2015 - Mermaid City Kids

We'll be back in 2016!

As you might have noticed, I've been having a hard time keeping up with the blog lately (hint as to why pictured above) so we've decided to take the rest of 2015 off and try again in a few weeks. We'll see you back here next year. Have a wonderful holiday season, from the whole Watermelons Grow family to yours!

In the meantime, keep up with us on Instagram. And if you're looking for some of our favorite things to do around Hampton Roads during the holidays, don't forget to check out our Holiday Fun List.

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, by Cath

animals

Hampton Master Gardeners Display Garden

A few weeks ago, James's parents came to visit and we spent an afternoon at Bluebird Gap Farm, one of our favorite weekend spots. That October day the Hampton Master Gardener's display garden was in bloom with fall pretties and we spent some extra time exploring it. A lot of time, actually -- there was a lot to see.

The garden is bigger than it looks from a distance, divided into beds for flowering plants, veggies and fruits, bulbs, grasses, and evergreens. There's a scent garden and rain garden and spots to showcase things like bog plants and compost and xeriscaping (A. and I loved poking around the Bug House and I think we might end up making one for our own yard?). Oh, and there's also a little free library full of books on nature and gardening manuals. Don't forget that. (We brought home Manfish, which has started us on a journey of all things Jacques Cousteau).

Most people head to Bluebird Gap for the animals but the garden is worth a trip in itself. And if you're thinking of visiting, make sure to stop in for the Bluebird Gap fall festival this Saturday (Nov. 21). More info about that here.

If you're looking to enjoy this fair fall weather and get outside a little more before it gets cold, check out our #HRVA Garden Guide here.

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, by Cath

books

A [Boo]kish Halloween

This Halloween, we took costume inspiration from some of our favorite kids' books.

A. surprised me by insisting that she did NOT want to be Elsa (the first time in three years! Yay!) Instead, she wanted to be a flamingo. Flora and the Flamingo is one of her favorite books -- she loves to sit and "read" it by herself when she's in a quiet mood.

So we cobbled together a flamingo costume in an explosion of pink. Pink chucks, pink tutu, pink leotard and tights in the exact right matching shade of fuchsia (thank you, Rit Dye). A feather boa and a felt mask that is quite possibly my greatest sewing triumph even including the quilts I have made. It's hard to get a flamingo beak to curve in just the right way. And I have the hot glue burns to prove it.

Anouk chose Harold and the Purple Crayon to inspire Augustus's costume. It's also one of our faves. This one was much easier to put together: a blue sleeper and a felt crayon. Et voila. By the way, I must also point out that this book caused Anouk to lobby hard for Harold as Gus's name while I was pregnant with him. But obviously we're not into old man names for little babies so we nixed it.

I didn't have the time/wherewithal to make a costume for myself, but if anybody asks, I'm going to tell them that I'm Nobody. From Goodnight Moon, get it?

What are your kids dressing as this Halloween? Have a great & spoooooky weekend, everybody!

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, by Cath

art

A Pumpkin fairy house

This is one of my favorite fall activities ever and probably a new tradition in our family. It's also Anouk's brilliant idea and her first project contribution to the blog! "Mom, can we make a fairy house out of one of our pumpkins and take pictures of it for the internet?" That's kind of the name of my game, kid!

A. used a marker to draw where she wanted the windows and doors, I cut, and then we decorated the whole thing with a mix of things found in our craft box and things found in our yard. Magnolia leaves made a perfect roof (straight pins from the sewing basket kept them in place). Moss made a carpet. Rosemary in a little pot gave the fairies something nice to smell and look at. Little acorn caps (the squirrels have been busy in our neighborhood) were stepping stones and also hats for the fairies to wear in case they felt like dressing up. At night a little "fire" (AKA battery operated candle) lights up the windows behind the dotted fabric curtains.

"How will we know when the fairies have moved in?" <-- that's when I realized that my kid really does believe in fairies. Do I encourage this or sort of wink at it? I don't know but I do know that as soon as it stops raining around here, the fairies are going leave a trail of glittery footsteps in washable (hopefully?) paint leading up to their house.

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, by Cath

grateful list

August and September Grateful list

I'm a little behind on grateful lists thanks to Gus being born -- I just realized when I went to put up September that I had scheduled the day after his birthday to post August's grateful list and then never did it. So here are both August and September's lists! Be forewarned, they are a little long, because we have a lot to be grateful for (CHEESY but TRUE). And they're heavy on the baby stuff, because that's where I am right at the moment, right in the middle of newborn-land.

