Caught in a Cuddle

caught in a cuddle
Originally uploaded by globalgirl246.

Desi has had a lingering cough for the last two weeks or so and coughs quite a bit in the night. When checking on him Monday night, I found him thus with his frog (from Auntie Hailey) and his yellow ball (from G&G Jones) He's never displayed an attachment to any of the critters I've designed to be bedtimebuddies. Last night he actually reached for his little bear as I was tucking him in. Very cute. Perhaps Nathan and I can relocate back to our bed if he finds comfort in one of the three soft animals I make sure are with him every night. We have been sleeping on the couch bed for over two months now because of his repeated sleep interuptions through the night when he discovers our immediate presence and calls out. I'm looking into a screen/roomdivider to try and block our bed from his sleepy view and so we can reclaim our bed again.

jonesfamily 3.27.05

HAPPY EASTER!!

click here for more pics of the weekend

More Activities

IMG_0628
Originally uploaded by globalgirl246.

Spreading out the paper and crayons on Jonathans new little table, the boys sat and colored. Desi made lots of little dots as he hammered the crayon onto the paper. Then played in Jonathans crib for awhile and in a early manifestation of imaginary play they created a slide out of a large box and climbed to the top and while sliding said aloud, "weeeee..." So cute!

desi&gabi

desi&gabi
Originally uploaded by globalgirl246.

The photo shoot with Jonathan yesterday worked so well, I thought I'd try it with Desi and Gabi when they finally settled down for a little World Animal entertainment. Desi began to actually cuddle with Gabi, you see here he's resting his head on her. So funny! Gabriella spent Friday morning with us while her parents went house hunting in the burbs :( they are expecting their third girl and are over-ready to fleeto the New York suburbs. Picture poor Magda up and down the subway steps with three children!! Women do it, but I don't know how!!!

desmond&jonathan

desmond&jonathan
Originally uploaded by globalgirl246.

Absorbed in our World Animals video and a perfect time to take pictures! Jonathan spent Thursday morning with us while Emma ran downtown for an appointment. In this pic Jonathan has finally warmed up to us and being at our house and is actually sitting comfortably next to Desi. He's usually a little wary of Desi because of his spontaneous outbursts of affection. The boys and I also went to playgroup together -- Jonathan strapped on me in the Ergo Carrier and Desi in the stroller. Whew! Emma mentioned recently that she and Jonathan passed our apartment building on the way to the post office and Jonathan called out, "hi Desi!" Amazing kid!

St Patrick's Day Parade

St Patrick's Day Parade
Originally uploaded by globalgirl246.

Last Thursday Desi and I breezed into playgroup for 15minutes and then hopped the train, meeting Emma&Jonathan and then down to 145 St. where we waited for Kendra and Lexi on the platform. We spotted them and got back on the train and headed down to 81st Street. It was a beautiful day for a walk across Central Park, no more saffron Gates, but plenty of babies and dogs and runners. We thought we'd catch the end of the parade on the east side near the Met Museum. It was probably the most popular spot to watch the parade along Fifth Avenue. There were hundreds of firefighters wearing green berets in defiance of the city who said they couldn't. The parade largely consisted of marching bands -- great rhythms and bagpipes and men-in-kilts. Desi spotted a cute littlelittle dog which he tried to make friends with (see pics) and after a bit of a lull in the parade (and hearing that it was scheduled to go till 6pm!!) we decided to find a playground in order for them to move around more freely. Emma thought she'd seen a great one just north of the museum, we had to walk through all those hundreds of firefighters to get to it -- we were all breathless with the continuous (3 blocks) proximity of such hunkygreenbereted men!!

The playground was called Ancient Playground and designed around an egyptian/pyramid theme. Desi had his first experience with sand. When I placed him in the large sand play area he didn't move for 2 minutes, sensing the uneasy footing. I finally stepped in and took big exagerated steps to encourage him. He watched me, almost seemed to shrug and then took a step. Once he got used to the sand beneath his feet he began to touch it and was quite fascinated with it. He made little piles on the slide and threw it in the air. Fun afternoon. :):) We love our city and it's so great to explore it with friends.

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Desi with Aunties Holly and Heidi

heidiholly&desi2005
Originally uploaded by globalgirl246.

Ahhh... loving Spring Break with family!! I hope it will be a tradition for awhile. :) We missed Hailey this year and Heidi was in Utah for a few days but on Holly's final day, Heidi drove straight from the airport with a vacation story only Job could appreciate but we endeavored to have good time together. Heidi, unfortunately, had more drama in store. Once arriving in NYC, car towed, $600 in fees, license suspension... arrest record?! What's happening!?!? Is it over yet?

