matchy match

Z choose to match his sisters stripes, which of course ensured photos..

First Summer Hike

We packed up and went into the greenbelt. Zachary carried his swim gear, water bottles and a pool noodle. I had miriam, the diaper bag, the rest of the swim gear, towels, food, sunscreen. I was prepared, except for a snakebite kit.  Ha, I didn't need one, we didn't seen a single snake or much other wildlife for that matter! Funny that a few miles up the river at lost pines, we see turtles and snakes at the edge once in a while and Z loves chasing the bass and other fish. But I digress we walked in about 10 minutes to a great water hole, with shallows and rapids, and a diving area. Miriam enjoyed the flowing water of the gentle rapids and also spinning in the water with me. Z went off free diving to find shells in the rocky riverbed. We had a great few hours.  The uphill hike out made for a long walk back with tired, damp kids and wet heavy towels. Overall our first adventure was a success, here is to many more.

Summer Reading

Our local library has a program, like many, for children over the summer. Read some books, get a prize. Ours is - read as many books as you want and keep track towards your goal, get a free book as a reward. (There is clearly no losing in this system.) But your kid needs to pick the number of books they want to read over the summer.

Me: "Zachary, how many books do you want to set as your summer reading goal?"
(My going in position is something like 30 books is a reasonable starting place)

Zachary, without pause: "100 books."

Me, startled: "Um, that's a lot of books. There's like 7 weeks left of summer so thats..."

Zachary, interrupting: "Mom, if I read 5 books a day... that's... (some finger counting occurs) - 20 days. So its no big deal."

Me, speechless briefly: "Right. Ok then. 100 books it is."

swim lessons

The all new Bartholomew pool, is a fabulous addition to the east side. And Z lessons are going swimmingly! He also likes to dive to the bottom, and cannon ball with his fancy prescription goggles.

Parents and friends.

The picture is a sign that appeared on Zachary's bedroom door today. 

It reads:

Nobody allowed except for parents and friends.

Actually, it reads:

nobute ulawd bsept for parinz and franz.

But we don't know anyone named "Franz" in Austin, so I'm going with my first read.

I'm just excited we're on the list.

(And that he still uses "bsept" for except, which he has done since he could first talk. I always assumed it would go away quickly. It hasn't, and I love it.)

Size at 5.5 months

Contemplations on Kids and Food

Miriam has started the slow drift into solid food. At our house it is really a drift. We were a little more structured with Zachary, but seeing as we're a pretty low food allergy household we're kind of bumbling along with whatever we're eating. That, combined with the fact that last time all three of us determined that rice cereal was really pretty gross, and overall seemed like rather a waste of the breastmilk we made it with more than anything else.

We let Miriam have a go with cream of wheat (hot breakfast cereal) yesterday, and the results were entertaining and messy (as these things ought to be.) It definitely got in her hair. She grabbed at the spoon with serious gusto which convinced us that this whole "food" thing was well worth pursuing.

 Of course food right now for her is more an adventure than a meal, although I think we're all hoping it settles down the epic "Poltergeist" style spitting up (probably including her). She seems generally more interested than we remember Zachary being - which could be some combination of her already wanting to copy ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING Zachary does, along with her being able to *see* the food... but who really knows. I mean, we can time travel in the blog but even then we are such poor scientific reporters on these things. Anyway, she has doubled her committment to nursing which is also sweet and funny. Partially I think because with Zachary home for the summer they are all tromping around constantly and by the time I get home she's like "OH THANK GOD MOM I'M GOING TO NEED A RECHARGE."

Nursing this time is different, the second time around. She seems less relaxed by it, and I suspect some of that is tied to the spitting up. She doesn't struggle at it, she just has other paths to sleep and calm (which truly is fantastic.) But usually in the evening she settles down for a long, calming nurse. And if I can relax out of my day and into home it is a wonderful moment for us to catch up. She gets to check in, and work out her wiggles, and after she's given me all her updates (a baby chattering while nursing has to be one of the silliest/funniest things ever) she eventually starts to relax one bit at a time. She doesn't want to let go, and if I wriggle or shift she uses all available limbs to remind me that she is HAPPY RIGHT WHERE SHE IS THANK YOU VERY MUCH. But we can just be in the moment and snuggle and appreciate something that in the scheme of things is wildly temporary.

