The Gaga Diaries

I just realized we don’t have many any pictures of the little guy frolicking around in white stuff this winter since, well, basically there hasn’t been any.  But that is OK with me! I think our biggest “storm” in the city this year has been about two inches and even that melted the next day.  We’ve been taking full advantage of this unseasonably warm weather in which we’ve experienced many springlike days with temps in the 50s.  Woohoo! It allows us to go to the park and do fun things like this… 

And this.  

Because really, who wants to push their shopping cart in the snow? Psssssh! 

The little guy isn’t quite walking on his own yet, but he is cruising up a storm.  

Getting closer and closer every day. 

I know it’s just a matter of time. 

And before I know it my little baby isn’t going to feel like such a baby anymore, is he? 

I’ve got to admit that even with it being such a mild winter this year, I was still starting to get into a little bit of a rut.  We all caught this never-ending cold that lasted much of January and we hadn’t been getting out of the house as much as I would have liked us to.  Over the spring, summer and fall, Baby Gaga and I had really gotten into a daily routine of going for long treks around the river and throughout the city.  While I still try to make a point to get out every day for a “vitamin D” break with him, they have definitely been shorter than our nice-weather adventures and not quite as enjoyable.  And then today came along… 

I’m no expert, but I’m pretty sure this is historic.  For those of you not familiar with New England weather, we should probably be buried under at least three feet of snow right now.  But I’m not complaining! 

As soon as the morning clouds cleared and the sun came out, I strapped Baby G into his new umbrella stroller (lovin’ our UppaBaby G-Luxe!) and out we went for some errands.  First off was the fish store, library, and a walk down by the canals.  

Then we popped along the river, stopping into a local hotel to learn about their public pool memberships — yeah, this warm weather really had me excited.  We also may or may not have snatched  a few cookies from their Check-In Treat desk.  ;)  Spicy Chocolate.  Yum.  Thanks Royal Sonesta!!  

After that we looped around by Baby Gaga’s future alma mater(?). Hello MIT dome! 

Already such a little ham for the camera! 

And then on the walk back home I spotted THIS in the distance!!!

So we waited and waited and waited until it sloooowly got closer… 

And we watched our first “toooo tooooo” go by together.  Epic. Also spotted was a fire truck leaving its station that we weren’t quite fast enough to photo document, but a certain someone had a lot of fun imitating its siren on the walk home.

This little taste of spring was just what we needed to boost our moods and get out us through the rest of this very mild so I should stop complaining winter.  And yes, by “us” I guess I just mean me because Baby Gaga definitely seems perfectly content to just go with the flow regardless of the season or temperature or anything else for that matter. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, he is one easygoing little dude and that makes me one lucky mama! 

Look what some of our favorite Californians sent to Baby Gaga this week: 

I know… kind of ironic, but Baby Gaga is especially stoked to be sportin’ unique west coast threads on the east coast slopes this season.  It fits like a glove and arrived just in time for our first “snowstorm” tomorrow.  They’re predicting a whole two inches! I guess winter’s not so bad when you can look this good.  Thank you Ariela, Marc, Hannah & Raquel! 

It may be 60-degrees out today, but it’s never too early to get ready for winter! 

I know I should NOT be putting this in writing because I am only tempting Old Man Winter, but MAN it’s beginning to feel like spring is in the air here in Boston! This weekend temps were in the high-50s, which sounds a lot like the winter lows we were used to in California, but hey, it’s all relative! Most of the snow has pretty much melted in the city, but there was quite a bit in the ‘burbs where we spent a night visiting family. Still that didn’t stop us from getting outside for some nice fresh air… and a photo shoot!

Some of us love snuggling up to Mommy in the Mei Tai carrier so much that we fell asleep pretty early on in the expedition.

Others were wide awake.

And even feeling brave enough to venture outside of the comfort of their stroller to practice getting their feet underneath them on some slippery pavement!

Success! My nephew is such a cutie pie big boy! 

If you look closely below towards the right hand corner you can spot the crazies we saw out on the middle of the lake.  Note to self: a 56-degree day in March is probably not the best time to venture out for some ice skating.  

Uncle Gaga also thought this walk would be a good time to give Papa Gaga some experience seeing what Baby Gaga will feel like to carry a year from now.  Haha Papa Gaga.. joke’s on you! Now you get to carry him all the way home! 

We also passed by the remnants of a tree house I remember from my childhood and realized we have to start reading up on how to make the coolest Punky Brewster-style tree house ever someday for our Little Man.  

With one stroller, two babies, five adults, and one camera, I will admit we didn’t make it very far on our walk. 

But we sure did have fun shedding some layers, stretching our legs, and being one happy, goofy family.  Besides, thankfully, my pregnancy pooch has a few more months to go until swimsuit season!

    Seriously guys, what is with all this white stuff and when is it going to end?!

Good news: the nerve pain and cankles seem to have been a side effect of moving. They haven’t reared their ugly head for a while, I can wear socks, and I’m feeling SO much more like my old self again! After having been cooped up working from home most of the week, Papa Gaga and I decided it was time to brave the elements and venture into the wild for a walk in the snow and a nice dinner out together, just the two of us. 

We ended up at a really cozy North African restaurant where we enjoyed some incredible eats and amazing rose petal lemonade.  We were practically the only people in the homey, low lit, toasty restaurant.  It was a really nice meal and setting, especially on this cold winter night, although I can’t exactly say it was quiet. The female owner sits in the intimate (read: really small) dining room most of the time and loudly carries on conversation and shouts orders back to her chef.  Kind of funny for a somewhat upscale eatery, but also added its own quirky element of charm.  

We thanked her for a great meal on our way out and then she hollered, “WAIT! WAIT! I have a gift for you!”  She dug around in her antique hutch and proudly pulled out a 2011 “Islam Around the World” Calendar. Too sweet.  I gave her a hug and she asked all about our baby.  I told her he was due in a week and a half.  Holy smokes.  A WEEK AND A HALF?!  If you’ll excuse me, I have a birth plan to write and baby clothes to be washed!

So winter isn’t so bad when you can work from your toasty home and cozy up with delivery and your handsome husband around the tree in the evening.  It snowed steadily from morning to night yesterday and I must admit I got a little giddy watching it accumulate throughout the day on the rooftops.  Guaranteed that attitude won’t last long after New Years, but for now I say bring on the white stuff (so long as it doesn’t interfere with our eventual drive to the hospital)!! 

This morning a dark cloud hovered over the house for a little while and I actually witnessed some fluffy white stuff falling from the sky.  In November. Before Thanksgiving.  FERREAL. 

I just closed my eyes and imagined this and all was OK again: 

Speaking of California, I’ve also been experiencing the same repeat conversation any time I show my (still out of state) ID to people lately… 

Cashier/Receptionist/Banker: Are you visiting or did you just move here? 

Me: Just moved here a few weeks ago.  

Cashier/Receptionist/Banker: Right before winter? Are you, crazy?!?!

YUP!