Natural History Museum!

This weekend, we met up with Aunt La La for a quick visit to the Natural History Museum in NYC. It's hard to believe our last visit was 3 years ago! Here are some pictures from our fun morning!

Daddy and Poki went to a planetarium show so Ping Pong and Mom walked around the museum with Aunt La La and Crazy Uncle Tom.



I love my Aunt La La...even though I look a little terrified here.



After our crew met back up, we went to see some dinosaurs! Mom asked Poki to pose with this guy and we all discovered that Poki now understands the meaning of the word "pose." He was really excited to be there.



Ping Pong was not. (Did I mention Ping Pong did not nap at all on Saturday?)



Poki couldn't get enough of the museum! He wanted to stay all day!



He especially liked all the interactive exhibits with computers--so much that he was confused by the regular signs.



Eventually, Ping Pong's sleep deprivation set in and he just sat in his stroller, waving to every person and fossil he saw.



We had such a nice time! We've been spending all our time grading papers or doing home repairs, so this was a much needed break! Hurray for mornings away from home! And Hip Hip Hurray for visits with family!

First Steps!!!

That's right, folks! My mom has miraculously been able to capture both of her kids taking their first steps on video!

I've been standing independently for some time and I took one step on Friday, so Mom knew I was ready and has had the camera attached to her hand like 24 hours a day. Her obsession has finally paid off. Check it out!!!



Woo-hoo! Yay me!

Ping Pong's First Birthday Party!

This weekend was my very first birthday party! We had a great time celebrating with some of my favorite people!

First, my brand new friend, Max stopped by for a little pre-party.



Also, my Aunt Rachey and Uncle Charlie came up from NYC to spend the whole day with us!



After my friends arrived and we all played for a little while...



It was time for cupcakes! Mom made me a very special Very Hungry Caterpillar (cup)Cake!



Here's the big moment on film:



It was as delicious as it was cute! Just like me.



Poki won the fight with Joe and got to eat the caterpillar's face...and then went into sugar shock.



He wasn't the only one.



But I recovered quickly and got back to the party!



Thanks to all our friends for making this such a special party for all of us! We love you!

A Room of One's Own

Despite his unhappy face here, we are beyond thrilled to announce that Ping Pong's brand new room is complete! He just didn't appreciate his mom interrupting the bedtime routine to document this momentous occasion.



ps
You'll notice this is tagged as a milestone. Heck yes it is! Hooray for privacy!

Movie Star

Pictures of the first birthday party are coming soon, but at the moment...

We would like to direct your attention to Ping Pong's acting debut. Our friend and neighbor has a new book called "Baby Barbells" and an accompanying website. Ping Pong plays the role of "Baby Barbell" in the demo video. That's right, people. The title role.

Click Here to watch the movie star!

Happy Birthday, Ping Pong!

My sweet Ping Pong,

When you were born, I felt guilty knowing that I would never be able to give you the attention I gave your brother. I knew you would have something wonderful from the very beginning that he did not—a sibling—but that sibling is a strong-willed, extremely loud, brilliant kid. I knew it would be easy for his shadow to cover you, and so, like all mothers inevitably do, I worried. Boy, did you show me. In the flash of time that has been your first year, you have proven yourself to be even more strong-willed, even louder (that screech!), and just as bright as your big brother. You are a presence all your own, my love. No one, not even your crazy brother, can hide you.

Everyone said I would be amazed that I could love another child as much as I loved my first, but I had no idea how true that was until you got here. I am so in love with you. I am so grateful for you. You have done something amazing to our family. The other day, we were all playing together on the floor, and I stepped back for a minute and just watched my three guys. I couldn’t believe that there was ever a time when you weren’t there. It feels like you were just born a month ago, but I have to work to remember our family without you. From that first cry, you changed us.

I love you, Pork Chop.

Happy Birthday!

Mom

1...

Then...



Now...



Sigh...How did that happen?

2...

Today is the day before my birthday! It is also Ash Wednesday, which seems oddly appropriate: A day of repentance right before my new start as a one year old. Well...as much as an almost one year old can repent.

3...

