babies take new york

I love visiting New York City at Christmas, but I wasn't sure it was going to happen this year since we now have a baby.  Truthfully, I was scared for a long time to take Bo into the city, but now that he's older and more laid back and doesn't need to eat as often and is less prone to dramatic diaper changes, it  seemed like a good time to go.  That and we hit the last warm weekend before the endless winter sets in.  Our friends Kim and Lucas and their baby Malin (see the post below) came in with us, because everybody knows two babies are more fun!  

It was soon after this picture that Matt noted that his grandfather would've never been seen wearing a baby while the wives walked ahead with their shopping bags.  I appreciate you, dear. :)

And Bo likes the ride:

Pictures by the Rockefeller Tree:

 We didn't do much, but it was nice to be in the city and get a little shopping done.  The babies were great.  Malin did have an unfortunate incident that will probably go down in the books as the most amazing poop of all time.  Matt and I watched puzzled customers in the Korean restaurant dialogue about the strange shrieking sounds coming from the bathroom while Kim and Lucas, ahem, cleaned up.  

SoHo

Train ride home.

I'm so glad we made it in for what is probably our last Christmas in New York!  

holiday romance

Last weekend our friends Kim and Lucas came by so that I could take their family picture, and we could not resist a little photo session with the happy couple:

Malin and Bo

Christmas 2011

One baby is great.  We can sit around and watch him all day.  But two babies?  Two babies are hilarious.  

if you're happy and you know it

I wasn't sure what could top the waving event of last Wednesday . . . until Bo learned how to clap this weekend.  It happened to be the same day as the UK-UNC game so I think this little fan wanted to celebrate the victory along with his dad.  Matt worked with him and Bo got it!  

And now he does it alllll the time.  I love it.  

Now we're running out of tricks to teach him.  Matt was trying to get him to 'clap his feet' while putting him in his PJ's tonight.  Maybe potty training . . .

paper chain

I put a paper chain on the tree this year.  After a moment of skepticism about the logic of committing to making such a thing . . . Matt graciously lent a hand in the stapling and assembling.  

I like it.  

33 weeks

Our 33 week picture didn't go so well . . . 

Because Bo LOVES his blankies and couldn't leave this one alone!

Those Aidan + Anais blankets were a GREAT buy.  After he (finally) outgrew the swaddling phase, which they were great for, he still loves sleeping with them.  Now he literally flails around with glee when it's naptime and I hand him a blankey.  He could easily become one of those Linus kids who drags the dirty blanket around but hopefully we can keep this contained to just naptimes.  Our little routine is to approach the crib, yell out "Blankey!" and hand him the blanket, and yell out "Paci!" and hand him a pacifier.  When I put him in the crib he either rolls over in exhaustion or kicks around for a bit with joy that he is reunited with blankey and paci . . . and generally falls asleep without issue.  It's a great moment for all of us.  

32 weeks

Bo's acting squirrely on his new blanket from Miss Joanna.  All those little animals you see are hand embroidered on there!  I'll get a pic of the other side soon but I was so impressed with her special gift! 

We put up the Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving.  Bo is enjoying it. 

Breaking News:

Bo waved bye-bye for the first time yesterday!!  And Matt grabbed it on his phone.  We were SOOO proud and kind of amazed, that came out of nowhere. 

I'm sure you were so entranced with Bo you didn't notice my weird outfit . . . I know, it's weird, no comments necessary. 

holiday kick-off

For Thanksgiving we had our friends Megan and Esteban come up to visit us from Baltimore.  I am so glad they made the long bus ride up here!  Megan finally met Matt and it was great to spend more time with Esteban.  I wanted to provide his first American Thanksgiving dinner but alas, he's been to one before.  But we still pulled out all the stops.  

Bo's first Thanksgiving:

After our big old meal, we went on the requisite post-binging walk around the pond.

On Friday my longtime friends (like since I was four) the McMahans came out to see us, I mean BO!  We had fun catching up over lunch and picking out a Christmas tree.  Despite Bo's hysterical tired screaming when we picked them up from the train station, he was a whole different child after his nap and was able to share some love.  

We enjoyed our fair share of leftovers, pie for breakfast, and the wonderful gift of a days without work!  It was SO nice to chill out at home and put up our Christmas decorations.