video explosion

Since we are a little late with today's video, here are a few shorts of Lil that were found on Mama's phone (this phone has a habit of hiding photos and videos). Maybe it's a good thing these little snippets were lost, because now it's like a Lil treasure trove. Yay!

Here's Lil on October 20th on the way home from her doctor's appointment...

... and here Lil feeds herself with a spoon, and I chat with our neighbor Erin and then we cheer for Lil...

... and this is Lil making a mess of her food (I know, a lot of videos of her eating, right?)...

... and finally here is a very jittery video of Lil and Papa chasing Mama before bedtime. This is one of Lil's all-time favorite activities. I will warn that the quality is shoddy, so if you are easily nauseated or prone to seizures, you may want to skip this one.

monkey madness

amazed by animals!

mesmerized by monkeys

Lil had some special visitors over the Columbus Day weekend, so we all headed out to tour Manhattan. Our first stop was not the shrine for Steve Jobs on Fifth Ave, instead we headed to the Central Park Zoo to see some fuzzy (or feathered) creatures. It was anyone's guess how she'd react to animals other than Kitty and The Cat, so we were pleased to find out she was delighted by some marmosets, tickled by the tamarinds, marveled by mongooses, and laughing at lemurs.  She even clapped for a hungry harbor seal!  It may be possible that she just assumes all animals are some form of cat, and there may be some confusion when it comes time to learn animal sounds.  Imagine asking Lil, "what sound does a kitty-cat make?" and she responds "arf-arf-arf," like a sea lion.  Oh dear...

one well-dressed bird

master of puppets

the lights, the sounds- the theater!

To celebrate our 150th blog post (and because it was mentioned by the other mamas in our group), Lil & Mama dropped in on a Puppetonia puppet show at the Brick Theater.  Lil was captivated by the lights, the sounds, the and the soft plushy faces of the theater.  Best of all, we had floor seats.

ohhh, other babies...

The show only lasted 30 minutes, but they were 30 action-packed minutes featuring teddy bears, a pirate, and bubbles! Lil made good use of her new found clapping ability, but it's possible she was more interested in the other babies.  We saw a whole bunch of her friends, including 2 out of 3 of the "E" boys (Everett and Evan), Chloe, and that darling Leo in his plaid romper.

Leo: captivated by puppets, captivating in plaid

Baby puppet show or not, Lil was dressed for a Broadway matinee (or better).  This little capped sleeve dress with smocking can take her from the playground to a tea party, but with a pair of black leather ballet slippers she's ready for dinner and a show.

They say the moves make the man, but Lil knows the shoes make the outfit.

happy 150th blog post, lil Lil!

rain delay

Today we went to volunteer for the Bushwick CSA. Our volunteer duties entailed checking off names on a list, and making sure no hipsters ran off with loads of eggplant, but we mostly just stood there in the rain. This was Lil's first real outing in the rain, but since she's not a walker yet, there were no cute galoshes, no tiny umbrella, and no adorable raincoat.  (Mama was equally ill-suited for the weather, a pair of black moccasins and a baseball cap were the only things keeping her dry.) Lil's Maclaren stroller came with a fitted rain cover which kept Lil nice and dry, though it may have distorted her view of all the new faces she greeted.  A chill in the air meant an extra polka-dotted layer, but the chocolate pants and teal hoodie looked pretty fresh. Unfortunately Lil peeled off her matching Trumpette socks when Mama wasn't looking, and one of them was later recovered from a mud puddle. It's a miracle she didn't end up with a Lil chill.

home again, home again jiggity jig...

