Potty time!

With all Gus's talk of "big poopy bums," his, Theo's, mine, and his talk of "just pee," Jonathan and I figured it was time to get a potty. Gus and I went to Target today and picked up this beauty. There were only two there, a pink and a blue one, so it was an easy choice.


I left Gus with Jonathan to practice sitting on the potty so I could make dinner. I was called back about a half hour later to find a naked Gus, who had just "peed in the potty" a little and a lot on the floor. He was very proud. Jonathan did not point out the floor to him. What a good dad.

Looks like this potty training is going to be a long and messy road.

"Nice job, Uncle Kevin"

Uncle Kevin and Linda gave Gus and Theo two stuffed animals at Christmas, a frog and a rhinoceros. Gus was playing with the Frog and I asked him what its name was, totally expecting to hear "Frogy." Instead, he answered "Tiny Tim" as in the song from music class, which we have not sung in months.

I had a little frogy, his name was Tiny Tim.
I put him in the bathtub to see if he could swim.
He drank up all the water, he ate up all the soap,
and then he hopped to the top with a bubble in his throat.

Next I asked him where he got it. He said, "from Grammy." I corrected him, and said, "Uncle Kevin gave that to you. He said "Uncle Kevin? Nice Job, Uncle Kevin!" I guess he likes this frog.

Theo also likes the frog. He can hold it on his own and the four legs make for good chewing.


I think of Tiny Tim as Theo's . I could see it becoming his "lovey" (That's what the child development types call security blankets these days). But Gus has other ideas. . .

"Bye-bye Theo"

Everyone loves Tiny Tim. Poor rhino.

"Gus is funny"

Gus is always telling us how funny he is and today he proved it by getting Theo to laugh. Gus spun around in a circle singing gibberish and Theo belly laughed. Once he realized Theo was laughing at him he kept spinning.

Gus also made me laugh:

When I told him I was going to the potty he said, "Be careful."

While off doing his own thing I overhead him sneeze and say, "Bless you, Gus."

He is a funny guy, that Gus.

Happy New Year, Gobble Gobble

We had a party at 2042 last night to ring in the New Year. It was more of a farewell to 2007 since everyone left well before midnight, but it was fun nonetheless.

While we were getting ready for the the party, Jonathan and I did our best to explain New Year's to Gus. We explained that it was holiday and we practiced counting down, and yelling "Happy New Year!" Gus seemed to get it and when Jonathan took Gus to 7-11 to get ice he even wished a few people "Happy New Year."

I did not take many photos at the party. I was a bit overwhelmed by all the babies crying and having my kitchen on a different floor than my guests (first party in the new house). But here are a few:

Gus

Gus and Linh

Gus and Sophie. Gus's party antics did not go over as well with her.


Baby New Year? No, Nathan, with Jannie and a little bit of Tom, Todd, and Beth

We used the chicken coo coo clock to count down to 2008 several times for the kiddies. I passed out noise makers and hats and necklaces but the kids were most into the clucking chicken.

photo

Sophie, the most reserved toddler in then bunch, went running into the playroom yelling "chicken, chicken" when I suggested we do another countdown. Gus yelled "gobble, gobble." He has been a little confused about chickens and turkeys lately.

Party Guests:
Linh, Dennis & Sophie
Nikki, Chris, Zach & Ellie
Joanne, Alex & Lucy
Beth, Tom & Nathan
Jannie, Todd & Tobin

Gus woke up this morning, still in the mood to party.


We asked him about the party, who was there, what we did, and he had appropriate answers. Then Jonathan started a countdown. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 . . .

"Trick or Treat! Happy Chanukah!" Gus yelled. So he doesn't get New Year's but he does understand that it is a holiday.