It's funny -- August 2015 was probably the slowest ever month of my life. I felt like it would never end; each day seemed to take a week. But September whizzed by and I just want to yell SLOW DOWN. I am trying to be really careful to put down the phone and stop and really appreciate and try to memorize one moment every day, be it Anouk's ponytail bouncing as she walks into her classroom or the way Gus breathes when he's sleeping on my lap. But I am really sleep-deprived right now thanks to a baby who wants to eat every hour and a half. So I could be hallucinating half of these things, who knows?

AUGUST

Arts

Petite Picasso at Larchmont Library (we loved their summer programs!)
Watching Empire
Reading Utopia: The Genius of Emily Kame Kngwarreye

Food

Family dinner at Jessy's in East Beach
lunch at Wharf Hill Brewery (Smithfield)
dinner at Umos (their horchata is amazing!)
Mongolian BBQ! with Danielle

Places

Visiting the Portsmouth Farmers Market
Windsor Castle Park
Discovering a new playground
Brunch and Bluebird Gap with friends

Stuff

Birkenstock Gizeh, the most pregnancy friendly shoe ever
New Janome sewing machine
Lancome Rouge lipstick, my secret weapon
Didymos Indio wrap

Etc.

Our playgroup end-of-summer pool party with a surprise mini shower for me! I was so surprised and touched, thank you T. for organizing it and everyone else for celebrating with us. x
Taking the family tour of our hospital's birth center with Anouk and J.
Anouk learning how to say "no offense" and saying it all the time (but not really knowing what it means, no offense)
Setting up the nursery to house two kids
Fabric swap with sewing group
Visit from my bestie, in town from NY

SEPTEMBER

Arts

Discovering the Becoming Minimalist blog and reading my way through the archives
Marathon sessions of 30 Rock while breastfeeding
Elizabeth Mitchell and Dan Zanes's Turn Turn Turn playing in the background of everything
The kids painting rocks and shells at their "painting party" (Anouk very carefully painted a gray rock gray, I can't make this stuff up)

Food

NO MORE GESTATIONAL DIABETES!!!!!!!
First pumpkin spice latte of the season (thank you, Mylinh!)
Birthday cake from Molly (she brought it right to the hospital, that's a great friend for sure)
Grinders from Zero's -- I really missed deli meats.

Places

Fall festival in Mathews, VA.
Last days of swimming at the Y on Granby

(Mostly Baby) Stuff

My beautiful Pavo Duet (thank you so much, D!)
Tiny baby leg warmers making diaper changes so much easier (thank you, Angela!)
Free breastpump! (thanks, Obama!)
Hunter boots (SO grateful for them in this rainy fall weather)
Bravado nursing bra, this one, best ever
Beautiful handwoven rug scored from a yard sale for a steal (now if the stains come out of it, that will be on next month's list).

Etc.

Labor Day pool party
Anouk starting soccer (her first game was on the day Gus was born!)
OUR HEALTHY BABY BOY
Adorably skinny newborn legs
Anouk, receiving her big sister present from Gus: "Wow, he has really good taste!"
Gus's first playgroup <3
James, after watching Gus be born: "I think I understand the dude in Indian Camp a little better now."
Anouk's first day of Pre-K 5
Mom and the aunts cleaning my house from top to bottom
Family and friends visiting to meet our new arrival
First cool weather days!

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, by Cath

aquarium

Dinosaurs! at the Virginia Aquarium

"But I thought you liked dinosaurs."

"I do. Just not these ones."

"Why not?"

"They're a little too REAL for me, Mom."

When it comes to an exhibit about dinosaurs, I think "too real" might be a compliment? This wasn't for Nou, but some little dinosaur lover out there will be very happy, I think, with what the Virginia Aquarium's got going on right now. Eight animatronic dinosaur species, surrounded by their own particular habitats, a Paleo dig and fossil discovery station, not to mention a behind the scenes look at how the amazing robot dinosaurs were built! What more could you ask for?

"Maybe they have dinosaurs in the gift shop, too. Can we check? Just...not loud ones."

Sure thing, little buddy.

Dinosaurs! will be at the aquarium until January 3, 2016, so there's plenty of time to go see them for yourself. More details here. And for what it's worth, we did find dinosaurs in the gift shop. Everybody's happy!

