This is her “Whoa I’m standing up” face that she made every time she stood up from the stairs.

My Frenchman and butterfly.

I can’t believe we’re in the final stretch of Minna’s first year already! Big progress this past month. She loves to read before bed, turning the page whenever you ask her to and "knocking" in Dr. Seuss’s "Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You?" at the appropriate page. Her favorite game right now is what I call the "Sharing Game". She’ll be playing with things, like a bunch of wooden vegetables, and then hand you one. I always say, "Oh, for me? Thank you Minna!" and she smiles. You can try and give it back, but she’ll give it right back to you again. And keep giving you the other ones. She really seems to understand a lot of what you say to her, even if she can’t reply.

She’s also crazy about Bodhi and whenever she hears him meow she whips her head around to find him and claps and smiles and makes happy sounds. She also does this when she sees him first thing in the morning. And of course when she sees Ollie she just lights up and claps and laughs. The two of them have a band I like to call "The Kottke 2". He bangs on all sorts of things, and she takes the xylophone and a stick and whacks away, and then she claps while he sings and bangs on "drums". It’s quite a sight.

Two more teeth on the bottom, for a total of 6 teeth! And I think two more on the top are about to cut through. She’s also getting better at standing, but still no crawling and no pulling herself up. She’s an eating champ and pretty much can feed herself now if it’s not a liquid. And on her monthiversary she had her very first Shake Shack burger. I got some nice pictures of her eating it. But I like this photo better, of her sitting in our backyard, enjoying some O’s, and saving that special one for later.

Ollie’s currently in the "Little Helper" phase. I haven’t seen that on the list of milestones, but it’s a big one. This morning he helped make coffee, carried all the breakfast plates (with their food) to the table, brought the forks, and gave Minna her drink. He would have cracked the eggs as well but I was rushing and didn’t let him. After breakfast he watered the garden and was very excited to see this rainbow in the spray. By this time next week I’m hoping he’ll be preparing all the meals, washing the dishes, and doing all the yard work so I can enjoy our Nantucket vacation.

It remains to be seen whether the best days of the French are behind them. Look at the innovations in cotton swabs underway in this country! That "Security" tip ensures you don't stick the swab deep into your child's ear. Normally I'm not worried about that but Minna has a bad habit of turning her head just as I try to clean her ear. But not with this swab, nope! You can only just get around the entrance to the ear. Frankly I'm ashamed America didn't invent this! I thought we led the world in ridiculous gear in the name of child safety, but the French have us on swabs. I'm bringing a box home, maybe more if I can fit them.

It’s getting hard to keep up with my monthiversary pictures and write-ups about the kids over at Flickr. It was kind of manageable with Ollie but now the dates sneak up on me before I realize it and by the time I get a photo (if I manage to snap one on the proper day) and write about it, the next month is upon me!

Also now I can compare Minna’s progress to Ollie’s at the same age, which has led to me getting concerned that Minna’s not as advanced as Ollie because she’s not trying to crawl and move about in nearly the same way he did. Of course she claps and sings to music in a way I don’t recall him doing at that age. So I guess I need to chill out and remember that each kid progresses at her own rate. Not only should I refrain from comparing my child to someone else’s, I shouldn’t compare my children to each other too much!

After being so sure I wanted to bring up our kids in New York City, I’m now wondering whether it’s such a good idea. I don’t think my concerns are the usual ones that drive people to the ‘burbs when they have a family, and I certainly can’t bear the thought of moving to some suburbs. It’s just lately I’ve seen a lot of kids around, kids 7, 8 or 9 years old, and they appear so jaded. They’re so stylish, girls especially, and they seem to have a very distinct look on their face. A very adult look. And when I’ve seen them my heart breaks to think that could be Minna in seven years, over it all already, childlike joy beneath her.

Moving away of course is not the answer. There’s no guarantee children are more joyful and less jaded elsewhere. I know I’ve read lots of things about tweens being all grown up already, cultural pressures, TVs influence, etc. etc. etc. If there’s any solution — and there may not be — it’s in the parenting I hope. In our ability to keep the experiences special and meaningful, to steer clear of brands and designer clothes and pressure to buy the next thing, and to focus on time outside the city as a family. Nights collecting fireflies in Vermont and learning the constellations. Hiking in the White Mountains and spending the nights bunked in a hut. Skiing at Mad River with friends and family. And finding great experiences to share right here in Manhattan as well.

I want to say that as long as I show enthusiasm for things, my children will join me. But sadly, I can almost hear them already, saying dismissively, “Mom, that’s so lame.” Hopefully that won’t be until 2020 at least.