Sunny with a Side of Catch-Up

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If anyone recognises that swoopy Danish rocker, do tell!

Alas, once again we've been living the life and not the blog for a while.  So it goes...  Here's some ketchup for yinz, straight from the home of ketchup no less.  This spring we kicked the interior of our splendid townhouse up half-a-notch with new carpets.  Or rugs.  Whatever you call them, they're plush under foot, and much lighter than our old ones.  And by "new" we mean from the superstore called Craigslist, which graciously accepted our old rugs in exchange.  Perhaps in a later post we'll do a side-by-side shot of the old and new, but for now we can tell you that they're better.

Zoe steals a line from cousin James the Third:  "Papa, put them hammer down!"

And then it became summer, which means high gas prices and lots of driving...  First, up to the River for a big Memorial Day!  This year not-so-wee Zoe Mae appreciated the boat and water even more than last year! (Although truth be told, she gave up on the boatride exactly half way into it, in Lake of the Isles, which made the trip back upriver both fast & furious.)

But a poor girl's gotta eat!  That's right, in Chez Costello there was no shortage of Grammy's excellent home cookin' and towels to match.  We even allowed her to graze-feed, so the weekend was basically one long meal for her, constantly stealing bits of food from anyone and everyone.  Who can resist a smile like that when she points at your food and hollers "BOP!"?

The little Zoster made quick friends with James the Third, and he was a great sport, letting her climb all over him as she feed him blankets.  Squint your eyes a little bit, and this could be any pair of the hundreds of kids who have played around on the oh-so-too-plush couch over the past 40+ years.

A bicycle for THREE!  In bike terms
it is the lowest of the low, the sort of
bike that Tommy doesn't normally do.
But it is also perfect, cheap, and heavy.

And then there was the transportation choice of the weekend.  The anti-gas-guzzling SUV bike for three.  That's right, Cara allowed Tommy's inner bike geek to escape for a moment, and the family got a beast of a tandem bicycle, with a seat for the kiddo, right in front.  As far as the bike goes - it does what it does, well.  It carries  two  three us us in comfort all over the park, and it didn't stress the bank.  (We got it for $200 on sale at Amazon - see the above link.)  It also brings smiles to all who see us pass by - a goal that we're always striving for.  (More pictures of it in action soon - we promise!)

Which way did they go?

Poor Rocco, however, was furious about it.  (Furryious?)  Seriously - there seems to be nothing in this world that he despises more than the tandem.  He gets even angrier than when he sees his 2:1 scale doppelgänger -- a goldendoodle called "Timmy" -- back home in Pittsburgh.  There's a fit of whining and barking, followed by a solemn vigil at his window while we're out cruising the town.  Hella cute, in that concerned-puppy-dog sort of way, especially as he is shocked and outrageously thrilled when we make it home alive each time. 

 

Back at MaryView, we take a turn in the kiddie pool that Uncle Pat so efficiently filled with hot air.  The jury seems to be unanimous - we've got a little water rat on our hands.  Zoe Mae LOVES the water and splash splash splashes away as long as we'll let her.

Ever vigilant, Rocco hides in the grass like a crocodile ready to spring forth and rescue the Zoster should anything go awry.  Because animated teddy bears can prevent any calamity.  (Little known fact, that.)   And then the sun set on our weekend away...

Zoe & The Hof: a long post for a long walk

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The plan.  Since it was Rapture Saturday, Clan Costello wanted to go out with a bang.  So we decided to take a walk over to the friendly local Hofbrauhaus to rendezvous with friends, beer, and Germany.  In sum this would mean 3.5 miles, from the top of Squirrel Hill to water-level with the mighty, muddy, Monongahela.  And, of course, the same trek back up the hills to get home.  

With the Wee Box resting blissfully in the sun, we strolled right on by.  Zoster promised she was up for the adventure, even though it would be the longest walk as a whole family since we walked to the Hospital to pop her out a year ago.  

As luck would have it, the walk to the Southside is as nice an urban stroll as one could hope for.  (At least in a hilly city...)  After just two city blocks, we descended into Schenley Park, where a system of trails would connect us to a bike path.  That's right - we only had to cross two intersections on the whole journey.  Pretty nifty.  (Not that we're particularly challenged by intersections, but you know...)

