Uncle Jim

Isaiah appears a little confused because he was expecting a Southern or Cajun accent, but Uncle Jim sounded exactly like his other New York aunts and uncles. So much for New Orleans, wherever that is.

In other news, Isaiah finds the Slinky fascinating.

Basket case

Clean clothes, clean baby.

Merry Christmas

We decorated a couple of weeks ago and now presents have magically appeared. Not that we need anything.

We look forward to our first Christmas with Isaiah, and with the Tascios, and we miss everyone we will not be seeing in person this year.

Sadly, the risk management department in the house will not allow real candles.

Dad's big mistake

While mom went to the gym, Isaiah and dad played this morning. As we often do, we took a walk. We went down to the side door and looked out. We looked up at the square of lightbulbs lit on the ceiling (excellent design and execution according to the 4.5-month-old critic). We walked into the lobby and sat looking at the sun on the snow. We looked up at the chandeliers and wondered why such beautiful lighting was not turned on. We laughed at ourselves in the full-wall mirrors.

Then the excitement began. Dad decided to walk down the hall of the wing we don't live in. "Let's ride the elevator," he said. "Let's get off on the fourth floor and walk down the stairs." So we did, except there was light at the top of the stairs. Dad wandered up to look out the window. He used his finger to melt clear panes through the frost. He decided it was time to walk down and ...

He got too close to the roof door which has an alarm. Catastrophe. Our ears hurt. We were scared. We ran down the stairs, dad apologizing the whole way. There was much screaming and it didn't subside until dad had rocked Isaiah, talked soothingly, read Brown Bear and offered to buy a new bicycle.

In the aftermath, we turned it into a great adventure, happy that the pirates had not caught us. We recalled swinging across a gulch on a vine, chasing cows on our horses and climbing down a mountain at a rapid pace.

Needless to say, mom was warmly greeted when she returned.

iPhones are not evil

At least not when they give us pics like this.

Let it snow

A really cute picture from Colorado.

Some uncertainty

When greeted by a brightly colored hand puppet at Grandma Tascio's house last week, Isaiah was initially interested but then grew increasingly concerned by what he was seeing and hearing.

Today there was much laughing as I read to him and then did some tickling, making me think back to the tickle monster of my childhood.

He continues to slobber profusedly, which means the teeth must be growing in. He's also getting stronger, arching his back and fighting the outdoor clothes if we don't use a sneak attack on the first arm.

Simple pleasures

Helium balloons ...

Ceiling fans.

Doctor's visit

Isaiah weighted 16 pounds, 13 ounces and measured 26 inches when we visited Dr. Braier today. She said he's doing well. She looked but couldn't find the lump on his neck. He flirted away until he got his vaccinations. Then he wasn't so happy, but he got to eat right after the needle sticks, which helped smooth the situation over.

Grandma and Grandpa Friedrichs with two grandkids

Isaiah and Daniel didn't have to compete for attention in Colorado. They both got all they wanted. The one sore point for Daniel (and most of the other very young kids we saw) came when Lisa (or the respective child's mom) had Isaiah. Then there was some jealousy.

Fire!

Isaiah soaks up the fire on Grandpa Friedrichs' lap. Ceiling lights are amusing. A fire is mesmerizing.

Lots of people

Martha and Karl's siblings, siblings' spouses, and the nephews, Isaiah and Daniel. At this point they were officially married.

Aunts and uncles

Uncle Mort shows off the baby amusement techniques he's perfected with Daniel.

Aunt Martha shows that brides don't have to be stressed, especially when holding babies.

Flying's not so bad

After screaming that such a large hunk of metal stuffed with people and assorted luggage would never get off the runway in New York, Isaiah decided five minutes into the flight he was hungry. Eating made him sleepy. Sleeping was very calming. When he awoke, he needed to be amused. Overall, he did very well.

On the flight back there was more screaming, although some of it was caused by Dad's refusal to walk around to show Isaiah the airplane. The fasten-seatbelt sign and narrow aisle are just to difficult to explain in baby talk.

Greetings from Colorado

Wedding this morning was great. We walked a mile from the lodge and our rooms to this rock outcropping and stood in a big circle of family and friends for the service. Karl and Martha looked very happy. Isaiah fell asleep on the walk over in his bundle of clothes and woke up about halfway through. Marian and Liz added New York style to the event.

Having a great time. Trying to get a Christmas card picture. Pictures may not get up until next week because I didn't bring my own computer.

Cleared for departure

Isaiah contemplates the travel plans for the Colorado trip. Have mom and dad packed enough clothes? Who needs four sweaters for a seven-day trip? Is an average of nine books per member of the family enough?

Will he ever be able to find his hands again (and stuff them in his mouth) after he is wrapped in 17 layers of warm clothing? Why does he have sense of foreboding that there will be more, slightly large and overtalkative people like uncle Paul and grandpa Friedrichs at the other end of this ordeal?

