Boys...

Balance (and Speed!)

He's coasting all over on his balance bike, and the plan is to ask Santa for a two wheeler with pedals. He's fearless and will cruise down hills without braking at all. I think the transition to a bike will be easy, although I can hardly believe my baby is ready for a big boy bike!

Vote!

We went as a family this morning to vote.  It took some extra wrangling to get everyone bundled up and on our way before school and work, but it was worth the extra effort to have Freddie along.  We talked about democracy, the job of a president, and our responsibility to pick the person we felt represented our values. 

 
Voting in New York City among a diverse group of citizens is a reminder as jaded as I may become about politics in the United States I have rights many will never know.

And for the record, it was my first time using a paper ballot, and as someone with a post graduate degree I found it very confusing.  The fact that I needed to use the magnifying glass provided compounded the issue! 

The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze

We drove north to the Hudson Valley to visit The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze at Van Cortland Manor.

Thousands of pumpkins are carved and create an amazing display.  I only took a few pictures with my phone, which give a very small peek at how amazing the display it. 

The boys were a bit scared at first, mostly due to the spooky music, but eventually relaxed and enjoyed picking our the shapes in the pumpkins.

It is a beautiful area, and a nice drive, so I image we'll be doing this again next year.  And I'm a little surprised there isn't something similar in NOLA. 

He had a teeny lick, and then shook his head "no."

Oh, and Charlie was even able to get pumpkin pie, and neither of the boys liked it so he didn't even have to share. Figures.  If Mama liked pumpkin pie I'd probably end up with only one bite. 

Workshop

Home Depot offers kids' workshops each month.  Conveniently, there is a Home Depot just steps from the tram in Manhattan.

Hard at work

 Freddie and Charlie headed out Saturday morning and returned home with a Turkey Napkin Holder.

Waiting for the tram with his goods.  He had to pick up some zipties for his toolbox too.

Freddie was very proud, but it was obvious his favorite part was the Home Depot apron.  He also got a pin, a merit badge of sorts, that shows an image of the napkin holder.

Hope Depot provides all of the supplies.  This project included pre-cut wood, screws, paints, and decals.  I think next month both boys will be suited up in orange aprons. 

Let me know if you check out the workshops in your area!

Freddie Writes

I spelled, he wrote.  No help needed with these letters.

I hear lots of "How do you spell?"  It is a pretty constant question.  Mostly he's just interested in matching letters to letter sounds but now I'm starting to see that interest shift to his desire to actually wanting to know spelling to write. 

He knows how to write most of the letters and the ones he isn't sure of he finds the letter somewhere to copy.  I am trying to teach him a letter formation, but most of the time he's too stubborn to even look in my direction if he's intent on writing something "important."

Halloween

Trick or treating was postponed in our building, as was Freddie's school parade and party.  We passed on invitations to join friends in other buildings since we've had a big dose of Halloween and parties and sugar over the past week.  The boys kept the costume momentum going regardless. 

Sharing Skittles

 

We have another Halloween themed event this weekend, and fingers crossed our upcoming travel plans don't interfere with the rescheduled Halloween events.  These boys love any excuse to get dressed up and "party."

Party Highlights

The boys have been busy with parties over the past few days.  They've been simple get-togethers, but calling it a party and throwing in costumes, glow sticks, and music made it all pretty special.

Darkness + Glow Sticks = Toddler Bliss

The preschool crowd appreciated some dancing music...

Hurricane Magnet

 

This is our second hurricane in our two years in NYC.  I suppose the Northeast wants to make us feel at home.  Only thing is, it actually makes me home sick.  Yup.  That howling wind is meant bend banana trees onto your window and the porch swing creak.

There were a few downed trees in our area and minimal flooding in some buildings.  We watched the Queensboro Bridge go dark and the East River creep up, but we didn't lose power or have any damage.  

It's interesting to not have to fiddle with the generator or tune up the chain saw post hurricane.  Although Charlie will tell you he *loves* that about apartment living, I think the man may stop by Home Depot tomorrow just to stroll the generator aisle.

No subway service yet, and it may be some time before it is restored because of flooding in some tunnels.  Regardless, we're back to routine, and out in the crisp winter-ish air that arrived with the hurricane. 

Warming Up

Hans is definitely cautious, and far more serious than Freddie. I've been taking just Hans to music classes and he isn't quite the fan of them the way Freddie had been. He usually sits on my lap for the first 20 minutes before he decides he's going to loosen up, smile, and dance a little. Even with Freddie along it took some warming up before he finally got up to shake it at a library performance we attended.

Scenes from the Weekend

Fire engines and face painting...

There were sobs when he realized the paint had to come off at bath time.

Pumpkins, pumpkins, pumpkins...

He demonstrated faces, and Charlie did a pretty good job replicating the look!

 Costumes and crafts...

Bounce houses and cotton candy...

Joy!

Tram rides and lunch dates to prepare for the hurricane...

H-Man can now stand and see out of the windows of the tram!

Demystifying Lenny's.  Among the questions Freddie asks Charlie at dinner, right after "How's Chris?" (the boss) comes "How was lunch at Lenny's?"  (A lab lunch spot.)

Renaissance Man

Checking out the rope selection, along with a balloon he got from an employee.

He asked for help getting his baby in a carrier.  After "Flower" was strapped on we were off to Home Depot to look for some "rope to use for rescuing" since he did not have any in his toolbox.  Definitely a necessity in any man's toolbox.