(In other news, Zachary is trying new fruits and vegetables to earn a chef's hat at HEB. This is hysterical because simultaneously he will still only eat like 5 dinners. *facepalm* I have to believe that one day he will expand beyond and eat food that has colors in it. Maybe. I hope.)

Kindergarten completion

On Thursday, the first and kg classes had a completion ceremony. Pretty cute as they were all so excited to be going up a grade. Now Z proclaims, I am a first grader!

Here he is with all his class.


And with his teacher Ms. Vazquez.

Miriam rides

Today Miriam got to sit in the cart/trolley at HEB and looked jolly pleased with herself. She much prefered it to the wedged car seat method, and it makes it way easier for me to navigate and load the cart too. Win Win. Plus she got to make faces at Z through the entire store.

Pictures!

Our kids are fantastic and adorable, and we took some pictures capturing their fantastic and adorableness. Miriam has taken a brief hiatus from totally predictable sleep, so we aren't entirely coherent but what else is new? We've made it into month 5, and we're having more fun than ever. Look! Fun! I recommend running over to flickr and checking out the "Miriam with green pepper" extravaganza. She's not really eating food, but she's absolutely intrigued by it. She's playing with it (with supervision, don't worry, no baby choking hazards) - and nibbling a bit on things like banana in the net bag. She's joining us at the table in her high chair too, and she loves being involved and chatting through meals. (She's also suddenly become fascinated with trying to eat Willow. I'm pretty sure she just thinks Willow is an awesome interactive stuffed animal. Willow has been SHOCKINGLY tolerant and let's Miriam totally maul her. I think she's been swapped for some other black and white cat. She didn't let Zachary near her until he was 4, at least...) In other news - Zachary lost *both* front top teeth in one day (one was danglingly loose, the other got a bit of an assist at school). That's actually what inspired the photo shoot - I wanted to capture his gaps before they disappeared (one is already coming in, only a few days later.)

Santa Cruz Boardwalk funtimes

bouncer fun

Sitting up

Miriam has been working really hard. For the last 2 weeks she's wriggled and jiggled. She's been building up a core strength and now she gets to put it to good use. She is sitting up like a champion.

The snorting sleepy baby

Miriam under the couch

Last night we had a blast at BevoBash, the big spring fundraiser and party for Zachary's school. Mark was one of the organizers, and they all did a fantastic job! There were great activities - including a book walk (like a cake walk) that was one of Zachary's favorites. Another big hit was a group called "Typewriter Rodeo". You give them a topic, and they write a poem, on the spot, using antique typewriters. Fantastic. Here is the last of our nights poems (Zachary commissioned three). It is my favorite.

Zoom

The 2nd best part of this video (aside from the explosive giggles) are the faint stomping sounds. Those are Zachary, ducking and dodging throughout our living room and kitchen, attempting to surprise the baby.



Since she was in utero, she has responded to him more and differently than she does to anyone else. It is really fantastic to see them siblingbond. (We initially heard those crazy noises and were like - are those bad noises? No no, those are shrieks of glee, not terror... Good to know...)

Froggy hops

Oh, the giggling. Zachary can get giggles out of Miriam like no one else...

Big Brother

Zachary is so great with Miriam. He likes to play with her and bring out her smile. He makes her laugh like no one else can. He holds her and sing to stop her crying. He even has a song he made up just for such an occasion; "Don't cry little baby, Miriam!". Today he was the most thoughtful and sweetest, as an ambulance zoomed blaring by he leaned over and covered her ears, ever protective of his little sister.

No one puts baby in a circle

Our baby has turned into a premiere competition level belly wriggler. She can move backwards to any wall or under both couches. Sometime after this video we had a moment of kindness and removed the overhead bars. Or as Miriam likes to call them "The Evil Green Traps". Now she can spin unimpeded, troubled only by the toy deserts she encounters every 45 degrees. Spinning and singing, she passes her days...

Happy playtime

Miriam is surrounded by pillows and couch cushions. But has to take advantage of there cushioning ability as she has been sitting up pretty well and pushing herself up when she tilts. Big grins all-round.

only as young as you think you are

such a helpful big brother

Miriam meet California

cousins

Diapering

Just three months makes so much difference for a big brother. When Miriam was born any bodily function she'd have would freak Z out. He'd hold her for a few seconds and then pass her back, with a worried expression. When we asked, it was because he didn't want her to poop, fart, or spit up on him. We explained diapers and clothes are layers of protection but he was not interested. But now she's a little bigger and he's acclimatized to the messiness of baby life. So much so that after a little naked tummy time, he offered to help put her back in the cloth diaper! It was adorable to have him help and learn about snappies, covers and folding the diaper so it fits Ms. Miriam.

