My 2013

2013 was an exceptional year for my family of three. Siena started the year unable to sit and ended the year walking. I started the year unsure of myself as a new mom and ended it a confident, multi-tasking Mama. Rob was searching for work-life balance at the start 2013. One year later he's proven you can kick-ass at work and still be a hands on dad and attentive husband. 

I could sum up 2013 in 3 words: travel, child, instagram 
....but I'll elaborate.

Travel.
We exceeded our ambitious expectations for travel with trips  all over Europe and the UK. Belgium (Brussels, Antwerp,Bruges), Scotland (Edinburgh, Inverness, Isle of Skye, Glasgow, St. Andrews), France (Paris x2, Aix-en-Provence, Cassis, Marseille, Orange, Avignon, Eze, Grasse, Menton, Vaison-la-Romaine), Finland (Helsinki, Porvo), Italy (Genoa, Portofino, Cinque Terre, Comogli, Bobbio), USA (New York City x2, DC), Spain (Barcelona), England (Windsor, Canterbury, Brighton, Levenham, Winchester, Dover, Stonhenge, Stratford Upon Avon, The Cotswolds), and  Austria (Vienna). We tasted local specialties at every opportunity indulging on waffles in Belgium, crepes in France, pasta in Italy, and haggis in Scotland.  We saw breathtaking natural wonders - the White Cliffs of Dover, the back roads of the Isle of Skye, rolling hills of the English countryside; incredible architecture - La Sagrada Familia, The Glenfinnan Viaduct, Winchester Cathedral; historic landmarks -Stonehenge, the Eiffiel Tower, Shakespeare's birthplace; and participated in local traditions- the Royal Ascot, Proms in the park, a Kentish wedding. And  we were able to do all this with an infant. Traveling with an infant presented its own set of challenges but we considered Siena an equal participant in our travels rather than an obstacle and were mostly grateful for the ways she shaped our experiences. We slowed our pace and typically hectic itineraries and opted for picnics and playgrounds over long restaurant lunches. The year and all its adventures even inspired me to write a book about travel with infants which is currently a work in progress. It hasn't been restful and flying alone to the US and back with Siena was legitimately traumatic but what an unforgettable year it has been.  Inspiring, fulfilling, enlightening and joyful, a year of travel, a beautiful way to bond our first full year as a family of three. 

Child. 
In 2013 I devoted all I am to raising Siena. I chose not to go back to work but worked every day instead on giving Siena well-balanced meals comprised of all 5 food groups, bringing her to swim lessons, baby massage, rhyme time and nursery. Reading her stories, singing her songs, building blocks and throwing balls. Going for walks to parks and playgrounds, museums and libraries. I gave her 1 bajillion kisses and told her I loved her a bajillion times more. I made sure her bath was the perfect temperature and her bow always matched her outfit. I saw her sit for the first time then crawl then take her first steps. I listened to her first words - good girl - and held her for every  vaccination and trip to the A&E (ER).  I fed her her first solid food - banana, which she was not a fan of and encouraged her as she learned to feed herself with a spoon. I changed gravity defying nappy explosions. I vaguely remember what sleeping in means. I'm not quite sure I counted higher than 10 in the past year but I counted from 1 to 10 infinity times.  I cherish the privilege I had to be a stay at home mom and did not take a day for granted or the responsibility lightly. Siena is now ready for more independence from mommy and I am ready to focus more on projects gratifying to the non-mommy me. This year I hope to make that transition and I'm nervous yet hopeful about where these changes will take us.

Instagram
Oh instagram, how do I love thee? let me count the ways.  You've allowed me to share this adventure in real time. You have reconnected me with old friends and introduced me to new ones. You've allowed family and friends to feel a part of my world though I am very far from most. You have acted as  a memory book, journal, photo album. You keep record of when things were posted so I can always look back and see when Siena started to crawl or ate her first french fry. You've provided dummy-proof filters so I can feel like I'm actually adding some artistic value to images and of course flattering lighting when I need it. You have a love/hate relationship with Rob, who hates when I stop to take pictures then asks me to send them to him so he can use them for his screen savers at work (he has 4 computer screens at work). You have been a fun hobby. Even when you are not around I now see the world in capture worthy frames, appreciating details of my surroundings that may have otherwise gone unnoticed. 

