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.

Monday, April 27, 2009

moo baa la la la

So these we're probably taken about 3 or 4 weeks ago. We kept meaning to put themup but got distracted. And now for the exam part of the blog...compare and contrast :-)

Sarah reading


Me reading

what can I say ...

he just loves to climb. And is actually getting quite good, but what's great is he seems to know his limit. At the end of this video, he starts to get down (bearing in mind he is about 2ft up) he sat on the bar holding the one in front and sort of jump swung to the ground. Even he looked shocked that he pulled it off. Of course I stopped recording to spot him.



Also he is in love with the idea of bikes and trikes. He's seen bikes before but he really noticed the kids riding them at the park. In fact he chased after several, and if he'd caught up I think he might have tried to ride on the handle bars :-) Maybe we'll get him one to stimulate the economy ,plus I like the idea of a parent handle.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

3 hours later ....

Z woke up ate some more lunch and then fell asleep on my shoulder as I carried him out of the kitchen. And he is still sleeping!


still asleep
Originally uploaded by m0nk3yphd

really tired


passed out
Originally uploaded by m0nk3yphd

Up early, lots of playing and then swimming. And he fell asleep eating his lunch.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Homework

With such a successful first word ...."car". Cecelia sent Zachary home with a toy car, as normal. He take one everyday as a transitional object to get him home. But today we got a car and a train, and instructions to practice "train", "car" she really working to get him to distinguish the two, very cute.

Monday, April 20, 2009

I'm singing in the rain...........


gene kelly
Originally uploaded by m0nk3yphd

Huge thunder and lightening here tonight, so it turns out that this umbrella picture, with 75F weather outside, is now quite appropriate. And the best bit the bang banging didn't wake Zachary, but he did roll out of bed *thud* onto the floor, and then snore loudly.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Clever Bugger

Zachary has been a bit fussy and filled with regression - I'm sure at least partially because I've been in and out the last few months, and with all the travelling.. and he's really working hard to talk (This morning got a clear agua request)....

He was nursing (part of the awesome regression) and all a muddle. And I finally was like "Zachary, what is UP??" in a mildly irate and amused way.

And quick as a blink he points to the ceiling.

Haha. Indeed. Indeed it is. Thanks. My bad.

We both laughed so hard we almost tipped over.

Friday, April 17, 2009

Do you know what has started working?

Wiggling the tickle finger and moving very slowly toward Zachary.

The shrieks of laughter are neverending.

Best game ever.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

police badge action hero


police badge action hero
Originally uploaded by m0nk3yphd




We got back from a few days in California. There is so much to talk about! We went to two seders. Zachary learned all about pounding on the table while you're singing. He also discovered the yumminess of horseradish.

He also discovered how completely amazing it is to open a door and find... outside!! If you follow through to flickr you'll see roughly ten thousand pictures that are filled with Zachary meets dirt. Dirt, flowers, sand... He found them all equally satisfying to mush around in.

Also? His brain is exploding. Not only is he mobile like crazy (see picture of him climbing a chainlink fence. Uh huh. Mom was not there for that. Nope)... but he's trying very hard to talk. He's having whole conversations, gesticulations and all. Ok, not really many words. He might be really saying "Car". And he had a few moments in California where words sort of slipped out. But mostly? He is "babbling" with a vengence. His mouth moves around, his tongue, he's trying everything out. Just not quite to the words. It is great, though. He's nodding his head yes and no vigorously, which is super helpful when he's trying to get us to get him something (so.. all the time).

I'm sure there's tons more but I'm still a little redeye hung over.. PS? We all slept almost the entire flight home. AWESOME. Although waking zachary this morning was like waking a teenager. He wouldn't open both eyes at once for ages...Mark finally tickled him to awake.

spiderZ


spiderZ
Originally uploaded by m0nk3yphd

more photos to follow. Just thought this was worth posting as a place holder. Yup he climbed from the stump to the fence.

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Mimicry

Suddenly Zachary has been learning things so fast it seems that he see something once and poof he gets how to do it. This can be amazingly cool or extremely irritating.

