Jake asked me if he could take me out to brunch for mother’s day, and it sounded awesome..brunch is my favorite. Except that I have been wanting to go to the Doughnut Plant on the Lower East Side for about 3 years, and decided I’d rather do that. I’ve had Doughnut Plant doughnuts before, but I’ve never been there before. Growing up, doughnuts were my favorite food, and they’d probably still be if I didn’t feel obligated to choose something sort of healthy, so now it’s sandwiches.
Anyway, the doughnut plant did not disappoint. We basically tried almost everything. I loved the strawberry, and the peanut butter glazed jelly filled. I wasn’t ready for lunch until 5pm.
Call me a crazy doughnut obsessed lady, but I just LOVE when doughnuts aren’t perfectly round. I guess it makes them feel less machine made. (all doughnuts made at the doughnut plant are made with fresh, natural ingredients and it is sooo obvious in the taste.)
Since we were in Chinatown, we passed this little chinese bodega. I saw these animals hanging and immediately thought of what a perfect size they were for Pip. We bought her the green one and rushed up to show him to her. 
I scrubbed that thing with hospital disinfectant wipes, that are so heavy duty you have to wear gloves. I’m not a germaphobe (I wish I was!) but that thing was nasty, and my Pip is obviously a little princess. That steed needed proper cleaning!
As you can see, she was initially a little unsure of the thing. It’s bouncy and it took a lot out of her to balance on it. I love her ‘don’t make any sudden movements’ face above.
She saw her blanky underneath her bed, pulled it out, and then suddenly the horsey was a blast! Everything is better when blanky is there!
Mid-bounce.
Then, because it was the most perfect weekend ever, we took her outside. I suddenly wondered if we had ever had Pipsey walk in the grass barefoot. So we took off her shoes and had her explore. She didn’t really like it. She avoided the grass as much as possible by standing on the heels of her feet. She looked longingly at the mat we had laid out, and reached for me to pick her up. Being the mean mama I am, I forced her to hop back and forth, one foot at a time for a few minute. Eh, it’s good for her to try new things! I tell you, I swore zucchini was poisonous until I was a teenager. I couldn’t believe my mom would put my life at risk and make me eat it. But now I love it. Same goes for you, Pip. You’re going to love grass one day.
Y’all, I still can’t believe that my Piper Jane doesn’t rip off sunglasses the second they are placed on her face. She really enjoys wearing them. Maybe it’s just because she is a fan of the cat eye style?
I love summer and I’m looking forward to it, but it has just been so fun to spend all this time outside with our little P-nut in the comfortable cool weather we’ve had. We stay out until she needs suctioning or the battery in her vent is low. It’s been so great. I can’t tell you how boring the routine can get, spending so much time in a hospital. But being outside, with my two favorites is like heaven. Hooray!
The expression on Pip’s face, in the first pic of her on her “horsey” is PRICELESS!!
Such a great toy too … perfect for perfecting her sitting balance.
We have one of those horses!! We use it for OT. Pop was doIng toddler popster.
she is a little girl now, not much toddler there any more. Happy Mothers Day.
Now I want a doughnut and a toy horse.
So glad Miss Piper felt grass. My little one also abhors the feeling of it on her toesies.
Okay, so the no sudden movement face…I spit chocolate milk on me iPad! Seriously, that was exactly what I was thinking before I scrolled down. It was hilarious. Next, that ever so gentile pix of mama and Pip is beyond perfection. It left me a little breathless. So serene and lovely. It deserves a major blow up and a super eclectic frame. A treasure if ever there was one. Then there’s the Chinese water torture that is grass. My nephew was like that with sand. So sad we figured this out at the family BEACH house! What can I say, he dealt! Lastly, Mondays are becoming a very favorite day for me because even though I have to go back t work, I know when I climb in bed to watch a little mindless TV and cruise my Internet favs, I most look forward to an update from Piper Jane. She is such a happy little cookie. Inspires me with her happiness, perky little self and, it has to be said, bitchin fashion know how!
Have a great week.
sounds like an absolutely perfect day! love pip’s dress and the toes in the grass
happy mother’s day, reagan!
hi guys,
happy belated mother’s day reagan!
just a quick question about the vent battery…M has the same LTV vent, which only has an internal battery life of 45 minutes. But, they have sprint battery packs that you can connect to the vent which will give you 4-6 additional hours of free time to be outside and play. Just a thought because we know the feeling of always having something to bring you back inside, but if the hospital could order a sprint pack for you guys, and provide a portable suction machine, you’re golden!
we ended up taking M to the beach with the vent for the first time this past weekend, and yes we were nervous, but all in all, it was a great trip!
let me know if you have any questions…
xo,
victoria
@Victoria: Victoria, happy mother’s day to you too! i was thinking about you actually
we have access to a portable suctioner, but don’t bring it because it is just one extra thing, and she really isnt needing suctioning all the time like she used to. some days are gunkier than others, and we just keep her close to her bed in that case.
as for the extra battery pack, i think she has one! it’s a little grey box with an additional plug right? we are usually able to stay out for a pretty long time, but sometimes when the battery is beeping “low” early on, it means a nurse took her for a walk or something a little earlier on.
thanks so much for your recommendations! keep them coming
mmmm those donuts look AMAZING. Let’s go back there!
