We bought a car!

Yeah, we did. Below, you are looking at our '08 Honda CRV in actual use as Jennifer drives by on her way back from working the 5 am shift in Midtown. Jennifer and I have been car-free for a number of years now as NYC is a city where you don't really need a vehicle to get around. But with Hugo, it just made sense, and makes our lives a bit easier. We don't have to call a car service for Jen's early AM shifts, we have a means of getting to daycare or doctors appointments on crappy days, shopping is no longer a massive coordinated effort, and road trips and city-escapes are easier to fathom. We'll still ride the rails for our regular commute, and I will continue to bike in 2-3 times a week--for morning rush hours, this is still the best way to get around.

So yeah, we were not considering this Honda CRV at all. We had our eye on different cars but as we were sitting in the dealership reading the Carfaxes, the ones we were interested in were showing up with histories of damage. This was the only car that was fender-bender free, low miles, and enough room. Color didn't really matter, this one's gold, or as Jen coined yesterday, "responsible beige."


We took Hugo out in the car yesterday as we zipped out to the Long Island suburbs to exchange some baby stuff. We all enjoyed the ride. Here's Hugo above with his new stuffed toy from our friend Bill--he sends great stuffed toys. Our thanks to him and the entire Meisburger clan for all they've sent to Hugo, we very much appreciate it...and now with a car, who knows, maybe we'll come down and visit...Charleston's only, what, 15 hours away by car?


Here's Daddy and Hugo, doing the hat thing, as it was sunny and 80 here yesterday. Go Spring! Oh yeah, did we mention that Hugo is very chatty now...disregard the cheezy ad-lib by me...

Baseball's back...

Citi Field is only 4 miles away, and Hugo is fan-ready with his first Mets shirt. So is Daddy!

I was dressing Hugo for bed the other day and we put this fleece onsie on and the angle struck me as similar to a picture we took when we were leaving the hospital.  So here's a "then and now" shot – now and four months ago.  

A "Hi Mommy" Video

A "Hi Mommy" video taken yesterday as I had an impromptu day off as our day care was closed for Easter Monday. We send these little videos from time to time to cheer up Mommy at work...let her know we miss her.

Adventures in the City

Here's Jen and Hugo riding the rails. When Hugo's awake he would rather you stand (even when plenty of seating is available).

Our plan was, last Thursday, to get new NY licences (after 4 years of procrastinating with our Wisconsin licenses) and to apply for Hugo's passport so he can travel, eventually, back and forth into Canada. The Passport was easy enough, but the line at the DMV was ridiculous...so we bagged it in favor of lunch/dinner at a Herald Square restaurant.



Not quite ready for beer yet.

Our friend Erica pointed out that Hugo may be giving daddy the "thumb's up" in this picture. I agree, Go Daddy!

BL's Birthday Bowling Extravaganza

We had a great time at our friend's, Barbara Lynn's birthday at the Gutter in Williamsburg. Low red light so some of the shots are a bit blurry.

Barbara Lynn and Colin.

Jennifer, Evan, and Hugo...harsh flash, made me and Hugo blink.

Here we are again, Jen taking the picture in the mirror, Me staring at the pins, thinking "I suck at this game!" And Hugo chewing on his Mr. Amazing bib. He was one awesome and entertaining baby last night.

Here's Colin showing the finishing form. Note the extension. He actually picked up the spare here.

Jennifer selected a pink ball. She didn't need any luck as she bowled well! Better than me, that's for sure. And, in this picture, she too picked up that one pin for the spare.

Here's Hugo sleeping. The crash of ball and pins did not even stir him...that's our NYC baby, used to loud noises. Get this though...this ball weighs 16lbs; Hugo now weighs almost as much as this bowling ball! Amazing huh? Anyway, I looked better holding the ball than rolling it.

The Ganesh Experiment at Brooklyn Artist Gym

Benign Distraction
Drawing (approx. 20 x 36 inches)
April 2009

As I had posted earlier, I was invited to participate in what was deemed an "art happening" at the Broolyn Artists Gym studio space/venue in Gowanus, Brooklyn. The night started with an hour+ train ride from Astoria to Gowanus on the N train (which I forgot was running local on the weekends cause we rarely ride it past 57th street, so it took next to forever to get there, but I did manage to get set up with plenty of time to spare). I was a bit nervous about all this; I mean most of the time, as an artist, I am doing my work on my own, in my own space. But BAG was cramped with 30 other visual artists-with me being among the squarest one there: tattoos=0, piercings=0, hip-ness=0. And I had to put a piece together in front of on-lookers in very little time (3 hours). Drawing was tough at first as I was trying to steady my hand from the excitement. I had prepared stencils to help pencil in the basic layout of what I would draw. So as the night wore on, I got steadier, but really didn't ease into things until Jennifer, Hugo and friends got there. I am so glad my family was there for me--it meant a lot having them there. Actually, Jen and Hugo stayed the entire night! Which was NO SMALL FEAT as the music provided for this "experiment" was itself "experimental." Mostly it was just sound--a cacophony of loudness that, at times, was so ludicrous it was hard to focus on what I was doing. They called it a "wall of sound," or a "soundscape," but mostly it served to sonically drive the roaches, mice, and vermin away. For that, at least, I am appreciative. To my friends who came to witness, thank you for coming, if the music prevented you from staying, I am so sorry, I had no idea it would be that loud, or bad.

