baby clay play.

 Adrian went to Baby Clay class yesterday. 

 I recently reconnected with the 2 mommies I did my birthing class with, and they joined us.

It was awesome. The website boasted the numerous benefits of babies working with clay. Fine motor skills. Cause and effect. Social development. The list goes on and on. This is the first time that Adrian has played with anything that changes shape when you touch it.

 For his first session, he was way more interested in the tools 

(a wooden hammer and a plastic stamper) than the clay. 

 He spent most of the time looking around at the other children, who were all looking at each other, and "tasting" the clay. Website said, "The babies soon realize they do not like the taste of clay." Untrue.

We have lost the cord to connect the camera to the computer, so my post of pictures about our summer trip to Costa Rica will have to come another day.

Stay tuned for pictures of Adrian's first baby clay class :-)

Day 250 Adrian decides it might be about time to lift his belly up off the floor and begin proper crawling. For a few seconds at a time. Then it's back to belly dragging.
I caught the first time on video. God I love my iPhone.

I tried like a crazy person to get him to do it again a little later, but became distracted by the wires for our entertainment system. Which really made me stop and think.

We need to do a complete overhaul of the apartment. 

But who has time for that?! I guess I better make time. Baby steps...

250 days.

250 days ago, Adrian came into our lives. I was looking on my phone at some notes, and fell upon one from Jan. 17. I wrote down what floor our midwife told us to go to in the hospital. One the top of the note, it told me that was 250 days ago.

What a ride this has been. 

I wouldn't trade it for the world, and I never want to get off.

 

Ain't it the truth.

Hello ya'll! It has been a hot minute since we've let you know what's going on in our lives. That's because we have had a FULL summer. Lots of traveling, lots of family, lots of great memories. I've made sure to take tons of pictures.

This is our first day back at home after basically a month and a half of traveling. The cats have been home alone, and retaliating at every turn. They made it very clear that they wanted to be on vacation too, and ripped apart the apartment. I should be cleaning up while Adrian sleeps, but instead I'm going to sit on his mat and blog!

So here we go.

There are just a few words we can use to sum up the summer and I think that's how we'll organize the next posts.

BOATS.

Pete has inherited his grandpa's boat and we have brought it to the city. We've had some pleasure cruises around Manhattan and boat trips to Fishers Island and back.

Adrian has been watching and paying attention and soon HE will be driving US.

When he isn't driving, his priority is... safety first!* 

And looking as cool as possible. 

*Boy, I'm convinced that infant life vests are created to make you think twice before having a baby on a boat. They are SO UNCOMFORTABLE for everyone involved. Since he cant walk yet, I'm holding him most of the time, away from my body. My arms have been getting quite a workout. I know that all that around his neck will definitely keep his head above water if anything were to happen, but it is like a neck brace and restricts his movement. He ends up sucking on the part around his neck until it is slimy and slobbery.

When he isn't driving, or chillin', he's sleeping. The rocking of the boat has been the best sedative ever.

Mommy showering Adrian with kisses.

We took a cruise with my mom to the Bahamas in July. Adrian had a blast hanging out with his grandmama and being the center of attention. 

Women left and right were fawning over him, and he was all smiles.

After our Costa Rica trip (I'll get to that in another post), we went to Fishers to hang out with his other grandparents. One of the days, we went with Grandpa Steve and Pete to Narraganset Bay, and got a tour of another oyster farm. We took "Steve's boat" and while we were there, we saw this teeny tiny boat in a yard that would have been perfect for Adrian.

Pete and Nick leaving our house in BK on their epic bike ride to Fishers Island, NY. It is 113 miles and will take over 10 hours. Nick has never ridden more than 13 miles in a stretch. Pete's wearing my pink backpack from my kindergarten days. They are destined for greatness.

Well in the flurry of my last few weeks of school, I have neglected the blog... but so much has been happening.

My munchkin turned 5 months old.

School is over and we are now on our own!

Adrian attending his first baseball game on Staten Island and spent the evening eagerly trying to grab people's hotdogs and beer.

We went to the Harbor School's graduation and took a minute to sit in the grass while Pete finished up with his oysters. Adrian and I kicked off our shoes and he got to put his feet in the grass for the first time.

     This awesome moment is what I choose to remember from that day. During the beautiful outdoor graduation ceremony, the sky began to fall and there was a fantastic thunder and lightning storm. Governors Island felt like it was being attacked from above and we all ran for cover. We got soaked. Adrian never complained. 

Wide-eyed, he cooed at me, saying, "WOAH! This is crazy!"

My baby is now 4 months old. 

Time is flying by. 

I cannot wait to be at home with him so I can savor every moment, 

while he still loves his mommy to pieces.

Instead of staying inside and writing reports, which is what I should have been doing, we decided to go and support Pete and his new business. Open Oyster LLC is opening oysters at the DeKalb Market here in Brooklyn today, tomorrow, and Memorial Day weekend. If you get a chance, head down there. The weather is nice, the oysters are delicious, and the shuckers ain't too bad themselves ;-)

 

Adrian can now completely clear his head and hold it there for a while, and can now also reach and grab things. It is making time on his play mat much more fun. 

The other day he grabbed that mirror and stared at himself for about 5 minutes. It was like he was thinking, "Oh! Now I see what the big fuss was about. I'm gorgeous!" 

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!

Pete and Adrian did an amazing job for my first Mother's Day. We went out to brunch and Adrian got a lot of attention for sleeping through most of it and being the most well-behaved kid there. 

And that was just the beginning. We then went to go see Casa Mantequilla (a jazz funk band), and I got a massage and drinks with Vanessa. A great day to be a mom :-)

"Yes, sir."

A visit to Daddy's work, the Harbor School on Governors Island. 

