Mama Needed a Taste

The Cupcake: Future Competitive Eater

The progression...

Birthday Fun

The cupcakes - don't they look fancy? Who would believe everything came out of a mix? Even better than the photo is the quote from one of Craig's students (Craig took the leftovers to school today). "Yo Mr. Melzer - your wife is a beast! Those cupcakes look professional. They could be from BJs". Word.


Sorry Uncle Steve. I had aspirations of making a cake as amazing as Mira's 2nd or 3rd birthday cake but realized at 11pm the night before it wasn't going to translate into reality. I am going to commission you for future birthdays.

On Love

I am 1 today!

I have been contemplating what to share about Maceo's birthday for the better part of the day. Not because there are any secrets, but because I feel so overwhelmed by the intense emotions that his 365th day brought on.

I had been dragging my feet a bit when Craig suggested throwing a party for him - I mean, really...does a 1 year old need a birthday party? But I'm now grateful that he had us mark the occasion with friends and family as it gave me the chance to step back and really think about the past year. It has been such a humbling journey, and already a great chance to preview the parts of parenthood I am really going to suck at...coping with big sticky food messes: toddler GRIME, watching charming wooden toys used as destructive ramrods: ACTIVE boy children, redirecting undesirable activities (gentle touching, no picking your nose, don't touch that...) 1,000 times a day: PATIENCE.

But more than anything - and really, truly anything - I am struck by how much I love Maceo. When Craig and I hear him stirring in the morning, one person gets the milk ready and the other goes to get him out of the crib and change his diaper. I did not realize until now that we have developed an unspoken "every-other" routine. One day Craig gets to greet Maceo, the other day it is my turn. And I know without asking Craig that each of us harbors a tiny bit of jealousy when we are stuck with milk duty and the other gets to be the first to enter his bedroom. Because there is still a physical feeling of excitement about getting to see his sweet puffy face in the morning, offering him his first kiss, inhaling his hot-sweet-smelly breath, and feeling his tender cheek pressed to yours as he wakes up in your arms. I never could have imagined what it would feel like to love something this much (despite the zillion times my mom tried to explain it to me). And so I will stop here.

The photos in the subsequent posts document a very fun afternoon of jubilation. While I am quite sure Maceo did not understand what was going on, he did revel in the chance to eat the entire cupcake (more sugar than he has ever ingested in his life) and seemed unfazed when he threw-up a portion of it 15 minutes later. And after a pragmatic wet-wipe to the carpet without a classic "dirty house" panic, even I realized that I had passed my own mommy-milestone. Happy Birthday Maceo.

More Franklin Park

It's Getting Chilly

Maceo surveying Franklin Park in his new hat.

From the Nanny Archives

A range of funny photos sent to my cell phone from our lovely nanny Georgina.


Maceo wearing a very cool pair of shades that were a spontaneous present purchased by Georgina on an especially bright day. Apparently he wore them for about 5 seconds total.


Crashed out after another long walk.


This one was sent to my phone titled "Maceo making his escape". I'd say that his buddy Asher is a more interesting subject - playing his didgeridoo or imitating life in a frat house?

I Spy..

with my little eye a delicious puff.

Life Under the Covers

There is something extraterrestrial about these photos that I love.

Playground Fun

As the long weekend headed to a close, we enjoyed the final hours of sunlight at the playground. I decided that Maceo and I should have similarly bright hats to ward off the winter blues. I can't believe that in 19 days Maceo is going to be 1 year old.

Happy Thanksgiving

Fall Frolicking

Modern art - or a fall frolic centered on oral hygiene.

More Fall Fun

A few more shots of Maceo enjoying the foliage.

Inaugural Trip to the Children's Museaum

Last Friday Maceo and I went to the Children's Museum with our friend's Jen and Owen. Jen and I had no idea whether there would be much for our little guys to do since both are still crawling/wobbly walking (that would be Owen). However,the Boston Public Library has an awesome program where each day at each local branch there are a limited number of heavily discounted tickets to local museums and kid-friendly attractions. So, for $3 per mom/baby combo, we decided it was worth it to head off on an adventure...

Turns out that the museum has zillions of things for the little ones to do - including an entire environment devoted to crawlers. Unfortunately, we discovered that room after we had been thrashing around for a couple hours so they were pretty wiped out.

Below are some photos from the afternoon - as you can see a good time was indeed had by all. I think that Owen and Maceo could have spent the entire time in the room devoted to motion...watching golf balls zoom through various tracks, spiral slides and improvised ski-ball games. Needless to say we plan to return shortly.


Monitoring the ski-ball game.


An incredible structure that spans 3 floors of the museum - these two were not old enough to give it a try but all four of us marveled at the Bilbao-like beauty.


Maceo had some trouble figuring out the point of basketball - he looks as bewildered as mom does when watching the Celtics.


Investigating the track to make sure it is structurally sound.


The aftermath - exhaustion!

Out and About Town

Another shot sent from the nanny. Thanks to Amie for the cute hat that actually stays on Maceo's head!

Running Out of Steam

See below for the consequences of refusing to take a nap. Sent to me on my cell phone at 2:30pm by our nanny.

A man after my own heart: Cheese, please

We went on an adventure to Roslindale Village this morning to kill some time during the crummiest part of the day. After much meandering, we found ourselves (how'd that happen) at the Boston Cheese Cellar. I decided to try some tasty offerings, and Maceo decided he wanted some as well. Much to my surprise, he was happy to gobble-down a pecorino with truffles, a VERY sharp cheddar, and an aged mountain cheese. I was very tempted to go for a sample of some blue, but decided not to push my luck! The photos speaks for itself. Maybe I should get his name on the list now for an internship at Formaggios!

Sharing

this post requires much more text if I were to expound on Maceo's recent developmental milestones, but I am heading to bed so it will have to wait. The general upshot is that Maceo has recently discovered the joys of sharing, and is most interested in sharing food - namely the used bits that were in his mouth. His favorite trick is to share his puffs (yuppie Cheerios) or bits of cracker that he has been nibbling on for an indiscriminate period of time. This photo was taken on Sunday afternoon when Uncle Marc, Maceo and I went to a Venezuelan restaurant for lunch. The photo quality is awful but the mutual adoration comes jumping off the page.

Ebony and Ivory...

swinging together in perfect harmony.