Prospect Park

Leah and her dad, Leah and her mom

New photos

This girl is no party pooper

Friends and family gathered at Grandpa Mike and Grandma Melanie's home to celebrate the wonder that is Leah Jaye Rauch.

Leah did well (minimal crying, quite sociable) even considering the following truths:

1) She met over 30 new people in one day (and when tested today - she remembered ALL their names!)
2) She was only 10 (and a half) weeks old at the time
3) She had to wear tights through most of the party (until she didn't anymore bc it was too warm - oh and maybe something seeped through)
4)It was the farthest she had every been from home in the exotic land of New Jersey
5) She only had 6 hours of sleep the night before (oh wait - that is a lot for her right now. . )
6) The presidential election is next week and she is getting anxious (who isn't?!)

Leah met her Great Aunt Jackie, Great Uncle Cary, Judi and Richard and all of her dad's cousins for the first time in addition to cousins Cory, Jay, and Keith.
A big day for one little girl.





Ok so she might not be a party pooper - but in this photo (Leah on Grandpa Mike's lap before being put in her car seat and heading home) there is poop. (Plastic bag behind her carries the day's used diapers.) Now if this isn't a well detailed log - we just don't know what is!!

Jonah Ryan

Earlier in the week Leah and mom went out for lunch in Park Slope and met up with the new guy and his mom. Jonah Shanoff was born exactly 2 months after Leah - October 14.

You can see how important the babies think this photo is. They didn't even bother to wake up!!

Two new moms and two new babies

Click here.
And yes, it does look like one of them (hi) is about to drop her baby.

Infinite fun

Yesterday, Leah joined her mom and friends Orli and Felix (and their moms too) at her first movie in Brooklyn Heights! She saw "Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist" and while not her first choice she behaved so well - eating a bit and then sleeping through most of it. Plus - it had a great sound track. (photos coming soon)

Leah sits somewhere else

Out of Africa

Our friend Jacqui came by last week to gift Leah with some great items she bought during her trip to Africa. She trekked all the way up Mt Kilimanjaro and all Leah got was this adorable T-shirt! (photo forthcoming)
Jacqui lived in Park Slope prior to her adventure and walked many mornings in Prospect Park with Leah's mom, Leah (in utero) and her dog, Sebastian.

Pediatrician visit #2

Last week, Leah visited the doctor for her two month appointment.
This is the photo shoot prior to (and during) our walk through Park Slope to the pediatrician's office.
Here she seems skeptical.

And here she is up to her old tricks. Being cute and happy!

Photo Shoot #9999

Shhh! Don't tell Dad. . . the kid's a hipster.

Today we went to Williamsburg to meet Deb and Chris' baby, Cole. He was born just 6 days after Leah in the same hospital.

We had Thai lunch (not the babies, of course) and for dessert, sausage and french fries at the Williamsburg Beer Garden.

And for your vlogging pleasure. . . Our Saturday. (Inspired by Aunt Liza and Uncle Glen's Prague videos.) Please note: There are videos AND photos here documenting our Saturday.









Inside views.





Photos from the walk back to Deb's place.

One day while I was chillin'. . .

At home. Not at Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Lucky us!

The weekend was filled and we were thrilled to have this happy girl by our side for the ride!!

Picnic in the park

Today we met up with lots of Leah's friends from her mother's Park Slope moms group. Dads were at the picnic too and one dad snapped these great photos.

A family.

Candid

Of course, all photos of Leah are candid but this one struck me especially as such. She looks so inquisitive. Perhaps she will be a scientist!!

Thanks to Aunt Jenn for the snap.

8 weeks old!!

Walk, Leah, Walk

On Sunday morning, Leah participated in her first organized race in the park. Along with Lucy and Felix, we walked a whole loop in support of NYC midwives. Leah even got a number for her stroller! Too bad the moms (and dad & photographer Erik) were too busy talking politics and other un-baby focused topics to pay attention to the fact that they pretty much were in last. Dead last. Unfortunately, no race winning ribbons were to be had by this group.
But it was a great morning and Leah is looking forward to more Prospect Park events.

Weekend photos

Including post-bathtime and pre-walk in the park with mom! (Dad was riding his bicycle)

Leah Jaye Rauch for Prez

Or maybe (hopefully) not. But for now whatever she wants to do with her life (sleep?!) - even if it is run for president or VP is AOK with us!!

Obama-licious

I often think how this blog should be more than just "show ponying" my daughter. But it is difficult. Nonetheless, let me tell all readers. . . what a day we had! It was filled with milestones.

First there was the Baby Bjorn that we used. For those not in the know, the Bjorn is a baby carrier. It was graciously lent to us by a friend of a friend. That is some friend!

We used it to . . . go on the subway(!) for the first time. Our destination was an Obama fundraiser in Brooklyn Heights (given by friends Brook, Avi, Sadie and Mae.) This was, of course, Leah's first activist activity. (not counting the bake sale supporting Obama in Park Slope we stopped by on our way to the subway -using the Bjorn)
We saw our other friends Margery, Dan and Gabe in Brooklyn Heights too.
Photos of the moms - when they first met Leah - are included in this post.

Frameable Art

The past week.

Leah got her sleep sac on.

Not sure what Mom was thinking when she purchased this pre-Leah. Well, that's not true.
Speaking as aforementioned "Mom", I can say I do know what I was thinking. . . "August/summer baby therefore, sleeveless sleep sac is a must!"
Perhaps sleeves would have left Leah some dignity. Or maybe have kept her warm. Or then there's the idea that she wouldn't look quite as silly. There are many ways in which this scenario above could have turned out better. That said, she slept soundly and begged me not to take it off the next morning!!






This photo below doesn't even look like her! But I assure you - it is. This is her panda outfit, purchased before our knowledge of her being a her! She looks good in blue!



This one to the right looks more like her than that other photo up above.










More of her looking quite like her.

We hit the yoga mat again and it got chilly out so while we were in transit she wore this hat.

On another note, one might think we NEVER take her out of her bouncy seat with the colorful background. Not so.
It just seems that when we place her in it she looks so unbelievably cute and alas the camera is nearby so shots are taken. They just happen to all come out stunning!