Elias generally prefers to self-feed now; spoon feeding is not nearly good enough.
So Elias plus squash = interesting mess.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Birthday Bug
So Elias' birthday was not all sweetness and light and presents and wrapping paper.
Rather, it was a high temperature and a nasty cough that landed us in the Emergency Room late in the evening.
We went through this once with Asa, and have the nebulizer routine down to a science, but this was Elias' first go, which made it a little nerve-wracking. But our boy was a champ, charming patients and nurses alike, giggling and clapping and making faces.
Having arrived at the ER around bedtime, the happiness didn't last the entire time. And Elias, who has long been reluctant to sleep anywhere but his crib or carseat, finally consented to sleep in Mummy's arms, and then (as my arm fell asleep), on my chest. Much as he had done exactly one year earlier, although he was a lot smaller - and lighter - then.
Everyone is home now, the medications are being given, our smiling boy is smiling again, and should be recovered in plenty of time for his birthday party on Saturday.
At which I'm sure he'll get presents; this time, though, I'll make sure none of them is pneumonia.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
525,600 Minutes
This year went way too fast.
Not surprisingly, of course, because of everything that happened. First there was this:
Five days later came the call from the Search Committee of the church, moving that process forward. And, inevitably, moving us to New Hampshire. New job, new house, new school for Asa, new church (for all, but especially Mummy)... an ordination, a baptism, a birthday...
A year.
Elias has been the least affected by this transition. This year, as crazy as it's been, is all he's known, and he's just lived each moment joyfully. He laughs and crawls and sits and chews and claps and laughs some more. Lucky us.
For the rest of us, it's been a hectic year, skewing our sense of time and growth - the dearth of blog posts being a prime example. So how do we measure, from one picture to the other?
In love.*
Which for you, little Elias, is exponential.
*in case you missed it: the title and response to this post are from the song "Seasons of Love", from the musical Rent.
Not surprisingly, of course, because of everything that happened. First there was this:
Five days later came the call from the Search Committee of the church, moving that process forward. And, inevitably, moving us to New Hampshire. New job, new house, new school for Asa, new church (for all, but especially Mummy)... an ordination, a baptism, a birthday...
A year.
Elias has been the least affected by this transition. This year, as crazy as it's been, is all he's known, and he's just lived each moment joyfully. He laughs and crawls and sits and chews and claps and laughs some more. Lucky us.
For the rest of us, it's been a hectic year, skewing our sense of time and growth - the dearth of blog posts being a prime example. So how do we measure, from one picture to the other?
In love.*
Which for you, little Elias, is exponential.
*in case you missed it: the title and response to this post are from the song "Seasons of Love", from the musical Rent.
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Thankful
The 2008 election seems a long time ago.
It was before Asa was born. A lifetime ago.
It was an exciting, an exhilarating time for us, but it was also a time of grief. As wonderful as the legislative election was that year, in our view, that was also the election that brought us Prop 8 - a law that had no direct impact upon us, but that sent a tremendous shockwave throughout the LGBT community. We were pretty used to having marriage equality fail at the polls, but to have an existing law repealed - to send thousands of couples into limbo - was horrifying.
What a long way we've come.
This election was huge in our house. Living in a swing state might have had something to do with that, but given everything that was at stake this year, it probably didn't change all that much for us.
And like all kids, Asa picked up on the vibe. More than that, he picked up on a lot of details, although we tried to shield him from some of the unpleasantness - some of the downright meanness - that an election year can bring out. We talked about the President, we talked about the importance of voting, we talked about disagreeing without becoming unpleasant. The morning after the election - with circles under our eyes and much less sleep than we'd have liked - we shared our delight in the outcome: legislative elections that weren't quite as spectacular as 2008, but the first ever victories for marriage equality at the polls - in four states.
So it wasn't surprising that at dinner the next night, Asa announced his plans to paint a picture for the President. He'd paint a picture of the President's family, he decided - one that he could show to his mommies. (A heartbreaking statement on more than one level, that one.) We were delighted, and encouraged him - M. promised to get out real canvas and good paint. And then Asa thought for a moment, and said:
"I'm going to paint a picture for Mitt Womney, too."
I'm not proud of this moment, but it had been a long election season and I was tired; the first words out of my mouth were, "But honey, he lost."
"I know, Mummy. But it might make him feel better."
Nothing like having your kid make you feel like a jerk.
Mitt Romney said a lot of things during the election that I found offensive. His statements on women, his backpedaling on healthcare, his choices of surrogates were almost uniformly off-putting. On LGBT issues, he was entirely uninformed. (Yes, Governor, we do have families. We do have children.) I had been so horrified by his politics, by the strange chameleon nature of his campaign, that I could no longer imagine doing this man a kindness. Politics had trumped humanity, as too easily happens.
Asa understood it differently. He knows what it is to win, and what it is to lose. He has felt both, and can empathize. And in his loving, unbiased way, he tries to do what he can to make things better.
This year, I am thankful for many things. For a renewed faith in our political system and our country's values; for the growing recognition of my relationship and our family.
But mostly, I am thankful for my children, who are better people than I am.
It was before Asa was born. A lifetime ago.
It was an exciting, an exhilarating time for us, but it was also a time of grief. As wonderful as the legislative election was that year, in our view, that was also the election that brought us Prop 8 - a law that had no direct impact upon us, but that sent a tremendous shockwave throughout the LGBT community. We were pretty used to having marriage equality fail at the polls, but to have an existing law repealed - to send thousands of couples into limbo - was horrifying.
What a long way we've come.
This election was huge in our house. Living in a swing state might have had something to do with that, but given everything that was at stake this year, it probably didn't change all that much for us.
