Monkeys, Fish, and Butterflies, Oh My!

Aria is turning 1 next week! There are times when I just cannot wrap my mind around the fact that a year has already gone by, but when I look back at everything that happened this past year, it has been so full and wonderful that I also can't believe she hasn't been here our whole lives. Much more on that later; I have big plans for her birthday post.

Pictures in this post cover various summer memories. Beach days, Daniella's birthday, bathtime, my birthday, and our 3rd anniversary. Alyssa celebrated her birthday early because I commandeered her birthday weekend for Aria's party. Thank you, Alyssa! You're a good friend. =P I learned what a champagne birthday was at Alyssa's celebration this year. She did a champagne theme because her birthday falls on the 26th of September and it's her 26th year. That was super fun. See pictures of Alyssa, Jess and I underneath the massive champagne bottle. We also had a wonderful family reunion with my dad's side. Most of his family has not seen Aria since January! We were very excited to spend some time with them. Included are some pictures I took to commemorate Stephen's first completed wine-making year. This was the first batch of wine that he made for a customer from grapes he grew in their backyard. His other customers are all still either in the growing period or production. It was very exciting, and the finished product came out great! Also, Roland Jude Pascucci was born!!! =)

We had the house to ourselves for my birthday party this year, which was a treat. As many of you know, we live in a two family house that belongs to my in-laws. It's becoming cramped with a baby and we are in the process of saving and looking for something closer to Stephen's work out East. But, in the meantime, entertaining has become difficult in our tiny apartment. It just so happened that shortly after my birthday Angela and Steve went on vaca to Florida and we were able to have more space for our festivities. Baby could sleep undisturbed while we commenced with our shenanigans downstairs and outside. We're in a weird chapter of life, but I am so grateful. Thank you to everyone who came out and made it a really memorable night. We did fondue! Lots of it! And I sure will never forget playing a serious game of Red Rover on our front lawn at 3 in the morning. A few people stayed over and we all took the baby to the beach the next day. It was perfect.

3 years and a baby since we said I do. September 6th, 2016 was uncharacteristically rainy, but honestly, my very favorite anniversary thus far. Our special day is difficult for Stephen because it falls right smack dab in the middle of his most busy season. This led to him not realizing he had planned both a full day with us and also a full day of work. I kissed him goodbye the morning of our anniversary thinking I wouldn't see him until dinnertime and that we would need to plan a belated date. He showed up an hour and a half later with flowers and a wiped schedule. So, yes, he kind of forgot, but he more than made up for it. It was a totally magical afternoon full of spontaneity.

We started by attempting to take the baby to iHop for breakfast. On a rainy day after Memorial Day, you would think that iHop patrons would be pretty sparse. However, there was a line out the door for 2/3 that we tried! We finally found lots of space at iHop in Freeport...which turned out to have undergone a crazy modernization and had all kinds of big wigs filming interviews for the company in their new restaurant. Fortunately for us, the service was incredible and the place was so shiny, new, and clean. It didn't look anything like an iHop. Aria loved the food and then slept all the way to the aquarium.
Originally we were going to go to the New York Aquarium. But, we figured the travelling would be easier if we stayed on Long Island, and neither of us had ever been to the one in Riverhead. We enjoyed a full day of idyllic wandering. Aria was absolutely taken with everything. She loved the sea lion show out in the drizzle. She sat with me yelling and clapping with everyone else. We also had a borderline spiritual experience when we took her to see the Japanese Snow Monkeys (I could not believe there were monkeys at the aquarium). One of them came right up to the glass to take a look at her, and when I took her out of the stroller to bring her closer I swear they stared right into each other's eyes for a full twenty seconds. With the accompaniment of peaceful zen music, we strolled around and looked at the various colorful aquatic exhibits. Because of the rain there were very few people there and we were able to enjoy the quiet relaxed environment.
The butterfly exhibit is a must-see for anyone looking to get extremely warm and be landed on by numerous insects. We loved it. Inside that exhibit there is also an aviary. Stephen went in while Baby and I happily watched him from outside. Enough people had told me stories and we were not trying to get pooped on.
Afterward we found it fitting to go out for sushi. Aria slept on the way back, and sat at the table with us eating an avocado roll.
Overall, a much needed chill day. Nothing better than that.

Looking forward to writing all about my girl's first birthday, but until then pensieve.