the end

more fun than you can imagine

Now that Lil is One, it is time to focus on other things, like getting out to play, finding activities, and getting on with our lives. But we have something very exciting for our last post! This weekend, Lil and all her friends and all the Mamas and Papas got together and had a big party to celebrate all the babies' first birthdays.

elise (front), ethan (middle), and georgia, in a frou-frou dress!

I was a little busy, and unfortunately my camera was not doing too well in the indoor lighting, so all these photos were taken my Agnes' mama, Emily, with her Nikon D90 camera. Thanks Em! You got some great footage of the tikes and all the festivities.

evelyn and agnes discussing their parents eccentricities

Pulling together a party for 34 babies, plus their mommies and daddies, was no small feat. Luckily, the owners of Osteria il Paiolo are the founders of our Yahoo! group, and made their space available to us on a Saturday afternoon. Not only that, they also provided food and drink for the mamas and papas. I have never seen so many happy people in one room. If you have not been to the Michelin recommended spot on N. 6th in Williamsburg, you really don't know what you're missing. Can penne marinara really taste better there than anywhere else? Yes. Can brick-oven pizzas really be more exciting at il Paiolo than at the thousands of other spots that do brick-oven pizza? Yup. And the cupcakes... oh, wait! The cupcakes weren't actually provided by the restaurant, they were lovingly baked by our 7 delightful bakers, also known as The Baking Mafia. They made pumpkin, vanilla, chocolate, cinnamon, strawberry, and a compilation of tiny mini cupcakes for every palate. Those ladies all did an awesome job, and since I got to sample every kind, I know firsthand how hard they worked. Thanks, and yum!

lil and everett contemplate a bead maze

The babies all had fun playing in our 10x10 play space set up with cushy foam tiles and all sorts of toys that were brought to share. Lil mostly cruised around on the concrete, but did manage to stop and play with a friend or two. Mostly she was wanting Mama, while I ran around, arranging our baby snack table and gift exchange. Several generous families brought in some pint-sized treats for the little ones, since pasta and pizzas weren't for every palate. And every family who brought a gift got to take home something new! The gift exchange was a little haphazard, but I think it worked in the end. 

everett wants to play guitar

We even had musical entertainment provided by a couple moms and dads! We are so lucky to be part of such a talented, friendly, and most of all fun group of families. Hopefully Lil will have some opportunities to make it to more meet-ups and playdates in the future. Whatever happens, it's been a blessing to have such great people in our lives.

zoe, sebastian, and georgia

georgia and van the man hit up a mama for some snacks

adeline (left), max, and leo (turned around)

Yay, babies!

And thanks to everyone that followed Lil's first year. I know one day she'll grow up and know how special it is to have so many people care about you.

video tues(wednes)day: cat + lil are friends, continued

Ok. So we all know that Lil just loves the Cat. She has nearly jumped from the tub to rescue him, they've cuddled during her infancy on many occasions, and she's always giving him hugs. Today though, he definitely reciprocated... although it only lasted a split second (watch closely around 0:14 when he displays his affections). It's obvious to me that his tolerance has blossomed into something much greater.

birthday proper

crawling in a ball gown is next to impossible

On Lil's actual birthday, we had a little playdate at her friend Zoe's house. Zoe and her family live on the top floor, and have skylights, so we had plenty of beautiful natural light for photos. Lil wore a beautiful polka-dot and velvet dress with a red satin sash that she received for Christmas, minus the matching hooded cape. But being the smart mama that I am, I put her play clothes underneath. Once she slipped the dress off, Lil was free to crawl and climb and roam around and make havoc with all her little friends.

perfecting the princess wave

the truth that lies beneath...

piling up with twins Oscar and Lionel

Sounds like a perfect way to spend your first birthday.

Happy birthday to the most amazing, the most spectacular, the delightful Lil!!!!

party doll

getting ready for her big day

posing on her changing table- she barely fits!

For Lil's first official birthday, Mama and Papa had a little celebration at our most favorite spot in the neighborhood, Tuffet. It was the perfect mix of kiddies and adults, food and drinks, balloons and magic and music. Lil wore the most perfect brown corduroy pinafore on the planet. Embroidered with pink cupcakes across the front, it matched with a polka dotted blouse with a peter pan collar, and a fantastic pair of leopard print tights! Never to disappoint, Lil looked like the quintessential party girl. All her guests doted on her... and there's no doubt in my mind that her Grandmary's smile and warmth shone in the bright midwinter sun.

enjoying the adorably funny Dave Droxler

Lil's first cake tasting, courtesy of Delicioso Cakes!

post-cake

post-post-cake

the after-party— Lil tries on her new boots!! (Thanks, Malika!)