Recently we moved the crib mattress onto the floor. It has significantly improved his sleeping, once he has gone to sleep. But getting him to be asleep can be somewhat of a challenge. I've decided to try cuddling him and when he gets sleepy move to just being present, next to him, but not touching him. A few nights back, I progressed this, by moving to lean on a wall. Yup, he looked up to see where I was at. Stood up and walked over, and plonked his bottom right up against that wall legs out, just like dad. Cute, adorable, but a little frustrating.

Another example of the adorable copying is food related, how can it not be with the boy how never seems to stop eating. I overheated some mac and cheese in the microwave. I was blowing to cool it down because he is about to loose his shit since he can see the bowl, and smell one of his favourite foods, but isn't currently EATING it. So over I come with a bowl of freakishly hot food, and put it down to explain hot. Which he gets ever since the light bulb incident a while back. And I'm still blowing. He leans in a goes ....pheeeeeeeeffffffffff pheeeeeeeeeeeeefffffff. With funny little pursed lips. Now, he's gotten the idea he won't let it go. He started blowing at the bath water, to try and make bubbles or maybe just cos it's fun.


An one more tidbit, did you all know 8ozs of pure sugary goodness, a jamba juice, even a few hours before dinner makes for a hyper but uber-tired baby.....Dad lesson learned.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

shakey shakey egg

watch out for the toddler takedown, a few seconds from the end. Farran vs Zachary, but to be fair Z was hording about 5 eggs.

Monday, March 23, 2009

Out and About

I took Z in the stroller for the first time in many many moons this weekend. He had a whale of a time. Pointing at dogs, "DA, DA, DAAAAAAH!", oh he's trying to say dog. Pointing at people, "DA, DA, DAAAAAAH!", or not. And pointing at pigeons, "DA, DA, DAAAAAAH!", just because the flying rats seem to be exciting. Then we got the park, he ran off in the opposite direction from the slides, swings and other fun things, to pigeon herd......




...... but in the end the screeching kids drew him in.

Friday, March 20, 2009

The new toy kitchen

There are some pictures up on flickr taken at daycare (by the wonderful Cecelia). Here is Z standing at their new fancy toy kitchen and looking like trouble. Because well he is, last week he came home and went straight for the knobs on the stove. UHOH. And we talked about the (real) stove not being a toy. This week he figured out opening the oven door. UHOH and I repeat this is not a toy.


at the play sink
Originally uploaded by m0nk3yphd

Monday, March 16, 2009

Sunday, March 15, 2009

concentration


funny face
Originally uploaded by m0nk3yphd

why is he pulling such a face, you ask, maybe because he was collapsing from all the hard playing (see other pics) and needed to eat and drink a little. So his little cheeks are stuffed with pretzels, the snack cup is getting attacked with both hands, and he is watching some kids kiccking a football back and forth. It requires concentration.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

A.T.B. pt 2 the sideways shuffle

he was getting a bit tired when I took this but I love that he's not phased by the bigger kids running by.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

wandering off

He chased a number of balloons that went by attached to kids or parents. At least he did try to check in and see if I was around, eventually. And in fact the guy with the 2 balloons sits camera right, and Z went all the way over to pet the balloons again, such determination.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

A.T.B. = All Terrain Baby



We had a freak 70F weekend, so this is Z enjoying CP. Now we're back in the 40's :-(

Monday, March 9, 2009

Wheeeee

just a fun clip and one of several to enterain you through out the week. It's the little girls mother laughing at Z going down all on his own.

Friday, March 6, 2009

lessons learned

This was going to be about poo and pee, maybe it still will be. Ultimately the lesson learned was toddlers shouldn't run through the apartment naked. But first tonight lesson, Zachary was being a little flingy and cracking himself up at every opportunity. Walking back and forth between sarah and I carrying a glass of water was funny, shaking it wildly in the middle of the room was hilarious. Then came side shuffles and spinning, getting closer and closer to the corner of the hard black tabletop, the bane of Z's toddling, and many head bumps. So in one voice Sarah and I say " be careful, watch your head". And Zachary stops looks at the table just inches from his noggin and slowly learns forward to touch his forehead against the edge. Then he looks up, and burst out giggling.

