Three Years Married

Three years ago, on the first of December, on a cold and windy afternoon, Gaby and I were wed, outdoors, in Manhattan's Tompkins Square Park. It was a small and glamorous affair. I never dreamed that just three years later, our lives would look like this. I never imagined that in place of our tiny studio apartment in the city (our first place together), we would be in a huge two bedroom on the edge of the park. In place of the string of christmas lights that once "decorated"our single blank wall, we would have a coat rack with four coats hanging: Papa's big black peacoat, Mama's camel wool coat, Nico's zippered dog coat, and Baby's tiny pink hoodie. And beyond the coats, there would be a warm home full of art and family portraits and memories. Our lives have gotten so big. And it all started with a vow.

Gaby and I spent our three year anniversary strolling about the city. We slept in (an extra hour and a half of sleep was Biet's anniversary gift to us), then dressed up and headed to the city. Biet rode in her stroller with the "child" seat (instead of the baby bassinet) for the first time. We walked around the Union Square holiday market with its craft stands and apple cider booths, indulged in pastries from Moishe's Bake Shop, warmed up with coffee (decaf for me!) from Mud, and did a spot of shopping. It was a lovely afternoon. Then it was back on the train home to walk Nico, change into my new anniversary shoes (!) that my wonderful husband bought for me, drop Biet with a sitter, and head out on a proper dinner date.  This was the second real date that we've been on since becoming parents! We went to an ahhhmazing South African restaurant in Fort Greene, Madiba, and actually stayed until the kitchen closed.

To our surprise, when we arrived to pick up Biet, she was wide awake- laughing and jumping and acting up for the sitter (aka our friends Joe and Scott- thanks guys for giving us a free night!). She fell asleep like a rock on the drive home, though. And, of course, it wouldn't be a real celebration without stopping for a pint of Ben & Jerry's on the way back home, to eat while we snuggled on the couch.

It was refreshing to get away for awhile and to focus only on each other. And now we head into our fourth year of marriage. Oh my. Life is good.

On another note, our baby girl now really eats! It's so funny/amazing to watch her face as she tastes a new food for the first time. We are taking the food thing pretty slowy- no schedules or rules- and letting her break in her tastebuds at her own pace. So in the moments when I can get her to focus on food instead of my wedding ring (the ring is her new OBSESSION), she munches on oatmeal & almond milk & bananas & squash! Here we go...

Staircase Photos Part 2

Here's another set of our "Publicity Photos". These photos will always remind me of our last month in the apartment in which Biet was born. That's right: we move in 3 weeks!! We're in the throes of apartment hunting (is it so much to ask for an affordable, spacious, sun-lit home in a cute neighborhood, with hardwood floors??) and about to delve into the world of packing. I'm a bit anxious about having to pack up our life into a million boxes and move across the bridge. Living out of suitcases, even for just a little while, with Biet being so small, might be a little hard. Or maybe it will be fun, an adventure- like camping out in our own home. Maybe we'll make s'mores and sing songs and dance around in our new empty space. I'll let you know next month. First, we need to find a new space- wish us luck!

Biet's visitors from Portugal

Baby girl really does have people traveling from the four corners of the earth to see her. Our dear friend Paul's mother & father flew in from Portugal to meet this six-week-old babe (ok, they actually came to NYC to see their son but they were VERY excited to meet Biet). It was a perfect day to be outdoors, so we grabbed the baby & the leash & headed a few blocks up to 6th street. We stopped in to say hello to our friends at Grape & Grain, and then hopped into the garden next door to meet our visitors. They were so happy to see & hold Biet! We all (including Nico) cooled off with watermelon, iced tea, & croissants. When I learned that Paul's Mom was a postpartum caregiver for mothers & babies during her youth in Germany, I handed Biet over, glad to have yet another pair of loving hands eager to hold her. Biet snuggled into her shoulder and listened to Portuguese for the first time. We are so grateful for all of the love and help coming our way from our friends these days. Biet already has an international extended family, & it never seems to stop growing.

Walking with Baby

Just a couple shots of Gaby & me walking around our neighborhood with Biet, in her Phil & Ted's stroller (the generous baby shower gift from my bosses over at Alias- thank you thank you thank you!). I truly love it's modern carriage design and, I can't believe I'm saying this about a stroller, feel both proud and cool pushing my daughter around town in it. I also wear Biet wrapped on me a lot of the time, and that feels just as cool. When Gaby takes the baby out for her morning walk- a daily ritual that gives them both time together & also gives me a quiet hour to myself- he gets all the ladies ooh-ing and aww-ing over what a cute Dad he is. And if he walks Nico & Biet together, forget it- it's a double cuteness whammy and women flock. So here we are, two stroller people (so weird but we're getting used to it).

