Come Back, Squirrel!

[Transcribed from video]
Alex got another chance to spend a day with Daddy today.  Mommy was hard at work at home, moving lots of stuff around for Alex's great, new room.

They took a trip to one of Alex's favorit-est places, Florence Street Park and stayed at the playground for a while.  Daddy talked Alex into riding the swings and he loved it - for all of a few minutes.   Then, Alex realized that he can't run around and explore while riding the swings.  It was a lot more fun to explore the big kid swings, until one swung and smacked him.  Then he was back to the bouncy animals he loved as a baby. Then back to the jungle gym. Then a bout of chasing a plastic bag as it blew in the breeze.

There was the usual visit to the tennis courts and to the storm drain, which stole his hay! (After he'd dropped in it, he called for help to get his hay back.)  There was even a wagon of babies to stop and greet.

But the most fun came from chasing a squirrel to a tree in front of the tennis courts.  "Come back, squirrel", he cried with glee.

He has such fun with Daddy.

June 28, 2009

Pirate Ship - Arrrr!

[Transcribed from video]
Daddy Adventure Day continued in the Marina Park! They had walked all the way there from Harrison!

Alex loved steering the pirate ship and playing in the sandbox.  No matter how tired he might be, there's always time to be a pirate!

Arrr!

June 27, 2009

Haircut, Yawn. Playground, Yay!

[Transcribed from video]

Daddy took Alex to get a haircut today. Unlike other haircut times, Alex actually had some fun this time around. He absolutely loved sitting in the car shaped seat and spinning around. He did just fine while the barber combed and cut his hair. He's getting to be a big boy now!

Then Alex and Daddy headed off to the toddler playground near the Harrison train station.  He showed Daddy all around the park, pointing out that the jungle gym is shaped like a train (in case Daddy didn't notice) and that sometimes the riding bouncy cars can get hot in the sun. He told Daddy about the fire engine bouncy car too. Alex climbed up to the jungle gym, but he wouldn't yet go down the slide by himself.  He just had lots of fun experiencing climbing and walking on it without anyone holding his hand.  He was so proud and excited.  He checked out every part of the gym, from the bars to the floor with holes in it. He loved pointing out that it was red all over.

When Daddy tried to talk him into sliding down the slide, though, Alex responded with "Nope!".

Daddy did get Alex to ride on the bouncy plane, though. Alex loved when Daddy made fighter plane noises, especially when Alex found that he could make it rock by himself.  It was a really hot day, so Daddy let Alex get some water at the lion water fountain (even though Daddy had water with him). Alex was able to push the button and get the lion to give water.  "Thanks lion!", Alex declared, but he had a really hard time getting it to give water while he drank.  Needs some practice, I think.

Alex was pooped after a while, but no trip to the Toddler Park is complete without a visit to the gazebo. Alex loves to walk around underneath the shade of it.  "Yay!" he shouted "We did it!".  He had climbed the steps to the gazebo all by himself. (Mommy usually brings the stroller there.)

Still, there were the swings to try before they left. Daddy talked Alex onto them, but he loved it once there.

There was more to see on Daddy Adventure day. It was turning out to be a really fun one!

June 27, 2009

We have a favorite musician!

Alex will often demand her!
"Bertner! Bertner!" "Bertner on? Bertner on teleginjun?"
(Laurie Berkner)

June 26, 2009

3:11 PM

Proud to be an American

[Transcribed from video]

A few days ago, Alex was given an American flag by one of the ladies at the hardware store.  Today, Mommy let him play with it for a while and he was exicted to show it to daddy. "Obama! Obama!" he called it, as he typically calls American flags. (From having seen so many of them in the election season and from Dan's campaign pin.)

He waved it around and Daddy explained that the flag was from our country, Alex's country. "Country! Our country!" Alex declared.

He's all prepared for the fourth, it seems.

June 26, 2009

Daddy Adventures

[Transcribed from video]

Today was a special treat. Alex got to do an adventure with Daddy! Yay!

Daddy took him to the Stamford mall where he ran around the children's play area. He was no longer afraid to climb through the tunnel parts like he used to be.  Alex loved being able to run around free with other children and climb on the pretty, soft sculptures. He dashed to the butterfly that once so mystified him.

Then he wanted to climb through the corn-on-the-cob tunnel several times.  Yup! He's over his fear of tunnels now. At one point, Alex was so thrilled to be able to run around and scream, he ran up to Daddy and hugged a great big "Thanks". (We know that's what big hugs out of nowhere mean now.)