And like all kids, Asa picked up on the vibe. More than that, he picked up on a lot of details, although we tried to shield him from some of the unpleasantness - some of the downright meanness - that an election year can bring out. We talked about the President, we talked about the importance of voting, we talked about disagreeing without becoming unpleasant. The morning after the election - with circles under our eyes and much less sleep than we'd have liked - we shared our delight in the outcome: legislative elections that weren't quite as spectacular as 2008, but the first ever victories for marriage equality at the polls - in four states.
So it wasn't surprising that at dinner the next night, Asa announced his plans to paint a picture for the President. He'd paint a picture of the President's family, he decided - one that he could show to his mommies. (A heartbreaking statement on more than one level, that one.) We were delighted, and encouraged him - M. promised to get out real canvas and good paint. And then Asa thought for a moment, and said:
"I'm going to paint a picture for Mitt Womney, too."
I'm not proud of this moment, but it had been a long election season and I was tired; the first words out of my mouth were, "But honey, he lost."
"I know, Mummy. But it might make him feel better."
Nothing like having your kid make you feel like a jerk.
Mitt Romney said a lot of things during the election that I found offensive. His statements on women, his backpedaling on healthcare, his choices of surrogates were almost uniformly off-putting. On LGBT issues, he was entirely uninformed. (Yes, Governor, we do have families. We do have children.) I had been so horrified by his politics, by the strange chameleon nature of his campaign, that I could no longer imagine doing this man a kindness. Politics had trumped humanity, as too easily happens.
Asa understood it differently. He knows what it is to win, and what it is to lose. He has felt both, and can empathize. And in his loving, unbiased way, he tries to do what he can to make things better.
This year, I am thankful for many things. For a renewed faith in our political system and our country's values; for the growing recognition of my relationship and our family.
But mostly, I am thankful for my children, who are better people than I am.
Friday, November 2, 2012
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Calm in the Storm
By which I don't mean the hurricane, which was not all that "super" in our area.
The storm that rages in our house, however, knew a moment or so of peace, with the reappearance of an old favorite toy. Peace, between toddler temper tantrums and baby runny nose. Peace, when for a moment Asa forgot to dislike sharing something he thinks of as his.
It didn't last the time it took me, to write this, but it sure was nice while it lasted.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
When did he get so big?
I've been saying that about both boys recently, but this moment I caught and can share. It's not a hard question in theory, but still: WOW.
Sunday, October 7, 2012
If You Don't Like the Weather
Fall in New England often mean starting out the day in jeans and fleeces, picking apples and pumpkins, and then going home by way of the beach, eating said fresh-picked apples.
It is also why, even in cool weather, we keep a change of clothes in the car for each boy. Because cold water is still water, and water is awesome.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Walking in the Woods on a Summer Evening
A walk that Asa and I had done with friends, that he was very interested in showing to Mommy.
We walked for about a mile and a half, and our little trooper scampered along happily, carrying his treasure bag full of stones, acorns, pine cones and mica.
This rock, however, we left by the side of the trail.
The rocks by the waterfall proved a good place to balance the camera for a family picture. Elias was much more interested in the water than the camera, though; this was one of just a couple of pictures that didn't show the back of his head.
Beautiful family, beautiful place. Lucky me.
Elias definitely got the best seat in the house. The only seat, for that matter. (See, kid, crawling and walking are overrated.)
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Our Littlest Swimmer
Neither of us was all that sure: that water was not particularly warm!
But for the most part, he was okay. I think he still prefers the bathtub, but splashing in a pool could eventually be okay.
Our "Baby Seal" (as the class is known), trying to make his escape.
We'll see what the rest of this class brings...
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Gratuitous Cheerio Pics
Haven't gotten to our previous record of sticking something like 20 cheerios on Asa's face, but we'll get there.
Monday, September 24, 2012
But I COOK Armenian...
(Thank you to Kelly for the post title...)
Teaching Asa to make stuffed cabbage leaves. He's going to be a really good cook, once we let him near knives and hot cooking surfaces.
Add the stuffing.
Press and roll.
Set in the pan and bake.
Which is great, until Mummy lets them burn a little. It's probably just as well that we're training my replacement as chef.
Friday, September 21, 2012
Yoga Baby
Plank pose.
Of course, that is happening less and less. Most of his motion is backwards, at the moment, which makes him end up in some strange predicaments - caught on the leg of a table, or the piano - but he always looks totally pleased with himself.
Meanwhile, I have to admire the strength of this little baby body - I don't think I can do this many push-ups, or hold the pose for as long as he can.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Happy Birthday, Mommy!
You know I'm behind with the posting when even this is tremendously late!
The night before Mommy's birthday, we got a surprise visit from Grampa, and opted for dinner out.
But, perhaps, the best birthday present came from above:
Happy Birthday, sweetie. I doubt any decade will ever exceed this past one for the transitions and excitement, but may each one get happier. I love you.
Monday, September 17, 2012
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Railroading
I know, it's been forever since I've posted. And I have the backlog of pictures to prove it!
Labor Day found us headed north, to a local railway. Asa's comment: "no pictures, Mummy, I'm riding on the train." He should know me better than that.
The scenery was beautiful, on an almost perfectly clear day.
Elias might be developing a fondness for trains, as well.
At the end of the track, we got to watch the engine get uncoupled from the train...
Change tracks...
And come back up along the train...
To be recoupled at the other end.
Just like we see on Thomas the Tank Engine.
It was the perfect day for a train picnic.
There are several other routes that leave from the same station, about 90 minutes north of our house. Somehow, I see a lot of train rides in our future.
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