Part of the magic that is Schenley Park: a few wonderful old stone bridges, just for people to enjoy when strolling about.  The first part of the trip paralleled Tommy's commute to school, which means that it was almost all downhill and speedy.  This makes for a thrilling first leg, but a rapturous return home.

Speaking of school, there it is!  Tommy's (shared) office is right above that first nubbin that sticks out from the side of the Cathedral of Learning.  That building tends to follow you around as you explore the 'burgh; it is somehow always on the skyline!  In order to get to the Southside, we'd need to walk around this wee watering hole, and then take the well-trodden - yet officially non-existant and secret - path through the bushes and over the railroad tracks...

... Which puts you onto the bike trail!  This weaves along under a few bridges, and eventually connects to the Eliza Furnace trail.  In a recent stroke of genius (and presumably some sort of clever urban development fund) there's now a nice new basketball court directly under that huge bridge ahead.  Pretty neat.

Onward to the Hot Metal Bridge, which spans the Monongahela with Pittsburgh in the background, and has an entire luxurious section dedicated to pedestrians, cyclists, strollers, rollerbladers, etc.  Anything that's human-powered is welcome to cross it for free, all day, every day.  What a wonderful, happy, and healthy thing.  

Not sure if American Eagle paid for any of the bridge's refurbishment, of if they conveniently hung their logo at the correct altitude shortly thereafter, but said eagle is well framed!  It's a fine bridge nonetheless.

Zoster was a particularly good sport on the way down.  She noshed on Joes-Os and milk most of the way down, taking breaks to wave at the passerbys and proudly announce "BOP!" to anyone who would listen.  Thankfully, the Hofbrauhaus was well stocked with highchairs, crayons, and placemats with cartoon-beer propaganda.  This lead us to the belief that people in Germany must make babies too.

In accordance with her hiberno-teutonic roots, Zoe immediately ordered the biggest beer on the menu.  Good girl, Zoe Mae!

And in a stroke of academic genius, she in turn demonstrated the flip side of the nature-nurture debate, by sharing that gigantic beer with her righteous Mama.  Well played wee girl, well played.  

After polishing off this uber-nourishing lunch, Zoe went forth in the world to proclaim the virtues of such sweet nectar.  And to go to bed, since it was almost 7pm and there was still an hour's walk to be had before the ability to get in bed could be an option.  And it was all uphill.  

You're got to ask yourself one question: "Do I feel Lucky?" Well, do ya, punk?

The Zoster did demand one brief photo-shoot on the railroad tracks as we passed over them.  She'd been channeling Dirty Harry all afternoon, so it was only a matter of time before she felt the need to try out her six-shooter stance.  Go on, imagine that rock is a .44 Magnum.  Did she fire six shots today, or only five?

Lucky Duck!  Zoe Mae had a genuine, honest-to-goodness wildlife experience on the way home!  She spied herself a duck.  A real duck!

Zoe Mae wasted no time in attempting to make friends.  The duck was a fine fellow (lady?) and humored us for some time before going for a swim.  The wee baby was well impressed with both the quacking and the swimming skills displayed by Mr(s). Duck.  

As daylight waned, Zoe had a long conversation with us about how it was rapidly approaching her bedtime.  This conversation was a fairly well argued linear argument.  It went like this:  1) She would NOT be in the stroller any longer.  Fair enough, we helped her to walk home.  Until she was done walking, at which time: 2) She would not walk anymore.  Fair enough, we carried her. Which was splendid until she was done being carried, at which time: 3) She would not be carried anymore.  Fair enough.  

Sing it with me!  The long and winding road...

Zoster in the wild...

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Zoster scrambled right by her first birthday, and has been doing her best to keep us on our toes.  She's now cutting teeth like a champion.  No more tears for her, nosiree, she's tough.  And she's got a magic necklace from the Baltic that makes her impervious to teething pain.  Seriously.

She's taken a liking to the playground around the corner, and she LOVES the swings.  She's even mastered the art of wearing dark sunglasses so that she can scope out prospective suitors without drawing attention to herself. Well played, wee Zoe, well played.

Next, the Zoster took her parents to an impromptu zoo!  Seriously, we rounded the corner, and there was a mini carnival blocking the street! It was closed to traffic, there was a band playing, and little animals chasing little kids everywhere.  Zoe was pretty brave and all, until a miniature  horse snarfed at her.  Punk. 

