All worn out!

After an exciting day playing with Aunt Joanna and Cousin Noah, Belle was so worn out that she passed out on her playmat not long after we got home.

Pre-crawling

Belle is on the verge of crawling, though she really prefers walking. "Walking?!" you say? Yes- she enjoys standing up holding Mom or Dad's hands and then sort of lifting one foot and putting it down then lifting the other and putting it down.

But, back to crawling, Belle can get herself onto her hands and knees (crawling position) from a sitting position and from a lying-on-her-belly position. Then, she sort of pushes herself backwards. She sometimes gets frustrated (though it's really cute to watch) when she sees an object she wants but her efforts to move make her further away from the object as she pushes herself backwards instead of pulling herself forwards. She'll get there, though, and become mobile.

In the meantime, she is splashing in the bathtub and eating lots of different foods, and she's still waving and smiling and laughing.

A visit with Aunt Joanna and Cousin Noah

Belle and I visited Aunt Joanna and Cousin Noah today.


The two cousins played together:


And even held hands:


Belle and Noah shared (Noah enjoyed offering Belle his toys- what a sweet little boy!):

Moms' Night Out

I feel so lucky that I found my walking group. It's a group of eight women with babes ranging in age from Belle to an 18-month-old. We meet in Central Park Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays (weather and personal-schedules permitting) and walk a fast-paced, hilly power walk in the Park, followed by stretching and sometimes strength training. We exercise and talk and get some fresh air. We often grab coffee after the walk, depending on the state of the babies. It is wonderful. The women are great, we're all in the same place in life, and the walks are really effective.

But, as the babies grow and our Upper West Side apartments feel smaller, it seems that the group is destined to end. And the beginning of the end has come as the first mom is on her way out of the City. She and her husband sold their UWS one-bedroom apartment and bought a home in the Syracuse area near her family. With the impending departure of one mom, I proposed to the group a Moms Night Out to say goodbye to our walking friend.

To my utter shock, each of the eight moms (and therefore dads) could make the first date and time I suggested work! So, we met at a bar/lounge on the Upper West Side. There was live music- two great cover bands- and it was 'ladies night,' so we enjoyed drink specials all night. It was so fabulous to see my walking friends without our strollers!

We took advantage of the excuse to get dressed-up. We wore the dangling earrings and the necklaces we can longer wear because our babies just pull such bling. We wore non-nursing tops. We put on heels and make-up, which some of us hadn't done in months. Of the eight of us, only two of us had gone out like this (just the girls for drinks) since becoming a mom. We had so much fun. We all looked stunning (if I may say so). We hardly recognized each other when we first met at the bar- we're used to seeing one another in sweats, spit-up on one shoulder, our hair thrown back in a messy ponytail with bits of baby food stuck in some of the hairs that didn't make it into the hair elastic. There we were last night dressed up two notches above our usual walking garb.

(These pictures, taken candidly a few drinks in and with my phone's camera, do not do justice to how hot we looked. We were seriously a good looking group of moms!)





It will be sad to see this Syracuse-bound mom leave. In July, another mom is on her way to Toronto. A third mom is actively looking to buy a home in Westchester (which sounds familiar...). So, there are other goodbyes on the horizon. In meantime, it was a very fun night out, followed, of course, by the regular Friday walk!

Playing with the twins from upstairs

They share toys, and even pacifiers. The twins, born just a few weeks after Belle, are great friends and playmates. How lucky we are to have them as neighbors.

Look, Aunt Julie, I am a ballerina, too!

Notice that the feet on her PJs are ballet slippers.

"The rain made the day so gray"

This morning was a unique, lazy Tuesday morning. The day was gray and rainy and Belle and my only plan was a tentative play date with the twins who live upstairs in the building. So, when Craig left for work this morning, Belle and I stayed in bed and alternated napping and playing, all the while snuggling. It wasn't until about 10:30am that we actually started our day. Was it lazy and indulgent? Maybe. Did I spoil Belle with an abundance of affection and attention? Perhaps, but then she spoiled me, too.

I know from seeing my mom friends with older babies that Belle won't always have the patience for a somnolent morning like today. Soon she'll be fidgety and want to run and play. And I am planning to return to my full-time teaching job in September, so our weekday snuggle time has an expiration date. To further defend this morning's laziness, I recently read in Alice Ozma's The Reading Promise, "No one will ever say 'I think I spent too much time with my children when they were young.'"

The rain made the day gray and all that there was for Belle and me to do this morning was snuggle and play and sleep.

Jazz split!

