48, 49, 50, 51... FINISHING UP THE 52 PROJECT

48/52

Biet, Lucien, & Mama: On a rare warmish day back when winter was just settling in, we pause in the Union Square farmer's market for a snack.  First baby Lou's turn, then Biet's.  These were the last few weeks of my journey in tandem nursing, and Biet's last few weeks before finally moving on, leaving the "tata" for babies.  It's a bittersweet evolution.

49/52

Biet & Lucien: Beginning their lifelong bond as schemers, dreamers, partners in crime.. asking to join him in his crib, she proceeds to teach him how to hold on to the railing and jump on the bed.  This teaching success makes her quite the proud big sister. 

50/52

Biet & Lucien: kisses, kisses, kisses all day, whether he likes it or not. (he does.)

51/52


Lucien: "You call this a slice?"

Biet: "Now that's what I call a donut!"

44, 45, 46, + 47/52

44/52

Biet: Back on our old block in the East Village, the block on which she was born.  This old car has been parked on the block for as long as I can remember, and keeps getting stranger and stranger over the years.  On this day, to Biet's delight, a life-sized stuffed tiger occupied the driver's seat.  

Lucien: Apparently NOT a hat person, judging from the slim amount of time he'll allow anything to stay on his head.  Doesn't this boy know who his father is?!?

45/52

Biet: The daily war of curly-haired girl vs. tangles can be a bit of a nightmare sometimes.  I remember loathing hairbrushes as a kid almost as much as she. 

Lucien: The daily powwow of boy meets food can be a bit ridiculous sometimes.  Often times, everyone ends up eventually backing away from the table to avoid being splattered.  This boy certainly doesn't mind a mess. 

46/52

Biet: A hot chocolate with extra extra whipped cream at The Waverly Restaurant. 

Lucien: His fifth tooth broke through finally, meaning sleepless nights, yet unexpectedly cheerful days. 

47/52

I read a study once which followed siblings over decades and documented how their relationships changed over time.  The study concluded that the type of relationship they build and the roles they assume during their first year together ultimately end up remaining the same throughout their lives.  When I think of my children's future, this notion makes me happy.  This picture pretty much sums up her loving, caring, authoritative, & slightly overpowering self-appointed role as big sister, and his adoring, trusting, and curious role as little brother.  I'd love to look at this again in twenty years and see if they're the same.

//The 52 Project, a portrait of my children once a week, every week, in 2013/

41, 42, + 43/52

41/52

Enchanted by cartoons far too late into the night.  With us as parents, it's no surprise that we were dealt two night owl children. 

42/52

They almost have the same jewel blue eyes, although his shine bright with uninhibited joy, and hers watch carefully with a delicate seriousness. I'm absolutely smitten with my blue-eyed beauties.

43/52

She "helps" him with everything throughout the day, from diaper changes to feedings to figuring out new toys.  He constantly looks for her around the apartment and is always happy with her at his side.  He never complains when she accidentally roughs him up a bit or knocks him over in her attempts at helping, just smiles and sits back up next to her.   To witness the birth of their friendship is an amazing thing.

//The 52 Project, a portrait of my children once a week, every week, in 2013//

38, 39, + 40/52

38/52

Biet: A day with good friends in the East Village. Autumn was fast arriving, and Biet insisted that her baby "Coco" needed to be swaddled to go outdoors.

Lucien: A day with good friends in Brooklyn. The Orchard Street sign on the wall is the actual sign, long removed, that was outside of my window when I very first moved to the city into my first apartment on Orchard street.  Somehow it ended up in the beautiful home of Latonya. Funny how things move in circles like that.



39/52

Lucien: We realized this week that it's time to move all of the records. We're learning quickly that everything must migrate UP with this boy on the move.

Biet: With the chill of fall setting in, the Washington Square park fountain was a bit too cold for me, but Biet was determined to enjoy the fleeting last days of summer in the city.



