During our Christmas visit to Aunt Lindsay's in Boston, Bella got acquainted with her step children's Nintendo Wii and its Wii Fit module. For those who might not know: the Wii Fit is a a 2' x 1' platform that the player stands on and uses her feet to move a character through a video game. The idea is that you play a game while burning calories. Nice idea.
So Jen and her mom and I were in the kitchen talking when we got the call to come down to the basement where everyone else was. We found Bella on the Wii Fit platform with a rapt audience glued to her efforts at the virtual obstacle course. 3, 2, 1, Go!
Or head here for the full sized version...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgC1W7WXamM
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
GOODBYE DIAPERS!
For three nights in a row now, Bella slept through the night in her underwear with no pee pee problems in bed (hers or ours)!
Following six nights in a row of dry diapers (two of which involved her getting up from sleep to go pee pee and then going back to bed), we asked her if she was ready to sleep through the night in her underwear when we returned from a trip to Aunt Lindsay's in Boston. We did, and she did! How?
Well, just for our own future reference, Bella has been diaperless during the day since she was 16 months old. But, she's been sleeping in a diaper during the night. But, of course, there were nights when the diaper wasn't on properly or when she drank too much milk or water prior to bedtime, so we had "over pee" wet beds (hers and ours). After a few of these incidents a month ago, I decided that the holidays this year would be a good time to focus on getting Bella out of diapers at night. Jen has some time off from work, and I have about a month off between classes. So if we needed to have a few interrupted/restless nights it might be OK.
So starting a month ago, I started talking to Bella about how she was about to turn three years old and become a big girl, and big girls don't wear diapers to bed. Mommy and daddy and don't wear diapers to bed, just underwear, I pointed out. We also started encouraging her to drink her milk at dinner time, not drink anything at bed time and go pee pee right after she brushed her teeth before bed. Once we got on that track, the dry diapers came naturally.
And when she woke up to go pee pee and then went back to sleep (with one of us rubbing her back to soothe her back to sleep) or when she awoke with a dry diaper we made a big deal of being proud of her. She even bragged about it to people she encountered during the day.
We will keep some diapers around because - as her Nana pointed out - there will be times when she is sick and pees in bed or other setbacks. They are good to have on road trips, too. But, hopefully, for the time being - we are a diaperless family!
Following six nights in a row of dry diapers (two of which involved her getting up from sleep to go pee pee and then going back to bed), we asked her if she was ready to sleep through the night in her underwear when we returned from a trip to Aunt Lindsay's in Boston. We did, and she did! How?
Well, just for our own future reference, Bella has been diaperless during the day since she was 16 months old. But, she's been sleeping in a diaper during the night. But, of course, there were nights when the diaper wasn't on properly or when she drank too much milk or water prior to bedtime, so we had "over pee" wet beds (hers and ours). After a few of these incidents a month ago, I decided that the holidays this year would be a good time to focus on getting Bella out of diapers at night. Jen has some time off from work, and I have about a month off between classes. So if we needed to have a few interrupted/restless nights it might be OK.
So starting a month ago, I started talking to Bella about how she was about to turn three years old and become a big girl, and big girls don't wear diapers to bed. Mommy and daddy and don't wear diapers to bed, just underwear, I pointed out. We also started encouraging her to drink her milk at dinner time, not drink anything at bed time and go pee pee right after she brushed her teeth before bed. Once we got on that track, the dry diapers came naturally.
And when she woke up to go pee pee and then went back to sleep (with one of us rubbing her back to soothe her back to sleep) or when she awoke with a dry diaper we made a big deal of being proud of her. She even bragged about it to people she encountered during the day.
We will keep some diapers around because - as her Nana pointed out - there will be times when she is sick and pees in bed or other setbacks. They are good to have on road trips, too. But, hopefully, for the time being - we are a diaperless family!
Sunday, December 26, 2010
BIRTHDAY FOOTAGE
Highlights (that we got on video, at least) of Bella's third birthday.
She's still opening presents, though! This could go on for another week!
She's still opening presents, though! This could go on for another week!
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
THREE AT LAST! THREE AT LAST!
