Teddy Bear Picnic

Our town has an AMAZING parent support network as part of the public school system.  It's a fabulous resource, as well as a fun place for Asa to go to playgroup.  Recently, they had their end-of-the-year picnic in the park by our house, and M., who's done with school for the summer, got to join us.

(Sorry about the color - these are all cell-phone shots, and it's hard to check the white balance when you're having a hard time even seeing the screen properly.  But don't they kinda look awesome and hand-tinted?)


Watching the woman with the guitar play "Old MacDonald".

The nice policeman who let the kids scramble all over his car.  A friend watched her daughter emerging from the backseat of said police car, snapped a picture, and said, "That had better be the last time I ever witness this."

The biggest firetruck in town - this is the rear cab of the jointed truck.  Asa and I climbed into the main cab, but he freaked out and wouldn't let go, so we didn't get a good picture.

With the friend and daughter of the abovementioned police car episode.  Her son is about Asa's age... unfortunately, they're moving in a week or so.  BOO.  We'll miss you guys!

It's really interesting to see your child in the context of so many other kids.  There's a whole perspective that we wouldn't normally get - like knowing that Asa is actually very shy and clingy, which is not at all how we see him at home (of course).  He also talks more than most (although not as much in public) and is very compassionate towards his peers - until the sharing of toys is at stake, at which point he reverts to being incredibly normal and kinda... well... TWO.  (ish.)

And awesome.  Did I mention awesome?

Blocks

Asa the architect!

He's in the Dr. Seuss school of architecture, I think.

The Quotable Asa, Video Edition

Turn the volume way up...

First Glimpse

Sprout seemed pretty sleepy for this ultrasound - only when the tech really pushed into M.'s belly did we see a protesting wave of arms and legs.  So here you go - our adorable sea monkey.

Asa said it looked like a seagull.  I kinda see what he means.

Pride 2011

A cold and rainy day, but spent with Uncles... it really doesn't get much better!

And it really only rained for the first... hour?  hour and a half?  something like that.

On the ride home, with all his treasures.

Happy Pride!

Aquarium!

Our local library has passes to several museums and cultural centers, so we took advantage this week, to celebrate the end of M.'s school year.  And really, where better to bring a Nemo-obsessed toddler than the Aquarium?

We got our first thrill before we'd even walked in the door - harbor seal training!

The great sea tank was a huge hit - the fish were huge!

So were the turtles.

There were also a bunch of smaller tanks that were great fun.

Jellyfish are rather magical to watch.

At the end of this section, Asa said, "Bye bye, Jellies."

Another recent obsession is the book And Tango Makes Three, which meant a necessary stop to see the penguins:

Mommy got to pet some sting rays:

And, of course, we had to see some old friends.
The little obnoxious fish:

Gil and Dory:

And, of course, Nemo and Marlin:

After that, it was time to head home - including one more trip past the harbor seal tank.  (see us there?)

And a quick walk down the wharf, at Asa's request, to see boats.

By the time we got back to the train station, only one of three tired people had fallen asleep... the other two got coffee.

He woke up for the jazz tuba player on the subway, though - how often does that happen?  Very cool, and a nice way to end the day.

More pictures here, if you're interested.  It's a hard place to photograph, especially with thousands of schoolchildren on field trips swarming around, but still - I think these came out decently well.

Pockle!

Asa's first popsicle - and given the recent heat wave, far from the last.

As usual, he's very meticulous; he eats a popsicle far more neatly than any child I've ever seen.  The bib was mostly unnecessary.  Astounding.

The Quotable Asa

Outside the Nocturnal Exhibit at the Zoo: "Fox, Mummy?  Fox isside?  Fox?"  (Yes, there is a pair of Fennec Foxes in the Nocturnal Exhibit.  No, Asa hasn't seen them in over a month, if even then.)

Watching the opening credits of the Muppet Movie, on a recent rainy day: "'Tar!  'Tar!"  (His way of saying "guitar" - either he remembered that Kermit plays the banjo in that opening scene, or he was responding to the (I think) harp in the overture.  Either way - kudos.)

Singing to himself, while working on a Cookie Monster puzzle: "C ee fa Cookie, oona puh Me.  C fa fa Cookie, umma muh Me.  Cookie Cookie issa C." In tune.  He can also sing the theme to "Thomas and Friends", and at least the tune of "Caillou".

Speaking of Caillou (which we often do, as Asa loves it): a dog named "Mimi" had a bit part.  Asa turned to me and said, "Mimi!"
Me: Yes, and you have an Aunt Mimi, don't you?
Asa (with a look that clearly noted how little I understand): Bikker.
Me: Bikker?  What?
Asa (more carefully): Bee-ker.
Me:  Oh.  Of course.  You're right, honey, Beaker [the Muppet] says "Mee Mee Mee".
(Sorry, Aunt Mimi.  I tried.)

Also on the topic of Caillou: at breakfast one morning, Asa, who had been talking to himself, suddenly said "Mommy!  Daddy!"
Me: Um, honey, you don't have a Daddy.
Asa (again, that slightly withering 'you don't really get it, Mummy' look): No.  Caillou.
Me: Caillou has a Daddy, that's true.
Asa: Caillou daddy.  Asa Caillou.
Me: You're pretending to be Caillou?
Asa: Yes.  Bekkis, Mummy.  Ot-mil.  (translation: Breakfast, Mummy.  Oatmeal.)

Finally, during a recent thunderstorm, we went out onto the porch to watch.  Initially, Asa seemed quite nervous of the thunder and lightning, but as we stood outside, he seemed to really get into it - he wouldn't let us go back inside.  Afterwards, as we were getting him ready for bed, he ran to the door, and said, "Funder?  More?  'Gain?  Funder?  More?"

A Thousand Dreams I Wish For You

As many as there are dandelions to wish on.

Fetal Development, 101

No, I didn't give him the book to read.  We'd left it on the coffee table, and he found it all by himself.  

Another quarter in the therapy fund...

Strollin' With My Baby

It started well... Asa decided to take one of his dolls (actually my old Cabbage Patch Kid, who fits in the stroller better than his beloved Bébé) on our afternoon walk.

But doll strollers aren't good at off-roading.

So that's about as far as we got before the poor doll was abandoned to Mummy's care.  Which involved Mummy slinging the entire stroller - doll and all - over her shoulder as she ran after her speedy toddler.

Not to mention, of course, that Asa requested to be carried home.  Why do I fall for stuff like this?

Mummy's Little Helper...?

It seemed like such a great idea at the time...

I suppose, when I asked if he'd like to "help Mummy water", I should have specified "water the flowers".

Asa Says, "Hey, Guess What?!"

Which does indeed mean that while Bean made Three, Sprout will make Four, and a change of decoration (e-decoration?  blogoration?) will be taking place before long...

Details?  You want details?  We don't have many, yet, and certainly don't have pictures to show.  All we know is that Sprout should make an appearance sometime around the New Year, and that we're not going more than 15 minutes from home as of about Thanksgiving!

Asa, meanwhile, is as excited as a not-quite-two-year-old can be about such things.  He knows the words "brother" and "sister", and smiles when he says them.  Let's hope those smiles continue.

(Thank you Auntie Becke for the awesome shirt!)