First big snow of 2012!

Isaac and Josh singing with NFS

Josh and Isaac shined in the Newton Family Singers. Make sure to check out the first video after minute 2:40!

Hi De Ho

 

http://youtu.be/dsGqwjCA7yo

 

Circle Game

 

http://youtu.be/ze2nS00XNo0

 

I Feel the Earth Move

 

http://youtu.be/wa1JOkDGPdM

 

Child of Mine

 

http://youtu.be/jGsuhls5Aao

 

Beautiful

 

http://youtu.be/g4nGLtxS7lc

 

Woodstock

 

http://youtu.be/Bha3XsY7L5k

 

Big Yellow Taxi

 

http://youtu.be/FwnE-xsyGCk

 

So Far Away

 

http://youtu.be/QU5hhmB5zac

 

Alligators All Around

 

http://youtu.be/V6QDpm0OV1I

 

Wasn't Born to Follow

 

http://youtu.be/Ilp0UjA_s8o

 

You've Got a Friend

 

http://youtu.be/nr486tEDvT4

 

Where You Lead

 

http://youtu.be/0FzeW1wFm7E

 

Both Sides Now

 

http://youtu.be/SBzM8jkMK2I

 

Hi De Ho (Reprise)

 

http://youtu.be/7b_1pcg281o

Discovery Museum

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Bob Mason" <bmasona@gmail.com>
Date: Nov 24, 2012 8:48 AM
Subject:
To: "Anique and Josh Olivier-Mason" <aniqueom@gmail.com>

Fwd: Swinging

Fwd: About to jump

A master mimic

I made this video today of Isaac playing music on his uke and singing along. As you know, he's been in love with uke playing for a really long time so in one way, this movie is nothing new. Yet, it is special. Watch how he has a music book open as he plays, as if the notes and lyrics are being read. Watch how he memorized the order of the animals in the book. Watch how he holds his instrument, just like his dad. Enjoy!
One more thing: Josh and Isaac will perform "Circle Game" and other songs with the Newton Family Singers December 9th at 4:00pm.  The concert sells out (!) but we can sell tickets to anyone interested in coming. Please come sit with me to cheer them on!

Happy Halloween!

Our little cow, trick or treating in Belmont this evening.

The Circle Game

Since January, Isaac and I have been singing with the Newton Family Singers, a choral group that meets once a week on Sundays. Last spring, our program was "Pete Seeger and Friends," which is why Isaac now sings "Wimoweh" ALL the time. This fall, we are singing songs by Joni Mitchell and Carol King. Though Isaac now spends most practices playing with the baby-sitters and running around, he likes to be with the adults when we're practicing certain songs. His currents favorites are: "Hi-de-ho"--quick story: last week, when Chris, our director, announced that we'd be starting with that song, Isaac ran into the middle of our circle, pointed at Chris, and exclaimed: "Hi-de-ho! Yes! Thank you!"--and "Circle Game." As you can see from the video below, we've been practicing that one at home.

Fall Flirting

On Monday, Isaac and I went to the local playground even though the weather looked stormy. Approaching it from the top of the hill, I was disappointed not to see little kids playing on the swings and monkey bars but teenagers: that dreaded class of human beings who don't say hello and hog the baby swing because that's funny. Argh, I thought. We marched on and started to play. At first, Isaac didn't seem to notice them--with their music pumping through a phone and the group occupying all the swings-- as he climbed the playground structure, went down the slide and ran around. Then he became aware of them and he ran toward the girls, stopped, smiled with a head tilt and then ran back. One of the them gave him a smile. Then her friend noticed him too, "he's so cute!" Encouraged by his fans, now he ran toward toward them and sang a song.

