AAARRRH!

Arrrrhhh! I be the pirate Aenaon, brother of Adaaaaarrrrrrrraaaaa! But this ol' bloggaarrrrr won't let me post more pictures!

Stay tuned, matey!!

Books: A Few Favorites and Tear Jerkers

I thought I would compile a quick, short list of a few books that have held special meaning for us over the past two years (for one reason or another). Some of the books mentioned are Aenaon's favorites from his earliest months, and some are the ones that Mom had trouble reading without my voice cracking, and tears welling up in my eyes.

Early Favorites (I can recite any favorite by heart!)

Jamberry (first 16 months) [now destroyed due to overuse]

Goodnight Moon- Margaret Wise Brown

The Very Hungry Caterpillar- Eric Carle [second copy still hanging in there. The first time I opened this book I had a flashback to being 2 or 3 and poring over it in the "hideout" in our basement. It's always so wild when memories like that come back to you, because they are so sensational (as in, you remember them with all of your senses fully engaged).

The Tale of Peter Rabbit (first ten months)

Ten Little Ladybugs

Buenas Noches, Maripositas

Pretty Poems and Wonderful Words- Baby Einstein Collection

Moonhorse- Mary Pope Osborne (great paintings, we particularly liked this as a bed time story)

Tear-Jerkers

Runaway Bunny- Margaret Wise Brown (I think the first couple of times I read this I got choked up.)

The Whales' Song- Dyan Sheldon (with beautiful paintings by Gary Blythe). I think I had tears streaming down my cheeks with this one (and it took about ten or so readings before I could keep my voice from cracking. The theme felt rather pertinent at the time. I still resort to drawing a parallel to the character "Uncle Frederick" where appropriate.)

Song of People- Lois Lowry (with wonderful paper construction pictures made by a Boston architect (featuring scenes in Boston). Very simple, subtle, humane and poignant.

Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez- Kathleen Krull (with beautiful illustrations by Yuyi Morales)

A Haitian Story of Hope: Selavi - Youme

I Am an Artist- Pat Lowery Collins (illustrated by Robin Brickman)

Celebrating Families- Rosmarie Hausherr (got choked up on the first couple of reads. But this book very simply portrays a variety of families in a variety of circumstances. Socially conscious. Accompanied by photographs.)

Brother Eagle, Sister Sky- paintings by Susan Jeffers (story is adapted from speech Chief Seattle gave the government commission at meeting to finalize purchase of his people's land.)

We have a large assortment of books which we read and have thoroughly enjoyed. But I felt these were the few worth mentioning.

Yesterday's Theme Song

He Wanted Raspberry Sorbet to be sung to the tune of Prince's [she wore a] Raspberry Beret. (The kind you buy from Trader Joe's, etc...)

Play Time at the Mall

Today we three (Aenaon, Adara and Mama) went to the mall for the first time in months (it reminded me of the winter- and it was probably a better day to play in the park rather than the playspace inside), but we ended up having a grand old time.

Just want to say a few words about children's politics and personalities. Though Aenaon was dog-tired by the time we actually arrived at the play space, he immediately perked up at the prospect of playing with potential friends (and when you're a child, everyone is a potential friend- or an instant friend if s/he approaches you). So he briefly investigated one boy, who was slightly older, and was busy playing with his mother (and didn't much heed the younger Aenaon). But he soon was approached by an older, and bigger girl (whose body was a miniature of her dad's). Her dad told us she was twelve (then sort of laughed), but when the girl later announced she was four, he yelled across the room, "fibber!". Anyhow, the young girl was quite proud of being "a big girl now", and she was also quite enamored of Adara, who seemed to embody a curious androgenous identity to her (which didn't seem to bother her any). So Adara (who would switch from a "he" to a "she" with alarming frequency with our young friend) had a willing companion for a while. At one point while they were playing over on a little platform, Adara got so excited she managed to hurl herself onto her face, after which she promptly began to cry. But the little girl's dad thought that his daughter (Alexis) had hurt her, and he started calling out, "You big monster!" and "you big meanie!" I tried to assure them that his daughter had been nothing but a helpful companion, and that Adara had injured herself (but it didn't seem to assuage him any).

It can get a little hairy at times when dealing with such situations. One wants to use as much delicacy, grace and kindness as possible. One doesn't want to judge, or to communicate condemnation or rejection with either body language or words. With children and parents one works hard to protect everyone's best interests and self-esteem (but I've definitely had to pull my kids out of an unfavorable circumstance at times). I do think a good rule of thumb (which maybe I'm borrowing from Dr. Karp The Happiest Toddler on the Block) is don't call your children any names you wouldn't want someone else to call them. Somehow it really does make a difference how you frame your response and interpretation of your children. (Of course emotional communication is probably as important as verbal communication. You could use the cleanest, nicest, most affirming labels when addressing your child, but if you're stating them with clenched teeth, rolled eyes, and hunched shoulders- they're probably picking up another message.) Nonetheless, everyone survived the debacle and we were soon joined by a new playmate. And this young girl is probably my inspiration for writing this anecdote.