Bella turned three today, which is kind of remarkable. It seems like she's been a part of our lives for so long, yet she's only been around three years. Here's to hoping the terrible threes never manifest themselves, and that the terrible twos was enough for us. Still, she's been an absolute delight to watch grow, develop and explore. It's been a crazy year for her whole family, and it's nice to end it with gifts and those we love and cake with pink icing. Here's some shots from her special day - which seems to drag on for a week each year since there so many other holiday-related doings going on. We've got video to post, too, plus the much-anticipated Bella: Year Three photo animation thing. Whew!
Bella's mom's friend, Judy, sent a bumblebee backpack to Bella for her birthday. It has transformed Bella, allowing her to live out her most cherished Go Diego Go adventures now that she has her own real backpack. It's always filled with something interesting.
Yes, that's our daughter, smiling, showing off a new dress and hat from Aunt Stephanie, and a new doll from Julie. Say cheese!
Then, today on her birthday, Bella opened gifts from all of her grandparents, her great-grandmothers, all her kitty cat friends. Some gifts have been held in reserve for tomorrow and the next day. We find that helps, and she was so pre-occupied today with her new dresses from Dalton, and her new doll house from upstairs!
And, finally, after a weird dinner of a banana, some rice and beans, and a glass of apple cider, Bella got her birthday cake. Her sweet mom, despite trying to work half the day in our apartment on contentious issues on the job, managed to bake and decorate the cake (and a few cupcakes). Bella blew out her three candles and then started licking the icing off cupcakes. Needless to say, she konked out about an hour later (no nap today) and [DRUMROLL] just woke up and 2.5 hours to tell me she needed to go pee-pee! And she's had a dry diaper the last two night, too! Maybe she is finally a big girl and the diapers are no longer needed - ever!?
Bella's mom's friend, Judy, sent a bumblebee backpack to Bella for her birthday. It has transformed Bella, allowing her to live out her most cherished Go Diego Go adventures now that she has her own real backpack. It's always filled with something interesting.
Yes, that's our daughter, smiling, showing off a new dress and hat from Aunt Stephanie, and a new doll from Julie. Say cheese!
Then, today on her birthday, Bella opened gifts from all of her grandparents, her great-grandmothers, all her kitty cat friends. Some gifts have been held in reserve for tomorrow and the next day. We find that helps, and she was so pre-occupied today with her new dresses from Dalton, and her new doll house from upstairs!
And, finally, after a weird dinner of a banana, some rice and beans, and a glass of apple cider, Bella got her birthday cake. Her sweet mom, despite trying to work half the day in our apartment on contentious issues on the job, managed to bake and decorate the cake (and a few cupcakes). Bella blew out her three candles and then started licking the icing off cupcakes. Needless to say, she konked out about an hour later (no nap today) and [DRUMROLL] just woke up and 2.5 hours to tell me she needed to go pee-pee! And she's had a dry diaper the last two night, too! Maybe she is finally a big girl and the diapers are no longer needed - ever!?
Sunday, December 19, 2010
PROUD PARENTS
Let the record show that at 10:20 on December 19, 2010, Bella woke up after being asleep for about three hours, walked to the bathroom and started pulling her diaper off in order to use the toilet. Then her mommy helped her go back to sleep without a hitch.
HOORAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As her mom noted, it had been a trying day. Bella is having trouble listening to directions and suggestions, and really wants to do things her way. But we have been talking with her about how she needs to start getting up out of bed to go to the bathroom if she needs to use it during the night rather than going in her diaper. Perhaps - perhaps! - the is the first step.
HOORAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As her mom noted, it had been a trying day. Bella is having trouble listening to directions and suggestions, and really wants to do things her way. But we have been talking with her about how she needs to start getting up out of bed to go to the bathroom if she needs to use it during the night rather than going in her diaper. Perhaps - perhaps! - the is the first step.
Monday, December 13, 2010
SEA HORSES
Maybe that's one word. Don't know. [UPDATE: It is one word, thanks Rebecca!]
But I want to note that for over a year now we've been asking Bella during breakfast if she had any dreams during the night, and usually (it seems to her dad) she makes something up on the spot about horse, ponies, giraffes, cats, etc. But for the last month or so, any dream she talks about involve pretty much only sea horses. Some of them are big, big, big! And all of them are different colors. She seems to dream a lot about water. Could be a "Finding Nemo" thing, but I wanted to write this down before she moves on to the next dream imagery.
