Friday Love

Too much, too much going on this week.  Was nice to spend some quality time with my sweet little baby today (my sweet little baby who inexplicably starts acting absolutely crazy around 6PM every night now.)  This weekend we are heading out to Long Island to spend the weekend with some of my very best friends.  We have a lot to celebrate and I can't wait.  Mild twinges of concern over impending baby "behavior" but as we all know, I'm cool, calm, collected and stress free these days, so no big.   We'll just roll with it.  Hopefully everyone we come in contact with is down for rolling with it too.  


Anyways, here's what I'm loving this week:
1. Um, hi, here's an idea I wish I had.  Chewbeads. To quote the website, "teething jewelry inspired by babies, worn by moms."  Genius.  And such a fun gift idea! 
2.  This new Dannon greek yogurt is pretty good.  Especially the blueberry.
3.  Old Navy has some dope ass workout gear happening and on the cheap (but of course, bc it's Old Navy.)  If you like that kind of thing.  Working out or whatever.  I actually bought this shirt in purple.  It's a workout tank but it's not tight.  Awesome, right?  Now to find somewhere to wear it.
4.  Have you all seen the new commercials for pillow racers, or is it just me?  They looking f'ing awesome and I wish that Charlie was old enough for one or I knew some other kids that were young enough for one.  Or I wish that I was young enough for one?  
5.  Lyss and I went on a little American Apparel splurge the other night.  Did you know that they sell baby clothes?  How cute is my little man going to be?  Aagh, and there are so many more baby items on the website...


Buen weekend!
xo,
C

Grandpop Daycare

Hi Cuties,
Things are looking up around here.  Am feeling much better tonight (despite the fact that the neighbors and their dogs and their bikes and their VACUUMS couldn't be any louder right now in the stairwell outside Charlie's room. Why are they vacuuming in the stairwell, you ask?  I don't know either.)  
Today my dad came to take care of Charlie for day 4 of Charlie's 10-day daycare closure.  The mister and I immediately reverted to childlike behavior ourselves as soon as he got here, tripping over each other to be the one to brief him in on everything Charlie.  I guess it's nice to be an expert.  "Let me, let me, let me just tell him this one thing," Erik kept saying.  I filled my dad's head with relevant advice that only a mother could give, things like, "You probably don't wan't to take him outside if it looks like rain," and "If he yawns, it means he's tired." The day was by all accounts (well by one account, my dad's) a wonderful success, and he even sent me this picture to prove it.  Looks like someone might be angling for a permanent manny job!
xo,
C

Wednesday

Warning:  This blog post is all about me complaining.  This week has been kind of rough (I get that it's only Wednesday, I do.)  Lately I've been loving life, and don't get me wrong, I still am, in theory, but in actuality I've been feeling, well, kind of grumpy.  I don't know if it's because I was away from Charlie on Monday and fell off my routine or if it's just the weather or hormones or what.  I'm just getting this feeling like I'm coming up a little short at work and at home, like everything I do is just a little off, and it's making me CRANKY.  And I keep forgetting things.  Friday I forgot my pump at home and Monday I forgot my pump at work and I'm just a total space cadet.  And I suspect (know) that nobody wants to hear about it at all, yet I'm finding it hard to control my venting (never a good sign.)  And my bathing suit from JCrew arrived and it doesn't even fit and when I am going to return it and, waaaaah.  Thank god for baby smiles.  Coming home to baby smiles tonight was a really great feeling.  And I won a raffle at a baby store this week.  So there's that.
Tomorrow my dad is coming to take care of Charlie.  Let's hope for lots of baby smiles and no baby meltdowns!
xo,
C

Weekend Wanderings

wake up, daddy!

hot dog, hot dog, hot diggity dog!

backyard brunch. 

5 months old!

homemade iced coffee

someone made a new friend!

an exhausting weekend.

Hi Cuties,
This weekend was another lovely Brooklyn weekend, with lots of quality family time.  This week should be very interesting since Charlie's daycare is closed both this week and next and we are going to have lots of very generous helpers.  Tomorrow Erik is taking the babe to Long Island for a couple of days and I hope that I can handle it!  There is definitely a margarita in my future tomorrow night.  
Anyway, without further adieu, the weekend high points (per our one week tradition):


Weekend High Points
1.  The mister and I watched not one, but two movies this weekend, despite Time Warner's best attempts to thwart us.  This is a big deal for us, and the second one, Friends with Kids, I found quite enjoyable (go figure.)
2. Yesterday we had a wonderful brunch with Alyssa and her boyfriend Steven at the mister's most favorite restaurant, Walter Foods.  So yummy.  And then we bought some very cool stuff for the baby.
3.  The mister made me my very own iced coffee at home.  I was quite skeptical at first (where's my straw?) but it was just DELICIOUS.
4.  We had a lovely lunch with Erik's cousin and her boyfriend today.  So nice to see them because we never do even though we both live in Brooklyn.  And Charlie was on his best behavior!
5.  Tonight my sweet little baby was so cute.  He guzzled his bottle and held it by himself the whole time and then even though he wasn't super sleepy he cuddled up against me and only squirmed the slightest bit so he could gaze into my eyes while he settled down for the night. So sweet and a very big accomplishment for the squirmiest baby on the block.