Adrian's first of MANY visits to daddy's lab.

 Baby boy's worked super hard on strengthening his muscles and can now clear his head off the ground. He's been seeing the world from a new perspective.

 "I got this, mom. Don't look so surprised."

 "Oh snap! You've been there the whole time??"

I love how surprised he looks at times.

We went to get Adrian a passport the other day. When we found out we didn't need to go to the post office, and could do it at the Brooklyn Public Library, we jumped at the chance for an outing.
I'm a little embarrassed to admit that it was the first time we'd been to the library. First time moments are picture worthy.

Pete was smiling when I decided to take the picture.

Did you know that baby passports are good for 5 years? Seems a little crazy that you can use the passport for any child that might mildly resemble your infant, out of the country. 

Baby shoes are hilarious. Adrian's got 2 pairs.
He likes to wear his Winnie the Poohs on days he's feeling playful.

And he likes to wear his Converse when he's feeling too cool for school.

They are hard to put on and hard to lace up. But damn are they cute.

So far I LOVE spring. I've been walking in Prospect Park with Adrian. With the trees starting to bloom it has been just spectacular. The leisurely walk has not been without some interesting sites.

There have been men in tank tops walking small dogs on days when it hasn't been that warm. 

White elderly women with extension braids out-walking me. 

A super fun playground that Adrian's too small for now, but wont be in a minute. We pass by it on our way home every time we leave the park and he cranks his head towards the giggling kids, if he's awake.

(Not in the park, but just kinda pretty) On our way to visit Kate, Alex, and Lydia, a super fun house that is just sparkly enough to keep Adrian's attention. 

Unbelievable purple flowers, minding their business, just sitting there on the side of a path.

And my favorite park moment so far was daddy and son at the lake. 

I can't wait til it actually gets warm outside :-)

It's been a little too long since my last post. We've spent the last couple of weeks traveling to DC and Fishers Island visiting family and friends.

In DC we tried to see the cherry blossoms only to get there a few days after a storm that stripped most of the trees. On a walk with mom we found a tree that weathered the storm. Adrian slept through the whole thing.

What a BEAUTIFUL day! I guess winter is gone.
 I'm ready. Now that Adrian is a little older we are trying to go on a long walk every day.













The thing is, the second we get outside, he passes out. I mean, he can barely stay awake to see the light. So I enjoy the sights, narrate everything I see, and look like a crazy person talking to a sleeping baby.

The kicker? He wakes up right when we get home EVERY TIME.

One of the benefits to being at home with him is that I get to see almost all the firsts. Yesterday, while getting a diaper change, Adrian grabbed the ball for the first time. I mean, opened his fingers, grasped, and closed. The amount of concentration needed for an infant to do that is unbelievable. You would think he was trying to bend metal with his mind.

2 months

Happy 2 months Adrian! 

It so happened to be St. Patrick's Day as well. 

I guess I should have dressed him in green. He partied hard and passed out early.

So we've been using the Bjorn when we leave the house since Adrian was born. I inherited all these fabulous wraps from friends and family and I was sure I would use them all. They are all different colors and materials and I've dreamed of sporting by babe in them all.

Yesterday I decided to try my lavender Moby wrap to go for my extended walk. I put him in the newborn hold and left. The weather was gorgeous. Almost 70 degrees in March. I decided to do something for myself and went to DSW to look for some shoes. Adrian slept the whole way there and most of the time in the shoe store. I quickly realized there was no way I could try on shoes with a baby in tow, so we left.

And that's when sh*t hit the fan. Adrian began fussing; the Atlantic terminal traffic didn't help. We ducked to a side street and he calmed down. But not for long. Half way into our 2.5 mile walk home, he began trying to stretch his legs and arms out. When he realized he was completely confined, he screamed. I ended up having to take him out and hold him in my arms for the rest of the walk home. My arms are still sore.

Later that day, we decided to go back to the Bjorn. Next time I try something new, I'll do it a little closer to home.

Adrian has begun to make noise purposefully. His rantings are filled with coos, gurgling and grunts. All of a sudden he had a lot to say, and has been talking ever since. The best times are right after he wakes, with long extended conversations and charming little smiles. He'll look you right in the eye and tell it like it is. Until he catches sight of the ceiling fan.

That dang ceiling fan. Once he locks eyes with it, all conversation is lost. Many a day we've lost the battle to the ceiling fan. And if it's on and turning... forget it.

I've found myself positioning my head directly in his line of view of it out of jealousy. Like a crazy person.

He's the best stretcher I've ever seen. I mean, really leans into it. It's like an art with him. First his arms go up and out, then off to the side, he purses his lips, and lets out a big sigh. All this action is then followed by a widemouthed yawn and a side smirk. I've never seen anyone take their stretching so seriously. When he gets going, there is no stopping him until he's finished.
It's just the best.

So my new cloth diapers came. Yes. We are cloth diapering. But we're not high-and-mighty diaperers. It's a money thing. And I guess environmental too. But most importantly, they are SO cute! They make Adrian's butt look all big and mushy, and they come in fabulous colors. We inherited some infant cloth diapers (thanks Kate) that have eased us in. Now I can't wait til he grows out of them so we can use the new ones.

None of this would be possible without the generous help of our washer and dryer. Thank you.

Before he was born, mom got him this awesome bubble down bodysuit. It's sized for 0-3 months. Adrian hasn't been able to fit in it yet, and he's nearing 2 months. I've been looking through his clothes and started realizing that there may be winter clothes he may not fit in to before it gets warm again. But the other day it was super cold and instead of bundling up in Pete's coats and blankets, I decided to put this on him.

He's swimming in it.

His arms and legs end well before the outfit does. It's an awesomely large sleeping bag. He didn't mind one bit.