Bernadette's baptism

Father Joe baptizes Bernadette.

There will be no question that she was touched by the water. The Grandmas thought Father Joe should have avoided the eyes.


Thanks to Rod for all the photos.

There Was Love All Around, But I Never Heard It Singing...

I've been having some doubts about my effectiveness as a mother, especially since Bernadette has been around and my attention has been just a wee bit divided and my patience and energy have dwindled somewhat (read: plummeted). But just over the past few days, Isaiah has begun spontaneously crooning a certain song I used to sing to him as a baby, and I know for sure that I've taught him at least one thing worth knowing.

p.s. Happy birthday, Mother Teresa. Love, Brooklyn.

Cousins

Isaiah and Katherine before the caterpillar arrived.

Working thoughts

Anybody want to hire Isaiah? He's looking for a job as a cheerio spreader (creating that slightly crunchy carpet feel throughout your house), short-range truck radar (know the location of every truck within one-quarter mile of your car on the Interstate), or combination goat feeder/cat chaser.

Yum

Isaiah tastes a cannoli.

Meet the great-grandparents

Bernadette meets Grandpa Nazarene and Grandma Ginny Tascio.

Recent notes

-- Seen this morning: Trout jumping clear of the water and splashing at the hatchery, chickens clucking at Hard Rain Farm, a young Isaiah trying to kiss a bunny who had pushed forward in the cage, bleating goats and somnolent alpacas.

-- An example of parallel play? Young cat plays with cricket it has captured while Isaiah chases, pets and scrutinizes cat and two siblings amongst the apple trees of the farm where we buy eggs.

-- Bernadette's holding up her head, pushing back. Marian still stands after a day home by herself. We eat lovely Sukiennik lasagna. Isaiah and I run bases, swing and pursue other activities in the park. Late sun illuminates high clouds in the growing darkness. Humidity adds a shine to the grass and little droplets walk us home.

-- Positive development: When I returned home from work tonight, Isaiah had developed an interest in Calvin and Hobbes.

Dialogue

Setting: Friday night in a kitchen in Bristol. Matt talking to Marian, mentions he talked to his dad, who had driven to Manhattan (Kansas) with Aunt Marilyn.
Isaiah: Did you want Marilyn? (Translation: I want to play with Marilyn.)
Matt: Marilyn's not here; she's in Kansas.
Isaiah: Marilyn's at work.
Matt: Marilyn's not at work; she's retired.
Isaiah: Marilyn's tired.

Setting: The swingset in the Seeleys' backyard in Brewster, N.Y. Isaiah is on the multiperson swing facing his cousin Katherine DiDona. Katherine gestures wildly at something, which we discover is a fuzzy white bug with long black tendrils. Matt removes it from the bar, first knocking it to the floor of the swing, then the ground, and carries it to the trees 10 feet away.
Matt: It's only a caterpillar. It'll turn into a butterfly.
Isaiah: It'll turn into a shark!

The Ups and Downs

Lots of crying in the night and early this morning from the toddler who is being night weaned (or rather, who is being reminded that before his baby sister was born, he was night weaned). Tonight Matt has a business dinner, so I am on my own all day and all evening (and yesterday Bernadette timed her waking hours to coincide perfectly with Isaiah's nap--and I mean perfectly, down to the minute--so I couldn't rest; wonder what she has in store today). Thinking about all of this and feeling sure I was going to crack up, I suddenly heard from the other room a two-year-old voice break into the chorus of "Smile" by Uncle Kracker.

p.s. Yesterday, while they were nursing together, Isaiah reached out and stroked Bernadette's face. It was the first physical contact during "nook" that didn't involve an uncontrolled knee or elbow. He is also very proud of his contributions to cradle-rocking. He still says he doesn't like her, though.

Summer FunNew Haven beach

The new pose of contemplation.

Air museum at Bradley Airport. There was some consternation about being unable to take off in any of the planes. And I wouldn't let him break open the display cases so he could hold the models.

Tascio Ladies

Family of four

Summer fun

Birthday Boy!

Whilst I was not watching, Isaiah popped the lid off the canister and sampled the berry ice cream. This was before dinner was served.
Then he fell asleep before we could bring out the cake. The wind kept blowing out the candles, and we sang, anyway. He slept through it. We waited a good period of time (at least 15, if not 30 minutes) before starting on dessert without him.
He recovered nicely, though--waking to 3 pieces of cake, a bit of ice cream and plenty of new trucks.

Condimental

Ketchup, Isaiah said, and dove right in. Multiple times. He later agreed, after a brief demontration, that fries are a good way to eat it, too.

Morning Dialogue

Isaiah: Snake on his ear.

Matt: Are you working on your new best-selling detective series, "The Guy With A Snake On His Ear"?

Isaiah: He heard footsteps. He had to hide again, but where?

Various stages of shuteye

The very first car trip! Bernadette accompanies us to get cheeseburgers (Marian and Matt) and fries (Isaiah, who ignored his hotdog, but loved the ketchup; more on that later).
Should I get up now, or stay in bed? Maybe a couple minutes more of napping followed by nursing? Or should I make mom jump right now? This outside world is so complicated. So many decisions.
Sleeping like babies.

Isaiah Has His Hands In Everything

Notes

Bernadette Ruth Friedrichs of an opera or epic poem, sung into life by her mother,Marian, whose vocalizations during labor captured lifetimes, sadness, joy, pain, euphoria. Up and down with pauses, rests, choruses.

• Morning referendum on how I'm doing as a dad: Isaiah is willing to trade me for an ice cream soda (and he's never even had one).

• ‎"There was no soot." The funniest line ever, according to the 2-year-old in our house. Who knew Beatrix Potter was a comic genius?

• Yellow slime diaper. Everywhere. Now cleaned up.

Hmmm

Is this a question for accounting or legal?

Family Time

Grandpa Peter

Grandma Anne

Aunt Magda

Perpetual Motion