Hey Buddy - how 'bout you pick on someone your own size, eh?  Oh wait...  Yeah, well Zoe will be WAY bigger than you soon, so there!  

Luckily, little Zoe managed to escape unharmed and raced back home with mama.  Good times.  Who knew that there's be a zoo around the corner?  (Aside from Zoe Mae of course!)  See that little necklace poking out from under her magenta shirt?  That's the magic.  She'd show you the whole thing, but then it wouldn't be a secret, now would it? 

Yes, yes Zoe dear, you're brilliant.  And lookin' tall in those jeans.  

The Incredible Growing Gal

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Zoe Mae at 10 days:

Zoe Mae at 1year, 10 days:

Zoe's All Growns Up!

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It's true, time flies when you're having fun, so wee Zoe Mae must have been having a blast...  The babe child is one year old already!  Can you believe it?  And she's been hard at work too.  Here she is, just standing around in the sunroom:

Where to, eh Zoe?  She's a vicious walker, just like her parents.  Wants to walk everyplace, although she still prefers to have a hand on something or someone while she walks.  She's been tricked into walking on her own a few times, though as soon as she realizes it she stops as though her feet have been glues to the floor.  She'll stand there for a few minutes pondering life, then just sits down and scrambles to the nearest hand-hold.  Good times.

And there were cupcakes.  Oh cupcakes - papa made four dozen cupcakes, and mama decorated nearly as many.  (lemon, double chocolate, funfetti, and carrot cake, if you must know...)  The Zoster had her very own cupcake at her birthday party, which she regarded with suspicion, but loved it when she was coaxed into eating a bite.  And then Rocco stole the rest of it.  Punk.

The gifts!   Here's the darling lass showing off the latest addition to her library.  Moo, Baa, La La La a book which, frankly sounds a whole lot more exciting than the one papa is writing upstairs!

Here's the birthday girl with a few more gifts...  An inch-worm pull toy (that Rocco is very curious about), and a her very first boat!  She loves it, and she's already learned how the change the prop!  She'll be ready for the river in no time at this rate.

Today, on Zoe's actual birthday, we gave the whole cupcake thing another go.  This was her first experience with chocolate, and she was actually not that bothered about it.  She just made herself a little mustache and called it a night.  Perhaps she's more of a pie girl like her mama?  Hot.

License and Registration, Mam?

Okay, okay, we've been delinquent bloggers.  The past few months have been a blur.  We'll try to fill in the details in due time, but here's a quick glimpse of the here and now...  Below is a very, very new trick: Frankly, it's pretty darn close to walking, and we're kind of amazed.  (Steering isn't wee Zoe's strong suit quite yet.  Or maybe it is?)

She's motoring along... sees a big shoal... and stops the boat.  Then, she powers on directly into the big shoal!  Someone get that girl a Shoalfinder!

Ah well, these things come in time.  And it's time I get to work!
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Zoe's Spring Break

There once was a girl named Zoe Mae.  Zoe Mae had been a very good girl, so as a special treat, she got to  spend Spring Break at Grandma and Grandpa's house all by herself.  After a few days of good old fashioned bonding with the grandparents,  a refreshed Mama and Papa returned from their getaway, and Zoe Mae was very excited to tell them all about the fun she had had.  Then, she got up to some more fun...

At Grandma and Grandpa's, there were lots of fun new toys to play with...

And of course, Rocco was there to make sure that she didn't get bored.

Zoe quickly made herself at home in her Mama's old high chair, and she even perfected the fine art of drinking with one hand... tricky.

After relaxing at Grandma and Grandpa's for a few days, the whole family packed up and headed to Long Island to visit Zoe's Great Great Aunt Jean.  While there, she got to meet her cousin Jacob.  As you can see, they had a grand old time together.

Being the older cousin, Jacob wanted to impart the wisdom of his years on wee Zoe.  He was excited to show her that books, in fact, are for reading, not for eating.

Jacob also thought it was essential to show wee Zoe how to play it cool. What else are big cousins for?

As you can see, Zoe Mae returned from her trip a wiser and even happier baby than before.  It must have been all the good company, fresh mountain air, and home cooking.  Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!