Family Christmas

Since we'll be traveling over the holidays, we opened our Christmas gifts as a family early this year, on Saturday night. I'm happy to report we totally hit the jackpot with Camille's gifts, she adores her first baby doll (she is her mother's daughter), and she likes her other toys pretty well too. I got Rémi a "geek clock" and a ninja umbrella, as well as a backpack and some sweaters, he gave me a shopping spree. After I shopped for myself I put everything away and I had kinda forgotten all I had bought, so it was a surprise for me too.

Camille going to town on her presents.

Baby doll love.

The clock. It really is geeky, but so is Rémi (in the coolest way possible).


With the Ninja Umbrella - at least now no one will bother him on the subway.


New shirt.


We also went to Rockefeller Center that day and saw the big tree. It was so cold!

Nate Visits

Last weekend our friend Nate Judd came up from Atlanta for a job interview. The interview went well (we're keeping our fingers crossed that he might move up next year!) and we had a great time hanging out with him while he was here.

We chilled around the apartment a lot,

Camille taught Nate how all her toys work.

We strolled around the neighborhood

in the rain,

And we went to the Met.

The four of us are in front of Anish Kapoor's untitled stainless steel sculpture.


Camille was crawling all over the Modern Art wing.

And when we left,

It was snowing! 5th Avenue has never looked so romantic. (Even if we did freeze our butts off on the walk home)

After Nate left it was back to business as usual, here are some pictures of Camille wearing two of her cute Christmas presents from her Aunts Jami and Niki.




And Camille's new obsession, playing with the magnets on the fridge.

Holiday shuffle

We're back home from Georgia, where we spent some time with my family over the Thanksgiving holiday. We celebrated Thanksgiving on Saturday with my extended family and we celebrated Christmas the day before with just the original Stephenses plus husbands and babies. It was such a nice time, Camille was appropriately adored by all my family, and Rémi and I had a chance to love on our cutest little niece, Julia. (Camille did her share of loving on Julia too, come to think of it.) We celebrated Christmas so early because we are off to France in mid December and won't return until January 7. Camille was so spoiled by my family, especially her Mimi and Pops. I think her favorite toy so far is her wagon push toy, which she about wore out in my parents' basement. Just the autonomy this girl has been waiting for, finally she can race across the room on her two legs. Here are some pictures and videos of our excellent holiday.

Playing in the hallway.


I love this little curl!


Wherever Camille went, Mimi and Pops weren't far behind.


Opening Presents!



Quality time with the babies.


Push toy!

Aunt Niki is so funny.

Holiday cheer


The Mamas and the Papas


And the Mimi and the Pops.



Happy Family.

Pops's video

My dad's right, his video is better! (No offense to Uncle Andy, who could take, edit and email his video with his iPhone, and send it out within minutes of the event - do I sound like a commercial? Man, I want one!) But Pops was at a good angle to catch Camille's victory expression, she's so proud and a little surprised at all the fuss! Also you can see Will in the background, completely disenthralled.

This is one small step for babies, a giant leap for Camille

(Written by Rémi...)
Ok it's not like Camille walked on the moon, but she did walk [and without a space suit!!!]. While we are visiting Steph's parents for Thanksgiving, Camille has been using the ample carpeted space to her advantage. On Wednesday, she ventured forth unassisted into the void. She's still mostly getting around on her "quatre pattes" but here's the proof, she's on her way!

Trouble

With a capital "T" and that rhymes with "C" and that stands for Cell Phone!

I'm a little sad that Camille learned so quickly how to hold a phone. She's probably had way too many opportunities to pick up this skill watching me talk on the phone (something I try to keep to a minimum while she's awake, but you know how it is).

Bon Weekend

We had a busy week and a nice slow weekend. Saturday was rainy and we couldn't walk the dog to Central Park (our usual Saturday morning routine). Instead we picked up bagels and stayed in, taking our walk on Sunday instead. Later that afternoon we walked the other way, eastward to the river to see the sunset. It was a beautiful night.



Camille ready to go to the park.



Rémi and Camille enjoying the view at the river.


Yes, I asked a stranger to take this one, and after the usual camera tutorial, I think he did a pretty good job. (Notice Camille's giving me the side-eye)


Evening stroll



Reading Camille's bedtime story.



Lately, Camille has been cracking up every time she burps. I've started imitating her and she thinks that's pretty funny too.

Little miss copycat

Copying Papa.

We've had an action-packed couple of weeks. First my kid sister Jami and her husband Andy came to visit. We had a great time with them, but didn't take many pictures, since they were only here a couple of days and did a lot of sightseeing. I bet Jami might post some of her pics on her blog (here). After they left, Camille caught a little virus that kept us apartment bound for a few days. Man, having a sick baby is no fun! Now that she's on the mend, we're so happy to be back in action. Lately her life's work is to copy whatever Rémi and I do. She's getting better and better at this. She imitates our speaking by blabbing, our hand gestures by waving her hands, and if I make a raspberry or some other funny noise with my mouth, she does it too. It seems every day she becomes a better mimic. She is also freestanding, if only for seconds at a time. As soon as she realizes she's standing unsupported she sits down or reaches for a hand hold, but she's getting more confident. It's wild to see her change so much every day.

See for yourself!

She was really into Aunt Jami's necklace.

This is what Camille does when I go into the kitchen. She tries to climb over her gate using any prop available (pillow).


Fun with Sophie la giraffe.


Pointing.

We took the girl on her first subway ride down to the Brooklyn Bridge. It was windy and cool, but a fun time nonetheless.



Trying to escape.



World's cutest sick baby.
In our house, when you have a fever you're allowed to have your passy all day.