Boston Babies

Louise and her folks visited the family in Boston this past weekend. Louise hung out with her best buddy Lila with whom she terrorized dogs, cats and restaurant high chairs. It's so amazing to see these two growing up together. It's hard to believe but Lila will be one in just a month. She's a little joy- calm and careful in her climbing pursuits and quick to bob her head to music. Louise is only 7 months old but amazingly enough she's well on her way to walking. Unfortunately for her nervous mother her bravery and determination far out pace her actual ability.

Crabby Baby

We've been in Boston for 5 days, the house is a mess, I can't find any
of my favorite toys and Mama is still force-feeding me this horrible
mush. When do I get a say around here?

Guggenheim & Central Park

Louise and Mommy battled the Sunday museum crowds to see the fantastic Kandinsky show at the Guggenheim then hit Central Park for a little dog watching (Lou's favorite).

His Name is Jonah

Simon and Sam's baby was born this morning. Jonah Lambert Rucker, born at 6:15 am, weighing a svelte 7lbs, 9oz. Lovely.

Rosh Hashanah

On Friday we hosted our first ever Rosh Hashanah dinner. Louise was in bed so it was an adult only affair. She did however make an appearance around midnight to say L'Shana Tovah and rub her sleepy eyes. Here's Scott lighting the candles and saying the prayers for our delicious Fairway challah and not-so-delicious bottle of wine. Happy New Year!

Lou's music class with other neighborhood kiddies.

Louise contemplates abstraction...

Trouble Wears a Red Hat

Photos of our lazy Sunday in Brooklyn at the waterfront park near our house and of our darling Louise who has a new terrifying skill- standing up! She began exploring pulling herself up this past week and within one day she's hanging from her crib bars like a caged animal. And as for the red winter pilot's cap, just a little something we found while packing up her outgrown clothing. At the rate Louise is outsmarting her crib we'll soon be swapping soft caps for hard hats. Pray for us.

Sunday morning.

Bedhead

S-Ttt-Rrrr-E-T-C-H. Louise and her bunny waking up after a long morning nap.

Carrot vs. CARROT

Warning: Avert your eyes if you happen to be squeamish about food guts and veggies that have been pureed to death then regurgitated...






Look at the utter disgust Louise has for the mashed carrots that were lovingly stewed and pulverized by her mom. Adversely look at her complete rapture for the same food when it's whole and cold and used as a teething toy. Babies!?

Louise + Maggie = Love

Bill, Claire and Maggie visited us in Great Barrington for the weekend. Though Saturday was a washout, these babies couldn't have cared less. For them, there was no better spot than their toy-covered floor mat surrounded by 4 goofy parents who occasionally swooped in for kisses and tickles.

Check out Maggie and her baby carriage! What speed! What balance!

Visitation from Humans and Teeth

Visit from Frenchies! Or more precisely, a Canadian and a Belgian who live in Marseille. Jeremy and Geraldine visited Louise and told her all about their lovely 9 1/2 month old daughter Santoline, who apparently already travels on airplanes and swims at a magical "pizza beach".

All this talk about big kid stuff inspired Louise so much that during the night she pushed and pushed till her first tooth popped out! There, right in the middle of her bottom gum, is a very tiny and very sharp tooth nub. Et Voila! Louise is finally on course to eat pizza in Marseille with her buddy Santoline next summer!

Rainforest Jumper

So my campaign to keep Louise surrounded only by cloth and wooden toys has come to its end. There comes a point around 6 months when the poor kid wants a little more action from her playthings. No longer is she excited by how her wooden rattle jingles and clanks or how the squishy rings on her colored stacker thud to the floor. Action she wanted and action she got! We found this stationary jumper on craigslist and dragged it home. Though we're still in the testing phase, it seems like she likes it (shown by the dancing toes).