After a News Years day photo . . .


we headed out to the Mummers Parade. Gus was very excited for the parade and told us "Gus ride on the horsey." Unfortunately, the Mummers Parade is not that kind of parade. My understanding of it is that it is a Philly phenomenon, where "clubs" of very drunk guys get dressed up in matching costumes and march up Broad Street. There are string bands, and clowns and Fancies and Fancy brigades (don't know what those are exactly). Most of the attendees are very drunk, too. It is rather crazy and pretty fun. If you are interested in a more accurate description of the Mummers Parade link to the Mummers Parade website. And here are some pictures from the parade:

I think these are Fancies. They were definitely drunk.

Also Fancies? Also drunk.

Theo and Amy trying to figure it out.

Poor Gus slept until we went to Starbucks to warm up with some hot chocolate. Gus had his first hot cocoa and then saw a little of the parade before we had to head home to feed Theo.

"Butterfly" according to Gus. Now this is Fancy!

Even kids can be Mummuers.

"More butterflies."

That elephant looks like he is from India. Wonder how Grandma and PopPop are doing? Happy New Year, world travelers!

More visiting

We started very early today. 8 am! Carolynn, Chris, Walter and baby Jack had us over for breakfast. Jack is so cute and looks a lot like Carolynn. I wish I could say Carolynn and I just sat around and drank coffee, but with two toddlers and two newbies it was a bit hectic. So much so that I did not even take a picture. Theo and Jack were of course oblivious to the existence of the other, but Gus and Walter had a lot of fun. They played with Walter's work bench, loaded citrus fruit into a wheel barrel and toted it around the house (that ended because Gus wouldn't stop biting the fruit and Walter didn't want to share it), and stood at the back stairs and called down to Chris who was working in the cellar. Walter would call, "Daddy," and then Gus would call "Robert's Daddy." He kept referring to Walter as Robert. I do not know if he was confusing him with his cousin Robert, or if he was just pronouncing Walter funny.

We met up with Jonathan back in Dedham and Gus cut and decorated cookies with Grammy while I ran an errand.

Gus's cookies.

This was Gus's first baking experience and by all reports he loved it, and discovered a new word, "decorate." A lot of my friends bake with their under-twos (and have even forwarded kid friendly recipes to me) but I am a meanie when it comes to the kitchen and have been very protective of my favorite space. I keep all my pots and tools under lock and key and have only let Gus play with kitchen equipment on a handful of occasions. So I guess it is only fair that I missed out on the fun. But I did enjoy eating them. Very good dough, Grammy!

It is a turkey. Could it pass for a turtle?

Next, all three 2042 boys and I headed to Cambridge to see Kate, Jon, and Chloe. Gus and Chloe had a lot of fun . . .




but I think Gus may have a little competition for Chloe's heart from Theo.



Chloe is two now (Dec 21) and so smart and spunky and adorable. I really enjoyed her questions about Theo and her singing. Kate called Gus "the male Chloe" and Chloe "the female Gus" and I see what she means. Maybe it is because as newborns they spent so much time together. Probably not, but it is a nice thought.

Next time we see the Nazemis they will be in Watertown. We are looking forward to visiting them in their new home.

When we got back to Dedham, Grandpa was watching a Seinfeld rerun. Gus walked into the room when Newman was on the screen, looked at the television and exclaimed, "that's a big guy!" Indeed. Theo, the drooler that he is, had soaked his sweater so we took it off

and Grandpa said he looks like he works in an Italian restaurant.

It was a wonderful day.

To All Maine Points

Today we went to Maine. Unfortunately, MaryKate and Owen are sick so we did not meet up with them. Gus was so sad. He has been asking for them since we saw them at Thanksgiving. But Margaux and James were up visiting and we had a nice visit with them, Liz and Maurice at Joan and Matt's house. Gus loved eating cookies and playing with Margaux.

Gus and Margeuax dancing on Auntie Joan's porch. James and Joanie are watching from behind the screen door.

Next we headed to Aunt May's. Gus would not sit with Aunt May, but he did sing 'Take me Out to the Ball Game' for her and gave her a big hug when we left.

Gus, May and Theo.

Go, go, go.