Eventually the pack left and two younger teenage girls came and sat on the structure where he normally climbs up for the slides. Mildly annoyed by all the older kids and awkward about what to say, I didn't engage with them. Eventually though Isaac broke the ice. He started going up to them and talking with them and eventually singing for them. The girls were very sweet and well-mannered. "He's so smart!" As for me, I'm standing there in awe as my little boy is seriously flirting with these two pretty middle school girls. While we all are admiring Isaac, I find out that they've gone to Watertown public schools since elementary and say it's been pretty good. Somehow it comes out that one of the girls, Olivia, is diabetic. I mention our Ryan and I think with that, between me and Isaac, we convinced the girls that we're cool. I say, "I know this might sound forward, but do you girls babysit?" I hope they don't give their phone number out to everyone, but I thought Olivia might really be great for an afternoon outing or something. Suddenly it starts to sprinkle and we say goodbye. I guess that as a team, Isaac does the flirting and I get the digits!

Other fun things we've been up to and reading: Horton Hatches an Egg, balloon parties, a lot of twirling and jumping, singing with the Newton Family Singers every Sunday (aka "concert"), saying, "I don't want to talk," destroying his uke (I have Gorilla glued every part now and the neck has fallen off twice--still looks great though), eating whole apples, pushing a chair to the sink and washing his hands and pouring water into different containers, "helping" me by getting his broom when I get mine, pushing a stool to the counter to help with cooking, breaking eggs (I taught him that this is done by throwing an egg hard into an empty bowl), talking to his stuffed animals ("Do you want some juice, Tiger?"), watching one episode of Cat and the Hat on our computer (which he calls "cum-pu-ter"), eating "lego" bars--aka granola bars, eating large quantities of eggs (3!) or hot dogs (2.5)  in one sitting ("another egg, Mama") and generally being more reasonable lately. I have also started doing some tips from 1, 2, 3 Magic as well as trying to be as ready as possible before Isaac wakes up. With these strategies, Isaac and I have been doing really well in our daily morning routine (Josh is out by 6am). Not to say it's perfect, but we have had more good days than bad lately.

Coinciding with these good days is that Isaac has been more regular. Thank God. He was going 3-4 days between BMs and the guy was noticeably uncomfortable. In damage-control, we bought his favorite juices, made oatmeal with flax and have reduced milk and yogurt.

I need to stop writing about successes because I'm setting myself up for either a bad night or a bad morning!

Russell Orchards with Olivier-Meehans

Last summer swim

This was my first three-day weekend in ... I don't know, years? It was always weird taking off National holidays in the Sengupta lab so most people worked at least partial days. Well, this year, I was off and enjoyed it.

First, we went to RI to Clingstone with Jenn and Paul where we enjoyed beautiful views and good food followed by a really good trip to the beach the next morning. Even though Isaac missed his nap because of it, we later stopped for amazing gelato in Newport.

On Monday, Isaac and I had a long day-date. In the morning, we had a date with the Reaveys and got to see baby Zachary again. I started this thing saying, "don't cry Baby Zachary," even though I've never heard the little guy make a peep! Isaac then had a marathon nap and I cooked: kale chips (thanks Mareshia for the tip), banana muffins, pesto and maybe something else and I've forgotten.

After nap, we went swimming and Isaac was more adventurous than I've ever seen him. Wearing his blue swimsuit with floaties inside of it, he was jumping in the pool (it was the last day for our condo-pool) at the "5" and "9" feet-markers and ON HIS OWN rising to the surface, "swimming" to the edge of the pool and then walking his hands over to the ladder, climbing out and doing it again and again. I was very impressed! So impressed that when Josh joined us, I was distracted telling Josh all about it. In the seconds that I looked away from Isaac, he had swum about three feet away from the edge. It kind of freaked me out, but then I was crazy proud. I started telling random people lying around that he just swam! He then continued to swim more than half the length of the short side of the pool! What a difference from when the pool opened a few months ago. Isaac is Mr. Adventure!

