Happiness

"All this for three hours at the beach?!?" piled into the double BOB I got on cragslist for a steal.  And the photo is blurry because I dare not have him stop as I ran ahead for he may change his mind about trying to get it all into the car.

Happiness

Digging. Icing on the cake:  digging holes and then sitting in them.

Expanding vocabulary

Heard on the playground at the beach:

Freddie:  Let's get under here.  We'll be camouflaged from those guys.

Jersey Shore-esque Mama:  Well, aren't you a smawty pants.  Did you hear him Panther?  

Yes, her four year old's name was Panther.

*****************

This morning in the kitchen:

Freddie:  Look at my picture, Mom.  It's a green parrot camouflaged in the jungle looking for his email.

Thankfully Charlie was able to translate.  He meant he was looking for his "female."  National Geographic videos provide lots of vocabulary words and vocabulary mix ups.  I wonder how long until we'll be discussing animals looking for "females."

Sick Visit

for my records...

Hans has been "off" the last few days.  He has been cranky and not eating much.  I chalked it up to teething, and he's been getting regular doses of ibuprofen.  This morning he refused to nurse and was lethargic.  Hands have been in his mouth, he's tugging on his ears, his diapers are pretty gross, and he seems irritated and in pain, as opposed to just uncomfortable.  After nap he had a temperature of 101.6. 

I ran him over to Dr. G so she could give him a look after her last appointment this evening just to make sure he didn't have an ear infection  His congestion which began in late February is finally just now clearing so I wondered about a secondary infection.

She checked his ears and throat.  No signs of infection although his throat does look red and swollen so it's probably the source of his pain.  Mama isn't feeling well this evening either. 

Happiness

A fort in the living room with "all the guys"hanging out, scheming.

New York Hall of Science

This past weekend we visited the New York Hall of Science in Queens.  It is a short drive (but longer train ride) from our house.  

It's a science museum of sorts with lots of hands on activities demonstrating various principles of science.  It would be a great place to take a science class field trip, but was a bit over our boys' heads.  That's not to say that all three boys didn't enjoy poking around and trying out the various exhibits. We're going to a *SCIENCE* museum today!

There was a toddler area with several props for imaginative play, a train set, building supplies, and a reading corner.  

We definitely need a cash register added to our bin of props at home.

Freddie's favorite was the outdoor playground.  (Sorry, no pictures as I was feeding Hans.) It is a good place to run and climb and the equipment demonstrates various principles of science. 

I think we'll wait and go back to this one in a few years (when we visit NYC...wink).

Tips in case you'd like to visit:

• Parking is $10, but we were able to find street parking.  Considering a round trip subway ride is about $5 per person, it may be worth it to drive...and driving is always an experience with the sights, sounds, and smells changing block by clock as you make your way through neighborhoods.
• Admission is $11 for adults and $8 for children, but if you arrive between 10-11am on Sundays, admission is free.  I have a voucher that expires in early June for admission for a family of 4.  Leave a comment and I'd be happy to email it to you.
• There is a "cafe" but if it is a nice day, pack a picnic lunch.  The museum is located on the edge of Flushing Meadows Corona Park. 

45 Weeks

Do we have to do this now?

I was thinking you may be a late walker, but you've really been insisting on standing most of the time lately.  Not only are you working to pull up onto things but when I attempt to put you down you stiffen your legs to let me know I need to place you standing next to something.  I've even seen you shuffle back and forth along the couch.

I'd rather look at Freddie.

You're also calling for "Mama" and meaning you want me! It tends to be when you're whiny, but I'll take it!

I am thinking your next word will be "Freddie" or something of the sort.  You'll probably get more use out of his name than any other word you learn.  I can hear it now:  Freddie, stop it.  Freddie, wait for me.  Freddie, move over.  Freddie, give that back.

You are initiating play, handing me things and instructing me what to do with them.  You'll give me a scarf and then lean over for it to be placed on your head for peekaboo.  You'll grab my hands and clap with them for patty cake.

You fuss when I don't pick up the book you want to hear and giggle when I finally get the right one.

You've been with us for almost a year.  I looked at you sprawled across my lap last night waiting to be nursed and you were so long.  So big.  Where did that little bitty baby go.  I cannot believe how fast this year has gone by.

Lovin'

No, Hans, hold the baby like this!

• Parenting lessons between brothers
• Mornings off
• Sand in little pockets
• Chicken salad
• Beach plans
• Cloud cover
• Torani syrups in my coffee
• Sandals
• Random (frequent) requests to move to New Orleans
• Random (infrequent) requests to move to Texas (to see Ian)
• Tiny fingers pointing

Botanist

Sprouting seeds is an exciting event for this science guy.  We've got a little window garden going.  Freddie selected peas and zinnias to plant, as well as some cilantro for Dada.  A few red beans were added because they grow so quickly.  We'll pull up the beans in a few days so we can investigate the root system.  I love how enthusiastic he is about watching the seedlings grow.  Well, he's actually that enthusiastic about everything and it's contagious.  

