Babe in the Big City

Friday morning, I trained over to South Seaport (at the south of end of Manhattan, close to Brooklyn) to visit my cousin Miranda, her husband Ed, and their new baby, Devon.

Miranda admitted that Devon doesn't look much like either of the parents and joked that she was the milkman's baby, haha. But I realized that the baby resembles Miranda's sisters. Then again, Devon is less than 2 months old, so her face may change a lot over the next year and start to resemble her mommy and daddy more. I liked Devon's cute little potato-like head.

Miranda started to feed Devon some milk. Then I noticed something funny about Devon's hands. I wasn't going to say anything, but then Miranda teasingly chastized Devon for giving us the finger!! Apparently Devon has a habit of doing popping up her middle fingers when she has her milk. It's like her way of saying, "I'm cranky and I want my milk dammit!!" Miranda says they have taken photos of this, because it happens so much. She thinks Devon will be a spunky little tomboy, just like mommy Miranda was.

As we got ready to meet Miranda's friend, Ting-ting for lunch, Devon pooped her diaper. Miranda changed the diapers, only to have Devon poop two more times! Miranda kept calling her friend between changes, because she didn't think she'd make it out of the house. Then Devon got the hiccups. She sounded like a little squeaky toy, haha.

We finally got Devon out into a cab and head over to the upper east side for Japanese curry. It turned out that Devon was very peaceful in the bustling urban jungle of heat, noise, and bumpy sidewalks. Newborns like a lot of ambient white noise and rocking motions. Apparently it is soothing because it's similar to the experience of inside her walking mommy's womb.

I realized that Miranda's friend sort of reminded me of an Asian Charlotte from Sex and the City, being very preppy-stylish. And Miranda was like Miranda from Sex and the City, getting used to mommyhood. (Except cousin Miranda is way cuter and less cranky, of course.)

We headed over to Tiffany's, so Miranda could buy an engagement gift for her sister-in-law. I wasn't in the market for any fancy jewelry, silver, or crystalware, but I was just happy to be in a clean building with A/C. I was really amused by the silver baby gifts, including the stereotypical silver spoon. They even have silver rattles and fancy porcelain piggybanks! How are any of these items even remotely beneficial or useful to a baby? They weren't even very cute. Who buys these things??

At one point, Miranda had to change Devon and feed her some milk in the ladies room. Women who came in would fawn over cute little Devon. However, one woman came out of a stall and played with little Devon's hand before washing her own hands!! That was gross! --particularly for a newborn, who is potentially more vulnerable to germs!

It reminded me a little of when I used to have a cute little dog. People space out and forget personal space issues and common consideration when something cute is involved. Sometimes it's okay, and sometimes it's funny how people react, but sometimes it's just annoying and rude.

Finally Miranda settled on a crystal gift, and we quickly popped over to Louis Vuitton across the street. Miranda checked out the charming Manhattan bag (pictured here) and the rounded Ellipse bag. I eyed the new Marukami Cerises (cherries) line, particularly the shoes! Alas, the Manhattan bag is over $1000 and who knows how much more the Cerises items were. Well, it was fun to browse anyway.

Later I joined Todd and BK for dinner at a health-nut restaurant called Josie's, on the recommendation of Todd's sister. They had sushi, chicken, fish, and other healthy meal options. Its colorful and trendy interior, ultra-health conscious menu, and fruity cocktail list seemed particularly girly to me. I'm guessing the Rockettes love to dine there.


We headed over to Film Forum to catch a documentary called State of Mind, about two aspiring North Korean girls who apply their amazing rhythmic gymnastics skills to perform for their beloved leader, Kim Jong Il. It was a remarkable look into the isolated society of communist life and strange mass-control of propaganda. They are protected from any outside news and western influences, much like books I had read about China during the Cultural Revolution.

It's amazing the kind of devotion and dedication these children have to their mind-boggling, synchronized performances and to their leader. You see how the parents and grandparents hold so much pride in their humble lives, and how they collectively hold such hatred for the "arrogant Americans," since we bombed and destroyed their land and people many years ago.

It's ironic, how we live such lives with rich resources, opportunity, and expression, while many of us detest our own president. Yet Kim Jong Il, an egomaniacal, control freak of nature, is totally adulated and worshipped by his people.