Later on, Danielle+clan joined us for dinner to help eat up that food. One fun highlight was that at 7:30, Tavi said she wanted to go swimming. I he'ed and hawed and finally said, "yes." I'm so glad I did: we dared each other to get wet even though it was kind of cold out and then laughed ourselves silly thinking we were the very last people to swim in the pool until next summer.

This pool has really been a treat--we'll miss it when we move (eventually) and don't have it anymore.

Here are some Clingstone pics: https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=103644668817672217455&target=ALBUM&id=5784495014971577169&authkey=Gv1sRgCKXhhJj9yZ3algE&feat=email

Here's a link to some pictures and the embedded slide show:
https://picasaweb.google.com/117929270461197925228/EndOf2012Summer?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCMGLkqum-v7Dag&feat=directlink

Isaac at the gap.

Isaac sings a medley

Here's a video of Isaac singing and playing his uke: http://youtu.be/MG39ZTsPLE8

2012 Vinalhaven_2

Jenn, Paul and Maya joined us for the last couple days in Vinalhaven. Here are more pictures from our trip that are embedded in the blog or can be seen by clicking on this link: https://picasaweb.google.com/117929270461197925228/2012_Vinalhaven_2?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCK_km_2i_9Llfw&feat=directlink

Pictures of Lobsterfest and beautiful Vinalhaven, Me

Below are the pictures of our trip so far. The first half are of one night outside Rockland in a horrible motel. I took a bunch of pictures because I'm contesting the charge on our credit card (cold shower and bed broke!). If you don't see the embedded slideshow, click on the link: https://picasaweb.google.com/AniqueOM/2012_Vinalhaven?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCMqBxvqbwvbmxwE&feat=directlink

Travelogue: Vinalhaven August 8 2012

We’ve now been on Vinalhaven for five days. This morning we took Isaac to story time at the library in town. We were one of three families there, so Isaac got a chance to pick out several of his favorite books—Polar Bear Night, Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Did you Hear?, If You Give a Mouse a Cooke?—and listened as Mary, the volunteer storyteller, read and patiently waited for Isaac to fill in lines that he knows by heart.

Among the things we love about this island are the people: year-rounders, summer folk, or short-term renters like us. Mary, for instance, has been coming to Vinalhaven for more than twenty years; she rents a place for a month and while they are here, she and her husband open their house to friends and family: “it feels like I’m running an inn,” she said. Yesterday, while biking on North Haven, we stopped at a local farm, Turner Farm, that we just happened to pass, and in line for the doors to open at 10 AM, we met Rosa, a college councilor from Concord, MA. Like Mary, she’s been renting for nearly twenty years. She provided us with a lovely image of her family growing up spending summers there. Since her kids were little, they have been living “free-range” on the island.

Later that same morning, on the way to Mullin’s Cove, Josh blew out his rear tire, and a potentially dire situation was averted with the help of two locals: the first, Carol Waterman, drove Josh’s bike the five miles or so back to town. We learned that her husband’s family has lived on the island for generations; they used to run a grocery store, Waterman’s, in the building that is now the island’s (amazing) community center of the same name. When she introduced herself, Josh reacted as though she was famous: “Waterman, as in the Watermans!?” She told Josh that her two sons both went to school on the island in the state’s smallest K-12 school. Her oldest son was one of two seniors in this spring’s graduating class! Meanwhile, down at the beach, where Isaac threw rocks into the surf, complimenting himself on each throw (“Good throw … that’s a good throw!”), we met Gayle, a grandmother visiting from Augusta. She was there with her two grandchildren, Caden and Emma (5 and 3). Her daughter married a local lobsterman, whose family has lived on the island for generations. So the children’s other set of grandparents are Waterman’s and Brown’s—another family just as well-known on North Haven. Everyone we run into is so nice, so welcoming that we feel like we don’t want to leave, ever. (Maybe it’s also the influence of “Under the Tuscan Sun,” where the heroine travels to Italy, on a whim buys a villa, and lives a wonderfully full life off her no salary.)