Freddie got more than his usual dose of interaction with folks on the Upper East Side with that baby in tow.  There were lots of smiles and questions about his baby,  and two recurrent comments directed towards me:  "He's going to make a wonderful father."  and "He must have a wonderful father as a role model." 

You *can* have it all. 

Conquering Fears: Face Underwater

He's doing well with putting his face underwater for extended periods of time when just playing in the pool. He'll dive for things on the bottom, have "tea parties," and jump in, but he still struggles to feel totally confident swimming with his face underwater.  He still prefers to swim with his flippers...need for speed!  And now he has a little posse of buds at the pool who have flippers as well.  

Lovin'

• Autumn, or "Audubon" as Freddie calls it
• Mornings in Central Park
• Brothers playing *quietly*
• 5 parties in 6 days (not sure I love this, but I am thankful my boys have a so many groups of friends.)
• Music classes with H-Man
• Winter pool visits
• Bagels and cream cheese
• Cupcakes
• Halloween stories from the library
• Surprises in the mail from a fairy godmother
• Freddie asking Hans "How was baby group?  Did you see your friends?"

16 Months

Appearance:

• A curly tuft on the back of your head
• A round belly, rotund may actually be a better descriptor
• Pigeon toes (Between the belly and the toes, it's a wonder you're able to stand upright.)
• 14 teeth.  We're waiting on one more molar and one more canine to poke through before you get a little break with teething.   They're almost out. 
• Size 6.5 shoe
• Size 18-24 months or 2T clothes, wearing Freddie's wardrobe from last winter

Vocabulary:

• This has been a big month for new vocabulary words.  I am amazed by how big your vocabulary is, and wonder if you'll out talk your brother at supper.I also think this is probably the last month I'll be able to keep track of all your new words.  Every day brings several new words.
• You repeat everything I say and try to say it on your own.
• You are talking/babbling in such a way that I can tell what you say by the intonations.  Your saying "thank you" is one such example, but I am noticing that your babbles are sounding more and more like phrases you hear...."I love you" and "Bless you" are two that I know you are saying for sure.
• Treat! And he usually says it with a big smile and clapping his hands...Treat! Treat! Treat!  Just in time for Halloween.
• Cheese, as in cheese to eat and cheesing for the camera.  You pretend to take pictures and say "cheese" when you get the camera in focus.
• Up, as in going "up" in the elevator, up the stairs, and pick me up.  But my favorite is when you say "up" and make a motion as though you are jumping but your feet don't leave the ground.
• Open
• Bike
• Hi!
• Baby.  You picked this one up really quickly with all of the older kids pointing you out as "baby" in music class. You ask for your baby and point to your baby often. 
• Apple.  Sounds like "Apple, apple, apple, apple, apple..." until someone gives you an apple.  And it is so very sad when we're all out of apples. 
• Rock.  You are a collector of rocks!
• Ball.  We're hearing this one more, and you'll ask for the ball when it is out of sight. 
• Toe 
• Duck
• Animal
• Animal sounds:  Quack, oink, moo, who who, woof woof.  You saw meow every time you see a cat
• Guy, as in his little figurines we call "guys"
• Soccer
• Bubbles, as in blowing bubbles in the water at the pool
• Help

Motor:

• You can drink from a cup...if you want to.  Usually you drink what's in the cup when given to you, but sometimes you decide to dump it just for the fun of it.  I usually offer you a small glass of water or milk with meals and if you dump it out comes the sippy.
• You are really working on going up and down stairs without help or even without holding on.  You certainly aren't strong enough or coordinated enough, but you're trying it.  
• You say "jump" and then squat and push your arms up as though you're jumping...except your feet never leave the ground.
• You are beginning to undress yourself.  Sometimes this frustrates me because you decide you want to undress once you are in your crib.  I think this is because Freddie likes to sleep shirtless.
• You're working on brushing your teeth.
• You're running.  You're clumsy though and wipe out often, but you get back up and get running again.
• You're kicking balls and throwing bother overhand and underhand.

Making sense of the world:

• Developing a sense of humor....putting socks on your head when we get dressed or give me your toes to help with your socks and then pulling them away and giggling.
• Lots of pretending developing..you talk on the phone a lot, you feed your babies and animals, you cook in the kitchen.
• You know when you're tired and request, with a point, to get in the crib.  This has happened a few times and I knew you were tired before you even requested.  I need to just put you in bed when I think you're tired rather than waiting for you to indicate you want to go to bed early. 

The Belly.  The Shoes.

Likes:

• Peeking in drains, especially if you can see water or hear your voice echo
• Playing trains and cars
• Apples
• Reading books
• Your new ORANGE sneakers
• Slides.  You are brave and will sit down and creep to the edge and go down by yourself no mater how steep, or high, or winding the slide.
• Copying Freddie.  You watch him and mimic his every move.
• Riding in the bike seat. 

Brushing.

Dislikes:

• Diaper changes
• Getting dressed, although you will usually help out and put your hands and legs and head in the articles of clothing. 
• You are starting to show some pickiness when it comes to eating.  I can hardly believe it, but you'll test something out with your tongue and refuse some things.  Shocking.  I wonder if this is toddler pickiness setting in.  I sure hope not.

Personality:

• Feisty
• Stubborn.  I am not sure you realize just yet that I may be the only person more stubborn than you.  I will win.  Every singe time.  
• Affectionate
• Shy and cautious
• Rough and tumble

Sleep:

• Nap from 12.30-3.00pm
• Sleep from 7-6.45
• You have no problems getting in your bed, blowing me kisses, and putting your head down to fall asleep.  We're talking about your transition to a big boy bed, and it's on the horizon my dear.