first Christmas

This title is a bit of a misnomer, because, of course it is not our first Christmas together.  However, it IS Dexter and Kyalo's first American Christmas! In hindsight, I'm sorry we didn't do things in our little apartment in Belleville. . .a tree, for one, a string of lights, etc.  I did put up our very few decorations and when all was said and done, hung my head in shame because it just looked PA-THETIC.  Pathetic!  So, we'll try again for next year.

Vacation has been wonderful.  We came to Massachusetts to be with my family last Thursday, and have had a great, relaxing time.  And fortunately, my mom can decorate much, much better than I.  One thing she hadn't done yet, though was get a tree.  Even though we didn't have a Christmas tree much while I was growing up (we hung lights on a ficus plant and called it a day), I wanted to do that, for the true Christmas feel for Kyalo & Dexter. 

Dexter and I went out on a hunt for one, and even managed to barter down the cost of the tree.  I felt proud to succeed at that.  Probably had more to do with being three days to Christmas than my negotiating skills. Whatever.

I actually had a lot of fun getting and decorating the tree, so hope we'll get one for our bay windows in Belleville next Christmas.  Remind me?  I think Kyalo was intrigued by the tree.  He certainly enjoyed helping to decorate it and pointing things out. . .

Christmas morning!

The best present we got for Christmas was snow! There's something about a white Christmas that just makes it seem that much more magical.  It was clear skies when we went to bed late Christmas eve, so I had no hope, but in the morning it was snowing, and a thin dusting on the ground.  It wasn't a blizzard or anything, but better than nothing.

And it made for a perfect setting to take Kyalo out in his new Radio Flyer wagon!

Since there was about .5 inches of snow on the ground, the snow suit was probably a bit of overkill.  But I wanted to put it to use, and at least it kept him toasty and snuggly. 

The evening ended with a gathering of friends for desserts and games.  And a good time was had by all, I would say.

I think it is safe to say that Dexter liked his first American Christmas. . . but he did miss the goat he would have had in Kenya!  Truth be told, I did, too. A little bit.

calzones

I would first like to make this small announcement:  Dexter completed the first semester yesterday afternoon!  And even better than that, we now have two weeks of vacation!  We don't have much planned at the moment. . .just rest and relaxation, and then head up to Massachusetts later next week.  Hoping for snow!

On Thursday, we were having calzones for dinner, something that Dexter and I both love, but I don't often make because of the dough-making process.  I thought that they'd be a nice celebratory meal for the end of the week, though, and went ahead. 

Kyalo insisted on helping.  I had no real choice - otherwise he was screaming in the kitchen.

First, there was kneading:

I gave Kyalo a little piece of dough to work with, and he loved pinching a bit of flour and rolling it into his dough. I think he was proud of his work because he carried that piece of dough with him all through the grocery store later in the afternoon.

After the dough rested, and we picked Dexter up from his second-to-last day of school, we needed to roll the dough out:

 {Mama's mixer looks on}

and lastly, we needed to clean up!

I love that he was so interested and happy to help.  I hope he'll always love working in the kitchen.  I can imagine many hours creating in the kitchen.  What I don't love, however, is that he can push the chairs that he was standing on, and climb up to the sink or the table or the stove.  I have a feeling those chairs are going to be my nemesis in the days to come -- I'm not always going to want him to help in such ways, or to have such easy access to the stove.  I'll just look forward to the day when he can do the dishes on his own.

Christmastime in the City

It has been over a week since my friend Jana came from Minnesota.  Things have been a little crazy, and I've been working on a little Christmas project that has been a bit more all-consuming (but fun!) than I anticipated.  So, this is long over due.

Jana and I met twelve years ago, when we both signed up to be Team Leaders of our respected teams during Mission Year in Oakland, CA. After our year ended, we both (and a few others) stayed in the city and remained connected. She has been a constant and consistent friend, which is hard to accomplish considering half the time we've been friends I've been overseas!

She turns 40 later this month so was treating herself to a little R&R (she has twins who turn three next week) in New York City.  And it just so happens that I live near there.  We had a GREAT time having her, and seeing the city with her.  She had the day all mapped out for us so we just went along for the ride - the best way to go, in my opinion.

I felt bad that the one vacation she was taking included a visit with a 20 month old, but it worked out OK, and she and Kyalo were fast friends.  By the end of her visit he only wanted her to read books to him.

