Moving to Google+

This blog hasn't gotten recent attention for a variety of reasons, although things are still going very well for us three humans and two cats.

Google+ lets us share more personal stuff without feeling weird that it is public on the internet. It's quite easy to do small updates, big posts, and photos, and we're enjoying using G+ for all kinds of posts.

If you'd like to join us, come on over.

Words!

Lately he's started on two and three syllable words, which has been exciting. New words enter so rapidly, we're racing to just keep up with them all.

My current favorites, because it's adorable to hear:

ma-NA-na

AH-peh

(the first is a food he eats often, the second is a vehicle)

happy anniversary, my dear

over the years . . .

Union Square playground

The sandbox is a new favorite spot at the playground. He loves feeling the sand and helping me dig holes and make sand castles. He also likes watching the big kids.

In the mouth

The molars are starting to bulge, so everything goes in the mouth these days, often all the way to the back of the jaws. Amusingly, he has taken to carrying chew-toys with him in his mouth like a puppy dog, especially when he needs his hands free for climbing.

He doesn't say them yet but he knows the words for mouth and teeth (and head, hair, nose, ear, toes, feet, hands, belly, belly button, arms . . . maybe others I'm forgetting.) We think he has understood the sign for "pain" so maybe we'll be better equipped to handle this round of teething. The eight teeth he has now weren't so bad when they came in (four on top and four on bottom) but I suspect molars might take longer and be a bit more difficult.

"Cat!"

He has been saying "cat" since mid-March, but in the past month we finally got pictures of his game of chasing down the cats, pointing at them, and exclaiming "CAT!" in a happy loud voice. He seems proud of himself to be able to name things, and cats are among his very favorite things.

hi!

Since it has been a while since the last post, here's a smile to tide us over until the next update. This has been a busy time, and the kidlet has been adding more words and signs by the day.

Reconfigured Flora art opening

Looking at Grandpa Bob's and Great-Grandma Dorothy's art on display together in a show at the Susan Teller Gallery:

Playgroup

Cudding with Twombly and Daddy

Family portrait

(eating plain yogurt)

Subway

This kid has been riding the subway since he was three or four months old (though this may be the first photograph of it). Today he was climbing my shoulder to peer at the subway map, so he may grow up knowing the system well enough to help me with directions. In the mean time, his favorite activities are looking at the lights and signs, and flirting with fellow passengers.

Picnic in Prospect Park

Eating

strawberries,

wasa crackers,

cheese . . .

and playing with Easter eggs:

Last morning

Spending a little more time with Grandma and Grandpa before it's time to wave goodbye:

Dancing

Ever since our friends the Abbotts shared Gaelic Storm's The Beggarman (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RkCQKpyllU) as a great song for dancing around with their daughter, we've adopted it as a regular part of our day too. The sprout recognizes it as soon as I put it on, and he gets very excited. Grandpa Scott also gets really into the silly dancing, and we all sing and jump around. :)

Family time

Union Square

In the park on a beautiful spring afternoon, after swinging and watching the dog run.

Red Balloon!

1st Birthday Party

An afternoon of friends, family, board books, cupcakes, a red balloon (since he loves the one in Goodnight Moon), and streamers on the beloved ceiling fan.