More about San Francisco

Penny posted some pictures and a video from my recent trip with Angelo to San Francisco-or "San Fra Sisco" as Abraham calls it. Angelo loved hanging out with Wyatt and Malcolm.

Also while we were out there, I reconnected with old friends Becca and Alex who coincidentally live in Bernal Heights near Penny and Jason.

The brown dog is Bruno.



Angelo proved to be a very adaptable and fun traveler (even after sitting on my lap and several others' on a 6 hour flight out West) and returned from the trip with about 15 words in his vocabulary-among those: shoes, cheese, cheek, baby, drunk (thanks, Penny!), various animal sounds, and more. He's also gesturing wildly and speaking as if he's having a conversation.

Castle Guys

The castle guy theme still persists in our household.

Here Abraham is wearing so many layers of clothing it's not even funny.




Even for the little guy.

Return from San Francisco

I am going to post about this trip out of order as I am awaiting photos from Penny who has her hands full at home. So, I will write about my homecoming now and the rest of the trip later.

But a little background.

I went to a conference for work that just happened to take place in San Francisco-home of my best friend in the world and her lovely family. So, of course, I jumped at the chance to go. Not being able to leave both kids behind and remembering that Abraham got to accompany me to my work picnic, I chose Angelo as my travel companion. It helps that he flies for free.
This was my second multi-day trip away from Abraham.

We flew back late last night and Abraham was sound asleep when we returned. I even tried to wake him--after a couple years of tip toeing around him when he was asleep he now sleeps like the dead. Aaron gave me a picture Abraham had drawn for me:




And on the back Abraham asked Aaron to draw a picture of a dog. He had to do the dog picture twice as the first one he completed apparently had sharp teethe which Abe found unacceptable.

This morning I awoke to the feeling that someone was standing near me. I opened one eye and it was Abraham with a huge smile on his face. Not long after, Angelo, who slept with Aaron and I last night due to a busted baby monitor also awoke with a smile and the sound of big brother's voice. They immediately hugged and tackled each other. I stood ready for my hug from Abraham but he went straight to his little brother first.

And then Abe asked if we saw the picture he had drawn so he "didn't miss me so much." "Did you show Ang the back and did he say, 'dog'?" The reason Abraham wanted the dog picture drawn was for Angelo to see it and say the word. That Abraham really gets a kick out of his little brother.

It was good to be home.

Vermont

It was our 5th year of camping in Vermont. Thankfully this year we opted for a cabin in Cabot--a lovely place with a pond nearby. When it wasn't raining, it was sunny. We attempted some lawn games, had a couple of camp fires including marshmallow roasting, swatted bugs, visited Grandmommom who was recovering from knee replacement surgery, tried to manage Abraham's extreme affection for his 11 year old cousin and dirtied up all of Angelo's clothes by allowing him to crawl all over the place. Ashley and Doug came up from North Carolina so it was especially nice hanging out with them.

We spent some time at Boulder Beach in Groton State Forest. Several things occurred there including Angelo taking his first steps and a dramatic exit in a wind storm with Abraham shouting and directing Aaron and I.



Angelo and Abraham both love these animals. Angelo is even making the tigers interact and roar at each other.





Abraham got pretty adventurous in the water--going in up to his chin and then running back to shore.


This lovely daisy crown was ripped to shreds about one second after it was put on his head. Luckily we were able to capture it.

Marathon Visit From Bubbe and Grandpop

The grandparents came for a spell to help out with childcare and hang out in general. They were here for a whopping 4 weeks! Luckily, some friends loaned their apartment out so we were not on top of one another for too long.

Angelo went with his grandparent twice a week for about a month. They had a great time--most recently they spent the day at the MFA and then all took naps in the lounge area. They also spent a lot of time in the arboretum, tot lot etc.

Abraham also got so used to having them around and loved it. Even though he got steamed at Grandpop once when he was teasing him and huffed and puffed and said "damn it!" under his breath. Grand pop got a pretty big kick out of that.

Roar!

Castle Guy Rider

We had a great time at Gus's third birthday. There was a kiddie pool, sandbox, pesto, live music cupcakes and castle guy rider. The nice guy playing guitar had Abraham and another kid very interested in a song where he would tell them what to do and they would do it--stand up, turn around, lay down on the ground etc. I guess Abraham got the hang of it and the next thing I know, he's galloping around on a stick horse (just a stick) in his boy bikini demanding the guy with the guitar play castle guy rider. Puzzled, the guy just placed some dramatic music. It was one of the best performances I have seen Abraham put on but it was clear he was so into what he was doing he didn't even realize the was the only one dancing.

We had a conversation

Angelo is getting proficient at identifying animals and their sounds. I have no idea why this is such a milestone for kids because it's not as if we adults go around asking one another about this. Though I have to say, when we first started this business with Abraham, I couldn't remember what the goat says. But this morning after an early wakeup by both kids and Aaron retreating into Angelo's room for more sleep, Abraham was going through the rundown of animals with his little brother. Angelo correctly responded to "what does the lion say?" at which point, Abraham exclaimed, "hey mom, we had a conversation!" Then they both proceeded to pummel me while I tried to sleep.

We missed the crowds for the 4th of July this year and went to the beach despite the clouds at 4 PM. Abraham and Lucy played on the beach for hours--checking in periodically for costume adjustment, juicebox refills and dinner leaving the grownups and second children to have conversations, food and beer. Aaron found an appropriate occasion to wear his "spirit of '76" bicentenial hat.

Abraham, Lucy and Angelo proving themselves to be native New Englanders swam in the ocean until it became apparent that they were too cold.

Thanks to Mike there was wonderful fried chicken, fancy french beer and photographs!

After several hours of beach fun we took the kids for enormous icecream cones and then went to the Marshfield Fair Grounds for fireworks, except that apparently there haven't been fireworks there since 2005. Luckily we pointed to the sky at some amateur fireworks and convinced the kids that was it. Then we all headed home while, despite the sugar infusion, the kids fell asleep in the car.

Some things I have recently learned from my 3 year old

1.) Sea lions kiss with their whiskers.

2.) Kangaroos Hop. REAL slowly.

3.) If you step on one of those sewer lids on the sidewalk, you will fall in and get burned by the fire.

4.) Sharks come out of eggs from their mothers' tails. Baby cows also come out of their mothers' tails.

5.) Skeletons eat little kids.

6.) Tigers also eat little kids.

7.) Monsters don't wear sweatshirts.

8.) Tiger/dragon/bleeding monster/warriors don't wear clothes.

9.) Some dogs eat other dogs and little kids.

My work picnic

It was like Sophie's Choice. My work had a picnic in Nantasket. I had childcare for both kids--thanks to mom who has been here for going on 3 weeks now--but thought it would be fun to take just one of them out for the day. Abraham's ability to pick up on things and to say the words, "I want to go with you, Mom," helped me make my decision. Abe came along and Angelo stayed home.

We picked up my coworker and his 5 year old on our way to the boss's place, where the event was held. I was regretting this when on the way home they were both chanting, "we want ice cream," over and over again.