But I want to note that for over a year now we've been asking Bella during breakfast if she had any dreams during the night, and usually (it seems to her dad) she makes something up on the spot about horse, ponies, giraffes, cats, etc. But for the last month or so, any dream she talks about involve pretty much only sea horses. Some of them are big, big, big! And all of them are different colors. She seems to dream a lot about water. Could be a "Finding Nemo" thing, but I wanted to write this down before she moves on to the next dream imagery.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
PARADE OF CHARACTERS
I feel the need to write, since I've basically been posting photos and videos for a long while now.
One thing that has become nearly impossible to control since we moved to New York City is Bella's exposure to advertising and pop culture. It is literally everywhere one turns up here: on the sides of buses, on the sides of phone booths, on the subways trains and platforms, in store windows, on children's backpacks, you name it. So Bella immediately hones in on new movies that are coming out and surprises her parents when she seems to know that a movie about owls or bears or girl princesses is coming out just because she's noticed the new ads up and we haven't.
As a result, she has come to learn the names of many characters and shows and products. This, seemingly, cannot be helped. So we roll with it and try to make the best of it, prodding her toward the characters who actually might teach her something and away from those that only exist to sell merchandise or entertain.
All of that goes out the window on Thanksgiving Day when we MUST walk a few blocks to Central Park and take in the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. It is cold, but not terribly cold this year. And by the time we get a move on and get over there, the crowds are in place. The best hope for viewing is for Bella to climb into our backpack carrier and get her dad to make his way as far forward as he can. From there, we can see the tops of the heads of marching bands, most of the float, and every bit of the humongous inflatable characters. Bella knew almost all of them and looked with anticipation as they came into view around the corner of a building.
This presentation only gives you half of the screen for some reason, so you can go to Youtube and see the full shots if you wanna.
One thing that has become nearly impossible to control since we moved to New York City is Bella's exposure to advertising and pop culture. It is literally everywhere one turns up here: on the sides of buses, on the sides of phone booths, on the subways trains and platforms, in store windows, on children's backpacks, you name it. So Bella immediately hones in on new movies that are coming out and surprises her parents when she seems to know that a movie about owls or bears or girl princesses is coming out just because she's noticed the new ads up and we haven't.
As a result, she has come to learn the names of many characters and shows and products. This, seemingly, cannot be helped. So we roll with it and try to make the best of it, prodding her toward the characters who actually might teach her something and away from those that only exist to sell merchandise or entertain.
All of that goes out the window on Thanksgiving Day when we MUST walk a few blocks to Central Park and take in the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. It is cold, but not terribly cold this year. And by the time we get a move on and get over there, the crowds are in place. The best hope for viewing is for Bella to climb into our backpack carrier and get her dad to make his way as far forward as he can. From there, we can see the tops of the heads of marching bands, most of the float, and every bit of the humongous inflatable characters. Bella knew almost all of them and looked with anticipation as they came into view around the corner of a building.
This presentation only gives you half of the screen for some reason, so you can go to Youtube and see the full shots if you wanna.
Friday, December 3, 2010
NOVEMBER PHOTOS
Haven't done this in a while, so here are some random snaps of Bella from November.
She found my funny glasses!
Jen has been trying to take photos of Bells before school each morning. Bella picks out her own outfits, and lately that has meant tights, a skirt, a dress and a shirt - maybe with a ribbon in the hair or leg warmers.
Bella was fascinated for a day or two by this little dancing girl I bought in Europe years ago. It has a tiny magnet hidden in its base and when placed near a tiny mirror (back with a magnet) that came with it, the dancer spins around. It was a lot of fun until it was left on the floor. Now it's back in hiding for a while.
She found my funny glasses!
Jen has been trying to take photos of Bells before school each morning. Bella picks out her own outfits, and lately that has meant tights, a skirt, a dress and a shirt - maybe with a ribbon in the hair or leg warmers.
Bella was fascinated for a day or two by this little dancing girl I bought in Europe years ago. It has a tiny magnet hidden in its base and when placed near a tiny mirror (back with a magnet) that came with it, the dancer spins around. It was a lot of fun until it was left on the floor. Now it's back in hiding for a while.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
HALLOWEEN!
Bella took flight for Halloween as a blue butterfly this year. Initially, she wanted to be Spiderman. Then she changed that to Spidermangirl, and Izzy and Bud made her a great costume for that role. Then she added butterfly to the mix, so she was to be Spidermangirlbutterfly. But in the end, only the butterfly part stuck, try as we might to get her to wear the whole ensemble.