Every day, Josh scans the real estate listings, and we talk about taking two weeks next year, maybe spending one on each island. However, there are some warning signs: Rosa mentions that the island of North Haven feels just like 1965, then pauses and says more quietly, “for good and for bad”; we notice that there are literally no kids besides Isaac here who are not blonde—not much diversity, in other words. While at Booth’s Quarry on Saturday, Anique swam the length of the quarry with a college dean from Virginia who bought a place up here thirty years ago and now talks about how much work and money it takes to maintain that property. Just last year, she finally rented it out for August so that she could take a ten-day trip to Ireland. Otherwise, she’s always either back home in Virginia or “here.” The way she said “here” made her vacation home sound a bit like a prison. Certainly, it injected a fair amount of reality into our real estate fantasizing.

While it might seem strange to want to keep coming back, year after year, to the same 12-mile long island off the coast of Maine, we keep discovering new things that we missed on our previous trips or things that we failed to appreciate before having Isaac. The shelf of rock sticking out from the side of Lawson’s Quarry, where Isaac can wade safely without having to wear his bulking and much-loathed life vest; Polly’s Cove, a beautiful inlet, near the top of the island, where we spent an hour after dinner last night, where Isaac threw rocks into the gentle surf, where we saw a bald eagle; even North Haven, which we finally “discovered” this trip. And, we imagine that these discoveries will continue to occur with each year we travel here. What’s more, though, we’ll start to feel like this is our spot. While checking email at the ARC, a local café on Main Street, Josh spent a few minutes chatting with a couple of brothers, 12 and 13, from Portland. They’d been coming to island every summer since they were babies; their grandparents own an old homestead not far from town. For them, this island is a second home, and though we’re not ready to drop 20,000 bucks on a cedar shaker cottage or some Victorian-style fixer-upper in town, we both want something of that experience for Isaac. Every day, he asks to see the “waterfalls”: by this, he means the spot in town where one can see the water flow in or go out from the bay into the harbor. We spend a lot of time at this spot, on one side of the street and then the other. This place feels like it’s Isaac’s (no one else is standing in line to see it), and we’re pretty sure it’s what he has in mind when he says that “we love Maine.”

July 2012 photos--new camera!

Months ago, we lost our relatively new Canon Powershot and were sitting around waiting for it to show up when I just couldn't stand it anymore and bought a replacement. So now watch the old one appear any moment! Anyway, here's a link to our Picasa album from July. This includes the Masons' visit and trip to the Acton Discovery Museum, beach with the Olivier-Meehans and hanging out with Roisin Reavey.

Nothing Better

Several weeks ago, Anique and I took our bikes in to Wheelworks in Belmont for a tune up, in anticipation of our Maine vacation later this week. So this morning, I decided to forgo the car, and take Isaac out for a bike ride. Our itinerary: Stop 1) 3 mile ride to Best Buy to purchase an 8 gig flash drive. Stop 2) short trip to Farren playground; a new favorite for Isaac and me, it boasts obstructed views of the Charles (for me) and it's never crowded (Isaac: "No other kids. I no like other kids"). Stop 3) Watertown Library, if time. And we were off. Our first stop went off without a hitch, and the overall experience was enhanced for Isaac by the automatic door, which we used to enter and exit and then enter and exit and ... scene. However, as we merged onto Arsenal Street, and I shifted into a higher gear, I noticed an acute clicking sound. When I turned onto Charles Street, I shifted gears again, and suddenly my back wheel stopped turning. I hopped off to investigate. The problem seemed to be with my derailleur. Then I saw that my rear wheel was rubbing against the frame. I tried to fix it, but my limited knowledge of bikes and Isaac's refusal to stay next to me as I worked finally lead us to lock the bike in its place and to set out for home on foot. For the first half-mile or so, we walked along the Charles River bike path. Isaac waved high to the kids rowing crew (Isaac: "I see boats. They're fishing"). After gamely holding my hand and walking for 30 yards or so, Isaac asked to ride on my shoulders, where he sat for the rest of our long, sweaty march back home (with the exception of twenty minutes or so of running around at the playground). We inspired a lot of smiles from passing bikers and pedestrians. Not far from our house, on Waverly Street, an older man working on his pickup whistled and said: "Just a father and his son out for a walk in the morning. Nothing better." For a moment, I thought about telling him about our abandoned bike--which Wheelworks fixed at no charge later that afternoon--or about the fact that not long after we left the playground, while astride my shoulders, and with a mile-and-a-half separating us from wipes and a clean diaper, Isaac proceeded to poop. I paused and instead said: "Yup. Nothing better."

