Straight-up Gangsta

Dear J,

I'm not a businessman, I'm a business, man!  Meet you at Tribeca Grand if you wanna lock this down for Roc-A-Fella.

Whatchu lookin' at?

HOV!,

JYK

The Shahs of CPS

Dear Hakim-Shahs,

I'm so grateful to you for bringing my betrothed over for a visit today.  She was looking even lovelier than how I remembered her from our last visit.  A vision in her pom-pom and tutu skirt.

My first love n our Pops.

Mr. Shah with a generous contribution to Mila's dowry.

We all had a great time and I feel very lucky to have you guys as family in NYC.

Next time, the booze is on me,

JYK

2 Weeks!

Dear Family and Friends,

Can you believe it's already been two whole weeks?  I've been learning so much and taking lots of time to get to know the most important people in my life.  I've also grown quite a bit, though you probably can't tell from my birthday anniversary pic. Yesterday, Dr. Oliveira weighed me in at 8 lbs, that's one pound more than my birth weight.  What what!?!

Mom calls this my "Marlon Brando in Streetcar Named Desire" look.

"Mooooooommmmm!  Where's my milk?!"

See what she means?

Love,

JYK

My First: Trip to the Met

Dear Met,

You sure are HUGE!  Especially to a tiny little guy like me.  Nonetheless, after clocking in at a sweet 8 lbs at Dr. Oliveira's, Abuela, Mom and I celebrated by going for a walk through Central Park and heading to the Met.

On Dad's recommendation, we headed for the Medieval room on this trip, but there were plenty of interesting things to see and people to meet along the way.  Several kind ladies stopped to remark how impressed they were to see me there at such a young age.  It's never too early, ladies!

Abuela n me in front of the Temple of Dendur's crocodile pond.

Mom n me checkin' out the stone gates.

Abuela thought this pic would be hilarious.  She's all, "Ahh!  Don't eat the baby!"  Then we got kicked out... (Tia Sisi sweater/hat set, Zara cords n tights, Garvalin shoes)

And exiled to the very place we were looking for.  I almost got run over.  I was all, "Watch it fellas, baby comin' through!"

I asked this dude for directions to the nearest changing table.

And on the way, I had to save my Moms from these dudes mackin' on her.  "Step aside, she's a married lady!"

What an adventure!  A day filled with danger and intrigue.  

We'll be back! 

JYK

My First: Walk Outside

Dear Neighborhood,

It was fun getting to know you for the first time.  As a matter of fact, it was my first time outdoors, breathing outside air ever!  Finally, after a week of bad weather.

Me, cozy in my stroller, practicing my stick-up stance.

 I was pretty lucky that Popo and Popie were back from their trade show to push me along.  Popie already started teaching me about the trees in our 'hood and telling me stories about the fun we're going to have camping in Oregon.

Dad, Popo, One Popie n me in Rockefeller Park, ready to go.

Dad, Moms n me.  Yup, I'm in there, somewhere.

I love Rockefeller Park and can't wait to lounge on the grass this summer scoping the bikini clad ladies with Dad.  I can't wait to walk so I can go down the slide in Teardrop Park and play in all the jungle gyms on the new pier.  We also went to this cool Winter Garden that had real live palm trees growing inside and got a short bird's eye view of the World Trade Center construction site.  One World Trade sure is big, especially to a small guy like me. Mom says it'll get even bigger.  Wow!

Mom telling me all about the WTC, and me puttin' my arms in the air n wavin' 'em like I just don't care :)

Popie, Popo, Dad n me scopin' the view of the port from the Winter Garden.

Can't wait to see more!

JYK

My First: Trip to the Pediatrician

Dear Dr. Oliveira,

I sure am lucky to have you taking care of me.  Mom and Dad were especially grateful for your help with my dehydration situation.  Formula is not the enemy, and tastes quite yummy, thankyouverymuch.  Mom's milk finally came in this evening, so I think we'll survive.

Dad and me discussing my weight situation.

We need to do something about filling in these legs before football camp starts.

See you at my next weigh in, where I'm sure I'll crush it!

JYK

Welcome Home

Dear Popo and Popie,

What an surprise to walk in the door of my home for the first time outside of the womb and see the awesome banner you made to welcome me home.  Your harrowing tale of fighting off children and their nannies for the use of the communal drawing paper and crayons in our building's playroom further increased my admiration.

[Insert Pics Here]

Thank you, my brave grandparents!

JYK

Going Home

Dear Abuela,

Today I left the hospital and entered my home ouside of the womb for the first time ever.  For such a special occasion, Mom dressed me in the faldon you made and the sweater/hat/bootie set Great-Cousin Tinita made for me.  Despite Dad's reservations, I loved it and felt proud to embrace this Spanish tradition.

Julie's faldon; Tinita's sweater; Zara polo onsie

I especially loved that it turned out to be a practical outfit for fitting me in the car seat while keeping me warm against the winter winds.  It also facilitated diaper changing to the max.

Julie's faldon; Tinita's sweater, hat and booties; Zara polo onsie

Dad, vigilantly keeping me safe from crazy cab drivers.

Mom, smiling on the outside; worrying about my body temperature on the inside.

We arrived home safe and sound and kickin' it in style.  

Thanks for the threads!

JYK

First Night & Second Day

Dear Grandparents, Uncle John, Cousins n Lef Tribe,

Thanks for your company throughout my first few hours on planet Earth.  It was really great hanging out and getting familiar.  Once the Grandparents left on my birthday, I commenced training Mom and Dad in my "All-Nighters for New Parents" program; quite successfully, I might add.  Mom's still so drunk on the first effects of my cuteness that she reacted by taking pictures of me all night long.

My personal favorite.  I call it "HipstaJake".

Dad could only stay part of the night, but made sure to draw me this funky tree and heart with my name carved on it to remember him by.  The nurses dug it.

Wasn't long before Dad was back by our side and Mom started taking pictures again.

This is her favorite of the day.

Then it was time to shed the standard issue hospital garb and transition into my own clothes to welcome visitors.  By then, Grandparents started showing up, and Popo helped Mom dress me in my first real outfit.

 Zara Home Kids gray layette with embroidered HIPPOS and giraffe collar and Tia Sisi's sweater / hat set

I was then ready to receive my first visitors, which were my Uncle John and cousins CJ and Catalina.  Catalina even brought drawings inspired by my birth.  Boy, do I have a feeling they're going to be teaching me lots of exciting new things!

Uncle John and me. He's a pro.

Cousins Catalina and CJ who I love already!

They were followed by the Lef Tribe, who ventured all the way to the Upper East Side from Tribeca.

The Lef Tribe Patriarch would make a great Godfather, wouldn't he?  Dad should definitely consider it.

                                                    

The rest of the Lef Tribe, refueling after the long journey.

Then it was back to my All-Nighter training.  

Phew!  What an exhausting day!  I'm thankful you were a part of it.

JYK

How it all began

What Mom calls my moon.

Dear Readers,

So, this is how it all began.  Mom woke up at 5 AM to the party I was getting started in her belly.  She was pretty optimistic about the whole thing, dancing through the pain with the ipod while Dad, Popie and PoPo slept.  Keep in mind she looked like this at the time:

That's a whole lotta belly to be swinging around to Led Zeppelin's Immigrant Song and Enrique Iglesia's greatest hits, but we made a time of it.

By 10:30 AM Mom had enough of 3-1-1'ing it and the forewarned cab driver dropped Dad and her, kicking and screaming, at NY Presbyterian/ Weill Cornell's door.  Our astute OB, Dr. Jin took one look at Mom and calmly declared, "Oh, you don't look so comfortable," as she loudly writhed in pain on the bed. Dr. Jin also followed Dad's helpful "Pain is just weakness leaving your body" coaching by estimating a 6-7 PM delivery. Mom's natural birth plan freakout began in earnest, and sure enough, by 12:30 PM, just after her water broke (while Dad was off procuring himself what we assume was the yummiest sandwich ever), she called for the epidural...  I can still hear her screams now... The blessed anesthesiologist tapped her spine and chilled her the heck out stat.  It was smooth sailing from then on, as you can tell by Dad's composed demeanor:

By 4:00 PM Dr. Jin showed up to check on us a second time, just as Abuelo, Abuela, Popo and Popie arrived.  With her powers of OB deduction she announced I'd show up in 15 minutes, and so it was.  After two sets of three 10-second pushes, precisely at 4:15 PM, I popped out:

Not my most flattering moment, but you get the point... I was tiny with a big voice.

Mom was a hot mess.  I kept telling her, "Pull it together, woman!"

Me in Popie's arm. "Wuz up, my peeps?"

What we looked like zoomed out.

Abuelo and I getting to know each other.

Abuela and Mom joined in on the fun.

Me being introduced to Popo. She's pretty cool.

There's Popo next to Popie.  She approves!

Last, but not least, Mom and Dad checking out their most successful collaboration. Yup, all the cuteness they can handle in one tiny bundle, thankyouverymuch!

Til next time, faithful readers, as this is just the beginning,

JYK