Swim Lessons

Sorry, but no one is allowed on the pool deck so this phone photo from the window upstairs is the best I could do.

Freddie began swim lessons this week.  He did well despite being more than a little timid around the water.  The water was chilly and his teeth chattered almost the entire time.  He blew bubbles, jumped in, kicked his legs and had a good time. 

It is a program through the NYC Parks and Recreation Department.  As with everything in the city, it was an interesting mix of people, and all were city folks with little experience in the water.  There are 8 weekly lessons.  I've been on the hunt for (convenient) swim lessons for toddlers but I haven't really found much; even private lessons nearby seem hard to find.

Lessons are at a recreation center near Midtown, just south of the tram so it is pretty convenient.  There are a few pools on the island that the boys may have to visit to log some hours in the water practicing.  

Lovin'

Enid A Haupt Glass Garden

• Discovering playgrounds, especially those with bunnies!
• Watering plants
• Little hands gripping cobs of corn
• Piles of laundry COMPLETELY put away
• Trumpet of the Swan
• Teacher observations and notes
• Evenings with Charlie
• Beach towels
• Big strollers
• Animal crackers

44 Weeks

10 Months!

Pictures with the both of you are nearly impossible

Appearance:

• A little more hair, maybe
• A new tooth; that makes three on top and four on the bottom.  Another will be here next week I believe.
• Thunder thighs
• About 28 inches and 21 pounds
• Brown eyed with long lashes

Diet:

• Eating less
• Drinking more milk, 10-15 oz per day from a cup
• Nursing twice a day, morning and night
• Three meals a day
• Loves cheese
• Eats whatever we're eating

Likes:

• Singing songs before nap.  You'll do your version of the motions for the Itsy Bitsy Spider.
• Reading books.  You giggle and point to the pictures.
• Freddie, and anything he has you want.  I must say the reverse is true as well.
• Bathtime!  So much fun to have Dada and Freddie's complete attention.

Dislikes:

• Diaper changes are totally a waste of time in your book.  You gotta go!

Vocabulary:

• No new "words" but still a communicator
• Lift arms up to be picked up
• Beginning to point as a request
• Waving lots and saying "ba-ba", even if it is just as your scoot on by me in the kitchen on your way to catch up to Freddie.
• Animal sounds.  You will do a "moo" and a bark when we are looking at pictures of animals.

Making sense of the world:

• You will pick up your socks or shoes and then reach for your feet as if you are trying to get them on.
• You put hats on top of your head.
• You will put spoons in the pots and pans and "mix."  You still like the sounds, but there is a difference in your approach when you are using them to make noise and when you are imitating what you see. 

Personality:

• Rather easy going
• Becoming more outgoing
• Observant
• Cautious

Working on:

• Standing.  You are very brave and will let go of my hands to clap.  You are pulling up but aren't sure how to get back down.  
• Crawling.  I see you up on your knees, especially in the crib, but I am pretty sure you'll skip conventional crawling and get right to walking.
• Sounds.  You imitate all of the sounds we make or at least you try.  I love watching your mouth as you try to get just the right sound out.

Walker

We're seeing some movement on two feet!  He climbs up and moves with purpose across the room.  The problem comes when he's ready to sit back down and isn't sure what to do.  Freddie usually grabs him around the waist and plops him down.  

Raising Boys

Male chauvinist in the making?

 
Since you were wondering, I did not wipe his heinie, nor have I shown him girls are capable of riding bikes.  Charlie said he was surprised I didn't march right back down to school, dragging Freddie by his ear to find out who had peppered my baby's mind with such foolishness.  I can't say I wasn't tempted.  But I did plainly tell him everything he said was just silly, and girls can do anything boys can do. 

We don't live in a bubble.  Actually very far from it in New York City.  Thankfully.  With diversity comes assholes those with differing views about women, politics, prayer, football, bacon.  I try to model tolerance of vegetarians, really I do. 

Freddie learns all sorts of interesting tidbits from his peers, especially those with older siblings.  The mere mention of poopoo sends him into hysterics lately and he's been making special trips to the bathroom to use "potty words" since that is the only place I'll allow them.

In retaliation, we have been practicing hard core football talk around here...The Dirty Birds are going down on Sunday!  Who Dat!  I can only imagine <hope> what Freddie is passing on to his preschool buds.

In all fairness, Freddie is picking up on differences without any help from his peers.  Why don't girls have penises?  Why is Peyton all brown?  Why is that guy in a wheelchair?  So it makes sense he's making observations and coming to conclusions about boys and girls on his own.  (Although I assure you I have the skills to wipe my own heinie, so that was not based on direct observation.)  And we run what appears to be fairly patriarchal style home; Charlie goes to work, makes the trips to Home Depot, talks science and I cook supper, change diapers, and eat bonbons.  As he gets older he'll learn the complexities of marriage, running a household, compromise, and discover who is really in charge around here.