It's a jungle in here.

Josh, Isaac and I are all loving this in-between period! I'm still at Brandeis, but working very slowly (aka not much at all!) and will be on vacation Wednesday. The picture is from the Discovery Museum today.

Jamming

On Monday, I passed my Ph.D. defense and had an amazing day with two different parties and lots of love. Meanwhile, Isaac enjoyed spending time with our friends Mike and Roisin. They are a very musical family so maybe Isaac and Roisin will be future band-mates?!

Enjoying an apple in newton.

Showing off the new haircut!

In the army now

We noticed Isaac was getting a hair-pulling habit when he was tired or upset and would pull 3-4 strands of hair out of his head. Google search ensued. Apparently, this is normal--similar to thumb sucking or nail biting--a habit that is self-soothing, but not great. Suggestions included shaving off the hair and replacing the habit with another sensory touch--like a feather or something. So Josh and Isaac both got the army-buzz cut. Anyone have other suggestions?

In other news, I've submitted my thesis to my committee and am making my talk. Less than one week away!

Swinging...

Cape Life

4th of July

Isaac and Josh went to Manchester-by-the-Sea and saw the Independence Day Parade there with the Olivier-Meehans and Woods. Apparently, seeing the cousins was wonderful but the loud "poppers" were a bit too scary. Also, the Revolutionary War reenactors stopped right in front of Isaac and shot their muskets-- that kind of freaked him out. In this picture are Cole, Isaac and Maya.

Later this evening, the Woods and  Schuman-Oliviers came over for swimming. We BBQ'ed and picnicked on the yard outside. The kids ran all around and played with Isaac's "water table" (aka a big Tupperware).

Fwd: @ pizza with betsy.

Before collapsing on the rug...

Very tired after a big big morning

After a full day of swimming with friends at our condo pool in the morning and then swimming with cousins in NH, Isaac had another full morning with other cousins that left him wiped out. Meanwhile, I stayed in MA and finished a first draft of another chapter. Once this one is boss-approved--hopefully will take only a couple days to incorporate her edits, I'll have a very short piece about future directions to type up that should be kind of enjoyable--so close!

Back home at last.

Josh and Isaac arrived home Wednesday evening and we spontaneously went to hear music in a local park. It was a lot of fun and Isaac seemed to really enjoy the music--they were really good. Even though it was good reconnecting, at the end of the night, I was sad thinking of leaving them again. So I was crazy and took today off. I rationalized it a bazillion ways and jumped in the car and drove to NH.

We saw my parents at their work and convinced my mom to leave her volunteer shift at the hospital and come home with us. Isaac jumped on the trampoline and walked to the lake with my mom. It was awesome. Feeling good, I checked email around 3:00. Waiting for me in my inbox were several pissed off emails from my boss. The last one began with, "What an unfortunate day for you to have taken off...". Of course! The one day --in months-- I take as a complete vacation day is the one that I MUST be at lab. Only a few more weeks, right?

Walking in larchmont

Note the whisk and wooden spoon--his instruments.

One last bedtime story...

Saying goodbye...on the way to NY now

Cooling off after our bike ride

I'll just have a sip...

Riding along in my automobile...