Celbrating Happy Holi at school

He shoots! He Scores!

I have some thoughts on that..

Happy baby

First time rolling

Today in Pictures

remember this

here is "to fill a crib" with Zachary at ~2-3 months ...

and again but this time Miriam ...

#pi in the sky

DSC_0079, a photo by m0nk3yphd on Flickr.

That's right tomorrow is 3/14 or pi day. And sxsw got some pi early. Z was fascinated by the numbers written in the sky above our house, so much so he had dinner on the front lawn. Probably something to do with all the math he has been doing on the dreambox app his school provided. He is moving through the grades at a steady pace. Next stop measurement, and geometry, then he'll be asking about algebra and calculus!

P.S. Sarah just learned the numbers are made at 10,000 ft and are each a quarter mile high. They went to about 500 digits of pi!

I have toes !

toes !, a photo by m0nk3yphd on Flickr.

fun times at chuck e cheese

Evening Conversation

Jumprope for Heart

DSC_0022, a photo by m0nk3yphd on Flickr.

growing

Untitled, a photo by m0nk3yphd on Flickr.

heads up

DSC_0107, a photo by m0nk3yphd on Flickr.

OUR BABY IS A GENIUS.

Ok. Maybe she's just a baby.

Actually, she is a genius because she GOES TO SLEEP WHEN SHE'S TIRED. I do not have a video of that. Sorry. I might, because it is magical to watch and usually involves like 10 seconds of a little fuss and then sleep. We'll have to enshrine in on the internet because we find it fascinating.

This post is totally not about that.

Some friends gave us this toy that looks like a baby torture device but is actually a toy that Miriam *loves*.  She still isn't wildly certain about using her hands, but she can usually get her groove on enough to make it spin and rattle.

Did I mention we're pretty easily entertained? I blame the sleep deprivation.

double fisting

double fisting, a photo by m0nk3yphd on Flickr.

February 75F stroll

February 75F stroll, a photo by m0nk3yphd on Flickr.

prepping veg

prepping veg 1, a photo by m0nk3yphd on Flickr.

He just learnt to peel and is loving it. He does carrots too. So now I've been buying a 5lb bag for delicious yummy healthy snacks.

Smiles!

We are getting smiles, all over the place. Mark had her in the giggles here. It is so much fun as she started to really interact.

Quality Play time

DSC_0067, a photo by m0nk3yphd on Flickr.

Another Bad weather - no school day.
Miriam and Z played for 30 minutes. No fussing, just lots of "round and round the garden" and "this little piggie" and ""rain, rain, rain, raptor".

Miriam on a new quilt

DSC_0057, a photo by m0nk3yphd on Flickr.

just for those who need a baby pic fix.

ice storm austin

DSC_0048, a photo by m0nk3yphd on Flickr.

Zachary ate a bunch of icicles. He was fascinated. And the crunchy cold allowed him to really get the wobble on a front tooth that has been loose for ages.
Four days later and now it's shorts weather!

Author and Publisher

title page, a photo by m0nk3yphd on Flickr.

Fruits Book 1/31/14 Friday Zacharys

pages 1 and 2, a photo by m0nk3yphd on Flickr.

What do you see? I see a Cherry 1 What do you see? I see a Banana 2

pages 3 and 4, a photo by m0nk3yphd on Flickr.

What do you see? I see a Strawberry 3 What do you see? I see a Strawberrys and Blueberrys 4

pages 5 and 6, a photo by m0nk3yphd on Flickr.

What do you see? I see a Apples 5 What do you see? I see a Waters (Watermelons but ran out of space) 6

the end, a photo by m0nk3yphd on Flickr.

The End 6

Big brother sings

What are *you* thankful for today?

PJ Library is fantastic, as always. The fact that they deliver high quality kids books where Judaism is normal is a great addition to reading time, and our kids library. Last month we got a CD of great songs (Uri Uri, by Elena Jagoda) and it has been on rotation in the car.  We got in the car yesterday and Z requested it - and then sang along with the whole first song, all about being thankful and counting your blessings. And then he told us all about what he was thankful for.