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, by Cath

in the bag

In the [hospital] bag

It's kind of embarrassing to admit that I overpacked for the hospital when Gus was born, but I did. When Anouk was born early, I ended up at the hospital with nothing but the clothes on my back and I think that experience made me want to make sure I would have every single thing I could possibly need the second time around. (Note: except my wallet. I brought eleven pairs of socks but forgot my license and health insurance card. Oops).

Of course I didn't end up using everything I brought with me (hahahaha dry shampoo), but there were a few things that I was super glad I ended up packing. Having a baby, and having just had a baby, is the opposite of comfortable, and it's so true that little things can really make a difference in making the hospital experience tolerable.

1. Kimono: I packed a kimono instead of a bathrobe thinking that it would look better in pictures (it did) and make me feel a little more dressed/pulled together/human (it did). I made mine myself but this one looks cozy and picture-worthy.

2. Swaddling blankets: specifically, these Aden + Anais ones. They are so much softer and wrap so much better than the hospital blankets!

3. Nursing bra: The most perfect nursing bra in the history of nursing bras. Comfy and stretchy enough even to sleep in, easy to snap and re-snap even with one hand. I bought six of them (but did not bring them all, I am not THAT bad).

4. Pillow: The hospital where I delivered (DePaul, for any locals reading) stressed several times that we should bring pillows from home and they meant it, the pillows that come with the rooms are flat and awful-feeling. I brought my comfy memory foam pillow from home and I didn't regret it. It's almost impossible to sleep in the maternity ward what with all the people coming in and out and OH YEAH THE BABY but this made the sleep I did get so much better. (Just make sure whatever pillow you bring is machine washable, obviously).

5. Hair bungees: When I had Anouk I could not stand my hair in my face during labor. It drove. me. nuts. This time, I brought hair bungees with me -- they will not allow one hair to budge and you won't have to murder anyone.

Parents -- what was the best thing you packed in your hospital bag?

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, by Cath

books

Recent reads

Everybody Rise by Stephanie Clifford. Publisher summary: A Bonfire of the Vanities for the 21st century mixed with Curtis Sittenfeld's Prep and Amor Towles's Rules of Civility.

I wanted to throw up while reading this book, but in a good way? It was just so hideously awkward and nerve-wracking to watch the heroine, ordinary Evelyn, try to pass herself off as a member of New York's elite upper class, knowing that she couldn't (could she?) possibly sustain it. The social striving reached Whartonesque proportions pretty quickly and then kept going. On the one hand you're rooting for E. to pull it off, on the other, you wonder why she wants so badly to fit in with these awful people and it makes Evelyn seem a little awful, too. But that just means you can sit back and enjoy her missteps along the way. NOTE: I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

The Bullet by Mary Louise Kelly. Publisher summary: From former NPR correspondent Mary Louise Kelly comes a heart-pounding story about fear, family secrets, and one woman's hunt for answers about the murder of her parents.

I am a little obsessed with NPR so when I heard news correspondent Mary Louise Kelly had written a novel I had to get it. This is the story of Caroline Cashion, who one day wakes up with neck pain, goes to the doctor, and finds out she has a BULLET lodged in her neck near her spine. Of course she has no idea how it got there and finding out dredges up a bunch of secrets in her past. I feel like I keep reading books in this suspenseful, the-next-Gone-Girl genre, and while this one wasn't my fave, I really, really appreciated that I did NOT see the end coming in any way. My eyebrows went way up and stayed that way for the last 20 pages.

The Blondes by Emily Schultz. Publisher summary: A hilarious and whipsmart novel where an epidemic of a rabies-like disease is carried only by blonde women, all of whom must go to great lengths to conceal their blondness.

That premise in itself is interesting enough to sustain an entire novel but you also have main character Hazel thrown together in the chaos with her boyfriend's very angry, um wife. And oh yes, Hazel is pregnant with his baby. The result is awkward, sinister, redemptive -- a great mix. This book IS funny -- but there were also moments that chillingly brought back events of the past year, of riots and uprisings and people being taken down in the streets, only this time the image featured (usually affluent) blonde women, which was a weird juxtaposition that made you think about things in a new way, probably just as the author intended.

