Opening Day

HAPPY OPENING DAY, BOSTON.


HAPPY OPENING DAY, BALTIMORE.


WE ARE ROUTING FOR THE HOME TEAM THIS YEAR.



Well, maybe not "Hand-me-down" Theo.

The boys and I watched the first 23 minutes of the Phillies' opener. Or I should say Gus did. He did not take his eyes off the game until he decided it would be more fun to play ball, a which point we abandoned the tv for the garage. We "whacked the ball" and when that got old we played "hoops." (Gus does the strangest little thing when we play basketball in the garage. We have a Little Tikes basketball hoop. After taking a few shots he goes over to the hoop and points to the tag on the back board that says "Little Tikes", specifically to the dot on the little "i" and says "Yum. It's coffee. It drinks coffee." I have no idea what this is all about.)

So tired.

Lots of fun happening here but have been too tired to write about it. Theo is now sleeping in his crib but only until about 11:30 and then it is musical beds. Gus has been waking up a lot, too. And they both want me! It has been so long since I have slept all night that I hardly believe I ever will again.

Here are some cute pictures from last week.

Say it ain't so, Theo!

"A baseball bat!"


"I love you"

Four!

The "UPS lady" brought a package from Grammy and Grandpa today. Easter baskets for Gus and Theo. Gus was beyond psyched to receive this golf set. He said "GOLF!!! Yes. I play. Put my shoes on!" So we headed out to the garden and played a few holes.


For the longest time Gus just played with the mechanism that releases the golf balls from the bag. It is pretty fancy.


Then he started swinging, or as he says "whacking."


Theo watched with awe.


We used Gus's Easter pail as the hole. I got that one in.

When I talked to Jonathan at work, he asked me if Gus hit the ball over the fence. Oh no. Golf is very hard. Especially for a lefty with a righty for a mother. I think we will be safe playing it in the garden for a while.

Golfer endorses Obama

Don't let the picture of Gus stomping for Clinton at the St. Patrick's Day Parade fool you. He is an Obama baby, all the way. On several occasions he has told me "I want to go Barack Obama's house." When Grandma asked him what he would do there, he said "play toys." When we were walking to the Purim party on Friday, he told me that Barack Obama was going to be there. He was not, but Gus did not notice. Randomly he will sing, "I'm a Obama baby. Theo is Obama baby. Daddy is Obama baby. Mummy is Obama baby. Clifford (the big red dog) is Obama baby. There is no doubt that he is supporting Obama.


Vote for Obama or I will whack you with my golf club.



"OBAMAAAAAAA!!!!"

Though he loves to talk about Obama, he appears to love golf more. When faced with the choice of brining the Obama sign or the golf club to the grocery store, he chose the club.

Happy Purim!

I know it is on your mind: Did Gus wear his costume to Danielle and Eli's Purim party? No. But he did let me put it on him and take a few pictures for posterity. Well, that's not exactly true. He wanted to wear the yellow, plastic mask that he got at the Purim party on Sunday, and while he was blinded by it, I tied on the cape and put on the crown and snapped as many pictures I could before he ripped it off.



I cannot understand how he can tolerate that uncomfortable elastic band digging into his head, ready to snap at any moment, but not a soft satin tie that is not even against his skin.


This is just freaky.

It seems Gus is not going to willing wear any costume I make for him. This makes me sad. But luckily I have another son who is interested my efforts.



And to think I did not even make him his own costume.


"Look at me."


"I am the King."


"Oh no!"


"Help!"


"There you are."

Just wait, Theo. Halloween is just around the corner.

Party, party, party!

What a boring Monday after party, party, partying all weekend long. On Saturday night we went to a one-month birthday celebration (a Chinese custom) for Linh and Dennis's new baby, Ava. It was at a restaurant in Chinatown. We were a bit afraid when we entered the lobby and found a tank of, oh about 65 huge frogs. Many of the 11 courses (!) that were served where not our thing (jelly fish, crab and fish stomach soup) but I was impressed that Gus and Jonathan tried the exotic fare and we had a lot of fun. Theo mostly slept under the table in the car seat. And my old boss from Pew was there! And at our table (she is dating one of Linh's friends)! Small, small world.

Sunday morning we headed down to The Jump Zone in Columbia for cousin Benjamin's 3rd birthday celebration. After the long car ride, Gus was a little slow to partake in the fun, but he eventually went in a moon bounce type of thing that had a slide. Then it was juice and cupcakes and party favors. You have not seen a happier kid than Gus when he opened his Cookie Monster lunch bag to find five "little popsicles!" (lollipops). He has been hankering for one ever since we confiscated the Blowpop he received at the St. Patrick's Day parade.

Then Sunday evening we went to the family Purim party. For those of you not familiar with Purim, here is a link to the Wikipedia entry on it. But basically it is a holiday for remembering (and retelling) how the Jews escaped annihilation in Persia. Kids like it because it involves costumes and tasty treats. College students like it because the retelling is a drinking game (whenever the name 'Hamen' is read you drink). Few costumes (Gus would not wear his, grrrrrr. . . ) and no drinking at our party. Instead, we had a nice meal with PopPop's side of the family and were entertained by "Energy Eric." The show was about 40 minutes long and Gus watched the whole thing, and unlike me, who was holding her ears in fear of explosions, only showed a few moments of unease.

Robert, Ada, Gus, Noah (in costume--my kind of kid!), Maddy and Ella watching the science show.

Dry ice! I would have been running for the hills at Gus's age . . .

but Gus jumped right in.

I am not sure what these smoke rings were all about. I was with Theo, cowering in the back.

Theo had fun, too.

Jonathan, Uncle Michael, Grandma and Theo


Gus and Ada. I think there is a resemblance here.

Gus was very much at home the whole party and ditched us to run around with his cousins. There is nothing more fun than running around with cousins. It was a great night, though, I wish Gus would have worn his costume. Not even PopPop modeling it could coax him into it.


I hope Gus will wear his costume to our neighbor's Purim party on Friday. I am getting a little tired of making costumes that do not get worn. I know these costumes were not requested, but that is hardly the point. What good is it being a mom if you cannot dress your kids up in costumes?

Playing with the radio

"Theo, this is radio. It plays records."


We need a bath.

Theo is six months!

Theo is six months today and more fun than ever. He has entered the stage of putting EVERYTHING in his mouth.


We try to give him the organic teethers but he prefers all things plastic, the bigger the better. The Little People bus. The animal train. This morning while I was making Gus's breakfast he got a hold of the Toys R Us catalog.

Doesn't it look like a puppy was playing with it?

Theo also is now voicing his opinions on matters of placement and posession. He has shrieks for "Mama get me out of this swing!" and "Give that back, Gus!" He loves to play 'I'm going to get Theo', 'peek-a-boo', 'The Noble Duke of York' (he starts laughing when I sing "The") and laughs when Gus and I dance. Theo has the best laugh ever. We need to video it. He is not crawling yet but that does not prevent him from getting around the room. He wiggles, scoots and rolls until he is partly stuck under the couch or table. He sits really well though he will eventually tire and fall backward. But by far his greatest "trick" is the huge smile he gives me every morning when he wakes up.

Following are pictures from our visit to Rittenhouse this morning. I just realized that he no longer cries in the stroller or the car. I think he is too busy checking things out.

St. Patrick's Day early

Pictures from the parade. Stories to be added soon (hopefully).