40/52

Lucien: His bottom two front teeth have arrived! After teething for months, he can finally enjoy real food. And my oh my, does he enjoy it!

Biet: Chocolate anything for her and coffee anything for me. She knows the drill so well on our mother-daughter dates that she can do the ordering.

35, 36, + 37/52

A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013. *  

35

Biet: Her curls, like her spirit, grow more wild each day. 

Lucien: "Who's that guy... That's not my Papa."

36

Biet: Stop tormenting your little brother young lady!

Lucien: Stop encouraging her, young man!

37

Biet: Throughout this past summer in Brooklyn, she played in countless open fire hydrants.  There was always at least one open, acting as a fountain and a source of endless entertainment for the kids in our neighborhood.  Now, every time she notices one anywhere, she says "Mama, I wanna put my feet in!" and tries with all her might to open it. 

Lucien: Always observing, always noticing, I have a feeling that he is picking up everything his sister does.  They are fast becoming a little team of hooligans. 

32, 33, & 34/52

* A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013. *  

Lucien: 

32- Tiny eyes reflecting late summer sun

33- When he's wrapped up tightly to me in his sling, it feels as though he's still a part of me, an extension of my soul and body, not unlike when he was still inside my belly. A mother's bond with her son is a thing of magic and mystery. 

34- Sometimes in the right moment, in the right light, his smile comes alive with the energy of Gaby's late mother. A part of her definitely lives on through this boy. 

Biet:

32- Behind the scenes of her first modeling gig and film shoot. 

33- This shall be known as the summer of strawberries and blueberries. She simply cannot get enough. 

34- Why in the world did no one ever tell me how insanely in love you will fall with your daughter as she makes the leap out of toddlerhood. This is, by far, my favorite age yet. 

31/52

* A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013. *  

Lucien: His little face beams light everywhere we go 

Biet: A rare moment of calm and contemplation in Central Park

30/52

* A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013. *  

Biet: "This cookie is so cool."

Lucien: "My sister is so cool."

29/52

* A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013. *  

Biet & Lucien:  They may not remember the time that their Great Aunt Soni came to visit from the other side of the world, bearing bags of treats and smothering them in kisses.  They may not remember walking through the village with her as she held their Papa dearly, or the way she and Mama rambled on to one another and laughed, despite the fact they spoke different languages.  But I hope, when they are older, that they will see this picture and remember the feeling of her squeezing them tight, and the sound of her voice declaring "Te quiero mucho!" over and over.  

28/52

* A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013. *  

Lucien: Joining me for lunch under the Manhattan Bridge while I work, he looks up in wonder and smiles each time a train noisily passes above. 

Biet: Quite the baker, she mixes the yogurt cake batter with her wooden spoon as I crack the eggs, stands at my side as I place the pan in the oven, and hand-picks each blueberry to place on top.

27/52

* A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013. *  

Lucien: A tiny boy with blue eyes and red curls, the keeper of his Mama's heart. 

Biet: She calls this her "Tobi Cat" shirt (named after our neighbors' cat), and excitedly points out each cat to me, saying "Mama, look, Tobicat!" over and over. {real-life Tobi is a black cat, not a tiger.}

26/52

* A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013. *  

Biet: excitedly throwing handfuls of leaves in the air and squealing in surprise when they fall on her face

Lucien: naps in the summertime air with the heavy humidity as his blanket and the city sounds as his lullaby

25/52

* A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013. *  

Lucien: The eyes of a man you can trust

Biet: The lips of a woman you can listen to

24/52

* A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013. *  

Biet: With fingernails long overdue for a clipping, she "does" her brother's hair.  She twists the fine strands in between her little fingers and gently pets his head. She tries to fashion one of her barrettes to his head but his hair is not yet long enough.  I foresee many fun mornings in the years ahead.  

Lucien: Those thighs. Those rolls! They deserve a portrait of their very own.