After breakfast we headed into the city.  And the sight seeing began!

Jana was pretty excited about this poinsettia Christmas "tree" and even went into some random building to get pictures.  It may have been the only pics she took of the day!

First stop on our tour was Grand Central Terminal.  We went in through the food markets which I loved.  However, $15.00 for a box of clementines? City living is tough! (I got them for $5 last week at my local store).

We grabbed lunch  at a seafood joint there, and then headed to Central Park.

Did I mention the city was P A C K E D?  Everyone was there to do their shopping/see the sites/see the tree, so it made for getting around place slow going.  If you're going to come visit us, come in March.

The thing she wanted to see was waaaay on the other side of the park, so we settled for a stroll through, a stop at the Central Park Zoo where we got to see them feeding the seals, and a visit to Strawberry Fields, and/or the John Lennon memorial.

Even though we look well bundled, it was cooler than I thought - I'd seen reports for mid 50s so thought lugging my big winter jacket around would be a drag.  I was basically cold the whole time.  I was thinking Kyalo was well bundled.  I mean, he managed to fall asleep and  he looked cozy to me:

But Dexter saw it differently, because a second after taking that picture, this happened:

After the park it was getting pretty late and much colder, so we scrapped some of our plans and just headed for the tree.

Which is what everyone else was doing, of course.

 

the tree is from NJ this year!

And that was that.  Apparently, Dexter and I only get into the city when we have visitors, so please, come on over.  Just be sure to bring your smart phone and a plan, because we're not very good at figuring things out. 

20 months

 December 3, 2012

Today, our guy turns 20 months.  Any one else amazed that he's closer to two years than he is to one?  I sure am.  Time really is zooming by, and I try to savor the moments even when I'm exhausted, ready to pull my hair out, and just want some alone time. Right?

This has been another good month. . .I love watching him grow, learn, explore and get more into things. 

Suddenly, he has been all about reading, and he has demanded that we read to him every.single.book on our shelves to him, sometimes multiple times a day (me, in the morning, Dexter at night).  I have a feeling we'll be using the library a lot more in the days and months to come, and I stocked up on a few more used books while home.  I'd welcome good book suggestions as it seems he just can't get enough.

He continues to love all things technological.  Everything becomes a phone (a shoe, a pen, a cookie, his water bottle, and so on), and he'll rush to pound on a computer keyboard if he sees one within his reach.

multitasking - on the computer and the phone

Oh - and he knows how to turn Dexter's computer on.  Wonder how long it will be before he can crack the password?

Though I hate to say anything as it always seems to curse me, his sleeping has gotten much better.  We're talking several three hour naps.  I hardly know what to do with myself.  One day last week he fell asleep on the walk home from the library and I was able to transfer him to his crib where he slept those three hours. Amazing!

:tired guy:

He is talking more.  His favorite word is "no" and he'll often answer a question directed to someone else with his soft little "no."  Most words are not really distinguishable - mostly he has inflection and cadence and we can kind of deduce what he's trying to say.  Still, feels like progress to me.  Plus, he has finally started saying "mama" though initially it was directed at Dexter.  As in, him pounding on the window screaming, "Mama! Mama! Mama!" as he sees Dexter come from the car after school.  So for a while Dexter had "Baba," "Papa," and "Mama." I am NOT bitter.

Why do you ask?

My friend Jana is in town from Minnesota and I've loved watching her with him - if you love my son, I'll love you a little bit more.  Today they were matching, so I got some photos.

matchy matchy

And Jana was kind enough to snap some pictures of me with Kyalo, on this beautiful spring-like day.

I couldn't decide on just one apparently.

After taking Jana to the train so she could go explore NYC, Kyalo and I explored our block and I snapped more photos.  Please bear with me.

I'm pretty sure Kyalo is the only kid who can manage to get covered in dirt while playing on a cement sidewalk.  

 seriously?

He spent the morning walking a neighbor's stone wall, throwing rocks, playing with sticks, and just generally enjoying himself.  At the end of a rather short time outside, his hands looked like this:

which meant we headed inside to wash them, which turned into washing dishes (a win-win in that situation, if you ask me!).

So, he's nothing if not consistent in his love of dirt and all things outdoors.  I wonder what that means for him as he gets older.  

It will be fun to find out!