finally

finally, a photo by Everyday Lil on Flickr.

daughter's day

my gift

I enjoyed celebrating mother's day as a child. Handmade cards, toast-and-oj-in-bed, fresh-picked wild flowers. My plan was always to be sweeter and more loving and more precious than my older brother. Sometimes it was a no-holds-barred competition, which wasn't fair because he was old enough to make pancakes and french toast and I could only use the toaster oven. No matter. As I recall, our mother enjoyed my gifts much more than his. 

It's different being a mother on mother's day. I'm not sure I do anything to deserve any extra devotion or added affection. Lil couldn't possibly go out of her way to be more loving, and she is not allowed near the toaster. At this age, she can only be her funny, beautiful little self. What more can I ask for?

Except.

I remember when I started earning enough to have extra spending money. I was so happy I could afford to send her flowers or buy her beautiful jewelry. She always said, "you really don't have to..." and I knew she meant it, but doting on her brought me joy. Since I couldn't be there, I wanted something lovely to be there in my place. 

I would've liked to be the daughter just one more time.

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.

little lilly upchuck

We were all set to go down to Caribou today to see some friends at the big babies play group. Lil had on a great outfit, a little pink, a little sparkle, and just enough sass. Mama had her bunting from last year all set to keep Lil nice and bundled on the long walk. Lil seemed to be ready for a little snooze anyway, and the fresh air would do her some good. Then in mid-wail, Lil let loose a mouthful of carrots, salmon, and puffs all over her outfit, somehow missing Mama completely.

Here's what Lil was going to wear:

oh. i forgot the pink shoes

And this is how she ended up:

Pretty similar, I admit. The fuzzy sweater is a staple in Lil's cold weather gear. When she's all zipped into her bunting bag, nothing could be cozier. Whatever cold or tummy ache or teething problems she's dealing with finally melted away, and she rested that troubled little head for a good, long time (while Mama enjoyed a well-deserved snack and a beverage at Tuffet. Yay).

getting sleepy...

happily Everett after

It is definitely November.  Leaves are down, wind is whippy, and scarves are wrapped around necks. That doesn't mean we are finished with late afternoons in McCarren park though. We layered up and headed out, strolled down the Ave in the sun. The combination of brisk, fresh air and warm sunlight lulled Lil to sleep, so I kept walking. We arrived at the park with the time to spare before our playdate, so I took the opportunity to capture a few priceless sleeping baby photos.

That gorgeous hat was crocheted by our friend Melanie at Crayon Jungle. She helped us choose a beautiful cotton yarn, and Lil now has a one-of-a-kind creation! Thank you so much, Melanie!!

sampling a homemade shaker

When our friends Kelley and Everett arrived, we took to the grass and let the babes have at it.  We first met Everett when he was just a wee thing, and now he's such a little man!  This afternoon he was looking quite lovable with a fuzzy monkey hat and a chunky zip-up sweater. Perfect combination of little man and cuddly baby.

Everett tastes nature

With her batteries recharged, Lil set to work exploring Everett's toys, while Everett was off exploring dead leaves (with his mouth). The babes did come face to face at some point, but were most interested in the world around them. No matter. The longer Lil shows no interest in boys, the happier her papa will be.

what have you got there, little Lil?

After a little while, some more friends showed up, and soon we had a baby pile-up on our hands. Little Sully was very fond of Lil's hat, and Lil was very fond of crawling away as fast as she could! Poor little Lil ended up in tears –a little too cold, a little bumped, and plenty worn out. We strolled home as the sun began to set over Williamsburg, a little chilly, but thankful we found such a great group of mamas and babes in our 'hood.

right here in Brooklyn, the place where we dwell

weekend update #12: third quarter report

This was the first real autumnal weekend of the season, one that makes you break out a woolly wrap, slouchy hat and knee-high boots.  Lil's grandparents came for a visit, and brought some new handwoven sweaters (yay!) and a crucial piece for Lil's Halloween costume. If you don't know what she's going to be, then you'll have to wait for the big reveal on (or around) the 31st.

Everyone headed out for a nice walk, and a bite at Lil's favorite hangout, Tuffet.  There was lots of yummy stuff for everyone, and the beautiful afternoon sunlight lit up those baby blues like something celestial. The purple plaid blouse may have helped, too.  Those colors always seem to light Lil up, and the teal lining of her hoodie probably didn't hurt none.  Paired with her skinny jeans and a pair of hunter slippers, Lil was ready to pose in a pumpkin patch... or here in Brooklyn, with a few apple pieces.  After a little snuggle in her mama's arms, Lil was perfectly content to let the grown-ups snack on imported meats and cheeses, drink some Octoberfest ales, and sample a preview of Tuffet's "Cider Week" offerings.  Obviously, the season's treats are not just for kids.

§  §  §  §  §

Sunday marked Lil's three-fourths birthday.  At nine months, Lil has a lot to say about a lot of things.  She mimics what we say, and some of what we do, she sits, stands, crawls, and "pets" the cats. She eats all sorts of things (purees, finger foods, and she's still nursing too), drinks from a cup (with or without a sippy spout), goes to swim class, and an occasional "movement workshop."  I have no idea how much she's grown, but we find out later this week! It's been a busy and fashionable three-quarters of a year, and the last quarter promises to finish strong.  We still have outerwear and footwear to look forward to.

Lil didn't celebrate nine months with any kind of well-coordinated outfit.  She didn't go anywhere special or get any presents.  Instead, she spent the morning swimming with her Papa, the cuddled up in a pair of old-fashioned sweats and her favorite tee-shirt, played with her kitties, and took a nap.  I whipped up some a salmon fillet with baby carrots steamed in orange juice for her dinner, and then she got a relaxing soak in the tub before bed. 

Not a bad day for someone approaching toddlerdom.

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.

shoe hungry

Look who dreams of shoes... as food...

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...

31 flavors

I promised a special outfit for Lil's 31st appearance on Everyday Lil.  I pulled out a special diaper, her sparkliest dress, and even some additional flare.  It was nearly 6pm when we started, and I soon realized Lil was not at her best.  After a long day out and about meeting new mamas and babies, and visiting friends in the neighborhood and getting tons of fresh air, Lil was just tuckered out.  There would be no perfect picture, no special ensemble to mark day 31.

 

Her good side (the one that wasn't crying)

It didn't take long for me to give in.  Lil changed into a sleepy gown, and I wrapped her up in her favorite blanket.  So the special look for day 31 is the genuine Everyday Lil.

Everyday Lil

Has that much changed in 31 days?

 

Day 31

Day 1