Sunday, June 30, 2013

A Christening




Mirmande, 2013


A blissful Saturday! We are in Mirmande for a christening.

Let's just say this wasn't the old dunk the baby in the water and call it a day kind of affair. There was a ceremony at a beautiful old church in the village, a lunch overlooking the olive groves, and a dinner in summer whites at an old farm house, parts of which date from the 13th century.

As we were driving to the dinner through the French countryside, with opera blasting, it was like being in an espresso ad. No joke, this place is insane.

Axel has been blissed out too. Yesterday at lunch they had the most adorable children's table, complete with miniature wicker chairs and a fleet of babysitters. Axel sat there eating macaroni and tiny pieces of ham like a little prince. Last night he had a sleepover in our little inn with all the other French babies and couldn't have been happier.

And the party continues...we are off to brunch!

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Adventuring

France, 2013


Vive la France!

It was an epic journey involving delays, planes, a train, and an automobile, but we arrived safely in beautiful Mirmande last night. It's an immaculate village perched in the hills and surrounded by cherry, fig, plum, and apple trees.

Needless to say, we are smitten, and have already been playing that game where we eye up the listings in the property shop windows. More pics to come.

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

11211 Love

Motorino, 2013


So we have a really hectic (but fun) summer ahead, with France, weddings, Will's grandmother's 100th birthday celebration, family in the U.S. from Asia and Europe, Axel's first birthday celebration, lots of Maine, lots of heat, and oh, yeah, work...And all this kicks off in just three days.

It always gets kind of manic like this, summer. So much so that by September we usually swear we'll never overbook ourselves to such an extent again, only to foget what we swore and do it all over again twelve months later.

All of this means that we don't have much time to laze around in Brooklyn, at least not until August. All of these summer guides to the city? There's no time!

But that doesn't mean I'm not insanely excited for the re-opening of Motorino, one of our all time favorite pizzerias, in its new location. We may not get there 'til November, but we will certainly enjoy it when we do.

I've also been perusing the new site Bedford & Bowery, dedicated to happenings in downtown Manhattan and Brooklyn, but with a big focus on Williamsburg. It goes a long way to explaining why much of North Sixth Street was covered in yarn this weekend.

At least we've gotten some peeks at the Brooklyn summer mayhem before we set off on our adventures.

Lately

New York, 2013

A peek from my trip to Oz Farm, in Saugerties, NY. I was up there last week to  meet the lovely Jenny LeRoy and write a story on her upcoming revival of Maxwell's Plum.

Monday, June 24, 2013

Etc.

New York, 2103


Alas, my poor camera! It's got a "lens error" or somesuch.

Here are a few snaps from my camera that will have to do until I replace it. We had a great, hot weekend in Brooklyn (checking out knitted fences, people watching at the Renegade Craft Fair and The Ides), Queens (at Sripraphai), and Soho (shopping for a seersucker suit for Will.)

We are also busy prepping for France! One bag is semi-packed.

Monday, June 17, 2013

P.S.

Axel, 2013

So where was I? Oh yes...Will being a truly great dad and such a natural parent. These two, together, have the best time. Even when I know Will is exhausted from a long drive or a long day at the office, he greets Axel with such pure joy and a sense of great mischief. But he's also a champ at a lot of the boring stuff. The feeding and diapering and crib assembling and general schlepping that comes with babyhood.

Yesterday, I took a walk with Axel so he could sleep in, and came back bearing an iced latte and a ham and cheese croissant. Plus my endless devotion and admiration.

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Father's Day Weekend


Maine, 2013


Boys, smaller boys, lobsters, harmonicas etc. Will check back in with a proper ode to Will when we are back home later this evening.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Kids in Paris

via Hip Paris


In just over two weeks, we leave for Paris. I've been amusing myself reading up on baby-friendly activities in the city; many of the guides mention the carousel at Le 104, the Jardin des Plantes, and the playground in the Jardins du Luxembourg.

