01 June 2010

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Party

The cake was extra tasty when served with Leif's homemade peach ice cream.



Our spread of TVHC-inspired food.

Prepping the construction paper "fruit" and butterfly wings.

The older kids decorated butterfly wings, then we glued them to the clothespins
to make butterfly magnets.

After all that paper cutting, we forgot to play "pin the fruit on the caterpillar's mouth"...
However, I did remember to move the knife block before the party started.

Soren was in juice heaven.

This kid is crazy for bubbles.

Thank you again to John and Eliasz for expertly tilling our melon-patch-to-be.

Sudhir and Soren are such good buddies.

The sign of a good toddler party... all toys removed from their proper place.

18 May 2010

Happy Birthday, Soren!


May 18, 2008: 3 pounds 10.5 ounces, 15 3/4 inches long


April, 2009: Almost 1! I nearly forgot how bald he was.


April, 2010: Riding the carousel at the zoo


Easter, 2010: Playing with his favorite friend, Mae

It didn't take him long to grasp the whole egg hunting thing
once he figured out that treats ("teets!") were inside...

May, 2010: Sharing a cup of coffee with mama.

Two years and one day ago the neonatologists were in our hospital room talking about the neurological and physical risks that Soren would face if he was born two months early. The next morning we prayed that our baby would be able to breathe when he was born. Today our sweet guy is the happiest, healthiest toddler I've ever met. Other than a handful of colds and the rare fever, he has not been sick. Our early intervention specialist who sees him each month says he exceeds nearly every developmental milestone for two year olds born at term. We couldn't feel luckier.

Happy 2nd birthday, Soren. You are loved.

30 March 2010

Boy's Spring Break


Spring Break is different as a dad!

Soren and I had a boy's trip out to the Sacramento valley to see my brother and sis, my grandparents, and my parents. We tried to keep it as simple as possible-- no improvised adventures, no huge road trips, lots of stops and naps and snacks. Overall-- total success.


Soren was a great traveler, surviving four plane flights as a lap kid! That definitely won't happen again (since they will now charge me to take him on a plane). It was great to spend some time with just him. It just feels so special carrying your son everywhere with you for a week, you know? I was definitely grateful for the help (my brother/sis, mom/dad) when it was there. And Lisa was really glad when we were home. But all in all, really sweet time with my little man.



Soren playing catch with his Cousin Blue. These two had so much fun together. Blue is a sweet Border Collie with a lot of patience.

My Uncle Dave playing "Find the Something" with Soren. He likes to choose which hand you hide things in! Downtown Sonora is surprisingly coming into its own. Weird...

My Grandma and Grandpa were tickled to show Soren around their new place, and he was immediately intrigued by all the lights that he could turn off and on. My grandpa ended up going into the hospital the day before we flew out, so I was doubly glad that we spent some time with them both.

The Yuba City Fairfields!
Lisa #1, Pete, and Soren. Pete isn't always this devious. Nor is Soren always this tired.


This is one of Soren's custom signs. It's hard to describe what it means. It can mean "All gone," "Where did that go?", "What does that mean?", "That's amazing!", or "Don't you think so, too?"


Ranch houses! Who ever would thought I'd find them charming?

Future Fire Fighter! Get that pension, boy!


Like every other kid in the galaxy, he loves slides.

Here he is, investigating the lights inside the fire engine.
I'm not kidding. He LOVES turning on light switches~!

Strawberries, maybe?


Home at last!

25 January 2010

One Simple Poem

Hiking...

Exciting...

Incredible, edible feet.

Dapper...

Wrappers...

Tasty, hasty treat.

Gliding...

Riding...

Sliding in 12 degrees!

From Cincinnati
to Yellow Springs,

I love mama
and
mama loves me!

09 December 2009

Looking Back


At eighteen months, we already have more pictures than we know what to do with. I now understand why my parents had such a hard time just picking out one picture to represent a stage in my life. We feel pretty lucky...

As you can see, Soren has been very busy...

Reading with his Uncle Jeremy...

...Late night streaking...


...picking out a tree...


...checking the headlines...

...riding the hog in Seattle with Aunt Jenae...

...wrestling with Will...

...charming his babysitter Sara...


...riding a bike with his dad...
...cracking jokes...

...riding piggyback with Mama (who wrapped him unassisted in a Moby on her back!)...

...wearing ketchup lipstick...

...falling asleep in dad's arms...

...admiring his mom's wedding shower bouquet...

...exploring the set of 2010...

...clapping with dad at the park...

...reaching for the lorikeet with mom!

...
(whew!)