Is March The New February?

Sorry for the silence. We just got back yesterday from what was supposed to be a trip to sunny Florida and what ended up an almost week-long stay in New York. We were supposed to fly out of LaGuardia on Tuesday, but on the drive down on Sunday The Bean's little cough seemed to get much worse. And she added a lot of sneezing and most likely a fever. On Monday we were 99% sure we were going to change our flight to Wednesday, but on Tuesday afternoon, when her fever kept going up and her mood kept going down, we took her to the doctor who diagnosed her with "bulging ear drums." Thank goodness we decided not to get on the plane as her drums would have ruptured and she would have screamed till they did. I've never seen Miss Bean so sick for so long. She was just miserable and therefore she only wanted me or N, but mostly me. We couldn't leave her with my parents at all, which is weird. Plus, they both worked so basically N and I split up the days. I stayed with cranky Bean in the mornings while he went and did art stuff and he stayed with cranky Bean in the afternoon while I went to the movies. I know I should have gone to museums, but The Bean was so clingy and draining that all I wanted to do was sit and eat popcorn in the dark for 2 hours.

We took her outside once or twice a day to look for dogs in the park or kids in the playground, but she was so exhausted that we really could only be out for 15-30 mins. My folks have a nice apt, which they nicely let us destroy with all our stuff every time we visit, but I got really sick of it. Remember, the Bean and I were there for ten days back in January. On the plus side, the weather was great when we first got there (went downhill towards the end) and I did get to see my bro, N and I got to go on a carnivous date, I saw movies in the theater and met up with an old friend for a quick lunch, but overall my mood was pretty sour.

N got sick in the middle of the night on Saturday, but managed to drive us home in the afternoon. The Bean was a trooper, but today was the first day I felt like she was mostly better. Then this morning my back went out. We kind of saw it coming: seven nights on a pull-out couch, a very needy Bean, a 4+ hour drive home without much of a stop. Ugh. On the positive side, at least this didn't happen on Tuesday morning when N has to be back at work. And at least it didn't happen before the car ride back home. I'm hoping that since N was able to tend to Bean all day (unlike the other times it's gone out) and he'll be home tomorrow, that I'll heal a little quicker and be more okay on Tuesday. Of course this is the week our babysitter is on vacation!

But you know what takes away all the pain? Or most of it?
The Bean used her potty for the first time tonight! Go Bean Go!

Ooops!

I didn't mean to let three whole weeks of the new year go by without a post. So let's see:
We had a good, if long, time in NYC. The Bean got to experience a playgroup at the Jewish Community Center, two trips to the Museum of Natural History, some playground time, a very crowded kids section at Barnes and Noble, a trip to the St. Luke Roosevelt cafeteria so her parents could go see new baby Eve (yay!! Eve!!), a trip to Brooklyn, cab and bus rides, and multiple trips to Albee Baby where many ducats were spent procuring a snuggie-thing for the stroller, a new stroller bought by granny, a wind cover for new stroller, etc.

It was nice to be in the city, but I wouldn't want to live there with kids. At least not kids at ages that require a tremendous amount of shlepping of stuff. I likey my car, matey. More importantly, I feel like there's more to do during cold weather up here that's either free or reasonably priced. Plus, even when things are crowded, they're not NYC crowded. I'm sure I'd get used to the life, but....

That said, it's the end of January and I feel like I haven't been too ranting about snow this season. Let me just say that I miss not having to stuff The Bean in a coat and hat every time we go outside. And I miss the days when we could just go outside to our backyard when looking for something to do for the later part of the afternoon. Actually, today I just let her go coatless. I figured she was spending a total of 3 mins going from car into place and back again and it's so much easier to get her out of the house and buckled into her car seat when she's coatless. Besides, it wasn't that cold. Of course on the way home she got her shoes and one sock off, which made me look rather negligent when I brought into the house, but N didn't seem that concerned.

Then again he's been glued to some Battle Star Galatica thing since we got back so maybe he didn't notice.
I'll post sooner, loves, swear.

Not Ya Mama's Blog

My mama's blog is here.

