While Marcella came for the marathon, we were happily able to squeeze in some hanging out time too. One evening I had a quiet delicious dinner with Marcella and her dad. The following day Marcella trekked back into Brooklyn to hang out with Ruby and myself.

We had lunch (without the babe, who was napping), we created the temporary sisterhood of roses with fake but oh so fun tattoos and we spent some time at the playground.

A perk of this trip was that Marcella is trigger happy with her camera. And so I received from her some rare mother-daughter pics (David is the opposite of Marcella). Thanks Marcella!

About those mother-daughter moments, by the way: a few days ago Ruby and I were chilling out on the couch while eating lunch. Ruby suddenly leaned into me and completely spontaneously announced "I love you mama." I think it made my entire year, right there, on the spot.

We do have a funny "I love you" game we play. I'll ask her how much I love her and she has two options, which she always goes for, in the same order. First she'll put her hands real close to each other, and I'll rush at her and tickle her. Then I ask again and she'll open up her arms as wide as they'll go and I'll rush in again and give her the biggest happiest silliest and most loving hug and she just giggles and we both smile with delight and...love.