We are the dinosaurs marching, marching...what do you think of that?

Drumming!

Isaac and Ella on the carousal

Isaac Climbs Tree At Bushy Run

He was sad when it was time to say goodbye to "my tree".

Sliding @ Schenley Park

Celebrating mom's negative MRI

As for Mommy?

Prior to this week, Isaac and I had only been away from each other for ~30 hours. Now it's been almost five days. I miss them both so much so each day I look forward to the pictures and stories from Josh and then go back to the pictures later during down-time (and sometimes when I really should be doing something else).

Meanwhile, I've been typing away and have now completed two boss-approved chapters for my thesis! Unfortunately, I have two left to go. With my guys away, I've reverted to pre-Isaac days and I eat cereal, salad or smoothies for dinner to avoid cooking meals--and because I'm sweating from the heat and don't want to turn on the oven. Also, I've got greens coming out of my ears because our full-CSA keeps bringing me more fresh veggies--that's several pounds of produce and I'm just one person!

Think of me and give me good writing energy. This is such a different skill and because science writing is so formulaic, I have to get it just right so that it sounds respectable. At least today I got a "terrific" and "nice" in my track changes from Piali. Baby steps...

In heaven.

Meanwhile, Isaac was at home with Aunt Moriah and Munga.

I've been to the zoo and now i'm getting

Isaac on the slide

Years ago, we went to the Pittsburgh zoo and captured Josh, our good
friend Emily Romero and me each on the same slide.

Isaac proclaims "Everest next."

Isaac at the Pittsburgh Zoo

Happy at the zoo

At the zoo and loving his jeep.

Hanging out at the playground

Isaac loves the Mason's swimming pool

Finally...Pittsburgh!

More fun with friends in NY

New Paltz: friends, chickens, and sleeping through the night!

Day 1 of the OM guy adventure: having french toast @ Rein's Deli in CT! And throwing salt.

The end of the school year...for everyone

By the end of the week, Josh and Isaac will be out of school (no daycare over the summer). They leave for a one-week trip to Pittsburgh on Monday. In 5 weeks, I may be able to join their fun (at home). My defense is July 16th and my talk will be at 11am at Brandeis. Anyone who wants to come is welcome.

It's been a tough couple of months as Josh pushed to complete the final lessons and finish grading while I prepared my manuscript for press and organized old projects into thesis-ready chapters/appendices. Through all this, Isaac has continued to grow, sing and change.

One of the big change-instigators was that we set-up a toddler bed in Isaac's room. Instantly, he fell in love with his "big-boy bed"and wanted to play in his room all the time. Since we set up the bed, we have struggled with more wake-ups than the crib and don't know always how to handle Isaac requesting to get out of his room, "Please, open the door. Pleezze, open the door!" He also now wakes up about an hour earlier (around 5am) with, "I want Mommy! Open the door!" I just bought a new daytime/nighttime clock that uses a bunny light on a timer to teach when morning should start. I'm optimistic, but not holding my breath that it will work.

Isaac has also become much more of a climber (inside and out). When we go to the playground, he used to prefer to passively sit in the swing. Now it's all about finding bars for him to hang from. He's pretty good at holding on, but I admit I have small heart attacks when he climbs this one particular structure at Victory Fields that's meant for a much older child (my imagination flashes images of his head hitting a bar on the way down or falling from the top). He still is kind of clumsy and doesn't always look where he's going or what he could hit/be hit by--body awareness--that can be frustrating to watch. Last night, we were walking by a basketball game and he was watching it instead of the ground and missed a small hole. Needless to say, he fell over and scraped up his knees.

Last story--the other morning, Josh and I were lounging around while Isaac was reading to himself (an absolute favorite pastime) when all of a sudden he starts singing, "A, B, C, D..." and you will not believe it, but he sang the ENTIRE song. Yes, "L, M, N, O, P" sounded like, "elm, no, pee"but Josh and I were startled. When we tried to sing along, he scolded us saying, "no touching!"--his go-to command to stop talking, touching, singing or interacting with him. So, I guess it will just solos for Isaac right now!

