My old friends Stefanie flew to town to see us over the weekend on her way to North Carolina. I haven’t seen her in almost 4 years. Plus, Stef is from Barcelona and we’re going to try to hang out with her while we’re there! Two times in a month is bananas, the good kind.

So Stef hasn’t been able to meet Pipsey yet, so this visit was so special. The last time she came to NYC was probably just a month before I found out I was pregnant, now that I think of it. Anyway, Stef made it very clear that she was there to see Piper Jane, and Jake and I were just bonuses. (seriously, that is the norm for our visitors. my dad always jokes that Mike Bloomburg needs to acknowledge all the tourist money Pip brings to NYC)

Pippy had fun with the girls. My favorite thing about lounging around with Pip is when something “typical” happens. Like she pulls off or loses a sock. Or when she makes a mess with her toys. Or when she stands on her little Pippy-Tippy toes to get a better look at something high up. Or when her hair gets wild from all the playing. She is totally 4 and she doesn’t care who knows it. Don’t be jeal.

(no sock above)

Below is a lovely pipture of Pippy simultaneously thinking about math formulas, sports stats, cryptic radiohead lyrics, her pink blankie and how many things she has tapped that day. That, or she is just plain thinking about life. Whatever, something deep is going on behind that cute, slightly off-centered stare.

Something new about our walk on Friday, was that Pippy would walk over to something, touch it REALLYQUICKLY, pull her hand away really fast, then laugh and laugh and laugh at herself. Below she was in the middle of doing it to the hand-rail for the 10th time. Piper Jane is just full of the sills.

We walked outside, remember? To the playground! When we got outside, Pip’s PT said “Pipes, are you ready to go down the slide?”, and Piper Jane dramatically grabbed her forhead with the palm of her hand (like good grief!!) and then proceded to flip her hand around in a “wipe the sweat from her brow” motion. It was crazy and perfectly timed. We re-ennacted it about 50 times throughout the weekend and will probably laugh about it until our old bones can’t handle it. Piper Jane the character slash drama queen! What will she think of next?

It was a great visit. I love that I didn’t feel like Stef was just checking off “meet Pip” from her list. She was really soaking in each moment with her and cherishing the whole visit. That’s a real friend. So much support and so much love. So glad she came.

(want to know how my Monday was? I saw Ashley Olsen. I didn’t dare prune to her because it always takes me a couple of tries to get it right.)