Have a Magical Weekend

One year ago this weekend I got the best birthday present ever: my husband surprised me with a trip to Paris! It was a magical, glorious trip and I often think back on the days we spent there exploring, eating, laughing, and taking pictures.

The other day I realized that I haven't used my Diana camera in a really long time. I couldn't remember the last time, actually. So I snapped the last few frames left on the roll of film that was already inside the camera and I took it to the photo lab.

Well, what came back today when I went to pick up the developed photos?

Pictures of Paris.

Imagine my happiness! The perfect early-birthday present :) It was like uncovering a little time capsule. The pic above is of the Carousel near the Sacre Coeur.

So here's to birthdays, memories, and everyday magic.

I hope you have a marvelous weekend! Here are some fun links I've been wanting to share:

Mothers SO rock. We know this. But now there's a museum honoring them!

This is the sleekest treehouse you'll ever see.

I love this tutorial for making a plush alphabet.

These bright, cheerful onesies make me happy.

These films look provocative: one is about school, and one is about infant formula.

How about this for a birth story: a pregnant mom, scheduled for her fourth c-section, unexpectedly gives birth at home and is assisted by her two-year old.

--XOXO, Leigh

P.S. Don't forget that the following giveaways are still active, so be sure to enter if you haven't already: Its OK My Dear, Flora Bond, and The Handmade Project.

GOOD LUCK! I look forward to picking winners next week!

Parisian Baby Style in NYC

Recognize this little guy? W modeled for a little photo shoot over the weekend, wearing pint-sized Oeuf togs, as part of Joanna's series on Yves Saint Laurent's new blog, Experience Parisienne. Check out all of her Paris-inspired posts, here. Photo by Anna Wolf.

What I'm Watching Now...

I know that this video has already made the blog rounds and the song is super-popular, but I've just been loving the pairing of this Grizzly Bear song, Two Weeks with footage from the classic film Le Ballon Rouge, and I can no longer resist posting it here.  It just makes me happy and gives me goosebumps.

Snow in Paris

Captured by Garance Dore.

Wintery Cute Fashion

My latest style blog crush is Le Monde de Tokyobanhbao.  A compatriot of Betty, The Cherry Blossom Girl and Punky B, Tokyobanhbao is yet another example of a perfectly put-together, impeccably cute, vintage/h&m/Zara-obsessed, French, teenage self-portraitist.

So help me streetstyle gods, I just couldn't help but post this recent ensemble.  I imagine this is what Santa's elves would be wearing if the North Pole workshop was relocated to a Parisian Atelier.  And I mean that in the best possible, most wintery-wonderful way.

Photo/Tokyobanhbao.

Sightseeing in Our Own City

Last week I was so busy posting about our dream-trip to Paris that I wasn't even able to keep you up to date on some of the fun sightseeing we were busy doing as soon as we got back to New York!  One of the highlights of our first week back was the day that the Kiddo and I spent with our friend Liz Rubincam (who took the following two photos).

We started out at one of our favorite lunch spots on the Upper West Side, Hampton Chutney Company.  There we indulged in the restaurant's trademark dosas and waaay delicious cardamom iced coffee.  Not only is the food scrumptious, but the Kiddo loves hanging out there, playing in the sunny window seat and reading from the library of children's books they have on hand.  

Afterwards, we bundled up and headed across Central Park to the Whitney...

...where we took in two incredible exhibits, William Eggleston: Democratic Camera and Alexander Calder: The Paris Years.

Calder and Eggleston are two of my favorite artists, so it was a treat to see both shows in one location.  Click here to watch a short but juicy clip showing some of the highlights of the Eggleston show as the artist's son speaks about the work (I attempted to embed the video, but ran into technical difficulties!  My appologies).  Here are some of my favorite pieces from the show:

As much as we enjoyed the photographs, the Calder show was just out-of-this-world magical, whimsical, and wonderful.  What a spirit of exploration, fun, and invention Mr. Calder possessed.  Here are some tidbits, culled from the Whitney website:

"Tight Rope Artists" from "Calder's Circus"

A young Alexander Calder, pliers in hand, in his studio in Paris

The five suitcases in which Calder transported "Circus"

"Josephine Baker IV" wire sculpture

Towards the end of the exhibition, near the display of Calder's amazing wire portraits of Josephine Baker, there was an absolutely arresting archival short film of Ms. Baker performing her signature dance moves.  The Kiddo and I must have stood there and watched it loop a dozen times, and ever since I have been a little obsessed with learning more about this fabulous icon. To feed my craving for more knowledge about her, I'm thinking of ordering this from Amazon. 

