networking skills

making friends on the Highline lawn

Lately Lil's taken every opportunity to flex her social muscles. Results have been mixed. She is learning that her charms work best on little girls ages 3 - 5, and that kitty cats respond well to food, but not so well to spontaneous hugs. At the playground, she will occasionally encounter a belligerent child who will not share and doesn't like smiling. The "Mommy, why are some kids such douchebags?" conversation is not one I'm looking forward to. I am afraid I'll only come up with those empty one-line responses like, "they're just jealous," or "probably because their parents don't love them very much," which will do little to inspire compassion and understanding.

bribing The Cat

On other fronts, it appears that Mama is doing a little networking of her own on the blogosphere. It is CSA season once again here in Brooklyn, and our friend Jenny's blog snackreligious is a source for inspiration. I was glad to lend her some ideas, but to be sure all my culinary acumen derives from one source, and one source only: Jon Wallace, co-owner and executive chef of the eagerly anticipated restaurant The Wallace, coming soon to Clinton Hill. So read Jenny's blog, and check out The Wallace's menus, and keep an eye out for their grand opening! Lil has her VIP bib ready for the occasion.

oh little playmate

It's Tuesday again, so how about another video of an ambulatory baby playing with an overweight cat. Adorable!

Don't worry, the whole thing isn't sideways. I don't know how to use a phone camera, but I do know how to use youtube's video editor.

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.

one hot tot

Just one day after reaching 8 months, Lil came down with her first cold.  Our first fall-like weekend ruined by sniffles and a fever.  Mama keep a close watch over her tiny patient, and by the end of the weekend, Lil was cool and comfortable and on her way to dreamland. 

cool and absorbent and 100% organic

Saturday Lil resembled a jellyfish in more ways that one.  Wriggly, wiggly limbs, and a thin viscous layer complimented this convalescent look. Her super-absorbent organic bamboo jellyfish diaper, and a two-sizes-too-big organic cotton jellyfish tee were soft enough to keep Lil cooing even as her temperature kept climbing.

§ § §

Sunday morning brought some relief, but Lil was once again forced to miss swim class.  Her spirits were lifted after a long nap and some play time with The Cat.  It was as if he sensed her illness and did his best to look after her- acting as a foot warmer while she played her excersaucer, lying within arms reach whenever Lil was in Mama and Papa's bed, and staying close by while she crawled around the living room.  The Cat and Kitty always brighten up Lil's mood, no matter how miserable she gets, whether it be from a cold, or teething, or any other baby woes.  Lil is so lucky to have furry friends looking out for her.

Sunday's recuperative romper

play hard, nap hard

Lil got some fancy new knee accessories from Papa.  I guess he was worried about Lil getting all bumped and bruised so early in life.  He ordered these cute knee pads from The Spoon Sisters.  The store is kind of half novelty, half practical, and completely cute.

Lil was let loose to roam freely around the apartment, and after all that play time she needed a break.  The Cat was there to lend a paw, and with a swish of a tail, he led her off to dream land.  When they woke up, Lil was nice enough to share a toy or two with the fur ball.  Poor Tiki Monkey.  Mama forgot to clip The Cat's claws.

Fortunately, his wounds are not life threatening.

and the cat came back

It's obvious that Lil loves picture time.  The click of the camera always gets her attention, even when she's busy at play, or crawling after an obscure piece of lint stuck to the rug. But it's always a nice surprise when the Cat decides to join us, especially for Lil.  She lights up for the Cat like no other furball on Earth.

Sweet.

This little bodysuit came from cousin Josie.  Not only do I love the marriage of calico and gingham, and the heart-shaped appliqué on the bum, I love that it looks like a complete outfit with the total ease of a bodysuit.  Well done, Carter's.  Well done.

reading rainbow

Look Cat! This book is about me and you.

In a bold tropical print, Lil picked up a new book called "My Friends," by Taro Gomi, and proceeded to share it with her friend, the Cat.

See, here is this little girl, and her friend the Cat.

From page 1: "I learned to walk from my friend the cat."

do you need a paci?