So Bella's parents collaborated on a large pair of butterfly wings and draped blue tulle all over them and then tied them on. She took a test flight (above), and then the day before Halloween got all dressed up the way she wanted to (below). She was a very excited blue butterfly!
Her first stop as a blue butterfly was her great grandmother, Mee-ma's, house on Long Island, followed by a trip to the local country club and a Halloween carnival alongside her cousin, Grace. Bella got her face painted to look even more like a butterfly.
Then she and her cousins danced with the group, went on a slow-moving hayride, ate cupcakes and ran around like butterflies and Yo Gabba Gabba creatures.
On Halloween day, Bella took her parents out to Brooklyn to meet up with Grady, Simone, and Baby Navah and her parents, Julie & Michael. The whole group walked the streets, stopping periodically for Bella to go into a store or onto a stoop to say "trick or treat." The first place she did this - her first trick or treating success - was at a bakery and coffee shop where she got a small cookie. She came back outside, excited, and sat in her stroller to eat it.
Each time she stopped to trick or treat for candy, she came back to eat that piece, and when she was done - a block later - she'd want back out of her stroller to go ask for another piece of candy from some store or brownstone. There were a ton of kids and parents out with lots of great costumes. At the end of the afternoon, we all ran across Benjamin and his parents, Erin & Matt. Benjamin was dressed as a train conductor and Matt had crafted a wagon/locomotive for him to use in trick or treating.
Then it was back home to trick or treat briefly in our apartment building, and then off to bed with visions of lollipops, chocolates and cookies dancing in Bella's head!
Friday, November 5, 2010
APPLE PICKIN'!
The weekend before Halloween, Bella and her parents and Nunya and Nana traveled to western Pennsylvania to spend some time with Bella's Aunt Stephanie and Uncle Tony and her cousins, Wyatt and Travis. As part of that excursion, Bella FINALLY got to go apple picking. She had been hot to trot about apple picking for weeks some reason, so she was thrilled to get a chance to finally get a basket and go get apples.
The adventure began with a slow-moving - though thrilling - tractor ride from the parking area to the part of the orchard where the apples were ripest. There's a photo here of all three cousins and Nunya & Nana on the wagon-pulled contraption. Once in the orchard proper, Bella started grabbing apples off the ground and from low branches on the trees. It was a beautiful day for it. Then she saw her older cousin, Wyatt, climbing a ladder to pick apples in the tops of the trees. So Bella had to do that, too, and did so with no injury or parental heart attacks.
Once the apple picking wound down, Bella and Wyatt had a blast for a few minutes sticking paper grocery bags over their heads and running around. The photo does not convey the true hilariousness of their bag antics. Wyatt was talking in a robot voice, and Bella was running around somehow able to "see" where the trees were and avoid them.
Back at the orchard building, we paid for 33 pounds of the most delicious apples we'd ever had and then enjoyed apple cider donuts. Highly recommend those.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
EAT YOUR HEART OUT MARTHA STEWART!
A few weeks ago, we had Nunya and Nana over for dinner. We asked Bella to help set the table - actually, we just asked her to get spoons for everyone since she can reach those pretty easily in the front of the silverware drawer in our kitchen. What followed was essentially a clearing out of said drawer by Bella so that - as you can see - everyone had plenty of options when it came time to eat their food, including chopsticks!
Thursday, October 28, 2010
IZZY & BUD IN THE BIG APPLE
Bella (and her parents) had the rare treat of a visit to New York City by Izzy and Bud, who came up from Dalton to visit in early October. Izzy was in town for a week and a half, and Bud was here for a week. So they got lots of time with Bella to explore the city and see her school and visit Hippo Park.
The first day that Izzy was in town coincided with a school-wide picnic in the crabapple orchard of Riverside Park. She went with Bella and her dad and really enjoyed running around with her friends Colin and Jean Michael. Here's a snapshot of Bella and Jean Michael having a brief picnic on Bella's cat blanket. They soon got up, took their raisin boxes, and ran around snacking in different parts of the orchard.
Bella also took her parents and Izzy and Bud to Central Park for a long walk there. Beforehand, they all got hamburgers and fries from The Shake Shack and ate lunch outside the Museum of Natural History. In the park, Bella had fun jumping high with her parents' help (see below), watching little motorized boats in a pool, picking berries and flowers and listening to some drummers. It was an unseasonably beautiful weekend, and we were all glad to enjoy the weather together.
