Someone Swims

Some new vocabulary has been kicked around 135 Eastern Parkway: 'the arc of pillows.' Ruby's a fond sitter, plopping legs forward and sitting with a few toys to play with, but occasional falls has led to a semi-circle of couch pillows around her. Every now and then softening her sudden lack of balance.

Meanwhile, Ruby had a first last weekend: her first swim and her first bout of hives of sorts. We went to Quogue to visit friends Amy, Adam, Lauren, Ben, Oliver, Owen, Bea, Lila, Emily and Hank -- a big group. The Saturday was perfect swimming weather. And we did.

The hives came after an accidental taste of tomato -- and went away after 20 minutes.

Ruby Turns, Ruby Twists

We drove north of NYC to check out some river towns this weekend -- nice -- and had a pull-over-at-toll-gate changing on the slow ride back. Ruby's increasingly grabby, a real multi-tasker. Sees one thing, grabs while looking at another. Crawling seems increasingly like a matter of days away, not weeks. Meanwhile she's often pretty giggly.

Ruby Eats

Ruby's slowly graduating from milk to solids -- beginning with little pieces of avocado and nectarine and occasionally watermelon. She's getting used to it. And apparently, see end of the following, wants to play the drums.

Sandy & Jerry in NYC

Lot's been happening -- too much to write about. Grandma and her new gentleman friend Jerry came up to NYC for some Ruby time. And also Jerry's New York debut. Best was the Saturday, where we all went with muffins to DUMBO to eat between the Brooklyn & Manhattan Bridges, then across Brooklyn to Coney Island to dance on the boardwalk, sit on the pier, have a hot dog at Coney's and nearly get everyone to go on the Cyclone rollercoaster.

Ruby's been studying eating for a while, and now eats bits of avocado. Plus she's rolling over and learning to be tickled. She looks bigger every day.