 Since she just learned to crawl yesterday, maybe the Cat will do Mama a favor and keep the lessons to a minimum.

hiatus recap

sun bathing is for morons

Taking two trips in one week leaves little time for blogging, but Lil being the super star she is made it all worth the wait.  She got to meet her public, sign autographs, even sit down for a couple interviews.  There was hair, make-up, wardrobe changes, and sadly a few tantrums.  Not to worry, she had a smile and a laugh for everyone she met.

slpish splash

Our week began on the Jersey Shore.  Thank goodness we did not see any MTV reality stars, only wannabes.  Lil was not impressed by overtanning, and donned a big floppy hat and some 45 spf for the beach.  But her best day was spent on the porch in her kiddie pool rather than on the hot sandy shore.  An inch or two of water is more her speed.

what a big kitty cat

Lil also met her first Puppy.  Initially Lil was caught off guard by a sloppy kiss right on her nose, and the realization that this cat was much bigger than the kitties she knew.  But Puppy has a sweet, quiet demeanor, and like any sweet old auntie, just enough patience for a crying baby.

July 4 Lil did stay awake for the fireworks, which she found fascinating.  I guess city babies aren't bothered by all the booms and whistles.

after sun and fun

As for her wardrobe, Lil spent the holiday weekend in appropriate beach attire- swim suits and a terry romper which was Mama's instant favorite.  Since the season is so short, and we are on the verge of another growth spurt, this cuddly and absorbent number made several appearances throughout the week.

geared up

Midweek we went from the beach to the country.  This was another big car ride for Lil, and after all the thrills of open-air strollers, and the comfort of soft carriers, it was obvious that the rigid constraints of a car seat are not Lil's preferred mode of transport.  Some new gear became necessary, and by the ride home Lil was too tired to put up much of a fight.

terry romper, part deux

Upstate New York was at its prime.  Soft breezes, warm sunshine, and countless shades of green made it a perfect place to be.  Lil was so social and made so many friends, I didn't think I would get her home in one piece.  And of course she saw her doting Granmary, which required some special attire.  Mostly though, Lil had to appear poolside in her adorable romper one more time.  At her first fancy party, Lil met Mama's friends Sarah and Chelsea in this adorable dress.  As the sun set, it was cool enough for her to change into something more casual.  Mama put together a special Flashdance look for no reason other than comfort.

she's a maniac on the floor

Lil's first family vacation ended with a lovely brunch back in Ithaca with some of Mama's dear friends.  There's never anything better than love all around.

hugs from p-lo

LOVE!

weekend update #3- father's day!

happy on father's day

What a weekend! It started out with a long line, a boat ride, and some badminton, and ended with a new tooth and a pretty dress.  Tooth #2 started out easier than tooth #1, but an eruption is an eruption.  The tears don't stop flowing just because it's Father's Day.

ready for summer fun

On Saturday Lil was ready to roll out to Roosevelt Island for a little badminton tournament courtesy of PSYOP and Relax, NYC.  Dressed in her pleated cuff denim shorts and a flowy crocheted tank courtesy of Cousin Josie, Lil stayed cool and collected on the most humid island in the city.  Mama got to play, although her team made it out of round 1 undefeated, they were dealt a painful loss in the sudden death round. No matter, Lil was ready to catch the boat back to Williamsburg.

first mate's first float

papa's shining jewel

Lil took her papa out for his first Father's Day brunch.  She made sure to look extra pretty for her papa today, and even cut a new tooth just for him!  While Papa was pleased with his little peach, teething left more than an indelible impression on him- the accompanying tears left Papa and Mama with memorable headaches.  Papa is just thankful his girl sat for these beautiful shots.

another summer classic, courtesy of cousin josie!

The Cat gets some love, too

both of Papa's little girls

Lil, your papa sure is sweet on you!  Goodnight, little love.

s.w.a.k.

a new perspective

There have been tummy time poses, but today we reached a whole new level.  Lil now prefers to look at the world right-side up, and she looks like a new lady with her head off the floor.  After a long, long walk and lunch with friends, Lil was one step away from sleepy town.  Luckily Kitty (not to be confused with The Cat) came in and kept Lil smiling long enough to get some pictures.

Lil's been seen in this flutter sleeve tee before, but Mama picked up some second-hand denim capris over the weekend.  They're perfect for these late spring days, keeping Lil cool, yet protect those chunker thighs from the sun.  Mama broke out her all natural sunscreen from Episencial Skincare for her exposed parts.  Unlike most natural baby sunscreens, this nice light formula doesn't leave Lil looking ghostly white.

