Christmas in Michigan

Christmas Day for Jonah included: One fat lip (hello, duck bill);

several pieces of plastic food that we kept trying to get him to eat (he's since figured out that pretending is fun!);

and middle-of-the-night vomiting (props to Dada for cleaning that up all by himself) and explosive diarrhea that continued well into the car ride home the next evening. Thanks goodness he had Fuzz and a new fire truck (with lights!) to keep him happy. He's our little trouper.

Fortunately, he did get to ride the carousel at the mall. In fact he rode it four times on two different trips. Not that we believe in overkill or anything.

He did also have lots of fun putting marbles into the tractor-trailer that Mama used to play with.

Manny had a much easier time of it. Besides being over-stimulated by new faces and pretty lights, so that he had trouble sleeping, he had a lot of hugs.

Speaking of our Chubby Buddy: he's now 22 3/8 inches (25th percentile) and a solid 12 pounds, 9 ounces (75th percentile). In other words, he's growing well, especially in an outward direction. He is definitely our little social butterfly (butterball?), smiling and talking to anyone who speaks nicely to him. He did great meeting the relatives in Michigan, and two weeks ago in Iowa. Next up: his godparents, who are coming to Chicago with their three children for Manny's Baptism on January 6. Look how excited he is waiting for them! Can't wait to see you, Padrino and Madrina!

Accusation

"What? You think that I, innocent J, had something to do with those missing truffles? Nah..."

No comment

(Except that they are so sweet!)

Budding artist

Mama got really brave the other day during one of Manny's naps and decided to get out the finger paints. I thought Jonah might enjoy being allowed to get messy. I also wanted to shame him: He would witness my superior painting skills and then fail to acheive the same artistic vision that I so clearly possess. Unfortunately, his series entitled "Handprints and smears" displayed such artistic courage and depth of perception that I was the one who ended up in tears. To get even, I later challenged him to a foot-race, tripped him at the starting line, and gloated for the rest of the day. It's important to retain my "Alpha" status around the house. At least till Daddy gets home.

Can you tell that Jonah is actually upset in this picture? Do you think that it had something to do with the fact that I made him wear a trash bag that I insisted on calling a "smock"?

He's a bit unsure about this. I think he's confused as to why I'm actually encouraging him to smear him hands in this liquid-y stuff. Also confused as to why he can't eat it. Isn't it on a giant plate?
Still upset about the whole trash bag thing, evidently.
He finally managed to eat some. I'd be lying if I said that he only did it once.
All-in-all, a successful (though painfully short! Five minutes!) project.
"Handprints and smears" is on display in the Kitchen Gallery, an exciting new venue, through the start of the year. Admission by donation.

(belated) St Nicholas Day

Do you recall a picture of a certain little boy in holiday pants waiting for St Nicholas to come? The day finally arrived (a couple weeks ago -- we're a bit behind 'round here), and I don't know that any feast day of St Nicholas in the years to come will top this one, at least not in Jonah's mind. This one brought a nearly innumberable quantity of truck books (okay, three), a book about an anthropomorphic pigeon who likes to drive trucks, and a firehouse with a fire truck. Notice a theme? Oh, and pizza for dinner. Really, it doesn't get much better than this.

Even Manny got in on the excitement, lunging after his gift and spitting up all over Dad's shirt. (Manny was kind enough to shield the huge patch of spit-up with his head for this pic.)

And here we're all in such a high state of excitement that none of us can manage to look at the camera at the same time; in fact, we're not even looking in the same direction. Maybe next year...

Happy St Nicholas' Day!

Well-behaved

Here's a picture of Jonah in church: hands folded, intently watching the priest, contemplating the icons, quiet mouth... What? What's that? Okay, okay, you got me. I'm simply wishing that this were a picture of Jonah in church. Instead, this is a picture of Jonah... wait for it... watching trucks on youtube.com. *Sigh.*

Show me your sad face

Who wins this contest?

Jonah's might be worse for sheer pathos. However, the fact that he's actually mad at me for daring to talk on the phone while he's awake makes me feel less bad for him. Poor Manny, on the other hand... he's helpless! Plus, that is a VERY sad face.

I'll post happier photos soon. We are actually quite happy 'round these parts.

First snow

"Hey, Jonah, want to go outside and play in the snow?"

"Mmm, no, thanks, I'd rather look at the trucks in this ALDI flyer."

"Um, I'm not so sure about this. Plus, I look ridiculous."

"Truck!"

"What? There are more trucks at the end of the block? Let's run!"

"Hey! This stuff's hard to walk in, and these boots aren't helping! Give me a hand, will ya?"








"Bye-bye, trucks, I'll see you again soon!"