Friday, May 30, 2014

Heat

Williamsburg, 2014


We got back home on Monday and it instantly felt like Brooklyn summer...the sprinklers are on in the playground, the evenings are abuzz with roof parties and barbecues, and the parks are packed. It's good to get ourselves organized on the home front and to see the insane peacocking on Bedford Avenue.

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Ocker's Hat

St. John, 2014

We saw the first glimmers of sibling rivalry over our recent holiday. I bought Oscar a sunhat to match Axel's and Axel immediately started furrowing his brow and referring to his own hat as "Ocker's hat"...

I tried to explain that although they looked the same, this was Axel's hat, but Axel wanted nothing to do with it once he'd decided it was his brother's

It's funny because I was recently talking to a father whose older children were also spaced 19 months apart, and he was saying that friends often made the mistake of buying the two boys toys in different colors, like say, a green ball and a blue ball (because both kids would then fixate on the blue ball, for no apparent reason, and it would spark fights.) Axel is also obsessed with his green umbrella stroller, and was none too pleased when I put Oscar in it on the beach.

I have a feeling there will be lots of this to come.

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Palm Tree

St. John, 2014

Here is Axel's homage to our recent travels! I think it must be quite odd for him to wrap his mind around being at home, back in the city, after seeing so many strange, new, and wonderful things.

As soon as we got back, he plunged into his toy baskets and wandered around his room saying hi to everything, so I think he's glad to be back on familiar turf, but I can't help but wonder what he thinks of our trip...perhaps it seems like an odd, turquoise-tinted dream?

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Sweet Home

Williamsburg, 2014


A flood of posts, I know...

So we had a few pics taken of our flat for the site Kid and Coe. The photographer, Yoon Kim, made it look super snazzy, I think. Here are a few more! I tell you, these wide angle lenses make New York apartment living seem quite doable.


St. John: Part Three

St. John, 2014


Before our trip, I had big plans to do one of those 'how we travel with kids' posts you sometimes see on blogs when we got home. You know...little tricks from seasoned travelers (er, us?) about how to make life easier on the road.

But then we forgot our toothbrushes, and diapers. Diapers, for goodness sake! So I am clearly unqualified to dole out any advice. The good news is that being unprepared is not the disaster it might seem to be. So I guess there's a lesson in that. Anyway, no advice here. Here's a picture of the incredibly stunning Honeymoon beach instead.

St. John: Part Two

St. John, 2014

I have finally caught my breath (sort of) and can report that we had a lovely, long trip to the Virgin Islands. I was of course itching to record each and every day but our WiFi was inconsistent so we had to appreciate things in real time, the old fashioned way.

There is something so cute about Axel at the beach...he gets all wet and sandy and mischievous and wild and then dreamy and exhausted with damp tangled hair. Oscar was a brave soul as well, all around.

The first two days of the week away, we were a bit discombobulated as we figured out how to navigate with all four of us in one hotel room (note to self: next time, rent a house!) But as soon as we got out of our four little walls and set off to explore the island we had a brilliant time.

Nearly every day we found a new beach...Honeymoon, Hawksnest, Solomon, and Caneel Bay were all gorgeous. Most of St. John is a national park, so the beaches are raw and pretty pristine, linked by a series of shaded trails. When we were looking for a little bit of fanciness, we headed to Caneel Bay resort for lunch and frozen rum drinks. That place is pretty spectacular, with the ruins of an old sugar mill on its grounds and wild deer and donkeys roaming the property.

Traveling with two little ones can be a challenge, I don't want to gloss that part over. There are moments of extreme stress that punctuate the loveliness, when you think, "What the heck are we doing?" Not to mention the trail of lost things we seem to leave in our wake (Axel's shoes and swimming trunks were lost to the vortex, somehow...) You definitely have to temper your expectations and remember that the stack of glossy magazines you brought are not going to get read anytime soon. We are learning lessons as we go. Like stay somewhere with a washing machine! Also, a stroller flipped upside down makes a good beach bassinet.