So that's my catch-up. As you can see, Isaac is talking a ton and has plenty of opinions. I just bought the Pierre book because it is a childhood favorite and Isaac loves it. It just reminds me, that's never been a problem for my guy: he CARES!

The gang at Fenway!

Josh and Isaac at the Red Sox's game Mem. Day

My Mommy, PhD

Here's a new song that Isaac and I "wrote" for Anique for Mother's Day 2012.

Isaac loves Steam-Punk!

Happy Mother's Day! Isaac and Josh played at the Watch City Festival yesterday and Isaac loved the carnival-like atmosphere. Here's a super cute cell-phone video of Isaac chasing bubbles. We went back today and Isaac and I spent about a half hour listening to a carousel-organ that was made for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee while Josh donated blood (the Red Cross nurses even dressed up!). 

BTW: In case you haven't heard, Josh accepted the Lexington offer after playing the two schools' offers off each-other. He's really excited and I am so proud of him.

Things are changing

In my last post, I mentioned briefly that I am wrapping up my PhD studies at Brandeis. Well, I am not the only one mixing things up in our house! Josh made the difficult decision to take a (possibly permanent) academic leave from his PhD and throw himself in the direction of teaching at the secondary level (again). Not two weeks after telling his advisor about his plan, he was teaching a sample lesson as part of an interview for a position at a prestigious private school. That job didn't work out and Josh felt like it wasn't a good fit and a bullet dodged. While doubt sometimes crept into his thoughts, he plowed ahead and completed perhaps a dozen public school applications (or more). Simultaneously, he courageously decided to take on (in addition to his managing editor position at an academic journal and TAship at Boston College) a full-time maternity leave replacement for the rest of the school year at Wellesley High School. That's when Lexington High School showed interest. He went in for two vigorous interviews--teaching sample classes--and then today had a final "interview" with the principal. Good news: he got the job! Lexington High is ranked 5th on Boston.com list of best MA school districts and is pretty close to where we live right now. Importantly, he likes the people there and would feel comfortable working with them. Yet when it rains, it pours: it seems that Wellesley wants him too but they haven't advanced their search as quickly as Lexington. Like in a cheesy romance novel, Josh will have to way the pros and cons and choose the best suitor. Stay tuned for what happens next! Disclaimer: Josh still needs to meet with the HR person to make it "official", but I say, congratulate him anyway!

So if I'm still at Brandeis, Josh is teaching five days a week, and Isaac goes to day care four days a week, what's going on with Isaac? you might ask. Well, first, we made Isaac's non-daycare day Friday and then asked Danielle if she could help. She will! Just today we finalized the details. I'll bring Isaac to Cambridge really early (in pjs and without breakfast) to avoid the horrible Fresh Pond traffic. She plans to take Isaac and Izzi to Fresh Pond to play all morning--there are various things to do there for kids. She has a plan of attack for how to lunch and naps--Izzi first (easy napper) and then Isaac in a different room (chatterbox). Then Josh will pick-up most afternoons. I'm excited that Isaac will have these special Fridays and I think he'll get a lot out of the experience (special time with his aunt and cousin, experiencing new things, possible use of the potty like his younger cousin??)

Anyway, there is a lot going on. We now we've been neglectful friends, email correspondents, etc. so I hope this serves as a lengthy excuse! We promise to be more attentive in just a few months!