Ok, so Sarah has been a little busy this week prepping the spectrograph for departure to CA this morning. So Zachary has had me for dinner, bath and bedtime. Single parents, how do they do it! After dinner, I run the bath and let him run around getting a little air time. Earlier in the week this resulted in a pee hat trick. The first time was funny, the second time was annoying, and the third time was just ridiculous. once on the wood floor, once on the rug and then again on the floor, but by the cat boxes so I feel like he got the idea.

as told to sarah, to correct for fatigue:
We ordered a few shirts etc. from Old Navy, because Mr. Collins the younger has been growing. The box came, and was a nice skinny rectangular box. Zachary decided obviously he needed to carry it to the living room. Besides, the box from the day before was *also* for him, ergo boxes are always for him, and the living room is where playing happens. Fine. But actually it is quite an awkwardish box. And so he had it on its edge and realized he could push it. Mark pushed back to offer resistance so Z could slide it to the living room, but it wasn't meant to be. The box tipped over and Zachary fell over on top of it. As he landed on the box, he burst into tears. Which is weird, for him, because he's getting pretty good at tipping over, and usually barely notices. It was the end of a long day, he was a little fussy, but it was baffling. And then he started doing weird backward downward facing dog shuffle. And then he stood up, looked at his hand, and screamed. Because he had poo on his hand. Which he had used to try to wipe the poo off his foot. Which he had stepped in after having a poo-incident when he fell over on the box. The poor dear was poo-traumatized. And did a whole dislodge the poo dance before Mark rescued him.
Mark did indeed quickly rescue him with hardly any panic, laughing, or frustration (all of which would have been perfectly reasonable responses). Nope. Just scooped him to the bath for a quick contain and clean. Besides the fact that it was hysterically funny when told to me late last night, its also interesting that Z KNEW it was gross. It was gross, it shouldn't be on his feet, it most CERTAINLY shouldn't be on his hand. Which is different, because in the past when he threw his foot in poo during a diaper change or whatever he's been indifferent. But now? Now he *knows* things.
Pretty cool. Even if our house apparently needs to be bleached. Oh wait, or diapers just need to be used.
Let me tell you, it makes a girl feel confident about leaving for two weeks ;) Oh, i know, they'll have fun without me. As long as y'all send them diapers. Or a mop.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

all sort of newness



Last week we mentioned Zachary's backward walking. A new talent he employs at random intervals while playing. Every once in a while he doesn't even fall over. Well Backwards is sooooo old hat, the new in thing, is the sideways shuffle. It looks a little ridiculous, but there is less falling over.

Also today a surprise package arrived for Master Z. He loves opening up boxes, and I could hardly refuse since this one was address to him. Once he'd dug out all the packaging we found a wonderful new sweater, made by grandma, and the latest pj library book. He sat down quietly and started to flip the pages, so I sneaked out to get the camera.



And this picture reminded me that we now have a beautiful oak stool. Discovered on Etsy, purchased via ebay. He loves it. Now he can stand at the sink, while we try to wash his hands. Or try brush his teeth, or try ....

Saturday, February 28, 2009

A box of fun


out of the box
Originally uploaded by m0nk3yphd



With no hard drive left, the sick and now busies, I haven't taken that many shots this month. Now my hard drive is part way rescued, here are some of our little monkey, up to his cheeky business. Its incredible how much fun can be had with, in, under, on a cardboard box. And once it gets worn out, to the recycling it goes.

Friday, February 27, 2009

Spin out

A deadhead a generation too late? Or an awesome rhythm gymnastics routine with the music in his head? You decide.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009



Ignore the fact that our house is a disaster, and focus on the fact that he's ridiculous. And has realized that sometimes the only way to get us there is through subtle encouragement.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

After these messages

we'll be riiiiiight back.

Sorry for the radio silence, but we've been a little busy. :) I'm getting ready for the next balloon flight, Mark is phd'ing, Zachary is embracing toddlerhood. We have a bunch of pictures and some video soon, but Mark filled up his harddrive *grin* so we've been backing up before we can upload new things.