Isaiah's hat from Jen Lindsay (see earlier fall bashion post) is cleared for the trip after extensive testing. Fortunately for the hat, slobber travels downhill. Maybe the people sitting next to us on the plane will have new and exciting uses for that liquid.

Friday culture

I still have to explain the cartoons to Isaiah, but if he could control his arms well enough to hold it, he would be picking up the rest of the "New Yorker" just fine.

It'll be a beautiful day when he understands this barbecue stuff Calvin Trillin writes about in the issue pictured.

Tonight we went to a vespers service and choral concert at a very traditional Catholic church in Norwalk. Isaiah was intrigued by the chanting and organ, which he felt deserved some loud noises in reply. He also tried to sing with the choir a couple of times and to share his thoughts with the priest during the introduction of the concert portion of the evening (most likely it was a question about what type of punishment a young man’s parents should receive for strapping him down in the infernal car seat).

The young sultan

Isaiah awaits his servants' (or parents') response to his demands this morning.

Re-orienting ourselves

There's a lot of chatter around the house these days. Isaiah has become increasingly vocal and one of his greatest complaints is that mom and dad don't provide enough funny faces, exciting stories and extracurricular activities.

Isaiah's also working his core muscles with leg lifts and frantic maneuvering that is going to result in rolling over any day now.

Of course, his inability to match my sinuous movements and rhapsodic speech results in great frustration at times and it's back to the vocal complaint.

It's all fun and games until someone gets a hickey.

So here's what happened. On Saturday night, I took Isaiah out of the car and carried him to the building with his sleeping head on my shoulder. Soon he woke up and started rooting. Not finding..ahem...what he was looking for, he planted his mouth on my cheek and started sucking. I felt so bad for not being able to stop and nurse him that I just let him suck. Quickly he figured out that he wasn't getting any milk, let go, and howled. He screamed all the way to the apartment, where he finally got his belly full of milk and fell asleep. That's when I went into the bathroom, where I predictably encountered a mirror. Wait. What was that little red mark by my mouth? A rash? An oddly shaped pimple? But when I touched it, I didn't feel anything. It only took another second or two for me to figure out that my son had given me...yes, folks, a hickey. I had to put concealer on it for Mass the next morning. What would Father Phil have thought? (I promise it's there! You can take my word for it, but I have witnesses, too. :) )

Clubbing with Aunt Liz

Not happy with our corner table, Isaiah demands to be paraded about the room. Aunt Liz obliged.

Test

Peter and Magda's cat, Tuesday, did not eat Isaiah. In fact, they both were very relaxed about hanging out together.

Uncles

Paul celebrates completing the New York Marathon by checking how much more his legs can bear on Sunday. Isaiah seems unconcerned.

Uncle Peter holds the sleeping baby Sunday night.

A little treat

Isaiah wears his pumpkin hat given to us by Aaron Harries. Next year maybe we'll take the vote proposed by Paul on what costume he should wear.

Isaiah speaks

We're not sure what he's saying, but he'd sure like us to pay attention. Translations welcome.

Sweetness

We should all wish to sleep so well.

Hanging out

Isaiah's not quite ready for guitar lessons, but he enjoys his time with Peter and Magda.

Sunday drive

Isaiah bubbles with interest as we drive to Putnam Lake.

Unable to translate his thoughts here.

Pudgy guy's hand.

Just resting

Nothing much to say here. We've enjoyed some nice walks the past few days. Still have a lot of leaves. OK, enough babbling. Look at the cute baby.

What parenting does to you

OK, work also contributed to this.

But I blame the baby for Marian's look here. (Click on the photo to enlarge it. It's worth it.)

PT's birthday

Peter opens things.

Magda, apparently, doesn't care what Pete gets.

Peter lives his life like a candle in the wind.

Shirt or sweater, you decide. (None of this dialogue is scripted.)

Isaiah's really following movements with his eyes. He also laughed a lot today. After bedtime he got fussy and Marian had to walk around with him. He calmed down and started laughing while they were in the rocker. Marian laughed and laughed harder. I started talking to him and laughing, and that was even funnier. We're not sure if he was laughing at us or with us or at his own private joke.

Doing what he does best

He can sleep on the bed, in the carseat, in the stroller, on Mom's lap, in Dad's arms and lots of other places.

Isaiah's very busy Sunday

Isaiah naps in the car, unaware of the many events planned for his day.

Isaiah waits for the 9:30 a.m. service at St. Charles Borromeo to end with Dad and Uncle James Friedrichs. The last time we saw James, Isaiah was still hanging out inside.

Uncle Peter plays guitar at a cafe on City Island.

Aunt Liz, Aunt Therese, and Grandma Tascio watch Peter while Isaiah naps.

Isaiah now (Oct. 15)

And then (Aug. 19)

He's grown a little bit. He's definitely pudgier and stronger. Still just as peaceful when he sleeps, though.

Isaiah's doctor

Dr. Braier does a very nice job, although Isaiah sometimes doesn't like the poking and prodding.

Putnam Lake

Mid-October color reflected in Putnam Lake, N.Y.