April showers

And April flowers. Exploring Elizabeth Park on a cool, rainy April Saturday.

Always Pushing

Isaiah disappeared around the front of the car in the lot outsider our building. When I walked to where I could see him, he was perched between the curb and bumper. (Don't worry, the car is still moving on its own).

A fun bulldozer we saw in New Britain.

Our Young Man Of Letters

Just a little playful evening action at the Friedrichs house.

Chucks

We really want to avoid brands with our kids, but I do love these shoes (mine were on sale; Isaiah's were second-hand).

The New Building

No doorman, but we left at 8:12 a.m. this morning, took a brief detour and still arrived in the office by 8:30 a.m.

Spotted In The Bronx

Isaiah works his way through a tunnel on the playground next to Arthur Avenue. He didn't want to walk across the bridge because, I think, of the holes in the metal, so he scooted on his butt.

Easter 2010

The eggs.

The sunny afternoon in Putnam Lake.

The Easter outfits (I did not take any pictures of the hats at church, but there were some stunning examples of fashion).

Dona nobis pacem

The young 'un was spouting Latin on our way home in the early hours after the Easter Vigil mass. He learned it from one of the music CDs Marian plays for him. He also has smattering of Spanish he drops now and then to impress the folks around us.

We're not moving ...

We're creating an ever-changing obstacle course for Isaiah. Or, at least, that's what he thinks. For the concerned grandparents, he did not fall down. He climbed back down after I told him to, although some mischievous glances were thrown my way.

Holy Week

This morning in the bath and right now (through a mouthful of peas), Isaiah has been repeatedly intoning, "Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory." Oh, wait. The chant just changed to, "More peas! More peas!" Gotta go.

Anachronism?

Isaiah enjoys his paper and breakfast. Did you know the deals you can get on new cars? Why do we never see such deals on trains and buses?

Spring!

Forget robins, although we saw one or two of those, we've got barbecue. Blessed with great weather all week, we fired up the grill in the park (and avoided the poison ivy this time around). Isaiah had an especially good time with Uncle Pete, who also came through later with brownies and ice cream.

Lunchables

Nothing wild about Isaiah, except his hair, on Saturday, so not long after this picture was taken in Central Park, I fed him a muffin.

Activities of note

At breakfast this morning, a certain young man in our house (no, not me) tried to shove a Cheerio in his right ear. When I called him on it, he started faking towards that ear every other bite.

Isaiah's current favorite songs to sing: ABC song and "Big Green Tractor," which he sings when he's bored in the car or sleepy.

Yesterday in New York, we walked past the subway station next to the Natural History Museum. Isaiah leaned toward it and said, "Saturday, ride the train." We have never entered the subway at that station. It has a sign that says "subway," stairs leading down, the route letter signs and the light globe. From those clues (he definitely didn't see or hear one of the trains), he knew we could get on there. Amazing.

Humor

The funniest phrase in the English language according to one 19-month-old (who happens to live with us): "That's quite a load of fish, Bilgy."

It only gets funnier if it repeat it over and over.

Endearing phrases and translations

No like it

Creamah -- what Isaiah used to say for ice cream

Get off

Hop up

Carry you -- Carry me

Get there first -- Go pick up the ball

Call my knights -- from the book Peasant Pig

Cookie and muffin -- applied generically to energy bars, cake, anything sweet

Go away -- directed sometimes at his mother when she's in the way of driving trucks on the couch

And one that Marian and I have decided to use on people who look but don't buy the apartment: A blight on your potatoes.

Spring Training

I broke out the glove on a rainy day and caught self-tosses. Isaiah wanted to try. Putting the ball in that leather thing is not as easy as it looks. By the way, did you know you could play run in circles in an elevator?

Rock and Roll!

Isaiah demonstrates what his parents will be doing in 30 years.

Mudding

On the walk home Wednesday night, Isaiah fell perfectly, landing with his face in the mud, the top of his hat in the snow and his butt in the air. I pulled him up by his coat, and he made known his desire for "Momma." By the time we got home, though, he was in fine spirits.

Sweeps Week

Isaiah took an interest in cleaning up this weekend, although I still wouldn't hand off responsibility for all those spilled Cheerios.

More Isaiah-isms

1. A few weeks ago, I picked Isaiah up after he dropped a book on his toe. Through his tears, he informed me of the type of comforting he needed by tugging on my collar and crying, "Shirt, shirt! Opum it! Opum it!"

2. Yesterday, Clare bought Isaiah not one but two bananas at Starbucks. When she returned with the second one, Isaiah reached out his hand for it and said, "I'm so happy!"

