A Macha Halloween

I can't wait!  My favorite holiday is coming so soon.  Today we went to this Alameda Parents Group and carved a pumpkin.  We have no candles so I made a little alcohol burner with tinfoil to light it up.  The flame is a little bluer and not as bright, but took some nice pictures.  The jack-o-lantern is in honor of Ari's study of celestial navigation with a North Star nose and Waxing and Waning Moon eyes.

Yemaya's new berth

Well, she is almost too big for her basket now.  So we finally cleaned up enough so that she can sleep in her very own big girl berth.  Last night she made it through the night all by herself in her big bed (despite the scary howling wind).  I had to put on some white noise to cover up all the little bangs and howls from the wind.  As I told Ari last night, "Scary Wind Storm" was not one of the tracks on the, "White Noise for Babies," album that we use.  Here she is taking a nap, as cute as can be. 

And here is a video so you can hear the scary wind that we have been having for the past few days.  Ari reports being land sick at work because of all the bouncing the boat is doing.

Pumpkin Patch

We went to buy a BIG genoa sail last weekend.  Pictures to follow once we get it up. There have been strong winds for a few days, so that will have to wait. 

On the way I saw a sign for the pumpkin patch, and I love Halloween!  So we stopped in to see the world record corn maze, and it was decimated by a previous storm.  We did how ever see many pumpkins bigger than Yemaya.

Cute hands

Yemaya can do all sorts of things with her hands now. She can get her
thumb in her mouth, put toys in her mouth and hold on to her parents
shirts. She likes to feel Ari's beard when he gets her in the mornings.

More baby video

I'm not sure they should give video cameras to new moms.  But she sure is cute.

Monkey

It's raining, so I dressed her up warm in her monkey suit. She
couldn't be cuter.

Drip, drip, drip

So we knew there was a leak in the bed...but it really does suck to wake up to a drip on your toe.  But good news, it was not just one drip, but at least two!  The rain is suppose to let up soon.  So we should have a chance to fix a few of the leaks before the winter is really here, and before a few more leaks spring up.

Dock Baby

The first storm of the season is coming and we had to turn the boat around in the slip.  Because I have nightmares about the boat getting away from us when we are warping it around, the baby can not be on the boat when we are moving docklines.  So instead, we placed her on the dock in her basket where she would be safe.  Notice  the "safe" cans of diesel next to her on the dock. 
But she was happy as a clam, babbling away and watching the storm clouds roll in.  

We went to Fairyland

This was the best day ever.  We had lunch at the new Lake Merritt Boat House.  The food was nice, the beer was yummy, and no one got attacked by a seagull, goose or pigeon.  Afterward we took a walk and ended up going to Fairyland, a wondrous place for all children (except Yemaya, I think she could care less).

First we saw all the animals.  There were bunnies, ducks, donkeys, goats, and geese. 

Then we saw the castles.

Then we changed diapers and outfits, due to a code brown, and feed in front of the castle.  It was totally worth the $14 for us to get in.

We tried to take her on the train, but she was too sleepy and screamed when we picked her up because she just wanted to sleep in her stroller.  So she slept down the yellow brick road.

We are bad, or stupid, parents because then we took our happily sleeping baby into the musical fairy tunnel.  Where of course she woke up, and surprisingly was not too mad about it.  The tunnel is actually really cool.  There are bells, chimes, and some kind of rolling thing.  The acoustics are neat and there are fairies on the walls.  It is the kind of place a five year old would love.

All in all Fairyland was fun.  I think even by the time she is a year old she can get a lot out of it.  Ari and I enjoyed ourselves and were happy to spend a Friday afternoon together as a family instead of Ari being at work. 

She talks...sort of

Cute and ready for winter

Hip Mama

So, in my short time in motherhood here in the Bay Area I am quickly learning what the important hip  "must have" baby products are.  Some are actually useful and nice, but I'm not sure that babies with out Sophie Giraffe are really any worse off then those who have one.  But in case you are wondering what every new mom needs, even if she doesn't, here is my list.

1. Babe Au lait (formerly Hooter Hider)

These come in about a million hip fabric patterns and are good for my friends who are anxious about breast feeding in public.  They have a piece of boning that helps hold the fabric away from you so you can see the baby.  I just made one myself last night, rather than paying $35.  My mother taught me to be cheap and not spend money on things you don't need (and even those you do), so I have a hard time buying a yard of fabric with a strap for $35.  It was easy and took about an hour and cost about $9.  I haven't used it yet, so I'll report back.  I used directions I found on the web.

2. Sophie Giraffe

I was given Sophie as a gift from another mom.  She told me at the shower that it was the most popular baby toy.  At my first mom and baby yoga class 12 of the 15 babies had one there.  It is rubber and made in France, so I guess that is how you know it is hip.  Yemaya has not shown really any interest in Sophie or any other toy for that matter, so I can't give you my review yet.

3. Aden + Anais Swaddle Blankets

They have cute little animals and such printed on them, which I'm sure adds to the hipness factor.  They are a lose weave cotton (although I don't think they are organic, and they are made in China, despite the designed in the USA on the tag) and much bigger than the average baby blanket.  My aunt remarked on the absorbing quality as well (good for copious amounts of slime that comes out of my daughters mouth).  I was given the cow one as a gift by a parent at my school.  After many months I have come to the conclusion that I need more than one (because of the aforementioned slime that goes stale if left unlaundered for long).  And because of my mother and the cheapness I cannot bring my self to pay $20 for a yard of cloth (although a 4 pack is only $44), do you see a theme here.  I have been to the fabric store and searched online and I can not find a fabric like them, so I may just break down and buy some soon. 

4. Trumpette Baby Socks

They look like shoes, but they are really socks.  How cute!  I swear that my mom friends mention these more often then any other baby product by brand name.  They all swear that they are the only socks that will stay on.  I have only put socks on Yemaya about 10 times, but they do seem to stay on.  Now that it is fall she will be wearing her ballet slipper and converse socks more often.  I do not know why we talk about sock so often, but apparently as a new mom socks can come up in just about every conversation.

5. Lovies

These are those cute little blankets made of something soft with an animal head, and sometimes arms and legs.  Apparently if you don't have one of these your child will be very sad.  And my friends say that their pediatricians said it is okay for the kids to sleep with them.  I very much doubt that there is a Lovies and SIDS study out there, but whatever the doctor says.  Yemaya has one that looks like a monkey that she has shown some moderate interest in holding accidentally for short periods of time.

6. Ergo Baby Carrier

This is the baby carrier I do not own.  We have 2 slings and a Baby Bjorn, but the really hip and earthy moms all own this one.  It costs about $100, and some are organic.  I keep looking at them in the store and will probably buy one soon, they are quite hard to find used, and when I do find them they sell just below retail.  People report them as more comfortable when the kid is bigger.  And just look at the picture, that mom is hip.

Just in case you were worried that I was bought out by corporate America, my blog has not been sponsored by any of these companies, but they are all free to send me free things if they want.  Also, Mom, I love that you taught me to look at what things are really worth and to not throw my money away on junk.

Laundry Day

Having a baby is great. The stroller can hold laundry on top, below
and even in with the baby. Look close and you might see a little
Yemaya somewhere in there.