COFFEE ACHIEVER

Throughout my life, I have made conscious decisions to avoid certain products or fads or "things." Some of those decisions were based on the perceived or real harm posed to me or others by the things avoided, but others were because I just didn't want to get involved, jump on the bandwagon or be part of the "in" group.

It happened with music frequently. I purposely would not listen to an artist or group that was wildly popular with my friends, but could get around to listening later on. that was certainly the case with Radiohead and Neil Young, two artists I devoured ravenously once I "allowed" myself to listen to them.

But his post is about coffee. I've always felt that coffee runs through every sector of our society, top to bottom, right to left. And I always avoided coffee because I did not like the taste - more on that in a minute - and because I saw coffee as a crutch. If you needed to drink coffee throughout the day, I said to myself and a few who would listen, isn't that a sign that you need to change something about your life so that you CAN make it through the day without the aid of coffee? Made sense to me. Still does.

The thing is I started drinking coffee two months ago. It is AMAZING. I used to drink English Breakfast tea in the morning, and that helped me get going - no harm in that. But two months ago, with Vivi not sleeping much (or sleeping beside me all night kicking me), school work on overdrive, a 5-year-old to entertain and an apartment to keep up - it got to be too much. I felt like there was no way I was going to make it through the days/daze unless I had some help. Enter coffee.

Those first mugs made be feel invincible! I could have done anything I wanted to, I had so much power and clarity of mind. Granted I didn't do much other than the normal tasks and rave about coffee. Jen warned me not to overdue it, too, as the impact of coffee wears off over time and I admit now that I knew it would. But, honestly, I'm a coffee achiever now, so I'll have another cup!

Making a pot of coffee now is my morning ritual. Usually Vivi is in under my left arm as I put all the pieces in place to brew. She is enthralled by the whole process, and I remember watching my parents make coffee all those years ago with the same wonder and awe. They really needed this drink. So did a lot of my friends. I could make coffee even though I didn't drink it just because I had seen my parents make it enough times.

So now I too am a zombie. Unable - or at least I think I am unable - to make it through the day without a cup of coffee in the morning - 2-3 sugars plus soy milk, please - and every other day a cup around 4 or 5 p.m.

I blame my grandmother, Catherine. When my brother and I used to visit her in North Carolina as children, she would make us "coffee-milk," which was, as I recall, half coffee and half milk (probably whole). Wow, did that taste good! I don't know what her thinking was, but I recall that feeling, that taste, her little breakfast nook in Hamlet each time I drink a mug. And maybe that is the magic of coffee. Like Coca-cola, it is embedded in our memories, our childhoods, or best and worst days.

All I know is, when I fill my parents' old "stoned people" mug with French Roast, a few spoonfuls of sugar and top it off with soy milk - I feel like it's going to be a good day. I am going to make it. And, honestly, maybe that's something we could all use every morning.

MR. MOM AGAIN

Or maybe it should say Daddy Boot Camp, Part 2? Anyway, I am home now for a few weeks with Vivi, being the primary caregiver. Karen, our wonderful baby nurse, is off to greener pastures, and I am getting to know this little bundle of joy better. Much of my similar time with Bella is coming back to me. So far I have Vivi on a pretty regular schedule of three naps a day with two hours in between each nap, we go outside, today with toured a grocery store, there's tummy time, activity mat, tennis elbow/shoulder pain from holding her, and tickling. It's all going well. It has been unbearably hot in YC this week, with temperatures around 100 today and yesterday. We opted to get a jumparoo/excersaucer for her - since Bella LOVED hers and it seems like Vivi is ready - but so far she hates it. Bella was the same way at first, so it will take some time.

Anyway, here's a cute photo we snapped the other day. Viv is into grabbing hair, sucking chins (her mommy's), and putting anything that might fit into her mouth. Everyone thinks she looks a lot like Bella, and her hair is coming in blonde. So we'll see what happens...

SISTERS!

Bella holding her brand new sister at the hospital. Note: she is wearing the "Big Sister" shirt that Vivienne brought her.

June 2013 in a large canvas bag.

June 2013: bedtime, but no one looks tired.

GROWING UP QUICK!

These shots of Vivi were taken during May and June of 2013.

Out for a stroll with her baby nurse, Karen.

Ridiculousness. 

Eating mushed up bananas and avocados - and hoisting a foot in the air while she does it!

Vivi started rolling over at three months. Now, in July, she liked to rock on her belly, the first stage of crawling.

VIVIENNE IRIS AVETT

This post begins with an apology to its subject - Vivi. Sweetheart, please try to understand that when you were born on January 28, 2013 and for many months afterward Mommy and Daddy were super busy and super tired. We were living in a small apartment in New York City. Although she was the sweetest little girl imaginable, you sister, Bella, had a lot of attention/spotlight issues. And, sadly, Daddy's computer went on the fritz for a solid month and a half. Thus, there seems to be a lack of posts and photos and videos and attention shown to you in these early months. But let me assure you anything that might be missing from these digital archives was more than made up for with the affection, nestling, soothing, laughing, smiling, singing, reading, changing, walking, exploring, dancing and clapping we all did together. Maybe it is the curse of the second child to not have as many photos taken as the first child did, but honestly, these photos - chronological from the first three months of your life - show a lovely baby who was happy, healthy and already developing a wonderful personality. We will do our best to make it up to you. Signed, Mom, Dad, and Bella

RHYTHM IS GONNA GET YOU!

A CLASSIC image from Bella's tap/jazz class this past semester. The girls were dancing to a Gloria Estefan song. It was just about the cutest thing I saw all month.

TOCA BOCA

A quick plug for a company that is making great phone/pad apps for kids - Toca Boca. There are at least a half dozen different apps out there by this company and none of them are commercial, attempting to sell users/kids anything. They all allow kids to create meals, hairdos, and fashion looks for little animated characters and - as Bella quickly learned - save them as photo files. Here are just a few of the nearly 100 looks Bella has created thus far.