3. And this morning, Isaiah got some yogurt in his hair. I went after him with a wet hairbrush, which he (sort of) put up with until he finally squirmed out of my reach and told me, "Done! Done! I mean it!"

Sleeping

All angles and elbows and kicking feet until he falls asleep. Then he usually finds a way to be snuggled up or at least touching one of us. It pushes me toward the edge of the bed, but I haven't fallen off, yet.

Tractors and Dogs!

We did not buy a new roof at the KC home show, but we found a couple of guys who could do the work if we want it.

Hungry kid

Isaiah wasn't happy to wait, but once he had demolished a plate of eggs on Saturday morning, he sure was in a good mood and really enjoyed Grandma Friedrichs.

Outside

Last week in the snow.

Isaiah's Valentine

Last night, Isaiah played at Aunt Clare's house for a few hours while Mama and Daddy had a date at home. As soon as his mother turned the car onto Clare's street to drop him off, Isaiah cried out, "Clare! Clare!" On the return trip, Isaiah repeatedly piped up from the backseat, "Luva Clare-Clare, luva Clare-Clare. See her, see her."

Twosie update

Marian had an appointment this week and we heard the heartbeat. Isaiah was more interested in driving his tractor on the examining table than anything else going on in the room. Marian has also begun to feel flutters of movement. Twosie was especially active after we had ice cream Thursday night (Isaiah didn't complain about that, either!).

Snow day fun

What makes a snowy day even better? Marian popped popcorn on Wednesday, and Isaiah and I thoroughly enjoyed eating it.

Hey,

Uncle Pete, Paul Paul, wait for me.

Crayons!

Someday these could be priceless examples of an artists first drawings. Until then, we'll enjoy the latest ventures into creativity.

Bath notes

Yesterday morning, Isaiah took his washcloth and said "wash Isaiah" while moving it across his chest. Then he said "face" and wiped across the mouth area (one of his least favorite aspects of the evening bed ritual). He also likes to suck water from the cloth, something that brought back a visceral memory of something I liked to do when I was a child.

Word of the day

Yesterday on Metronorth, I had Isaiah saying "New York."

Two forks

Hungry?

Isaiah and I were in the elevator. A couple got in behind us. The guy was carrying a big, rectangular box. "Pizza," said Isaiah, correctly. Everyone involved was highly amused.

Yesterday, shortly after I got up at 6 a.m., Isaiah sat up and said, "peanut butter." This morning at 6:40, he said "French fry."

He also knows how to walk backwards. And he's spouting off almost whole pages of "One Fish, Two Fish" by Dr. Seuss.

Couch Giggles

Pete, Isaiah and Clare share a moment in Yonkers.

Doing The Locomotion

Paper chase

Isaiah woke up earlier this week and pointed to the coach, saying Daddy, paper. I wonder why?

If only I could reach the pedals

Isaiah can now climb on and off the tricycle by himself. He wishes he could reach the pedals and make it move.

Moms

Heidi, Joshua, Heidi's mom, Marian, Isaiah and I visited for a while Sunday afternoon in Brooklyn. It was rainy and cool, and Marian was a bit worn out, but it was good to talk and see what a good job Heidi's doing as a single mom.

I see you

Hats are convenient for peek-a-boo, more commonly called "I see you" at our house. Isaiah has even taken to walking with the hat pulled over his eyes (maybe he's testing whether he has "the Force?"). Fortunately, he's usually peeking from beneath the brim, not charging along completely blind on the sidewalk.

Towers

Isaiah is mildly amused by my tower building binge using the boxes we've been gathering for the move. Marian hasn't weighed in, yet.

Things we like

When a 17-month old sitting next to you says "happy" and puts his hands together, you know you're having a good day, week, month and year.

When dad's in charge ...

Things sometimes get a little out of hand. And sometimes Isaiah gets himself into a bind and needs a hand.

Saturday tidbits

Cold again, but not as windy as last weekend, so waiting for the bus was not as dangerous/guilt-inducing. We rode to the subway. Chugga, chugga, choo, choo. The airplanes on the Chrysler building museum are very interesting. The Lionel train layout at the Transportation Museum Store in Grand Central was fascinating (although I barely escaped buying some trains for Isaiah; cookies are powerful distrations). Waiting for the 1 train, Isaiah was transfixed buy a man playing saxophone. Others in the crowd were mesmerized by Isaiah's focus on the musician. Then came the on-subway acrobats. After exiting at Van Courtland  Park, we walked, stomped on ice, stepped back and forth over a chain fence and played.

