baboon quesadillas

good list addition: cookie cutter quesadillas that talk to each other!

good list

#1: Daguerrotypes

I just finished a History of Photography class that covered all of photography since its inception. I was immediately intrigued by the daguerrotypes that my instructor had in class and I turned to ebay for one of my own. $10 later I have my own old school print (probably from the early 1900s). It's such a good combo with all my old vintage cameras. It's not a stunning example or in the best shape, but I think it's pretty darn fun to see in person. I wish they sold photos in cool little containers like this nowadays. Sorry for the cheesy blue background ebay photos.



#2: The National Wildlife Federation's Wild Animal Baby magazines.

 Not only does Aiden love getting his own piece of mail each month, but these fun books are fairly well made and good little learning books. Aiden loves the little Sammy the Skunk that hides on the pages so you can search for him. It even came with a Sammy backpack.



#3: Retouched photos - So if you can't capture the perfect light the first time around that filters away the lines left by good laughs, use Photoshop.  Here is my slightly over-photoshopped (the blur threw it over the edge I think) portrait on my Poppy that employed nearly every layer mask technique I learned in my winter session Navigating the Digital Darkroom course.  Valuable tools!

#4: Scrapbook Blogger - This was a super cool online site I found that automatically imports your blog into a book.  My friends had done this for all of the stuff I'd written about my pregnancy as the-best-gift, but I think they had to do it by hand - copy and paste.  I knew I didn't have time to copy and paste, so I was happy to have found this.  It is a bit pricey and the image quality is so-so, but I got a 250 page hard cover book of the first nine months of writing.

cat in the hat's sister

We met up with some friends for a sale at this little kids store with a visit from the Cat and the Hat (since Dr. Suess' birthday is coming up this week). It turns out it was actually the Cat in the Hat's sister reading stories, which kept Aiden's attention for quite a while (even though he may look a little bored in this video). It was a good little outing doing something different than the usual. The visit was topped off with a free gift from the Cat - a new vehicle puzzle! Aiden plays with it by testing each piece on one vehicle and asking "does this is match?"

language lab

Aiden and I went on what he dubbed a "big adventure" through the rain to the Brown Child Language Lab.  They had his name from the Infant Lab study we'd attended in the past, so they asked if we'd come for another experiment.  This experiment was looking at how kids learn to pronounce specific sounds.  They had a sound proof room with a computer screen and wireless microphones.  I was invited to come in with him while they showed him pictures and asked him to repeat whatever the computer voice said.

The first round included funny robots and pudgy panda bear animations that said phrases with made up words like "he tried to fugded" or "look, he chocallated"  I guess the study was using crazy words that didn't make sense for the fresh pronunciation.  Well, it turns out that the "made up words" kinda made Aiden upset and he seemed scared of the robot animation.  His upset with the made up words reminded me of when I used to babysit my Spanish professor's daughter in college.  Her daughter would get really upset if her mom spoke spanish and would even try to cover her mom's mouth.  It's something about the unfamiliar that overstimulates them I think.

After he was about half way done, he started putting his hand over his eyes and saying he had to hide from the robot.  Then he jumped out of his little red chair and went over to the door and said he was all done.  We said we could take a break after I attempted to convince him that they were just funny robots.  We tried again with a different portion of the study that used cow and piggy pictures where he just repeated actual sentences.  He was excited to go back in to see them and he breezed through all of those actual words.

He was very excited to get this bear shirt which he says he got for "being a good boy."  As we left, he said good bye "but not to the robot, I do not like him." I was glad there was no crying and just some no, no, no-ing, and the overall experience was something Aiden felt happy about in the end. I was also relieved that the researchers were happy with him and said he "did better than most" (which must mean they have a hard job!)  It did make for a big adventure to convince a very strong willed, independent "twonager" (who is now exerting himself just like a teenager would), but we're still smiling.

