Bear Mountain Lodge

Our trip to Bear Mountain Lodge was a blast. There’s so much to do there with a little one. There’s a lake to walk around, paddle boats you can rent, a playground, a zoo with a bear, an eagle, an owl, some fish, snakes, coyotes, etc. This is maybe not something I would have cared about pre-baby, but there’s a big, wide, expansive, green lawn. Nora could run free! You can eat brunch there at the renovated restaurant, which I’d really recommend. It’s $30 for an all-you-can-eat buffet and the food was yummy. Here’s some of the highlights:

Okay, this is actually in Cold Spring. It’s another fifteen minutes from Bear Mountain Lodge. We love it here.

So much fun now that Nora can explore the great outdoors!

Snow, snow, snow!

Nyack in the snow sure is purdy. Nana, Poppop and Nora go for a stroll:

Nora Bear Update

Nora helping Mommy shop in Target

Nora has six teeth and two more coming in.

She says, “da” for dog and duck and Dada, maMA for mama, “ba” for ball, “buh buh” for bye bye, “”bbbb” for mooo, “ba ba ba” (the noise a chicken makes), snort (a pig noise).

She likes to be chased. She’ll start crawling away fast and then she’ll look back at us and giggle. Once we start coming after her, she squeals in delight and flails her arms and legs.

She likes to knock down blocks, bang things together, grab the remote, my keys, the phone, my computer, etc.

She shakes her booty whenever she hears music. I mean, it’s a whole-body-shake. She moves her butt, swings her arms and bobs up and down on her knees.

She can walk holding onto a walker or table, although, she’d prefer to crawl if there’s something she’s after.

She is a smiley little monster.

Our house is Nora’s playroom

Apple picking fun!

Thanks to my Mommy friends for a fun outing to Dr. Davies Farm in Congers, NY. We had some adventures, i.e. trying to figure out how to carry the apple-picking-stick with us, while also carting baby strollers and/or babies in slings across the highway and up the hills to the orchard. We took turns picking the apples (using the stick thingy). I mostly got leaves and sticks when I tried, but that’s okay. The babies had a great time and Nora took a bite of her very first apple (pictured below).

2 Year Anniversary

I’m the luckiest girl in the world. Two years ago, Kevin and I got married on a beautiful (and hot) May afternoon with the love and support of our family and friends.

Today, we have an amazing little family. Last night, we celebrated our anniversary by taking ourselves and Nora to dinner at the Hudson House. We sat outside, enjoyed some scrumptious food and reminisced. Nora, the party girl, liked being outside and people watching/ eating her toy/ eating her hand/ squawking. I’m grateful for these guys.

May day blarg

It’s my birthday. Yup. 33 years old.

We’re all a little under the weather this week. The common cold: sore throat, runny nose, sneezing and coughing. It breaks your heart to hear a little baby cough. This is her first cold. And you can’t explain it to her – you feel yucky because you have a virus and your immune system is fighting it off. She seems to be on the other side of the thing — at least, I sure hope so.

Okay, I’m about to have a pity party for myself. A small one. It’ll be over soon, I promise.

Feel free to skip this paragraph entirely, or get out your tiny violins. I feel blarg (which is my word for tired, achy, hot and cold at the same time, runny, sore-of-nose, etc, etc, etc.) I did something weird to my back so that it hurts every time I cough and it’s kind of hard to pick Nora up. Oh, and it’s raining. Oh, and I wrote one whole draft of this post but somehow, it got erased when I hit “Save Draft” and I had to start over.

Whew. Glad that’s over.

Here’s the upside. If I take a good look at my life on this birthday, I have so much to be grateful for. I’m a mom now, and Nora is the cutest, silliest, sweetest little person I know. I’m married to a wonderful man and we have kickass family and friends. We live in a down to earth, beautiful place with great restaurants, mountains and the Hudson all around.

This morning, I ran the shower and Nora and I steamed ourselves in the bathroom to clear our sinuses.  She squeaked and grunted at me on the changing table. We’re taking it easy, watching a little TV, taking lots of naps. So, even though Nora and I feel blargy, I certainly have a lot to celebrate on this rainy birthday.

Namaste. (It felt appropriate to say this. I don’t know why, but I don’t question these things.) 🙂

Nora’s eventful April

This month, Nora was a social butterfly. She met up with some other moms and babies in Memorial Park:

She went to a 1st Year Anniversary & New Product Launch Party at Bee Spa & Retail Store. Here’s a pic of Nora and her friends kibitzing at the event:

She went for walks with buddies like Jocelyn, Laura and Vivien and Karen and Alon. Here’s a pic of Nora and Alon:

Nora made some bold fashion choices this month (pictured below) including a psychedelic print, a strawberry dress, red shorts that give her a British paigeboy sort of look, and a romantic flowered headband:

She relaxed with her Mommy and Daddy on the porch on a warm, spring-like evening:

She traveled far and beyond to visit our families in Delaware and Boston. Here she is, hanging with her cousins, Caitlin, Leah and Morgan the dog:

And this week, she took not one but two trips to the city (and outer boroughs) to visit Nicole and Dan in Queens, and Michelle and 5-week-old Henry. Here’s a picture of Nora and Henry. She’s hiding in the back, playing hard-to-get. You know how it is — don’t want to seem too eager around those boys!

What a month!

New parent activities in Rockland County, New York

There is so much going on for new parents in Rockland County, there’s no time to be bored. Here’s a list of some of the activities I’ve found.