And Then You Realize That You're One of Those People Who Never Updates Their Blog Any More

But we've been away, kiddies. Got a touch of the cabin fever so The Bean and I spontaneously headed down to NYC for a few days. We got to swing in baby swings for the first time in Central Park no less and momma got to go shopping and out to dinner, practice yoga, see a movie and take long walks and all kinds of fabo things. Most importantly there was a lot of chillaxing with the grandrents and Unkie who even changed a diaper! It was nice to get out NH and see black people in addition to all our Upper West Side activities. N met us there on the weekend and then we came up to the country to the in-laws where we are now. So yes, this is a lame post, but at least I'm posting unlike some people.

This week (and next and next) we're attempting to sleep train The Bean. She's 7 months and eating three meals a day and while they may not be square (orange color food only!) she's getting enough in the belly to sleep through the night. At least we think so. For the last two nights when she wakes up at 2, N goes in and comforts her and gives her water in the hopes that she'll go back to sleep till 6 AM...6:30...7!!. For the past two nights I've nursed her at 2:30 and 3:30, but doesn't everything take time?

This week I realized with the help of my styling brother and mama that I've been dressing like a pregnant pilgrim for the last year and half. When Ms. Bean was in utero it was more forgivable, but no longer. Good by nursing bras! Hello my old friend under wire! Good by ill fitting pants and loose top! I can't tell you how happy I am to be packing up all my old clothes and either donating them to the local second hand store or putting them up in our storage space otherwise known as the death trap that is our attic. While N and I will be psyched to give the Bean a sibling to boss around in the future, I don't know what scares me more: the thought of going through labor again or having to wear awful clothing for another year +. Maybe the latter, since as far as I know, there's no epidural for depressing, pilgrim inspired, post-pregnancy New-England winter fashion.

What The Bean, N. and I Would Be Doing 2/25 if We Wasn't So Far, Far Away

Okay, we wouldn't actually be in the pool. We'd be at MOMA (yes, the Museum of Modern Art) watching our coolest, filmiest friend's documentary Sync or Swim. What, you didn't know the U.S. had its very own synchronized swim team? Get thee to the MOMA, friend!

Mark your calendars: FEBRUARY 25, 2009 @ 6:00 PM. MOMA.

And tell Auntie C if you see her that The Bean(and co.) wants a screening in Lebanon ASAP!!!

Lest Auntie C get in trouble, the above pic is a still from her movie, but we found it on the Internets.

Heading South

So, tomorrow morning we're going to load up Stanley and drive down to NYC. We looking forward to meeting new babies, seeing old friends, eating some Shake Shack, and maybe seeing a movie or two. Then, on the 5th day of the new year, The Bean will be taking her first flight to Florida to meet her great-grandmother. How cool is that?

I'm a tad daunted by going away for 10 days, but things already seem good as The Bean went to sleep with no fuss and, more importantly, N. and I seem to have gotten it together to get the bulk of packing done tonight rather than our usual harried morning packing and cleaning.

I know y'all will be a tad depondant that posting might be a little light in the next ten days. To keep your sprits from dampening too much, I'll leave you with another image of N. and the crazy new stroller he got in the snow.



Makes you feel a bit better doesn't it?

What We've Been Doing Other Than Not Having A Baby

No, no bean yet. Do people think we're gonna keep it a secret?
In our remaining days of "freedom", N. and I have gone to Fort Tryon Park and the Cloisters, the Brooklyn Flea, watched the French "thriller" "Tell No One", David Gordon Green's "George Washington", and Werner Herzog's "Encounters at the End of the World". On DVD we watched "Chinatown".

I enjoyed The Cloisters a lot more than I did when I was a kid, which was probably the last time I was there. Remember how boring museums are as a kid? Fort Tryon Park is really neat, too. It has a very different, almost more mountainous feel than Central and Prospect Parks.

We went to the Brooklyn Flea on Sunday. We didn't buy anything since we're in no state to accumulate and nothing seemed really great. The most exciting thing was getting interviewed for The Brooklyn Paper. I love TBP because it's very local and the crime stats are very thinly veiled and funny.

We were interviewed because there's been some controversy since the flea occurs right across from a church and apparently is making parking a problem.

After our interview, we waited on the long line for taco, which turned out to be a bit of a bummer for me. Because of the bean induced heart burn, I couldn't stomach more than a few bites of the deliciousness. Of course N. was more than happy to eat my taco since they are so very tasty and authentic and probably will not exist in New Hampshire. I can't wait till I can eat spice!!

!!!!!Spoiler Alert!!! Do NOT READ THE NEXT PARAGRAPH IF YOU WANT TO SEE "Tell No One."