June 22, 2009

Happy Father's Day!

[Transcribed from video]

Alex and I spent the morning creating a Father's Day card for Daddy. We used crayons and his new stickers of pirates and aliens and dinosaurs! Inside, we drew an outline of Alex's hand.

When we gave it to Daddy, I tried to get Alex to say "Happy Father's Day" to Daddy while on camera.  He did off camera, but said "No" to an on-camera greeting. He was laughing his shy smile and teasing us until he finally said in a breathy whisper "Happy Father's Day".

June 21, 2009

Pirate's Island Take Two

[Transcribed from photos as a follow-up]

Alex and I had a wonderful trip to Great Captain's Island this time around.  We got to explore all of it, including even the "dig-digs" there doing some renovation work.  We saw the lighthouse and the cove side of the island that was loaded with nesting seabirds.  We collected lots of great shells and other treasures. Alex even got to splash around in the water.

No rain and thunder to chase us away this time! Yay!

We ended up our great pirate day with a dinner at Captain Salty Dog's. And Daddy joined us!

June 19, 2009

Shoe Tantrums?

Ooooh yes!

Alex will insist on shoes that fit with his plans. If he wants to go to the playground that day, he'll insist on his 'Thomas Shoes' (sneakers). But if it's in his head to go to the beach that day, only his 'beach shoes' will suffice. It could be pouring rain - like it is today - but Alex wants to go to the beach, so he'll demand his beach shoes.
On the rare occasion that he agrees to stay and play indoors, signified by his Blink Blink shirt, he'll demand his 'Blink Blink shoes' too. The Blink Blink shoe demand will also indicate that he wants to go shopping - and will say 'Shopping today!!'

June 18, 2009

10:22 AM

First Day at Pirate's Island

[Transcribed from video]

Great Captain's Island in Greenwich opened for the summer today. It was a chilly day, but I wanted to make sure that we got first crack at the best seashells on the shore there. I packed us up and headed out to Greenwich. Alex surprised me at the dock. He asked for water in his open mouth cup, the small blue Precious Moments cup. He did great in drinking cold water from it.

As usual, Alex was quietly enjoying the ferry trip over.  The ferry's engine is quite loud, so he's not all that happy about being on the boat with that noise. Once on the island, he realized that this year, he would be able to walk around the island by himself. (Sorta. There was Puppy Leash in use).  A storm was brewing, though. The sky turned dark and the winds were strong. Our trip would sadly be cut short.  I took us down whatever paths I felt we could before the rain began and the island closed for weather.

On a path from the beach, Alex spotted a bunch of long stalked grasses with flowers. They reminded him of the long grasses in the cultured circle in Grandma's garden in Florida.  When we were last there, he and Grandma had lots of fun pulling out dead grasses and weeds from the circle.  He looked these grasses over and said "Grandma!" and started to pull at them.  Well, these grasses weren't the dead overgrowth that Grandma had been pulling out. They didn't come out so easily.

"It's stuck!" Alex declared while he unsuccessfully tried to pull at the grasses.

Then the thunder started.  I asked Alex if he heard the thunder and told him that we had to go home.  First he said "Thunder." and I told him that it was thunder and we had to go home.  He wasn't too happy about that. "Noooo. Crab! Crab!" he cried, referring to the part of the shore we call "Crab Beach" for the crab shells we so often find there.  I convinced him that we had to go to a beach anyway to get the boat and we would see more crab shells there.  Our path took us past some water fountains and garbage cans in a picnic area. The crabs were soon forgotten, but he wasn't any happier about leaving the garbage cans and recycling bins behind and, especially, not that water fountain.

We'll be back another day soon. 

June 15, 2009

A Big Move

[Transcribed from video]

Alex's great, new room is coming. The first step has been taken.  We moved his crib into what will soon be our ex-bedroom.  He was mystified, for all of a minute or two.  Then came the realization that he was in - gasp! - Mama's Bedroom.
First on the list to explore were Mama's make-up brushes.  "Baby brush!", he announced about a smaller one. "Mommy brush!" he declared about a larger one.  When we tried to solicit his opinion on his crib being in the room, he did his Happy Stomp and said hello to our bed.  We redirected his attention to the crib.  He said "Dinosaurs!", indicating that he understood that his crib was in the room.  Then he Happy Stomped over to Mommy's dresser again.

"Make up!" he declared.  Oh how exciting to be in the same room with Mommy's Mystical Make-Up.

June 14, 2009

What's Gonna Work?

