Remembering



The 9/11 memorial, NYC

As a 14 year old kid on September 11th 2001, I was sick from school and at home watching the devastating news coverage from 8000 miles away in my hometown in South Africa. Little did I know that just 9 years later I would become a permanent resident of New York and call it my home.

I have walked amongst people who experienced the events of that terrible day first hand, and heard stories of heartbreak. I have witnessed the building of the memorial since its early beginnings and slowly watched as the 1 World Trade crept up to become the tallest building in Manhattan and took it's place in the New York City Skyline.

Today I want to remember all those who lost their lives and my whole heart goes out to anybody affected by such tragedy.

Zoey Does DC!

4 months of Zoey

Weight: 13lbs

Height: 25 inches
Clothing size: I have just done another wardrobe clean out. It's crazy how fast babies go through all these cute outfits! She now fits into 3 month clothing, although some brands are still a little big.

Diaper size: Size 1

Feeding: 4oz about every 2 and half hours. Sometimes she needs an extra oz and sometimes she only drinks 3oz.

Sleep: She takes a longer noon-time nap, but takes smaller 40min naps throughout the day. At night she will usually go down from about 9pm, wake up around 1am to eat and then sleep until 6 or 7am.

Milestones: She lifts her head up really high and strong when she is lying on her belly. She can roll over from her belly to her back and has rolled the other direction once. Zoey bears a lot of weight on her legs... I feel like she will be standing and walking sooner then usual.

Loves: Baths, shiny things like TV's and lights, Mommy and Daddy making funny sounds, laying in Mommy and Daddy's bed, Car rides.

 

Dislikes: Very loud family events... she is becoming more aware of her surroundings

Adventures: We took our first family vacation together! We went to Philadelphia and Washington, DC. Zoey was great on the car ride and enjoyed the hotel pool very much.

Mommy and Daddy could not get through the month without: Zoey. I have really grown attached to this little human. Sometimes when she naps for too long I miss hanging out with her. The love I feel for her is unlike no other which grows stronger and stronger each and every day.

Where the heck are ya?

Oh hey guys! Yeh so remember that time when I was all excited to be back on a 3x weekly blogging schedule and had so many cool ideas up my sleeve? Can you guess what kinda got in the way? 

LIFE! 

It's been pretty hectic around here trying to keep up with working 36 hours a week, starting a website, the explosion of orders in my Etsy shop and then there is of course motherhood (phew!), housework and ferrets to be fed etc. My list could probably go on for days, but because of all these factors my beloved blog is taking a bit of a backseat these days. 

I will still keep posting sporadically (since this is my own little diary/scrapbook) but I am taking the pressure off of myself from trying to keep up with a regular schedule and then feeling terribly guilty about not posting. I hope to return in full force one day, but for now I need to make time to cuddle my little Zoey at the end of a very long day.

I bought a car!

In the quest of becoming a real adult, I finally got myself a grown up car. 

It may not seem like a big deal for most people, but for an immigrant with ZERO credit history who has been driving a beat up '97 car with huge transmission issues, its a big deal. 

I'm so happy to finally have a reliable car that I know will not break down, and it's super pretty too! 

I'm already planning a road trip!

Mommy Monday: 3 months of Zoey

Weight: 11lbs

Height: about 23 inches, she was wiggling too much for me to be precise.

Clothing size: She has graduated to her 3 month size clothing, although some are too big and she can also still squeeze into her 0-3 month outfits too.

Diaper size: Size 1

Feeding: She drinks 4oz breast milk or formula about every 3 hours.

Sleep: Zoey goes down for the night around 9pm. She usually wakes up around 1am or 3am for her bottle, but sometimes she sleeps all the way until 6am! She is starting to take a longer afternoon nap and a couple of 40min naps in the morning.

Milestones: Zoey loves holding things in her hands or clasping her hands together. She lifts herself higher when doing her mini-push ups, is very alert and is smiling on demand now and she's halfway to rolling over.

Loves: Baths, swing, TV, her playmate Caroline, walks in her stroller.
 

Dislikes: This heat! Tummy time.

Adventures: 4th of July was Zoey's very first holiday which was exciting. We have been to a lot of family events, but not too many exciting adventures this month.

Mommy and Daddy could not get through the month without: Swaddleme! Zoey struggles to stay asleep without her arms being wrapped. AC, she gets hot very quickly. Family members who love carrying and feeding Zoey and giving us a bit of a break.

A New York Minute: Top of the Rock

There is undoubtedly something magical about the New York skyline.
Especially when you are on the 70th floor of 30 Rockefeller Plaza.

Located in the middle of the city, Rockefeller Plaza (where the big Christmas tree is each year) is a well known tourist hot spot. Most people who travel to NYC choose to either go up to the top of the Empire State Building or to the top of Rockefeller Plaza to take in an amazing view of the city.

 Whenever anybody asks me, I always recommend going to the "Top of the Rock" observation deck because you get a great 360 view of the city and can experience views of both Central Park and The Empire State building.

Enter 30 Rockefeller Plaza on 50th St between 5th and 6th Ave

Once you exit the very quick and stomach churning elevator ride to the top to are greeted with an unforgettable view that is well worth the $25 price for an adult ticket. There are 3 different viewing levels, 2 of which are outside, and a great resting spot indoors, in between the 2 sides of the building.

We took our baby with us and found everything to be baby and stroller friendly. In fact, we skipped the entire ticket line (because the booth was all the way downstairs) and jumped the queue for the elevator.

Gorgeous 360 views of NYC

After visiting the Top of the Rock; take a tour of NBC studios, dine in the "outdoor" garden during summer time or enjoy some ice skating in winter. 

30 Rockafella plaza should be on everyones NYC bucket list.