Bella was out of school one day while Izzy and Bud were in town, so they took her to one her favorite spots: the Central Park Zoo. They had lunch there, and saw the polar bears and penguins and seals. And then Bella got to play in a large dinosaur egg and goof off with this rabbit statue.
All in all, it was a wonderful week and a half for all involved, and we're ready to do it again soon!
The first day that Izzy was in town coincided with a school-wide picnic in the crabapple orchard of Riverside Park. She went with Bella and her dad and really enjoyed running around with her friends Colin and Jean Michael. Here's a snapshot of Bella and Jean Michael having a brief picnic on Bella's cat blanket. They soon got up, took their raisin boxes, and ran around snacking in different parts of the orchard.
Bella also took her parents and Izzy and Bud to Central Park for a long walk there. Beforehand, they all got hamburgers and fries from The Shake Shack and ate lunch outside the Museum of Natural History. In the park, Bella had fun jumping high with her parents' help (see below), watching little motorized boats in a pool, picking berries and flowers and listening to some drummers. It was an unseasonably beautiful weekend, and we were all glad to enjoy the weather together.
Bella was out of school one day while Izzy and Bud were in town, so they took her to one her favorite spots: the Central Park Zoo. They had lunch there, and saw the polar bears and penguins and seals. And then Bella got to play in a large dinosaur egg and goof off with this rabbit statue.
All in all, it was a wonderful week and a half for all involved, and we're ready to do it again soon!
Thursday, October 21, 2010
2 & 3/4
In addition to her name, Bella now tells people she meets that she is "two-and-three-quarters."
Actually, she tells people she meets on the street or in the building or in a restaurant or on a train or at the park a lot of things these days. Mostly, its a blow by blow recap of what's just happened to her, or it could be about what she is looking forward to doing after school or tomorrow, or it could be about her grandparents' whereabouts and when she'll visit them again. And honestly, most of these folks are kind enough to stop and listen as closely as they can and try to make sense of what she's telling them. They are also amazed usually by how social and conversational she is at such a young age.
So are we.
Actually, she tells people she meets on the street or in the building or in a restaurant or on a train or at the park a lot of things these days. Mostly, its a blow by blow recap of what's just happened to her, or it could be about what she is looking forward to doing after school or tomorrow, or it could be about her grandparents' whereabouts and when she'll visit them again. And honestly, most of these folks are kind enough to stop and listen as closely as they can and try to make sense of what she's telling them. They are also amazed usually by how social and conversational she is at such a young age.
So are we.
Monday, October 18, 2010
STORM KING!
On October 3, Bella and her parents loaded up in the family truckster and drove up the beautiful - and all too close to the city - Palisades Parkway to visit the Storm King Art Center an hour north of NYC. Storm King is a sprawling outdoor sculpture garden housing gigantic works and many smaller, more subtle pieces by well-known and obscure artists. It was worth it just to get out of the city for a few hours and enjoy the gorgeous fall weather and amazing views at every turn. It was also worth it because we met three other families there with small children. Bella's favorite though was Anna, who is a year older than her. But they had a blast running around the wide open spaces. Anna is an amazing frisbee thrower, and Bella thinks the philosophy behind frisbee is to get the disc and then run away with it. So there was a little friction from time to time, but they had a great day together and both girls want to hang out more often. Maybe Halloween?
Here's some shots from Storm King: one with Bella and Anna on a boulder, one of Maya Lin's "Wavefield" piece, one of a little impromptu picnic we all had, and one of some sculpture set against an amazing backdrop of clouds. We're ready to go back!
Here's some shots from Storm King: one with Bella and Anna on a boulder, one of Maya Lin's "Wavefield" piece, one of a little impromptu picnic we all had, and one of some sculpture set against an amazing backdrop of clouds. We're ready to go back!
Saturday, October 16, 2010
SCOOTERING SARAH SZE
October 2 was a big day for Bella. It was a Saturday, so we made pancakes for breakfast. We've got a good system down in which she helps measure and pour the pancake mix, milk and oil and then shakes in cinnamon. Then she mixes up the batter and sticks her finger in to taste. Then we make some pancakes and she gets the first one and takes it to the table to await syrup. Then we eat pancakes.
