Photo of the Day: 05.30.11

Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? Alexa Bexa! Isn't she looking purdy in her pineapple swimsuit? This is under our tent at the beach. Yes, we tried again and succeeded this time, but we stayed closer to home so Malibu will have to wait for another weekend. Saying we tried is a little misleading, though ... we actually came to the beach to go for a stroll. But when we got there it was a glorious morning and we just had to stay, making do with what we had packed in the car from the day before. We were missing the big bag with our sunscreen, extra diapers and towels, though. Alexa was smart and stayed inside the tent. Her mommy and daddy ended up with burns. Ouch! And this was after the two of us depleted Alexa's entire emergency sunblock stash of SPF 50+. That Southern California sun is unrelenting. Afterward we grilled up some steak and chicken for our first "summer" barbecue of the year. An absolutely splendid Memorial Day.

First day at the beach is a milestone worthy of the baby book, right?

Photo of the Day: 05.29.11

We packed up the car with half of our belongings and drove all the way to Malibu. But we should've checked the weather report first. We were greeted with huge whitecaps, empty beaches and large gusts of wind. H got out of the car to "investigate" our options. "If it's hard for a human to stand up, I doubt our tent would make it," he assessed. Instead we took the scenic route into the valley along Malibu Canyon Road, where the mountains were green and the skies blue. We camped out at a surfer joint for dinner, where I ate a Hawaiian veggie burger and Alexa watched surfers hit the waves on giant flatscreens near our booth. Do we have a surfer girl in the making?

Fashion Forward: Mint + Navy

I love piers. There's something about walking out OVER the ocean that makes me feel powerful, like She-Ra. Back when I lived in Myrtle Beach there were lots of wooden ones, and each step you could look through and see the water moving underneath you. The one in Manhattan Beach here is paved, but it has the most gorgeous railing in the shade of mint green. I noticed it juxtaposed with the deep navy blue of the incoming waves and had a dash of inspiration: mint + navy. Yes? No?

What if you had a navy dress ...

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... and paired it with mint accessories?

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Photo of the Day: 05.28.11

Jacarandas! This is my favorite time of the year here in Los Angeles. These trees can make even the blandest mini mall parking lots beautiful, dontcha think? Days like this call for bookstore browsing and ice-blended chais. So that's what we did. Well, Alexa had milk and H had a cookies and cream frappuccino. But I had an ice-blended chai.



A few clicks?

Photoshoot: 4 Months Old

Baby girl turned 4 months old on May 28. Each month on the 28th I plan to take a photoshoot with Miss Alexa and her owl to mark her growth because, as everyone likes to remind me, "they're only little for a short while."

She's squarely in the 3-6 month clothing range now (even though from time to time I can sneak a 0-3 bubble romper on her as long as I leave a few snaps unsnapped so they don't squeeze her legs). Her checkup is on Tuesday, so I'll know official stats later. BUT. I can tell you that she is getting tall. I've been taking these monthly photos on top of our bed and it hasn't been an issue to get her full body in the frame -- that is, up until now.

This little squirmer is getting more active. She's grabbing that owl, giggling a lot, kicking her legs and reaching out to touch her toes.

She's still drinking milk and only milk. She's showing signs that she's ready for food, including reaching out for my smoothies and egg sandwiches, but I'm going to wait as long as possible because (on top of the usual reasons and studies and whatnot) feeding her sounds like a mess.

Update with stats: 15 lbs. 12 oz., 24 inches long, excellent healthy baby!

Past months: 1 month old  •  2 months old  •  3 months old

Photoshoot: I Scream for Ice Cream

Sometimes living by the beach isn't such a bad life, eh?

Steppin' Out

What Alexa wore

Vintage sailor dress: Opal Vintage

What I wore

Purple dress: Ross

Cardigan: TJ Maxx

Necklace + Ring: c/o Minzer

Shoes: Thrifted

This was one of those days when I definitely thought I looked better than I did. This dress is soooo comfortable, being a stretchy knit and all. I wore it through nine months of pregnancy. And maybe that's what did it in. I spared you the full-body shots (whew, thanks, you say). Without any visuals, let's just say it was a little loose in certain areas and perhaps even indecent in others (hi, cleavage). Faults aside I'm not convinced that I want to retire it from my repertoire just yet. Because it's so damn comfy.

Anyway, this is what we wore out for tea and thrifting on Saturday afternoon.

Isn't Alexa's sailor dress darling? It's from none other than Mandy's vintage shop. She sent it with a little nautical card that was so thoughtful and cute. Thanks, Mandy!