Oh, and we're all sick. Sicksick. Yucky sick. I mean, just colds, but this is like the superdeath cold. I apparently have managed to get the most awesome cold, so I'm now couch bound in the hope that by tomorrow I'll have miraculously healed. :D Stop laughing.

Zachary can not be slowed down, certainly not by a silly cold. New excitements - Mark is currently playing "throw" in the bedroom, his walking is now looking like old hat.. He figured out backwards walking the other day, and thinks that it is the funniest trick ever. We even got him to walk with us part way to the subway the other day. He requires an escort on each side, otherwise the fantastic distraction that is a new york street takes hold (look, a person! look, a pigeon! look, a cigarette butt!!) He's gotten much much better about not eating everything, even though he's teething a few of the biggies (I think we have two molars in and two cutting, but frankly I've stopped trying to stick my fingers in to check. Too perilous.) He's also getting very good about putting things away. He carries around his sippy cup and puts it on the dining room table when he's done with it. He helps us put groceries away and put clothes away. He loves helping. Oh, and his flame shoes. He's moved up a shoe size, and his shoes are velcro with flames. He thinks they are AMAZING. He gets up and goes to get them, brings them to one of us, and then sits and puts his feet up to get shoes. And zerberts! He's been leaning over onto our arms and blowing zerberts.

Ok, I think that's enough random baby update. :) Pics & videos will follow soon.
Don't worry, he's still cute.

Friday, February 13, 2009

Training



The marines got nothing on him. Check out the training - ok, the pack only has four diapers in it, but they *are* cloth. But maybe not 60lbs. And the belly crawl? He has that down, no problem.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Surfing with Sublime



Zachary is working on his balance.
Hahahahaha. We use the cutting board so our laps don't melt when we use our laptops on our laps. That was an unwieldy sentence. Anyway. Zachary suddenly started moving it around and standing on it. And Dancing. I think the dancing at the start of the video in particular has earned a capital D.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Spoonerism



Yup, he's starting to master the spoon. I mean, master. He now throws food across the room accidentally less than 40% of the time! See what I mean?

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Doowwwwwwn the hatch



Zachary found this cardboard tube to play with this evening after daycare. He was dropping stuff down it (and by stuff, i mean food..) and then was mystified when it disappeared and he couldn't tip things back into his mouth. (To backtrack - He often likes moving food from one cup to another cup and then eating it. Or eating foods not traditionally found in cups via a cup... Like... a piece of quesadilla. For example). Anyway, Mark tried dropping a piece of tofu down the tube. Yeah. Dinner was pretty damn awesome. He'll go to daycare tomorrow and brag about it.

Monday, February 2, 2009

BOO!


BOO!
Originally uploaded by m0nk3yphd

A cardboard box is a boy's best friend. We got an order in this perfectly Zachary sized box. He has been making it in to all sorts of fun the last few days. This was this morning. Daycare might have more toys but we have CARDBOARD. Take that, technology.

To our English readers (mostly granny & grandpa cornwall) - we hope you made it home safely. The pictures on the net are *incredible*.

Saturday, January 31, 2009

Stars with Elmo


IMG_2615
Originally uploaded by m0nk3yphd

This is a surprisngly funny story book. A gift from Linda in Florida... Zachary just looked so serious, and he kept trying to beep the star (every time it says STARS you're supposed to beep it. Beep. Beep)... It is super hard to beep, though, which makes it not so annoying. Well, for us. It is probably really annoying to him that he can't beep it. Eh.

Friday, January 30, 2009

Teeth

that's right teeth, plural, after what seems like months of on and off fussing combined with enough drool to power a small hydroelectric plant. Two molars, back left, not just breaking through but enamel poking out of gums. And yes, who gets molars before all the front teeth are in, I mean seriously.

Learning to walk gets tricky

with the slippery cold white stuff.



