things that only mom cares about

I figure I better start writing this stuff down before I forget-- though, I'm not sure this is interesting to anyone but me.

Yesterday, Peter played with bath toys for the first time. This week was the week he started playing with his feet. His binocular vision and ability to reliably grab the things he wants to grab happened in the last couple of weeks. This week he started showing a real interest in toys. He’s having more fun with them and also being frustrated with not being able to do what he wants with them. Before I could get him to hold a toy, but he just didn’t care. He loves “The Wiggles.” He’s started to kick a lot. He enjoys kicking things that make noise – this probably started last week. I started putting him on a bolster to make tummy-time more enjoyable (see video) about 3 weeks ago. Since then, he’s been less fussy about tummy time in general and seems to be better at playing in that position. He wants to practice standing all the time now. He’s been practicing since he was maybe 2-months-old (see, I’ve already forgotten) but now he’s really keen on it and wants to be able to do it on his own. He can sit by himself for a very short time, sometimes. He stood for a microsecond by himself, holding on to his crib the other day. He doesn’t like the Johnny-Jumper yet.

Two things I want to remember if we have another child: wear Chris' flannel pajama top with the top 2 buttons buttoned for winter night-time nursing to protect boobies from fingernails and cold. I can file the child's nails while he watches The Wiggles.

exotic family getaway

For some reason we had a long weekend off at school, so the D'Amato family took a very exciting trip to Philadelphia. We stayed overnight in a hotel in the city center, next door to the Reading Terminal Market.

The trip included many firsts for the child: first long car ride, first time sleeping away from home, first swim in a pool. All these challenges were met with aplomb and every sign of enjoyment.

Mom and Dad enjoyed the change of scenery and the hustle and bustle of the big city. Philly is great, and the market is like an amusement park for us. Great fresh food and ingredients and interesting things and all kinds of people. We planned our visit around our meals, of course, we had soul food in the market for lunch, then a late dinner (for us) in Old City, and breakfast at the market again.

Our evening out in Old City is worth telling about. We went back to the belgian bar we stumbled into last summer. Back then, my heavily pregnant wife could not manage the moules and frites but this time we made up for the missed opportunity. I had a great sour beer, Duchesse of something or other.

The boy, of course, came along with us. Now that bars and restaurants in NY, NJ, and PA are smoke free it makes the whole adult world a lot more family friendly. The kid loves to get out and look at new places, and be admired by strangers, and when he gets tired or hungry it's easy enough to hide him under a blanket. We're pleased with ourselves that we manage to get out and about, showing him a good time and taking care of him while doing some of the things we enjoy doing.

This little picture came from my phone and it shows how much fun we were all having. Maybe G will write more about our trip later.



On Saturday we went to see Andrew and Farah, we had a great time hanging out and talking about babies and fussing over Himself, who was very well behaved.

So here is the summary of our trip:

Lunch: Ribs & collards at Delilah's in Reading Terminal Market

Dinner: Moules and frites, some beer too, at Eulogy in old city

Breakfast: Egg and pepper sandwiches, coffee, croissants at the market

Lunch: Pho #36 (beef eye round and brisket), avocado smoothie, iced vietnamese coffee at Cafe Viet Hoang at 11th & Washington

Afternoon snack: Cupcakes from Flying Monkey and an Amish organic cheese pastry that we brought from the Market

Dinner: Quesadilla and a goat burrito at the Caballitos Cantina on Passyunk

Breakfast: Andrew's white boy bacon and egg breakfast

And on our way out of town, a quick cheesesteak at Jim's on South St.

And since every cup of coffee I have ever had in a vietnamese restaurant has been exceptional, I bought a couple of the little brewing doodads they use and I've been experimenting with them this morning. This is possibly the last coffee-making apparatus I have not previously owned. Watch this space for updates.

nun better!

Today Peter and I went with his Grandpa Nick to have lunch with the Sisters of Christian Charity.

The good sisters gave Peter many blessings and our Peter gave them many smiles.

Peter's Nun visiting costume includes a sweater knitted by my yoga student, Pat Zimmerman, a shirt from Grandma Paula, khaki pants from the Rob & Molly collection, socks from Anne Klein --the yoga student, not the designer, and shoes by Kim Kash. The terrific chair came from Aunt Pat.

Click here to see another picture and a very short video of Peter in his Nun visiting costume.

Last week we had a visit from my dear friend Gretchen Jacobs. In these pictures Peter is sporting an outfit that Gretchen got him in the South of France.


Click here for more pictures of Peter and Gretchen.

no longer safe

We have 2 grey cats: Stretch & Stumpy. 90% -- maybe 99% of the cat pictures on the blog are of Stretch. There are two reasons for this: one, Stumpy is shy and, two, as much as you don’t like to talk about “favorites” in a family, Chris is Stretch’s favorite and I am Stumpy’s favorite. Chris does more blogging than me, so you’ve seen lots of Stretch.

We expected Stretch to get on well with the baby and Stumpy to be afraid, but it turned out to be the other way around. Stretch will have nothing to do with the baby, and Stumpy loves him. Even when Peter is screaming or crying (Stumpy is terrified of loud sounds and usually hides under the nearest piece of furniture), she will sit by him to make sure he is OK.

At first Peter couldn’t see the cats. Babies see mostly contrast and because the cats are grey, they just blend in. My mom said that she can’t even see my cats most of the time. A couple of weeks ago he saw Stumpy without my telling him that she was there. He pointed at her and laughed. Last week he pet her by himself without my guiding his hand. This morning he reached out and grabbed her fur. Poor Stumpy is no longer safe!

Click here for more pictures of Peter & Stumpy.