The Life and Death of Cabinet Locks

I guess we now know how long those cheap little pieces of plastic actually last.

The artist surveys his work.

More Spoiling

Lest anyone think that Uncle Paul might be the only "bad" influence...





What a lucky boy to have such fun and doting adults in his life, huh?

Whipped Cream

I don't want to suggest that Uncle Paul might be a bad influence, but...

... but I rather think he might be hurt if I didn't.

Developmental Vignettes

There are times when so much happens so fast, it's hard to update the blog often enough.  So here are a few quick stories from the past couple of weeks - Asa-isms and moments when he just makes us think, "Wow."

Like when he came into our bed for an early morning snuggle, and started giving each of us kisses - real ones! - and nuzzles, and saying "Niiiiice."

Or when he found the model animals at playgroup and named them all - even the ones that neither M nor I remember teaching him - "seal" and "octopus", which he pronounces "apple-puss".

Like when he got out his gardening tools and helped Mummy dig holes and water flowers... or when he helped by taking all his diaper covers from the bathroom to his room by himself.  (Maybe Thomas the Tank Engine, and the emphasis on being a "really useful engine" is working in our favor?)

Like when Asa and Mommy and Mummy had a picnic in the little park by the library, and he ate an entire half-sandwich of cashew butter and jelly... and then hammed it up for the camera.

And then climbed up the big kids' structure and slid down the big slide all by himself!

Or when we were talking about what to have for lunch the other day... I suggested quesadillas with some of the leftover roast chicken from the previous evening.  Asa thought about it, then clearly said, "Beans."  So we agreed on chicken and black bean quesadillas - but he kept a close eye on me as I made them, to ensure that the beans were well and truly added.  (Then he ate nearly an entire quesadilla.  When he felt almost too full to continue, he pulled the tortilla off and ate the black beans, one by one, from the cheesy layer.)

Finally, there's the story of today at the zoo, with friends who are a little older.  The spray-park part of the zoo is open for the season, and the older kids wanted to run around in the water.  Mommy thought that Asa would have fun too, so she took off his shoes and pants and brought him into the midst of the sprays.  One of our friends, a little boy, took a rotating sprayer (which looks like a bumblebee) and nailed M. and Asa, who promptly became hysterical.  So Asa and Mummy went to look at some nearby animals - kangaroos and tortoises.  Then this evening, at dinner, Asa suddenly looked up and said, "Bumblebee!  Water!  Done!  Done! Done!!! Tortoise.  Bumblebee!  Water!  Done!!"  (several times in a row, at that.)   I think his memory is improving.

I am, for the record, just about holding my breath waiting for complete sentences to emerge.  Probably sometime before July 4... and I'll keep you posted!

Puzzles

Asa has developed quite a fondness for puzzles... and for talking.  Sorry about the poor picture quality - when he decides to be particularly talkative, I don't stop to change camera settings, I just grab a book to prop the lens on and go, preferably before he notices that he's being filmed!

Just a Picture (or two)

Just because they're too cute not to share.

Two Days with Cousins

First, cousin Caleb's sixth birthday!  A Space party with tyvek suits and a shuttle cake.  Totally awesome.

While the big kids had cake in the dining room, the little ones hung out in the kitchen.

We also got a little time with Great-Uncle Tim and Great-Auntie Shevaun.  Uncle Tim and Asa discovered a mutual love of trains - Thomas the Tank Engine in particular.  (Doesn't Asa look huge in this shot?)

The next day, it was in our neck of the woods - Caleb and Riley came to play at the zoo with us!

Riley and Asa were both a little nervous about feeding the goats, but both got the hang of it.

They also got a little sandbox time - nice to just hang out on a holiday Monday.

Asa and the two-headed bat!  (Indian Flying Fox, to be precise.)

Next stop: Museum of Science!  or Ecotarium!  Or just a cool playground where these cousins can spend some time together.