Here are some of the posts I've been reading in anticipation of our travels:

Paul et Paula: Playtime Paris

Babyccino City Guides: Paris

Dinner a Love Story: Paris With Kids, Our List

Oh Happy Day: Paris With Kids

Hither and Thither: Vilac Toys

Luvaville: Best Things to Do With Babies in Paris


Sunday, June 9, 2013

Weekend Warriors



Spent Saturday at a friend's party, then explored Bedford Avenue at the tail end of Williamsburg Walks. Axel is pretty much a professional weekend barbecue attendee by now. We've mastered our daytime socializing technique thanks to one rule: always bring his bed!

Axel, Williamsburg, 2013

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Ten Months Old

Axel, 2013



Oh, my not so little fellow.

At the doctor's on Monday, you weighed in at 19 pounds, 11 ounces, and 28.5 inches of baby deliciousness.

The last month or so has been so much fun. You are toddling around after your little wooden cart (with some help), pointing at yourself in the mirror and out the window, banging on the cat food container like it's a drum, and shouting, "Wa, Wa, Wa" every time we head outside for a walk.

The other day, I was reading a blog post, and heard someone describe their 11-month-old as a toddler. Ack! While you are still a baby, I do see those hints of toddlerness...the big labrador puppy feet and hands, the crazy glee you exhibit when I give you a tray full of pieces of toast and cut up cherry tomatoes.

More and more you see me or your papa and crawl across the room to get to us, reaching up for us to pick you up. For a second. You don't have much time or patience for cuddles, but when you do lean your head on me for a second to take a rest and suck your thumb, it's the best.

You are a big fan of your stuffed penguin, and seem to bang your head against him affectionately.

I love that you so rarely cry, and that even as you get a little more attached to us, you still look and new faces and laugh. I love that it's summer again, since you seem like such a summer baby. You are hilarious in your little checked rompers and sunhat, and we are starting to be able to go to the playground and see you really enjoying it.

In the mornings, you go down to our garden plot with your papa to watch him water the veggies. We have a hard time pinning you down to read books, but you adore music, balls, and things that make noise.

I've never really thought of you as fragile, but now that your scar is very well healed, it's hard to remember that just a few months ago we were in the hospital with you. What a resilient guy you are.

Will always calls me a 'future thinker'. When I was 28, I was 'almost 30'. So I can't help thinking of you at ten months as 'almost one'. For today, though, I will just be in the moment and appreciate this double digits milestone.

Nine Months Old

Eight Months Old

Seven Months Old

Six Months Old

Five Months Old

Four Months Old

Three Months Old

Two Months Old

One Month Old

Monday, June 3, 2013

Oddfellows

via Oddfellows

A scene from the party at Oddfellows last night! Wish Axel had been awake for it, but he was seriously wiped out after the weekend's festivities.

I tried the chocolate chunk and the sprinkles flavors...pretty darn good, especially if it stays this hot and sticky for the rest of the summer. The shop opens this Thursday!

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Weekend Hijinks

Axel, 2013


Going from dewy, misty Maine to broiling Brooklyn in the span of a week was a little intense.

Thanks to a lot of ice coffee and showers, we sort of survived.

Today we took a long walk to Transmitter Park, via Achilles Heel; went to a barbecue in Ditmas Park; and checked out the opening of a friend's new ice cream store, Oddfellows.

Saturday, June 1, 2013

June Roars In

Axel, 2013


Well, it was about 500 degrees outside today. We went to a friend's rooftop barbecue but spent most of the day cowering inside in the AC.

Other than that, we got Axel this handsome new travel stroller at Wee Babe in anticipation of our trip to France. After Christmas, when I nearly had a meltdown over how much stuff we brought, we are trying to get better about this travel with baby stuff. I don't think we'll use it every day because it doesn't recline and is a little flimsy for the sidewalks of New York, but it will be much easier to take overseas than our current one.

We also checked out Willy's Toy Box. When we were up in Maine, Axel was over the moon with all the toys in the nursery there, and he was seeming a little underwhelmed over his well worn selection at home. So we put a few of those away for a while and got him a cute dump truck, squish ball, and  wooden caterpillar. Novelty! While I'm nowhere near as organized as this lady is at toy roatation, I think it's a great idea.

There's are good articles on toy rotation here and here. Turns out it's a Montessori concept.
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