Having fun at the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum

Keeping busy on the weekends is so much harder when it is raining or very cold outside. With fewer options because of the weather everyone in this city, residents and tourists alike, seem to gravitate to the same places. So we got to the Intrepid (officially called the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum) as early as possible to beat the crowds.

There were lots of airplanes...











And a few helicopters...










I even got to sit on the bridge. Ain't I the cutest Admiral the navy has ever seen?











And after many activities and 2 hours of run around fun we walked through the cabin of the Concord jet. That was cool...except when Papa bumped his head. HAHAHA.











This was such a fun day. Can we come back soon...PLEASE!!!

A fall day at Blue Hill at Stone Barns

It has been quite a busy year (how come you haven't posted more pictures of me on my blog Papa?) but recently we took a day trip up to Westchester County to see an open to the public farm called Blue Hill at Stone Barns. This is a wonderful place to visit and have a small family picnic while exploring the beautiful grounds and interesting animals.

Hey Mr. Chicken, if I pet you do you promise not to bite?










Wow Mama look...the little pigs are having warm milk for lunch!










Play time...YEA!!!

Massimo playing guitar

Massimo has been showing a love for music ever since Mama signed him up for classes at the Early Ear in Manhattan. Now, when he hears various types of music he often says piano, guitar, trumpet, or whatever instrument is playing when he hears that instrument. So given his interest in music, Massimo now has his own electric piano, guitar, drums, and harmonica.

Here is Massimo playing guitar and singing his ABC's - and apparently with some rhythm. Not bad for a boy who is 2 years and 2 months old!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcBr2q5_qtM

Another Birthday Party...YEA!

Birthday parties are always a fun way to meet new friends. If the party is outside I get to run around in the grass to show off my speed and agility. And if it is indoors I can crawl through tunnels, swing from bars, make new friends and eat lots of pizza...



Hello there...








Look at me, I can fly...








Can you send more bubbles my way?








Yumm, pizza and apple juice.






Mama got me this cool Ralph Lauren polo shirt at Century21 department store and these stylish shorts at Children's Place.

A beautiful day in Central Park

It's great to explore outside of Manhattan and experience all the fun places to visit within an hour or two drive. But sometimes it is just as fun to stay home, visit a street fair, museum, or all that Central Park has to offer.


I always like going down the slide with Mama...









Or being on the swing by myself...










Or just staring at the sky in my favorite Anpanman shirt and Crocs...









WOW, all this activity makes me thirsty - don't forget to rehydrate!
More water pleeeeease!

Family trip to The Bronx Zoo

The Bronx Zoo is so much fun. Mama and Papa wheel me around in my stroller and I get to see all the animals that are in my books at home. And sometimes I even get to see them up close...




Don't I look just like a gopher?








Down here Mr. Goat, down here!









Mama, why are the giraffes all the way over there?







OOOOH, Hello there. Your feathers are almost as colorful as my comfortable Crocs - hahaha. What's your name?







Nice to meet you Mr. Peacock. Can you please open up your feathers so I can see them better? I hear they are beautiful and I would like to see them.








WOW, THANK YOU...THEY REALLY ARE BEAUTIFUL!








Now you're just showing off.





This was so much fun. Next time can we go into the safari...pleeeeeeeeease!

Philadelphia's "Please Touch Museum" is GREAT

The Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia is a wonderful place for you toddler to explore, learn, and interact. From the Alice in Wonderland area, to the mini animal farm, and a grocery store with plastic replicas, everything helps your child learn and understand things in different ways.

Hey Mr. rabbit, smile for the camera.

Miiiilk...more milk PLEASE!

Yes, thats me in my Crocs again...I just can't get enough comfort!

Massimo at Massimo's in Princeton NJ

Traveling with Mama and Papa is so much fun. I get to see new places, experience new things, and meet new friends. Sometimes I even get a surprise...like this sign!

I didn't know I was so famous. People are even naming their restaurants after me - like this one called Massimo's in Princeton...YUMMY!

Sesame Place is FUN!

Although Massimo watches only very little TV, he does know all his favorite characters by name. And if you ever watched Sesame Street as a kid (who hasn't?) you know their names too...Elmo, Big Bird, Grover, Cookie Monster, and Oscar immediately come to mind.

Sesame Place is a great place to spend the day with your child...

The slides are the perfect size and surrounded by a soft, rubbery surface.

There are also plenty of water activities even for us 2 year olds. This water slide is the perfect size!

