Lovin'

Checking out Gus, the polar bear.

• Quiet mornings at the zoo just as it opens
• Reading book after book after book to H-man, the requests are never ending
• Hugs, from both boys, as they scurry past me on their way to the next activity
• Squeals of delight and then a loud "Who Dat!" upon spotting a fluer de lis in the city
• Curls
• Craft projects
• "How do you spell ......?"
• A raised hand to answer questions at preschool story hour at the library on Friday afternoons
• Flannel pajamas
• Underwater swimming
• New recipes
• Fall leaves, the color, the crunching
• Pizza nights
• Warm boots

Brothers

Nothing makes me happier.

Chicken Potpie

It was yummy, and perfect on a cold day.  Hans *loved* it.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup diced potato
• 3/4 cup sliced carrots
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 stick butter
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 3/4 cup milk
• 2 cups cooked chicken
• 1/2 cup frozen peas
• 1/2 cup frozen corn
• Pie crust, top and bottom, I recommend deep dish

Directions:

1. Boil potatoes and carrots for 8-10 minutes.  You don't want them mushy, just tender. Drain and set aside.
2. Saute onion in butter until translusecent.  Stir in flour.  Be careful it doesn't clump.  
3. Gradually stir in broth and milk, and allow to thicken over low heat for 2-3 minutes.
4. Add chicken and vegetables, and salt and pepper to taste.
5. Pour into crust, and cover with a second crust.
6. Bake 30-45 minutes.
7. Allow to cool for 15-20 minutes before slicing.

I think next time I may try to make individual pies. Also, if I were to do this again, I'd probably make enough for two pies and freeze one.

Curly?

 

I'm hopeful!

The Scene: Monday through Friday at 5.30pm

Bear Mountain Bike Ride

Cooler temperatures mean our weekly beach trips will be replaced by cycling!  Saturday we drove an hour outside of the city to bear Mountain State Park.  The park has several hiking trails, including part of the Appalachian Trail passing through.

There was a short path around the lake, that included some ups and downs on hills.  With 31 extra pounds on my bike, I needed an extra push from hikers.  Maybe we should try the hiking trails, but I'm not sure how far I could manage with one of the boys in a back carrier.

We had a picnic lunch and played at the playground, rode the pedal boats, and took a few rides on the carousel. 

It was a long hard day.

It's always nice to get out of the city.

Lab results

Hans' lab results:

• Hemoglobin:  12 gm/dL (normal is 11 to 13 gm/dL)
• Lead: 3 micgrograms/dL (According to CDC, above 5 is reason for concern.)

He'll need another lead test before entering school in NY State, but we'll do another in a few months.  

The results were emailed to me after being inputted by the lab.  I *really* like this feature of Dr. G's set up. 

Lovin

He cried if I took them off!

• Goggles
• A warm pool 
• Recipes with apples
• French onion soup
• Phone calls from friends
• Costumes
• Tea parties
• Parties
• A new cozy sweater
• Boys in fuzzy fleece
• Pumpkins
• Craft projects
• Fireman hats at the playground

Vaccination Visit

Dr. G scheduled us before her first appointment, since it was just one shot and I promised I'd be happy with a quickie visit.  Perfect.  Freddie, however, had other ideas.  His need to chit chat probably made the appointment longer than she expected, but she let him talk as long as his heart desired.

Vaccinations:

• Influenza for Freddie

No tears.  He just asked a few questions about the flu through the process.

Hans' lab results weren't available yet.  

Conquering Fears: The Rock Wall

He's still very much afraid of heights, but is determined to not let that interfere with keeping up on the playground. Even now that he'll climb to the top, he will not stand on the platform at the top without me, and even then he's ready to get off as soon as his feet are solidly on the platform. 

Make A Plate

Did you love doing these in elementary school?  I know I made one although I'm not sure what ever became of it.  When I found the kits on clearance I stocked up thinking it would be a good "craft" for a rainy day.  Freddie asks to do one every time he sees the boxes in his closet, so I finally pulled one out the other day.

We first made a plan:

• We talked about seasons and he chose a theme:  Winter.
• We made a list of all the things that remind him of winter.
• I read him the list and he decided what he wanted to draw:  a tree with ornaments, stars, and our family.  

Viola.

Red, Orange, and yellow circle-ish shapes are the stars on top the tree.

 He asked me to write Merry Christmas, and he wrote his name.

Here I am.

