Here is the Empire State Building as seen from Union Square (around 14th St). 

I think this is a tugboat. You can see many of these around the harbor. 

Here is the Statue of Liberty as seen from the ferry. 

Here is the view from the SI ferry of lower Manhattan. In the backgroud, you can see the top of the Empire State Building. 

A view of the Verrazano Bridge from the Staten Island Ferry terminal. The Verrazano is, I think, the longest suspension bridge in the United States and the second longest in the world (the Humber Bridge in England is longest.) We see basically this view, but from higher up on a hill with more ocean visible, from our apartment. San Francisco, eat your heart out! -- Todd 

Mom and Caroline are waiting for the ferry. (Thank goodness we are home now!) 

All of the these people are also waiting for the SI ferry. It's a shame we don't have a wide-angle lens in order to show the full effect of rush hour in Manhattan. (The ferries run at 15 minute intervals during rush hour, too.) 

Daddy and Caroline waiting in the SI ferry terminal. 

Here is a not-so-great view of my favorite building in Manhattan (the Gridiron building, I think it's called) 

This is the Verrazano-Narrows bridge. It connects Staten Island with Brooklyn. This particular view is from the S.I. ferry. 

This is Caroline in her favorite sling. 

This is Caroline's favorite toy. She like to hold it and chew on it.  

I am the devil-dog! Beware! 

The Baby List, part 3

More baby product reviews:

The Baby Einstein Stationary Entertainer: Caroline loves this toy. While she is still a bit small for it, she will play in it for 15 minutes at a time. She has learned about cause and effect relationships, by pressing on buttons that make animal noises and music. She can't successfully press the buttons every time, but she tries really hard. When she does press the buttons, she tends to laugh. She also really likes to look at the other toys. I like it because there aren't too many toys to overstimulate her and the toys are baby-tested and approved.

My Maclaren Quest stroller and Nojo Baby sling are still among my favorites in terms of usefulness and value for the money. I would like to emphasize that a lot of people seem to have the Nojo sling, but they don't know how to use it. I went to a moms' lunch in Manhattan last week and brought my sling. Many of the moms there told me that they had the same sling, but they weren't sure how to use it. I have shown some people how to position the sling, but it takes practice and patience. Once one has mastered slingology, it is a wonderful way to enhance a mother-baby relationship.

Caroline and I were very busy last week, so I didn't have a chance to post. Caroline is continuing to do well. She naps on a schedule and is growing very big. She has almost outgrown the 6-9mos clothing! I just can't believe it.

We are planning to go to the St. Patricks Day parade this Thursday. I will be taking the camera along, so I hope to have some good pictures to post. We will be spending Easter with Caroline's Great grandmother (on her mom's side). She has a beautiful farm in Indiana that we plan to visit. Caroline will be making her first trip outside the US at the end of March. Caroline, Todd, and I are all going to London for a few weeks.

Daddy is funny! 

Don't let me fall! 

Caroline is resting in her hammock. 

Her favorite activity--standing. 

What a grin! 

Schedules and routines, part 2

It has been 3 days since I switched the cd back, I have nothing but success to report. Caroline is taking her naps with the predictablility of an alarm clock. It is wonderful. I just don't know what to do with myself when she naps.

Schedules, routines... Don't change ANYTHING!

It's been a few days since my last post. Caroline and I have been working on trying to get into a routine and, silly me, I changed it up for her today.

In general our routine involves at least two naps. One around 9-9:30AM and another around noon. Before naps, there is always a feeding in the bedroom, always one small light on, the curtains are drawn, soft music plays, etc. While cleaning this morning, I changed the cd, because, well, it has been playing for a solid week now, and I am very bored of it. The original cd is a wonderful flute and harp mix and the new cd I put in was a Charlotte Church cd. Anyway, I didn't think that the particular cd was important. Appparently I was wrong. Caroline did not take any naps until 10pm! I thought that maybe I should put in the old cd, because I was getting no where trying to get her to sleep. After putting in the old cd, she was sound asleep within 4 minutes. I am relieved and exhausted! I might need to make a copy of the cd just in case this one wears out!

I should have some new pictures up tomorrow.