Max: our new bike riding gig is opening the city up to you.

We’ve been able to make some pretty nice stops at great parks here and there.

We found a little on this weekend in Tribeca that was just delightful.

You enjoyed playing in the sand.  They even had and abundance of sand toys for everyone to use.

You really know how to play with sand and buckets now.

And the big news is that you are standing without holding on to anything quite a lot.

You even take a few steps here and there.  The record is 12 steps.  Your Grandpa Richard saw it – he was here visiting you this week.

And the other news is that you are finally wearing your helmet (without too much fuss).

We have two videos to share this week.  As I mentioned, your Grandpa Richard was in town this week.  He often comes bearing gifts.  They tend to be on the large side.  This week, he sent three new vehicles for you, knowing your fondness for wheels.  One is a small battery-run yellow car that you just love and go zooming around with.  The other two are more advanced: one is a a little bike that you peddle and that has various controls that make an array of sounds.  You are too little for the peddles but you love operating the controls.  The other is a fully battery powered motorized kawasaki ATV.  You figured it out in about a second, at 6:30 in the morning right after it charged overnight.  You are a little afraid of it right now – but not when a friend drives apparently.

Our house seriously looks like a parking garage.

Max: we took the plunge and finally purchased our own bikes. Mom went with a very retro upright bright red bike and dad went with the Cadillac of bikes: a massive, 90-pound bike that can hold 500 pounds in cargo. We outfitted his bike with not one, but two baby seats because we weren’t sure which you’d like better …

… and mom wanted to be able to switch one over to hers if she gets brave enough to pedal you around.

The seat of choice, of course, is the one that mounts right behind dad’s handlebars.

You were in cool heaven the moment you sat there – it was like you were always expecting to sit there – you did not react with one bit of surprise.

You think you are commanding the bike: you keep trying to push dad’s hands off the handlebars.


And it took you about one second to figure out where the bell is.


We zipped all around this weekend since we weren’t worried about returning rentals.

We went up and down the west side highway. We saw Uncle Grant and Aunt Lexi in the West Village because they happened to be a couple of blocks away when we called to check in. We paid Aunt Amy a visit.

We rode up to the carousel on the west side highway

You started dancing in your little seat as we pulled up.

You spun around for two different songs …

… on two different animals

One with daddy

And one with mommy

You also spent some great quality time with all of your New York relatives. Aunt Nancy came by for her weekly visit. Aunt Amy carried you around central park both mornings as she has been doing lately. You saw Lexi and Grant on both days.

You had a great weekend.
In case anyone is wondering. You still refuse to wear your helmet. We’ll keep working on it – but it’s not going well.

Max: you were the unhappiest little child in Manhattan this weekend.  You had a doctor’s appointment earlier this week and got two shots.  A couple of days later, you started feeling rather miserable, and then on Saturday, you developed a head-to-toe rash.  We were a little concerned you had a reaction to a vaccine – and we called the doctor.  You were so unhappy and uncomfortable, it was heart-breaking.

Then, while we were waiting for the doctor to return our call, we had a nifty idea to take you on a bike ride.  It was a beautiful day on Saturday.  And sitting at home definitely wasn’t helping you.

We went down to the local bike store, and rented bikes, including one for your dad with a child seat.

At first, you weren’t so sure what you thought.  But as soon as we got going, you were so relaxed, with your little mop blowing in the wind, that you had a great time (yes – we tried a bike helmet and he was having none of it – cut us a bit of slack).  We couldn’t believe it.  Once we were underway, the doctor called.  We explained your symptoms to the on-call doctor and he said to bring you in.  We biked on over!  The doctor said you have a virus that’s going around. Not a lot we can do about it, unfortunately. And the only thing that seems to relax you is biking!

So – off we went again on Sunday.  We grabbed whatever bikes they had …

… which meant a double-seater (mom briefly considered jumping on).

We went back along the west side park.

Where we were right alongside the statue of liberty.

We saw some pretty strange stuff.

We stopped to listen to a concert …

And to appreciate the trees.

And ended with a little roadside lunch.  You are finally asleep now (we think).  It’s after 11 pm and you’ve already woken up many times.  We just gave you some motrin and sat with you for a long time.  Let’s see.

Guys: not much for you this Monday, sorry!  We had a great weekend this weekend, but mommy’s camera took a break.  We have a little video for you, though.  Max and Zulu have been learning how to play together.  We think they’ve both figured it out …

More next week.

Max: you had your first visit to the zoo today.  We waited through what looked like a mile long line to buy tickets (you were pretty patient – your dad took you to buy a balloon).  Your dad and I hadn’t been to the Central Park Zoo in a long time so we weren’t expecting that much.

We were very pleasantly surprised! The zoo is gorgeous and we saw a lot of great stuff.

Including some seals who were very busy swimming and jumping up to show off.

You saw a polar bear and lots of penguins (did you think they looked like your stuffed animal?), birds, monkeys, sheep, lamas – the whole nine yards.  You had a great time.  We will definitely have to take you back.

Earlier today, dad took you to the park with Zulu. We all had breakfast at Pain Quotidien after your morning nap (you had yogurt, and berries, egg and bread). And after the zoo (and another nap), we went to sit on a picnic blanket in the 22nd street park (we thought you might eat more al fresco). Your dad and I are exhausted. Luckily SuSu is passing through town tomorrow … we are going to hand you off (she doesn’t know it yet).