* Note: I teach a prenatal yoga class at the Union Arts Center in Sparkill, NY. For more information, please visit send me a message or visit http://www.moonrivermotherandchild.com/vlt22343.htm.

 

1)      Parents of Infants Group – at Rockland Parent Child Center

http://www.rocklandparentchild.org/programs/early-childhood-parent-child-programs/

“Parents/caregivers of infants come relax in our comfortable living room. Use the time to de-stress, ask questions and share this extraordinary time with others in a similar situation. Gain information about your growing baby and issues of importance to you, your child and your family. A group facilitator provides a welcoming atmosphere where parent and infant can interact and connect, and models age appropriate infant interaction. Visiting specialists provide information on nutrition, infant care and development, and the facilitator and parents provide links to community resources.”

When: 1-3 pm, Mondays & Thursdays, September – June
Ages: birth – 12 months
Registration information:$12 per session

2)      Music Together

http://moonrivermotherandchild.com/vlt22251.htm

What is Music Together?
“Music Together is an innovative music and movement program for children ages newborn to age five years and their parents or caregivers, that is based on the belief that all children are inherently musical. Originally offered to the public in 1987, it pioneered the concept of a research-based, developmentally appropriate early childhood music curriculum that strongly emphasizes and facilitates adult involvement.

All Children Are Musical!
At Music Together we believe that music ability is as basic to life as walking or talking, and that it is every child’s birthright to participate with pleasure and confidence in the music of our culture. We introduce children to the joys of making music instead of passively receiving it from Cd’s and television. And because very young children instinctively respond to and imitate their loved ones, the active participation of parents and caregivers, regardless of their musical ability – is an essential part of the rich musical environment we create. Music Together parents discover what a powerful role model they are for their child, just by having fun with the music themselves! And by providing cd’s and songbooks to take home, we hope to inspire music-making in your everyday family life.”

3)      Postnatal Yoga – at Lift Yoga in Nyack

http://liftnyack.com/

“Nyack Yoga is so excited to announce our New Postnatal Yoga Class for Moms and Babies (under 1/pre-walkers)!”

When: Mondays 10:30-11:45am
Starts: March 5th
Where: Nyack Yoga @ 42 Main
Instructor: Catherine Moon Rubin

Cost: $20 Drop in
10 Class Card (expires in 12 weeks): $150
4 Class Card (expires in 4 weeks): $60
You may also use the LIFT card as a method of payment. This also
brings the price down to $15 per class. This card does not expire.

4)      Mommy & Me Yoga – at Yoga Haven in Tuckahoe, NY (this is in Westchester County, not Rockland, but I wanted to include it since it’s such a fabulous studio.)

www.yogahaven.com

“For mothers and newborns, one month to one year after birth includes stretching and toning for the new mom, breathing techniques, deep relaxation and sharing. Attendance at prenatal yoga classes is not a prerequisite.”

Wednesdays 11:15-12:15pm in Tuckahoe

Taught by Debi Mancuso

Questions regarding Mommy & Me Yoga please contact debiyogahaven@aol.com.

Your First Class $10  Drop-in Class $20 5 Class Card $80 (expires in 4 months) 10 Class Card $150 (expires in 4 months)  20 Class Card $260 (expires in 4 months) 50 Class Card $525 (expires in 10 months) 1 Month Unlimited $140 3 Month Unlimited $345 6 Month Unlimited $600 Kids 8th Grade & Under $12 Teens $15

5)      Mother Goose Time – at Nyack Public Library

https://ny.evanced.info/nyack/lib/eventcalendar.asp

Event Type: Children’s Program
Date: 4/4/2012 (and other Wednesdays)
Start Time: 11:00 AM
End Time: 11:30 AM

Description:

“For infants up to 18 months with caregiver. This lap-sit program is a gentle way to introduce your baby to the library. We will read simple stories and do rhymes, songs and finger plays.
No registration necessary.”

59 South Broadway, Nyack NY 10960
Location: Children’s Story Hour Room
Contact: Children’s Room
Contact Number: 845.358.3370 x228

6)      The Breastfeeding Cafe & New Mom Support Group – at Lift Yoga in Nyack

http://liftnyack.com/

“We are so loving this amazing group of beautiful new mamas and babies!   Each week we offer a different topic as a jumping off ground for discussion. But we never stay on topic …. as we laugh, smile and even cry a bit through all kinds of fun and informative conversation!  And each week we end with a guided relaxation & gentle touch ritual to help bring calm and routine to your evenings and nap times.”

Join us every Wednesday

10:30am – 12pm

$120 for 8 wks advance

$20/wk drop in

7)      New Mommy Friendship Circle – JCC Rockland, West Nyack NY

http://jccrockland.org/parentingcenterprograms.htm

Wed May 23, 2012 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM and Wed Jun 20, 2012 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Community Member	$25.00
Fitness Member	$25.00
Public	$30.00

8)      Play at the J– JCC Rockland, West Nyack NY

Jan 25, 2012 to Jun 20, 2012
Wed 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
FREE

Jan 24, 2012 to Jun 19, 2012
Tues 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
FREE

9)      Rockland Mommies

Check out the “Rockland Mommies” Facebook page for information about moms’ activities and nights out.

—

* My friend Ashley also suggested I added the Mommy and Me swim class at the YMCA: http://www.rocklandymca.org/aquatics/aquatics_main.htm

Good call!

* And here’s another addition! Bring Your Baby Matinees on the first Tuesday of every month!

http://www.amctheatres.com/programs/bring-your-baby

* And check out this Facebook page: “Rockland Parents Social Group”