LISA IN THE AFTERNOON

In the blink of an eye, my sister Lisa flew into NYC, stirred up a whole lot of trouble and magic and laughter, and then jetted off, just as swiftly as she had arrived, back home to L.A.  It was far too short of a trip, but isn't it always?

Lisa and I are only a year and a half apart, but she will always and forever be my baby sister.  Biet and Lou have a very similar age difference, and I often find myself wondering if they will know the camaraderie and connection that Lisa and I have always had.  I hope they will.

You see, Lisa is the kind of girl that makes you want to live.  She's the kind of girl who makes you want to dress up in your finest and stage a full blown photoshoot right in the middle of the city (we didn't get around to that... this time), sprint through the subways in a floor-length gown like you're in a movie as you run to catch a Broadway show, order the cheapest burger and the fanciest bottle of champagne in the same day just to say that you tried them, take photo booth pictures at four in the morning, and wander the quiet streets aimlessly in the inky shadowed hours of the city night, just because, until you've covered at least a handful of neighborhoods, accidentally happened upon a midnight riot with smoke bombs and police on horseback (which turns out to be an elaborate movie set in a should-have-been-closed city park of which the gates have been left open), and walked walked walked until your feet blistered and you had to either walk home in the middle of the night barefoot like a crazy person or find a 24-hour Duane Reade for emergency bandaids (we may have actually done all of that... and yes we found the Duane Reade).  Lisa is one of those rare gems, a pearl of a girl, who inspires the world without even knowing it.  She's always up for an adventure.  She makes you laugh til you cry, every. single, time.  She sings weird old-timey songs as she puts on her make-up.  And she sends you the best cards on your birthday.

I'm lucky that she's my sister.

The other day Gaby was telling me about the notion, that is prevalent in his culture and that he always seemed to "know" when he was little, that babies choose the family that they're born into.  He said that when he was a very tiny child he always had a "knowing," a certainty of sorts, that he had chosen his Mom.  I found this idea so very beautiful.  I wonder, if it's true, if somehow my sisters and I all chose each other, in a way, then, too... It would certainly make a lot of sense if we did.

On Lisa's last afternoon in the city, we walked through the neighborhood together with Biet and Lou, up and down streets, down through Soho, up along the Bowery.  We found a million little places to go that made us both wish that she could stay here in the city with me forever.  We walked by Cafe Gitane, which was one of the first places we went to for lunch together when she first came to visit me over a decade ago, before the city had ingrained itself into my blood and before Lisa had created her big bright life out west, when we were just two young sisters with nothing to lose and everything to win, and taking ourselves out for lunch at a french cafe was oh so fancy.

Now I have a running list of a dozen "Cafe Gitane's" that we have to try, next time she's in town.  Sans kids, we'll run around the city and take each other out for lunch and then maybe to a gallery or show.  With lots to lose but even more to win, we'll parade and adventure side by side, probably until we're two old ladies with pillbox hats and pastel hair.

So come back soon Lisa, because I miss you terribly and it's nearly lunchtime. xx

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.

LISA'S LAST DAY

One by one our visitors, my family, our family, left to go back home to the West coast.  They packed up their things, hugged and kissed us, hopped in livery cabs, and drove to the airport to board their planes and fly away.  When Emmy left with the boys in the wee hours of the darkened early morning, I sleepily crawled out of bed to say my goodbyes.  Just as they were walking down the wooden staircase to the car waiting out front, Beckett turned to Gaby and asked, "Next time, can you come to my house? And can you bring my friend?" Gaby repeated "bring your friend?" and Beckett replied "Yes, I want you to bring my friend over to my house please." And then Gaby understood.  Beckett wanted his cousin Biet to come play. And Gaby said yes (of course). And that moment right then meant everything.

Now they know each other, a one-year-old and her three-year-old cousin.  And though they may be miles apart, they now have each other. And growing up in a family where my siblings meant just about everything in the whole world to me, this warmed my heart.  Her time with Beckett (and Dashiell too- although she really connected with Beckett) was Biet's most important first birthday gift.

