Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Favorite


Van has many toys.
More than I thought he would have. Mostly from generous grandmas or uncles or friends, he plays with them all with great appreciation.

There is one that seems like his above all the rest.

Maybe it is the consistency of the reaction; a brightening of the eyes and face, a speedy crawl across the floor.

Maybe it is the length of play; long periods fiddling, chewing, patting, enjoying.

Some people have sophisticated taste in toys. They raise their kids on wood toys and classically beautiful toys. I always look at them in admiration.

Well, my boy is just like his mama I guess. Easy to please, maybe not too sophisticated, a little bit out of the loop of what is stylish or cool.

This book:


Complete with it's cheesy pictures, flashing lights and sounds, this book never gets old for my boy. He got it from his Mimi for Christmas. And actually, since I took it out of it's box, it hasn't worked quite right. Instead of singing the songs and saying the words, you hear this sort of droning that resembles a dying robot or something out of Wall-E.

As we lay in bed last night, in my best broken robot voice I sang the book's "song" to GK. We laughed until our stomachs hurt and said, "What a cool boy we have."

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Update for Papa

Tonight on the phone, my dad said he wants more pictures of Van.
Just in general.

He's not a bloggie. Not even of my bloggie. But if I email him, he'll check this. And see these:











We're excited for you to visit Papa (and Grammy and Poppy and Mimi)!

Friday, April 24, 2009

Shhhhhh...

Listen...



What's that sound?






We had just ridden the Staten Island Ferry and were parked with some friends for a light picnic before heading back. At first I thought the noise I heard must be some cables or ropes hitting the railing in the wind. Hmmm. Nope.

*GK filmed this sideways thinking we could flip it, but we haven't figured out how. Regardless of the sidewaysness, it's still funny. If you think fingernails on a chalkboard are funny.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Nap

I love going in to get Van when he wakes up. He is always so rosy and happy to see me. Happy to be awake and just happy to be himself.

The other day when I went in to get him after his nap, I found him like this.


No pants.

Hmmm wonder what he'll figure out next.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Easter

My plan for easter went like this:

*easter program

*lunch after church

*take family pictures

We did Easter Baskets on Saturday just to make sure there was time for the important stuff on Sunday.
Because we live in New York, the Easter Bunny brought GK's and my baskets in "to go" containers. Good thinking.
*easter program- check

The kids sang "Jesus is Risen" complete with sign language. And "My Heavenly Father Loves Me" (which all the kids call "Whenever I hear the song of a bird") They sounded like angels as always, and I even got a few compliments on my finger puppets.


*lunch after church- check

Our church always puts on a community program and lunch for Christmas and Easter. This one was, as always, a success.

*family pictures- no check

Darn! Why is it so hard to snap a silly little picture when we are all looking so cute? Maybe because by the time church is over and the lunch is over Van (and GK and I) are dying for a nap. I always tell myself that before church is the time to do it. Well, some day I guess.

For now I'll just have to be happy with pictures like this:
It's the best you can do sometimes when your child never stops moving even for a split second.

But just so I wouldn't repeat the tragic mistake of only one blurry camera phone picture of his amazing Halloween Costume...

Yesterday I dressed him up again in his sailor suit from Mimi and after a few of these:





Got this:

Happy belated Easter! from one happy little sailor.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

The Mastermind

GK is always thinking about how to maximize the use of his time. His mind is always full of story ideas, solutions for problems he's facing with his current big project (thesis), details of the upcoming transition from student to working man.

He is also very physical. All of these thoughts prevent productivity during the day and sleep (for both of us) at night if he doesn't get some exercise. Preferably surfing or climbing, GK needs to do something every day to wear him out so he can focus.

If he can't surf or climb, he generally chooses some form of exercise that will lead to more effective/enjoyable surfing or climbing in the future.

Last week he came home complaining that his legs were sore. Then he said, "It's probably because of these ankle weights I've been wearing around town all day."

"What!? You walked around New York City all day with ankle weights on?" I asked.

Yes, he did. If he's got to be moving, better make the most of it.


The next day after getting his books together and his lunch made, he grabbed his finger stregthener grippy thing and started strapping the weights together like this: When I graduated from Grad School and he looked like this:
People said he looked like the unibomber. Well, just look at him now. Desperate times call for desperate measures I suppose.



Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Van the Adventure Man

Warming Up The Pecs Before Paddling Out

Here is a smattering of samples of my recent exposure to Mom and Dad's favorite thing in life: the art of adventure.




Playground Day 1






After having a quick pep talk from coach, and getting strapped in, we warmed up and peeled the sweaters off. By day 2 I was a high flying daredevil.





After only a minor fat lip and a lot of determination, I have mastered both sets of stairs in my house. My mom doesn't get much done anymore, except for making sure I don't fall from great heights. (She's not very good at it yet, yesterday I dove head first over the piano bench she had put on its side at the bottom of the stairs. Ouch.)

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Back In Action

Or out of action, depending on your perspective. But back nonetheless.

We have returned to New York after our most recent trip; an extended tour of the west for Susanna and Van, and a short family surf trip in our favorite little beach town. We've got some great photos. I think I'll leave the best for Susanna, but this is one of my favorites.

Mother and Child
Outside the Mexican Food Joint
Now it's time to get back to work; finding a job and finishing my thesis. I have some great prospects with a wonderful publishing house, but I could use help with the research for my Thesis. Any mothers out there of children under 14, please take a moment to fill out the brief survey at the link below, and pass it on to a friend or two if you can. It should be interesting and a little bit of fun.

Thanks for your help.
Stay tuned. Like I said, we have great photos and detailed updates, Van is a different baby every time he wakes up. And I think we may have finally figured out how to add a video or two on here.