Yoooohooooo
Wooohooooo
Apparently I got a lot to post about, especially since my subject is inspiring, deliciously cute and one hell of a dancer:
One year ago: Ode to Zsa Zsa
Two years ago: Miss Manners
Archive for the 'Brooklyn' Category
First we thought it was just a plain old fever, but having watched Nemo, The Lion King and Pochano (Pinocchio in Nekoese) and having neko cry that she wants to be lay down, I realized something was off (she even refused ice cream):
After a brave visit at the doctor (neko thought it was funny doc was using q-tips in her mouth and not her ears and tickling her with thermometer under her arm) we got a coxsackie diagnosis (say that fast like 8 times). This basically means that we are home bound (hellish heat outside and contagiousness), watching more movies (i’ve got animation overload) and making the most of it, like playing impromptu dress up:
Truthfully, I was kinda worried that this is what brought it all on, but ends up it may just be the sandbox:
One year ago: Crossword Puzzle
Two years ago: Hearty Laughter
The past few weeks have been filled with balls - soccer balls.
Peter spent every chance he got checking scores, watching highlights and sneaking in recorded games late at night.
Soccer fever even touched neko:
Although Peter may have high hopes for her to be the next maradona (although she must be taller than him by now), for now, we cheer on as she learns to kick, but mostly, she likes to straighten up and color coordinate all the cones, over and over.
We turned our backs for a second:
(looks like water is a them everywhere - we want neko to learn to swim like a fish too)
One year ago: moving quickly on the grass
Urban child rearing means (to me at least) having the best NY has to offer: museums, cultural gatherings, friends all over, music, deli on every corner, great food and on and on but it also means: stoops, hauling heavy child with tractor sized stroller on onto subway platform, food shopping 6 miles away and hauling said food up stairs, becoming friends with the UPS guy so he hides packages under the neighbor’s motorcycle awning (shhhhh). A huge help in the schlep less department has been diapers.com. No, I am not benefiting from this post, heck, I didn’t even get a coupon sent to me via email exulting what a loyal customer I have been.
It’s like buying cheese doodles in those giant plastic bins they sell at staples(yeah, i need printer paper and 80 lb of cheese doodles) - we never run out of creams, shampoo, diapers, plastic anything and even boogie wipes (never used these but the concept seems intriguing).
Neko obviously appreciates the monster boxes arriving, on cue, on the 4th of every month. she spends an awful lot of time just climbing in and out and often begs us to push her around like go carts….who needs hand crafted wooden gems when we got cardboard?
One year ago: eating out
We got a glimpse of what our future holds as parents of a teenager this past weekend, hanging with my sista Joy (or Joyeuse as she refers to herself). Although my own memories of that tumultuous period may be slightly tainted, Joy was a real cool house guest and an amazing help.
Plus, neko adores her….I always wonder how these little nose picking sand flinging toddlers can instinctively tell non adults from the wise older ones, and then gravitate to them and have giggle fits?
We shlepped the girls everywhere, beginning with some fish viewing:
Then some tree blossom honey suckle scent laden Brooklyn Botanical Garden visit:
And a first for all the Bernard women, a visit to the circus (and no there are no more scary clowns). Neko was amazed (or maybe just temporarily deafened) and was genuinely excited and giddy, jumping, dancing and followed all the acts with wonder in her eyes. She wouldn’t leave (although I tried to bribe her with more popcorn if we left at intermission) and we stayed the whole 2.5 hours:
In between all that, we also managed to eat quite a bit, sleep and shop a little too! Yeah, Teenagers kick ass!
One year ago: Curry Puff
This past weekend was glorious - New Yorkers peeled off their wintery black layers and everyone was out, in that smiling, happy and kinda glad to be alive mode.
Although neko insisted that she wanted a new toy (she woke up Sunday saying - I wan go sto, buy new teys- yeah- i wan boll pink pwease ima…all voiced in that tiny sweet voice of hers with her funny accent) we diverted her consumerist desires by visiting every local park…pics below basically relay neko park mode - us running after her as she jogs through the various activities, splaying her legs to the side, her hair wild:
Finally, we convinced her that going to feed the animals would be way more fun…(peter did buy her that ball, just so you all know) Again, she ran through the zoo as if she owned the place: looking for ducks and turtles. She even remembered where all the feeding machines were!
Of-course, it rained for next two days straight!
One year ago: At the park and naked
Finding the theme was easy: vilde chaye (a wild beast) is the quintessential neko mode.
Then my mom came as backup troops to help with the decorations:
A few paper cuts later, we proceeded to make cake pops…. yeah, everyone needs those these days! The process was totally hilarious (those swirly wirlies) and the result a success:
Neko woke up and wowed a LOT. She couldn’t believe the amount of animals, colors, balloons and whole wheat bagels all around her:
And then they came - all of neko’s friends and loved ones (she wakes up every day asking to go to one of their homes).
Oh, how happy you made her (and us)!
Thank you for joining and giving and loving and being…
Here is to making it another year….
One year ago: the gremlin theme.
What does any normal parent do to celebrate their child’s second birthday?
Yes, feed them sugar and give them a bunch of unnecessary sneakers and gifts!
We began the morning with singing, blowing out candles (she actually did it) and eating a lot of frosting:
The sugar rush continued at Families First, where neko shared the double layer (my first layer cake ever) chocolate fiesta with everyone and got some hugs kisses and stickers:
Appropriately, we culminated the day with a walk iver to the favorite ice cream parlor, neko screaming the whole way she wanted pink gida (glida=ice cream)…please note the description of her favorite flavor:
She went to bed oblivious to the milestone she had reached that day.
But I passed out proud like any mama hen could be!
One year ago: Birthday Mush Post
It snowed.
A lot.
Since neko woke up demanding to see Ra-Ra (actually she asked to go to her house about 13 times that morning - and it was only 7:35 am), we did what everyone else and their kids was doing that morning and headed to Prospect Park for some snow bunny action.
Neko tackled the mounds of snow without fear, rushing to taste it, falling right into it, and throwing tiny snowballs at me. Mostly she asked for Ra-Ra, whose parents were soliciting locals for help digging themselves a parking spot:
Upon rara’s arrival neko became her giggly self and the two ran and up and down and all around…stopping only to snack (picture virgin white snow studded with raisins) or to lick some ice. The sledding was not so successful (the adults totally loved it) , and even though it seemed the girls kinda liked it (no fearful crying or anyone thrown out of the plastic shield), they refused a second run….the snowball fights were a different story:
Man - I can’t wait for water skiing!
One year ago: Quality Family Time