Taken from my cell phone.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

vegetarian or cannibal



this was breakfast this morning. I hope the apple demonstrates that we were not in fact withholding food. Really. He must just have very tasty toes.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Dance-A-Thon

You people are intense. That's all I have to say about that.
And without further ado...


Thursday, January 22, 2009

We're going on strike

Until people occasionally comment. Seriously. We're lonely in cyberspace. ;)

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Zachary's new Sweater


posing for ravelry
Originally uploaded by m0nk3yphd

finished and fabulous. Now spot the difference between arms

it snowed


the great explorer
Originally uploaded by m0nk3yphd

and I took him out to play in the falling snow on a gray Monday afternoon. He was not overly impressed, with the cold or the wet.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

alpha baby

so here is a quick glimpse into the life of a child who is growing up surrounded by computers, and parents tiptapping on them. Of course he wants to grab at them too. This program locks it up allowing him to bang away at the keyboard, without buggering up our hard drives.

Worst Bloggers Ever

Sorry. We're so busy. Phds + baby + eating = no time remaining. None.

In news... Its freakishly cold here. Zachary got his first time out at daycare. For hitting. Oy. We've been assured its a phase. Its leading to spoon confiscation.

Zachary also is in the middle of his first ear infection. We caught it super early at his last checkup. He's been pretty good about the ammoxicilin. He's full on into toddlerhood at the moment though. Any request results in a shriek - this evening he managed to collapse mightly before he realized actually yes please he would like his ammoxicilin, drank the whole thing down, stood up, and wandered off. Right. Just kidding. No one was actually feeding him to floor pirannhas. His bad. Cat!

*sigh*
*ugh*
*thud*

Toddler is such a misnomer. Sure. They toddle. But what about "Uncalibrated nuclear weapon"? This would be so much more informative.....

Thursday, January 8, 2009

update from the world of single parenting

overall it went, for now here is a funny video of Z mimicry.



p.s. sorry the "subtle knife" read by Phillip himself was on.

Friday, January 2, 2009

Catch & Release


Bath Grab
Originally uploaded by m0nk3yphd

Ummm Hmmm.

Today Zachary spent his bath collecting up as many toys as he could in his arms and then redistributing them. And then catching them all up again. It was a game of infinite joy. We should all be so easily entertained.

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Professor KennyWenny Visits


The Student Learns
Originally uploaded by m0nk3yphd

And teaches Zachary two things:

1) To appreciate the joys of Macs (especially the scrummy new solid body laptops. Mmm... Sorry, got distracted)

2) How to use a touchpad.

Also? This is the best use of his physics Phd. Instructing a 14 month old.

*grin*

Ha. No, this is our friend Ken Burch. He's now a professor at UofT, but he and I went to university together. He grew up here in New York and he's home to visit for a few days. He & Zachary had lots of fun playing Christmas Eve afternoon.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Bathtime High Jinks (WARNING: Tucchus alert)



Zachary will apparently climb everywhere. Even into the bath. But at least he has the sense to do so carefully. Note the part where he considerately fills an entire cup with water and goes to throw it behind him. Quick thinking, Mark.

Monday, December 22, 2008

chanukah


1st night of chanukkah
Originally uploaded by m0nk3yphd

1st night, was awesome, he got re-gifted a present we gave to friends a while back. He loved it. Shape sorting is mucho fun.

Also this morning it was 11.5 Fahrenheit, 5 F with windchill. That's -20C people, as cold as your freezer. On the way to daycare, I was caring him to keep him warm, we got hit by a blast crossing Ft Washington. He screamed. Yes winter, you suck.

Catwalk(ing)

Or monkey chasing. Or something. After I stopped, he actually stood up and went all the way to the chair. He can not stop. He's like a boy possessed. I also like that his elbows keep him up. Like puppet strings.

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Mash up, dance off, shout out!



and a little explanation - this is a clip from a show on BBC Radio 1 - the friday night get ready to go out and party show. Mark sent in a shout out and it made it! And then we editted in some random pics (of Z eating Jen & Brendan's holiday card, a glittery fantastic mess). Because blogger wouldn't let us just post the audio. *shrug* Who knows.