 

second olympics

We watched the start of the opening ceremonies although I have to admit I didn't last too long. Then Aiden and I watched the rest on tivo in the morning. We were both mesmerized by the big lights that looked like whales and fish. Aiden looked at me with his mouth still hanging open (either from teething pain or awe or a combination of the two) and then he smiled.

During the summer Olympics opening last year, my folks were in town to watch Aiden pull up to see the tv a little closer (that's before he even really knew what the tv was since at that age we hardly watched it when he was awake, so he was mostly interested in the flashy tv). Here is my post from back then:
http://ababybrennan.blogspot.com/2008/08/first-olympics.html

This year, we've watched them on some evenings and lazy afternoons. We usually just pick whatever is on, but my favorite catch was the new Ski Cross event. We were rooting for this french woman whose kid was in the audience (Aiden loved her bunny gloves). Well, she bit it in the quarter finals, and as I ooooed and said oh no, he said "that french lady is stinky." J and I just had to laugh. Who knows where he picked up calling things stinky like that?

Another funny thing about these Olympics was that Aiden wanted to know the names of the ski jumpers. (I think his visit to Montessori taught him to ask for names and use his name...)
Here is a repeated dialogue:
Aiden: What his name?
Me: That skier's name is Ronnie
Aiden: Go Ronnie Go!

I'd imagine that watching the Olympics every two years will feel like a milestone - It's something that comes around consistently and it's fun to look back and remember what life was like when you cozied up and watched them the last time.

This commercial really struck a cord with me - So true for this mom!

"To their moms, they'll always be kids."

uh feb

Dear February,

I'm pretty much ready to say good bye, adios! To be fair you've already had your way with us last February in the big boiler bummer. But let's just say that the two big holes in our wall in our second floor bedroom and the ceiling of our first floor bathroom arenotarenotarenot funny. You have a nice open weekend to make up for your bad joke. By the way, please stop raining.

The accomplice to February's havoc: the fixed leaky bath tub pipe -

This too shall pass... But good bye Feb, good thing you are a short month.

thanks gran and pop

In really good news, my folks where here while J was away for the second time this month (one more to go) and we had fun doing a bunch of nothing. I owe it to them that I kept my sense of humor and didn't feel a lick of loneliness. I thank them for spoiling Aiden with a whole new set of cars, pillow chases, and lotsa games. I'm sorry that we made Pop sick and Gran miss her favorite classroom gig, but I really appreciate them and I know Aiden and J do too ;) Thanks, thanks, thanks.

bleh blah ra ra

It's February again. The evil month where I am inevitably physically sick with some variation on tonsillitis (this time my boss said I sound like a dying seal) and just plain sick of winter. Here's a classic caught while PopPop was testing out his flash.

I was on the computer researching what might be making Aiden boof all over the place. My left eye was taking the crazy-cancer-doomsday-internet searches waaaay too seriously. I promise I am keeping my sense of humor. Shortly after my dad laughed at me after looking at his photo, I took Aiden to a doctor's appointment where they ruled out anything "dangerous" and then I started researching carpet cleaners.

In really good news, we are signed, sealed, delivered at Aiden's new school. We went for an observation today and the classroom in action was so calm. I seriously wanted to sign up for the 30 year old version (or just go back in time and be almost three again). It was nice that the teacher literally cheered when we said that we were turning in our deposit. I wish he could start earlier than the start of the school year. It's so nice to feel like we've made a match...

I hardly knew what to do with myself tonight because I didn't have class! I'm looking forward to a semester off while I wait for the rest of my required classes to pop up on the schedule (either in the summer or fall). Aiden is excited that mom doesn't have to go work in the car quite as much.

tgif video

antiques

J went out of town so we all went on a little excursion to one of my favorite places (that daddy won't miss visiting). The antique center was full of vintage cameras this time - two of which I snagged for my easter basket ;) Thanks easter bunny. Here's a funny robot guy that replaced Aiden's old favorite telephone (which he couldn't find this time because it must have sold):
Every time I see this bright blue velvet couch I daydream about redecorating - but I'm pretty sure this won't look good with milk spills on it:

