ruffles and roses

Once in awhile we find a really cute outfit that includes matching accessories, like hats, bibs, and socks.  Typically this is not Lil's style, but every so often we go with the head-to-toe baby ensemble.  This one is  all about the booty, baby.  With rows of pink ruffles peeking out from beneath a bow-studded trapeze top, the leopard and rosebud print seems... subtle.  Throw in the ruffled brim on the matching cloche, and Lil's suddenly part flower face, part wildcat!

bird's eye view

you think I look silly?

 really?

the land of the brave (and bold)

hello, summertime.

Memorial Day was a quiet day for Lil.  No parades, no beaches, just Mama and Papa and a lone auntie to keep Lil entertained all day.  No matter, it was at least 90 degrees and sweltering!  Spending the day in air conditioning wasn't a terrible idea.  Before bedtime, Mama and Papa took Lil up to the roof to watch her first sunset.  It was a beautiful ending to Lil's first Memorial Day.

Lil went for a patriotic look today.  I like to think these bold patterns honor the bravery of America's servicemen and women, metaphorically anyway.  In addition to the prints themselves being bold, Lil shows a lot of courage by mixing the block print blue-and-white dress with her red-and-white graphic print BumGenius diaper.  Maybe that makes her some kind of tiny American fashion hero.  Her red and blue Trumpette socks, while not necessarily practical on a hot day, are an homage to every soldier who ever fought in the trenches.  To the combat veteran, good socks are nearly as important as one's rifle.  Lil has no room for a rifle in her toy box, though, so socks will have to do.  It's Lil's way of saying "thank you" to the men and women overseas, especially the mamas and papas who can't be with their li'l ones.

in the land of the free, this babe can be brave.

thank you!!!

too hot to dot

Guess who chose today's look?
 (hint: read the bib)

 

Daddy's hugs are the best?

Judging by the look on Lil's face, it must be true.   Good thing Mama knows better.

mama's cuddles aren't too shabby, either

saturday sunsuit

flying the friendly skies

Lil is having a great Memorial Day weekend, even though we are nowhere near a sandy beach.  Saturday featured a long walk to the park, where we watched our little inspiration Lia conquer the playground while Lil took to the air.  On the way home Mama and Papa stopped for a light refreshment at our favorite local spot, Tuffet (Lil got a little snack there, too!).  Although we didn't roll home until 8pm, Lil enjoyed the entire outing.

checking out some toddler moves

Lil's little outfit came from her Brooklyn cousins who we saw on Friday.  We love that contrasting fuschia and olive are way outside the typical baby color palate! The one-piece sunsuit features a low-cut back and spaghetti straps, keeping Lil cool and breezy on hot summery days.  It's hard to believe this stunning little number came from Target... please, can't they open one in Bushwick!?

ready for home

clappy feet

Lil is just full of surprises.  While she is probably several months away from clapping her hands, today she figured out how to clap her feet.  Very cute stuff!  Equally cute, this ruffled front bubble romper in an orange and yellow print.  It's made in a soft lightweight cotton- perfect for hot and humid city afternoons.  Since my little rosebud was not sun-blocked (still waiting for our all natural SPF to come in our latest Alice order), her little sun hat was essential while we strolled the streets of Brooklyn.  Mostly she stayed asleep when we were out and about.  I think the sun is just too much for her!

one-sie is the loneliest number

 This was one of those strange, hazy days where it feels like the waking moments are more sleepy that the ones spent asleep.  Lil didn't need clothes, or even a sleepy suit.  It was warm enough for only a diaper, so she slipped on a sweet little onesie for picture time.  It's a good look for mid-spring, just in time for our first delivery from our CSA (community supported agriculture) share of farm-fresh goodies.  There will probably be some spring peas in there, but none as sweet as this.

it's a birl... or a goy!

lil, or bill?

For the last few days, there's been a lot of buzz on the message boards surrounding this article on children and gender.  It's about a family that is keeping their baby's gender a secret from family and friends, not just in utero, but long after birth. 

"In fact, in not telling the gender of my precious baby, I am saying to the world, ‘Please can you just let Storm discover for him/herself what s (he) wants to be?!.” Witterick (mother) writes in an email."

I understand bucking social constructs.  Thanks to my Liberal Arts education, I have an understanding of gender as something that is not binary, but spans five or more sexes (I will never forget meeting a lesbian trapped in a man's body).  I am also an aunt who had to wait until birth not once, but twice to find out if I had a niece or a nephew, and I experienced the frustration and excitement that went along with not knowing the baby's gender.  When I was pregnant, I wanted to know if I had a Lil or a Bill, but I didn't want anyone else to know.  It is hard to accept that babies, who have no use for a gender identity, are defined by their gender before being born.  Maybe it sounds hypocritical, but I experience the same curiosity as everyone else.  Besides, she was in my belly.  I think I had the right to know. 