Feliz Navidad


Christmas Hands
Originally uploaded by m0nk3yphd

Yup, it was craft time at daycare. Which Zachary, by the by, is fully enjoying. Like a crazy man. It tires him out, he's learning all sorts of things. And making glitter pinecone christmas trees. I mean, how could you beat that?

Friday, December 19, 2008

Drinking Like A Grownup (without the beer)


Drinking Like A Grownup (without the beer)
Originally uploaded by m0nk3yphd

Zachary has gotten the hang of cups (of the non-sippy variety). You might ask how we learned this? That would be a few days ago when Mark was on one side of the living room, I was on the other, and Zachary casually walked up to a glass of water on one of our end tables, picked up and took a drink, put the cup down, and walked away.

Alrighty then.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Whaaaa?


Double Eww
Originally uploaded by m0nk3yphd

Yeah, Spotty Muldoon. We called the doc when they started appearing yesterday. He said that roughly 25 viruses that kids get can end up in rashes. Whoo. it doesn't appear to be uncomfortable, but it just looks a mess allllll over his back and arms (legs a little less). Poor dear.

Catching up

Here's a video from our time in California. Z was just starting to walk. Now he's quite deliberate and running about crashing into furniture. Mark wants me to clarify that he is not actually running but just falling forwards quickly while moving his feet. We'll try and catch it this weekend...

Monday, December 15, 2008

Post-slackers

Ok, I'll admit it. We're mad busy. Wheeeeeee.

This won't likely change soon, so a little update.

Houston, we have a walker.

Oh yes. He's staggering around the house like he just can't get enough of it. His face says "I don't know how this is working, but I'm just not going to ask.". He looks a lot like a tiny laughing Frankenstein. It is beyond fantastic.

He's also started giving hugs and kisses. I come home, I get a kiss. Ok, a lot of the time it is a snotty open mouthed slightly toothy kiss. But honestly, that makes it even better.

We're working on helping him sleep better, and helping him get ready for a few days with out me in January when I go to a conference on the west coast. And he has figured out our clock radio. It is tuned to spanish pop, and he goes over, pushes the button, and rocks out.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Fins are Tasty


IMG_2186
Originally uploaded by m0nk3yphd

From the Aquarium...

We so cute! :)


IMG_2099
Originally uploaded by m0nk3yphd

Everyone is sick, but at least we uploaded a bunch of pictures! More talking later.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Can I help you?


IMG_2097
Originally uploaded by m0nk3yphd

Just a teaser from the little camera... lots of silly shots coming, but this is from Roaring Camp... Gotta love it. We had lots of fun in California. Now life will be crazy busy till... July? Till... Mark graduates? Something.

We had fakesgiving last night (a wonderful tradition)... Zachary had the whole table in his thrall... he'd wave.. they'd wave... he'd clap... they'd clap... It was too funny, and could have lasted even longer than we let it go on for.

Friday, December 5, 2008

Montrey Bay Aquarium


tide tank
Originally uploaded by m0nk3yphd

Some pictures of the california trip are up. You can tell I wasn't well 'cos there aren't that many :-P Sarah has a bunch as well, so they'll be up soon too.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Silly Baby

Zachary started daycare. Again. Today was his second day. We like it, it seems a little more professional (which I wasn't sure originally as a good thing, but now I'm convinced). He seems to be enjoying it. And sleeping soundly. He's got a cold (allergic to california? new germs i guess) and a cough but it doesn't seem to be too much of a big deal. I'm sick too, and a little sad that with daycare comes not much daytime Z. He's a little tired for the walking by the time I get home for bedtime. He is, however, still hysterical. Today he carried a spoon all the way from dinner to his bath to his diaperchange to nursing to bed. Clutched in his hot little hands. He fell asleep and all his limbs were limp. I went to put him in the crib and tried to take the spoon. Tried being the operative word, since he clenched his fist back around the spoon while no other muscle moved.

Mark would like to add: 13 months, 13 flights.

