St. Mary's Crowd

Shaina and Sarek spent some time together. Shaina was a sport and showed Sarek how the big kids use St. Mary's park. Sarek was happy to have her there as a playmate. He also spent a good deal of time chasing around some teens who were playing a modified game of tag. Sarek charmed them and they incorporated him into their game, instead of just being annoyed he was getting in the way.

Zeke and Chris shot some baskets. I'm not sure who won, but Zeke got at least one in on the old man.
Later Zeke tried to take back the wrestling crown from Uncle Brett. However, I am still champ, having won three out of three matches. Until next year my young padawan.

Hugs

Child Labor

While Deena introduced Sarek to yard work, I did the difficult job of filming and documenting.

Avocado

The Mouse that Roared

Sarek woke up too late from his afternoon nap to go into the Zoo, so we took the bus to meet Dexter and Banu at the exit. We ran into this escaped lion instead. First, the Christmas Day fiasco....and now this.

Our Little Turk

Banu-Sarek time! This was after dinner tonight. How we will miss Banu so!

Play Date

Works in Progress

Deena started this list a long time ago. It won't be finished for a while.

Nola landmarks

2009

3/9—cord fell off

3/9—first dinner party

3/11—first time to GGP

3/11—first bus ride

3/15—first museum (academy of sciences)

3/16—lifts head alone

3/17—first engaged grin

3/18—first BART ride

5/23—first plane ride (d.c.)

6/17—first night away from mama (anne's labor)

8/3—deena's first day back at work

9/4—first cereal

9/6—first dip in a swimming pool

10/4—first mimicking moshing food

10/13—carrots

10/14—prunes

10/30—first earthquake (5.6)

10/31—sweet potato

11/4—pears

11/27—first tooth

12/3—first tandem bath

2010

early jan--first sign language (more and all done)

end jan--says mama and papa regularly

mid-jan--first ear infection ):

early feb--says "Thank you," recognizes and tries to do "itsy bitsy spider"

2/16-first sand play (Ocean Beach), says "Hi"

Sarek landmarks

2009

2/28—first night away from both his parents (night of Nola's birth)

3/21—first visit to dentist (played)

9/14—first bread making

9/15—first video (Elmo's Potty Time)

9/22—winter squash

9/25—first pee pee in the potty (at ana's)

10/23/07—first new York subway

10/24/07—first museum (Brooklyn)

10/29—last night in his crib

10/30—first earthquake (5.6)

12/3—first tandem bath

12/5—first underpants

2008

2/16—winter squash

2/23—carrots

3/8—banana

3/11—pears

3/17—prunes

3/21—oat cereal

3/22—lentils

3/26—mango

3/27—pear/banana/oatmeal

4/9—pear/tofu

4/14—pear/mango/tofu/oatmeal

4/22—cheese

5/1—first cheerios

5/3—kiwi/green beans/rice

5/6—yolk

5/7-8—crawled!

5/17—first meat (turkey)

8/28—walks!

Between Storms

Brett took the kids to the park after nearly a week of non stop wet from the storms.

Boyz in Da Hood

Stir crazy from the rain and wiling away the hour before Banu's goodbye party.

Mom Hair

Can't believe she took this long to get the 'do!

Backyard Bikin'

Finally using our yard.

Ankle Biters Everywhere

Lemonade from Lemons

The upside of Brett's sudden free time is that we spent yesterday morning at the Academy of Sciences on our Family Pass. We saw the penguins feed, stomped on virtual bugs, and marveled at the similarities between human toddler and lemur play. Quality family time.

Open Wide

Yep, the boy can eat. These shots were left over from November, but they had to be shared.

BMX Sarek

The skateboard park was empty because of the rain, so Sarek did some tricks all by himself.

It Takes A Village

We've started sharing childcare with our neighbors. Today Sparrow and Leah came to our house. Next time someone else gets three hours of Sarek and Nola. Having two girls over was a lot tamer than pairing Sarek with Dexter. Boys and girls are different.

Stormfront

A bunch of beginnings and endings this week: 1)Banu's last day Thursday 2)Nola's first time at Ana's tomorrow (actually, 3 hours from now) and 3) 24 hour call this weekend, my first since November. I hope I fare better emotionally about taking Nola to Ana's in the morning. Although I've been back at work since August, I trust Ana completely, and it's only twice a week, Ana's is a big reality check that my babies are being raised by other people. Very hard to swallow. Painful inventory of the impact of my choices. At least Nola is 10 months on the eve of her first daycare day and had Banu until now. I remember the day I dropped Sarek off for a trial run when he was 6 months old. I will never forget him in Ana's arms as she shut the door, his little Robeezed feet at her waistline, chubby hands full of her shirt, uncomprehending. I walked home in tears, sat in his room without a plan or any idea what to do with my few hours of freedom. I ached for him and worried. He was fine. But I felt like I'd let him down. Now, all I can do is pump, pump, pump for my dear baby Nola to get her through during this bumpy week. Which is why I'm up at the moment. Me and the pump. Good times!

Baby Got Back!

Nola is starting her backwards crawl now. The bitter sweetness of watching those days of immobility slip away. We think this was her first time 'crawling'.

Rainy Day at the Airport

It was A little too wet to be outside, so we ran around the airport and rode the trolley for a while. Good times.

Nola Tries To Feed Herself

It's cavegirl style but still cute. Maybe she'll remember the spoon next time.