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

Monday afternoon

We arrive home to a sleeping Kateri.

New York

Another New York adventure with Uncle Pete and Aunt Magda.

Looking around

Soaking up more and more the world. Both yesterday and today, Kateri had whole-body hiccups while I held her.

Counterbalance

I haven't tried to hold all three children at the same time ...

That way!

A certain strong-willed young lady wanted to go the opposite direction when we walked to the library for story time today. I suspect Grandma and Aunt Therese may have taken her to the convenience store over there for treats. Or she wants to migrate north for the winter.

Bolder and stronger

Bernadette could not do this at the beginning of the summer.

Isaiah's thoughts

The day we found out we were having a girl, Isaiah announced he wanted a brother instead.  I told him he could ask God to send him a brother one day.  Five months later, on the day of Kateri's birth...

Isaiah: That baby is small.

Mama: Yes, she is.

Isaiah: Is God making me another one?

Mama: Not yet, but maybe someday.

Isaiah: And then...(suddenly cracking up) we will have so many children, you won't know what to do!

(I suppose I should be grateful that he seems to think I know what to do now...)

Gengi

Midwife Gengi checks Kateri the day she was born.

Joni

Midwife Joni Stone weighs Kateri on Tuesday.

Books

In which we become the poster family for the library.

Uncle Pete

 Just two dudes sitting on a bench, sharing stylish sweater.

No. 3, No. 2 and No. 1

 I have a sister and and a brother? Ho, hum.

Sisters

 It would appear the confidants have begun conversing.

Uncle Pete, Aunt Magda

 As somebody (probably a DiDona) noted of Facebook, Uncle Pete is a natural.

Kateri lets Aunt Magda know that the other kids have been getting way more treats than she has, and she's not happy about that.

Mother and child

Can I hold her?

Bernadette is fascinated. But not so fascinated she doesn't want to go to Pete and Magda's or with Grandma. She got to help hold her yesterday (send me the pictures!).

Day 2 musings (what she might be saying)

So then I was like, is this a nudist colony or do you wear clothes?

 Snug, yes, snug. Nothing like a clean diaper. Although it's chilly when you change me.

How can you already be all out of chocolate milk? Bernadette got chocolate milk. Waaah!

Names

As reported by PT:

Isaiah:Manhattan is its middle name!
Pete:What's its first name?
I: New York.
P: So, New York Manhattan City?
I: Yes!

Grandpa

Grandpa Tascio listens to Kateri's story on Day 2.

Grandma

No. 3 grandchild born on Great Grandma Therese Carr's 84th birthday.

Kateri Grace

Kateri Grace Friedrichs
1:59 p.m.
21.5 inches
8 pounds

Songwriter

Isaiah (after being asked to sing his original composition a bit more quietly): I was just finishing my song.

Daddy: Were you crescendoing?

Isaiah: No, it was about trucks.

Quiet time

Munching an apple, gazing at the trees, and listening to Kenneth Branagh read The Magician's Nephew while Little Sister snoozes the afternoon away.  (The smudges on the camera lens were most likely the handiwork of same Little Sister, and Mama failed to notice them before taking the picture.)

Fun and games

This push-me-pull-you arrangement lasted a few seconds before an argument about feet erupted.

The look

Clown makeup or cream cheese?

Who likes baths?

All of a sudden, Bernadette is on board with bath time. It's fun to get in. There's yelling still for the shampooing and getting out, but all in all a big turnaround.

While we wait ...

 Isaiah and Bernadette perch on a tree near the Connecticut River in Hartford.

Cloud

Playing with a giant sheet at the Green House.

Zonked

Recent speakings

Bernadette contractions:

"Happy to you." Skip right past birthday.

“Y'elcome” -- you're welcome.

Bernadette all third quarter at the HS game: "More band. More band!"

Arrived home the other night to Isaiah examining a "map of the world." In other circles, this might be described as a map of Connecticut.

Isaiah: When we move out of this apartment we will move in with Peter and Magda.

Matt: Their place is kind of small for all of us.

Isaiah: You and I will sleep on the floor.

Driving

Playing

Singing

Climber

Bernadette came down by herself.

Round and round

Playground

 Turning the gears at a playground in West Hartford.

Hugs

 First Bernadette hugged Alex, who was propped up by his mom, Kat.

Then Isaiah decided he needed to get into the action. Not pictured: Bernadette getting mad at Isaiah for hugging her from behind.

87

Celebrating Grandpa Carr's birthday. Isaiah eyes the cake.

Gammaw

Bernadette checks to make sure Grandma is following along.

Box star

Fun with empty spaghetti box