Gear

Sausalito Bassinet via Serena and Lily

In spite of what my incessant "gear" posts might suggest, I really would like to whittle down what we need to a shopping list of 5 or 6 key items. Looking at lovely things online is one thing, finding a spot for them in your 915 square foot home is another altogether.

As far as "essentials" go, I keep coming back to these gorgeous Serena and Lily bassinets, because I think we'll keep baby in our room for some time and a full-sized crib just won't fit.

You can buy a stand they fit into so they're elevated off the ground, and (as the website suggests) you could use them later as a catchall for toys. Apparently they work for babies up to 4 months. I'm wondering if that's a good time to transition the baby into his own room, or if we'll regret not buying a larger (and uglier) pack and play type gizmo that he'll be able to use for longer. I'd like to think we'll all be happiest in our own rooms by four months, but who knows how I (and baby) will feel at that stage.

It may be stretching my "essentials" rule a bit, but they're just so darn pretty.

In Bloom

New York, 2010

I felt like I was in an ad for the New York Times Sunday paper today...supping an iced skim latte, outside for the very first time this year (reading the Home section of the paper.) It was heaven.

New York, 2010

I'm also 18 weeks pregnant today. Depending on which site you check, this is either bell pepper week or sweet potato week. It feels really good to have reached this point in the pregnancy, and to feel spring on the doorstep.

As much as being heavily pregnant in August makes me a tad nervous (New York tends to be especially vile then), I see millions of advantages to being pregnant in the spring and summer. Flip flops, sundresses, and blue skies, for one. A lot of my flowy-er clothes will work fine for quite some time. Plus, it can be easy to get a bit down and overwhelmed when you're expecting, but my mood is almost instantly changed by a day like today. And there's the fact that when we have a newborn and a very little baby, it won't be frigid out, so getting out of the house will be a little bit easier.

Today, spring fever has hit the city in a big way. Suddenly, like the tulips, babies are everywhere. In strollers down by the waterfront...peeking out of baby slings, doing their baby things outside. Supping my latte, it was fun to start visualizing what life will be like come August. I am really looking forward to having a little buddy for my daytime strolls.

Psychic Resources

Williamsburg, 2009

Stirring the pot. Photo just because.

There's been a bit of a debate swirling around a new study that suggests that low income parents are worse parents than high income parents.

It sounds fairly offensive when you put it that way, but the study talks about how poor parents have fewer "psychic resources" to deal with the challenges of their every day lives and that children thus get less of their attention overall.

Here are a few short excerpts:

"There is no formula for how to raise children well, and likely there never will be. Yet the science does tell us how not to raise children. Don't be inattentive. Don't be inconsistent. Don't be disengaged. Don't place them in intellectually pallid environments. The science doesn't just agree on what not to do. Sadly it agrees on something else: low-income parents are much more likely to do these things." 


"Well-off people have the luxury of freedom of mind. Their psychic resources are reserved for 'difficult,' 'important' things that have a big impact on their well-being in the long run. But those with less income are not as fortunate. They have the same (limited) capacity for self-control and attention - but are forced to expend a large fraction of it on dealing with the ups and downs of everyday life. Simply managing the basics of life uses psychic resources. This leaves less psychic resources [for their kids.]"


Surely there are plenty of inattentive, inconsistent rich parents out there. But the study's authors really seem to be talking about how stress impacts parenting skills, and financial stress especially so.

I often feel like being a "grown up" is exceedingly difficult, and a task I am still trying to master. Whether it's making doctor's appointments, or doing taxes, or going to the DMV, or keeping on top of the housework, there seems to be an endless stream of pressing and unpleasant tasks.

With kids, I know that that list of tasks will grow exponentially. It's easy to see how having a financial buffer certainly takes the edge off, in that it makes it it's easier to take care of your mental health in addition to those necessities, and thus you have a little more currency left in that psychic bank account to give to your child at the end of the day.

What do you think?

Gear

Maze and Vale's Gertie, via Etsy.com

Maze and Vale's Stormy Weather 

Meet Gertie the Oobie. I have no idea what that means, but I love the weird little body and the feather motif. Melbourne-based designer Leslie Keating of Maze and Vale has these rabbits (or are they sheep?) in her Etsy shop to celebrate Easter. She also makes beautiful custom fabrics, like stormy weather, above.