So the piece I completed is above. I called it "Benign Distraction," in honor of the "Ganesh Experiment." In many ways working on this piece was a fun step into an artsy life, at least for a little while. I really enjoyed it. This diptych was created with one side iconic/symbolic and highly articulated, the other side is more expressive and responded more to the sound and environment of the project. As to what everything symbolizes, every detail, I leave that mostly up to viewers, for now, to interpret on their own.

Me, Jen, and Hugo in front of the half-completed drawing.

Some photos since our last post

It was great having Uncle Mike visit us...he was in NYC a couple of weeks ago.

"Whaaaa!"

Hugo playing with his "space" themed activity station.

Hi hi! Tummy Time.

Taking pictures with Mommy.

More taking pictures with Mommy....

Still more :)

Jen and I do stuff too.

I thought I would post this as sometimes, just sometimes, there are other things going on outside of Hugo that are worth mentioning (although Hugo is way way cooler than us). I will be participating in an art performance this week in Brooklyn. 30 artists will work on individual pieces while musicians and performance artists entertain the gallery onlookers. Not your usual art show....photos will follow.

But, more significantly this past week, Jennifer earned National Headliner Awards second-place honors for the series she produced titled, "Where They Stand." A significant accolade for anyone in the industry--not to mention that Jennifer was well into her pregnancy while working on this! She had (22-inch long) Hugo's feet kicking her ribs almost the whole time. Hugo and I are both proud of her.

More Hugo Photos

My Friend Fist. Lately we've come in to the room to find Hugo enthralled by his own balled up hand.


He is also mimicking our kissy faces.


Cousin Jonathan from Phoenix dropped by last week to visit. He's a pilot so he tends to be in town from time to time.

Jennifer found this cute little chickadee, or canary, whatever...it chirps and we rub his cheeks with it. He likes it. But we found a monkey mobile and that fascinates him at the moment.

Bathtime with Mommy. This was from last night.
More later....

From last weekend...

Hugo and his new monkey mobile--Loves it!


Shopping at Babies-R-Us in NJ--only bought the green one!

We went to visit our friends, Steve, Julia, and Alison in Northern (Road Maze) New Jersey. We had a great day. Here's Steve "rocking" with Hugo.


Here's Hugo wrestling with the crib lizard!

Hugo doing his part to stimulate the economy...

We gave him the charge card and let him go to town!

BIG, BIG BABY!

"Big, big baby!" is what Dr. Rhee would say when she felt my tummy.
Turns out she is oh so right!
At 11 weeks Hugo is 25.5 inches and 14 lbs 4 oz.

Serene Hugo...

One of our favorite recent photos of Hugo. We only wish we could sleep as soundly.

Our Saturday Visitors and our stroll to Mike's Diner

This past Saturday, we had a very enjoyable visit from our friends, Tim and Duval, and their young daughters, Elle and Cate. This was their first time visiting with Hugo.

Several "cute" moments were had as Elle (their eldest daughter) found time to dance on our bed, and then, later, cozy in under the blankets with her sister.



After our visitors left, we strolled over to Mike's Diner for eggs (well I had eggs). Hugo just took in the local dining ambiance .

Woke up to find this picture in my email...taken last night, by Colin. So cute it should be shared. Thanks Colin. Be sure to check out Glow Worm Hugo below...quite entertaining.

Glow Worm Hugo

Glow Worm + Hugo = Good Times!

Sweet Home Chicago

Hugo and I went to Chicago a couple weeks ago and were spoiled rotten. Because I feed the baby I got to eat like a princess, fresh squeezed orange juice and a hot breakfast every morning. And Hugo got lots of love too. My younger brothers Mike and Steve came home from college and old friends stopped by to meet our little boy.

Hugo wore his "Grandma" T-Shirt on the plane ride to Chicago. I'm not a great traveler, but it turns out Hugo is, with a little milk supply.My brothers were tough to get up in the morning, being college students and all... noon is their usual wake up time. But Hugo and I would just bust open their bedroom doors (usually around 10am) and I'd leave the little guy with one of his uncles (a great alarm clock). One day, Hugo fell back asleep right on his Uncle Mike.
Grandpa Dave and Hugo clearly are in the same hair club for men! :) Grandpa was wonderful singing and whistling Hugo to sleep, even changing a few diapers.
Hugo sleeps so well through the night that we have a lot of awake time during the day. So more pics/video to come later.

One Night Last Week....

We had just finished dinner, and I was playing a pacifier game with Hugo. Then the dogs decided they wanted attention, too.

Trip to Trevor Day School

I have been meaning to get this picture on for a while, and Rachel (holding Hugo) keeps badgering me to post :). Last week, Jen brought Hugo by my office to meet my co-workers: from left, Kanoe, Hugo, Rachel, Becca, Sarah, moi. Terri was on the phone and Tricia was out at an appointment but both met Hugo later on. Hugo impressed the crowd with his many facial expressions-especially the kissy lips he now makes.

Prom Date

So this house on Ditmars is full of so much love...
another baby has arrived!




Juliet Harper was born to our upstairs friends Natasha and Adam 10 day ago. She is long and lean and just precious!
One of the joys of living nearby is the family dinners we share. Here are the proud papas after a night of cornbread and jambalaya and WINE! (Just a bit for the breastfeeders!)













Big brother Paul keeps an eye on his new sis.