SUMMER IS HERE

Life gets no better than this.



Sam's first popsicle adventure. Don't you wish you could get such extraordinary and simple joy from a new experience?

(Note how he takes control of that popsicle: 1 2 3 4)

pssst... notice the photo of the sam look-a-like behind our Sam's right shoulder in the above photo?? That's baby mom

SAM LIKES TREES AND NEW YORK HISTORY

On one of his adventures in the last few weeks, Sam visited Inwood Park near his home. It's the last bit of primeval forest in Manhattan and, although we didn't see any, eagles are starting to make their home here.

The trees were huge




They soared above our Sam.



It was good that he had his safari hat on. Otherwise he could easily have gotten lost in the foliage:



And there are few things better than sun-dappled
forest floors, particularly in the middle of New York City!


It's always interesting to follow Sam's lead and see what really intrigues him. In this case it was not the playground, not the forest, but a rock. Not just any rock, though. In 1626, it is said, Dutch governor Peter Minuit purchased Manhattan Island from the Canarsie Indians for a collection of beads and trinkets valued at 60 guilders, ascertained to be worth 24 US dollars. The price was actually around $2,400 for all of the goods paid the Indians. Big money in those days. Around 1640 the Dutch and the Canarsie's wiped out the local tribe of Weekquaeskeeks. The rock, called Skorakopock Rock, is on the exact site of a giant tulip tree, its girth marked by a concrete ring around the rock, where the transaction took place. The tree remained until 1933.



Sam was fascinated by this rock, the plaque, and particularly the raised letters...

He loved the feel of the letters, and I predict he will love the letters themselves when he makes the connection. It certainly gives us ideas when it comes time to teach him his alphabet. I tried to take him away, to continue our journey, and he just wouldn't hear of it. He examined those letters for at least twenty minutes, and would have stayed longer except that the sun was sinking and we had a long walk home.

Awww gramps... just five more minutes here?



You can find more information and pictures of Inwood Park here. Scroll down to the bottom, to the photo of our intersection. I had thought I was the only one who saw the joke. I guess that's not true :)

It still makes me smile every time we leave the house.

SAM'S DAY WITH MOM AND DAD CONTINUED.......

So this is the Mom entering actually, and since my last entry which was a typical day in the life of our young prince, life has been far from typical. That night I remember very well, he awoke with a start to a truly intense bout of teething, which lasted for 4 days and sleepless nights of cutting those now beautiful new upper two teeth. Things settled down we were just getting back into the swing of things when his Dad turned his ankle on the basketball courts. Then despite the limp, we had adventures such as a trip to the zoo and so forth and what happens but my appendix decides it needs taking out which requires a little hospital stay and the present at home recovery time.

But in celebration of the average day I propose continuing that which I began.....

I believe I should pick up at 10:30 am on a lovely day at 100 Arden St., Sam has just fallen to sleep for his mid-morning nap, I set up my yoga mat in the living room as he naps either in his own bed or the little blue bouncey seat within reach of my mat. He has taught me to have a very quiet practice (for those of you who know Astanga Yoga the jumpthroughs and balance work should be very smooth and silent however occasionally a foot bumps down on landing or such) Anyway I do my practice and he always seems to know when I'm at the finishing postures, cause that's when he begins to stir. Very intuitive that boy. So I roll up the mat, he happily wakes up gradually and then we (about noonish) play a little, change the diaper and go and see what's up for lunch. We take our time with meals, Sam having an appetizer of ricecake, piece of cheese, tofu, or Farley's rusk. I make him something fun in his own Sam size food processor, usually a veg, protein source and grain of some kind. For example today he had spinach cheese soy sausage puree, rice cake to dip and organic apple juice in his Aunt Celia's sippy cup. As he winds down his meal, mushing the dregs gleefully in his fingers and splattering the walls with whatever flies well, I manage to get in some lunch maybe even a cup of tea. Wash up time follows very like the after breakfast interlude, and then we start to get ready for the out of doors. This always seems to take 2 times longer than I meant it to, as depending on his mood and how organized I am, it can be very involved to get the diaper bag supplied with the essential bottles,snacks, sunscreen lotion, extra clothes, hat, sweater, toys, books, and of course diaper. Then me with phone,wallet, keys and Sam into the stroller. Then off we go into the wilds of the park. We walk a bit some days I jog a while and then we go to the playground! Sam the now avid climber usually takes a little time to warm up to exploring himself, first he observes, loves to observe the big kids, then after a while starts to try and eat the leaves on the ground. Sam then makes his way to some poles on the climbers, or steps to the slide, or down the slide with me After quite a bit of on-and-off, up-and-down, on the jungle gyms, we're off to the swings. Sam is really loving the swings, likes to watch his neighbor swingers and loves the Grandma game of stopping on a dime and then starting again (with the sign language sign of stop ofcourse), he also likes to go high so his Dad reports. I haven't gotten so brave myself to try it. Then we're back in the stroller to the lawn/grassy area either by the gardens or next to the Cloisters. I put the cloth down and we read a book, play in the grass, watch the squirrels and pigeons, and talk about the trees and sky.

Then the afternoon "I'm going to be ready for a nap soon" look comes across young Sam's face and we pack up and head home, perchance he falls asleep on the way and then I stop and do a little shopping before heading in. Then while he has the afternoon nap 4:30-5:30ish, I clean up the house, do some work on the computer, maybe even read a little, then before you know it Paul's home from work. Those two boys play while I cook dinner or Sam sits in the highchair while we cook together. Then we eat all together or Sam has his first if he can't wait. Usually he has what we're having but mushed up properly. After dinner activities include watching TV, maybe quiet play in his room, or perhaps a visit from friends or family. Then it's bedtime for the boy round 9:30ish. It has been a full day of adventure and love and his Mom is soon to follow for bedtime herself.

Sam bonding with Sonja's wonderful cousin, Patrick the famous fashion designer (go
here, and here, and here, and here, and here, and here if you want to see some of his recent creations) :

And upon wakening from that oh-so-delicious sleep, Sam says oh my god I've heard of growth spurts but this is disgusting..