Monthly Archives: November 2009

Monday Playdates

Today we had two fun playdates, one with my friend Gry and her son Luka:

Gry has this smock/bib that she uses for Luka when he eats. I love this thing! I tried it out on Ari and he actually kept it on! I guess it’s not like a traditional bib, it’s more like a shirt. So, he was okay with wearing it.

I would love to copy her and purchase the smock bib for myself, but unfortunately, she bought it in Norway. Sad!

After Ari’s nap, my friend Alli came over to my place with her son, Aaron. They spent the majority of their time pushing each other in the Cozy Coupe, while Alii and I talked about astrology.

And there was a Cozy Coupe collaboration….

Ah Mondays….

Java Love…At 18 Months

My love affair with coffee began in May 2008 when my son was born. That steaming cup in the morning makes me feel more like a human being than a blob of incoherency. Recently, my son started to take notice of my dear friend, the coffee mug, and his curiosity got the best of him.


**Fortunately, the above is just a reenactment of what actually occurred. I placed an empty mug on the coffee table and he went for the mug. This was done to demonstrate how much he is interested in coffee.


One day, when I was in a morning haze, I placed my coffee mug on the coffee table distractedly. I look over and found my son had grabbed the mug and was in the process of taking a giant gulp of my prized beverage; I was horrified.

One would think after this experience it would be best to keep an eye on one’s coffee mug more closely. But no, regretfully I report that the very next day he got to the coffee mug again.

Since these incidents, I no longer keep my coffee mug on the coffee table. It is hidden in an abstract corner of the room away from little hand’s grasp.

Brenda’s New Bag: A Photo Story…





Garden Living


“When it’s cold outside, I want the month of May…” I agree with The Temptations. I, too, would relish in May’s whether right now. But alas, winter is here, despite global warming’s attempts to thwart it’s arrival.
So what do we do? We go to the garden. Not the Brooklyn Botanic Garden (which is an excellent option by the by) but the Fader Garden. My parents have a backyard that my mom has been cultivating since 1999. Recently, my son has grown to love this place.
He runs around, sometimes in his pajamas, sometimes in clothes, but don’t worry Jewish mothers: he is warm enough!
He loves to stick his hands in the dirtiest possible things he can, the bird bath and its disgusting water etc. But his activities are not all gross. he also will eat the fresh fruits and vegetables that my mom grows, i.e. broccoli, raspberries, lettuce and more.
When we don’t feel like braving the cold to get to the playground, we hit up the Fader Garden.

Photo Shoot With Noe DeWitt

A couple of weeks ago, my best friend Mint, my son and I had the opportunity to have a photo shoot with professional photographer Noe DeWiit.

Here are some of the photos from the shoot. Unfortunately, my son was in a cranky mood that day, so he doesn’t look pleased. But this bares no reflection on Noe’s work. Mr. DeWitt is a fantastic artist, and does amazing child photography in particular.



Check out more of Noe Dewitt’s work here.

An Interview With a 3 Year Old

Here is a funny interview with a three year old that I read in Time Out New York Kids!

Mom and Other Electronically Inspired Words!

I have waited 18 long months to hear this word, and the day has finally come. So here it is folks, my son said….”mom mom!”

Though it is a little bit creepy, as it speaks in a strange robotic voice, this book did inspire my child to speak more. I remember months ago, My friend Gry and I were mocking it’s weirdness and then….all of a sudden, my son blurted out: “Da da!” in response to a metallic: “Daddy, daddy plays with baby.”

Oh, and as an added bonus, he also said:

Rode a Bike at Brooklyn New School and Learned to Recycle One Too!

Yesterday, I was present for a tremendous charitable event. The Netherlands Ministry of Transport donated 400 bicycles to Recycle-a-Bicycle, a non-for-profit organization that takes donated old bicycles and parts and fixes them up to sell in their retail stores.

This donation took place at The Brooklyn New School, a progressive public elementary school on the border of Carroll Gardens and Red Hook, where I was subbing. The reason for the donation: to teach children (who don’t know already) how to ride a bike through a community organization called “Learn to Ride.”

Because of the Dutch government’s generosity, I too was afforded the opportunity to ride one of the bikes, as were permanent teachers and the entire 5th grade class.

Thank you Netherlands!

According to Camiel Eurlings, Minister of Transport, Public Works, and Water Management in The Netherlands (who spoke at Brooklyn New School’s event) bicycling is so popular in The Netherlands, that the amount of bicycles nearly out numbers the Dutch population.

The Learn to Ride effort began at The Brooklyn New School. It was great to see children who had never gotten on a bicycle before have the opportunity to do so.

I told the representative at Recycle-a-Bicycle that I hope to purchase my son’s first bicycle from them someday.

For more information on Recycle-a-Bicycle click here. For information on The Brooklyn New School, click here.

“Pat The Bunny” : A Classic Book Lives On

“Pat the Bunny” has been in print for over 60 years. See info here. I have vivid memories of my mom reading it to me when I was a child. The “Pat the Bunny” tradition has continued as my brother and sister in-law gave me a copy for my 30th birthday present. The card attached read something like “For you to share with Ari.”


What’s funny is that my friend Josina and I were recently discussing this classic book. When her son, Nelson, was born she was bombarded with multiple copies of “Goodnight Moon.” But no one bothered to throw in a “Pat the Bunny.” I commiserated with her lack of “Pat the Bunny-dom.” Until my brother and sister in-law filled the void.

Before receiving my own copy of “Pat the Bunny,” I tried to request it at the library; but received a curious response. The children’s librarian informed me that because “Pat the Bunny” is a touch and feel book with multiple textures, it is a liability. Apparently children could injure the book and it could potentially injure them if they were allergic to the particular textures in it. I found this all very bizarre.

Thankfully, I have my very own copy now. And my son loves it. See for yourself:

Here is a link to purchase the original Pat The Bunny book on Amazon.com:

A Midnight Show

Before I had a child I could barely stay up past 11pm. I know, it’s sort of pathetic; but, I was a “day person.”

After I had my son, my inner clock was entirely re-wired and I was no longer a “day person.” In fact, I don’t know what I am anymore. I have grown used to be arisen at whatever hour is convenient for my son.

Which leads me to my latest obsession: the midnight movie.

Living in New York City, one has access to this late night treat, and now that my sleep schedule is all out of wack, I fully appreciate the midnight movie.

Some weeks ago, my boyfriend promised to take me to the see “New Moon” (the latest film adaptation of the Twilight book saga) upon it’s release. We decided that we would take a nap, at 9pm, and when we woke up we would head out to the midnight show. He had already arranged for my mom to babysit; which required her sitting on the couch, drinking tea and watching TV since our boy was sound asleep.

Good things about the midnight show:
1. We found parking almost immediately. Since it is not a high traffic time, it was easy to secure street parking at a meter, which (by the way) we did not have to pay for since it was after 7pm!
2. There were available tickets since this is an odd hour to watch a film.
3. Since it was after dinner, we could just zip over to the movies and zip back. We didn’t have to worry about waiting for food at a restaurant.
4. The ride home took 5 minutes because there were virtually no cars out on the road.

I love the midnight movie. I think we may make this one a regular event.

Generally, when I am at a restaurant table without my child, my attention span goes out the window and I sit there continuously thinking/worrying about my son. Please note, that I have the opportunity to go out to eat 0.00001 % of the time.