That’s what it’s all about.
May 12, 2013 Comments Off
Everything about today was just right.
While I slept in, Joseph took Zevi and Nukah to the flower stand. Zevi picked out this bouquet of flowers for me, which is just about the sweetest gift ever. I love the blue flowers and Joe thinks Zevi chose this bunch because it has berries that look like grapes, which happen to be one of Zevi’s favorite treats.
We spent a sunny day exploring our neighborhood parks, catching up with friends, and spending time as a family.
Joseph made a delicious lunch picnic, and with stuffed tummies, we ambled around together.
In the evening, we wound down in the backyard. No obligations, no build-up or anxiety. Just time to appreciate each other. I do love being a mom.
Making room
April 29, 2013 Comments Off
It’s been a super busy week at our house in Brooklyn. My parents came to town, we had a garage sale, Joe’s dad came to town, and then the renovations began. To prepare our home for the new baby, we switched our bedroom with Zevi’s nursery.
Joe and his father set out to build a new wall with a sliding door, paint the walls, and move all the furniture around.
Simultaneously, we were all tasked with keeping Zevi out of the apartment to avoid the very-much-not-baby-proofed construction zone and the paint fumes.
Luckily the renovation gods were with us: the weather cooperated, giving Zevi beautiful days to run around outside in the sun with her Bubbie and Zaddie.
Meanwhile, Grandpa and Joe worked tirelessly to get everything into its new place.
Zevi’s crib went back into the room.
After Grandpa left, it was time to head to Ikea to pick up more supplies.
We organized Zevi’s room and rearranged the furniture just in time for her return from staying at my parents’ rented apartment.
The new crib arrived during the assembling stage. Now Zevi and her baby brother to-be have matching cribs, thanks to Veronica.
We still need to hang new curtains in the nursery, transfer the artwork from Zevi’s old nursery to the new one, finish up the wall above the new door track, and assemble another shelving system for the new baby. More pictures to come.
In the meantime, I’m amazed by the work that went into preparing our apartment for another baby. This renovation has made our new pack member that much more real. We’re in the last trimester and time is zipping by. It’s comforting to make room and to have a physical space to see/think about what’s mostly been happening internally so far.
Blooming
April 21, 2013 Comments Off
Just in time for this year’s bloom, Joe’s dad and my parents are visiting Brooklyn.
Basking in the sun and in all of the attention, Zevi has been playground hopping all weekend.
This endless collection of moments are everything.
Being human, a pregnant woman’s return
April 13, 2013 Comments Off
After almost two trimesters of not drinking any caffeine, today I allowed myself one morning cup of coffee. I waited until my twenty-sixth week, which is a week longer than I tortured myself without coffee during my first pregnancy. Because I am a creature of habit, once again, I drank one cup of Alex’s Blend freshly brewed from Porto Rico Importing Co.
This time, Back to Coffee Day falls the day before my birthday, hence the beautiful chocolate cake baked by Joseph in the background of this picture. Far be it for me to complain, BUT later I’m headed to brunch at Pies ‘N’ Thighs and I’m still not going to be able to drink coffee with my meal, which is slightly tragic. Still, this morning’s cup felt so natural, so normal, like I’ve been drinking coffee all along. It’s like riding a bicycle.
It’s good to feel human again.
Update: another (minor) defeat
March 21, 2013 Comments Off
By 9 pm, on my walk home tonight, the cement had been repaved with no sign of “ZeMa” to be found. Oh Brooklyn, this is not the last you’ll see of us. Someday, somehow we will make our mark, and our mark will stick around, at least for longer than a day.
Someday, Brooklyn.
ZeMa forever.
Outlaws at an early age
March 21, 2013 Comments Off
Zevi and Mady are best friends. A while back, we nicknamed the pair Team ZeMa or just ZeMa.
This afternoon, we finally found our second opportunity to make Zevi a permanent part of Brooklyn’s finest sidewalks. She was only four weeks when we tried the first time, and that was repaved within hours. Today I botched the first attempt to write ZeMa on another corner of the same cement square, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they repave the whole thing.
We won’t give up.
A Perfect Fit
March 17, 2013 Comments Off
While Joseph and Zevi meandered around lower Manhattan, I took a tour of the Tenement Museum for a class assignment. I stood inside one of the tiny apartments in the building, reflecting on what life might have been like in the late 1800′s and early 1900′s. I started to think that our apartment in Brooklyn isn’t so small after all. We have what we need and we’ve really enjoyed the way our space fits us so well. Our neighborhood is so lovely and our daily commutes are convenient. Before Zevi arrived, we were nervous about having enough space. Now that we have another baby coming in July, those old nerves are working at us again. But the more I stood in that little apartment on the Lower East Side, where entire families of six to sometimes twelve people managed to find themselves at home, I started to regain confidence in our ability to live in close quarters. Once again I completely feel like our home fits us.
No Screens Day
February 22, 2013 Comments Off
It’s been several months since our family had a no-screens day, and tomorrow we will power down to continue the tradition. Winter is a time of hibernating, vegetating, and generally losing ourselves in brainless activities. There’s been an over-saturation of iPhone and laptop time in our lives, so tomorrow, we revert to the Luddite tradition. I’m not convinced that I’m a happier person when I know what’s going on everywhere at all times. I’m excited to take a breather and spend time with the fam. We’ll be making hamantaschen in preparation for Purim. If my blog is accurate, we haven’t made them in three years, so we are overdue.
The snow is snowing; the wind is blowing, but we can weather the storm.
February 9, 2013 Comments Off
Zevi hasn’t had much snow to romp in this winter, so today we tried to get some good rolling around time post-snowstorm.
Nukah in particular was back in his blissful, winter paradise mode.
This blizzard really didn’t seem to have much impact in Brooklyn, unlike the amazing one three years ago. Still we all enjoyed ourselves.
Best Birthday Bash for Zevi Bear
January 26, 2013 Comments Off
Thirty-something people packed into our little home to celebrate the fantastic first year of our sweet Zevi.
Aunt Kimberley beamed with pride.
Zevi’s papa, Joe made the beautiful double layer chocolate cake, the same one we made when Zevi turned six months.
Zevi knows a good thing when she sees it.
Predictable results.
Such good company in all sizes.
And the celebrating continued.
My beautiful family, such an unbelievable year of goodness.
Babies everywhere.
Zevi was so sleepy and still she played until all the guests were gone.
But she didn’t want anyone to go home.
These babies know how to play hard.
And then the littlest baby of them all arrived.
Just in time for Zevi to call it a day. So pooped. By nap time, she was waving goodbye in her sleep.