A girl (of maybe five or six years) came into the play space, still wearing her Catholic school uniform. And she promptly greeted each individual in the room with a "hi" just for them, and then ran over to our other little "big girl" friend, and tagged her, calling, "you're it." And she began to run. Aenaon was completely taken. Off he went, running and laughing, with these two little girls. Around and around. Curls flopping, smiling the whole way. And on it went. Then the school girl would stop the game and orchestrate a new version, "Who wants to be the shark?" "Who wants to be the chaser?" Aenaon was glad to "be" anything he was appointed (I have no idea what any of the concepts meant to him). He would run just the same. If he was "out" he kept running. If he was "it", he kept running. At one point the school girl touched base (which she called of course) and she would explain, "base means...base means" [you're safe] And Aenaon was climbing after her on the jungle gym, "bay me...bay me" (Again, I have no idea what any of the phrases meant to him.) He couldn't get enough.

The school girl would direct one game, and then a few minutes later call it off, and establish a new one. The other two (Aenaon and Alexis) were more than happy to follow along. And it's so funny to watch these different personalities interact at this early stage in life: the organizer, leader, director- friendly and firm, kind and fair and inspires followers. The little "big" girl, happy to play along and to be "it", or "out", even to "tag [herself] out" (as she was instructed at one point- which I found philosophically fascinating. If everyone else had been tagged out by her, well, then she had to tag herself out as well. Wonderful logic!)- which she oblidgingly did (with distinctive finesse, I must add). Aeanon was just Mr. Happy-go-lucky the whole time. He didn't have a trace of malice for anyone or anything at any point. He was just happy to have fun, and to be part of the play.

Since there have been too may missed chances to record the wonders of the growing Aenaon, let me post a list of some highlights here (you can use your imagination to fill in the blanks):

Some new, favorite music of the past month:

Sinead O'Connor (Faith and Courage)

Beethoven (Moonlight Sonata and the Appasionata)

Auntie Ellie and Laura's Wedding CD (especially the hit from "Rent")

Newer, much anticipated/requested activities:

feeding Adara

exploring and sampling from the spice cabinet

dancing madly about in the living room (with attempted acrobatics, as well)

operating as many electronical gadgets as possible

playing DJ (which includes handling the CDs with care (using one finger through the hole in the center)- as a baby I called him DJ NA NA because he looked like he was spinning records when he hung out in his Exersaucer.

getting in and out of his car seat by himself (including the manipulation of all safety straps and buckles)

eating lollipops (and he mainly associates them with the bank, so he often requests a trip to the bank for a lollipop (I finally broke down and bought a bag for the house the other day, though). But he knows, and often repeats the mantra "One lollipop day" (as in, he can eat only one lollipop in a day)

requesting, assisting with, and eating waffles made in the waffle-maker

going to hang out on the bank of the Mystic to throw stones in the river, and to watch the trains (both the Orange (his favorite, and favorite color (and I'm not sure if orange is his favorite color because he loves the Orange Line train or vice versa) Line and the Commuter rail cross over the bridge). [I had one of my favorite moments of this life-time the first night we discovered this place- I had just over-indulged in shopping (after winning some Am. Express checks, and we went for a walk (it had reached 80 degrees that day), and we found this wonderful place to sit along the river, and to watch the birds, and the trains and the sunset. If I had had a tent and dinner I would have slept there, and Aenaon was begging to stay. It was perfect.)

throwing pooh from diapers into the toilet (which is both the legal and environmentally conscious thing to do, so I willingly allow him)

changing Adara's diaper (as well as doing any number of things for Adara) He's also always issuing proper warnings to her (e.g., "No, Ara, fall!" and "No, Ara, mouth!" and "No, Ara, no teeth!"). It is quite amusing to watch him play this parental role with her (almost unfailingly) and then to "breech" it himself...


Recent emotional developments:

Playing with Adara very nicely, making sure she's happy, and spontaneously hugging her and saying "love you!" (sounds like, "Yuv you")

Making and voicing elaborate plans for his days, and with his loved ones

rotating favorite things/books/toys/stuffed animals to spend nights in the crib (in addition to his loyal "friends", however he also does the following-

intermittently rejecting one of his favorite stuffed animals ("Ow-ooh", his stuffed guerilla (originally a gift from Mom's high school boyfriend- she wonders if it has any remnants of conflicted energy attached to it). Anyway, Ow-Ooh occansionally will get booted out of the crib for no known reason (wish he could answer "why" sometimes). But it's a very specific and adamant request.

Recent observations:

Looks out for rats when it's dark and we pull into the driveway

He is aware and voices where people he loves are (even when not present-- which he has actually been doing for a long time now, (e.g., "Opie, work" or "Papi, Lenin house", etc.)

He still has great (and growing) place recognition, and will call out from the back seat when we near any place of significance (whether it's visible or no (as in he knows we're in the neighborhood of certain places and people's houses, etc.). "Almost there" is a favorite, frequently and accurately applied line of his.

There are many more, but this list will have to be continued later.

Ciao, bellas.

Can't wait to post. There is so much I wish to record of my children's incredible growth, and the simple beauty of their existence. But I can't do it yet.

Soon, though.