Lisa in the Rain

Oh Lisa, I wish you lived in NYC! Look at how beautiful you look caught in an unexpected mid-summer rain storm! You don't get many of those in Los Angeles...



We were walking on the Bowery when the storm started. Instead of heading home when the skies opened up, we pulled out the camera and continued on. I am reminded of the many "photo shoots" Lisa and I would stage growing up. We would style hair, make-up, & wardrobe; I was usually the photographer & Lisa the model. Looks like we still got it.







I think that Biet liked the rain. When she's a bit older & a summer storm begins, we'll take off our shoes, close up the umbrellas, & brave the elements (It's exhilarating. I highly recommend it). Everyone on the streets will hurry to shelter, everyone except us. We'll run through Tompkins Square Park, barefoot & soaked in the hot summer air, and for a few moments, the park will belong to us alone. Maybe Aunt Lisa will be there to run with us..

Naps

Once in awhile, in the afternoon, we open up the bedroom windows wide, call Nico onto the bed, put on a record, and take a nap. Biet usually lays on Gaby's chest. My very favorite is napping during a summer thunder storm, like today. The rumbling of rain & hail fills the apartment, the street noise is drowned out, and we rest, safe & warm, on our bed, as a family.

Auntie Lala

Another sister is in town.. Biet's Aunt Lisa, or "Auntie Lala" as she has already been christened by her nephew (we'll see which name baby girl prefers). I have a sneaky suspicion that "Lala" may be on the list of first words. I also have a slight suspicion that Lisa will one day be Biet's "cool" aunt, providing hip & exciting adventures and endless phone calls filled with advice. Once again we'll just have to wait & see.

Lisa was in the city for a whirlwind visit with us, and I already miss her so. We went thrift store shopping (I have dearly missed shopping for non-maternity clothes). We tried cupcakes from a new bakery (they were pretty good, but my favorites are still from here & here). We went on an emergency adventure at two in the morning to New Jersey & Brooklyn to rescue Gaby & his coworkers (they blew out their tire coming back from a gig) which involved a car seat, Junior's Cheesecake Factory, & a minivan full of Hasidic Jewish men.. long story. We made hummus. We got done up & went out to dinner. Lisa gave Biet her first bottle- a semi-successful attempt- while officially babysitting her for the first time. And we relaxed at home & talked & made food & took care of baby girl together. It was a truly lovely visit & I can't wait until we see her again this autumn. Oh how I love & miss my sisters.

Aunt Adi!

Baby girl has people traveling half way around the world for her! Gaby's sister Adi journeyed all the way from Israel to come meet her niece. Adi is a veteran mom so she knows just the right way to hold Biet & pinch her chubby cheeks & sing to her. She also knows just the right way to make ravioli & empanadas & pastries, for which we are oh so grateful.

She came bearing gifts (!)


And we walk together each day all around the East Village


With Biet in tow


Usually wrapped up tight


Like a little babushka


And at the end of the day we all feel like this

COFFEE FOR THREE

Every morning since we've been married Gaby makes me coffee, & he's promised to continue for evermore. This is yet another reason why I love him. I usually am awoken in bed with a hot cup straight from the stove (yes we make our coffee in an old-fashioned stove-top percolator), but times have changed. Now I am usually awoken by a darling little baby who's hungry for breakfast, and the coffee comes later. And I'm ok with that. Because now I've promised to feed (and clothe & bathe & teach & love & make magic with) a little person every morning, and for evermore.

So this morning the coffee was pushed back to afternoon. And when it finally arrived it came with a surprise: ice. For it is finally true summer here in New York City; sticky, sweltering, break-a-fire-hydrant-open summer. I LOVE IT. I love NYC humidity, frizzy hair, living off of watermelon and Italian ice, Coney Island, block parties, black feet from wearing sandals in a metropolis, coconut vendors on the corner, impromptu baths in the Washington Square Park fountain, rooftop BBQ's, summer dresses, ice-cream, and iced coffee.

Gaby made us iced coffee for the first time this year, and to celebrate we went outside to drink it. We sat outside the cemetery across the street from our building. We let Biet feel a little sunshine on her cheeks, sipped our coffees, mingled with neighbors, & snapped a few photos. Happy summer!