End of the School Year Melancholy

The end of the school year always makes me sad in a schmaltzy, sentimental way. Which is hilarious, since I tend to hate everything about my role in the kids schooling. I hate the driving back-n-forth in the ridiculous traffic and pick-up lines. I hate the whole being-on-a-schedule and must-be-on-time thing. I hate making lunch day in and day out. And most of all, I hate having to nag Molly to do her homework.

But with a mere few days left, it's as if I'm someone else. It's as if I loved everything about school. I can't believe tomorrow is my last Friday Volunteer day in Kelly's class! I can't believe Molly will never, ever bring home another first grade art project! And what I really can't believe is that this fall I will have a Kindergartner and a Second-grader.

I know this is hardly an original thought, but it is so true, they really do grow-up so fast.

Baby Aaron eats his first solid food.

That's right, at dinner tonight (technically, this afternoon - we dine early) Aaron ate his first solid food. I'd been meaning to give him something he could pick-up with his own little hands for a few weeks now, but hadn't gotten around to going to the store and getting him anything suitable for baby's first meal yet.

But today - finally - I had time to go to the local health food store and get him some nice low-salt Oatios for his first meal. Followed by gluten-free, sodium-free mini bears. Mmmm.

Eat-up baby, it only gets better from here.

I have a new blog.

It's called Random Handprints, and it's at http://randomhandprints.blogspot.com. I'll still be posting pictures of the kids and random stories here at BCM, but most of the blogging will now be at the new, non-geographical-specific Random Handprints address. Hope to see you there!

Big Day for the Kaby

Kelly gets her first library card!

It is also makes a nifty eye patch:
Or, if the mood strikes,

An equally adorable ear patch:

Happy Lag B'omer! Happy Birthday Jewish Mysticism!

For those of you who are not familiar with this (very fun) Jewish holiday, it was yesterday. Lag B'omer commemorates the 33rd day of the counting of the Omer, and is also known as the birthday of Jewish mysticism.


To celebrate, we went to a really great party hosted by the local Chabad chapter here in Larchmont. We jumped in the bouncy castle, ate yummy barbecue, sang songs, shot bows n' arrows (a Lag B'omer tradition, who knew?) and flew kites.

The best part, besides seeing lots of friends and hearing updates about many of our beloved morahs at the Chabad Early Learning Center, was watching Molly stick to the giant velcro wall:

For those who are interested in learning more about the holiday, here is info from the Chabad.org website:

Lag B'omer is the thirty-third day of the Omer, a minor festival falling between Passover and Shavuot, commemorating the end of a plague which killed thousands of Rabbi Akiva’s students; also the yahrzeit of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, author of the Zohar.

If you don't know what the The Omer Count is, click here and all will be revealed.

Guest Blogger at Big City Mom - Welcome Sarah!

This post is from the very talented and optimistic photographer, Sarah Sloboda. Sarah shares her tips with us for getting the best photos of the little ones this springtime:

Spring is the perfect time to experiment with photography because you can get outside and enjoy the sunshine, the kids can run rampant, and you can turn off the flash and take advantage of the natural light. Some of my favorite places to shoot in New York City are listed below - I recommend letting the kids run free, and experimenting with the direction of the sunlight and backdrops.

1. Brooklyn Bridge Park – There are lots of trees and buildings and bridges, so whatever your pleasure - urban backdrop or greenery - you'll find something here. Plus you can reward the kids with a walk over to the playground when you're done.

2. The High Line – The High Line boasts an awesome stroll for you, and tons of interesting things for kids to occupy themselves with while you frame the perfect shot.

3. Roof decks – Take advantage of your building's (or a friend's) roof deck! Just getting outside into fresh air has an inspiring effect on kids and adults alike. You'll find yourselves breathing deeper, and relishing even a brief respite from the confines of the old apartment.

4. Sheep Meadow – Nestled on the west side of Central Park, diagonally northeast of Columbus Circle, is the sprawling Sheep Meadow, where you can pack a picnic and sit in the sun or shade, blow bubbles, play catch, and capture memories.

5. Prospect Park – A little trip to Prospect Park will reward you with a feeling of connection to nature. Prospect Park is more wild and sprawling than its Manhattan counter-part, and you really will feel like you have traveled outside of the city. Incredibly photogenic views abound.

You can learn lots more tips at University of Sarah, and from Sarah herself this Thursday, April 8, at 12:30pm when she'll be hosting a teleseminar to Introduce "Photo Workshops for Moms." Get all the details here.

Thank you Sarah for sharing your fantastic ideas and for guest blogging here at Big City Mom!

I forgot the baby!

I always worry this will happen, and this morning it did. I was racing around the house, trying to remember everything, reminding Molly what she needed for school on this first day back from spring vacation and asking Kelly ever so nicely if she could please put on a dress or even a tee-shirt over her ever-present bathing suit. Then it was the looking for the shoes, and the sweatshirts, and the arguing over whether they needed a coat if it was going to be 75 degrees later (their argument) or if they needed at least a light sweater because it was only 48 degrees now (my argument). Throw in a heated debate on what exactly constitutes the public schools "closed toe" policy on footwear, and we were on our way. Another lengthy discussion about whose turn it was to sit where, and we were off. Two girls secure in their car seats, one mom at the driver's wheel. I pulled into the school drop off line, said "'Bye Molly! See you after school!" And she replied with her usual, "'Bye mom! 'Bye Kelly! 'Bye Aaron!" Only this time this sentence followed: "Mom! Aaron isn't here!" I tried to stay calm as I said "Don't worry, he's just at home."
Meanwhile I drove home as lickity-split as a person can when they realize they have a six-month-old home alone, and not even necessarily secured in a play pen or stroller. And to make matters worse, because I was so distraught even though school is only half-a-mile away I kept making wrong turn after wrong turn and ended up completely lost. And right when I thought to myself, I am never going to find my house..... I woke up.