The Bushwick Food Co-Op was set up inside, so we ducked our wet heads in to munch on dried fruits. Lil enjoyed the dried figs so much, we purchased a small bag. With only a few more CSA pick-ups remaining, the Co-Op might be our only source for local produce, meat and dairy. As Lil's world gets bigger, her pallet seems to get more refined.

to co-op, to co-op to buy some dried figs

orange you glad to see me?

all juiced and ready to go

Lil and Mama rolled out to see our friends at a nearby pub.  While the babies squealed and wriggled around, clearly unphased by the scent of stale beer, the mamas grabbed a cold one and chatted about teeth, purees, and everyone's favorite topic, sleep patterns.  Now that Lil and most of her friends are around 7 months, there's no rest for the wicked.  But don't tell that to a wee 4 month-old named Grayson. He seemed to have that sleep thing down cold.

chatting with her baby buds

After skipping her afternoon nap, Lil required something vibrant to match her high voltage energy level.  Mama pulled out her juiciest top and Lil's favorite OJ colored bag shorts.  And even though Lil was not allowed anywhere near the floor of this fine establishment, she still needed her knee pads, just in case she tried to go for a crawl across the table.  Lil was gracious enough to let Mama finish her beverage without starting any shenanigans.  This time.

maybe next time, Lil...

stroller girl

We shook things up today and headed out for a morning stroll. Short sleeves hoodies are always a winner, especially paired with bandana-print babylegs.  But what is Lil doing in her wool diaper soaker on a beautiful summer morning? Ah! In Baby World, wool is a year-round material due to its natural breathability and anti-microbial properties. Right, well, after today I might amend that arguement slightly, because even though it's breathable, wool still gets warm. And antimicrobial or not, that's still pee. Eew (not ewe).

farm fresh

Lil and Mama volunteered at their CSA today, handing out fresh fruits and veggies to customers.  Lil was the produce princess, and managed to stay sweeter than the strawberries the entire time.  I think she and veggies will have a beautiful friendship.

arugu-what?

miss peep

lil bunny

Lil's first Easter was some kind of wonderful.  Her day started with a beautiful basket of baby goodies- a fuzzy bunny, Vulli teether, new BabyLegs (I couldn't help myself), and several beautiful books to add to the collection.  Her grandparents arrived with baskets upon baskets of good things, including a rack of lamb with mint sauce, spring veggies, and two desserts (that was just dinner- Grandma also made brunch!), and a few little gifts for miss Lil.  Such special people deserve a special outfit, and since this lovely little babe was so happy and well rested, she was willing to play dress-up.

If you are thinking you've seen this dress before, you are half correct.  On April 16 she wore the same outfit- but with pink flowers instead of the yellow flowers on today's dress.  Also she didn't have the matching bunny ears. It's actually a fluke- the two dresses came from two different people at different times, but I don't mind.  It's a stunning little number.

It was a beautiful Easter Sunday, and we were happy to spend it at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens.  Even though the Cherry Blossoms weren't quite in bloom, it was still a beautiful place to spend Lil's first sleeveless afternoon.

my flower face

baby meet-up

Lil's first play clothes

Today Lil and I headed over to a cafe near McCarren Park to meet up with a few other mamas with babies around Lil's age. We are so glad to get to meet new people who live in our neighborhood, especially people our same age (both Lil and Mama).  In this group, Lil definitely has some competition in the best-dressed department.  There was one baby in particular who caught my eye, a little sweet pea named Agnes.  You'd never guess by looking at this wee sweetie, but she's actually 2 weeks older than Lil. Agnes was dressed in khaki and lime green, a perfect palette for early spring.  Her little jacket features a flower applique, and she even wore lime green maryjane socks from Trumpette... too cute! 

Agnes est trés chic!

You may think our activities would be limited with such small babies.  Indeed, the babies themselves don't do much more than eat, sleep, and spit up,  but the meet-up is also for the mamas.  No matter how many people you know who have or have had kids, there's nothing quite like finding other (new) parents with babies the same age, who all live in the same neighborhood.  Even though our main connection is our babies, I'm willing to bet we'll find we have much more in common than our kids.

Thanks to Gracie for the ivory corduroy overalls and polka dot bodysuit!

Lilli-Weissen

Lil's on the go again, this time chillin' at Radegast Beer Garden in Williamsburg. Mama & Papa ate several bratwurst and a mug or two of palm ale, while Lil just nommed on her shoulder straps. Before you accuse us of being unfit parents, know this garden is filled with kinders... a kindergarten of sorts!

Lil is wearing her favorite teddy bear hoodie, and her first organic cotton drool bib. This one features a cute bunny, and is perfect for chewing on.