Weekly Goals
1.  Enjoy the moment.  An expansion on being present, I just want to enjoy this week and be happy in the moment.  No worrying, no stress.
2.  I think I need a more specific food goal, so am going to focus on healthy dinners this week.  PS. My one piece bathing suits arrived and while I think they are pretty cute, I still felt like a total mom when I tried them on and I think the mister was secretly horrified.  So, back to the drawing board.
3.  Keep Charlie to one "wake up" a night.  This kid seriously needs to stay on his current sleep schedule.   No backsliding!


xo,
C

Hello, Friday!

Hi Cuties,
Oh, it's Friday and I am so happy about it!  This week was so busy.  Really was feeling stretched pretty darn thin at work (which while stressful, is always a kind of satisfying feeling I have to admit.) We've got nary a plan this weekend but to hang around the neighborhood and brunch and those sorts of things.  And soak up some baby time.  Charlie's daycare is closed the next two weeks so we are activating the village!  And the mister and I are both taking some time off to hang with the little man.

 
Anyway, here's what I'm loving this week (new Friday ritual, don't hold me to it!)
1. My new shoes, a present for me from me.
2. The Avocado Pine Nut Wrap from Pret a Manger.  I ate this at least three days this week.  I am so addicted to Pret a Manger and it's totally expensive, yikes, bad habit!
3. Was reading these plight of the working mom work life "balance" profiles on A Cup of Jo and realized that most working moms seem to look forward to Friday family movie night.  Aagh, can't wait until Charlie is old enough for that!
4. This perfume from Anthropologie.  Smells like lavender and honey, and somehow like the beach.
5. My new favorite lip gloss from Nivea.  Little Miss Lyss clued me in on this one over wine one night and I couldn't wait to get some for myself.  It is soft and spf-enriched and gives your lips the cutest cherry hue. In such a hurry was I that we somehow found ourselves in Duane Reade later that night for a classic wine-induced drug store binge, for everything but said lip gloss which was nowhere to be found.  Luckily I have the sweetest little sissy in the world who brought me my very own lip gloss the next time I saw her.


Enjoy the weekend, cuties!  It will be gone before you know it.


xo,
C

Cute One Piece Bathing Suits

Hi Cuties,

I'm not saying that the diet is a failure so far, per se, exactly, but lately I've been on the hunt for some cute one pieces that aren't too mom-like (ie no skirt.  And never the tankini, girls. Don't go there.)  I think embracing the one piece will just be one less thing to worry about as I plan this vacation.  They do take up more room in the suitcase though.
xo,

C

Love this one.  A little pricey for me though.  Money doesn't grow on trees around here.

I really wanted this one in red from JCrew.   Sold out.  Sigh.

had to order this one instead.

And this one.  I hope it is all I dream it to be.

And also this one.  On sale, no less.

And well, isn't this one fun?

Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Monday, Monday.  Um, so what were those goals I had again? Eat in the moment or something.  But you know what I am LOVING about today (besides the Bachelorette?) You know how my "exercise" portion of my 5 point diet plan was to take the stairs at work?  Today we got an email from office services saying that we are not allowed to take the stairs anymore.  Oh well, I guess fate has intervened.  Such a shame.  Anyway, not too much to share from today what with all the working and adjusting to Monday so thought I would share some pictures from a few weekends back when we went to the Botanic garden with Erik's sister and some friends. Charlie was pretty eh about it, but I love a good Botanic Garden visit as much as the next Brooklynite.
xo,
C
PS. I'm not done with tonight's Bachelorette, but allow me to summarize my thoughts on the season so far. Emily:  Boring.  Sean:  Constantly sunburn, am I right?  Wouldn't want to be his ex-girlfriend.  Jef:  Weirder by the episode. Completely not down to earth.  And ugh, just ugh.  Ari:  I don't know what it is but something about Ari gives me the heebies.  Am I alone here?  Ricki:  Don't get me started.  I'm not that snarky.  Bring on Bachelor Pad.

Somebody did her hair!

Oh, I'm sorry, what was that?  I should be a flower photographer?  Why, thank you, it's just a hobby.

