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.
One more reason why I love New York
May 5, 2013 Comments Off
Today I received this text conversation from Joe:
I can’t think of another city in the world where a 15-month old baby receives a hand massage at a restaurant with no explanation.
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.
Expanding celebrations in our expansive city
April 7, 2013 Comments Off
Today is the anniversary of my first date with Joseph. To celebrate the occasion, we had a picnic in Central Park.
The playground was packed with families, but Zevi managed to run around and tire herself out.
We basked in the sun.
By the time we left Central Park, Zevi was ready for a long afternoon nap in her stroller.
She woke up around Union Square with a little bit of time left to play before dinner, bath, and bedtime.
I loved our celebratory day and can’t believe next year we will have another baby with whom to share our days.
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.
Happy animals in the sun
March 9, 2013 Comments Off
Zevi loved her party and to celebrate, she changed outfits three times.
After playing on land for a while, she kept trying to get into the pool, so we changed her into her bathing suit.
She set sail under the attention of many people.
As the party wound down, we went out to the backyard to look at the water.
There we discovered a manatee hanging out near the next door neighbor’s dock.
Joe spent a lot of time feeding the manatee from the neighbor’s hose.
We had so much fun just watching her lounge around and roll over in the water.
The manatee was such a great surprise, a perfect way to end a celebration.
Aggressively avoiding a snowstorm
March 8, 2013 Comments Off
Early this morning, we flew down to Florida so Zevi could see how her old grandparents live. We went from deicing the plane to seventy degrees in a few hours.
As always, by the time we landed, Zevi had worn herself out from socializing on the plane. It used to be crawling, but now she likes to practice walking down the aisles with the attention and approval of everyone on board.
Our afternoon was filled with re-familiarizing ourselves with warm weather
And playing with all of my retro toys.
Tomorrow my parents are hosting a party in Zevi’s honor. I’m sure she won’t mind a little more attention from a lot of strangers.