But on October 2, Bella's mom had promised to get her a Mini Kick push scooter. She had been asking for a scooter for months, and lots of kids around her have them - zipping along the sidewalks, criss-crossing the park, even riding them to school. So we all went to the toy store on Amerstdam Avenue that we like so much. Bella wanted a pink scooter, but they only had blue or orange available. We asked and she wanted a scooter that day, so she chose the orange one. $80 later, we were on the street taking the scooter out of the box, quickly assembling it, and strapping on Bella's helmet.
Having never ridden a scooter before, we weren't sure what we were getting into. But, remarkably, she never fell over or off. Bella had trouble steering the scooter - by leaning the handle bar one way or the other - but she quickly figured out the brake and really loved it. It was slow going though, since she wasn't steering she could only scoot for a few feet before she had to stop, pick up the scooter, move it over and start again.
Her dad wanted to go down to Chelsea to see the new Sarah Sze show on 21st Street. He had waited nearly 10 years for another show by one of his favorite visual artists, and was hyped to get there. His friend, Adam, the Brooklyn dodger, was going to meet him there to check the show, too. So I offered to Bella that we hop on the choo choo and go downtown where the streets were more level and the scooting would be easier. She agreed and when we got out of the train, she started scooting through the West Village and Chelsea, eliciting fans at every other stoop we passed. When we finally got to the gallery district, Bella sensed something was up and said she didn't want to go see any art.
Fortunately, from the door of the gallery where the Sze show was, we could see one of her small installations: two fluorescent-colored bike frames and two small stacks of colored adhesive tape rolls. I pointed them out to Bella, and she was hooked. We went in, I explained that she couldn't touch anything, we found Adam, and then went into the first room of the exhibition. Bella was entranced by Sze's assemblage of tiny pebbles, some of which were painted at one end, and all laid on the floor in a meticulous pattern that barely hinted at the beehive of construction Sze had assembled as the main portion of the leaning piece that spread out throughout the room.
Here are shots of two of Sze's installations at the gallery. Bella's grandmother, Izzy, visiting the show last week as well, and snapped these shots. Amazing, right?
Of particular pride for Bella's dad was that he set Bella's scooter and helmet in one corner of the first room of the exhibition so Bella and he could move about unencumbered. And when we went upstairs to see the rest of the show, we grabbed them and brought them with us. A man on the staircase saw us with them, and said he thought the items were part of Sze's first installation. Imagine! Me mistaken for a great artist!
After the Sze show, Bella and her dad and Adam walked around Chelsea a bit (well, Bella scooted) and we snapped these pics beside a cool street art covered wall. Bella actually requested the shot be taken of her next to the weird doggie face.
But on October 2, Bella's mom had promised to get her a Mini Kick push scooter. She had been asking for a scooter for months, and lots of kids around her have them - zipping along the sidewalks, criss-crossing the park, even riding them to school. So we all went to the toy store on Amerstdam Avenue that we like so much. Bella wanted a pink scooter, but they only had blue or orange available. We asked and she wanted a scooter that day, so she chose the orange one. $80 later, we were on the street taking the scooter out of the box, quickly assembling it, and strapping on Bella's helmet.
Having never ridden a scooter before, we weren't sure what we were getting into. But, remarkably, she never fell over or off. Bella had trouble steering the scooter - by leaning the handle bar one way or the other - but she quickly figured out the brake and really loved it. It was slow going though, since she wasn't steering she could only scoot for a few feet before she had to stop, pick up the scooter, move it over and start again.
Her dad wanted to go down to Chelsea to see the new Sarah Sze show on 21st Street. He had waited nearly 10 years for another show by one of his favorite visual artists, and was hyped to get there. His friend, Adam, the Brooklyn dodger, was going to meet him there to check the show, too. So I offered to Bella that we hop on the choo choo and go downtown where the streets were more level and the scooting would be easier. She agreed and when we got out of the train, she started scooting through the West Village and Chelsea, eliciting fans at every other stoop we passed. When we finally got to the gallery district, Bella sensed something was up and said she didn't want to go see any art.
Fortunately, from the door of the gallery where the Sze show was, we could see one of her small installations: two fluorescent-colored bike frames and two small stacks of colored adhesive tape rolls. I pointed them out to Bella, and she was hooked. We went in, I explained that she couldn't touch anything, we found Adam, and then went into the first room of the exhibition. Bella was entranced by Sze's assemblage of tiny pebbles, some of which were painted at one end, and all laid on the floor in a meticulous pattern that barely hinted at the beehive of construction Sze had assembled as the main portion of the leaning piece that spread out throughout the room.