2013 A Year in Instagram Pics

England

Buckingham Palace

The Royal Ascot

Stonehenge 

The White Cliffs of Dover 

Touring Stratford-Upon-Avon 

Shakespeare's birthplace  

On the river Thames at low tide

Paris

 Scotland 

Edinburgh Castle 

Glenfinian Viaduct

Dunvegan Castle 

 New York

Rockaway Beach (1st touch of an ocean)

Luna Park, Coney Island

Finland

Suomenlinna

 Provence

Cassis

Vaison-la-Romaine

Lavender Fields 

Italy

Genova

Cousins

Menton (technically France)

Barcelona

Light reflected from the Stained Glass,
La Sagrada  

Air BnB

Gaudi Rooftop

Halloween (Peter Pan)

New York 

Thanksgivukkah

Goofing Around Town 

Kinder-Museum, Vienna 

Kensington Palace

Hogwarts

Playground at La Sagrada Familia

Playground at Sacre Coeur

Christmas

My Unapologetic Song of Praise to My Daughter, Siena.

I spend a lot of my time tempering my expression of enthusiasm about all things Siena-related. I think a lot about the fact that although her  bowel movements are fascinating to her father and me they are uninteresting and displeasing to just about everyone else. After living in baby-crazed Park Slope for many years as a non-parent, I am keenly aware that the importance one gives to his/her child is generally not shared by the greater society, for example, those two friends catching up over coffee who are not amused by the hyperactive tot running back and forth in the cafe. When Siena does something clever I put it in perspective, reminding myself this is a perfectly normal skill for a child of her age.  I do not hold back my praise to Siena and tell her several times a day that she is smart, clever, fun, funny and beautiful (in that order), but I otherwise tone it down. When catching up with friends I talk about Siena but I don't focus on her. I'll generalize, saying things like 'she's wonderful', 'talking  now and walking', 'she can kick a ball'. In truth, to me she isn't just wonderful, she is magic!  And when I catch myself gushing  I quickly throw in some frustrating aspect of parenting, like she hasn't been sleeping well or she chucks more of her food on the floor than she puts in her mouth at meal time. Maybe it's because I am guilty myself of having judged other moms for speaking of their children like they are the Second Coming of Christ. I'd  smile politely but really want to tell them to reel it in and get a grip. But the truth is I feel the same way about Siena. There are billions of kids in the world, they can't all be the  best, right? But in fact, they are all the best or at least should be in their parents' eyes.  I don't think this brief reflection will change my approach to discussing Siena, I will continue holding back when I am actually bursting for fear of sounding obnoxious. But I will appreciate instead of critique my starry eyed mom friends because they are doing just what they should be doing, falling in love with their children. 


For the record speaking from the heart, Siena, you amaze me. You are a genius and you are perfect. You are funny and gorgeous. You are the embodiment of joy. Your smile can cure disease and your laughter can stop war.  You are all that is right with the world. You are smart, you are clever, you are fun, you are funny, you are beautiful and I love you! 


You have a strong will of your own but you also listen and respect when mama tells you 'no'. You say thank you and always try to share your food and toys.  You are affectionate, kissing all your toys and characters in your books. For a 15 month old you have an incredibly long attention span getting absorbed in stories we read cover to cover. You love to sing and you sing happy tunes to yourself every day.  At nursery, you sang a song and all the other  babies stopped to listen. You love bath time and will splash and laugh until the water gets too cold and you have to come out. When you are happy, you express it with your whole body, flailing your arms, kicking your feet and squealing. You are so curious and interested and excited by new places and discoveries. You are a people person and feel quite comfortable approaching other kids to play. You love when mama chases you. You love to play with balls and cars and babies. When I speak to you, I can see in your eyes you understand, when I tell you you are smart you give me a bashful smile and when I tell you I love you, you know it's true.  Mama and Dada are so proud of you. You surprise us everyday by your cleverness.  You bring us joy we have never felt before.  We love you, our girl.

Have a Royally Great 2014!

For years Rob and I have discussed our desire to send out holiday cards to family and friends. We really enjoy receiving cards each year and appreciate the thought and effort behind them. But the holidays would creep up and I never got my act together in time to send anything out. After Siena was born I felt a more pressing need to spread holiday cheer by way of a card with a cute baby pic and cliched if not clever festive phrase. But sending holiday cards was my lowest priority just two months after Siena was born. She was still in a harness to correct her hip dysplasia and we were still going back and forth to the doctors to check her abnormal kidneys. I was still very much wearing pregnancy pants and barely on the other side of severe baby blues. So the holidays came and went without our personal greeting. This year should have been different but as the holidays approached I had a card idea in mind I could not shake but also could not execute. Instead of scrambling for a back up plan I let the holidays come and go and with each card containing a little cutie that slid through our mail slot I was hit with a slight pang of guilt and regret. I decided to ask a photo savvy friend to help with my card idea even though it's too late to make the 2013 season. Although the card never reached your door know our sentiments and wishes remain for a happy and healthy new year and lots of love your way! 

XO, 

Lia, Rob and Siena Kate

P.S. My New Years resolution is to get a head start on holiday cards for 2014.