No matter how many presents you open, no matter how many cupcakes or glasses of champagne you celebrate with, it never actually feels like enough for someone as special, as amazing, as our little Lil.

last look at year one

the best days

Lil is on the cusp of her second year. It's hard to look at her and see the baby she used to be, but it's equally as hard to see the toddler or the little girl she's about to become (at least for her mama it is). And since she won't sit still, it's really hard to get a decent picture of her last days of infancy. Here are a couple shots of her earlier this week.

so curious (and so comfy) in hand knits and bamboo leggings

modeling her activewear from cousin Jos

biting her lip since day 1

Tomorrow is her big birthday bash, and I promise to have lots of pics to share, plus a Lil retrospective with some unseen images, and footage from her first hours out of the womb. Oh Lil, we love you so!

my heart's on my sleeve

my best friend

Lil's found a new way to express her affection: hugs! And she has hugs for everyone and everything she loves—Mama, Papa, her sippy cup, Jenny Giraffe, Woofie, her shoe... and her Kee-Kahs. Last night I found The Cat pinned under her while she quietly hummed him a song...

This may turn out to be Lil's first taste of unrequited love.

"where, oh where has my big kee-kah gone? where, oh where could he be?"

video tuesday: lil speak

Lil is undoubtedly finding some words here and there. She has been saying "Dada" and sometimes "Mama" for a while now, and she's been working on a few others. "Nana" could mean banana, or nursing ("baba" could also possibly be her word for nursing). "Dah" is what she says when she points to a dog. I swear she almost said monkey ("mmm-keh") and horse ("usss") last week. But there is one word she says clearly (often in a whisper) while pointing at the object. Kitty ("kee-tah" or "kee-kah") is Lil's official first word. She not only says it when she sees one of our cats, she says it whenever she hears them too!

This week's video needs a bit of a set-up. While taping Lil doing something silly with a bath toy (a kind of foamy color-form type thing), The Cat started meowing at the bathroom door (I think he really needed to use the facilities). Lil stops making funny sounds and becomes very serious about Mr. Kitty's dire needs. I cut the tape when Lil attempts to climb out of the tub to rescue him. Now that's loyalty.

what a chore

guess who does do windows?

I remember reading that around 12 months babies start mimicking our behaviors. They try to do things like getting dressed, brushing their hair, yelling at the cat, and cleaning. It's important to encourage good behaviors, so I started walking around with a paper towel, dusting and wiping, putting her toys back in their basket, and so on. It wasn't long before Lil picked up a boogie wipe and started cleaning off the coffee table! Right on, Lil! It's so much fun, isn't it!? I'm sure you can just hear me encouraging away.

pre-moistened does work best

working on a wax-on-wax-off technique

All that frantic cleaning can definitely tire a little one out, so it's the perfect pre-nap activity.

working hard/ hardly working

 She must be a fast learner, because she started doing the windows all on her own...

too bad she can't reach the top pane

When is she old enough to introduce Windex? I couldn't find that in the baby development book.

she even cleans her own fingerprints.

Maybe she does need one of these fancy toy Dyson vacuums for her birthday (Only if Mama gets the real deal for her's).

video tuesday: lil gets down

It feels like Lil is learning new things all the time, and every new week brings a new skill. Last week it was using a spoon to feed herself, this week it's climbing down off the couch—the right way! It is very reassuring to see Lil practicing safe maneuvers, but I fear that it won't belong before she forgets, and dives headfirst onto the floor.

With Papa spotting, Lil demonstrates her ability to wiggle her way off the couch, onto the floor, where she attempts a quick getaway. This time, however, Papa puts the kabosh on her moves, which ends quite happily for everyone. Hooray. 

Lil is quite comfortable in her all-natural active wear. On top, she's doing her part to Keep Santa Cruz Green in an organic tee from Aunt Sarah, and on bottom she's bulky but quite absorbent in her organic bamboo/ cotton diaper from Green Sprouts, and a pair of knit wool longies from Llamajamas. Good thing that bum is fluffy— she may be taking some hard landings on that backside in the future.

bonus: more kitty snuggles

Yesterday after the party, Lil came home and crashed in her crib. But someone got there before she did. Like Goldilocks in reverse, Lil blondie arrived home to find a furry creature all cuddled up in her bed! Rather than try and move the cat while balancing a sleeping baby in one hand, I just arranged Lil next to Kitty and let them be.

Lil slept for over two hours, and for most of it, Kitty stayed curled up right by her side. Apparently Mama isn't the only one who's crazy for baby cuddles.

i want to be with you... on new year's day

Leo spots Lil across the crowded room...

It may be possible that I have concocted a little love interest for Lil among the group we hang out with. I admit it's a bit pathetic, even creepy. But with every last soap opera gone off the air, what was I supposed to do? 

... their eyes meet...

Anyway. A young man named Leo first appeared on the blog back in September, when Lil "borrowed" his had on a windy day at the waterfront. (So chivalrous!) New Year's Day, was Leo's first birthday, and his family threw a little party for him. Lil was eager to attend, but not wanting to seem like she was trying too hard, she opted for some pink pants with her fancy Nicole Miller tunic, and a pair of metallic mary janes. Since Lil was the first girl to arrive, it was hard for anyone to keep their eyes off her. Especially Mr. Birthday Boy (yeah, sure).

but it's just too crowded.

Leo was looking pretty dapper in his airplane print Oshkosh overalls and old man cardigan. If anything will get Lil's attention, it's a nice pair of Oshkosh.

Happy birthday, lucky Leo!