Polka!

Christmas Eve

Siblings dinner. Bernadette and Isaiah subsisted mostly on sweets.

New York adventure

 Isaiah tries to eat chicken with chopsticks at Pho Grand Vietnamese restaurant in New York, near the Bowery.

 Bernadette used chopsticks, too, but only to stir Daddy's soup.

 The mango smoothy wasn't to your liking?

 A taste of the sweet and spicy dipping sauce that came with an appetizer.

 Matt, Clare, Matt and Bernadette

Peter, Magda and Isaiah

 The aunts and uncles

Back row from left: Mike, Rod, Charlie (Dad), Sharon.
Front row: Val, Kasee, Martha, Betsy (Mom), Doug.
Sue and Denny did not make it this year, and Dave died this spring.

 Dad, Isaiah, Keith and Matt stand atop a big rock near Eagle Falls.

 We pose on the bridge above the falls.

 Paul and Liz above the falls.

Sarah and Marian above the falls.

Liz, Marian, Matt and Paul jump into Lake Tahoe. It was only cold the first time each day.

Matt, Marian and mountains.

Isaiah and Mama.

Paul, Matt Menke, Keith and Matt balance on the swimming platform. Much hilarity and falling off ensued.

They Meet

Ok, so this wasn't the first time Isaiah saw Bernadette. And she's not really trying to block out the noise. She just had her and up there. But it sure is funny, and Isaiah is still circling the baby and the whole concept of sharing his mom and the house with this little squeaker.

When I stepped out from the bedroom tonight, Marian was nursing two at once. Talk about super mom.

Funny thing, Isaiah was bigger by more than a pound than Bernadette is. She doesn't seem as small as I remember Isaiah being, though. Maybe that was because he was first.

I do notice, however, the 20+ pounds in difference in their weight now. Isaiah's a workout compared to holding Bernadette.

I also want to mention that Isaiah gotten no less cute in the past two days. We've just had the cuteness factor of the household overall increased.

At play

Isaiah is now cruising up this playground structure in the park across the street from the house en route to the twisty slide, which he really likes. He also fell out of the adult swing the other night, but recovered quickly.

Near the playground is a small rise with rocks poking through the grass, and he likes to scramble up there. The other night as we walked down from the rocks, we stepped onto cedar stumps just down the hill.

"Stumps," I said.

"Rocks," Isaiah said.

"Stumps," I said. "Stump speech."

"Do it again," Isaiah said.

"Stump speech," said, and then proceeded to provide an example.

"Do it again," Isaiah said.

Is it wrong to be highly amused by my own attempts to embed history and linguistic roots into his brain?

Some Dudes reading the paper

Matt, Isaiah and Pete check out the Sunday New York Times.

Face time

Isaiah and I share a little Sunday morning paper time at the breakfast table.

Last tastes of summer

Isaiah beckoned for Uncle Pete's corn, and so, like many of his requests, he got his chance. He attacked and enjoyed. 

Strolling

Rain didn't stop Isaiah, Paul and I from exploring the new High Line park in lower Manhattan on Friday. It's built on the elevated bed of a rail line that once served the warehouses near the Hudson.

Perspective

 

We stayed in Hartford on Sunday night and Isaiah had a great time, first gettting a horsey ride from Chet Brodnicki (he made Chet repeat the fun three times) and then chasing tops as we spun them on the floor.

On Monday, we went to the ESPN picnic, where I tried to take him on every ride. Who was more interested in the rides? Play where's Isaih in the pic below if you don't know that answer.

 

Boys and their toys

Isaiah was on of four boys 2 and younger who flocked to the pedal tractor at the wedding reception. They would have ridden all night if there were adults with enough energy to push them.

Isaiah also really liked riding on Grandpa's tractor.

After the Wedding

Three New Yorkers hang out with two Kansans on their native turf. Note that Isaiah is ready to walk/run/play. Anything not involving sitting still and being held while people in front of him talk in a formal manner.

Gloucester (Gloster ...)

Matt, Isaiah, Matthew, Daniel and Karl climb the rock picnic table overlooking the harbor. 

Father's Day

Matt, Isaiah, Grandpa Tascio and Rex Stout celebrated Father's Day (along with Marian and Clare) at the diner in Brewster. I got a new hat. Isaiah got to ride in the car for 4+ hours and Grandpa got to take the hardcover Stout home. Everyone (except Isaiah after he woke up in Mass.) felt they got a great gift.

Spring in Yonkers

We had beautiful weather over the weekend so we went to the park on Sunday after church. Like many items of clothing, Isaiah's hat has gotten mysteriously small (and not because dad sometimes does the laundry).

Isaiah got to wander around barefoot in the grass and infield dirt, chase the ball and watch the kickball players, football game, fishing, bicycle riders and many other people out enjoying the warm, sunny afternoon.

Easter 2009

Isaiah got new clothes for Easter. Here's the family photo.

Another day at the office

Isaiah and Marian surprised me last week when I forgot my lunch at home. He didn't write any headlines, but he sure drew attention with his baby noises and cute face.

Prince Street, NYC

Isaiah's so cute, people offer to photograph him even when I'm not asking the to.