It is not enough just to have girl things or boy things.  It seems like everything is assigned a gender.  The entire animal kingdom is being divided by the manufacturers of baby goods.  Puppies are for boys, kittens are for girls.   Ocean themes are appropriate for boys, but the forest with its bunnies, deer, and squirrels is reserved for girls (except owls, they're one gender-neutral critter).  According to Baby Gap, zebras go to girls, elephants go to boys, and giraffes can be for a boy or a girl, depending on the color (but guess who gets the pink giraffes).  The parents in that article may be striving for genderless children, but the real baby world is over-saturated with gender.  Maybe it's better for children to experience everything, rather than one way or another, or even the Other.  Is there any other way to lose the labels of "girl things" and "boy things"?

lil video bonus :)

every evening Lil goes through a silly phase, and each day her laughter becomes more and more hearty.  Check out Lil's giggle fit from this evening!

inside outside

 

We finally cracked open Lil's summer wardrobe!  A humid day like today deserved something light and easy, so this smock-top zigzag romper worked perfectly.  The soft cotton and summer tones felt nice on a crabby, sticky day.  Later in the afternoon, Lil and Mama headed out to meet up with some baby friends.  It's the first time Lil ventured out without a stroller blanket, and barefoot!  She enjoyed the ride, and our little jaunt in the park.

Lil's outfit held up well in the muggy weather, and so did her demeanor.  It would be something if she maintained her easy breezy attitude come July!

a case of the mondays

What a miserable Monday for Lil! It's cold and rainy, grand-mary left, and we've got a little road trip hangover.  Worst of all, poor Lil has a mama who insists on making this a pajama day. Good thing she has plenty of animal friends, like her Sleep Sheep, and a Karen Katz book called Counting Kisses ensures her cuddles are at least educational.
See, pajama days aren't necessarily all bad.

commencement extravaganza

I was thinking of starting a legacy at the New School with Lil, but after attending the commencement ceremony at Wesleyan University, I think I've changed my mind.  They put on a good show, and Lil got to cop her first squat on a grassy hillside.  The sky was a bit too gray, but her floral print tulle-lined dress brightened things up a bit.  I think Lil now understands the value of a liberal arts education, and I'm certain she spent part of the day contemplating infinity.  

Lil is very proud of her Aunt Em, and loved all the nice girls she met in Middletown, CT.  Mama's glad she has so many smart young women to look up to.

Aunt Em and the sleepy Lil

There were new family members to meet too! Lil finally laid eyes on her great-grandmother ("little grandma") Dorothy, and the fabulous (great) aunt/ master sweater knitter Gayellyn, and we made it a four-generation event.  How cool is that?

lil chillin' with little grandma

commencement extravaganza (preview)

we didn't get to post yesterday because as any rock star will tell you, life on the road is tough. Lil finally found a lull in the day's busy schedule for a quick pic, so I figure it was a good time to provide a peek at her most formal event yet. Stay tuned for the big reveal...

pomp and circumstance

magna-cute-laude

Today may have been Mama's graduation day, but it was Lil's day to shine.  In a gorgeous white cotton dress with violet print and ruffle details, and white leather crib shoes, Lil stole the hearts of many proud mothers and fathers that were in attendance this afternoon.  But this mama has more to be proud of than any parent of a graduate!

Lang College has been around for 25 years, and they're about ready for a legacy enrollee.  Since Lil did complete an entire semester with Mama, I'm thinking she'll have no problem getting in.  I just pray  she has no intention of attending NYU.

proud graduate

bib n' ribbon

Lil is learning about accessories.  Before stopping by Mama's favorite jewelry store, we went shopping for some shoes to go with her fancy little dresses, and while we were there, we found some lovely little headbands.  Personally, the froof is a bit much for me, but that sweet round face was made for big bows.  The shoes were a tough call, and we're saving them for tomorrow- no sneak peeks!

erp... 'cuse me.

I am always searching for the perfect bib for this stage in Lil's life.  She drools, she spits up, and I am tired of jumping for a burp cloth and fretting over stains on her lovely organic cotton tops (organic cotton seems to hold the stains more that processed cotton).  This funny little bandana style bib from a  New Zealand-based company called Mum 2 Mum is made of a soft squishy velour and lined with a water resistant nylon, so Lil can dribble away!  Best of all, they are available in a whole bunch of fashionable colors, and with an adjustable snap closure, it will fit that neck for the long haul. Sadly, I didn't get one to match tomorrow's lovely outfit.  Since Mama will be busy graduatin', Lil will be on the bottle, and probably experiencing some big 'ol burps.

ohai there.

kimo-no more tears

Lil went in for her shots today, and she took them with a stiff upper lip.  Until it was time to go home. Then Lil put on quite a show for the other babies waiting their turns.  This little one deserves a tony- she belted out quite a number.

