Monkey Time

At the MoMA

At the MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) with Zadie, hanging out in front of Henri Mattisse's La Danse

A Little List

Christmas is just around the corner and we are so excited to experience it through the eyes of our baby girl.  We want to spoil her and buy her every cute stuffed animal and pretty outfit we set our eyes on, but we are going to try our hardest not to go overboard.  It will be a huge challenge, especially since there are a billion adorable baby items out there.  I mean, have you seen the stuff they have on Etys.com??  It's out of control. Here are some things I think would be great for Zadie. 

Number one on our list...wooden toys.  The office of our pediatrician has exclusively wooden toys for the kids to play with and guess what?  They love them (and we love them too).  I like the simplicity of them.  I like that they don't require batteries, or light up, or make noise.  Sure, they may seem uninteresting compared to all the super hi-tech toys out there today, but that's what imagination is for.  Also, many wooden toys have some educational or developmental benefit. Talk about a win win! 

Coming in at number two - books.  I've been reading to Zadie since day 1 and think it's one of the most important things to continue.  The little books we have are wonderful - Zadie looks at them, I read them to her over and over again, but there's one problem with them.  They are too short.  We need some longer children's books for Miss Zadie.  Some ideas - The Little Prince, The Velveteen Rabbit, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Snow White (I loved these Disney tales when I was a little girl), and any favorites you recall loving as a child.

Knitted sweaters, hats, mittens.  She has a small head and we haven't been able to find her any super warm hats yet.  She's still wearing her newborn hats, which is okay for now since it's not too cold out yet.  As for sweaters, she has two sweaters she wears over her t-shirts, dresses and onesies, but that's it.  They are cardigan sweaters, but pull-over sweaters are good too.  As you know, I love taking her out on walks and plan to continue to walk with her through the winter (otherwise we'll both go stir crazy).

Anything that fits into her woodland themed nursery - owls, rabbits, foxes, bears, deer, birds, squirrels, etc.  She currently has an owl print and the decals stickers.

I could go on for a while listing all the amazing things that would be great for Zadie, but I'm pretty sure Zadie's family knows what's best for her.  Love to all!!

Zadie and Alex

My cousin's wife and my friend, Ingrid, came over for a visit a week or so ago.  We sat in the park and talked about our adventures in motherhood and then went out for a delicious lunch around the corner with Alex and Zadie.  They slept while their moms enjoyed lunch and a glass of wine.  After we returned, we snapped a few adorable photos of them.  So cute!  I can't get enough of little Alex and am counting the days until we can hang out with him and Ingrid again.

What I find funny about these photos is that Zadie is making faces she never usually makes.  What a funny girl! 

Zadie being a big girl

 Holding up her head like a big girl

 Looks like she's about to crawl - I think she'll start before 6 months

 Playing with her toy

Looking at Mommy

And...drum roll please....

ZADIE HAS LEARNED TO ROLL OVER ON HER OWN!  What a good girl.  Typically, babies don't learn to roll over until they are 4 or 5 months old.  We're so proud of her.   

The Nursey is almost done

We finally got the wall decorations we've been waiting for. Zadie's nursery now has a woodland theme! 

 Miss Bunny, meet Mr. Bird

 I spot an owl

 This bird is in love

 So is this one

 Zadie thinks her new wall decals are cute

And her mom thinks these dresses are cute

I love the woodland theme and all the animals that can be added to her woodland animal collection.  In fact, there's a fox I spotted on Etsy I've been dying to get for Zadie.  I think she'll love it.  

Add'l Halloween

 Jack-o-lanterns - I'm on the left, Nate is on the right, and Zadie is in middle.  Her pumpkin was too little to carve.

Since the cat costume didn't quite work out, we put Zadie in her lamb coat on Halloween Day.  All the kids gathered in Carroll Park to show off their costumes.  It was quite cold, but the sun was warm.  Zadie was as snug as a bug in a rug in her adorable coat.  After the park, we sat with some friends outside of Abilene and enjoyed a few afternoon beers, while Zadie enjoyed a nap. 

Halloween in Prospect Park

 Mama and Zadie

 Look at that big girl in her big girl coat.  She looks like a little lady. 

Daddy and Zadie

I knit a cat hat for Zadie for Halloween and it didn't quite come out as I expected.  As you can see, it's about 5 sizes too big for her, but still cute.

Art, Photography, and Zadie

Every Thursday Zadie and I meet up with three other moms and visit a museum.  Last week we went to the National Museum of the Native American Indian, right across from Battery Park.  I've never been here before and I was really impressed by their collection, the signage, and layout.  I look forward to taking Zadie back here when she's older.  Yesterday, we went to the International Center of Photography and saw two incredible exhibits on the Cuban Revolution and the Spanish Civil War.  I particularly liked the old photos of Chez Guevara and youth culture in Cuba.

 Chez Guevara

  Boys with new Beatles album

 Hats and Machetes in Revolution Square

On Monday evening, Zadie and I met up with Nate at a small gallery in the West Village and saw Kevin Cummins' legendary photos of the band Joy Division. 

 Joy Division

Ian Curtis (of Joy Division)

 

Zadie, as usual, slept through the exhibit, which gave Nate and I the chance to enjoy a small glass of wine and meet Kevin Cummins. 

Next week the girls and I are going to attempt a trip to the MoMA.  There's a new exhibit on Abstract Expressionism that I've been dying to see.  Wish us luck! 

Zadie and her friends

For those of you not on facebook, here are some photos of Zadie and her friends, Leo and Eugenia.  We had a playdate/brunch at our place a few weekends ago.  The babies were well behaved - they ate, took naps, made dirty diapers, and cried.  We were able to take a few photos during one of the few calm moments.  Aren't they just the cutest? 

 Leo is a ladie's man.  He was making moves on Zadie and Eugenia, but as you can see, Zadie was NOT having it.  What a good girl!

 The babies and their moms.  I swear, the matching stripes were not planned.  (Notice Leo hasn't given up yet.  He's still trying to win Zadie over)

At the end, they all became friends and held hands.  It was so sweet.