Mama is orange, Freddie is yellow

After drawing my arms, the horizontal lines, he made two dots for my eyes where you'd think the hands would be.  He paused and said, "You look like a hammerhead shark, Mama."  Yep, sure do.  Eventually he'll get the right placement for all appendages and body parts.

Freddie was excited to see his finished plate when it arrived in the mail.  I love this plate.  I will be waiting for another sale to get a few more kits, and think doing a plate each year as a family tradition (Over Thanksgiving perhaps) is something we'll start.

Some information you might find helpful:

• Inside the kit are circular papers, five of them, and some washable markers.  Draw on the papers with the markers provided and send it in to make your plate.
• Use any washable markers if you'd like more color variety.
• The kit includes a "voucher" for the cost of creating the plate.  You must include $4 for shipping.
• Since there are five papers you can send in all five to be made into plates. The voucher covers the cost of the first plate and each additional plate is about $8 plus $4 shipping. 
• Teacher kits are available.  There are 50 sheets, and each plate is $6, and I imagine a shipping charges on top of that.
• Plates are dishwasher safe.  The are NOT microwave safe. 

Cuddles

Makes me forgot about all the screaming and fighting and pushing and pulling 30 seconds prior.

Vaccination Visit

Hans saw Dr. G this morning.

Vaccinations:

• Varicella
• Influenza

He also had a lead test.  Just a finger prick and lots of tear (although there weren't any tears for the shots.)  NY requires two lead tests for school admission.  Although I think our risk, living in a new building, is relatively low, I still have concerns since we live in an urban area.  We'll ask about the results on Monday when we're in there for Freddie's flu shot.

Next visit (for Hans) is his 18 month well visit and he'll get his last dose of Hep A.

I love you more.

Mama:  I love you, Freddie.  I love you big as the world.

Freddie:  I love you to the top of the lighthouse, as deep as the volcano, *and* as big as the world.  I love you so, so much, Mommy.

Fall in the Northeast

It's fall.  Time for soup, cute sweaters, and apple picking. 

This year we headed to New Jersey to pick apples at Riamede Farm.  We visited a different orchard this year, so things were a little different but I took my advice from last year and wore sneakers and we made sure to get a wagon. 

Apple orchards are plentiful in these parts and the "attractions" at each varies.  We opted to skip any farms with bounce houses and corn mazes, although it was tempting because Freddie would have loved every minute.  But the reality is the event of picking apples is quite a bit for one day so we decided just to focus on picking and enjoying the crisp fall weather. 

There was a "hay ride" out to the back of the orchard so we opted to take a ride (more than once).

Several varieties of apples were available for picking, but we mostly got Macoun and a few King David (an heirloom apple). Of course those varieties were pretty well picked, so the boys had to work hard to get some apples. 

This orchard didn't have pole pickers, and that's probably for the best because it definitely limited the amount of apples we were willing to pick.  We ended up coming home with about 50 apples after filling the half bushel bag.  That's a lot of apples, folks. 

While Freddie and Charlie picked, H-man rode in style and chowed down.  (I think this may be a recurrent theme in H-man's life.)

The pumpkin patch was also open so we set out in search of the perfect pumpkin(s).  Freddie wanted "two or ten pumpkins."

There were several varieties of gourds but we ended up going for two smallish pumpkins. Small is relative.

And we couldn't leave without picking a few cherry and grape tomatoes. 

The tomatoes were beautiful and made me smile!

After paying for our half bushel of apples, two pumpkins, and half pound of tomatoes we made a stop in the store for the best part of picking at the orchard...

...Apple cider donuts!

We enjoyed a picnic lunch, sunshine, and country living at a nearby park...

 before making a long quiet drive back home to the city.

 

Perfect fall day.

 

Tips for next trip:

•  Not all cider donuts are created equal!  The donuts we had this year were exceptional compared to those from last year.
• Always get the wagon.  Even if I had brought the stroller into the orchard, the wagon is good for lugging apples and pumpkins.  The boys loved riding in the wagon.
• Go early in the season for the honeycrisps.  That's my favorite variety and apparently they are available early in the season and not every orchard offers them.  Check picking schedules in August to plan for a September trip.  This year apples were ready early because of the unusual weather.  My other favorite, fujis, are available in mid to late October.
• Bring lots of cash.  We spent about $45 on apples, pumpkins, and tomatoes. Apples were pricier this year, but it's easy to get $45 worth no matter the cost.  There's something about filling up that bag.
• Pick Your Own is a good place to start when looking for an orchard.  Then check yelp, facebook, and websites to get an idea of what's going on at each farm, the price of admission, varieties available.