Today's wardrobe choice suited our needs perfectly.  The vibrant orange toille provided the drama, while the organic cotton kimono-style cut was easy and comfortable.  A cream colored knit cardi with natural buttons was a perfect outer layer on a breezy May afternoon... until the rain started.  Then Lil was forced to ride under cover until we reached home.  A drop or two did find its way to her gentle head, but the traumatizing events had lulled her into a deep sleep and she was not at all bothered.  On these days that feel like they never end, it's good to have one thing that feels good.

power tulle

buttercup

Lil enjoyed her first day home with few major happenings... except the arrival of her gran-mary.  Adding in her belated 4-month birthday, we needed something special for today's pictures.  We feel pretty lousy having missed three days! To be honest, being on the road with a baby is hard enough, packing for spills, spit-ups, accidents, cold rainy Upstate New York weather, and something a little extra for our blog was a bit too much, and the new-to-you outfits I did pack were too unseasonable for Lil to wear.  Anyway, we have something extra adorable today.

pop culture

Lil was cooperative enough to don a tutu-inspired bodysuit and these gorgeous pink ballet-shoe tights.  Her tolerance for tutus is not so great, so having it attached to a onesie is much more comfortable for her.

sweet dreamsacks

She had a costume change before her afternoon nap, and her second look is part nautical, part pajama-inspired.  The top and bottom are from a company called Yala that created a line of pajamas called DreamSacks for adults and children.  They're made from viscose bamboo, and as if my Lil wasn't cuddly enough, well, I didn't want to put her down. I'm pretty sure she liked them too.  Check out that smile!
 

(thanks to Jojo for the sweet jammies!)

pooped out

Another long travel day. While we had a lovely time in Ithaca, being on the road has us wiped out. So once again I am going to postpone the photo upload :( sorry!

Lil did manage to blow through several outfits on our journey. It seemed like the car trip didn't agree with her. Papa did manage to photograph some of the day's variations. We'll get them up tomorrow, so don't fret.  Besides, Lil has another busy week ahead, and she has to show up with some flare. That means guaranteed baby fabulousness.

drought in a rainstorm

Ithaca is full of rain. If doomsday is next weekend, the flood is definitely starting here. Still no chance for new pics, but there was plenty of time for shopping while the little one napped. That means I can guarantee something special for lil's 4th month. Today she wore a remixed outfit.  Since it was a wet and chilly day, she put on a pink longsleeve bodysuit with her polka-dotted ruffle-rump pants, and her handmade sweater.  It's a hars look to pull off, but lil did it. A tiny toothy smile really helps.

travelin' band

We took to the road today to spend the weekend in Mama's hometown.  We looked like a three-ring circus, with bags and toys, a cuddle rug, carseat and of course, a baby.  I imagine Cleopatra must've travelled a lot like Lil does: an entourage carrying you in a soft thrown, surrounded by bundle upon bundle of your favorite things.  The entire trip, your servants are at your beckon call to please every last whim and request. When you finally arrive at your destination, you are greeted with adoration, affection, and gifts.  Then you collapse from exhaustion for a long slumber.

Unfortunately I can't post our pics today, but I promise to have them up as soon as I get an internet connection (I'm blogging this from my phone).

pinky and the brain

After going on and on about girlie things and boyish things, and how none of it really matters, that babies are babies, I decided to go and dress Lil head-to-toe in pink.  Lil just met this new friend, a super soft pink Gund bear.  There's one rule about Gund bears- they are all boys.  Even the pink ones. 

This bear still needs a name, so we're considering his best features before a decision is made.  So far the best part of him seems to be his nose.  Lil keeps sticking it right in her mouth.  Silly Lilly.

a lesson on long necks

 We took an early stroll on this beautiful morning with our friends Erin and Kim. It's so nice and quiet in the neighborhood early in the day, it's hardly like the williamsburg-bushwick we are used to. Also, it goes to show that schools should stay in session year round, for 10 or maybe 12 hours each day, with no open-campus policy for lunches. But only until Lil starts school. I don't think I could bear to be without her for that long.

Speaking of long, Giraffes are big in baby wear these days. Whether you're looking for cute cartoon character, photo-realistic screen print, or just a bold pattern, giraffes are here to stay. We like them. Lil's cap features baby gap's boy giraffe with detailed stitching, a soft neutral bodysuit with a sweet baby giraffe, and her new giraffe-print babylegs. By putting them all together, we've found a great way to feature a animal theme without going head-to-toe in a matching set. It also justifies purchasing everything with a giraffe (or owl, duck, ladybug, bear- whatever suits your fancy), that way you don't risk the faux pas of mixing animals.