Vacation photos: Chicago and Michigan

We just got back from a week-long trip to Chicago and Michigan to visit my parents. We hadn't spent much time in Chicago before (thanks again for your advice!) so it was awesome to explore all the neighborhoods. Here's what we did...
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Are you a city mouse or country mouse?

Toby is a born-and-bred city kid (who knows how to hail a cab and wear tattoos), but this Saturday, we decided to escape to the country...
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First day of summer

Yahoo! Today is the first day of summer. Actually, the season officially starts at 7:09pm, if you want to be exact. (And here are a few photos we took last summer in Fire Island.)

Once I read in Oprah that a secret to happiness is keeping a gratitude journal every night--or even just telling yourself as you falling asleep--three things that you were grateful for that day and three things you're looking forward to the next day. Anything you're especially looking forward to this summer? Even something little!

P.S. Seven summer essentials...

Toby the boy

At two years old, Toby is becoming such a BOY. The other day, I asked him what he wanted for breakfast, and he said, "Butt." So I laughed and asked him what he really wanted, and he said, "Penis." Ha, noted.

Thankfully, this recent photo of Alex and Toby watching a video in the morning still captures that baby look. If only for a fleeting moment. Oh, how I love my little man.

Brooklyn Bridge bike ride

Last night, Alex, Toby and I rode across the Brooklyn Bridge. Manhattan looked beautiful in front of a bright pink sunset, and it was one of those perfect New York moments. Toby's still working on his smile for photos, and I thought this smile was a great one! What a bunny. Hope you had a wonderful weekend.

Update: Thanks for your comments. My sunglasses are from Lookmatic. My specific pair (Colt) is sold out, but I also like the Harpers and Wayfarers. xo

Family photo dump

Just thought I'd share a few family photos. First up...
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Happy 2nd birthday, Toby!

Today is Toby's second birthday!!! Hurray!!! (I cannot believe this happened two years ago, it feels like yesterday.) To celebrate, we threw a birthday picnic for him last Sunday. Here are some photos, below, if you'd like to see....
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Summer Essential #4: Floppy sun hat

Three years ago, before our honeymoon, Alex gave me a giant sun hat. He insisted that I wear it at the beach to shield my (very) pale skin. Every summer since then, I've worn my trusty hat everywhere: at the water, on boats, on hikes and just hanging out with friends outside. Not only does it protect your face from the sun (which is SO important), it also feels glamorous and feminine.

If you want to go for a plain straw hat, like Brigitte Bardot or the gorgeous lady above, you can find lovely ones here, here and here. Here are six more pretty hats...
1. Orange-tipped hat, 2. Yellow striped hat, 3. Floral hat, 4. Blue hat, 5. Red hat, 6. Silk-scarf fedora.
This is my hat. What I love about this particular hat is that it's big and floppy but also structured, so you can shape it however you'd like when you put it on. (Alex chose well! And my sister now has one, too.) You could also go for large stripes or even larger stripes. And here's a really fancy version!

Do you have a floppy summer hat? Which of these would you choose?

(Round-up layout by Alyson/Unruly Things for Cup of Jo. Top photo of Pina Bausch by Walter Vogel)

Dates with your child

Do you guys ever take your little ones on dates? Now that he's (almost!) two, Toby and I are starting a new tradition...
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Motherhood Mondays: Doo-wop group

Toby and I were on our way to the playground on Saturday, when we passed this AMAZING doo-wop group. Toby was transfixed! It was one of those awesome New York experiences. They play every Saturday (except when it rains) on Bleecker Street right outside Murray's Cheese. Man, those voices.

Hope you had a wonderful weekend! xoxo

Toby's eyebrows

Toby has always had Jack Nicholson eyebrows, but recently he's been taking them to a new level. These photos crack me up. Who needs words? He has a whole repertoire, including give-me-back-my-car eyebrows...
Taxi-spotting eyebrows...
Strawberry-eating eyebrows...
And get-me-out-of-this-ball-pit eyebrows.
It's a lot of work for one little guy! Toby, I love you:)

Motherhood Mondays: The Great Toy Experiment

When pregnant, I barely read any books (they freaked me out!), but happily I've stumbled upon some parenting books for toddlers that seem to have wise and down-to-earth advice. Simplicity Parenting is one of those books. Here are four enlightening tips about toddlers and toys...
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Fridge Makeover: Photo magnets

Our apartment has a plain old white fridge. So, to jazz it up a bit, I made some Pinhole Press photo magnets. I used snapshots of Toby, as well as some photos I found online of my favorite old-school celebs (including Mick Jagger, obviously). Our gallery display makes our whole kitchen feel so much cozier, and Toby loves pointing himself out. For Mother's Day, I'm going to send my mom a package of Toby magnets:)

What's on your fridge? Aren't personal magnets awesome? Which photos would you put on magnets? xo

The Saddest Easter Egg Hunt Ever

Poor Toby is going through a major separation anxiety phase right now (well, he kind of always is). So, on Easter Sunday, when Alex took Toby outside the church to start hunting for Easter eggs (while I stayed for the end of the service), Toby was not pleased. Alex snapped these sweet shots--oh, what a face! Those eyebrows kill me!!!

