First Birthday

It's come and gone, George's first birthday. It did really hit me, seeing him with the cake and the candles-- my little boy is one year old. And there's lots more of these to come, each one closer on the heels of the last. But I wax nostalgic. (Generally I do that in the summer; so messy and uncomfortable ;0)

We had a lovely little party, mostly family, and as you can see, cousin Fiona helped us blow out candles. She also decorated gingerbread men with her sister, and judging from her chin, there was a little sneaking of candy going on. George was walking with his cart for the occasion, dressed in preppy finery. We also had a little visit to some dachshund puppies recently, c/o of our friend Barbara B.-- just a TINY little bit cute.

Ahhh

It is the agony and the ecstasy: After cleaning the entire kitchen after his dinner, then bathing him, then writhing together on the floor for ten minutes getting him into his diaper and pajamas, we collapse on the couch, panting, and stare blankly ahead for 20 minutes. But before the last of these he leans his head on my shoulder after "Goodnight Moon" and goes to sleep, like a baby. And when awake, he is uproarious and delightful. (See pics.)

Tell Me Another One

Well, two teef are in and a third on the way, and walking is just around the corner. Lots of falls and bruises and to put it indelicately, snot. Maybe this has something to do with teething? Talking sometimes seems even closer than walking, as G. carries on animatedly as if he is saying words-- a great double-talk act.

We went to the beach for a couple days, but mostly, walking to the grocery store in the stroller is our big daily outing. Reading has emerged, delightfully, as a new source of interest. G. seems to sustain his attention through a whole book, and like every child I have ever met, he loves Goodnight Moon. Life continues apace.

George at work and rest

G. has been busy, very busy, learning lots of new things. He crawled for the first time about two weeks ago, and sitting up followed soon after. He is discovering the kitchen cabinets, the washing machine, and the beloved oven. Among other things, like tissue paper and real estate tax bills. Thank goodness they sent a dupe. As I write he is exploring the physics of the Cuisinart.

We bought a little cardboard house for George and my nieces to play in, complete with windows and skylights, and George loves it.

New Horizons

George is a new child almost every day these days. He is getting around at an alarming rate, starting to stand and go up the stairs, and is keenly interested in the recycling. I had hoped he would have a 'green' bent. Unfortunately we haven't had any success uploading video but John took one today of him, bent over for minutes at a time, ear-deep in the recycling crate. Then he got stuck and it wasn't so cute anymore.

These are from the ever technology-forward Uncle Greg, who came for a visit this past weekend. And one is [obviously] me, courtesy Chris Terrio, a behind-the-scenes shot from my play, The Amish Project. When I look at the vertical one, I think I see him as an adolescent.

Jiggly George

So life has been a little hectic lately with Rachel doing a one-woman show and John home most of the time with baby and we haven't posted in several weeks. So here is a new installment, of George doing his best downward dog and generally warming our hearts. We did find time to fit a christening in there, though! Godmother and -father are both visible here, as is mama. Picture credit: Jack Peña

some new pics

George, George, George of the jungle lives a life that's free. Sort of. He is getting around at an alarming rate now, sklathing himself (as Eloise says) across the floor using his hands and forearms, to get to something or someone at the other side.

Family get together

We celebrated Connie's 80th birthday yesterday with all of John's family-- sisters, brothers in law, and nieces and nephews. A super time was had by all, as encapsulated by the picture of George, after being up for five straight hours and smothered in love by all of his 21 relatives.

The Three Georgies

We took an overnight trip to Katonah to see our dear friends the Jagoes. Here you see baby G with his namesake George J. and George J.'s niece Georgina.

Summer Glory

Here is the little cruiser in his summer habitat. We have been hanging out poolside at my parents', and of course, eating avocados. G. has a little pool of his own, QED.

Cuteness is our birthright

George's Auntie Janet and Uncle Greg came for a visit this weekend, and our house looks, sounds, and feels better (Greg fixed our bookcases, our stereo, and our toilet seat). But the real reason we love them is that Janet changes diapers without ever having to be asked and does great baby talk, while Greg plays face to face, and takes great pictures. Voilà.

Rachel's cousin Rosie and her two kids came from Australia last week and we couldn't have been happier to see them. Penny and Johnny are so lovely-- the pictures say it all.

Cuteness-- We Guarantee It

Our family friend Stevie Fox came to visit last weekend for his (sorry, Steve) 65th birthday. Steve spent the day with us, and G. got the Steve treatment (see photo).

The top shot is of the chair where he eats, and it is positioned in such a way that he has to turn his head to see us if we're cooking. We will probably move it, but for now, we love this move so much we are loath to.

Babyness

Señor Bebe is very busy these days, and very intent on learning to crawl. John and I feel that we can see the person emerging in these photos, and that's the sense you get as you watch him exploring and struggling and arriving at accomplishing a task-- this is what we are all doing. What a privilege to see your child emerging into personhood, with such fierce determination to learn what it is to be a human being.

He can hold himself up beautifully on his hands and is starting to locomote, backwards. This makes him very frustrated when he wants to get a toy that's in front of him. Before he has his bath he wriggles around on the shag rug, and the baby is back again.

Food, Glorious Food

George has begun what seems will be a lifelong love affair (we know it is for us). Sweet potato is his first taste of solid food, and though it must be very strange at first, he is coming to be decidedly partial. The last is from when Gram and Connie came to visit a couple of weeks ago.

New stuff

G. is holding his head up when he is on his tummy these days, and today I got in close. And Auntie Marge and cousin Margaret came to visit when viewing colleges for Margaret; a sweet night. As for the third, Cecelia lay next to George on his play mat unbidden for a few moments of earthly delight (and to quote Seinfeld: "It was a scratch, it wasn't a pick!").

A Real Tea Party

We had a tea party today, with china from our dear cousin Nan in Ireland. Cecelia was very dainty, and George never cried once. And no one talked politics :0). And yesterday, Rachel took 16 6th graders to Harlem for a Harlem Renaissance-themed tour of the environs. We had a chance to have our own Amateur Night at the Apollo Theatre. Here is a highlight, 5 students making the human pyramid and singing Yellow Submarine; their idea. And George pre-bath, from a few weeks ago.