Unfortunately, the ferry was not running on schedule — I think because of the fog. Leif was getting impatient, so we took a walk out on the balcony. Here’s what we saw.

We decided to go to the playground across the street at Battery Park. I shouldn’t have been surprised that Leif like the puddles more than anything else there.

I succeeded in getting him to climb a little bit, but he quickly returned to the puddles.

Leif and I jumped on the F-train for an adventure down to Coney Island.

After a 30 minute ride, we got off the train and onto the beach.

Leaf acknowledged the presence of the ocean…

… surveyed his surroundings …

… and got to work.

After a while, he decided to explore.

He soon discovered a bird. “Bird!” He exclaimed! (It sounds like “Dah!” In fact most of his words sound like “Dah!” It’s sort of like his sound for *.* in DOS … or “.*” if you’re into regular expressions)

He gave chase for a while and soon bored of the futile pursuit.

He was happy to get back into the stroller.

We had a couple hot dogs (Hot Dog = “At Ga” in Leivish) and fries, and then hopped on the subway home.

It was a really fun day.

Our baptist neighbors looked at each other with some concern and took their leave. Maybe they’ll pray for us. We can use it!

I’m sure all 3 readers of this blog think that Leif’s beer-carrying habit came from his father. I admit that I once let him take a sip of beer, and (unlike a former president) he did inhale, causing him to choke with watery eyes. Sadly, I don’t think he likes beer. He does like beer containers, though.

I scoured our photographic archives in search of the origin of Leif’s obsession with beer cans and bottles. What I found was shocking:

Yes, on the day of Leif’s baptism, his Grandpop and Uncle Markie were welcoming him into the church with one of God’s gifts to humanity — Beer.

Yes, that’s all the way back to his ear. How’d it get there, you ask?

For some reason, Mommy decided it was bath time after dinner.

Leif liked that idea, although the flash from the camera started to annoy him…

I’m going to tell you about a fun trip to visit Pop and Kevin in Townsend, TN in October. Yes, that’s a really long time ago, but it was a blogworthy trip, so here goes!

Pop and Kevin invited us to crash Kevin’s family reunion, so we hopped on a great, comfortable JetBlue flight from NYC to Nashville and drove about 4 hours to Townsend TN. Leif was fine for the flight, but didn’t really approve of the long car ride after that. We got in really late … the next morning, we woke to a beautiful scene …

and Pop and Kevin’s smiling faces!

After a brief period of adjustment to his new surroundings …

… Leif got a chance to warm up to Grandpop.

We spent a lot of time on the porch looking at Mount LaConte in the distance.

While there, Leif made a new friend — Dalton.

“What the heck? We’re surrounded by grownups! Do you have to go to these things all the time?”

“Hey, watch this. I just discovered the glass coffee table over there … ”

Now the grownups are looking!

What trip would be complete without a drive in Pop’s new high-tech car up to low-tech Cade’s Cove?

There was a dramatic sky up over the Smokeys.

Once back at the cabin, we discovered that Leif might be called to be a conductor:

I’ll leave you with a picture of Pop in one of his favorite pastimes — involving amazing displays of cunning and dexterity. And a few smeared flies.

“Hmmmm, I just woke up from a nap and Mommy and Daddy have funny looks on their faces. They keep talking to me in that weird tone of voice that means something uncomfortable is coming up…

Ok, this is pretty good. Mommy is fun to look at and I don’t think I’ve spit up on this part of the couch yet…

But I kinda want to get down.

No? Hm.

Ha ha, Daddy has that funny black nose sticking out of his face!!!

Ok, um, so I REALLY want to get down from here…

A new spot for the funny black nose man and that weird tone of voice…hmm.

I’m gonna GET IT!!!!!!!!!!!!

Umph, they keep putting me here!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! Oh yeah, that’s the one…”

I, with some vestiges of mommy hormones still coursing through my veins, am indignant. I’m a New Yorker now. It’s okay, nay, it is good to yell your mind at someone who’s just not paying attention in one of the world’s busiest locations. So I take a deep breath and let it fly:

“hey!” (insert a high-pitched, shrill, very female voice)

(point emphatically to the stroller) “there’s a baby!!!”

Not exactly the most intimidating or even cathartic ejaculation. I kind of surprised myself at the thinnish whinny I produced when my very child was faced with mortal danger (not to mention our dog…). But the LOOK I gave him, boy I tell ya. Well, that must not have been very forceful either because he responded merely with a “Sorry, lady!” Kind of exasperated and condescending-like, as if I were overreacting.

I was able to save a bit of face by emitting a swift huff-and-eye-roll (you know the one) at a couple who had witnessed the incident and were as appalled as I, pretending (very convincingly, I might add…) that I was an impotent whiny girl, instead of the fierce lioness that, inside, we all know I am. I’ll be sure to clear my throat first next time…

Nobody K-turns in front of me—NOBODY!!