Babies make the best physical therapists

My eighty-[BLEEP] year-old grandmother (a lady never reveals her age, and my grandmother is the greatest true "lady" I know) suffered from extreme back pain due to spinal stenosis and a cyst on her spine. After trying everything from heating pads to water aerobics, and from Eastern acupuncture to Western pain killers, she opted for surgery last May. The recovery was slow and there were set-back along the way, but she is mostly out of pain and able to move again. She can sit in a car to travel to New York, which she hadn't been able to do for years due to the back pain. She can sit at the table and enjoy a family meal, whereas she had previously eaten all meals while lying down in bed. She can walk supervised with the aid of a walker. Her moving is not perfect, and she has tried psychical therapy to aid her balance, walking, and ease of getting up and down, but where she is now is a grand improvement from where she had been. When we Tri-Ceps were in Avon over Mother's Day Weekend. my grandmother twice got herself up off of a seat (once was the comfy family room couch and a second time with a kitchen chair). Both times, she got herself to her walker and walked unsupervised to be where Belle was. On one near-miraculous occasion, inspired by Belle, Grandma walked up a flight of stairs on her own and walked across the hall to the room in which Belle was staying. Apparently, a great-granddaughter is more effective than physical therapy in terms of inspiring movement. That's the power of love, I suppose.

Belle likes Coach

Classy taste at a young age.

Happy Mother's Day!

Belle can play anywhere

Here she is at Craig's office (his last day in Bridgeport).

Co-sleeping

Craig and I never even discuss sharing a bed with Belle, though many parents do co-sleep with their infants. We instead put Belle in a bassinet for her first few months, and then her crib when she outgrew with bassinet. And yet, on the mornings when we take a morning nap together, I wonder if co-sleeping isn't a good way to go. When Belle lies next to me on Craig and my bed, her eyes close silently and she naps peacefully for over an hour. She wakes quietly and happy. More often than not, when we put her in her crib, she fusses and cries and even screams. It takes her a little longer to get settled. She sometimes wakes up crying instead of smiling. I know it's not practical for Craig and me to actually share a bed with Belle, but I do appreciate and enjoy our naps together, and I won't judge parents who do choose to co-sleep. There is evidence that is it better for baby and mom, and I have seen that it results in a more peaceful sleep.

Belle's April Life

Enjoy:

Belle - April

Belle's skills

Belle is on the verge of crawling. She can get herself into "crawling position" from both sitting and lying positions. Then she sort of scooches. Sometimes she moves backwards instead of forwards, but she is moving! She makes this fun clicking sound with her mouth these days, as if she is figuring out all she can do with her tongue. Belle also understands the concept of getting someone's attention: she will sometimes stare and coo at a stranger until they turn to her, at which point she smiles at the new friend. Also, she waves at people. Belle is a very friendsly baby.

Mommy and Me Yoga Guru

Belle loved our eight Mommy and Me Yoga sessions at the Prenatal Yoga Center from the first Om to the last Namaste. It was the intructor that made the yoga class so fulfilling. When our yoga instructor walked into the yoga classroom, Belle's eye would light up as if she were a Belle's parent. The first time I ever heard Belle laugh was at Mommy and Me Yoga when the instructor was entertaining the babies so the mommies could enjoy Savasana. Especially during this past winter, when the weather was snowy and my mom friends were few, our Tuesday yoga class was the highlight of the whole week.

Now that Belle is more mobile (she is scooching; on the verge of crawling), we no longer attend Mommy and Me Yoga classes. But I learned that the yoga instrctor Belle and I love so much actually, literally, wrote the book and mother and baby yoga. So, I of course I bought Yoga Mom, Buddha Baby and brought it to the Prenatal Yoga Center to ask the author, our yoga instructor, to sign it. Despite the fact that Belle's new tooth (teeth?) had her out of sorts today, Belle was very excited to see her favorite yoga teacher:

Ooops! I made the bed with Belle in it

A happy morning for Belle

Golden showers

A happy pre-bath Belle peed on me on our way to the tub (see wet spot on my shirt). Good thing pee is sterile and Belle is so cute.

Chilling with Grandpa

He took the picture.  I guess it's really, chilling with Mom with Grandpa as photographer.

Belle goes bananas (for bananas)

Belle sure loves bananas, especially when Grammy feeds her:

Belle laughs

Grammy makes Belle laugh:


Grammy enjoys Belle's laughter as much as Belle enjoys Grammy's song.

The walking group enjoys a coffee after the walk

Six moms and six babies (ranging in age from 7-months to 18-months) enjoy a coffee on West 72nd Street.

