Vintage Toys

vintagetoys
Originally uploaded by globalgirl246.

Receiving packages in the mail is something that Desi is beginning to understand and get excited about -- especially since I've discovered the convenience and *fun* of Ebay. Recently I was able to find some vintage Little People toys which I think are some of the coolest toys! And this week a package came with a little bus and a family inside -- father, mother, brother, sister and dog. :)

Since grandmas visit he's loved hearing the "wheels on the bus" song and so now we sing the song while playing with the bus. The people on our bus actually go up and down too!! Haha!!

Conservatory Gardens

mommy&desi2
Originally uploaded by globalgirl246.

We went with our PlayGroup to the Conservatory Gardens on Thursday -- located on 105th Street and 5th Avenue which is the northeast corner of Central Park. It was a beautiful day to be out and walking in the park. We had to walk across the park along the north border at 110th street from the west side to the east side! Such a gorgeous part of the park. :::sigh::: We spent about an hour and a half in the gardens looking at flowers and identifying the colors and taking pics. Desi loves flowers!! He wanted to touch all of them and went bounding into the flower beds regardless of my or the gardeners grumbling protests. Tried to explain that the flowers lived in the dirt and we couldn't walk on it but Desi does what he likes and flashes a big smile to compensate. We had lunch on the steps and after repeated climbing exercises we all wandered back through the paths to the westside again. Desi walked most of the way and was able to greet dogs and birds and turtles (Desi was so thrilled with the turtle, he stood there shouting at it, his body twitching and his arms waving about) and wander off onto the grass and embrace the trees. We also came upon some guys fishing, one had just caught a big bass so the babes were able to get a close look. Tons of stimuli! It was such a fun day! We want to take Nate and Heidi back when the fountains will be on and all the tulips in bloom. Perhaps on our anniversary.

here are more pics

(Its taken me some time to finally post this to the blog -- but the pics were discovered somehow on flickr and have received record breaking viewing! 58 was the count this morning (may02) of the other pic similar to this one. I like this one because Desi is smiling.)

Tired Boy

tiredboy
Originally uploaded by globalgirl246.

Sunday was so beautiful so about 5pm Desi and I went out walking to enjoy the weather... and to tire him out for bedtime!! We walked about 10 blocks going from flower pot to flower pot -- he now says "FLOWER!!" and points. He also loved seeing all the dogs and cars, words he says as well. We would stop often so that Desi could climb up stoops -- he loves to practice his stepping up and down without assistance. He fell quite a bit too and when we were waiting for the elevator once we got back to our building, I noticed he'd scuffed one of his knees. His first scuffed knee! (he was wearing shorts) I had to document it -- one pic shows him pointing to it. He was quite exhausted when we got back. :) Ahhh... restfull sleep.

some photos

A Firefighters Birthday Party

firefighter!
Originally uploaded by globalgirl246.

Desmonds first birthday party celebration for someone else. Thomas was turning two and he loves fire engines. Mara, his mom, planned the party theme accordingly. We went to the Fire Engine Museum in Chelsea and then back to their apartment for cake and games. In this pic Desi's got the hat and 'fire engine' on. He then needed to throw a blue ball at the wall where Mara had taped brightly colored 'flames'. When he hit a flame he put it out and on the back was a sticker. So cool!! Love creative moms!!

The kids would wander back and forth btween the living room and bedroom which was where all Thomas's toys were. Desi was pretty happy to find new toys, like the bike. At one point, while walking into the bedroom to check on him, he had Thomas in a big embrace! More and more he wants to hug the little kids. This one seemed mutual and Thomas was hugging back. Later he took a lunge at Jorja and she wanted none of his hug business -- I did catch that one on camera. hehehe...

Here are more pics, including all the partiers!

Our Firefighter Cupcake!!

cupcake
Originally uploaded by globalgirl246.

Yumyumyum! However, Desi was only interested in the "guy" so I ate the cupcake.

desi&themissionaries

Last night we went out with the Missionaries for a little while. Desi loves these guys and they love him too.

Ikea Play Day

drawing
Originally uploaded by globalgirl246.

Yesterday Emma and I skipped PlayGroup and went to Ikea. We had to drive there so I was a little nervous for Desi getting miserable and throwing up -- but he was fine, no vomiting! Whew! Desi let me shop for a bit when we first got there -- I haven't been since before his birth. Once I finished we headed to the Childrens Department where we let the boys loose! So many things to play with! There was a slide and little play tents, tubes and houses as well as a pit full of balls. Desi was really enjoying himself. Climbing all over the little tables and chairs -- I really wanted to get him his own little table and chair(s)!! Cute little boo. Maybe another time. We got some food after an hour or so and then, before leaving, went to a little area set up for the kids to draw or watch a movie. Love the kid friendly stores! It's so great to watch him react to things and see him having a good time.

Des has been waking up after his naps quite cranky over the last 2 week, at least with me it's been pretty regular. I've been a little worried about it -- think it may be due to low blood sugar. I try and give him a snack quickly but most of the time he's rattled for the rest of the day. Anyway, yesterday was an exception (finally!) I was in the living room getting some sleep myself and woke up to the sounds of him shouting, "ball ball!" went in quickly and found him smiling and playing with his big pink ball that Grammy Simkins bought for him. He was in the most excellent mood the rest of the day. What a relief! This morning was even more remarkable, he didn't even cry and carry on for us to come get him out of bed, just called out "mamma!" occasionally. And was giggly and chatty with me all this a.m. and was even quiet&still during family prayer. Love that he's feeling so great to be in such a happy mood. He's so fun when he's happy. He talks so much more too! Love that!

more playful pics

Watch Please!!

watchplease!
Originally uploaded by globalgirl246.