Here are shots of two of Sze's installations at the gallery. Bella's grandmother, Izzy, visiting the show last week as well, and snapped these shots. Amazing, right?
Of particular pride for Bella's dad was that he set Bella's scooter and helmet in one corner of the first room of the exhibition so Bella and he could move about unencumbered. And when we went upstairs to see the rest of the show, we grabbed them and brought them with us. A man on the staircase saw us with them, and said he thought the items were part of Sze's first installation. Imagine! Me mistaken for a great artist!
After the Sze show, Bella and her dad and Adam walked around Chelsea a bit (well, Bella scooted) and we snapped these pics beside a cool street art covered wall. Bella actually requested the shot be taken of her next to the weird doggie face.
Monday, October 11, 2010
TRIP TO WASHINGTON
A few weeks ago - I'm behind! - Bella and her dad loaded up the car and drove down through New Jersey to Cape May where we very excitedly drove onto a big boat that then took us and about 100 other cars and passengers across the water to Delaware. Bella was very pumped up about being on the big boat and wanted to see every inch of it. But then she stumbled on a step and fell to her knees on the gritty surface of the ferry's deck. That ended the joyfulness of the boat ride, but we still managed to have fun seeing other big boats in the water, and talking about the round life preservers affixed every 20 feet along the railing. Bella wanted to jump in the water so she could use one like Curious George does in his first book. But her dad talked her out of it. The video of this conversation is a little to wind-blown to be worth posting here, and the only photos taken on that part of the trip were of her knees.
So we'll move on.
We spent the night in Rehobeth Beach, Delaware mainly so Bella's dad could go to the Dogfish Head Brewery and restaurant. The glass of 75 Minute Pale Ale made the whole drive. ferry mishap and weird hotel we picked to stay in worth it. Ah!
The next morning, we drove into Washington, D.C. to arrive at Uncle Reid and Aunt Claire's house. It was the weekend of Cousin Til's christening, and Bella's grandparents, Izzy & Bud, were already there along with some of Reid's old friends and their families. Among them were John and Stephanie and their girls, Graham and Sumner. Bella had a good time playing with the girls - one just older and one just younger than her. She also got to see Uncle Boo, the great dane, and stay up late to have dinner out with everyone.
The next day, we all went to church for the service, and Bella behaved herself very well, talking quietly and drawing on any piece of paper she could get her hands on. She refused to stay seated during the christening itself, so her dad held her up at the front of the church and she only dropped her crayon three times. Then it was back to Reid and Claire's for a brunch and running around before we got back in the car and drove back to NYC and mommy!
In the photos below, you see Bella with Graham, the older sister who was visiting. She and Bella had a love/hate thing going on, but when they were loving one another they had a blast running around the yard, sharing orange juice and eating snacks.
So we'll move on.
We spent the night in Rehobeth Beach, Delaware mainly so Bella's dad could go to the Dogfish Head Brewery and restaurant. The glass of 75 Minute Pale Ale made the whole drive. ferry mishap and weird hotel we picked to stay in worth it. Ah!
The next morning, we drove into Washington, D.C. to arrive at Uncle Reid and Aunt Claire's house. It was the weekend of Cousin Til's christening, and Bella's grandparents, Izzy & Bud, were already there along with some of Reid's old friends and their families. Among them were John and Stephanie and their girls, Graham and Sumner. Bella had a good time playing with the girls - one just older and one just younger than her. She also got to see Uncle Boo, the great dane, and stay up late to have dinner out with everyone.
The next day, we all went to church for the service, and Bella behaved herself very well, talking quietly and drawing on any piece of paper she could get her hands on. She refused to stay seated during the christening itself, so her dad held her up at the front of the church and she only dropped her crayon three times. Then it was back to Reid and Claire's for a brunch and running around before we got back in the car and drove back to NYC and mommy!
In the photos below, you see Bella with Graham, the older sister who was visiting. She and Bella had a love/hate thing going on, but when they were loving one another they had a blast running around the yard, sharing orange juice and eating snacks.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
SCHOOL UNIFORMS
Bella's mommy has been taking a few snapshots of Bells before she goes off to school every morning. Here are a few choice selections. Keep in mind that Bella is usually picking her own outfits out. And her animal friend in the last two shots is Baby Sheep, who often accompanies Bella to school.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
MOMENTS LIKE THESE
are why we keep a blog.