Belle is 8 months old today!

Spring Fashion Show

Belle is excited to show off her new spring wardrobe. Here's a fashion show:

Belle (between Gaga and Grammy) is showing off her new spring artsy outfit (clam-digger pants with a matching funky top):



And this is Belle's ducky hat from Guatemala, courtesy of Uncle Joe and Aunt Carla. It would be great on hot days if it weren't so delicious and therefore tempting to eat instead of wear:



Here's her 'Sugar and Nice and Everything Nice' outfit for hot days:



And this is her cute (but totally impractical) baby kimono:



And, of course, undershirts and smiles are always in fashion:

The highlight of my day

Nearly every morning, I take a nap with Belle. These early-morning naps (around 7am) make for special snuggle sessions. Craig garbbed this shot a few mornings ago, but usually Belle sleeps holding my face. What a lucky mommy I am!

Cute baby

I swear this is a true story.

Belle and I attended a free lecture about sleep at Giggle on Amsterdam Ave. Belle and I were sitting in front of a couple and their four-month-old daughter. Belle was making friends with the baby and her parents (talking and smiling). When we went to leave the sleep lecture, the man stopped me and said, while standing next to his wife holding his own baby girl, "All parents think their baby is the cutest baby in the world, but your baby really may be."

Belle is going to have such a swelled head...

Thank goodness it's a rental

Sorry for the poop post, but this was too crazy not to share:

So, Belle had a full diaper. So full, in fact, that the poop leaked out and onto her belly (her seated position while pooping pushed the poop up and out- totally gross, even for me the Mom). While I was cleaning the mess, Belle put her hands on her belly and pretended she was Van Gough creating wall art. OK, so she didn't really realize what she was doing, but she did smear her own poop on the wall next to her changing table. It was a mess beyond any mess I'd seen before in Belle's nearly-eight months.

It's all been cleaned, and there's no sign of Belle's poop-art incident, but I sure am grateful that I can walk away from the pooped wall when we move from our rented apartment.

A tooth is cut!

Belle has demonstrated all of the symptoms of teething for months. She puts everything into her mouth; she drools excessively; her cheeks are rosy; she has had bouts of unexplained low-grade fevers. But, no pearly whites. When I put my (well-scrubbed and totally clean) finger into her little mouth on Monday morning, however, I felt something sharp: a tooth! Her bottom right-center tooth is on its way up. The baby books say that a first tooth generally appears between 4 and 12 months. Well, just shy of 8-months, Belle is right on track. Let the tooth-brushing begin!

Daddy as hairdresser

Craig is a wonderful father. One of the most endearing things he does in his role as Belle's daddy is comb and pin up Belle's hair with a barrette. He doesn't have much experience combing little girls' hair, and his expertise in hair clips is limited to yarmulkes. But he does a wonderful job with his daughter's locks, and it's really sweet to watch.

Tina Fey

I finally crossed paths with Tina Fey. We've been neighbors for nearly four years and in that time I've come to appreciate Fey as a brilliant and hilarious writer/actress. For example, she recently published this Prayer for a Daughter in her new book Bossy Pants. We passed her on Broadway in the 70's this afternoon. As we walked by, I smiled at her, as if to say, "I totally know who you are and you're brilliant," and she smiled back at me, as if to say, "Yup- that's me: I'm Tina Fey." Very cool. Next time, I'll chat her up.

The Playground with Dad and Grandpa

When over Passover the Sun finally came out, Belle, Grandpa and Daddy all went to the playground at the Cantiague School - Dad's old stomping grounds.

We went on the swings (mixed reactions), then the slide and then into the crawling tunnel where Belle heard some funny echoes.  Here are two pictures from the day.

Overall, Passover was lots of fun.  Belle stayed awake for kiddush twice and fell asleep long before the Four Questions or the Frog Song.  She went to shul with Grandpa one day and Grandma the other.  Grandma Selma and Grandpa Leon came over and she played with Noah as well as all of her other cousins.  It was a wonderful, if exhausting, few days for Belle.

Talking to Gaga

With Great-Grandma Maxine in Bridgeport.

Four great (short) videos of Belle

On April 11, the whole Levinson side of the family (Grammy and Grampy Levinson, Gaga/Great-Grandma Maxine, Uncle Joe and Aunt Carla) spent the day in NYC!

Belle was so hungry, she could eat a piano!



