Harvey's 1st Birthday

The phone on the table in the middle picture is "Mombo" on the speaker phone singing Happy Birthday in Spanish. Harvey was a great host. He insisted on walking EVERYONE down the hall to the elevator.

Harvey and Mommy Napping

Harvey and Mommy have been napping now for quite a while. I guess they're resting up for the big day tomorrow--Harvey's Birthday Party!!! He'll be ONE. It's hard to believe. They're both going to wake up hungry and cranky. I better put some lunch together.....J

Mother's Helper

Big Mother is Watching You :)

I needed to keep him out of the kitchen for a few minutes while I cleaned the floor. Lately the remote control and the cordless phone give me an instant reprive from the little hands tugging at my legs. This time I tried Oatios instead and with brilliant success! Unfortunately, now I have to clean this floor...

Totally Tired

It was really pushing it...taking a flash photo of a sleeping baby. Takes a lot of nerve to do that! Harvey took 74 consecutive steps yesterday. Joe and I watched and counted together. It was a very sweet family moment. The other day Harvey helped me take off his onesie! He has a new game that he likes to play - crashing the melodie bells into one another. He gets such a chuckle out of it. The sound of his laughter could melt the hearts of stone.

Binky and the Beach

Bedouin Baby

بدوي

Bedouin, derived from the Arabic badawī (بدوي), a generic name for a desert-dweller, is a term generally applied to Arab nomadic pastoralist groups, who are found throughout most of the desert belt extending from the Atlantic coast of the Sahara via the Western Desert, Sinai, and Negev to the eastern coast of the Arabian desert. It is occasionally used to refer to non-Arab groups as well, notably the Beja of the African coast of the Red Sea.

Our Baby Bedouin travelled across the sands of Port Aransas, Texas. It was necessary to keep the binky in the mouth to avoid sand consumption. We learned quickly that SPF has to be put on BEFORE reaching the beach. Rubbing SPF over sand coated tender skin is so not pleasant!

Trottoir

French for "sidewalk". Erin was the best au pair. She took Harvey all over Fontainebleau in his stroller. He visited the formal gardens at the Chateau and munched on baguettes while perusing the outdoor market. She even bought him a cute little outfit and sun hat in the Monoprix (a store kind of like Walmart, except with fresh-baked croissants and fancy French perfume). One day they had to stroll to the Pharmacie and buy ointments and bath salts for his mosquito bites. Poor baby, he was covered from head to toe with bites. Unfortunately the French don't have mosquito nets (screens) on their windows. I thought they were supposed to be so advanced!

Harvey Chez Delloye

He loved dining al fresco and was always curious to try new foods: yogurt, roast beef, apricots, croissants and the list continues to grow. Yesterday he ate figs - a big hit!

I Know It Seems Like a Cliche....

.....to sit around in some cafe all day. Harvey kinda liked it there in France! He demanded a baguette at every meal and would only take his bottle after an aperatif. Harvey especially liked it here at Le Grand Cafe in Fontainebleau. Here he is hangin' out with Jim and Eleanora.

Harvey avec garcon Hervé

Harvey's First Carousel Ride (Joe's heart was in his throat watching us whip around at 5 miles per hour!)

Soccer or Piano

I guess we can't just assume that he will naturally gravitate towards the piano. I suppose we have to be textbook parents that support our child in whatever endeavors he chooses. This is fine with me. I promise never to put pressure on Harvey to succeed at the piano.... as long as he learns all 32 Beethoven Sonatas by age 10, he can pursue whatever he wants. Okay, maybe that's a little harsh. We'll let him skip a few of the late sonatas:)