But it it worth it in the end? Of course: we are gluttons for punishment and pina coladas. And I think St. John would be a marvelous place to return to when our littles are just a little bit more self-sufficient. Sadly, the place we stayed on our babymoon, Maho Bay, is no longer. But it's sister property, Concordia, seems like a very cool place for a family adventure someday.

We were fortunate to have a sitter intermittently while we were there (Leslie McKibben from Kids' Night In, who was fantastic!) And once the wedding festivities kicked off, there was a horde of baby-loving Brazilians eager to hold Oscar...

It was really one of the prettiest, most glamorously laid back weddings I've been to, and it's very amusing to run into your dearest friends in a tropical paradise.

Oscar: Eleven and Twelve Weeks Old

Oscar, 2014

Little man! Will and I were joking that Oscar is getting so cute he is going to trick us into having a new baby (um, not anytime soon...)

And he seems to have embraced the Caribbean lifestyle, sleeping through the night (from 10 p.m. 'til 6 a.m.) four of the eight nights we were away. Of course, when he is mad, he is madder than a bag of snakes, but most of the time he is a very sweet, sweet boy.

Monday, May 26, 2014

St. John: Part One

St. John, 2014


Two babies, a few pina coladas, five beaches, umpteen iguanas, a wedding, a few donkeys, plenty of mosquitos, and some marathon Peppa Pig sessions. "More Pig!", says Axel. A successful week, all around.

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Wild Chickens

St. John, 2014

Excuse the lack of posting! We are busy tending to our wild chickens on tropical St. John.

Internet is spotty, so I will post more about our adventures upon our return.

Saturday, May 17, 2014

Neighbors

Williamsburg, 2014

We had a little building party this afternoon...ha, I feel like you can tell it's Brooklyn, just from the shoes.

Tomorrow will be an early, early start but by sundown we'll be on the beach!

Friday, May 16, 2014

11211 Love

Williamsburg, 2014


Breaking news in Brooklyn...I have added a new coffee shop to the rotation! I am a serious creature of habit, so this is indeed a major development. It's called St. Balmain and has a sort of Aussie, surf-y vibe (their cookies are called 'Bondi Bikkies' which I am willing to overlook since the rest of the place is pretty lovely.)

Crusty bread from Il Buco, a big backyard, lots of Antipodean accents, and some fresh, simple lunch options. Plus it's a great place to while away an afternoon looking at very plausible real estate listings. Dream big!

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Paper Chase: Part Two

Williamsburg, 2014


So I clearly have a bit of a fetish when it comes to paper goods.

When I was expecting Axel, I stumbled upon a pretty citrine baby book from Binth at Sprout. Before Oscar arrived, I got him a matching one, in brown. Each book comes with a box, and in them I've stored hospital bracelets, cards with well wishes, birth announcements, birthday party invites and the like.

Of course, I record milestones and memories here, but if the kids ever want to go analog, I'm well prepared.

Paper Chase: Part One

Williamsburg, 2014


The other day we showed some friends our most recent photo albums, and a few of them were interested in finding out where we had them made. The answer is Pinhole Press, and I could rave about them for as long as you'd listen (and I am not on the payroll.) They use lovely linen for the bindings, and heavy matte paper, which I love.

So far I've made it something of a tradition. I made a book for our wedding and honeymoon, two for Axel's first year, and one for our trip to Eleuthera. I take so many photos (and love the ones that Jami Saunders has taken of the family) but it's always nice to edit them down to the very best few and make them into something tangible. We also had our birth announcements for both boys made by Pinhole, and they make a great magnet.

My only gripe is that it's a painstaking process, since their photo system does not synch with Picasa. But the results are worthwhile, if you ask me, and I love the idea of making one for each boy every year, as well as one for every special trip.

Now my mission (it might take some time) is to go back and do the same for our life pre-baby, to prove to our children someday that such a thing existed.
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