But she settled for a few Cherrios:

(Part 1)


(Part 2)


And she disliked kiwis such that that she preferred her bib to the sour fruit:

The moon and the stars

We attended our friends' son's bris this morning (Mazel tov!) and I was struck by three things:

1. It is really rather funny (and award) that people gather to watch a circumcision. Ouch. Ew. Really?

2. What a challenge to brand new parents to have to plan and host a party a week after entering parenthood. These new parents aren't sleeping while they struggle to figure out how to be a mom and a dad. Mom is recovering from birth and dealing with unnervingly unpredictable postpartum hormones. Yet, they must put on a smile (and a dress or tie) and entertain guests who want to watch their newborn's penis get snipped.

3. Both parents at this morning's bris spoke beautifully (and admirably, especially considering the above about being new parents and all) at the end of the ceremony. They explained their son's Hebrew and English first and middle names. The mother spoke of her grandfather, whom she honored by using his name as her son's middle name. Our friend said that her grandfather adored his family and would tell his children and grandchildren that he would do anything for them- even get them the moon and stars- because he loved them so much. This new mom said that after being a parent for one short week, she is beginning to more fully understand her grandfather's sentiment and what it means to love a child- one's own child. As she closed her remarks this morning, she promised her eight-day-old son that, if wanted the moon and the stars, she'd try to get them for him.

Our new mom friend so beautifully articulated how I feel about Belle, as well as my immediate ancestors. I would do anything for Belle, whom I love more than I ever thought possible. And I now better understand my parents and grandparents because I am beginning to see what they went through raising my brother and me.

Belle, I would try to get you the moon and stars, the sun and clouds, a rainbow.

Playdate

This cutie has "Playdate Potential"




And this cutie like other babies' toys

Sunny day

A baby all-nighter

Belle skipped her afternoon nap, though she did resume her early morning nap today. Anyway, she woke up from her midday nap at about 12:40pm and was awake until about 7pm. For an infant to be awake for over six hours straight is like a baby all-nighter.

I think she stayed awake in solidarity or sympathy with/for her CPA grandfather seeing as today is the day before taxes are due.

Singing back at the stereo

Belle loves music, as we've established time and again. She recently seems to have figured out the source of the music. When we play music through our stereo, she looks at the speakers and coos. Tonight, we were listening to a CD while I fed her rice cereal for dinner. In between songs, she looked at the speakers and made cute noises until the music (the next track on the CD) resumed, at which time she gave me a huge smile before taking another bite of cereal.

A very special dinner

Craig took me out tonight to celebrate the big 3-1. We enjoyed a stellar dinner at Daniel thanks to our wonderful friend Julie who put Belle to bed and made sure that all remained quiet at home.

Playing with Uncle JoJo

No more "Tough Guy"

Maybe Belle was overstimulated after a day of fun with the Levinsons. Or maybe Belle was just overtired. She could have been teething. Or perhaps she was just making sure that her lungs were in good working order. Whatever the reason, Belle screamed and screamed after we put her in her crib this evening. While we seven adults (Seren, Craig, Grammy Hilary, Grampy Elcon, Uncle Joe, Aunt Carla and Gaga/Great-Grammy Maxine) ate dinner, Belle screamed and cried in her crib.

As a new mom trying to figure out my way in mommyhood, I was especially appreciative that no one told me what to do. My mother didn't say, "why don't you..." and my father didn't say, "when you kids were babies, we used to..." No said offered, "should I try..." or "I could..." and no one made me feel bad when I said we were going to let her cry it out this time.

Still, Belle's little screams grew into bigger ones and my heart broke a little. Craig supported being tough, though he did go into the bedroom to put the stereo on Peter, Paul and Mary for Belle hoping the folk music would soothe her.

While we finished and cleaned dinner, packed the Levinsons and said our goodbyes, Belle screamed and screamed. My grandmother expressed her discomfort listening to her great-granddaughter cry, but Craig and I remained strong and united in letting her cry in out.

Less than one second after we heard the elevator ding indicating that my parents and grandma were on their way out, Craig said, "OK, I have to go rock Belle to sleep right now." He appeared to be Mr. Tough Guy dad in front of my family, standing with me as we tried to let Belle soothe herself. But really, like me, Craig's heart broke a little when he heard our beautiful, generally-happy little girl cry. So Craig soothed Belle and rocked her to sleep and lay her down gently to slumber peacefully in her crib, which is where she is as I write this.

We may appear to be tough, but we are both really softies.

That's how they roll

Nice wheels

Chillin' with the Fradis/Levinson clan

Goodbye, early morning nap

Schedules come and schedules go. As I was warned, just when I think I have a schedule with Belle, she changes her mind about some major aspect of it and we're on a different schedule.

For weeks, Belle took three naps a day. The first was only a few hours after she woke up, so 7:30 or 8am. I sometimes napped with her during this early morning nap. Then, she napped while I walked with my mom friends at 11am or a little later. Finally, she napped in the afternoon at 3pm or so.

Well, for three mornings in a row now Belle has skipped that early morning nap. I tried to skip to the "routine" (the idea of a "routine" has been a bit of a joke these past seven months of motherhood) and put her down at 7:30am. No dice. Today, I waited until Belle looked sleepy closer to 8:30am and put her down. After 15 miuntes of crying which escalated to screaming, I gave up on this mornings early morning nap. She has been sleeping at 10 or 11am, but it seems that the morning nap is gone.

There is no question that Belle is the boss around here...

Happy Birthday to me

Craig made sure I had a wonderful birthday. Besides letting me sleep an extra hour in the morning, he took Belle to Shabbat services with him so I could have a nice shower (we are talking shampoo and conditioner- separately!). A highlight of the day was reading the card from Belle, which she signed with her footprint. Thanks, Craig :)

An event to remember

It's not the best pic, but if you look closely you'll see Alec Baldwin. My picture of Stephen Sondheim didn't turn out as well.

Craig's early bday present to me is a ticket at Sondheim's Company, a four performance theatrical event featuring Neil Patrick Harris, Patti LuPone, Martha Plimpton, Jon Cryer, Stephen Colbert and more. Craig sent me to Lincoln Center with cash. I found a nice man who offered me his center orchestra ticket for half of the face value. This seat is awesome, as is the pre-show star gazing (there was an opening night gala at Avery Fischer Hall before doors opened for the likes of me). I am sitting next to Clinton from TLC's What Not to Wear. I just smiled at John Lithgow. OK, now I'm just name-dropping.

This is a serious New York theatre event. I am one lucky bday girl.

Thanks, Craig!

Craig's Note: This is where Seren is tonight.

Potential boyfriend?

NJB (Nice Jewish Baby) Daniel is exactly one month older than Belle. He's cute, shares well, loves his mother, and is from a nice family. And, most importantly, he is approved by me.

Getting ready for music class with friends

Nice to see you again, 5am

That's a lie. I don't miss being up at 5am and it is not nice to be up and see 5am. But since Belle became a super sleeper (asleep between before 7pm until midnight or after, and then straight until, well, 5am), her wake-up-to-play time has crept earlier and earlier until this morning's 5am wake-up. Do I let her cry so I can try to squeeze an extra wink of sleep out of her? I have been, but it seems senseless and unproductive, since, like yesterday, letting her cry until 6am just resulted in, well, nearly half an hour of crying. In other words, leaving her alone doesn't get her back to sleep, or even to play on her own. She is up ready to eat and play and is upset until she gets her way (babies can be such divas). How I miss waking to feed her twice at night...

Playgroup at Casa Cep

Six babies, ranging in age from six weeks to sixteen months, played at our place this afternoon. It was the first official event of the newly-established Upper West Side Jewish Moms Meet-up.

Belle - March

Belle - March

Click and enjoy.

Belle had a wonderful March. She celebrated Grandpa R's birthday and Great-Grandma M's birthday. She rode on the swings and tried solid foods, which she loves. Belle even got dressed up for Purim as a UConn cheerleader. We haven't told her that the women lost last night. Belle is sitting up a lot and still smiling all the time. No teeth yet. For a sneak preview of April, check our blog - serenandcraig.blogspot.com

Love,
Us

Playdate in the Park

Cousin Abby and Belle with Abby's good friend and former roommate Daniella and Cousin Max. It's a beautiful day to be at the Park.

Lunch with the walking ladies

Belle loves her veggies

It's worth noting that Belle enjoyed peas, carrots and sweet potatoes but made an expressively unhappy face when she tried avocado and banana. Maybe Belle will be a broccoli-lover and pass on the grapes.

Belle goes for the fruits!

First avocados



Then bananas:

Luggage for one night away

Car seat, diaper bag, purse, toys, clothes, change of clothes, just-in-case clothes and diapers and toys and stuff and stuff and stuff...
There is no more traveling light now that there's a baby on board.

Belle's first trip to a mall

In New Jersey of course:)

We visited the Garden State Plaza in Bergen County today where we found bridesmaids dresses for Melissa's upcoming wedding. Belle was a doll.

Bridal gown shopping

Belle yawns- trying on bridal gowns is hard work.

(We joined good friend Melissa on her quest to find the perfect gown for her upcoming wedding...and she did!).