1.
Eating in the basement of the Shake Shack a few weeks ago, there was a TV on playing some football preview show. Bella's dad was watching a bit of it, and Bella suddenly noticed it in between bites of her hot dog. They were showing clip after clip of some good tackling that had been going on. Bella saw a player knock another one to the ground and said, "Oh no!." Then she saw another tackle. "Oh no! Mommy, he knocked that man down!" She was very concerned about this. Then another tackle. "He not supposed to do that!" she said to us all. It made me wonder who had a better grasp of football: me for thinking those were tackles, or Bella for thinking it was wrong to knock someone down like that.
2.
At a little party for our friends' twins in Brooklyn, Bella was focused on the cupcake she was sure she would get, When she finally got it, she licked the icing, took a bite of the cake, and then announced to her dad that she was done. "No way," I said. "Yes way," she replied.
3.
Bella developed a funny "chk-chk" sound that she makes when she is satisfied about something. It's the sound that you make when you put your tongue against your front teeth and suck: "chk." So now when she finds something she was looking for, or gets an answer correct or completes some task, she signals her satisfaction with her "chk-chk-chk" sound.
4.
Today on the way to school, Bella and her mom paused to watch garbage trucks in action. They continued on, but Bella told her mom, "I have to go back to do something." So they walked back to where the garbage men were working, and Bella said, "Excuse me. Excuse me. You need to wash your hands when you're done."
1.
Eating in the basement of the Shake Shack a few weeks ago, there was a TV on playing some football preview show. Bella's dad was watching a bit of it, and Bella suddenly noticed it in between bites of her hot dog. They were showing clip after clip of some good tackling that had been going on. Bella saw a player knock another one to the ground and said, "Oh no!." Then she saw another tackle. "Oh no! Mommy, he knocked that man down!" She was very concerned about this. Then another tackle. "He not supposed to do that!" she said to us all. It made me wonder who had a better grasp of football: me for thinking those were tackles, or Bella for thinking it was wrong to knock someone down like that.
2.
At a little party for our friends' twins in Brooklyn, Bella was focused on the cupcake she was sure she would get, When she finally got it, she licked the icing, took a bite of the cake, and then announced to her dad that she was done. "No way," I said. "Yes way," she replied.
3.
Bella developed a funny "chk-chk" sound that she makes when she is satisfied about something. It's the sound that you make when you put your tongue against your front teeth and suck: "chk." So now when she finds something she was looking for, or gets an answer correct or completes some task, she signals her satisfaction with her "chk-chk-chk" sound.
4.
Today on the way to school, Bella and her mom paused to watch garbage trucks in action. They continued on, but Bella told her mom, "I have to go back to do something." So they walked back to where the garbage men were working, and Bella said, "Excuse me. Excuse me. You need to wash your hands when you're done."
Friday, September 10, 2010
DIEGO, DORA & BELLA
Bella has become a big fan of Dora the Explorer and (especially) Go Diego Go. She is now allowed to watch one program a day on the computer, and typically chooses a Diego episode. Baby Jaguar is her favorite. So today we went to the Childrens Museum of Manhattan, which is about 10 blocks from our apartment, where they had a floor of nothing but Diego and Dora activities for kids. Let's take a look!
Bella with Diego and Baby Jaguar.
Working at Boots' fruit stand.
Say click! Take a pic!
And finally with her dad's favorite character, Swiper Fox.
Swiper, no swiping!
Bella with Diego and Baby Jaguar.
Working at Boots' fruit stand.
Say click! Take a pic!
And finally with her dad's favorite character, Swiper Fox.
Swiper, no swiping!
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Monday, August 9, 2010
MEET YOUR COUSIN!
Bella finally made it to Washington, D.C. last weekend to meet her new cousin, Tilghman! It was love at first sight for all involved, as Til is a real cutie pie! Her uncle Reid and Aunt Claire and Uncle Boo were gracious hosts, showed Bella to the nearby playground, let her play in Til's pack-n-play, make pizza, make another pizza, and plant "bananas" in Bella's own special garden. She even got to try her hand a mini-lacrosse! What a great weekend!
Bells with Uncle Boo.
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