The Lake House by Kate Morton. Publisher summary: Living on her family's idyllic lakeside estate in 1930s Cornwall, England, Alice Edevane is a bright, inquisitive, innocent and precociously talented sixteen-year-old who loves to write stories. But the mysteries she pens are no match for the one her family is about to endure...

I haven't been too impressed with Kate Morton's last few books, finding them a little convoluted and too pat. But this one reminds me of her first, The House at Riverton, the one that originally turned me on to her. Everything ties up neatly at the end, which usually bothers me, but isn't that what you expect from Kate Morton?

A Window Opens by Elisabeth Egan. Publisher summary: Elisabeth Egan brings us harried mother Alice Pearse, a compulsively honest, longing-to-have-it-all sandwich generation heroine for our social-media-obsessed, lean in (or opt out) age.

So the book opens when Alice's husband spectacularly quits his law job and she must go back to work for the first time since her children were born. Just like in real life, you can't please everyone in the working mom/stay at home mom debate and there are a few points in this book where I found myself angry on behalf of one or the other group. But I did enjoy some of the details of Egan's plot, especially reading about the "innovative" (read horribly corporate and awful) book company Alice goes to work for. NOTE: I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

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, by Cath

cullipher

Pumpkins! at Cullipher Farm Market

Anouk's one request for this past rainy, windy, extremely waterlogged weekend (in which nearly everything was closed due to flooding) was to go and get "a lot of pumpkins, mom. A LOT." And grocery store pumpkins simply would not do because: of course.

Luckily, the Cullipher Farm Market was open, and they're a little famous for their pumpkins, which come in almost every variety imaginable and are really reasonably priced! (69 cents a pound for the big ones, 99 cents a pound for the smaller, more decorative gourds). So we wrapped up the baby and set off through high water.

Of course one does not simply buy pumpkins at Cullipher -- since we were there we had to pick out some more of our faves (apple and pumpkin butter, pumpkin donuts, pickles, apples, and pears...). It was pretty much the perfect way to spend an early fall Sunday.

NOTE: the Cullipher Pumpkin Patch (with PYO) is currently closed due to flooding but is scheduled to open on Wednesday, October 7. Hooray!

I Just want to point out that if Gus was a pumpkin, he would cost about $6.00 if we bought him at Cullipher (he's not very bumpy so I'm giving him the 69 cent rate. Plus adding on an extra fee for cuteness.)

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, by Cath

bay

Mathews Market Days (and a few more fall festivals)

The Sunday before Gus was born, wayyyyy back a whole two weeks ago, we met up with friends in Mathews for the annual Mathews Market Days celebration. It was the perfect way to get ready for the fall season (and to walk a baby out, apparently). Even if it was still almost 90 degrees, the Middle Neck is looking gorgeous this time of year, there are definitely hints of autumn all around, from the beginning-to-brown corn fields to the early morning mists to the fishing and crabbing boats on the rivers and marshes. Plus there is just something fall-like about spending an afternoon in a picturesque small town, where everybody seems to know each other and are glad to welcome you and show off the best of what they have to offer.

Market day highlights: The kids' play area (new this year!), lunch at the Southwind Cafe, browsing the stellar book sale at the Mathews Memorial Library, and watching the dads play the hit-the-anvil strong man game (hubba hubba).

There are a few more local(ish) fall festivals coming up that we have penciled in on the calendar -- I don't know if our baby schedule will allow us to make most of them, but I'm posting them anyway because they really sound too good to be missed.

West Point Crab Carnival (October 2-3) | Fall Festival of Folklife (Newport News, October 3-4) | Phoebus Fall Festival (Hampton, October 10) | Chippokes Harvest and Halloween Festival (Surry, October 17) | Virginia Thanksgiving Festival at Berkeley Plantation (Charles City, November 1) | Urbanna Oyster Festival (November 6-7) |

Am I the only person who is completely taken in by the idea of a crab carnival? It sounds so deliciously festive. The name is a draw in itself, good job West Point tourism board!

Locals, have you been to any of these? What did you think?

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, by Cath

baby

Welcome Baby

Hey guys, guess what? BooBooButt AKA James Augustus AKA Baby Gus was born a week ago today! Gus ended up being born three weeks early (but still full term) weighing 7 lbs, 3 oz, and measuring just about 20 inches long.