Most of the time we look with our eyes, not with our hands... but sometimes we get to snap a few pretend photos:

hippo quilt

My mom picked out this fabric to have her friend Karen make this fun hippo quilt. Not only is it adorable with it's Boynton inspired hippo applique, but the fuzzy fabric on the back makes it nice and cozy. Aiden thinks it's the best place to have hippo picnic parties.

valentines

We were excited to spread some valentine cheer yesterday. We ventured out in the balmy 40 degree day - Believe it or not it did seem warm enough for a wagon ride in some layers! The neighbor kids were all out and about playing with walkie talkies and basketballs. I handed Aiden some crepe paper flowers to give to each of them, which meant he was smothered with hugs. He's been playing shy lately, but the chatter box came back out once he was snugged up in the wagon with the littlest neighbor girl for a bumpy ride from her sister. We went down the street a bit to visit the chocolate lab named Angel, who thinks there are treats buried in the snow. Then our noses were getting cold so we said goodbye, can't wait for spring, and we all went back inside.

Daddy J got our some yummy steak and went to town making us a nice dinner with a yummy au jus. Dinner was ready just in time for GranGran and PopPop to arrive from Ohio! J's going out of town again later this week, so it will be so nice to have them here. Aiden and I were waiting at the door when they pulled up and he sure was excited. He defined "bouncing off the walls" when Gran pulled out the enormous valentine's card she'd brought. They also brought all the toys we'd left behind at xmas time and a bunch of extra treats... they are good at spoiling! There were lotsa thank yous. My favorite are all the paintings, photographs, and frames that they'd brought which we are getting ready to scan and sell at craft fairs this spring. More later...

treat

His first whole truffle treat - he gobbled it right up:

my boys

Top 5 reasons why I love my two valentines:

1. When they play cars there is lotsa giggling and their hands move so fast I can't quite capture them without flash.2. They both tried to help when I got excited to make two dozen of these:

3. The sweet one with the bigger hands learned how to make his own crepe paper flowers to put on my hand painted card:

4. They both like to try new things - like stenciling!

5. They just plain make me smile.

dino-riffic!

This was actually an assignment from my RISD Navigating the Digital Darkroom course to create a magazine cover. Forget high fashion, it's a whole magazine about toy dinos!

burglar of love

We went over to the Books on the Square for their special Valentine's story time. It was such a nice valentine's treat and I heard myself saying awwww a couple times as Aiden cuddled me and J sweetly snickered. I was amused when the story time guy Chris Farley look-a-like (complete with the funny slur and animated hands) read us a few books like Furry Valentine and Valentine Zoo.Then we had a special author reading of this fun picture book:

Some things just go together like
chocolate and vanilla,
Valentines and hearts,
Bruno and his one true love.

Can you blame him?

This is a romance every sweet
tooth can relate to . . .

Children especially will love following the action in this black, white, and red adventure that celebrates everyone’s favorite dessert.

About the Author: Alison Paul is a hopeless romantic and a Rhode Island School of Design graduate. When Alison’s not stealing hearts, she’s eating ice cream in snowy Providence, Rhode Island.

Here's Aiden, the burglar of loooove:

Getting his very own signed copy, that reminds him to stay out of trouble!

Made for a nice Valentine treat!
Craft time after story hour included a burglar mask and sunday valentine:

pancake day

Yesterday was Pancake Day (Known also as Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras, National Pancake Day dates back several centuries to when the English prepped for fasting during Lent. Strict rules prohibited the eating of all dairy products during Lent, so pancakes were made to use up the supply of eggs, milk, butter and other dairy products...hence the name Pancake Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday.), so we had a good excuse for pancakes for dinner. Aiden helped J whip them up and he thinks it's the first time he's made pancakes.

He tried following the recipe and it looked like bread batter. I told him that Willoughby World's Best has tons of extra milk and he was able to come up with his first snowman pancake.

He improved his technique for the next, but Aiden recognized them both as snowmen :)

Telling us about all the cars, trucks, taxi cabs, and boats on his fork: