Q as a bear.

People are a lot more friendly when you are carrying around a bear on your chest.

Q has a few bear pieces, probably just because children's companies love to put ears on just about anything. So - he has two fuzzy jackets (with hoods + ears), a white bear suit, a brown bear suit & a quilted snow suit with ears. All to keep him warm & cozy when the city is freezing this winter. The 30-degree temps this week have already made them absolute necessities. 

I went to the holiday shops at Bryant Park yesterday with friend Amy. It's one of my favorite things to do in the city during December & made me feel like it's official Christmas. Ice skating, good food, & lots of unique shops & gift ideas - although yesterday, the shopping ended up being primarily for myself, which isn't awesome when I feel like my list has a trazillion people on it (& I'm struggling in the ideas department). Oops.

But carrying Quinn around - it's so funny! Everywhere we went, people remarked about the bear. People asked if it was a costume (no, just keeping him warm). Passengers on the subway would steal glances & then quickly look away when I caught them. Middle aged professional men - the ones who wouldn't give up their seat for me when I was 9 months pregnant - would smile as I walked by & say hello. Older women made me stop so that they could peek in & see. One woman even asked me if I had a camera with me so that she could take a photo of us. Another woman in a shop said to me, Oh! Is that a baby? I responded (jokingly, with a smile) that Nope! Just a stuffed animal. She got all flustered & said something like Silly me! Seriously?! So I told her that I was just teasing, & of course it was a little baby boy. The poor woman actually thought I'd carry around a stuffed animal. I think those backpacks were cool in elementary school in the 90's. 

But really. People offer their seats on the subway, construction workers stop & smile. They don't even know if he's a cute baby or not! Carrying around a bear is better than being pregnant, I think (even though his current weight - about half of what I gained during pregnancy - is somehow totally backbreaking). People are just friendly. It makes the city all warm & fuzzy again, & makes me extra-proud to be his mother.

I took photos of Q when we got back to our apartment yesterday afternoon as he was waking up. His chubby little hands kill me, as does the fact that when he wakes up these days, he's all smiles & coos. Except when he's hungry, of course. I used to doubt that he knew me & that he loved me. I'm now thoroughly convinced, & I love that. 

Today - we went back to Bryant Park with Kelsey. It's that fun. I think I'll go back next week, too. Maybe with the stroller. But definitely in a bear suit.