Book Club

Mayim Bialik, via Treehugger.com

So I've mentioned that I don't always feel like attachment parenting is a step forward for moms, but I nonetheless found the tone of this Nightline interview with Mayim (talking baby-wearing, co-sleeping, and elimination communication) to be kind of jarring.

Doesn't Juju Chang seem kind of hostile? Bialik has a book out called Beyond the Sling, detailing her crunchy mama ways. I may not agree 100%, but I don't know that what she's advocating warrants all out shock and dismay. If it works for her, I say great, even if it sounds like a hell of a lot of work to moi.

Neon Dream

via Perfectly Imperfect

Jason Wu, Spring 2012

via Miauu.com

via modhomeec.com

via Delish.com

Having an insane urge to paint something neon green.

Or eat key lime pie.

Babymoon Inspiration

Four Seasons Resort Nevis, 2011

Four Seasons Resort Nevis, 2011

Four Seasons Resort Nevis, 2011

Nevis, 2011

Nevis, 2011

Four Seasons Resort Nevis, 2011

In early December, at about 5 weeks pregnant, I had the pleasure of going on a work trip to Nevis, hosted by the Four Seasons resort. I guess you could call it a solo babymoon?

Four Seasons always does a stellar job, and this resort in particular sits on a gorgeous stretch of beach. After a hectic Thanksgiving week and a number of intense fall deadlines, it was such bliss to sit by the resort's adults only pool (there's another that's family friendly), listen to the tree frogs, and feel the sun and ocean breeze on my skin.

In between decadent dinners and power naps, I got a bit of time to reflect on all the changes to come in 2012, and I think that's exactly what a babymoon is for. A pause away from bank statements, work anxieties, and a much needed jolt of vitamin D (next time, perhaps I'll bring the hubby.) I was completely spoiled with daily mango smoothies, conch fritters, and the changing views of the island's namesake mountain.

Travelling at that stage was a breeze. There are direct, 3 1/2 hour flights from New York to St. Kitts, a neighboring island, and then the resort picks you up by boat (with rum punch and sunscreen at the ready.) I made mine a virgin.

The island itself was a pleasure to discover...gorgeous old plantations, lush rain forest, wild monkeys, chickens pecking away in the winding back streets, and not a cruise ship or T-shirt shop in sight.

If any of you are in the planning stages, I think this would make for an ideal romantic getaway (and if you've already got little ones, they offer babysitting!)

Gear

Boon's Ducks

Ah, the joys of a Brooklyn apartment. Even when they're big enough, they're never big enough.

So I always have space in mind when I check out baby products. Wipe warmers, multiple baby gyms, two strollers, noise and light machines? Never going to happen. There is no basement or attic where we can stash away extra just-in-case products, clothes or toys. There are limited closets, so pretty much everything has to be on display all the time, and (ideally) appeal as much to us as they do to the little guy.

Boon's Naked Tub

Rooms will have to do double duty. The nursery will double as a guest room (we'll bring the baby into our room if we have people to stay) and the baby will be bathed in the bathroom that guests use as well. So I was checking out Mini Jake the other day and Boon's sleek-looking collapsible tub caught my eye.

Let's face it, no one wants to live 24-7 surrounded by whale and pirate motifs, so I'm all for colorful, fun products that are also intelligently designed.

Nesting Madness

Surrey, 2010

Forgive the lack of posting today... I have been at the eye of the real estate storm.

On Sunday, we put a bid on a possible new place. It's far from a done deal, in part because there are so many sharp elbowed new parents and parents-to-be stalking the neighborhood with similar schemes in play.

But it would certainly be a big, exciting leap if it were to go forward.

I must be a bit mysterious about it for now, but it would mean a possible move (nearby) in May.

The Glow

Laura Garcia via The Glow

I was at a friend's house last night and we were discussing The Glow, a site that celebrates stylish women and their families.

In the absence of the late, great Cookie magazine, it's a handy little treasure trove of beautiful images of creative mothers in their natural habitats. Definitely inspiring to see women like Cynthia Rowley, Rebecca Minkoff, and Athena Calderone making it all look effortless.

Then again, a peek at Dwell Studio owner Christiane Lemiuex's loft (below) kind of gave me a complex. Really Christiane? Is it always that tidy?

Christiane Lemieux, via The Glow