Out to the ballgame

Against some odds, we managed to find a good-sized group of Braves fans here in the middle of Mets country. We went with a group of 12 to the game on Saturday afternoon and so we weren't too scared to show our colors. The surrounding Mets crowd were pretty tolerant, possibly because the Mets totally outplayed the Braves, but more likely because two of our number were so darn cute. Camille and her new friend Ana were so adorable in their jerseys! Even though Ana was wearing a Red Sox onesie, (her dad's a fan, it's not her fault) still, that's a lot of cuteness.


Camille representin'.


Ana banana.


They had fun together.


Camille snacking on a hard boiled oeuf ("ufff, ufff!")


She was occasionally interested in the goings on down on the field.


Tickle break.


Let's go Bravos, let's go!


This is in the subway on the way home.



She did some coloring earlier in the week.


Then, after an afternoon at the playground, Camille was working on a pear on the way home in the stroller.


It was hard to eat!


Sunday afternoon.


Bisous!


This is just after waking up.

Bye bye baby

I guess, technically, these babies aren't babies anymore once they start to walk, that's when they become toddlers. I was a little slow on the uptake with that one, since, even though Camille was walking, she was still babbling and grabbing her feet occasionally and smelling so good, smelling like a baby. Lately all that's begun to change, and some recent developments have pushed us over the edge, into toddlerland, where there's no going back.

#1. The Skinned Knee (or The Sweaty Kid Smell)





We're spending a lot of time these days at the playground, there are a couple of good ones near us and we usually visit at least once a day when the weather is nice. Camille, no longer content to just swing a little bit and walk around holding my hand, spends most of her time running (that awkward, straight-leg, arm-swinging, toddler run) between slide, sand box and swing. Once while climbing some stairs at one of the playgrounds, and wearing shorts, she skinned her knee. She was, of course, completely oblivious, way too interested in her climbing to notice - and it's really the tiniest scratch - but still it's a turning point.


This video gives a little glimpse of the knee, if you look close. Also, it's just hilarious. My husband's intense dedication to napping should be noted here (and praised).



This is when we came upon some older kids playing ball with their parents at the park, Camille thought they were so cool. I like a few things about this video: First, if you turn it up you can hear how she's mumbling to herself a little, second I like that you can see her little curlicues at the back of her hat, and last I like how she's climbed up on the rail, to get closer to the action.


#2The Remote Control


Remote controls are generally off limits for Camille, but it's pretty hilarious when she does get a hold of one. She pretty much presses every button, trying desperately (as loyal readers of this blog could predict) to make Babar appear on the screen. This most recent experience with the remote was a little different. She turned on the tv, found a jazz radio station she liked, accidentally muted it and then couldn't get the sound back on. Following temper tantrum (why remote controls are generally off limits for Camille) notwithstanding, these are not the actions of a baby.


#3 The Almost Hourly Wardrobe Change

When Camille was a baby, she would wear the same adorable outfit all the live-long day. Barring a diaper blowout (rare), I would take off the sweet smelling outfit at the end of the day when she'd get her (virtually unnecessary) bath and consider whether it needed washing. Lately she can't stay in the same outfit longer than the next meal. And now when I take off her clothes I have to consider whether they're even fit for the hamper, or straight into the sink to soak out whatever strawberry/beet/butternut squash irretrievable stain is beginning to set in.


Oh yeah, and she started drinking out of a (non-sippy) cup. So, that's the last straw.



But really, who am I kidding? She'll always be my baby.

Happy Easter

We walked past the big Catholic church on 84th and Park, where the line to get in stretched almost around the block, and headed to Central Park for our Easter Sunday communion. We couldn't have asked for a prettier day.

Camille brushing her teeth earlier that morning.







Sorry about this video, at some point I thought Camille was going to fall off her step ladder, so it's a little shaky. I thought it was worth posting anyway, just to show how well she's brushing those teeth!

We went to a restaurant after the park, where Camille worked on a bit of baguette (hands-down her favorite food) for a while.

Moment de tendresse

What's wonderful about having a baby, is that there are so many little moments like this. Even though there is also hard work aplenty, it's these sweet minutes that make it all worth it.

Chez MimiPops

Camille and I spent last week with my parents celebrating my Grandmother's 80th birthday while Rémi was in Canada for work. My big sister, her husband and their daughter, Camille's cousin Julia, came in town from Asheville. My little sister and her husband live just a few minutes from my parents, so we all got to spend some good time together. My grandmother was there the first weekend.

I hope that when I'm about to turn 80, I'm on my knees playing "kitchen" with my great grandchildren!

Uncle Nick provided some entertainment for the girls. It seems he and Rémi have been reading the same parenting books.

Then we went on a walk by the river.





Camille just LOVES her cousin. She was constantly hugging her and patting her and only occasionally stealing toys from her.


Here Camille is "helping" Julia with her bunny ears.

My parents are really such incredible grandparents. Both the girls just adore them both. Camille is lucky to have fantastic grandparents on both sides of the Atlantic.



Introducing her baby to Uncle Andy.


We took the girls to some awesome playgrounds near my parents' house on the sunnier days. It was great, we didn't even have to queue up to swing!















Camille has barely enough hair to justify this hair accessory. It was really cute for about 3 minutes. My mom made that awesome net to keep the girls off the stairs.



Walking on the street with Pops.


Since Camille is really into pushing her stroller, my parents got her this baby stroller to push. At first she really wanted to get into it.




Eventually she figured it out.





Then we got home to Papa and spent a beautiful Sunday afternoon in Central park.

All about Papa

Chillin.

Camille had some good Papa time this week. When you spend 90% of your time with the same old boring Mama, being with Papa is like the circus coming to town, no matter what you're doing. The three of us went to the playground on Saturday, Remi and Camille had fun on the swings,

and on the slides.




Then they danced around the apartment a little.

I gave Camille one of Remi's old credit cards with his picture on it since she's always trying to get my credit card. She carried it around all day.


And as a side note, this is what happens when you let a 13 month old feed herself a peanut butter sandwich.