T Minus 3 and Counting

Only three days until Alex and Ari turn ONE! We're all so excited and we have been keeping busy getting ready for the big day.

First, let's back up to a recap of our weekend. Friday evening we had Shabbat dinner at Miri and Opa's with Uncle Jason, Aunt Debbie, cousins Naomi and Jonathan, and Nana and Poppy Jack. Saturday we had a simchat bat (naming ceremony) for Alex and Ari's friend Riley. Mommy forgot her camera, so make sure to go over to Riley's blog to see video and, as soon as Riley's dad has time to upload them, pictures. We were honored to be part of this special occasion and enjoyed meeting many of Riley's family and friends, including her grandparents who are friends with Alex and Ari's Great Aunt Candy and Great Uncle Jerry in Longwood, Florida. It is a small world, indeed!

Sunday Mommy and Daddy represented MaccabiUSA at a college fair held at the local JCC, so Nana and Poppy Jack came over to babysit Alex and Ari. It was a beautiful day, so Nana and Poppy Jack took the kids over to the tot lot where Alex and Ari introduced their grandparents to some of our neighbors and where Alex had a chance to play with some of the neighborhood doggies. When Mommy and Daddy got home we took a family outing to the grocery store to get our shopping done and order a birthday cake for Alex and Ari's party this coming weekend.

So this week will be busy preparing for and celebrating Alex and Ari's big milestone. Today we took a trip to the party store to order balloons for their party (because what's a birthday party without balloons?) Tomorrow Mommy plans to take Alex and Ari shopping for special birthday party outfits. Thursday is the big day, and we plan to meet Daddy at work for a celebratory lunch followed by free ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery, compliments of the store's birthday club. Speaking of which, there will be lots of free ice cream this week because Mommy was smart enough to sign us (um, the kids...) up for a bunch of ice cream birthday clubs.

Saturday will be a big day for Alex, who is scheduled for his first haircut! Stay tuned for pictures. Sunday we're having a small celebration at our house for Alex and Ari and their neighborhood friends. Mommy and Daddy can't wait for Alex and Ari's first taste of cake, even though it may mean less cake for Mommy and Daddy in the future.

In other news, the weather continues to indicate spring has arrived; the forecast for tomorrow is calling for temperatures near 80 degrees...more like summer than spring! Today it was in the 60's so we went outside for some playtime (and bubbles) in the backyard:

Finally, Alex is so very close to walking. He's standing on his own for extended periods of time (until he realizes he doesn't know exactly what to do with himself, so he sits down) but has yet to take his first steps. As long as he has something for support, though (anything- a wall, Mommy, a chair...), he speeds around the room getting into everything in sight and reach:As for Ari, she's getting her SEVENTH tooth! Alex is still working on his third, but it appears that four top teeth are on the verge of popping through any day. You can barely see Ari's seventh tooth (on the bottom right) in this picture. Notice she's already developing a serious phone addiction:So lots of exciting things going on...we're very thankful for so many happy things to celebrate!