We even overheard him singing it later in the evening as we got ready for bed.

I'm thankful that I've got a kid who is keeping an eye out for all the good things in his world.

In unrelated news, Young Ms. Miriam had her 1 month appointment today. She is, and I quote, "perfect". (That was from the resident who I suspect has not seen *that* many babies, but mostly seemed relieved that the whole thing seemed quite as expected.) She is 11lbs on the nose, and growing like a champ. She's also starting to play, although at this point that just means track things, and whack at things we hold from her and look disgruntled about being on her tummy during tummy time.

one month old, six years old.

Untitled, a photo by m0nk3yphd on Flickr.

they just grow so fast

Cuteness

Zachary has been getting brave with Miriam. He has been asking to hold her. It started out every few days. And he'd hold her for a just few seconds. But today he asked at least twice. The second time on his lap on the couch, he jiggled her back to restful when she fussed. Then Z leant forward and whispered

"I love you Miriam"

in her ear. It was barely audible, then he glanced at me to see if I'd heard. He really is enjoying being a big brother to his little sister. 

saw this

DSC_0073, a photo by m0nk3yphd on Flickr.

and thought of 6 years ago .....

All Worn Out, a photo by m0nk3yphd on Flickr.

Old and New

DSC_0092, a photo by m0nk3yphd on Flickr.

Sarah's Vest, Mark's shorts and Miriam's spectacular new quilt.

Because words matter

Tonight Mark was putting Zachary to bed, and I was trying to convince Miriam that intestinal function was not actually something worth being really angry about (funny, because I went back to the very beginning of this blog and found Z had exactly the same dramatic reaction to intestines.. and the same angry WHY IS MY DIAPER WET AND WHY AM I HUNGRY?!? face.. two peas in a pod they are..)... Anyway, I made some offhand comment to Mark to go help his eldest settle down (since bedtime is always so relaxing around here).. And Mark just froze and looked at me like I had spoken some language so exotic that it wasn't even identifiable... "My... eldest?"

It turns out words matter. It turns out it is a bit strange, with new vocabulary like "two" and "eldest" and "daughter". It isn't quite the same as getting married, but in some ways it is bigger... Marriage felt like a moment. This feels like a tunnel. It takes time to transition and we're sort of getting our sea legs but everything changes so fast at the beginning. We're trying to keep things sort of sensible for the "eldest".. but what is sensible when you've got a new person who has been alive for less than three weeks and makes 75 noises but they all mean either "Poop!" or "BOOB!" or "WET!" or "Tired." We're trying all the ways to be four people all pulling in different directions together, especially when two of us are getting roughly enough sleep combined to still not be allowed to operate heavy machinery.

And, as an exercise in optimism that only human beings can achieve.. somehow we totally believe it is possible. Not only possible, but inevitable, and probably it'll all be ok, and we don't have too much heavy machinery anyway. And one of them made it to 6, which is a card we're playing heavily around here.

(a tiny diversion - this one coos. She actually coos. I didn't even know that was a noise babies actually made. This baby does make it. Sometimes it is just an exploratory coo. Sometimes it escalates into "WHY ARE YOU NOT FEEDING ME YET? I am losing patience." But regardless, she coos. It is amazing and fantastic.)

Peaceful PomPom Afternoon Nap

Miriam catches her best sleep in the late afternoon. Joke is on us, I suppose. Doesn't she look relaxed? If we follow the standard newborn axiom, we should be asleep instead of taking pictures, and tidying up, and eating, and helping Z with homework and....whoops. Maybe someone needs to revise the manual for once we get past the first child. Or sans in-house help. Ah, well..We are having a lot of fun, and even occasionally getting sleep. Even those of us without magical vibrating bouncy chairs.

Thinkery water fun

Cuddling Miriam

Untitled, a photo by m0nk3yphd on Flickr.

Granny and Grandpa Collins enjoying an evening snuggle

Peter Pan mini golf

3 generations playing in the Austin sunshine on the first of the year.

Rifting on Lego

Lego rift, a photo by m0nk3yphd on Flickr.

Lego magazine had jail instructions, shown here together with Z reimagining, including smoke and the hello kitty guard.

End of year Sunday