Boys and Boobs

One Friday each month Lil and I go to the La Leche League meeting in Williamsburg.  LLL is an international organization that offers a place for breastfeeding mamas to get advice and find support.  There's always a lot of little babies there, lots of new moms, and lots of boys.  It's strange- out of twenty or so babies, there were only three girls.  The way I see it, Lil's future boyfriend could be in that group, so she has to look her cutest.  But she needed an effortless look, boys don't want a girl who overdoes it.  Like every other smart girl out there, Lil went to her favorite jeans, a comfy graphic print tee (or at this size, a onesie), and a flattering cardi. This navy blue hoodie really brings out her eyes. 

Bunnies always catch a boy's eye

such a flirt!

Alas, all the boys in today's group couldn't see much further than what was right in front of their faces, and little Lil didn't get any digits.  At this stage, I really didn't expect much from a bunch of breast-obsessed mama's boys.  The only guy she wants attention from is Papa anyway, and she's got him pretty much whipped.

ramble on rose-y

Lil's out while we're out

On a bright and sunny Sunday, there are countless places for us to go.  In our corner of the Williamsburg/ Bushwick/ Greenpoint triangle the choices are few, so we strolled all the way to Roebling and Grand Streets, down to the heart of hipster-dominated Williamsburg.  It was nice to get out of our hoody 'hood. The further west we traveled, the more strollers we saw,  and the more we assimilated.  Finding a brunch spot in the late afternoon was tricky, but not impossible.  Unfortunately, our former favorite restaurant presented an obstacle in the form of a high staircase at the entrance.  While not insurmountable, it would certainly be a pain in the arse with Lil and her stroller.  Finally we came to a stroller (and wheelchair) -friendly spot called Fiore.  Papa and I dined on scrambled eggs, biscuits, sausage gravy, and mimosas, while Lil... well, Lil decided this place was snooze-worthy.

Flower girl

Of course Lil got dressed up for the outing, even though she stayed snuggled in her polar fleece bunting.  I chose a rosy floral look for this beautiful spring day.  The vibrant fuchsia and bright florals are like a bouquet of springtime blooms. So colorful, and so lovely!  I don't need flowers, though- my arms are always filled with this rosy little bundle.

a li'l extra

Here's what Lil actually wore out today. I won't count as one of her daily outfits since it's featured in the archive. Unlike the bunting, this snow leopard print fleece romper was one of the winter's biggest wins.  It even makes me a bit sad for the end of winter weather.  There's nothing quite as cuddly as this little kitten- you can even ask the Cat!

That is the closest I'll ever come to getting a hat on Lil's head.  Maybe after the fontanelle closes up a bit she'll be more accepting of this fashion accessory.  Just remember: despite how cute they may be, infant caps are (in Lil's opinion) a no-no. 

the biggest disappointment of the season

I bought this sweet bunting long before Lil was born. I thought the black faux shearling with the little eared hood would not only keep her warm, but would also aid in her acceptance by our felines.  Isn't it logical to think they'd be kinder to something fuzzy and black than something pink and screaming?  Unfortunately, the bunting was much less practical in real life, and it's also one thing Lil never grew in to before the end of the season.  With snow reappearing today, I thought the shearling bunting ought to be given one last look.  Sadly, I can't fit Lil in her carseat with the bunting. I don't know what the manufacturer (of the bunting bag) was thinking when they sized this thing!

 

But look!  It did work as "cat-mouflage" afterall!

Yesterday, lovely day.

Friday was the first lovely day of the year, and it's still technically winter.  It's is kind of amazing to experience 70-degree days at this time of year.  Fashion wise, it makes me a bit sad because there are wintery outfits that are too big for Lil, but will be too small when it gets cold again. I was glad to have a couple short sleeved dresses though! I added a little white cardi to this ensemble, would you believe it was size 6 months!
We headed out to Manhattan (Lil was in her Beco), down to Soho to visit our friends at Lunessa. Lil may still be a little young for fine jewelry, but mama sure isn't!  It turned into a long day, but we both enjoyed the fresh air and sunshine.