Weekend (Non)Wanderings

Note, these pictures tell a really cute story but the reality is Charlie thought his pool was NO BIG DEAL, and really just cares about his favorite pastimes, eating his hands and grabbing things.

Hey Cuties,
I can't believe this is day five of a five day weekend.  How can it be over so quickly? The mister and I were just lamenting at how little we accomplished despite spending the last two days holed up in the apartment due to the extreme heat.  Unless you count online shopping as an accomplishment.  In that case, consider me accomplished. 
Anyway, have been kicking around a new Sunday feature on the blog in which we review the weekend highlights and prep for the week ahead with some goals to curb the ever-looming Sunday night panic. I'm not committing to this so don't get too excited.  We'll see.
Anyway, without further ado.


Weekend High Points
1. Hmm, what did we even do this weekend? Okay, iced coffee and cookies for breakfast on Saturday morning.  Vegan cookies, nonetheless, so healthy!
2.  Dinner with friends at the most amazing place in our neighborhood, Umi Nom.  Love, love, love.  And our friends are expecting a little babe of their own so turn to us for advice. Also LOVE.
3.  Frap, frap, frappuccino!
4.  Taking Charlie for a little backyard dip in his very own baby pool purchased by moi at Target.
5. A delicious Sunday dinner made by the mister.  Salmon on the grill and watermelon feta salad.  How refreshing!


Weekly Goals
1.  Be present.  Not so easy when I am just getting used to cramming so much in one little day, but if I'm not present, than what am I doing?  So, basically this is about email checking.  No checking emails on my phone while doing something else.  Simple.  Enjoy the moment.
2.  Spot clean.  Charlie is becoming a wee bit more mobile, though not nearly as mobile as he'd like to be. Combine this with the fact that I am shedding hair like a fiend and just, ew.  I think if Charlie is going to start crawling, I'd like to become a neat freak now.  Hmm, these goals are starting to seem rather, ahem, ambitious. Next thing you know I'll be promising to write thank you notes. 
3.  Be mindful of extra calories.  The goal is to just seriously think about what I'm eating and make smart choices, consistently.


I'm not going to say anything about doing my makeup and being cute, blah blah blah, I have loftier goals.  


xo,
C

Hot Time in the City

The parents trying to play with Charlie and his favorite dog/blanket.  They are about to realize that Charlie's favorite way to "play" is to stick as many things in his mouth as possible, all at once!

Hi Cuties,
Hope everyone is enjoying 4th of July week!  I had a few days off so finally caught up on a few thing over here. Or nothing, depends on how you look at it.  Really depends on if you count Dance Moms as a thing.  We spent the 4th with my parents out in Pennsylvania and they were just loving themselves some Charlie.  It's been nice to have a few days off but this weekend is going to be pretty quiet since it is supposed to be 100 degrees tomorrow! Not optimal baby weather, so we're just going to hang at home, do some laundry, write some thank you cards (Ha), ya know, GET STUFF DONE.  Top of my list is figuring out what exactly we are going to need to get this babe to the Caribbean for a week.  Also, I am amping up my style quotient over here.  I guess I've been looking pretty tired lately (I can't imagine why,) so I think I need to step it up a bit, maybe do my hair, try some foundation. Who knows, girls?  Get ready for some cute pics. 
PS. If you write something down it becomes true! Right?
xo,
C


Update:  Yes, I meant "Hot Child in the City."  I don't know why I always get the name of this song wrong, because, wait for it, it was the number one song on the day I was born.  Cool, right?

Around Here

My guys sent me flowers at work, last week, just because!  How sweet is that?!

Charlie can no longer be left alone even for a second, unless you want him to end up half off his blanket with a burp cloth over his face!

Sweet sleepy baby!

Naked baby!

Little man went on his first swing ride at Grammy's house on Saturday!  And somebody's cousin got just a wee little bit jealous.

Heat waves with a baby are no fun.  Charlie had to break out his upper arms.

Charlie met Erik's great aunt and uncle this weekend and then met a TON more of Erik's friends.  He was such a little trooper!

Pretty flowers from E's mom's garden.  They remind me of my wedding centerpieces!

Sleepy baby, party two.

Daddy and Charlie decided to go all matchy matchy for some July 4 festivities.

Hi Cuties,
Things have been happening around here, big time.  Just in the last week, Charlie has grown leaps and bounds.  He rolled over!  All of a sudden it just happened, and now he can't stop, and everything feels like it is moving SO FAST.  The one thing he's not doing so well is sleeping and I really don't want to let him cry it out.  Come on, Charlito, you can do it!!
This week is a short week (hooray!) and I need it. Work is great, don't get me wrong, but could use a chance to catch my breath and cuddle with my baby.
xo,
C