I've begun to move Alex's stuff out of the living room in order to make space for my new living room set up. I disassembled his play yard and started moving the pieces to an unobstrusive spot. Alex was eager to help, so he tried to pick up a piece of wall and bring it to me. When he started to do it, he started singing a song from 'Wonder Pets': 'Whas gon' work? Teeeeam work! Whas gon' work? Teeeeeam work!'

June 13, 2009

Starstruck

[Transcribed from video]

During a walk to Mamaroneck Avenue, we saw a most exciting visitor at the corner of Barry Avenue and Boston Post Road.  Big, red, furry and animated - yes! It was none other than Elmo!  Elmo was at some promotion of Citibank's it appears. 

We stopped so that Alex could see his favorite muppet.  Alex was really excited when we were on the other side of Boston Post Road. He even cried out "Elmo! Elmo!". When we got close to Elmo, it was another story.  Elmo shook Alex's hand and waved. He even gave Alex a nice smiley face ring and some fun bracelets.  Alex was just too star-struck to say anything.

Only after we left, did Alex manage to eke out a "Bye, Elmo."

It's so cute when he gets quiet around his heroes.

June 13, 2009

Scary Things

I wallow in my guilt over finding it just too ADORABLE when Alex gets freaked out. I can't help it!

There are several toys like that around here that Alex once loved when he first saw them, now he can't even be in the same room with them. They include a dump truck and fire engine he was given for Christmas. We've been through this with him before, so we know to reintroduce the toy after a few months. But with those two, it's still 'No! Go 'Way! Go 'WAY! Bye-bye fahr enjun! Bye-Bye duntruck!'

There are a couple of things I know to not reintroduce at this time, because they scared him enough to scream and cry. They include a giggle sticky-man kind of toy that makes silly google noises when you shake him, an entire DVD of Thomas the Tank Engine because of one episode that involves an opera singer screaming over mice in a train car and opening the ferret cage anywhere near Alex. (The ferret loves Alex and vice versa, but Dan once yanked his arm back quickly to avoid getting scratched by the ferret and Alex freaked. Now he hates seeing it open.)

June 9, 2009

Memories

[Transcribed from video]

We've begun our big bedroom switch, which involves getting rid of a lot of baby stuff that Alex can no longer use. He was very interested in the dangling toy that used to hang over his bouncy activity table. He asked me what it was and what the items were that hung from it.  He was not very interested in parting with it after that.

As long as I can sneak it out later, we'll be fine. For now, he can remember being a baby for a little while longer.

June 6, 2009

Craaaazy Baby! Crazy Ferret!

[Transcribed from video]

We moved Loki into the living room today.  Alex just went nuts!  Each time Loki came to the front of the cage and moved around, Alex would scream and run in circles.  Loki loved it too.  He was getting someone play with him and pay attention to him.  "Loki, yaaaaaay!"

At one point, after Alex had been calling "Lo-keeee!", he stated that Loki was sleeping. We said we doubted that Loki would be getting much sleep right now.  Loki was using the potty, though. Maybe he'll be setting a good example.

When Loki tried to nibble on Alex's finger, Alex said "No!" Luckily Loki understood.  I crawled over to where Alex was standing to watch Loki and Alex told me "Up Mama! Up!".  When I asked him why he said "Handle! Handle!" while he was grabbing the bars of the cage.  Clearly he wanted me to open the door to the cage.  For Loki's sake, that won't be happening.

But Alex was in such a great mood about having Loki in the room that I got a hug and kiss out of the deal.  Then he found the Dirt Devil and tried to plug it in, which he couldn't because the outlets are stopped.  "Vacuum cleaner!" he said. (He usually called it a "mower") Don't worry, Loki.  He likes that thing about as much as you do. Actually, even less.

I love my crazy baby.

June 5, 2009

Happy June, Everyone!

[From our Special Book]

It's June and summer is almost here!

Here are a few things that make up Alex's Fun World at this time:

- Construction vehicles
- Being outside
- Raisins
- Playing with Loki
- Tang
- Mickey Mouse shows
- His new barn toy (bought at the Children's Carnival toy sale)

[from Alex's Journal]

Mommy says I'm learning so fast! She wants to write my funny sayings down. I say things like "Sign man ride" - which Mommy still doesn't understand and that makes me laugh.*  I also say things like "sissapha" for "cement mixer" and I can sing the Backyardigans song. 

* Mommy eventually figured out that this meant a commercial van with a logo or writing on the side.

June 1, 2009