Lately

via EmilyMatchar.com

Watching as the One World Trade center spire is put in place from our balcony; reading Homeward Bound (a book that explores the "leaning out" movement); working from home today; excited for Will to come home tonight.

The book is really interesting, especially living where we live, and it speaks to a phenomenon I relate to much more than I related to Lean In, which I ultimately felt like I had to read. A full report to come...in the mean time, there's a good review of it here.

11211 Love

Oslo, 2012

I pretty much spent my entire pregnancy at Oslo (and am sure Axel is made of their lattes and bran muffins), so I was pleased to hear that their Bedford Avenue location will open it's doors again in a matter of days. Gentrification or not, Williamsburg still feels like a real neighborhood to me. And, now, apparently, to J. D. Merget.

Captive Audience

Axel, 2013

You'll notice that a lot of my recent pictures of Axel are taken when he's buckled into his high chair. Otherwise I'd be wandering around the living room a few paces behind him, trying to keep him from eating the TV wires.

He is getting sturdier by the day, though, and has figured out how to climb back down to the floor from a standing position, so I don't have to hover quite as much as I did a few weeks ago. His scar is also much less worrying than it was right after his surgery, so I'm a little less panicked about that.

We video "chatted" with Will last night (am sure Axel was like what the heck is my father doing in that laptop?) Other than that, it's been pretty straightforward looking after Axel solo...he's good company.

Rip van Winkle

New York, 2013

So I am what you might call a late adopter. When my school got an internal e-mail service, circa 1996, I was all, "Why would I use something called e-mail when I could just pick up the phone?"

The picture above is of the new Metrocards that have been in circulation for some time now (I had no clue...I'd still be using tokens if they'd let me.)

It will come as no surprise to anyone who knows me, then, that I just joined a brand new social media platform called Twitter. You can, er, "follow me," or whatever it is you do, @sarahhornegrose, though I am more of a lurker than a tweeter. Um, hashtag#?

In spite of my Luddite tendencies, I thought I was pretty with it when it came to media and pop culture, since I've worked in magazines, TV, and online publications for a decade. It turns out that the year I took off to freelance and have a baby, pop culture & social media kind of exploded in a new way. So now I am playing catch up.

Like, lookie here...who is this celebrity named Rita Ora, and why do I care about her? Also, the 25-year-old in my office talks about someone called Grimes a lot. And apparently there's a show about duck decoys that everyone is ironically watching? Is that the new Honey Boo Boo?

Whatever, Looks Tasty

Jeni's 'Zelda; Ice Cream, via Serious Eats

Nothing like a dysfunctional marriage and some problem drinking to inspire a line of delicious ice cream. But am I wrong to think this already-sold out collection looks delicious?

Mama Time

Axel, 2013

Will is headed to California this week for a business trip this afternoon, so for the next four days it's just me and this fellow.

This means...

Axel will be a total mess after every meal. His papa has meticulous spoon technique, while I think dinner doesn't count if the whole baby isn't covered.

I probably won't sleep all that well. Yes, I can lie diagonally in bed, but as the only adult on duty overnight, I'll also jump at every little noise (even when it's just the cat being a nocturnal jerk.)

The kiddo will miss his morning jam sessions (but may get a few sneaky glimpses of the Today Show instead.)

Lots of morning trips to the local coffee shop. As much as I love seeing Axel trying to climb all of the furniture in our living room, it's kind of easier to manage solo when he's contained in his stroller and amused by the goings-on around the neighborhood.

I will have cereal for dinner on more than one occasion.

Nine Months Old

Axel, 2013

At nine months old (tomorrow), Axel wakes up and is on a mission. Pulling up on the freezer, pulling up on the coffee table, pulling up on his Baby Bjorn bouncer. Letting go with one hand and looking around, proud as can be.

When he plays in his crib, he occasionally heckles his stuffed animals, holding one up and saying "Gah!" very emphatically. When he's interested in a toy (his bath eggs and blocks are a hit) he can amuse himself for ages. He is by turns very studious and very sociable. Poor Sealface has to endure lots of tail and fur grabbing while we say "Gentle! Nice kitty...be nice to the kitty..." over and over again.

Axel still loves new people, and doesn't seem to experience much separation anxiety (though he has burst into tears a few times when his papa has blown his nose very loudly.) He's loves the teacher at the local library's reading group and is also very interested in watching us eat. Nubbins of bread, his thumb, and his mini ladybug maraca are all big hits.

Will and I often turn to one another and say things like "He is the best!!" When we start to say things like "He's a genius!" that means he is probably in desperate need of a sibling...

I saw a friend with a three month old, 11-pound baby on Friday, and those days seem quite remote. Of course we loved him when he was a little bean too, but now he really cracks us up.

Axel, 2013

P.S. Here's a little video of him standing the other day.

Weekend

Williamsburg, 2013

Just a few scenes from our weekend-in-progress.

Videology

via WSJ

I walked past Videology yesterday (which used to be a sort of intimidating video store on Bedford that rented obscure indie flicks.)

Now they've converted themselves into a bar and screening room, and during the daytime they have a bunch of kids' film showings. Axel's obviously young for the Muppets or Sesame Street, but good to know there are some more rainy day options for when he's a little bit older (it was also a good reminder that it was time to update my Williamsburg Baby Resources page. This Brooklyn baby boom is completely nuts.)

Reading Group

via The New York Times

So what have I been reading lately?

This sort of funny / mostly annoying story in the Times titled "How I Became a Hipster."

This also sort of funny / mostly annoying piece on the director Noah Baumbach in the New Yorker.

This fab rebuttal to a "takedown" by my former colleague Mandy (an interesting view into often the seedy, in-fighting world of NY journalism.)

The "Doing Money" pieces on The Billfold. Voyeurism at its best!

More amusing anthropology from Nicholas Day's Slate column, How Babies Work.

This piece on Oddfellows, a new ice cream joint coming to the neighborhood.