Today I got my very first birthday card. Boy, the big day is really almost here!



This is also a great opportunity to show you one my new tricks: Pointing! I point at everything and say "da!", which my Mom thinks is my way of asking what something is.



Thanks for the birthday card, Aunt Tata! We'll always remember who gave me the first one!

4...

Photos by Poki

True Comedy

We interrupt our birthday countdown to bring you a joke by Poki.

Well, at least we're trying to. After a while it felt like Poki was doing his best impression of Charlie Sheen on set; yet again confirming Mom's suspicions that hanging out with a 3 year old isn't much different than hanging out with a drunk person.

TAKE 1



TAKE 2



TAKE 3



TAKE 4



TAKE 5



TAKE 6



Hahahaha! Okay, fine. At this point it's just a little anticlimactic, huh?

5...

This weekend, Babi and Babushka came for a pre-birthday birthday party. Babi and Poki even made me a cake!



While they were busy in the big person kitchen, I was hard at work in the little guy kitchen.



Here I am taking my favorite dish out of the oven.



Then, today, we had my party!



Poki thought the cake was delicious!





But what did I think of my very first bite of cake? Chocolate cake?





Mmmmm...What is this stuff?



You need some too!



No seriously, what is this stuff?



Thanks Babushka and Babi! What a fun pre-party!

6...

Please enjoy the ridiculous cuteness that is me:

7...

Sorry for the missed post yesterday! Mom had a stomach bug that has been sweeping the city and just wasn't up to it. We'll catch up today though.

For our first of today's countdown, I thought I'd share something awesome about myself that you might not know: I go to sleep really well. I might not stay asleep really well, but I go to sleep really well. For example, this week, we've had a contractor in our house building me a room (Happy Birthday to me!) so I've been napping in a pack-n-play in the kitchen. Mom was a little worried about the quality of my naps because, you know, babies aren't exactly fans of change, but I've done really well. She just stuck to her regular routine of nursing me, then singing a lullaby (my latest favorite is "Great Big Stars"--I even sing the first three notes with her), then putting me in my bed with a board book. I look at my board book until I fall asleep. Pretty awesome, huh? Today, she forgot to grab a book from upstairs, so she gave me my funny blanket to look at instead. It was a gift from my Aunt La La and I think it is pretty much the funniest thing ever. I snuggle with it and kiss all the different decapitated animals. (It's really not as gross as that sounds). About 5 minutes later, Mom peeked into the kitchen and snapped these:







All together now: "Awwwww!"

I know, right?! I'm insanely adorable.

8...

For today's birthday countdown post, I thought I would share some cool big boy things I've been doing lately.

First of all, this is my favorite toy. I could play with this thing for minutes. (Hey, "minutes" is good for a kid my age!) This is a little long, but honestly, Mom sort of forgot she was even filming.



Now this one is something I can't believe we haven't shown you until now. Shortly after we returned home from our Christmas vacation, I started pulling up and cruising around on furniture. So this is something Mom should have posted about months ago, but, as you all know, I'm the second child. Anyway, here is some video of me on the move. If I wasn't such an expert crawler, Mom would say I should be walking on my own any day now--but I am an expert race car crawler. We'll have to get some video of that up soon too! In the meantime...

9...

Here is a picture (that stealthy Granny snapped) of me and my mom from March 2, 2010...



And here we are today! (She looks much happier, right?)



I like to lean into my kisses



Okay, enough kisses, Mom! Sheez...



And one of just the soon-to-be birthday boy!

Let The Countdown Begin! 10...

It is just 10 days until my big day so we're going to celebrate with a post every day until March 10!

One year ago today, Granny arrived in New Haven to meet me. She barely survived the day because she kept trying to take pictures of my mom and her giant belly. She even tried to take pictures of my mom from behind. Anyone want to guess how my mom felt about this? I believe there is a photo floating around somewhere of a very pregnant Mom doing something called "flipping a bird"...whatever that means.

Of course, now Mom is glad to have all those pictures. (Yes, Granny, you were right).

Speaking of pictures, here are a couple of me from this morning! Don't I look good in hats?





Until tomorrow...