Sunday, May 31, 2009

the mimic


His mimicking is getting quite funny. After his bath, he and I were playing with words and sounds. "a car goes vrooom";"car go vroom", which we've had before, was extended with "a train goes choochoo";"choochoo", and then "an ambulance goes neeenaw". "Beebawww", went to "deedaaahhh" and finally "neenew" as he concentrated on the shape of his mouth. Then he went to read with Granny C (yet again) and she had a quick cough to clear her throat. And there he was next to her, coughing into his own fist. Adorable. As are the new PJs he's sporting.

In other news, we've been having lots of other fun with Granny Collins. He had a ball with the mega beach ball at old navy, while I replaced several pairs of trousers all ripped in the knees (from crawling around?). And the display of coloured light he could touch, because they were in plastic sleeves, made his day. But the best bit is all the time he gets to spend reading with her.

Friday, May 29, 2009

The Other Parent

Well, I'm still in New Mexico. I know, you're shocked. *I'm* shocked. Everyone is shocked. There you go.

Since I'm only able to contribute in those thrillingly traditional "absent father" ways - I've sent a new bed home, and toys, and we sometimes manage a video chat - I thought I'd pass on an interesting link that addresses just these issues:

Part One
and

Part two of an article/blog talking about the rising role of dads, shared parenting, and how we're all figuring it out.

It is worth a look.

Go Isotopes.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

A day of trauma



Yesterday, was one of Zachary's least favorite ever. In the morning we went to the Doctor's for some more of his 18 month shots. He started to fuss as we went into the room he got the vaccine in last month. He wrapped his legs around my waist and clung like a monkey. Pretty cute, and funny that he is starting to remember. The real yelling started when he got pinned down by me and the nurse, but a quick poke poke and he was done. Fortunately, I had been prepared, Mr. B. Powell would be proud, I quickly produced a fruit roll up and a toy car (Thank you Grandma Jackie) from my pocket, and with a bit a cuddle he settle down.
After Daycare, he experienced trauma number two, the barbers. I'd even asked Cecellia to recommend a good kids hair place and it turned out to be just three blocks north on B'way. The chairs have wheels, and steering wheels. There are cartoons, video games, toys and candy. But Z was having none of it. He sat and screamed for 25 minutes, while the poor guy tried his best not to injure him. Which is of course why I had not attempted to cut it myself. The barber even resorted to a gentle headlock to get at the really difficult bits. And while Z threw his trantrum, he got snot everywhere, and topping that off with the trimmings, he looked a little like a wolf boy. Think, tar and feathering. After wiping him off it still looked a little like a five o'clock shadow.
Trauma three was less sever, Bathtime is normally a pretty happy time. When I wash his hair, we get mild fuss with an oh you've stopped, that's better, fix. But for the first time he had gel, thick crunchy dried gel for taming rugged Dominican hair. so it needed a little more attention, which Z did not appreciate. But it was all worth it in the end because he woke up this morning and it just looked great. Shiney, short and ready for all his adventuring in NYC this summer.

OMTrike!



Before I had even finished adding the seat and more. Z pushed me off to jump on his cool new ride. Once it was finished it went something like this ...



and this ...

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

This is the "Balloon" with the NCT payload as it got over towards Phoenix, AZ.

Note: This is NOT Sarah's balloon, just another one that launch while we were there.

Monday, May 25, 2009

Climbing Climbing Climbing Climbing

It's been lovely out so we have been stopping by the park on the way back from daycare. Partly just to give him a bit more of a run around to try and tire him out before bed. He is into climbing everything and in these 4 videos you can see his confidence and skill growing through the repetition. Going up the ladder, across the wobbling walkway and down the side. I love the bit in the longer one, where he copies the older kids and goes around the wobble bit and then sits down 'cos he hot and wants his jacket off. Also sorry, I forgot to hold the camera the right way around.