Desmond P. Jones has discovered the TV. Actually it began about 2months ago, but he's a regular requester now. He'll say "watch" and nod his head up and down saying "pleaseplease". He even has a name for one of his videos, "la la" which is Elmo, taken after the song he sings which Desi and I now sign often... lalalala lalalala la la la... catchy. He's not supposed to touch the TV or the videos but often does anyway as captured by this photo.

The other photos (see link) include an introduction to popsicles!! He was dripping and slurping all over the place and at one point he had his beverage in one hand and popsicle in the other, taking turns. I finally got nervous and put him in the highchair to contain stickyness which resulted in a weepy protest.

He's always loved our silky underware and managed to put on quite a few of my tops and bottoms around his head before wandering into the kitchen for a drink of my beverage. Funny boy. He drinks a lot of water, which is something I'm constantly doing, he drinks from my sippycup and his own sippy cup all day long.

Yesterday he took an interest in my more pointy shoes, carrying them off into the bedroom and then trying them on and walking about. Which reminded me of the times Heidi dressed him up in a long blonde wig when he was an infant and most recently in a fluffy pink coat and hat while we were shopping. Then there's my silky underware which he loves... why not shoes?!

see the pics here

Trip to Connecticut

Norwalk, CT
Originally uploaded by globalgirl246.

On Monday morning Mom, Desi and I took the 'big train' to see Heidi in CT for a couple of days. This was going to be an exercise in packing light for me as we we would be carrying everything with us, and that included a stroller at two different points up stairs. Desi slept most of the way and when he awoke we took turns reading to him and looking out the window. Heidi picked us up from the station in Stamford and we went directly to a Mexican restaurant! Later we walked around the cute downtown area, made a necessary stop at Target (!), and treated ourselves to a milkshake. Mmmm... Desi fell asleep about half way through our shopping so we were able to stay out a little later while he slept comfortably in his stroller.

After his nap on Tuesday we drove to the Aquarium in Norwalk. On the way there, while I was talking with Auntie Hailey on the phone, Desi began coughing and then throwing up all over me and himself. Ugh! An unprecedented, unwelcome turn of events! We pulled over and tried to clean up. Desi got a change of clothes... but not me as I'd uncharacteristically packed light and only had one pair of pants. We still went to the aquarium but I had a distinct and powerful odor of vomit about me. Desi seemed to enjoy the fish and seals and turtles and sharks... not a lot of commentary from him -- and if I'm being honest -- he actually took more interest in climbing the stairs. But MomHeidi&i loved the coral fish, seaturtles, seals and sharks. Most cool!

After the aquarium, as we were driving to the train station, he threw up again but we were prepared with a bag this time. Poor boy, he seems to have gotten the bad carsickness gene, esp. as we're never in cars. :(

More photos

(disclaimer: not a good photo sampling--we had a competing video cam to operate!)

Grammy is Here!!

grammy&desi
Originally uploaded by globalgirl246.

We have really been enjoying Grammy's visit! She arrived about 7:30 Friday night (Apr. 1), Desi was still awake and so excited to see her smiling, happy face. This pic was taken on Sunday, all dressed up for church/General Conference, we were at the church for about 6hours!! Poor Grammy!

Desi has enjoyed showing off his skills, namely throwing things he shouldn't. He watches Grammy intently to see what she'll do. Funny boy. He's also speaking and dancing and singing and playing -- skills he'll do in 2-3 minute spurts before switching to something else.

DOGGIE!!

2005_0331(002)
Originally uploaded by globalgirl246.

The warmer the weather gets the more time we will be spending in the parks. Hooray!! We have many to choose from and playgrounds galore. Everytime Desi sees a dog he growls and points. He really gets thrilled by them and has gotten quite close at times and nearly been licked in the face and has seemed unbothered (of course, i'm quivering inside, yuck!)Yesterday after a bad wake-up session of 30 minutes, crying inconsolably, I thought we'd better get outoutout! We'd spent the morning out at a playground with our PlayGroup but I sensed he needed more of the outdoors (when babyeinstein failed to calm I knew this was a serious upset) I decided to head over to Inwood Hills Park so that he could do a lot of walking and roaming. I called Emma and Jonathan and they were already there at one of the playgounds so we met them played in the sandbox for a bit then hit the paths and let the boys walk down to the water where the ducks were, then across a bridge over to where Emma said there were still lots of leaves. We kicked and threw leaves around for a bit, there were lots of airplanes and helicopters flying overhead and trains going by... high sensory. Desi was totally himself again. Whew! We got back to the apartment around 7pm -- his bedtime!

Tonight Grammy Simkins flys in for about 7days before she continues on to Italy&Greece. We are so excited for her visit!!! We'll be spending the weekend in the city and then catch the train to CT to spend Mon/Tues with Heidi. Desi hasn't been to Heidi's since he was an infant, maybe 7monthsold. He should be happy with the new environment to explore and riding in a car.

A few more pics here