Angry Bear, a Valentine's Day special

Why do all the cutest kids things always seem to be uncomfortable, impractical, or expensive? Or all three together. Take these Converse-like high tops. They look so freaking cool on Max (I want a pair). But. He. Can't. Walk. In. Them!!! I tried to convince him it's the price you pay for beauty and fashion, but he was having none of it. He stood frozen in the same spot, until I finally caved and changed shoes. Then he was happy to go along on a Valentine's Day walk with Momma. Love!

Happy Chinese New Year

It's hard to remember what frigid cold weather feels like, as Max and I have escaped to South Florida to visit the family and to catch some rays. Glorious, warm rays. Yes, I am gloating a bit :)

I'm presently lounging by the pool with palm trees fanning me, getting some work done, catching up on the blog here and looking at the past weekends' Chinese New Year celebrations in Maryland where we made new year's arts and crafts at a neat visual arts center. Where it was COLD. See the stay-puft jackets? The Fella tells me this week in Maryland has been the coldest of the year yet, so maybe by the time Max and I return in 10 days, the worst of winter will have passed? Here's hoping! Happy Chinese New Year, may your slightly-nonsensical fortunes be as appropriate to you as Max and mine were to us!

Max at the firehouse

Max has been into anything with wheels since he turned one, and lately, he's been especially obsessed with fire trucks and cars (some kids have woobie blankets or soft "lovies," but Max's are mini wooden cars, as you'll note he's hanging onto in most of his pictures nowadays!). His favorite books are "Deputy Mater," "The Wheels on the Bus," "The Big Book of Trucks: For Kids Who REALLY Love Trucks," and a spread from a Highlights magazine issue that has illustrated cars on a road. He gets mad when I try to flip to another page without the cars. Even more recently, he gets super excited and points at every parked or mobile car outside, so I'm constantly squealing with him "Red car!" "Blue car!" . . . 

Independence day

Where to begin? In an attempt to derail Max's recent fussiness/pickiness during feeding times, which has been translating into terrible tantrums (like when a certain mini-me is wrapped around my legs shrieking for food/attention/what-have-you, or when he is flinging the spoon back at me because he doesn't want what's on it, he wants applesauce), I have been making a concerted effort to give him more independence. It's easy to forget he's not a baby anymore, and with this, he should be learning how to do things. Allowing him to take leisurely walks to explore, dawdle; carry his (empty) tray to his high chair; stand on a step ladder so that he can see me prepare his meals; let him "use" adult utensils; wipe the table; climb down stairs without my help . . . 'cuz maybe if he feels like a big boy, he might act like one, right? << hahahahaaaaaaa >>

Textures

Last week there was one day that was astonishingly warm. I think it reached a high of 68 degrees, and it had me really regretting the fact that I had dressed in several layers to take Max to the playground in nearby Gaithersburg for a playdate. Still, I could forget about my poor choice in dressing, as it was the first time he held my hand and my friend managed to capture the moment!! (Little things like this make me so happy!)

I wore red tights and red boots, neutralized with shades of black, gray and navy in different textures: wool, tweed, and linen. Kinda haphazardly thrown together while trying to get out the door during a mini toddler-meltdown, but I'm pleased with the outcome anyway. But who am I kidding? It's obvious who the star of this show is (a certain lil dude).

FurFur's snow day

Remember when I blogged about Max's snow day? He's not the only one who enjoyed the fluffy white stuff. FurFur deserved a good romp in the snow, too. Although, these days in suburban Maryland we like to keep her on a leash, unlike her snow days of yesteryear. I bet she misses those big dog parties in the snowy field across our condo in Chi-town. I know I do!

Grandma

For a weekend strolling around in stately Georgetown, I felt it would be fitting to wear my grandmother's old coat which I discovered in her New York City apartment after she passed away last year, all carefully folded up and tucked away in an old leather carrying case deep in her closet. I'm pretty sure this caramel-colored coat goes back to when she was a young woman; my dad tells me she most likely brought this with her from Hong Kong when she first came to America, some 30 years ago, so maybe this coat is even older?? It definitely feels like a coat from another time––sturdy, yet elegant––in fact, the second time I wore it was to dinner in downtown D.C., and as I stepped onto the Metro, I couldn't help but notice how everyone else was in leather moto jackets or hipster parkas and I couldn't help but feel rather regal and mysterious in a long coat, flouncy skirt and all.

Do you have any cherished, vintage pieces?