I first saw Minzer at Unique L.A., but the booth was overrun by people while I was there so I ordered a rope + fiber necklace later, which will be seen in a later post I'm sure. Imagine my delight to find these lovely extras in the package I received yesterday. You can't see great detail, but the felted ring is adorned with a little buffalo coin and that necklace? It stayed on all day. Baby nor weather nor wind bothered it! Accomplishment indeed.

Baby Talk

Dear Baby Alexa,

Seventeen weeks old. This has been one happening week. You surprised us Monday evening by rolling over from your tummy to your back THREE TIMES. We were so excited. You were so excited. We were all so excited that you wouldn't fall asleep until 11 p.m.

You waited a few more days to do it again, but now you're pretty pleased with yourself and it's becoming old hat. This morning you turned halfway over from your back, so it's only a matter of time before we won't be able to turn our backs on you for even a second without you rolling all over the place.

You've started squealing with delight and sometimes with annoyance. Your drooling is reaching epic proportions. Most of your cute outfits are topped with a bib just to contain all that drool. Oh, and our little raspberry is now blowing raspberries. It's soooo cute.

You are finally starting to outgrow swaddling. You have been sleeping with one arm out this past week. Sometimes you need help going to sleep, and Mommy or Daddy holds that little exposed hand while you drift off.

Daddy just finished putting together your jumperoo while you nap. We are sitting on pins and needles, waiting for you to wake up so you can test it out. We have a hunch you are going to love it.

Things you love: "standing," going for car rides, looking around, sitting in your Bumbo, chewing on spit rags (or dresses, or blankets, anything that's not nailed down), your after-bath massage, the octopus that hangs above your bathtub, your new Blabla doll

Things you hate: reclining -- you want to be upright ALL THE TIME

Xoxo,
Mommy

Photo of the Day: 05.27.11

There's only one thing better than one trip to Target. TWO trips to Target. First that cat of ours is eating enough for a small army of cats, so Alexa and I scurried out for some food for Q before we got eaten. Then H returned home to announce that he needed deodorant, and back to the store we went. I might add that we went to two different stores. Y'know, so it's not as obvious to the employees that we live there.


Your votes make me smile almost as much as Target.

Photo of the Day: 05.26.11

What a fun day! On the search for gelato for my 32 Before 33 list, and we stumble upon this ice creamery in Manhattan Beach. Not exactly the gelato I was looking for but tasty nonetheless. I opted for a mint ice cream cookie sandwich and H sampled a pistachio shake. Next time we'll definitely try a frozen banana.


Couple clicks?

Media Minded: Cute Cats

I was on the hunt for a concert we could jam to tonight, but instead I found this video and HAD to share it with the 0.01 percent of you who haven't seen it yet. And really, you must rewatch it. It's cuteness squared.

There's far too much math in this post about cute kitties.

Flickr Fridays #111

1. a pretty cookie presentation, 2. estate sale tape recorder box, 3. May 27 - papaya, 4. Badges, 5. Untitled, 6. Catch the Sun

Happy Friday, friends! Hope you have some fabulous plans in store for the holiday weekend. We are hoping to take baby girl to the beach for a full afternoon. She has been to the beach before, but only for an hour at a time. We are hoping she's ready for the challenge and that she'll be able to take a nap even with all the excitement of the sand, sun and water. Keep your fingers crossed for us, and do share any tricks for keeping babies happy at the beach if you've got 'em.

Tune Time: Nursery Rhymes

I was just sitting with Miss Alexa and humming some nonsense tune to her after exhausting all my favorite Beatles songs (my first line of defense) when I realized how few nursery rhymes and songs I really know. So I did what any good mother would do: I googled them.

And can I ask you why we're singing our children such depressing songs?

I mean, I know about "Ring Around the Rosie" and how it may or may not have something to do with the Black Plague. Regardless of the origin of the song, the words "ashes to ashes we all fall down" are pretty bleak. And I also realize that "You Are My Sunshine" is about the loss of a loved one.

On top of these there are tons of songs about people getting physically injured.

Jack and Jill are falling down the hill. The old man is bumping his head and not able to get out of bed. The baby's cradle is falling out of the tree. Humpty Dumpty is breaking to pieces, never to be mended.

But then I came across "Oh My Darling Clementine," a tune I remember fondly from my childhood, but I only remember the chorus. It's a good thing, too, because the song is the most depressing thing ever, about a miner's daughter who fell into the "brine" and drowned.

O.M.G.

I think I'd rather continue to sing Beatles songs to Alexa. At least I can back messages like "All You Need Is Love" and "I Wanna Hold Your Hand."