The sum of little moments

Recently, our friend asked me to contribute a quote for her book called I LOVE Mondays: And other confessions from devoted working moms (Seal Press, Fall 2012). She told me that "the book explores the 11 biggest concerns for working mom and offers both reassurance and specific strategies for dealing with each concern." Over the past several months, I have been preparing a scientific manuscript for publication. I have said more than once that this dissertation baby is a significantly harder birth experience than real childbirth. Really--I have gotten frustrated then full of hope then frustrated again--like, am I really only 4cm dilated after all this pain?? The plan is that I defend in July and start a new job at MIT in August. From where I sit right now, that feels impossible. However, everyone around me says it's going to happen so I'm trying to breathe that in and believe it. Anyway, even though I'm busy, I wanted to contribute to the book--maybe, especially now because I've been missing Isaac more than ever. Now that he's TWO (his birthday was last Wednesday), I feel like he has this new energy and has this spark to him that I find exciting to be around. So when our friend wanted a quote that dealt with how I handle missing major events in my child's life, I thought it over and came up with the realization that I haven't missed a single major milestone, but for some reason her question still made me sad. Here's here request and below that is what I wrote:

Don't know if you remember that I'm writing a book called I LOVE Mondays: And other confessions from devoted working moms (Seal Press, Fall 2012). The book explores the 11 biggest concerns for working mom and offers both reassurance and specific strategies for dealing with each concern. I'm hoping you can provide me with a quote for the book.

One of the big worries for working moms is that they are scarring their children emotionally by missing occasional milestones (whether it's the first step, first laugh or first piano recital) because they are at work at the time. Assuming you've experienced firsthand such travesties, have you figured out anything that works for you and/or makes your feel better when you miss your son's big moment?

The sum of little moments

I went back to lab—doing experiments, writing academic papers and preparing presentations—when my son, Isaac, was barely 9 weeks old. At that time, my husband, Josh, was also a student and by the time my maternity leave finished, the college semester was over and Josh had passed a qualifying exam for his program so he could take the summer off to be with Isaac. Yet, even once the semester started again, Josh had the flexibility in his humanity degree program to stay with our son two days a week. Meanwhile, I found it extremely challenging juggling the nature of biological science (experiments can unexpectedly go long and techniques can fail) with pumping breast-milk twice a day and getting home early to eat family-dinner and put Isaac to bed. Then once bedtime was over, I’d leave the dishes for Josh and drive back to lab to finish jobs abruptly left a few hours earlier. Over the past two years, it is remarkable considering my schedule that I have been there for all the major milestones. I cheered Isaac on as he took his first steps and cried when he smiled his first smile. However, I still feel like I’ve missed out: I didn’t see him chortle when Josh pushed Isaac high on the swing at the playground, I couldn’t help him as he struggled to nap at daycare, I didn’t watch him run through the sand with his cousins on a recent sunny day. I have watched with enthusiasm the cell-phone videos and pictures taken of these non-milestone moments but I sometimes feel sad seeing the little moments go by without me. So when I feel like too many of these moments are happening, if I’m home, I’ll stop the mental gymnastics and try to really enjoy the mornings and evenings when we’re together and try to stay present with the story I’m reading or bath he’s splashing in and if possible, I will also try to arrange my schedule to spend some extra time together doing our own adventure. But if those moments come up and I’m at work, I try to quickly satisfy my Isaac-craving with a quick look at a family picture or online movie and plan something fun and small I can do once I see my little guy, and then get back to work to maximize my time away from my family.


Here's Michelle's edited version--it's different in tone and more generic, but fine. I approved it:
“I went back to lab—doing experiments, writing academic papers and preparing presentations—when my son, Isaac, was barely 9 weeks old. I sometimes feel sad knowing the little moments my son experiences go by without me. When I feel like too many of these moments are happening, I’ll stop the mental gymnastics and try to really focus on enjoying the mornings and evenings when I’m home--staying present with the story I’m reading him or the bath he’s splashing in. If those sad moments come up while I’m at work, I try to satisfy my Isaac-craving with a quick look at a family picture or online video of him, and then plan something fun and small I can do once I see my little guy.”

Isaac at the Boston Marathon

Pictures taken by labmate Scott Neal

New outfit

New outfit from Gaga and Pepere!