It seems that everyone with the exception of my parents loved "Tell No One". I'm happy to report that the critical movie viewing genes run deep because N. and I were disappointed with the movie. It's not bad exactly, but suffers from seemingly sloppy editing and, even more to its detriment, some serious plot flaws. The acting is good and there are parts of the movie that are well-done, but then there are some aspects of the plot that are unforgivable. N. and I didn't mind seeing the movie although at various points we both wondered when the movie would end. My more specific thought was actually: if I go into labor now, we'll leave. But it was more of a passing thought. And no, I didn't go into labor because no, we haven't had the bean.

One thing that made N. and I more critical of "Tell No One" is that we watched "Chinatown" the night before. "Chinatown" is such a perfect crime-thriller that most other movies in the genre would pale in comparison.

I love David Gordon Green. You should too. Put "George Washington" on your NetFlix queue. Now.

Werner Herzog is odd. The temperature today in Nico, Antarctica is -64 degrees Fahrenheit.

Things We're Doing List

This week N. and I were able to cross a few more things off our list of NYC things to do. One thing, which technically wasn't on the list, but N. added as an addendum, was going to Juniors. It had been a while since I ate there and the food was surprisingly good. My matzoh ball soup wasn't overly salty and the chicken salad sandwich we shared was actually quiet tasty and fresh. N. was happy with his egg cream, too.

The food was more disappointing at Peter Luger's. To be honest, eating there once was enough for me, but N. wanted to go again and since there were friends involved who am I to say no? The sides were all pretty standard--decent fries and onions rings, heart-attack ridden creamed spinach---it's what I expected. But the steak wasn't that great. I've had better. N. think it's because we got the steak for 4 (there were 6 of us but we had a lot of sides) and that if we went again, which we won't, he'd stick to the steak for one because you get a smaller and therefore better selection. The first couple of pieces I had were pretty much all fat.

Yesterday's outing was to Long Beach out on Long Island. N. and I took the LIRR from Atlantic Ave and even though we had to switch trains in Jamaica, Queens, we were beach side in less than an hour. I'd never been to LB before and it's great. I thought the water was a lot cleaner and nicer than at Brighton Beach. The ocean was the perfect temperature, too. Cool without being freezing and very refreshing. I'd get to Long Beach soon though. In another month the jelly fish babies, which can't sting now, will be full-grown and up for some human flesh.

The photo used for today's entry is property of N's. I believe it was the time he escaped a flesh-eating, cheesecake looking jelly fish attack.

Things (We Want) to Do List

Have I mentioned that N. and I have a Things We Want To Do Before The Bean And Before We Move List? This week we were able to cross a few things off.

On Monday, we took the Staten Island Ferry. It's a very nice view/ride. Did you know it's free? Other than the Staten Island Yankee's Stadium, there's nothing walking distance from the ferry so we didn't do anything while we were in SI. My feet were starting to hurt so I didn't feel that bad about it.

From the ferry we saw two of the Olafur Eliasson waterfalls. We found them underwhelming and crossed that off The List.

On Wednesday we went to the hell that is Buy Buy Baby to return things. That was not on the Things We Want To Do List, but rather Things You Really Don't Want To Do But Really Should Because You Really Don't Need Six Baby Bjorns And Eight Tubes Of Nipple Cream List. Once that mission was deemed a success, we went to the heaven that is Shake Shack, which was most certainly on The List. We had single Shake Shack burgers, shared fries and a shake. It was as good as they say. I wish my stomach had been feeling a little more normal and that the hip, new self-cleaning .$25 toilet wasn't stuck in some self-imposed self cleaning mode. Having to pee makes a burger just a little less delicious. The city owes me $.50 cents, too.

We went for a medicinal stroll on the Coney Island boardwalk Wednesday evening because I was going stir and humidity crazy. Since we neither ate Nathan's, played an arcade game, swam in the ocean, or ate greasy Russian food in Brighton Beach, we're going to keep it on The List.

Not on the list, but other things we did include: watching many episodes of Arrested Development on the genius that is Hulu, watching the first two episodes of Season 1 of Prime Suspect with the genius of that is Helen Mirren, seeing the maybe he's a genius but we don't get it Murkami show at the Brooklyn Museum, and eating too much ice cream (it's organic!) at the genius that is Blue Marble because the new location is only 2! blocks from our apartment. Mmmmm...ice cream. Almost as good as pizza.