^^ Love, love me, do. You know I love you. I'll always be true. So please ... love me, do. ^^

Photo of the Day: 05.25.11

Ever since Alexa rolled over three times she refuses to do it again. Is this normal? I put her down for tummy time and she just looks at me and smiles. Then pouts. Then kicks her legs, like, "Um, hi, I don't want to do this anymore!" Silly girl. Surely she can tell that her Mommy is eagerly awaiting another roll, camera ready, whoops of joy barely contained. Come on! Don't keep me waiting!

Thanks for your votes, friends.

Photo of the Day: 05.24.11

Whew, what a day. Alexa and I drove all the way to Wilshire Boulevard, where she introduced herself to my colleagues before we had lunch with my boss. We strolled down the food-truck-lined street to the restaurant and can I just say woah. When did all these trucks pop up? There were maybe a handful before I went on maternity leave but now there are scores, including but not limited to at least three Indian food trucks (note to self: cash only). A few hours later we were home and H suggested we go out to eat. And there you have it. Two restaurant meals in one day. I managed to eat too much and get sick. But forget that tiny detail and stare instead at my iced tea, a refreshment that is untainted by my gluttony.


I actually started to feel sick again just writing about this.

Chic for Cheap: Summer Picnic

You might think that wearing a maxi dress to a picnic is the perfect compromise of comfort and function. At least, that's what I thought, so that's what I wore last weekend. Trouble is, I kept tripping on the skirt while I was trying to fly my kite. Lounging on the blanket was also challenging because I kept ending up in compromising positions while trying to give my lily white legs some sunshine.

This is what I'll wear next time. Some cute cropped pants, a long flowy top, a large lightweight scarf in case the breeze gets chilly, cute wedges that can be kicked off. Ahh, I can feel the sun on my face right now.

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Total cost: $260

Wish List 05.25.11

The minty color of these Chie Mihara shoes are todiefor, and the perfect little heel to boot. Swoon!

Photo of the Day: 05.23.11

Baby girl rolled over thrice! Then she refused to sleep until 11 p.m. Oh the ecstasy and the agony.*

*This photo is what you see when you're pacing the living room with a screaming, over-excited infant who will. not. sleep.


If ever I deserved your votes, it would be after this hellacious night. Right?

Photo of the Day: 05.22.11

Some of my best moments have taken place underneath an umbrella. At the beach. At backyard parties. At the Coffee Bean on a lazy Sunday afternoon, soaking up the rays and enjoying the company of my family. All while being rendered deaf by the crazy loud speakers on the patio. Seriously, turn it down peeps (omg I'm getting old but it's not like the tunes were Zeppelin or the Beatles or anything good so maybe I just hate crap music mmmkay).

Then I surprised H by agreeing to dinner at a Chinese buffet. Buffets make me want to punch people. It's something about the way people flock like dizzy birds to the mediocre food under lights and pay $15 for something worth $6 tops. But sacrifices must be made for the ones we love, even though I did get punch-happy when I saw 10 full-grown men hovering around an empty hot plate. They looked impatient and scary territorial. Then a magical waiter appeared with a tray of snow crab legs. FEEDING FRENZY. The entire tray of legs was gone in less than 10 seconds. Wow. Just wow.

H, I hope your Mongolian beef ribs were worth this traumatic experience. I will never see snow crab legs in the same light again.


Click twice if you want to un-traumatize me.

23. Go on a picnic and fly a kite with my little family.

Crossing an item off my birthday goal list, and dumping a ton of photos on you at the same time. I couldn't help it; they were all so beautiful I couldn't narrow it down any more than this.














Before we had a baby we would just jump in the car and drive to the park with nothing but a camera and a soccer ball, lie on the grass and stare at the clouds. Now we have to check and double check that diaper bag, pack a bag with a blanket and extra clothes and baby blankets and bottles and OMG are we ever going to leave the house. Daylight's wasting, let's goooooo! By the time we stopped by Whole Foods to grab our picnic sandwiches (pulled pork with onions and pickles oh my) we made it to the park nearly two hours after the idea first formed in our minds.

This park up on the Hill is my absolute favorite. There's a huge expanse of vibrant green grass that appears to drop off into the sky above the ocean. In the late afternoon, the mist comes in and blots out the sun. I'm not doing it justice with this description. Just suffice it to say it's one of my favorite spots in L.A.

At first it seemed like the kite was going to be a bust. H put it together while I smeared sunblock on all of us. My pasty white legs that match the clouds, Alexa's milky baby skin and H's farmer tan. Finally, after several failed attempts, we were able to get the kite in the air for about a minute at a time, which is enough to keep us trying for longer. We were like mice in a wheel, working hard for that tiny reward. But give me a break. Getting that kite to soar -- even for five seconds -- is a wonderful feeling.

Plus, I think it's been at least 20 years since I've flown a kite. If you haven't flown one since you were a kid, I highly recommend it. You'll feel younger afterward.