I love that first pic of her on the horse. Her expression kills me. I miss that cute face!
Oh, I also just LUV that picture of you and Pippy in the chair together. It is the definition of pure sweetness seen in motherly love. DO frame it!!! It is a treasure. I love the noble steed of green, and I am glad that having blankie along made him seem less ferocious. So glad Pippy is getting to experience the outdoors more.
I am with Piper on the grass thing. I am 34 and cannot stand to walk in grass bare footed. My son, who is 4, has no problem with it and although it makes me cringe, I let him do it because I don’t want to pass on my “quirks” to him! Piper is a girl after my own heart!
Great pictures! I’m glad you had a nice Mother’s Day with your family. Thanks for sharing.
I gained five pounds just reading your doughnut adventure. Oh wait, maybe that was my adventure with cookies last night. Yeah. More likely.
You do realize you are waaaaay ahead of the OT in the Piper department, right? Vestibular system, bouncy horse. Plus, that bouncy horse doubles as hippotherapy! So awesome. Sensory stimulation? Totally covered by the grass. And, YES, it’s really better for her than eating her vegetables. It really is.
Mamma’s always right.
Happy Mother’s Day to you! Piper is a cutie and I love the picture of the two of you together snuggled on the chair…priceless.
I too am a doughnut lover. Next time you’re in Utah you have to venture up to Salt Lake and get some from Banbury Cross and Beyond Glaze! Two of the most amazing doughnut shops in the state!
Happy Mother’s Day! Glad you had a great one with your baby. She is just precious and totally rocks those shades.
Being from the south, I really appreciated your use of “Y’all.”
I just keep liking you more and more.
I love all these pictures. I’m so jealous you got to go to the doughnut plant. I wanted to go on saturday but it never happened. We had too much going on. Violet would go ape-wild over that horse! What an awesome find. Piper looks like such a big girl walking barefoot through the grass. So amazing.
I love everything about this post. Donuts, the steed, grass on Pip’s toes… amazing. Happy Mother’s Day!
What a great post, that little Pip is just the cutest
My daughter is trached, but not vented, and has the same issues with grass. My theory is that it is because she can’t taste or smell with a trach so she is extra touch sensory sensitive. My daughter is a lover of the sun glasses too. Love the pictures.
I love this little girl (not in weird way…just love seeing her joy and expressions).
i love that pic of you holding her hand. her facial expression is all “fine, but I want you to know this is NOT ok.” she is like a teenager
The pics with Pip are so cute! I’m glad you can go outside now, , it looks so nice. Yummy donuts!
I hope you have a long cool spring so you can have many more outside play days. Barefoot in the grass, what a wonderful thing.
dude seriously, those sandals are the cutest things ever on her pippy toes!! happy belated mothers day
i dont even live in ny and the dougnut plant has been on my list of things to do. im coming up next may to get married (!!) and we are totally going.
Reagan,
I don’t know you but I really enjoy your blog and found you via CJane’s blog. I’m not Mormon and I live in Maryland. I was listening to NPR today and heard this interview and I thought you might be able to relate…check it out:
http://www.npr.org/2011/05/10/136137429/a-fathers-quest-to-help-his-severely-disabled-son
Lynn
I love the pictures. Happy Mother’s Day Reagan. You are one of the best moms ever.
–Mari
Oh my freaking freak! That horse is the coolest thing I’ve ever seen. And that Pip! BAH! That’s it! We have to plan a playdate or I might explode. She’s looking so much bigger and more grown up. She’s gonna be four so soon.
Now I need a doughnut…
And HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY to one of the coolest, happiest, funnest, lovingest mommas I know.
Oh my gosh, that green cow? is seriously the perfect size!! So cute. Love all these photos. The cuddle photo is the best.
And Doughnut Plant is amazing.
You look SO pretty without makeup! The first two photos of you are gorgeous. (Please don’t read into this-you look pretty with makeup too.) Maybe I just really noticed those first shots because of the yummy doughnuts
That sounds like a perfect Mother’s Day!
Hi Reagan! what a wonderful mothers day…I love your mothers day outfit..could you break it down where everything is from???
I loooooove the Doughnut Plant! They recently opened one in Chelsea about a 10 minute walk from my office and we take little snack breaks to go there every couple weeks. The tres leches and the blackout (both cake doughnuts) are to die for.
@Reagan:
oh good! so glad you have it covered! =)
The picture of you sitting with and embracing your Pip is precious and priceless. She is a little angel. Happy Mother’s Day to you!
you look like Taylor Swift in the first picture of you wth the doughnut.
It freaked me out at first!
Happy Mothers Day!