And don't I look fashionable in my Crocs shoes (they are the most comfortable in the world). And my new Crocs top (yes Crocs has excellent apparel including bathing suits, shorts, and amazing tops).

I even got a front row seat (on Papa's shoulders of course) for the parade.

WOW its Elmo!!!

I can't wait to go back...hint, hint.

How old are you Massimo...I'm twooooooooooo

Birthdays are fun. Can we do this again?!?!

WOW, my own guitar!

And an Anpanman computer from Japan!

It looks indestructible...and good thing because I like to throw everything on the floor.

Japan Day Festival in Central Park

Japan Day Festival in Central Park was wonderful. I got to see Japanese performers on stage, listen to a Japanese drum band, play with Japanese toys, and even see a life sized Hello Kitty.












And the best part of my day...I held hands with my BFF K-Chan!!!

Massimo exploring St John US Virgin Island

Massimo recently visited St John in the US Virgin Islands. And like any kid his age he spent all his time in the water.

"Mama, when I am not in the water do I still have to wear this vest?"





Paragon sells a large assortment of children's safety gear including this floatation vest.







Sunglasses, sun block, and a hat are all standard for the beach.




"Baseball Champions" hat from The Childrens Place...light colors are the best as they don't absorb the suns heat as much as dark colors.




Sun protection and warmth are key, and this top from BabyGap does both. Its long sleeves protect him from the sun and the material is made for the water and keeps him warm. Massimo is also wearing a stylish flowering bathing suit by Carters.








AH yes...to be stylish and warm...

Overseas relationships are tough

I had a short play date with my new friend Filippa who was in from London for the weekend with her mommy. Since we are both half Japanese we hit it off right away, and somehow we understood each others baby talk - kawaii...sugoi...abunai. I was showing her my collection of Anpanman toys and she was showing me her cute puppy eyes. Everything was going great for a while but she was too cute...and I quickly became a little shy.









But then she started gazing into my eyes ...









So I gazed back into her eyes...









And leaned in to steal a kiss...










Isn't love grand!

Massimo at MOMA

After our enjoyable visit to the lions, tigers, and bears at The Museum of Natural History we decided to visit The Museum of Modern Art (also called MOMA) to see if they had anything Massimo would like.

He didnt seem to have much interest in the traditional framed artwork but some of the sculptures and video art caught his attention. Another thing that caught Massimos attention was a helicopter hanging from the ceiling..."airplane, airplane" he would say as he kept running back to see it.

But the thing that kept his attention for the longest was the multi-colored floor on the main level near the courtyard. He enjoyed sitting on it, running on it, and touching it. Actually we couldnt pull him away from this area for over 30 minutes...




Gomi, gomi! Look mama there's dust here.









My stylish Gap sweater and Miki House shoes from Japan look particularly good on this floor, dont you think?

Can we come back to MOMO soon...PLEEEAAASE!

Massimo at the Museum of Natural History

At nearly 2 years old Massimo is becomming a big fan of music (everytime we put on a cable tv music channel he is quick to name the instrument on the screen...guitar, trumpet, piano, etc) as well as animals - his favorite are Mr Lion (accompanied by his "roooaaarrr") and Kirin-san (Japanese for giraffe).

So to encourage his interests, Massimo takes music classes for toddlers at The Early Ear in Manhattan and we started taking him to the many Manhattan museums just this past weekend.

Here is Massimo on his first visit to the Museum of Natural History...

Wow a lion...

Did I mention that the lion is my favorite - roooaaaarrrr!

Massimo likes hats...sometimes

Although it is almost the beginning of April, it is still quite cold in Manhattan. We thought by now hat season would be over...but apparently not. All winter (including this weekend) we tried to get Massimo to wear his hats while outside. He has a warm and stylish one from Kiddopotamus that was written about in early winter with this post, and he also has a blue Diesel hat that he is often seen wearing on cold days. But all too often his hats make for only a short stay on his head before he pulls them off and throws them to the ground.

So when Massimo found some of Mama's hats this weekend we thought for sure he wouldn't have any interest. But surprisingly he (as well as Mama and Papa) had lots of fun with them...








Hmmm...I'm not so sure about this one.








Did I miss the Easter Day parade?

Playdate with K-chan

Massimo had a fun playdate recently with his girlfriend K-chan. It's the cutest thing seeing them play side by side and sometimes catching Massimo gazing at her with his shy smile - eventhough she may be playing with his favorite toy.