Can any of you direct me towards great footage/books/information on La Baker?

Questions and Answers

Over the course of the last week, as I posted about my trip to Paris, many of you asked great questions.  Since the Kiddo is peacefully sleeping right now, I thought it would be a good time to follow up with answers to some of them.  Thanks so much for your curiosity!  I hope you find my responses illuminating and interesting:

Rogue asked:

What carrier are you using?

I took two of my favorite carriers with me on the Paris trip, my Ergobaby and my Didymos Wrap.  I used the Ergo on all of our excursions around the city, so that is the one you see in the photos.  I relied on the Didymos when we were chillin' at the apartment -- i.e. before bed if the Kiddo needed to nurse and be soothed to sleep but was too wound-up to lay down in the bed.

Grace asked:

What is your favorite sling for nursing?

Personally, I have never found slings to be all that comfortable, but that's just me.  I am a big fan of carriers that can be worn centered on my front or back, such as a Mei Tai, Ergo, or wrap-style carrier, like the Didymos.  I find all of these to be extremely comfortable and easily wearable for long periods of time, even with a toddler.  As for nursing, I do it all the time in all of the carriers I just mentioned, but if I had to pick one that is my favorite for nursing, I would say the Didymos wrap.  The Didy is just exceptionally cuddly, supportive, and cocoon-y.

Allegra asked:

Does your back ever hurt after "wearing" the kiddo all day? Also, how tall are you? Weird, I know, but I ask because I wanted so much to be a baby-wearer, but it never worked out for me. I think part of it is that I'm short (5'2") and have a very short torso. What do you think?

The first carrier I tried, right after the Kiddo was born, was the Baby Bjorn, which I found to be extremely uncomfortable to the point that I hated it and thought I was just not cut out for babywearing.  Not only did it put an awful strain on my neck, shoulders, and back, it also was impossible to breastfeed in.  It just seemed like way more trouble than it was worth.  Then I tried a Babyhawk mei tai and I realized that I too could babywear and enjoy all of the freedoms and convenience that go with it!  My husband and I are on the small side (5'5"), and our child has more than doubled in weight, and and yet we both enjoy babywearing now.  I see no reason why your height should preclude you from wearing your baby since all the best kinds of carriers (from slings to wraps to mei tais to more structured carriers like the Ergobaby) are completely adjustable to the individual.  I would encourage you to give it another try.  Check out this website for a wealth of information, community, and resources related to babywearing.  You can also find helpful instructional videos on YouTube if you search "babywearing demo."

Nell asked:

Have you noticed a difference in how [Europeans] look at you (or maybe don't even notice) breastfeeding and how Americans look at you?

To tell you the truth, I didn't even think about it or notice any looks (approving or disapproving) while we were in Paris.  T might be a better gauge of this, as he often tells me when we are together if I'm getting looks while breastfeeding -- I'm usually too busy gazing at the Kiddo to notice reactions.  Unless, of course, a situation like this arises.  I nurse the Kiddo on demand, and as he has gotten older (he's nearly 18 months now) breastfeeding him in public in an unabashed way does certainly raise eyebrows sometimes.  I don't think people are necessarily judging it, it's just that it is a rare sight so I'm sure it can be a little jolting to some people.  Right after the Kiddo was born, while I was still developing my skills and confidence with nursing (heck, we were still getting to know each other, period!) I was kind of shy about breastfeeding openly in public.  But as nursing has become a comfortable, important and cherished part of our lives I have become much less concerned with the opinions of others.  If anything, now I feel that for every person who I risk scandalizing by breastfeeding in public there might be ten more who are moved, encouraged, or heartened by it, or who at least will start to see it as something healthy and normal because I'm not hiding it away in a bathroom stall or under a blanket.

Rach asked:
I'd love to know about what it was like traveling with a toddler abroad... any unique challenges/considerations?

