tea party

So sweet. Yesterday Sophie and I went with 3 other little girls and their mommies (and baby brothers) to the Gilded Rose Manor on Devonshire Street for a real tea party at a Victorian tea house. It was so much fun. Alex stayed here with nanny Rachel so that Sophie and I could have special time together and it really was so nice. There were beautiful china teacups and plates, small silver spoons and napkin holders, pretty plates with tea sandwiches, scones with cream and jelly, and petit fours for the mommies for desserts, and cupcakes for the girls. They really did so well- I had sophie on my lap for a while which felt so great. Since Alex was born that is so infrequent since he is so often in my arms. She used her 'restaurant manners' and like one of the moms, Pam, said, if we start practicing with them now by the time they are 5 they will be professionals in settings like this!

Alex had his first rice cereal on Wednesday- 2 days before he turned 5 months old. Hosed off the high chair and gave it a good scrub before bringing it into the house- it had been in the sideyard alongside old kitchen chairs and one of the poolside lounge chairs. He seems to be doing really well with the swallowing part and not much has come back up. He grabs for the spoon, just as he grabs at everything else. I just love love love him- not any more than sophie but he is such a BABY - his soft baby skin, his chunky thighs and grasping fingers. He loves to see his sister climb into the big bed in the morning - today she kept hugging him and kissed him on his head. At breakfast she wanted to pick out the spoon for him to use. So cute. She and Geoff are off at Kindermusik in Studio City right now for their saturday morning activity- Starbucks for a caramel milk to follow. Alex is nestled in his bassinet, almost to tall already to fit in there. I weighed him the other day- 19 pounds at 5 months! He has got to slow down. In another pound he will need the convertible carseat- ALREADY. Pretty crazy.

The other day, while working from home, Sophie and I had a quick jacuzzi soak during my lunch break. It felt so great- Rachel held Alex in the shade, and he got a good look at what summer will be like. It will be fun to put him in the little pool floater and sail him around the shallow end. I am sure he will love it- smiley little boy. He is so agreeable and interested in everything around him.

Starting next week, every other Friday Rachel will start to come 4 hours earlier - so I will have her from 9 in the morning til 4 in the afternoon. I am doing this so that I can have special time with Sophie in the morning- either for mommy and me, or another activity where I can just focus on her. I just loved having that alone time with her and I know it is good for her too- I can't wait. I figure when she starts preschool I will be able to do this with Alex too- it will be so fun to take him to Gymboree like I did with his sister.

I am so lucky- and truly, truly grateful for my family. I am only hoping that Geoff is on a road to recovery with his health and state of mind. We will see what the next month brings...