Sunday, May 24, 2009

Planes, Trains and Automobiles



He got it all in NM. There was a train crossing between the NASA base and the house we were staying in. And we regular stopped to watch a train go by. And last friday there was a no show for launch so instead we had the Fireball bbq. Zachary got to see a single prop plane fly in, land and taxi right passed where we were standing to the hanger. He was so excited I picked him up and we got to see and touch the plane up close. Which he thought was totally cool. And of course, his love of all cars continues. He was almost always eager to jump in the car for a ride. In fact every nap time in NM involved a car ride, oh how well he slept.

Friday, May 22, 2009

popping bubble wrap

An oldish movie of him popping bubble wrap, at Sarah's lab one afternoon while we were all hanging out.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

back to even

That's right Zachary and I made it back to NYC after a serious day of traveling, 14 hours in all. And at 19 months and 19 flights, he is get to be quite a pro. He was very well behaved on both flights, with the aid of a book about kittens and puppies loaned from the 1 yr asleep in front of us on flight 18. And a matchbox CARRRHHH, fixed, instantly, the small freak out on flight 19, as he clung on to it for the next 2 hours, only letting go (and forgetting about it) as we landed. When we got to 60 Haven, I asked if he was glad to be home and got the tired repartition "home *pause* home, home". But when we came through the door all that tiredness drained away as he ran from one thing, books, to the next, toys, cats, window, touching everything, checking in with all his bits a bobs, that he remembered playing with before we went away. He was super excited about daycare this morning too. Everyone had missed him and he got lots of cuddles and played non stop with all of them. Currently, Sarah is in Carlsbad touring NM, while waiting for flight conditions to improve. Matt, Shaheen, Chris and Sarah are at the caverns again tonight, since there is a, no-show yet again, for tomorrow.


Here he is at Dallas Ft Worth terminal C. He passed out for a 2.5 hour nap, while I changed gates FOUR times during the delayed flight/layover.

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Friday, May 8, 2009

racing cars with the boys


racing cars with the boys
Originally uploaded by m0nk3yphd

l haven't had my camera out much this week, so here are a few from daycare.

And Sarah is coming home for Mothers Day, YAY!

Monday, May 4, 2009

Into Books


CA-ARRR!
Originally uploaded by m0nk3yphd


And this is a little bit of video, Sarah took, of us reading the same book, just over a week ago. The car'plosion (2:50), and brain overload (end) are hilarious.

Sunday, May 3, 2009

word explosion

this evening, I'm pretty sure, we've had a "quack" (what does a duck say?), a strong "mine" when I tried to take a book fro him to read, and a "byebye" when I said time to say goodnight to the cars.

Saturday, May 2, 2009

What a fun day


Anything to fix a meltdown
Originally uploaded by m0nk3yphd



So I threw caution to the wind and went on the subway 3 times, gasp! We ran around the city, where Z was incredibly well behaved and ended up at our local park. He climbed EVERYTHING, serious spotting involved. He did the dino's, he watched a 3yr old climb the metal rigging/ladder, taking it all in and then just followed her up. He then went around to the wobbly walk way and this (the third or fourth lap) was the only time he "fell". Later he saw the same little girl go up a ladder. And poof up he went. He also got to play with this electric car. Both the steering wheel and handle control where the wheels point and have a little button to make it GO. Z was fascinated by the car, and the grandma encouraged him in and showed him how to drive. Then Graham with Suzy and Alan in tow came over to play too. And the boys got right down to it. Graham "steering" from the handle while Z tired to hold the button down-down-down-dooooowwwwn. As the car went in spurts across the playground. Fortunately it is slow enough that everyone has plenty of time to clear a path.


Friday, May 1, 2009

So many D's

Today, I heard Zachary say "door" as I stood waiting for Cecelia to let me in to take him home. It turns out everytime, a parent comes to pick up one the kids she says who's at the door, who's at the door, and Zachary has been saying door for the last few days. And D is also for dragging, which Zachary picked up from me after watching me pull the crocigator behind me up and down the carpet just twice.