His arrival was wild, an hour and a half from start to finish, with lots of craziness and NO time for an epidural. But Gus himself is so super laid back and in no hurry to do anything but eat. He barely cries -- even when his sister is jumping on the bed next to his bassinet and singing at the top of her lungs he sleeps right through. So far he's pretty perfect little brother material, just happy to go with the flow. Anouk is pretty perfect big sister material, for her part -- she loves "brudder" and the first thing she does every morning is come in and say hi (and touch his ears...she is a big fan of those velvety baby ears).

Thanks to all of you who offered us support and kind words throughout this entire pregnancy. It meant a lot! We're so happy to have our little boy here and can't wait to start doing our thing around town as a family of four. Just as soon as this newborn snuggliness wears off a little...

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, by Cath

books for toddlers

Books We Love >> Max the Brave

Anouk has a lot going on lately -- new sibling on the way, new school schedule, new sports and friends and responsibilities -- so much so that she's become sometimes a little skittish about taking on new things. I can't -- I don't think I can -- I'm not sure I'll like that. So when we got the opportunity to review Ed Vere's new book, Max the Brave, I jumped at the chance, thinking it would be the perfect opener to talking about doing new things, even ones that seem a little daunting.

The fact that the main character is a cat didn't hurt (you know we're cat people over here). And the fact that the story reminded us of some of our old established favorites was good, too (there are hints of the classic The Monster at the End of This Book and of Jon Klassen's This is Not My Hat). But most of all, I enjoyed the fact that when Max the kitten first sets out to chase a mouse, he has no idea what he's doing, or even what a mouse looks like (leading to the story's hijinks). But he's determined to do it nonetheless.

And now, for the first time ever on the blog, here's A.'s review in her own words: "This book was good because it was silly. My favorite part was when [ED: spoiler alert!] the mouse played a trick on Max. The pictures of Max were cute and I want to read about him again tomorrow and the day after that."

Yay, little A.! Look for her to be eviscerating popular fiction in the New Yorker in 25 years or so.

To win a copy of Max the Brave for yourself, enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below! 5 copies will be given away (plus a snazzy red cape like Anne's) and you have until October 31st to enter. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for a review. The thoughts and opinions in this post are my own.

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, by Cath

books

Favorite Kids Books (vol. IV)

Mr. Tweed's Good Deeds: Mr. Tweed is like a less obnoxious Where's Waldo (I don't know why I find Waldo obnoxious but I guess I do?) I think because it starts out slowly (he finds one kite, then two fish, then three etc...) or the message that you should do your best to help people even if it inconveniences you. This book is actually kind of hard -- Anouk and I never found that last gift-wrapped present before our library due date.

Beautiful Birds by J. Roussen and E. Walker: Anouk is definitely too old for another alphabet book but this one is SO BEAUTIFUL.

Tell Me What to Dream About by Giselle Potter: Why don't you dream about eating teeny tiny waffles with teeny tiny animal breakfast guests? Or wearing clouds like sweaters? Delivers on the whimsy and more beautiful illustrations.

Tap the Magic Tree by Christie Matheson: A Press Here knockoff in which you can make trees grow and blossom and change throughout the seasons. Anouk cannot resist this type of book (though J & I are kind of sick of them to tell the truth).

Cecil the Pet Glacier by Matthea Harvey: Maybe because I'm pregnant, but this one made me teary. A little girl is adopted by a pet glacier on a trip to Norway -- at first she wants to be rid of him but then she learns that true friends will always be there for each other. Nou thinks it's hilarious how they feed the glacier pebbles. :)

The Cloud Spinner by Michael Catchpool: A fairytale/morality tale about learning to live simply, and about wants versus needs. Love the message, and the art.

Red Knit Cap Girl to the Rescue by Naoko Stoop: This adorable heroine and her adorable friends go on a journey to return a polar bear cub to its home. One in a series of three so far.

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, by Cath

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Pages

We'll be back in 2016!

Hampton Master Gardeners Display Garden

A [Boo]kish Halloween

A Pumpkin fairy house

August and September Grateful list

Dinosaurs! at the Virginia Aquarium

In the [hospital] bag

Recent reads

Pumpkins! at Cullipher Farm Market

Mathews Market Days (and a few more fall festivals)

Welcome Baby

Books We Love >> Max the Brave

Favorite Kids Books (vol. IV)

Where We Are

Who We Are

Where to Play

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Where We Are

Who We Are

Where to Play

Blog Archive

Search This Blog

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Popular Posts

Like us on Facebook

Flickr Images

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