Skills

Last night when I got home, Isaiah demonstrated how to walk backwards. Then he spun in circles (both directions).

From the lexicon:

Carry you: means pick me up. Originated because I often ask him, "do you want me to carry you?"

Goes: used to indicate something is moving or should be moving. He uses it in vehicles and when moving toys on the floor or cereal around his tray.

And the Moments Just Keep Coming...

Yesterday Isaiah got his hands on a prayer card I was using as a book mark.  It was a picture of the Blessed Virgin, wearing a white robe and a crown and standing on a cloud.  Isaiah smiled at her and said, "Jesus!"  I told her it wasn't Jesus but Jesus' mama, so he looked at her again and said, "Mom."  Later he was walking around with the card saying, "Jesus Mom, Jesus Mom."

This morning in church, Isaiah sidled out of our pew and walked around to the side of the altar with his mother behind him, hoping he wouldn't do anything too distracting.  But all he did was go up to the tabernacle, point at it, and say, "Jesus."  The kid really has been listening...

(P.S. I know some of you are probably mourning the recent lack of photos, but I left our camera at Grandpa Tascio's last weekend.  We should be getting it back soon.  Until then, you'll just have to use those famous imaginations of yours. :)  Or come visit us if you're local.)

A Few Things I'd Rather Not Forget

On our return flight from Kansas City, after we had gotten settled in our seats, Isaiah asked for "nook".  I complied and he started to nurse, but soon the rest of the passengers began to board.  Isaiah's little head popped up; a huge grin spread across his face.  He pointed to the travelers filing past us and cried out gleefully, "People!  People!"

During that flight, Dad and Isaiah played "Zoom" by making their hands fly like airplanes.  The next day, Grandpa Tascio also played "Zoom" by showing Isaiah how to make trucks and other objects fly.  Everything "zooms" now.  A fire truck that goes "Vroom" on the couch or the floor goes "Zoom" through the air.  Tissue boxes and remote controls can also "zoom."  Last night, we watched Home Alone at Pete and Magda's.  Isaiah wasn't paying much attention to the movie, but when he heard the character say the word "airport," he suddenly stopped what he was doing and called out, "Zoom!"  

I don't know who's been teaching Isaiah numbers on the sly, but at Grandpa Tascio's house, when he was playing with a pair of van-shaped magnets, Isaiah informed us all that he had "two trucks."  The next day in the bath, he looked at his feet and crowed, "Ten toes!  Ten toes!"  Then the other day, when we were walking over Central Ave. with Pete and Magda, a bus rumbled by and Isaiah said, "Bus."  Two more passed, and Isaiah accordingly reported, "Buses."

At Mass last Sunday, when the priest invited us to offer the sign of peace, Isaiah--perched in his dad's arms--turned to me with a smile, said "Peace!" and threw his free arm around my neck.

Moments

I in my KU stocking and Isaiah in his Pooh hat are walking on New Year's Eve. A light snow falls. With his first pair of winter boots ever, does Isaiah choose the cleared sidewalk or the grass with an inch of snow? He puts the boots to use, of course. 

Unhappy Pooh

I do not like this hat. take it off, now.

Matching marble runs

Isaiah already knows to say yucky when sticking the marbles in his mouth ...

Candles on the tree

And the house is still standing ...

Bath Time!

Isaiah wasn't excited about the bath, but once he got in with cousin Daniel, he had a good time. Now everybody is ready for Christmas Eve.

Trucks!

Isaiah sat in this truck and rode in another one today. Plus he saw two dogs, rode on the tractor and mooed at some cows. 

Traveling music

Not exactly a Christmas song, but just in time for Christmas vacation and the trip to Kansas.

Long winter's nap

The heavy winter coat acts as a support, keeping Isaiah's head up when he's strapped into the car seat and snoozing.

More reading

With Uncle Pete.

Winter Wear

Isaiah models dad's KU winter headgear. That mom is handy with the camera, isn't she?

Supper

Below the tray level, Isaiah disguised himself as a bowl of spaghetti.

Dramatic Interpretation Of Trucks

Grandpa Tascio reads one of Isaiah's favorite books.

Mirror Images

Isaiah and Pete commute north from Westchester.

Tired and Hungry

Eat black beans. Rub eyes. Eat black beans. Rub face. Eat black beans. Rub ears. Eat black beans. Rub hair. Repeat.

Morning nibbles

Weekends are nice. The pig looks relaxed, too.