Luckily, Toby cheered up once I came out to join them. Funnily enough, he didn't really "get" the concept of the Easter egg hunt. Why would he put random eggs into a random basket? But then I told him to help me put the eggs "away," and he got really into it once he thought we were just cleaning up! :)

How was your weekend? xoxo

(Update: Thanks for your cute comments about Toby's shoes! They're green Adidas)

Vacation photos: Austin

We got back from Austin last night, and we loved the trip. Austin is such a rad town, full of swimming, tattoos and rib-sticking BBQ. Here are a few photos, if you'd like to see...
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Toby says Night Night.

Alex and I usually put Toby to bed, but when we went out at dinner last week, our babysitter took this video of Toby saying goodnight. My heart swells whenever I hear his little voice--it's so magical to witness your child start to communicate! I can't wait to talk to him more as he grows, and hear what's going on in that little head. xoxo

Sleep well tonight, everyone!

P.S. Five more Toby videos, since I can't help it:)

A NYC weekend

New York City can feel so dark and dreary during the winter (puddles! gray buildings! umbrellas whacking you!) that it's always a restorative breath of fresh air when the sun comes back out. Everyone pours out of their cramped apartments, and the city comes alive. This weekend felt like summer, with blue skies and cool breezes. Hope you had a great one, and here are a few photos we snapped this weekend, if you'd like to see...
On Saturday, we rode bikes across the Brooklyn Bridge (this was the view from my bike seat!)...
We headed to the glorious Brooklyn Bridge Park in Dumbo. You can see the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan Bridges jutting out from each side, and hear the subways rattling noisily across them every ten minutes. (Our friends got married in this park a few years ago, and they had to pause their ceremony whenever the subways clattered overhead:)
We chilled in the grass (and I showed off my newly orange toes:), while Toby ate raisins and gazed at the enormous historic carousel that opened last summer...
So, we decided to buy tickets (the attendants' T-shirts say "Pony Up $2!") and take a spin on the carousel.
As we climbed on, Toby suddenly got freaked out by the horses (he cried at first!) so we sat together on the sleigh. (Note the other freaked out baby sitting behind us:)
Look at the rad backdrops in these photos!
We met up with our friends and headed to a nearby playground to hang out...
Dumbo is such a spectacular neighborhood. (This was just a random view we had when we walked to the deli to buy a snack!)
The next day, we headed to the Transit Museum in Brooklyn Heights, which is chock full of vintage subway cars. Toby's head almost exploded.
Taking photos was tricky because he was so excited and giddy that he literally ran everywhere. Just ran!! A little boy's dream come true:)

Oh, New York, sometimes we forget how great you are in the winter, but then summer comes, and we feel guilty for ever complaining. We love you! xoxo

(Toby's plaid shirt at top by Pearls & Popcorn; overalls by Carters)

4 foolproof ways to make your baby laugh

What are your tried-and-true ways to make a baby laugh? What always works? Toby and I made a video about four things that crack him up. We hope you like it!

"When a new baby laughs for the first time a new fairy is born, and since there are always new babies, there are always new fairies." -- Peter Pan

Prat falls (aka pretending to trip) always seem to make babies laugh. The parenting book The Happiest Toddler on the Block explained that apparently babies love it because someone else finally looks like the idiot. Babies are always the shortest, slowest and clumsiest people in the room, so they love to feel like the smart one, for once. How cute is that?!
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Do or don't: Vests

Vests used to confuse me. When would you wear one? I wondered. If it's cold, you want sleeves. If it's hot, you'll just wear your T-shirt. Although they looked cute, vests seemed random and unnecessary.
Until Alex got one. Now I totally get it.
Here's the funny magic of vests: Do you sleep cuddled under the covers, but always stick one leg out? Or keep the window open so your nose gets cold? So it feels both cozy and refreshing? That's what a vest feels like!!!

It's perfect for spring and fall days, or cool summer evenings. Tomboyish and laid-back. I love it. The vest we have is sold out, but this Barbour vest is similar; and also this Belstaff one is super chic. Have you ever worn a vest?
(My jeans are Emerson Fry and boots are Loeffler Randall)