15 Months

Appearance:

• You seem blonder and blonder each day
• Little curls in the back, that will most likely be gone after your first haircut.  Thankfully that is a while away.
• 10 teeth.  Those top molars are out, and there are two on the bottom trying to cut through.
• You're wearing a range of sizes, but 18-24 months seems best, but 2T works as well.  I am not sure I am ready for you and Freddie to both be in the same size though.
• Possibly slimming down.  Possibly.
• Freddie has reported more than once that you are getting fur.  On your back. 

Vocabulary:

• Bye bye, puppy
• Hi, puppy
• Wa wa (Water) we've heard it before but you are using it lots lately.  You will use it to request water or to show me the water in the river, drain, water fountain, tub
• Yeah!  And you shake your head "yes" along with it.  You are answering "yes" more often than "no" lately.  
• Uh-oh 
• Hot, as in the food is hot. It sounds like "Ha" and then you blow on your food. 
• You put your finger on your lips and say "Shhhhh."  The entire childcare center is dark and everyone is napping when we pick Freddie up in the afternoons, so you loves to "Shhhhh" as we walk back to Freddie's classroom.
• "Thank you" but it sounds more like you're humming it.  It has the same intonations of my "Thank you."
• Whoa.  I hear this when you stumble or tumble.
• Wow!  Love when you say this when you are exploring a new toy.
• Today I the orchard I heard "apple" a few times.
• Poo poo.  You'll often come to me and say "poo poo" and tug on your diaper.  You also will say it over and over and over while I am changing a dirty diaper. 
• You UNDERSTAND just about everything, and can follow directions, even some two step directions.  I can ask you to go get a toy and put it away....and you do it!  When I ask if you want to go get Freddie from school you say, "Yeah" and open the front door and head down the hall.  

Making sense of the world:

• More and more pretending.  You carry on long phone conversations.
• You pretend to eat and cook in the kitchen.
• You hug, kiss, and rock your baby.
• You comb your hair, my hair, your baby's hair.
•  When others cry, you are very interested in what is going on and watch to see how things are going to be handled.
• You wave to everyone and everything.  I love this phase.

Motor Skills:

• Lots, and lots, and lots of walking.  I just follow you around.
• You reach out for help going down the stairs.  You're getting better.
• Stooping to pick things up and crouching down to examine things
• Scribbling, sometimes on the walls.  Sigh.
• Overhand throw of balls and sticks and rocks.  You love to toss back and forth with Freddie.
• Now that we've started wearing sweaters and fleece, you've figured out how to get your arms out and you're working on getting it off of your head. 
• Consistently using your fork, and working well with a spoon.
• Lots of dancing!

Likes:

• Eating
• Reading.  You bring Dada and I books all the time then plop down next to us for a listen.  If i ask if you want another you respond with a "Yea" and head off to return that one and come back with another.
• Playing rough with Freddie.
• Walking around exploring and splashing in puddles.
• Zooming down the slide
• Screaming, especially if Freddie echos your call.

Dislikes:

• Diaper changes
• Getting dressed, although you are starting to help more with getting dressed by offering your arms, legs, or feet.
• When I ask if you are ready for bed you say "Noooooooo" and run in the other direction.

Sleep:

• 7am-6.45am
• Napping once in the afternoon, 12-2.30, but we're going to start trying to push this back to 1.00pm so you can participate in some music classes.
• You're cuddling with a teddy bear for sleep lately.  I call him "Teddy."  Pretty creative, eh?  He was a teddy hanging around in one of the toy bins.  I am desperately searching ebay for a back up. 

Getting involved with the group

Personality:

• Your "tantrums" are lessening.  I think my firm stands have been effective, although it is definitely hard to walk away from you when you are having a fit.  
• I call you anti-social, but that's not true really.  You are definitely more shy than Freddie was at this age.  You'll hold my hand or sit in my lap for a while when we go to play group before exploring.
• Having Freddie allows you some confidence interacting with groups of kids.  You'll wiggle into any group of kid Freddie is busy playing with.
• You'll hug Freddie's teachers goodbye.  I was surprised to see this!  For a while you'd only offer a "bye" and a wave but now you'll lean in for a hug on our way out the door.