Love to everyone.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

planes and helicopters

today we visited Z's new daycare, it was a little more chaotic than Zenaida's but they're really nice, and food is included. Z starts tomorrow! Afterwards we went to the park, and just as dusk was coming on a low jet from JFK flew overhead. And Zachary stopped what he was doing to look up at the loud sound and pretty flashing lights. A few minutes later we got a repeat performance with a helicopter flying by. Suddenly he seems to have noticed the larger world all around him.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Walking, those first steps!

So for a little while Zachary has been standing up and walking on fingers like a champ. And over the last few weeks we've been dropping those pinkies he clings so tightly to, and have had him walking one handed. In the last few days though he has made some motions towards stepping one maybe two steps. But nothing we would ever call walking, until today. He had his back to the couch, and stepped away, one, two, a wobbly three, and back on steady legs for four, then crash, down to the floor. Only four steps but with those I'm calling it, the first steps!
But, we have not had a repeat, yet.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

As much as Snoop loves his mama?

Yup. I do think Z loves us thaaaaaaat much.

:D


Our plane had to go BACK TO THE GATE to pick up Snoop Dogg and his crew.

Yes. The economy is doing so badly that they're flying JetBlue. It looked like his mother picked him up in Burbank, but I couldn't vouch. It was very weird. His bodyguards (i'm assuming that's who they were) were the size of small houses. It was intense. They required seatbelt extenders. Also? Apparently Snoop is banned from Heathrow Airport. And British Airways. Which isn't a problem, because apparently the UK won't actually even let him enter. So that.

Zachary was a busy busy boy, but a good traveller. He looooooves his new car seat. Right up until he was exhausted and we were stuck in traffic on the 210. Then he cried till he threw up. *sigh* Hopefully it will not be a habit. He looked surprised. We felt bad and stopped immediately - I think he was a bit overheated (both from the crying and the fact that the high here was 90 - its cooling off a bit already). And totally exhausted.

We're staying in an apartment run by Caltech. Its nice to be somewhere with a kitchen and a room seperate from the bedroom, so Z is crashed out on the floor while we get a little work done. More later.

And no, I didn't let Mark take a picture with Snoop Dogg. BECAUSE I'M THE WORST WIFE/MOTHER/DAUGHTER EVER.

:D

Monday, November 17, 2008

We're off!!!




And that's that :) We'll be in pasadena till Saturday, then in Santa Cruz till Nov. 30th.


OH! And we think we've got a first word with "Mama". He had a day of very authoratative speech (rather than babble). We may have also had "Light". Today, Mark reports a day of howler monkey communication. We find ourselves saying "Use your words!" quite a lot. because really, I'm not Annie Sullivan, and I only have finite interpretive skills.

In other news...

I don't remember and have to keep packing. :) But we'll update from the road.

Friday, November 7, 2008

Evel Knevil

is really the father of my child.

It was bound to happen. Zachary finally threw himself off the diaper changing table.

Frankly, I'm glad it has taken this long. And possibly a little surprised. It was traumatic, we were both within like 1 foot of him, Mark had a hand on him, we both managed a hand, but didn't catch his fall. HE IS ABSOLUTELY FINE. He may have damaged the drawer he landed in, but otherwise unscathed.

Of course, this morning he gave himself a bump on his head. How, you ask? He tried to dive through the floor. From sitting. No falling. He was sitting on the floor, and tried to duck under a sheet, but apparently expected the floor to move away from him. It did not. Echoes through our concrete floor ensued. I comforted him, instead of laughing. Ok, I laughed first. But discreetly. And comforted him.

Bath time *is* awesome

Thursday, November 6, 2008



that's Z, sound asleep on my lap. We're adjusting back to our split schedule. He just crawled over, nursed for a minute and passed out. I don't have the heart to move him. He's warm, he looks like a sloth, he's snoring, and I can reach my laptop to work on my public talk for tomorrow night.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Monday, November 3, 2008

because it had to happen sometime...

Last week Zachary pooped in the bath, much to the amusement of Sarah and I. Zachary was a little traumatized, mainly from getting yanked out of his bubbletastic warm fun place, to get wiped down and cleaned up.