sat just a few years before and Maelee tried her first "egg cream."  If you're not familiar, it's milk mixed with soda water...  Maelee was not a fan.  She doesn't like the "fizzy." 

 

 

Lilee continues to do more fun stuff each day and really started showing more interest in toys this month, grabbing and pulling them, and putting everything in the mouth!  She is a cutie and a sweetie...
  

And our girls are definitely still feeling the sister love...

 

(LOL)

May, and now June, have been split between enjoying the time we have left in this city, especially with the friends we love, and preparing for what's next once we leave this city.  The next post will feature some of those who have been most near & dear to us during our 8 years here...  This chapter is ending soon.  With a lot of bittersweet emotions.  We are excited for what's ahead and are grateful for the time we've had here.

Slideshow of May pics:

Our BIG 4 Year Old & little 4 Month Old

Getting a blog post up in the middle of this move has been a bigger task than I would've thought so the next few will be short & sweet. :)  Starting with a slew of "photo shoot" pics of our little ladies from May.  It was a big month!  Maelee had just turned 4 years old and Lilee turned 4 months old.  Our sweet girls aren't always easy but they sure are always a blessing.

Maelee sporting her ladybug tutu first- worn every year since turning one- then with "Buddy," her handmade bunny from Mee-Maw who we have her picture with each year since she was just weeks old.

Then some shots of both our cuties at one of our favorite local parks during a picnic dinner one evening.

Wasn't able to get out the nice camera for these last ones, but had to keep with the tradition of having little Lilee's monthly shots with the butterfly wings:)

 

My, how these little gals have grown & changed!  This year is flying by and going faster by the minute. The saying sure is true- the days are long but the years are short.  In our case, even the weeks are speeding away!  We are thankful for the sweet moments through it all :)

Celebrating Lilee!

And finally, time for some more celebrating of our precious baby Lilee!!!  We can't believe she is approaching four months old in just one week!  The time is speeding quickly away...

She still seems to have some digestive issues which can make for quite a bit of fussiness sometimes, but she has the most adorable smiles and coos with such a sweet spirit about her.  She loves to roll side to side and has gotten really good at reaching for things and holding things which is so fun to watch.  So many sweet interactive times ahead! Maelee continues to shower her with love and affection and it melts our hearts to see her with her baby sister.  We weren't sure what to expect from Maelee with this little addition to our family, and we couldn't feel more blessed with how she has adored her.  It doesn't hurt that she's obsessed with "Frozen," which is all about sister love!!! :)

Onto some pictures from the "3 Month" mark!

 

 

Love that hair!!!

A big highlight from my folks' visit the first weekend of May was having this sweet girl dedicated at our beloved church.  Even though we only have a handful of Sundays left at Apostles, this church has meant so much to us during our time in NYC.  We couldn't imagine a better place to have our second daughter dedicated to the Lord than in the church community that has been our family for nearly 8 years, and supported us through the birth of both little girls.  And it was so special that Nana & Pop-Pop were able to be there to witness this, too. 

Our prayer over Lilee:

Ephesians 3:18-19 (ESV)

     (that you, being rooted and grounded in love,) ¹⁸ may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, ¹⁹ and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

 

 

 

 

  What a sweet day- Lilee is such a blessing!!!