I try to answer all questions very simply.  I also talk about how back in the day Mommy was a teacher and she knows a whole lot of things.  Now that I know such gender differences are on his radar I'll probably point out the female construction workers, chic bassists, and mommy scientists as well as the male ballet dancers, stay at home dads, and dudes wearing pink.  And for as traditional as our household may appear to run, Freddie is also a witness to Charlie taking a good smackdown in Scrabble from Mama on a regular basis.

Jamming

It felt very ironic to be sitting in the Rose Hall at the Lincoln Center waiting for a performance entitled "What is New Orleans Jazz" with my little southern family.  While I prefer to hear my music on the street, that's hard to come by these days, so I wanted to take full advantage of the children's concert series offered by the Lincoln Center.  Unfortunately, this was the only one of three family concerts focusing on Jazz we were able to attend.  

The boys enjoyed it.  Hans, however LOVED it.

I cried, of course.  The opening song, Second Line (This is *really* street music, y'all) made me so very homesick, especially knowing we'll be missing Jazzfest next week.  There was lots of head bopping and clapping from the four of us, and smiles exchanged between Charlie and me as we watched the boys.  Charlie made a mental list of songs needing to be added to Freddie's iPod. 

As always there was a lesson for Freddie from the concert:  the blinking lights in the lobby mean it's time to return to your seat before the show begins.  I do love how the boys take something away from every experience.  I am thankful we're able to expose them to so much.  I'm also thankful New Orleans is always there, and she doesn't really change much.

Lessons from school

Thursday, immediately after school, 3.05 pm

Mama:  Freddie, do you need a heinie wipe?

Freddie:  You are a girl and you probably can't do it or know the right things. You can't even ride big bikes like Dada does or wipe your hienie. You are just a girl and girls don't know things.

43 Weeks

You're a hunk of love, my dear.  And you're getting very chatty, talking up a storm.  You and Freddie seem to get little conversations going and you're really getting good at mimicking his sounds. 

You have dropped down to just two nursings now, and your milk drinking is picking up.  I think you're a little bothered by not having that midday nursing.  Hopefully you'll adjust in the next couple of days.

I think your weight is creeping up but you seem to be holding around 20lbs.  You're getting stronger and continue to work on pulling yourself up and I am beginning to see you shuffle a step or two along the furniture.

You are wearing size 12-18 month clothing, the clothes Freddie wore last summer. 

I see you dancing quite a bit, bouncing up and down and clapping along to the music.  Freddie gets a kick out of this and always joins you.

You also laugh, a grunty sort of chuckle, at stories.  It makes all of us smile.  Thank you for that, love.

Lovin'

• New pajamas
• Sprouting seeds
• Concerts with the boys
• Open windows
• Pink cheeks
• Sun hats
• Encouraging messages
• Memories of my grandmother
• Requests to call for "Doodlebug"
• The Empire Pass
• An empty dishwasher, as in emptied by someone other than me

A Date!

This weekend Freddie and I went on a date.  It was just the two of us for the afternoon.

We went to the New York Pops tribute to Jim Henson at Carnegie Hall.  It was my first outing with one of the boys that didn't involve a diaper bag or a stroller, and my it made life easier.  Freddie needs a little more practice traveling without the stroller.  I heard "hold me" a few times, but overall he did great.

He enjoyed the concert even though he was a restless when the the tribute involved folks talking for a little too long about Jim Henson.  The Muppets and Sesame Street characters were all in attendance.  He wasn't familiar with all of the music, but hearing Ernie sing Rubber Ducky brought a big smile.  I think watching the conductor was his favorite part.  He also like ordering a Shirley Temple and a cookie from the bartender.

Afterwards he chose to have milkshakes and french fries.  By the end of the day his outfit had little drips of evidence of everything he'd eaten, and I was smiling as I was able to look into his eyes as he spoke nonstop for the entire afternoon even through the ten minutes he talked about the dead mosquito on the rim of the toilet.  Thank goodness for that because now I know where his questions about death since then are coming from as he's brought up that mosquito no less than 20 times in the last 48 hours.

Charlie and I have decided spending some one on one time with each boy is something we'd like to make a priority.  It certainly is something I think Freddie craves, and I miss being able to focus just on him.  I get two days a week with Hans while Freddie is in school and I am working on sitting with him rather than rushing around the house at mach speeds trying to take care of business. Freddie was very concerned about what was happening at home without him, and for now I assured him it was just naps.  He's very much insistent on having activities without Hans and this begins the lesson of Hans having activities without Freddie.  Good lessons all around.

Fly away home

7 days from arrival we had chrysalises and 11 days after that we had 5 butterflies.  Freddie liked examining the empty chrysalises after we released the butterflies.  Perfect spring science lesson.  We're now onto rooting some seeds.  The teacher in me is coming out.  Poor, poor Freddie.