CALIFORNIA / PART 1

I've been missing my sisters like crazy lately, especially when Biet brings me the phone each day eagerly asking "call Lala!? call Emmy?!".  They are my two favorite women in the universe, and I wish dearly that we all lived closer.  Maybe one day we'll all share a brownstone, with food simmering and goodies baking on each floor and a gazillion babies running at our feet.  Maybe. But for now, I have our trips out west, our hours-long phone conversations, and these pictures- these pictures of my family.

AROUND AND AROUND

While in L.A., my sisters planned a lovely little day trip to the Griffith Park Carousel.  "We have carousel's in New York," I said, but they persisted.  So we packed up a picnic, complete with sparkling lemonade in glass bottles, and made our way to the center of the park. And lo and behold, it was marvelous new adventure.  Unlike the carousels here in the city in Dumbo or Bryant Park or Central Park, the Griffith Park Carousel was free of tourists, or really much of anyone at all.  Tucked away on a field behind a little forest it sat, looking regal as its century-old horses made their rounds.  Bunches of candy-colored balloons quietly twisted in the wind on the edge of the wrought iron fence, and creepy old accordion music drifted through the air each time it turned on.  It felt like it had been waiting there just for us.  I don't know what it is about carousels that makes them so ridiculously perfect, but as we bought our tickets my heart filled with excitement.  The kids each climbed upon their carefully chosen horses and waited while we hopped up with them and fastened the old leather straps around their waists.  The music started in, the horses began to wobble up and down, the world began to spin, and we were off!  With full bellies and faces full of wonder, Biet and her cousins flew around and around, slowly at first, and then faster and faster.  Soon we were holding on with all of our might, beaming ear to ear with the wind in our faces, and throwing up a hand to wave each time we saw baby Lucien on the sidelines. I could have stayed there all day.  I'm so grateful for these sisters of mine who never let me forget that we can adventure like kids regardless of how old we are. It was pure magic.

California part Seven: Family Portrait

{from when Emmy was still pregnant!}

California part Six: Grandfather + Granddaughter

Of all of the photos of our trip out West, these are by far my favorite. This is my Dad. This is Biet's Grandfather. This is a great man. As I watched him and Biet together, I couldn't help but envision him holding me as a tiny baby girl, not so many years ago. After these moments on the porch, my Dad proceeded to sing Biet to sleep in his arms, with the same song he used to sing to me. Good old Willie Nelson: "An' with no place to hide, I looked in your eyes, An' I found myself in you.."

Update! {Dashiell is beautiful!}

Its funny how being a Mother has completely changed my reaction to babies. They were always cute, precious, beautiful, amazing.. but now, you can call me baby-crazed.  Squishy-faced red plump little newborns positively make me swoon. After going through pregnancy and giving birth, witnessing another woman + child experiencing their first moments together brings me to an emotional place of remembrance and longing.  It must be that maternal instinct. This darling brand new nephew of mine has just been making my day. My baby girl looked like that not so long ago! Little Dashiell is a beauty!

Update! {Little Dashiell is Born}

Dashiell Auden was born on December 21st

He weighs 7 lbs 14 oz

and is 20 inches long

and is perfect.

You did it Emmy (you amazing Mama, you);

You are a mother of two!

California part five: Pumpkin Carving & Sunsets

With Christmas and New Year's just around the corner, this memory of carving pumpkins with my sisters at Halloween feels like ages ago. I love these photos though, and wanted to post them before the end of the year. We forgot to snap a shot of the finished pumpkins, so I'll just say that my pumpkin may or may not have ended up with a mustache, a hat, and black-rimmed eyeglasses. I named him Little Gaby. Later that evening, my cousin Kallie stopped by with her parents (bearing gifts!) to meet Biet.  I used to take care of Kallie when she was Biet's age (she's almost 18 now!), and I can't believe how she's grown up! I must give Kallie (and the many hours I spent babysitting her in her infancy) some of the credit for honing my amazing baby-wrangling skills.

These last photos are from one particularly beautiful sunset on the beach (California seems to have quite a lot of those). It's funny how, growing up, I took those sunsets for granted. I used to loll in that golden glow each and every evening, watching the sky turn from blue to purple to red. The skies out East glow in a different kind of way; the sun settles beyond a skyline of concrete and brick instead of sand and water. Still, I wouldn't trade New York City for the world. I am glad, though, that Biet will visit the West often. She will bask in the glow of both coasts.

Tomorrow! Tomorrow! He's coming tomorrow!

My sister Emmy is having her (2nd) baby boy tomorrow!  A Christmas baby!  I can't wait to see his little newborn face! I think Beckett got enough "Big Brother" practice with Biet {see above}, and is ready for the real thing now...

**Here's to a healthy baby and Mama and a speedy recovery, Emmy. We love you!**

California part four: Our time with Lala + Ice-Cream for breakfast

While we were in California, we stayed at Lisa's house. She lives in a perfectly decorated little bungalow cottage just a couple blocks from the beach. She put us up in her room, gave us her bed, and hosted our little family for the week we were in town. I loved staying there, with her. It's so different now than it used to be, back in the days of us single girls hopping on a plane to visit one another, running around all day, going out all night, and sharing a bed. Now, with a family, arrangements must be made, time must be a bit more scheduled, and baby girl's needs must come first. I am so grateful to have a sister who embraces these changes, and so happy that she and Gaby get along so well (really, they get along in a "call and chat with each other while I'm at work" kind of way). Our time with her was peaceful & fun & wonderful. She is such a giving person, and, truly, one classy lady. So THANK YOU Lisa {Auntie Lala}, for everything.

Here are a couple shots from our first day with Lisa walking around the neighborhood, and from one of our last days with her, eating ice cream, on the beach, FOR BREAKFAST! We had gone a little crazy at the supermarket the night before, and bought a couple pints too many of Ben & Jerry's. Upon waking, I realized that such a thing as too much Ben & Jerry's simply did not exist, and decided to go out on the beach, and put that ice cream to good use. Lisa and Gaby and Biet joined me. We were on vacation after all. That's one thing I especially love about Lisa: she joins me on my spontaneous indulgent adventures. She is, and has always been, one of my best partners in crime.

California part three: Lisa turns 26 !

My baby sister turned 26 years old! We are only a year and a half apart, Lisa and I, but she will always be my baby sister.  I loved growing up with a sibling so close in age.  Sure, there was bickering, but most of the time we were best friends. I can't believe that we both are now nearing our late twenties! This was the first time in a long time (read: years) that we three sisters were together with our Dad to celebrate one of our birthdays. We had a small get together at Emmy's with champagne & sparkling apple cider (I forgot how good that stuff is!), dessert, party hats, and family. Our cousin Melissa was in town so she joined the party. And, of court, Beckett helped blow out the candles (you can't put candles in the same room with that boy without him getting excited and blowing them all out). Happy Birthday Lisa!