The morning after they left, I got to spend the entire afternoon with Lisa!  No husband. No babies.  Just me and my little sister in the big city.  And even with the pesky skies deciding to be stormy, we had such a fun time.  I miss running around with Lisa taking photos.  She is and will always be my favorite model. We spent the day on the streets and in the shops of the Lower East Side and East Village, stopping in at a few old favorites and ending with a major pastry purchase from Black Hound Bakery.

Then we went home and consumed boxes and boxes of pastries before she too left for the airport.  It was kind of ridiculous.  But so, so good.

NYC MISSES YOU ALREADY

I loved this afternoon spent with my sisters in the West Village.  I really wish they lived closer so that we could wander around the city together more often. 

Come back sisters, we miss you! 

xx

LIKE HER MAMA, SHE LOVES FRENCH TOAST

Lisa (better known by all the little munchkins of the family as Auntie Lala) whipped up a huge late breakfast for everyone the other day that was deeeeelish!  She sautéed fresh challah, which Gaby had picked up at the bakery that morning when he took Nico out for her morning walk, into one of my all time favorites- french toast. Biet tasted the breakfast staple (or, in my book, anytime food) and was most definitely a fan (I can't believe that she's managed to make it to twelve months old without trying it!  Shame on me!)  And while she preferred her's plain, I'm hoping that one day she'll warm up to her Mama's crazy french toast style {I like it all melty topped with peanut butter of the freshly ground variety & real maple syrup.  Mmmmm- don't knock it til you've tried it!}. Thanks for a splendid family brunch Auntie Lala!

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Also: the counters over at Top Baby Blogs have been reset, so I'll ask just this once- if you enjoy this blog and have a spare couple of seconds, pretty please with a cherry on top click over to vote for Petite Biet. You can vote once every 24 hours. Merci. Gracias. Thank you!!!

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WHAT A PARTY. WHAT A DAY.

A few babies, a few kids, a ton of friends, some family, some great music, homemade food, and a lovely little cake = a perfect party.  I really feel that Biet's first birthday party was a smash hit.  It was such a cheerful and relaxed afternoon.  All of our friends and family who came were nothing short of wonderful.  We listened to records and caught up with old friends, munched on tea sandwiches & watermelon & cookies fresh from the bakery, sipped our lemonade as the kids ran around the apartment, and sat back and enjoyed the afternoon.

I was a bit worried that we wouldn't have our home together in time for the party, having just moved a few weeks prior, but somehow it came together just enough. There may not have been curtains hung or pictures on the walls, but my sisters and I managed to pretty the place up so that no one really noticed (I am so grateful for those two lovely crafty ladies!).  On the morning of the party we found out that all of the streets around our apartment were closed for a big music festival in Prospect Park, and that traffic was backed up for hours all throughout Brooklyn!  It could have spelled disaster, but all of Biet's guests toughed it out and figured out how to make their way over.  It means so much to us that they went through all of that hassle for baby girl's birthday party (it really does. some of them traveled for hours. thank you so very much for making it out!).  By the time everyone arrived and the party got rolling, it was a couple of hours past when we had planned. But it ended up being a blast nonetheless.

Biet took turns opening gifts with her Mama and her Papa. Each present we unwrapped was so thoughtful- she has a slew of amazing new books and toys now.  She was ever so delicate blowing out her candle and tasting her cake. No baby face covered in frosting for this little girl, oh no! She preferred to dip one finger and one toe in the frosting, and that was it.  She was so funny. After the celebration, we walked through the neighborhood with a few friends and stopped in for coffee at a little cafe.  Nico lounged in the sun and a violinist played on the sidewalk outside. We thanked all of our friends for making the day so memorable and let Biet eat a chocolate croissant as the music drifted in through the open windows. It was such a nice way to wind down after all of the festivities.  It was a beautiful day (for a beautiful one-year-old girl).