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!
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Sunday, October 21, 2012
The Circle Game
Thursday, October 11, 2012
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!
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!
Monday, October 8, 2012
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
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/
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
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/
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
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)