Sister Dog

As Biet practices her first words (a jumble of nonsense sounding something like babammmdapapaparaaaa at the moment, but which I'm hoping will soon become a distinct "Mama"), Gaby and I are finding ourselves constantly pointing at things around the house and repeating the word to her: Spoon, Doll, Toy, Table, Diaper, Book, Mama, Papa..  There's one word that she seems to be picking up quicker than all the others, though; a word that get's quite a jubilant response from baby girl: Nico.

When we say Nico's name, Biet lights up and begins twisting and turning all around, searching for her familiar furry snout. When she finally spots Nico, a giant grin spreads across her face.  It melts me every time.  When we began to think about it, we realized that Nico has been at Biet's side nearly every day of her life.  Biet plays with her, walks her around town, pinches her, licks her, feeds her under the table, and laughs at her. Nico is playing an important role in Biet's development of social skills, almost like an older sibling. And, no, I am not one of those people who call my pets my children, but those two really do have something special. I would have never believed that a dog and a baby could have such a strong connection {read: Nico barks at us when the baby wakes up from her nap in the other room/Biet immediately stops crying when Nico licks her hand} until I saw it with my own eyes, within my own little family.

So Gaby and I have been finding ourselves referring to Nico as Biet's "sister dog" lately. We'll ask her "Where's Nico? Where's your sister dog?" Realizing how crazy this may sound in public (kind of sounds like we're calling our daughter a dog, no?), we make sure to only say it at home. Because, to us, it kind of fits perfectly. Nico is Biet's dog, but she's also protecting her and showing her the ropes of life like a big sister would. I have a feeling that "Nico" may have a fighting chance at becoming Biet's second word (you can read about her first word here). Here they are, a girl and her sister dog. Gosh do I love these two.

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!

..Guess who's not winning the Mother of the Year award..

Yes, those are sharp, metallic, potential choking-hazard keys in my daughter's mouth. Yes, I offered them to her. No, I am not happy about it. But I am happy that the 20 minute screaming/tearful/red-in-the-face-stop-breathing-for-a-few-seconds-at-a-time/"Mama, get me out of this car seat" episode has come to an end. Baby girl despises the car seat. It was the only hard part of being in California. Every time we got in the car, I braced myself for her inevitable meltdown. She would look at me with questioning desperation in her eyes, as if to ask "Why, Mama? Why am I strapped in to this confining chair instead of in your arms? This chair makes me maaaaaaaaaaad!" And I couldn't explain to her.  I couldn't hold her.  I couldn't nurse her (although I attempted to a handful of times, much to the surprise of passing motorists and entertainment of my sisters).  She would scream louder and longer than she ever had before, until we remembered the phenomenon of the keys.

 We discovered the magical calming abilities of the keys one evening while traveling through midtown, at rush hour, on the subway. Apparently, Biet does not like being packed like sardines into a hot subway car with sweaty businessmen, and she began to let everyone around her know. Oh, the looks I got as her high-pitched wails filled the air! I tried to calm her, but she simply wasn't having it. Just as one of the businessmen was about to throw down his briefcase and throw us out of the moving train (I was sure of it), a kind woman came up to us and began to jingle her keys in front of Biet. Suddenly, silence. Then, laughter. It was amazing. She explained that she used the trick of the keys with all three of her kids. It was so sweet.

Biet has since warmed up to the subway and now rather enjoys her bumpy rides on the train, so we had forgotten all about the keys. Until the car seat came along. That's when we discovered that they still work (thank heaven!).  When I began to jingle those keys in from of her little red teary face, her screaming quieted, her distress subsided, and she was enthralled. Except Biet is now a big baby, who not only gazes at the keys, but wants to hold them and eat them. So I allowed it (with close supervision).  I had to choose between a hysterical baby and an unconventional toy. And I chose the latter. We're sort of figuring out this parenting thing as we go along..

California part two: Biet gets a hug

Emmy's son Beckett loved his baby cousin. He called her "Baby Biet," and shared all of his toys with her. It was so sweet. I think being around a baby for a few days was good practice for when his new brother arrives in just a couple weeks. Beckett seems to think that the upcoming baby will be "his baby" (I'm guessing it makes perfect sense to a 3-year-old that his Mama has been growing this child in her belly for 9 months all for him), and tells tales of what life will be like when he's finally born.

I'll never forget the one sunny afternoon when, after much trying, I finally got Biet to sleep for her nap.  I laid her on Emmy & Bill's bed and went to help Emmy in the kitchen (even at 8 months pregnant, Emmy cooks every day like a master chef!).  Half an hour later shrill screams pierced the air, coming from the bedroom (baby girl does NOT LIKE being awoken unexpectedly from her slumber).  Then Beckett ran out of the bedroom door, excitedly exclaiming "I helped her! I helped Baby Biet wake up!". We could't help but smile, thank him, and explain that she wouldn't be needing any more help for now. He is a cute one, that Beckett.

Here they are together, Beckett & Baby Biet. Beckett gives her a hug for the very first time: