Voices May 31, 2009

Sometimes I hear voices in my head of different people I admire, or admired, or who I don’t admire but who said things that made sense (at the time, and sometimes still). They whisper appropriate advice at times when I need it. Like the passed-away mentors in Star Wars.

For example, as I was working on a presentation today, I thought of Jay Kriegel saying (about some pitch or other), “It’s about them, not about us.” File under: seemingly obvious but too often forgotten.

And the list of situations where I hear Sara is way too long to go into here. Only a matter of time before Ari joins the chorus.

Who do you hear in your head?

Yosemite May 31, 2009

One of my, and therefore our, New Years resolutions was to take weekend road trips once a month. We’ve actually been really good about it: Tahoe and LA (yes, I drove) in January, a pass in February on account of our Costa Rica trip, a pass in March on account of my family’s visit, Santa Cruz in April, then Sausalito for Mother’s Day (not exactly a road trip but we did stay in a hotel) and this weekend, our long awaited trip to Yosemite.

I started planning this trip last fall actually. I knew I wanted to go in May for peak waterfall season, and I knew it would be a three day trip. Kind of a no brainer at that point to do over Memorial Day, wouldn’t you say?

I’m pleased to report it did not disappoint. Yosemite is pretty amazing actually. I think my idea of outdoor beauty is very much formed by summers in Northern Wisconsin, and the landscape, while much more amplified in terms of elevation, is actually not so dissimilar.

Some favorites: Evergreen Lodge, Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, and these cool little passport books for kids. The Yosemite Valley was an amazing sight but a bit like Disney World or the zoo (tourists EVERYWHERE), so we made a pit stop at the Awhanahee for lunch and went along our merry way in search of more off-the-beaten path hikes. Thankfully we didn’t feel the need to go there until day 3, or I think it may have tarnished our trip. We ended up doing 5 miles+ for two days, which doesn’t sound like a lot until you consider our precious cargo in our pack and Roy’s bum foot.

Cue the highlight reel:

Next up? Santa Barbara for Fathers Day/Outstanding in the Field, Sonoma in August.

On Fantasizing About Buying a House May 28, 2009

Roy doesn’t know this, but lately I’ve been fantasizing about our dream home.

Now by fantasizing I don’t mean thinking it would be nice to buy a home because there is opportunity in the market, I’m talking very precise visualizations about what this home looks like, down to the furniture. Sometimes I even catch myself shopping for this home. Like yesterday when I went to look for a more kid-friendly coffee table.

What’s interesting about this is not the stuff, but the location. It is definitely and 100% in Brooklyn and super modern on the inside with a back just like Nicole and Ty’s new place down the street from us here. When I say definitely and 100%, what I mean by that is that when I try to juxtapose these images to a place in San Francisco (or anywhere in the Bay Area really), I can’t do it.

Interesting.

Part of what’s going on is obviously a desire to be in a space we can stay in for a long time, but we actually love our apartment, and as much as its a pain to adapt the space to be age appropriate for Ari (and then figure out associated storage dilemmas), I enjoy these puzzles. I guess maybe I’m conflicted about the roots we seem to be putting down here friend-wise and in terms of our lifestyle despite the fact that we feel a different pull in terms of attraction to a city and its culture.

New Yorkers in (self-imposed) Exile. So true.

Swim Class May 28, 2009

Ah, swim class. Despite what this picture may seem to tell you, we are conflicted about swim class.

Let me start by saying that I was very excited about swim class. I grew up swimming and was even a lifeguard and swim teacher a few summers during high school. Being in water makes me feel good.

So needless to say, I was very excited to get Ari in the water. We actually started in April, and for the first few classes, Ari loved the water. Also, we have a pseudo-celebrity and her kid on our class, which is entertaining for me. Carrie Brady from Days of Our Lives. Kind of hilarious the first day when we all thought we knew her only to realize we knew her from TV. Nice.

At any rate, swimming is now at a time of day that Ari typically sleeps, so he’s REALLY CRABBY at swim class, which is not really so fun. He kind of screams and holds on for dear life. Our teacher has us stay in the water on the theory that Ari’s not scared of the water, he’s just crabby, so to take him out would be to create an association that isn’t there. I buy this actually, so we stick it out, week after week. Ok its only been two weeks. I’m hoping that in some of our summer travel we can reverse this trend because this Mama ain’t giving up the pool.

2 Years Later May 28, 2009

Yesterday was our wedding anniversary.

Its funny, we celebrate a lot of anniversaries: our 2nd first date, our engagement (I forget this one, Roy always remembers it), and three versions of our wedding anniversary– the actual date (yesterday), the sunday of memorial day weekend, and the Hebrew date (which we don’t actually take the time to remember, but Shula does, so we go with it).

Its a lot of anniversaries for a girl who would have been perfectly content getting married at City Hall, but who ended up with My Big Fat Midwest Meets the Middle East wedding weekend. I have to say though, there is something about this time of year, and all of these spring days (including my birthday and now mothers day, and i anticipate fathers day as well) that feel(s) like they are persistently reminding me to be thankful for my dear husband and all that we have shared, are exploring now and have yet to create.

Thats about all I’m willing to make public. To many more…

Ari @ 9 Months: Happy Birthday! May 28, 2009

29.5 inches (just below 90th%)
22 pounds, 11 ounces (just below 90th%)
47.5 cm head circumference (just below 95th%)

The Boychik, My Little Meatball (or just, Meatball), Pookaluks. You’re huge! But I’m glad to see that your brain development is outpacing your physical development. You are your father’s son after all!

Every morning you wake up smiling and ready to attack the day. Standing now, and trying to cruise around, bonking your head left and right, rejecting mushy baby food in favor of whatever we’re having, verbalizing more and more. We are loving every minute of it, so just keep doing what you’re doing.

I cannot believe you’ve now been alive as long as I was pregnant. Like we are now equidistant from the starting point. Its incredible.

Danger Danger May 22, 2009

Earlier in the week, I walked into this:

Cute (especially in those Argentinian PJs, shout out Tomi!), but indicative of a broader theme around here. Ari, you see, is exploring both his body and surroundings with exponentially increasing vigor every day.

This results in A LOT of head-bonking, as while he can stand up on his own, he’s still figuring out how to get down. I now understand what moms of older kids were talking about when they said to enjoy the time before they find mobility. Because he has yet to really master control of his faculties, I literally need to be ready to catch him nearly all the time. (He just had a minor bonk on the chair I’m sitting on, natch.) When I don’t, typically an accident ensues, like earlier this week when he bonked his head on the marble floor in the bathroom. (Note to self and husband: those doors shouldn’t stay open for now.) I realize this happens to every kid as they figure it all out, but its both necessary and hard to let them, while offering a guiding or protective hand.

The far more exciting side of things is to see what he’s interested in (based on what he’s exploring). So far, its the washing machine, doors of all kinds, books that have fold-out pages, really anything that has moving parts for him to fit together. He’s particularly interested in strollers and stroller wheels. Last week we met my moms group in the park, and he went around investigating all the various types of stroller. Oh, and the stairs. Don’t even get me started on childproofing.

My favorite part of this newfound physical expression? He comes over to me for hugs and cuddles and help. Its the best.

What a Week! May 17, 2009

Photos to follow, but its been quite a week in our house.

First, I’m happy to report I love our new nanny. And Ari loves her. She is really really awesome and I’m just so grateful to have found her. We’re even thinking about our first weekend away alone (doesn’t hurt to have Post Ranch Inn being dangled by friends we love spending time with but rarely see– never sans kids), if you can believe it.

Second, we had a great, albeit short, visit with Savta. Ari was such a natural around her, we’re sure he remembered her, which is a nice development. She came with us to swim class (more on that later), which Ari has suddenly taken a dislike to. I need to photoshop the pictures before I post!

Third, Nicole and Ty moved to the neighborhood yesterday! Woohoo! They are even willing to adopt our not-safe-for-now Corbusier chairs, which means we can get a play table for Ari and his buddies.

Last but not least, the 1st birthday parties of the neighborhood kids have started. Eeks.

Seriously last but not least. I’m not ready to talk about the details just yet, but I may have discovered a job that I might want. Whatever happens, this is a serious development. More later…

Pictures from the Weekend May 11, 2009

After probably his 100th triumph through the tunnel. I love it when Ari gets a little googly-eyed.

At brunch in Sausalito on Saturday:

Sunday morning– pulling himself UP TO STANDING (ALREADY??), using the stroller. This is framed strangely b/c Roy has no shirt on, so he won’t let me post those.

The view from our room:

Weird family portrait:

Then finally, my favorites from the Discovery Museum (which is FREE on Mothers Day!). In the first, he’s watching the other kids to see what he’s supposed to be doing (splashing in the water). Then he’s playing with a big kid (who splashed him in the face, which could have gone badly, but Ari really took like a man!). And the last one, well…what can I say?! It was my first Mothers Day!!

Mothers Day May 10, 2009

Mothers Day might just be my favorite new holiday. The fact that its wedged halfway between my birthday and our anniversary is no doubt a contributing factor. Its like a month-long lovefest.

I have an amazing husband, especially when it comes to weekends away. Photos to follow, but let it be said that he is really an underpromise, overdeliver sort on this stuff, and I love him for it. Check out Cavallo Point if you can, its pretty awesome.

I’ve been thinking a lot about how life has changed in the last year. First and foremost, I feel like my heart grew so much I can barely understand how its still contained in my chest. It overflows a lot of the time, in fact. Like during Grey’s Anatomy last week.

Less perceptible is this move away from being someone I didn’t always like, or wasn’t always proud of, to really becoming the woman I want to be, and defining for myself what exactly that means. Its only been in the last week or two that I’ve begun to really think this one through, but I’m really excited about the implications and to see what life looks like a year from now.

I’m so thankful for my boys. They challenge me and champion me, and at the end of the day (or Mothers Day), what more can a girl really want?