Since Kai can’t have milk yet, we need to get creative for food. Since lots of bread has butter or milk, Chika has invented the bagel French toast. And its really quite good. Sarabeths watch out!
Bagel French Toast
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Surprise 21×2 Birthday Soiree
Wow! What an amazing day. It began by a late sleep of the whole family in bed until around 10am. A chocolate croissant and latte and I was all set for a nice 60 minute massage session. Afterwards, I was treated to a luxurious lunch at a fantastic Italian restaurant Bocca di Bacco downtown. Chika said we had one more stop to pick up some last minute supplies on the way home at her favorite Japanese cafe. I only was expecting to see a nice cake waiting for us, but to my surprise the cafe was full of friends, amazing food, and drinks. The ambiance was incredible — intimate, fun, lively. And the party continued on into the night, at least for one more bar as well. A very memorable night for a birthday which I had written off as not so special, but now I got to live my 21st birthday a second time around thanks to my lovely Chika.
Home Alone 4 — Papa’s 36 hours in Charge
Chika and her mom went to the Xmas market in Nuremberg overnight, so I had my first solo run taking care of Kai (in full disclosure I did have some baby sitter help during the day). Kai was great, and with the exception of waking up around 3 and rolling around the next 3 hours it was a great time.
Anniversary #3
It’s taken us a while, but we finally escaped the powerful gravitational force of Kai (he’s hard to leave behind). A magnificent bright crisp Sunday and an afternoon of being pampered at the Mandala Hotel day spa was the ticket.
Kai the Architect
I had a reputation growing up of taking things apart and never really putting them back together (although now I really do fix things, honestly). Kai seems to have both creation and dismantling skills under his belt.
Last Days of Zoo Season
Fall is upon us, and our special new baby passes are expiring at the end of November. So with the great weather we’ve been having, we are trying to get in some of the last lions, tigers, and polar bears for the season.
36 Hours in Paris
One of Chika’s bridesmaids was getting married, and amazingly the bride and groom had met through Chika’s at her London farewell party (2 more matches and straight into heaven right?).
It was a simple plan — a quick hop over from Berlin to Paris, which actually went according to plan for the first 28 hours until Chika amazingly caught a cold Saturday evening (we were joking how she got so sick the last time we went to Paris — is there a curse?!). But we pulled it together and got on the plane.
We didn’t get to do everything we would have like, but did manage to get in a few shopping, eating, and visits in the short time we were there.
1. Visiting Benoit, Giovanna, Stella, Luna, and Gaia
While Chika shopped, I took Kai to see his fellow NYC descendants (at least indirectly). I think Luna will be one of Kai’s favorite babysitters some day.
2. Bakery run.
I think I found a new favorite here in Paris, Du Pain et Des Idees. Just classic and awesome a the same time.
3. The main event — Remy and Mariko’s wedding.
So we got a little lost on the way to the location, which was Remy and Mariko’s new apartment. So when we finally arrived, we were a bit disoriented to begin with. But in the courtyard hidden on some average street near Republic, they had found the most amazing apartment (apparently designed by a gay couple who couldn’t resolve their differences and ended up selling the newly finished place). And it was a perfect affair with a great friend/chef preparing a wonderful eats and of course tasty French champagne.
Walking, the prototype
I was busy in the kitchen today, and when I looked up there was Kai walking 3 steps to the table in his play area. Shock and awe came over me. I wish I could replay the original scene, but after a few trials (using bagel insides as bait) I was able to recreate a poor version of the original. Stay tuned: updates coming soon.
Green Card Run
So we had a last minute change of heart to renew Chika’s US Greencard, which is not a big deal until you have to travel with 11-month Kai. Amidst all the anxiety of travelling, getting around, dealing with daily routines, etc., it turned out to be a really nice trip. We didn’t plan any major activities, so it was just Kai all day (which started at 1:30am the first night) for 5 days. I think we need to have these more often (but will be happy if the Greencard app goes through without needing to return for an interview).