The Paris trip was the first time we've traveled abroad with the Kiddo, but he had flown many times before that (including several trips to California and back to NYC).  SO, we are starting to get the hang of airports/airplanes, although the Kiddo still hates being constrained during takeoff and landing, which makes him scream, which is really hard for all of us (and torture, I'm sure, for the other passengers!  Sorry guys!).  But other than that, he kind of likes being on the plane -- he likes the view, the tv screens, the food, flirting with the flight attendants, etc.  And he sleeps a lot, which is wonderful.  

When we were sightseeing in Paris, it was just such a blessing to be able to babywear!  I can't imagine doing it any other way.  We could just go anywhere and do anything.  With a stroller so many hikes and treks and cute little shops would have been impossible (or a pain) to navigate.  Yay, babywearing!

One thing that is more difficult with a toddler who is really good at asserting himself, is that eating in restaurants can be hard.  Still, we managed to have many good meals by eating in shifts and taking turns walking around/entertaining the Kiddo or by timing it so that we were sitting down to eat when he was soundly asleep in his carrier.  

Stephanie asked:

1. What was the best thing that you ate [in Paris]? 

2. Is the food quite different?

3. What camera did you use ?

1.  Hmmmm.  So many yummy things were eaten!  But if I had to single out one thing, I would say a positively transcendent Chocolate tart, which I ate on my birthday.

2. The food is absolutely delicious.  There's a freshness and purity to the ingredients in the food that makes it feel very different from what I'm used to in the U.S.

3. I used three cameras on the trip:  a Sony Cybershot, a Canon Digital Rebel SLR, and my trusty Diana.  I have yet to get the Diana pictures developed, but when I do I'll post them here! 

Typewriter photo found here. 

My Paris Birthday: Headed Home

My Paris Birthday: The Last of My Favorites

My Paris Birthday: Wee Parisians on Ponies

One of my favorite moments in Paris was when we wandered upon these two little ladies getting ready to take pony rides in the Jardin des Tuileries on a wintery, overcast afternoon.

Looking at these images makes me absolutely sure that I was inhabiting a storybook last week!

My Paris Birthday: Breastfeeding and Babywearing

Photos by my husband and mother-in-law.  Thanks guys!

My Paris Birthday: Wow Moments, Day & Night

On our first full day in Paris we walked to the Sacre Coeur, which looks like this from below...

...and it has views like this from on top:

The cathedral is one of T's favorite places in Paris, and he was so excited when the Kiddo shared his enthusiasm for the marvelous view:

Later, we rode on this marvelous contraption, aptly called "The Wheel of Excellence".  More wows were had by all:

My Paris Birthday: Where We Stayed

Would you believe me if I told you that when we were in Paris, we actually got to stay in this beautiful home?

And that not only was it a lovely, character-filled, classically-Parisian apartment, but it was in the exciting, colorful neighborhood of Montmartre?

Well, it's true!  But even more unbelievable is the fact that the whole thing was made possible by the Kiddo.  I'll tell you how...

Remember this photo of the Kiddo, taken back in August?  Well, that day we were visiting one of his favorite playgrounds in Central Park.  In the warm weather, he loves to run around there.  There's a sprinkler and these amazing, lifelike Hippo sculptures that kids can play on. It's a great place to just let the Kiddo be free -- we can watch him from a nearby bench while he easily navigates all the fun elements on his own.  

On this one particular beautiful sunny summer day, T and I were chillin' in the shade while the Kiddo frolicked amidst the hippos.  At one point not long after we arrived, a couple of older children (both adorable girls) started to interact with the Kiddo.  They were incredibly caring, fun, and sweet with him, and we could see that he was instantly entranced by them.  For at least an hour and a half we watched these three playing together.  Other children came and went from the playground but the two girls each continued to hover around our Kiddo, entertaining him the whole time while watchfully making sure that he was safe from any rough-and-tumble play that might have been occurring in their vicinity. 

I remember watching these proceedings so happily, enjoying the sight of my son so blissfully wrapped up in an encounter with other children.  T and I were thoroughly impressed with the delightful and courteous behavior of the two little girls, and at the same time we were a little jealous that the Kiddo seemed to have so easily forgotten about the very existence of his parents.  