Today was pretty busy. Theo and I drove to Cambridge in the sleety rain to visit with Karen, Brian and Baby Henry. And then after Gus went to bed we headed to Westwood to visit with Debby. Delia was asleep in bed and poor Mike was sick in bed. It was so nice to catch up and made me really miss Boston.

"Where are we off to now?"

Gus went out to lunch with Grammy and Grandpa. When he got back he ran into the house saying, "Mummy, Mummy, I ate fish and chips and made it go all done gone!" It felt so strange hearing him tell me about something he did without me around. Sure, he has been going out without me, mostly with Jonathan, but sometimes with Grammy and Grandpa or Grandma and PopPop, but he has not been able to communicate what happened without me until now. I always get filled in but when Gus tells me in his own words it just makes me really aware of the fact that he is his own little person and will have experiences without me. Gus has a life without me? Not possible!

Grammy still filled me in on more happenings. The funniest was when the waitress came to clear the table. When she took Gus's plate he cried, "Don't take Gussys's food!" He was very upset.

Playing at Castle Island

Today was a relaxing day. Theo and I stayed in while Grammy and Grandpa took Gus to play at Castle Island. My Grandpa Gartland, Gus's namesake, used to take me to Castle Island when I was little, though I think only in the summer. It was cold over on the water and Gus would not wear his mittens or hat. Grandpa brought his camera and snapped the following photos.











When Gus got home he told me about the airplanes, birds, and swing. Just like in the pictures.

Merry Christmas . . . Call the MSPCA

We had a 4 am wake up call this Christmas. This would not be surprising if Gus had been expecting a visit from Santa, but since we did not do the whole Santa thing, we were all a little shocked. Jonathan and my parents stayed up with Gus and let me and Theo go back to bed (thanks, guys) but then Kevin arrived (I think around 8). Kevin, an early Christmas riser back in the day, wanted to give Gus presents from Linda and him, so I was summoned to watch. Gus loves presents. Who doesn't? Eventually Gus and Jonathan crashed on the couch for an hour.

Theo and Grandpa, on the other hand, looked particularly sharp. Did they coordinate their wardrobe choices?

Jonathan had to catch a flight back to Philly and missed all the excitement at dinner. Uncle Jerry was over with Amy Dog and this was the first time Gus had no fear of the dog. He was following her around and looking for her even from the dinner table. Kevin discovered that Amy Dog was under the table when he accidentally kicked her. "I kicked Amy Dog," he said very casually to Gus, who was sitting across from him. Gus, starring at Kevin, started stuttering, Uncle Jerry, Uncle Jerry, Uncle Jerry and I began to think he did not know his uncles after all, but then he spit out "Uncle Jerry, Uncle Kevin kicked Amy dog!" He kept repeating it over and over. Kevin tried to explain that it was an accident, but Gus kept on with his tattling all evening. We all thought this was very funny, except Kevin, who does not want to be thought of as an animal abuser.

Children's Museum

Jonathan and I took the boys to the Children's Museum this morning. We invited Grammy and Grandpa but they had a lot of things they wanted to do to get ready for Christmas.

This was Jonathan's and Theo's first trip to the museum, and they were both impressed. Theo was asleep in the Bjorn for most of the visit but once he woke up he was checking out everything.

Amy and Theo in front of the butterfly and marble screens.

Gus and I visited the museum back in June and it was so neat to see how six months had changed the way he went about the exhibits. His favorite was still Raceways, which is a room full of quirky race tracks and golf balls. In June he was only interested in collecting and hording balls but this time he actually placed them on the tracks and watched them fly. Jonathan is looking forward to going back when they can do experiments to test the laws of motion.

Jonathan and Gus watching balls loop the loop


The bubble and construction rooms were also big hits.


Gus in a giant bubble.


Gus "driving" the Bobcat.

After the museum we drove by Louisberg Square to show Gus John Kerry's house (will explain this is a future post) but Gus had fallen asleep.