Tea Time With Zoey.

If someone asked me for a list of challenges about having 3 kids (and working part-time), the first and foremost would be time for my husband, and the second would be time with each of my babies. Compared to our lives 9 months ago, I am just not as available to Z and N whenever they want or need me, both physically and mentally. I know they are perfectly fine and very well taken care of by Gary, our nanny, and my aunt when I'm not there to play with them or do something for them right away. And I know they have adjusted fairly well with me being gone or unavailable at times: "mom needs to change izzy first before I can read to you", "let me feed izzy first and then I'll get food for you" - they rarely complain or get impatient in situations involving Izzy and her needs, which I really appreciate. (On a side note, though, I am a firm believer that not everything or every moment in our lives should be about the kids and what they want. I am always straightforward and honest with them when I need some occasional me time: "mom needs to eat breakfast too. let me eat in peace for 10 minutes at the table, go play first then i'll come join you." I think a healthy balance of moments like this in our lives with little ones can teach them to think about others more and that it's not always about what they want, even at home. Keeps a mama sane, too ;) 

Anyway, I digressed. I meant to say that it's a different story when I have to put Izzy's needs before Z and N's. As much as they are such understanding, loving, sweet little spirits, it is in every sense important and worth making a lot of effort to have quality time with them where I am 100% present and not distracted. Gary and I make a pretty great team about this at home, but we've been talking about planning something special with Z and N more regularly. 

So, last Thursday, I made a reservation at Queen Mary Tea Room for Zoey and I. I told her the next day that we were going to have a tea party together Saturday afternoon, and she was so happy that it made me so happy too! :) And truly, it was so. much. fun! We put on our matching shirts, navy blue shoes, and pretty necklaces. We sat across from each other, took turns asking each other questions and chatted for the whole hour without being interrupted by naynay or izzy. I loved watching her sipping on her chocolate peppermint tea, and she got to try cotton candy for the first time ever. 

It was a beautiful, sunny saturday afternoon in March! Our kind waitress took this picture for us outside the tea room.

lots of colors and florals in there :)

a pretty small space, but perfect ambience for special occasions

lots of little things for little girls, of course

next to our table, there was a dad on a date with his son and daughter (both just a few years older than zoey). it was very cute :) and he kindly offered to take pictures for us

little lady got some sorbet to cleanse her palate before her food came

diving into her grilled cheese. zbear was hungry!

watching her eat is a delight, haha!

you want some too, mom? is that why you keep taking pictures of me?

something about grilled cheese. it's definitely one of her favorite food

we went to their little tea shop across the street afterwards. i told her she could pick out one coloring book so here she was carefully deciding :)

sitting on the sidewalk waiting for daddy and her siblings to pick us up. she picked out a little chirping bird for Nay at the gift shop, too :)

outside of the gift shop and satisfied with her picks :)

Smile, Zoey!

Sigh, I feel so lucky to be Zoey's mom. Gary and I seriously lucked out (and very very blessed, of course) I pray that she'll still want to go on tea parties with me 10, 20, and 30 years from now! :) :) Love you, Zobee.