After a while the girls' father, who had been sitting across the playground from us the whole time with his wife and youngest son, approached us and introduced himself and his family. They were visiting from their native Paris, and he sang the praises of New York City and Central Park.  We complimented their city in return, mentioning that we longed to return someday (our last visit was in 2006).  We asked how their vacation was going, and where they happened to be staying.  He replied that the family was doing a home-swap, coordinating with Manhattan residents to exchange homes during the same period of time.

Suddenly, almost in unison, T and I found ourselves offering to swap our home with this family of charming Parisians.  The idea of swapping homes had never occurred to us before, and yet here we were rattling off the location and attributes of our apartment, practically begging this complete stranger to trade homes with us on his next vacation!  Before we knew it, we were exchanging phone numbers and email addresses and our new friend was suggesting that we all meet again the next day for drinks and snacks in a non-playground environment.  

The next day, as T was coming home from work, our new friends arrived at our apartment.  T's mom was visiting as well, so everyone was able to meet.  We ordered pizza and drank the delicious wine they brought us while the four kids romped around.  The two girls (who speak only a few words of English) are quite talented artists, so after I presented them with my magic-marker and crayon stash they went to town, drawing these fantastic little pictures for us:

It was such a lovely, memorable evening.  It was so great to connect with a family with children who all get along so beautifully with the Kiddo -- the fact that they live in Paris went from seeming like the coolest thing about them to seeming a little sad!  And to think that if we ever actually swapped homes, we wouldn't get to spend any time together!  The irony.

Before they left that evening, we all posed for a little snapshot to remember our incredible meeting. From the left, that's T and me (with my hands on the Kiddo) and sitting on the couch are Juliette, Alice, T's mom, Aurele, Pauline and Nicolas.  Aren't they the cutest family ever?

As far as I knew, when they all left that night our communication with our new friends dropped off.  Even though we had exchanged contact information and talked about one day swapping homes, life got back to its everyday patterns and the experience of meeting them faded from my mind a bit.  Meanwhile, T was almost immediately in touch with Nicolas, secretly planning my birthday trip to Paris!  When he asked if they would be willing to swap homes during the dates of our trip, Nicolas explained that, being busy with work and school, they would be unable to leave home at that time to come to New York.  However, he incredibly graciously invited us to come anyway, and stay with them in Paris.  For months now the plans have been unfolding behind my back, and I had no idea!  Even once we were on the plane bound for Paris, T obscured the fact that we would be staying with our friends.  He kept referring to our "hotel" and when I asked him we should try to look up the sweet family we met back in August he acted like that would be a good idea, remarking that he thought he had packed their phone number.

So imagine how surprised and overwhelmed I was when we arrived at the airport in Paris, retrieved our checked bags, and were met there by Nicolas!  This is what a kind person he is:  Despite the fact that his car had failed to start that morning, he took a cab to the airport to pick us up and ferry us into the city.  Not only that, but he was so apologetic about having to take a cab that he refused to let T pay for the ride, despite his protests!  

That kindness set the tone for what was a week of an incredibly hospitable and generous gifts from their family to ours.  When we arrived at their home, Nicolas and Pauline gave us a tour of the place and showed us the room that they had specially prepared for me, T and the Kiddo to stay in-- complete with a play area/bed for the baby and some stuffed animals to play with. In fact, it was their bedroom, the master bedroom, which they gave up for us.  The two of them insisted on sleeping all week on one of the children's bunk beds!  What hosts!

As you can imagine, being able to spend the Paris trip living in a real home with a family of friends really added an incredibly wonderful dimension to the experience.  They prepared a delicious meal for us on our first night there, and as soon as we arrived Nicolas gave us an excellent tour of the surrounding neighborhood and all the best shops to frequent, buying us unbelievably delicious croissants along the way.

And so there you have the story of how my birthday surprise actually was layered (or, rather "lay-ahed") with more excitement, comfort, and intrigue than meets the eye!  It was a birthday gift for the ages and I am indebted to the wonderful people who all worked together to pull it off.  One of the most amazing things about our vacation is that due to the generosity of our Paris friends and the use of frequent-flyer miles (a combination of ours, but mostly T's mom's) the whole trip was actually very inexpensive.  An amazing fact when you consider that the experience, from start to finish, was absolutely priceless.  I will never forget it.