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.

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.

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.

Basking in the sun and in all of the attention, Zevi has been playground hopping all weekend.

This endless collection of moments are everything.

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.

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.

Someday, Brooklyn.
ZeMa forever.

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.

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.