Rembrandt Park (Amsterdam)

OK, so let's never mind the fact that I haven't posted in about 8 months. Today we had such a morning, I just want to write it down quickly and get some pictures up. The weather was incredible, for starters - sunshine and blue sky, not too cold. There was one hailstorm as we walked to Rembrandt Park, but that just yielded a glorious rainbow for us (a little hard to see in this photo, but take my word for it!).

The park was a new adventure for us, and what a wonderful one. We discovered a little petting zoo. How Taka giggled to hear the goats bleating!


Then we found a little playground, with a "shobosha" slide and another shobosha bouncer. Taka liked the little one, but naturally it was the big one that I could hardly drag him away from. He just wanted to sit and drive it forever!

Finally I convinced him that warm soup and a sandwich at home would be just the thing. After lunch, as he headed into the bedroom for naptime, he waved his arms in the air and said, "Happy! Happy Taka." You said it, kid - happy mama, too!

Merry Mary-land

Taka's first visit to his cousins' house in Maryland! He loved watching the boys play and meeting Buster the dog. We think he has a crush on his cousin Maggie, since he tried to hit her the first time he met her. We explained to her that it's because he likes her, but she still spent the entire weekend running away from him! Ah well, he has some time to learn proper social pleasantries...

Here are just a few pics from the trip. Looks like GrandmaMac didn't make it into any of the pictures (well, except her legs) - a major oversight!

we heart bear mountain

Took a trip up the Palisades Parkway to Bear Mountain today - our second time there. This time we tried out the merry-go-round -- as you'll see from the pictures, Taka was a little stunned. I think he enjoyed watching it more than being on it! Not that he didn't like it, he just didn't exactly "get it." But Hisa & I sure had fun! :-) We also had a little picnic lunch in the park. What a fantastic place. Next time: hiking, maybe some boating?


Here are a few additional pics from the last time we were there - I wasn't able to upload them earlier...

bye-bye, mini

April 27, 2009 - It was time, it was time. The Mini was now 5 years old, and besides, it was getting harder and harder to squeeze Taka in the back! We traded in for a VW GTI, and took some pictures to commemorate our very first "baby"!

birthday brunch

April 18, 2009 - Obviously posting this a bit late. We invited a few friends over for brunch on the weekend following Taka's birthday. The most people we've had at our apartment since Taka moved in. :-) It went very smoothly, and the guests were a huge help, since I found it difficult to be both mommy and hostess! I baked a carrot cake from scratch, and Taka had 3 bites. Sigh of relief -- I was worried he'd instantly become a sugar junkie!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TAKA!

1 year old today! Taka got a few presents and can't wait to play more with them later. The actual party will have to wait until the weekend, since of course Mommy and Daddy have to work. Children's birthdays should be holidays, shouldn't they? :-)

Sunday in the park with Taka

Gorgeous weather in Brooklyn as we head into April! Enjoyed a nice picnic in Fort Greene Park today, giving Taka a chance to practice his walking on some natural ground. We all had a lovely time -- unfortunately the camera ran out of batteries after just 2 pictures!