Holly arrived on Friday morning and braved the subway solo to our apartment in upper manhattan. Bravo!! I worked that day so she and Nate played with baby and then headed downtown to meet me at 4pm. We walked crosstown and found a Jamaican restaurant in Hell's Kitchen. It was a bit of a reintroduction for Desi (and us in toddlerhood) to dining out. No highchair, spicy food, and small spaces. While waiting for our food we took Desi walking down the street to get his wiggles out. He enjoyed all the attention his little wobbling self attracted.

On Saturday night, Holly and I splurged on Broadway tickets for _Fiddler on the Roof_ which was lovely! Before the show we ate at a Himalayan restaurant (Desi's first Mango Lassi!) and marched around the Lower East Side. Nate and Desi left for home while Holly and I went to the theatre. Sunday Desi hung out with Auntie Holly while I was at church (ahhh...) and then we headed to Canal St. and Tribeca. Desi slept nearly the entire time in his cozy little stroller bunting. We had a foreign film night, watching my favorite Iranian film, _Children of Heaven_. On Monday we met Nate in the Financial District and wandered the cozy little streets of the Wall Street/Battery Park area then over to the South Street Seaport. Later Holly, Desi and I caught the last 15minutes of open time in the National Museum of the American Indian then walked along the water at Battery Park. We decided to head over to Brooklyn during rush hour -- sqeezing onto the train with the stroller. I've limited Brooklyn navigational experience and after a coupla mistaken impulse turns and a neccesary pause at a rather lackluster Blimpie to feed poor huungry Desi, we decided to call Brooklyn a bust. I'll be polished for next time!

Holly is so wonderfull to have around! I miss her solicitous self -- she was on top of everything, preparing travel beverages and snacks and unpacking them at the end of the day,washing the dishes every morning, playful and loving with baby... he absolutely adores her!! Watching her with such warmth and expectation for what playful thing she would do next. We even almost had him saying her name!

Such a pleasure having family around. :::sigh::: Please come more often!! Looking forward to more visits in April... GRANDMA!!!

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My Auntie Holly

onshoulders
Originally uploaded by globalgirl246.

Hooray!! What a weekend!! Auntie Holly was here and I adore her so much!! I love watching her! My mom says that my eyes just light up when I see her! She makes funny faces and talks so sweetly to me and reads me stories and I rode for blocks and blocks on her shoulders, bouncing and laughing!! It was the best time!! She makes me smile and I know she loves me because she holds me so sweetly and tells me so. I hope to see her again soon. Thanks for coming! We had the best time!!

Baby's Lexicon

taking pictures
Originally uploaded by globalgirl246.

ABC/123 we've been going over and over them, songs included. We have this little alphabet pal (from auntie Holly!) to take over for me when I get hoarse. He said Jesus over the weekend (!) and almost an amen this morning. He does love to speak, mostly the same words over and over again, and lots of complicated sounds. Not a lot of imitating yet. His favorite oft repeated words are: up, hi, apple, juice, ball, cracker, uh oh, nurse, cheese, down, dada (which could mean Nathan or a baby or anyone!), mama, cheese, boot, and he loves to growl!! When we were in the park with Jonathan and Emma on Saturday we were calling out airplanes and helicopters (Jonathan knows them each by sound even before seeing them!) Desi's still a bit grounded -- it was funny because we were all looking up in the air pointing, trying to get his attention and he was grinning but looked off into the distance at something else we couldn't detect.

On the Playground

ontheplayground
Originally uploaded by globalgirl246.

Saturday was bright and sunny, still in the 40s but we thought we'd try some playtime at the park. Emma and Jonathan joined us and the boys relaxed in the swing for awile then they were ready to explore!

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Self Feeding

self feeding
Originally uploaded by globalgirl246.

After seeing JonathanDAddams eat last week with bowl placed unattended on the tray in front of him and holding his own spoon, I was inspired to take feeding to the next step with DesmondPJones.

Prior to this, we had been warming up, so to speak. He eats finger foods well on his own and I have been guiding him from time to time through the last few bites of whatever is in the bowl but I've never left him to do it for himself. The thought actually brings alarm as he still throws his cup and bits of food down to the floor with a flourish and then seems genuinely puzzled with the results, "uuhhh ohhh!" he'll say with furrowed brow. Gravity puzzles.

However, since introducing his bowl to the tray and guiding him (with a toddler size spoon) from bowl to mouth and then taking a deep breath and releasing to his care, he has been a studied and capable student! He has not (yet) sent bowl flying and contents splattering. Whew! I do plan on seeking out a suctioned bowl though -- just in case. :)

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