Birthday picnic + family photos

For her husband's birthday, Elizabeth surprised him with a Central Park picnic. She decorated a bench in his honor, made a seven-layer chocolate cake from scratch, and brought along their sweet daughter and the family dog. Then she had an amazing photographer take family portraits, so they'd always remember the occasion. (Good thing her husband wore a cute outfit to work that day!) Isn't that an incredible and creative present?

(Family portraits by the fabulous Brookelyn Photography; styling by Elizabeth, who is half of the new company You + Me)

Baby profiles

German photographer Bettina von Zwehl took this photo series of one-year-old babies at an instant of total (rare) concentration. Aren't they gorgeous? Von Zwehl used toys, dvds and eye contact to get the little guys to stay still. "They sat on a table, looking at me, and I took the picture with a long cable release," she says. Since many of the babes were still too wriggly to photograph, it took more than a year to get six final portraits. And the goal of the project? "I was hoping to present each baby as an intelligent human being," she says.

P.S. Baby mouths are so adorable.

How genetics work

(Photo by Rene Maltete, via Via Casanova Wong)

Very Happy Nine-Month News...

My sweet darling readers, it's with great excitement that I announce that Alex and I are expecting our first child! It's our little honeymoon miracle (a very welcome surprise) and we are absolutely over the moon. I'm four months along (it's been almost impossible to keep quiet; I have been dying to tell you!), and my belly is slowly but surely expanding. Our babe is growing fast and furiously and is now the size of an avocado! We can't wait to welcome this little person into the world and give him or her lots of hugs, smooches and tummy rubs. xoxo

P.S. Thank you so much for putting up with my many, many baby fever posts over the past two years!

When will you and Daddy be back?

This adorable flickr photo was taken of little dudes when the babysitter was about to arrive. Look at those anxious fingers! I remember that feeling, don't you?

(Photo by Janusfinder)

My Parents Were Awesome

The website My Parents Were Awesome features people's photos of their parents back in the good old days. LOVE.

P.S. Were your parents awesome?

(Thanks, Katy)

Bike rides

How cute are these photos of Kendra and Stella on an evening ride in upper Manhattan? They look like they could be in the country.

(Photos by Seth Smoot)

What are you going to be for Halloween?

What are you going to be for Halloween this year? (This Oeuf animal costume kills me.)

P.S. We got engaged last year on Halloween!

Dog + baby

Oh, just the cutest photo ever to sweeten up your Wednesday. :)

(Via Emily)