You may be wondering why the music cube is down by Lil's feet.  Although she is capable of turning it on with her hands, she prefers to play with it with her feet.  I think that's perfectly normal.

just shy of sundown

Kitty makes the world stand still

Eco-Friendly: the top is bottoms and the bottoms are tops

 Eco-friendly. Sustainable. Environmentally Conscious: all labels that as a mama I feel compelled to look for when choosing Lil's gear.  It's hard- not only finding sustainable items that we like, but also ones that are affordable.  Cloth diapers were an easy choice for us because they contribute far less waste to landfills, but there are downsides.  Many contain synthetic fibers and chemicals that are necessary to make waterproof and absorbent layers.  Finding baby clothing made of sustainable fibers like soy and bamboo is not only difficult, it's expensive! And honestly, it's not always cute.  So I end up with a mix, like most families, of eco-friendly, and sweat-shop made. Alas, Made in China is already part of Lil's life.

the best is on her bottom, the worst is on her top.

Today Lil wore a brand new t-shirt that I bought off Zulilly. It's a website that sells baby and kids' stuff, but they only run daily sales (up to 80% off) of designer items in limited quantities.  The merchandise has a boutique-y feel, and you rarely see the same thing twice.  This raspberry houndstooth tee is from a company called Degree Six.  Apparently their version of sustainable is actually chintzy organic cotton with poorly stitched, non-sweatshop seams.  This size 6 months barely fits Lil at 2 months (hello, baby midriff!), so we know this won't be in rotation very long. 

On the other end, Lil is wearing a wool diaper wrap made by our friend Jessica at The Littlest Forest.  This cover is awesome, and I'm not just saying that because Jess and Lil share the same birthday.  It's made from 100% re-purposed wool, and came to us pre-lanolized and ready for wear.  Not only is this diaper cover environmentally sound, it's also good looking and fits really well. Charcoal gray mohair with a raspberry lining is girly without screaming pink and daisies.  Best of all, it's trim enough and fits under her clothes.  You can learn more about the amazing properties of wool here, and check out what else The Littlest Forest is up to on Etsy.

Although Lil put on her sparkly ruffled bolero wrap, we decided to stay in today.  I wouldn't be surprised if The Cat and his lounging had some influence on us.

Lil n' Friends

Today we had a special guest stylist, Malika Green, artist and footwear designer.  Two months old and she already knows a clothing designer and a footwear designer- talk about networking!  Now to convince these talented people to launch a line of babywear.  Malika has started making shoes for her own daughter, two year-old Lia, and we're anxiously awaiting those hand-me-downs!

Lil is becoming quite the social butterfly, a fact which is reflected by today's outfit.  The embroidered butterfly on the shoulder of this romper is more than adorable, it's clearly the badge of a baby socialite.
 The cute little snail matches with Lil's pacifier, which for the moment, she has traded in for her fist.  Malika brought Lil a new toy, Tiki Monkey.  Hopefully Tiki Monkey will get Lil in the mood for a trip to Hawaii, and convince her to be well-behaved on a 13-hour flight.  She also hung out with Jerome Giraffe, and The Kitty.  During naptime she spent some time with the Seahorsey, the musical seahorse.  A little "Twinkle, Twinkle," will get you in good with this infant in no time.

Tiki Monkey shares his island stories

miss popular

animal analogy #1... and an announcement.

Am I a monkey?

There are too many cute pictures today.  Perhaps it was just good lighting or Lil's pleasant mood, but I think it had more to do with divine grace.  Way out in California, Lil's baby boy cousin was coming into the world, right as these photos were being taken. That bit of anticipation added a lot to the composition.  I guess that's why she hasn't bothered to nap today, either.  She must be way too excited to sleep!  

it's a boy?!

"Daddy's Little Monkey" isn't too far off the mark.  I'm sure as Lil grows, she'll become more adventurous, curious, and monkey-like in other ways (though I hope she abstains from poo-flinging).  For now, I prefer to compare her to a bunny, or a kitten.  Something warm and cuddly.

The Kitty approves.

Today Lil is sporting brown and pink velour karate pants and a pair of Nowali baby moccasins.  They're great crib shoes, I think these are the only things I don't have to worry about falling off her feet.  This entire ensemble came in a big bag of goodies from Auntie London. Thank you London!

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!