Chatterbox

Ansel's phrase of the week - "What you thinking about, mommy?"

He said a five syllable word very clearly last week - humidifier.

Maybe I am grasping at straws but he said two related five word phrases in a row. I am counting that as a ten word sentence. It had to do with a ladder fire truck going up a building to help people. I don't remember the wording.

He's very into street signs and asks me what they say.

Pretty awesome to listen to his language development except those times when I really wish he'd stop talking for a second. We went to a memorial service last weekend. I had to take him outside because he doesn't know how to whisper and refused to stop talking and listen to the speaker.

I love his voice and his curiosity.

The beach in January

During the holidays Ave came into town with her family. We had the opportunity to get together with Allison and her kids. The two sets of twins were born four days apart. Who'd thunk way back in elementary school we'd be sitting here with our brood 25 years later.


Ansel and I spent the weekend alone as Jeremy went to a frisbee tournament in LA. We had a delightful day Saturday. I wanted to get out in anticipation of the storm forecast for the next week. We ventured to Crab Cove in Alameda. The air was cool but not cold, it was calm and we listened to the sound of the water lapping the shore as we dug sand castles. Then we went into the visitor center to watch the fish in their tanks being fed. Nothing like some sea air to make for a good nap.


"Ansel, smile for mommy."

Happy New Year!

It has been a busy month but very enjoyable. We have also run out of space on the computer for pics and videos and are awaiting new storage to arrive in the mail. Jeremy had two weeks off work as did I so we had a lovely family stay-cation. Grandma Liz came out from NY and Uncle Jared from Boston for Christmas week. Ansel and I saw a lot of lights – Mormon Temple, Thomson Street in Alameda and Oakland Zoo Lights. We met Santa who gave Ansel a candy cane. Our tree survived a toddler’s hands and Ansel just helped me take all the decorations off successfully. We had a family trip to the California Academy of Sciences for the first time since renovations and another to San Francisco by BART to see lights and decorations.
Ansel speaks in 5 or more word sentences now. He has trouble with consonant blends still so words like Christmas come out as “kissmus”, please as “peas”, and his ‘s’ is a little mushy sounding so it is all very cute to hear and sometimes hard to decipher. I am the official in-house interpreter. One of his favorite things to say is “What are you doing, mommy?”
His imagination play is so fun now. He always wants us to play trains and assigns a train to us. Sometimes I hear him in another room talking, acting out talking to characters such a Bob the Builder or Thomas the train.
I am 6 months pregnant and getting more uncomfortable. Luckily I get to prenatal yoga class once a week and do some at home. I can only pick up Ansel for a couple of minutes at a time. Poor kid. He is very gentle touching my belly and trying to feel the baby.

Here are pictures of the past month.



Opening gifts with Grandma Liz.


Ansel prefers to tune daddy's ukulele than play with daddy and Uncle Jared.


Tree in Union Square, SF.


Christmas morning.


Playing with new toys Christmas morning.


Playing with Thomas the tank engine.



Ansel's new grin when the camera turns on. With Uncle Jared.


Post nap coziness - still waking up.


California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park, SF.
Roof garden, aquarium, and turtle ride.

December Toddlerland

Although Ansel is not Jewish by birth, Jeremy is. So, we are teaching Ansel about his heritage. Here, Jeremy is showing Ansel how to be safe and light the Menorah.



We took Ansel to Caltrain Holiday Train Program in San Francisco with some friends. It was a great free event. A train had been decorated with lights, costumed people walked along the platform, there was an open train car with a band and choir playing Christmas music and Toys for Tots was collecting toys. Here is Jeremy, Ansel with friends Bret and Sarek and then with Frosty.



The artist at work. His masterpieces hang all over our fridge.

Had my 5 month ultrasound today. We are having a girl. Yeah! She kicks and moves a lot! She's a feisty one.

3D ultrasound - 20 weeks


2D ultrasound - 20 weeks

England

Ansel, my mom and I embarked on an adventure at the end of last month. I had the week of Thanksgiving off work so we went to England to celebrate my great aunt's 100th birthday. The plane ride and jet lag were tough but overall the trip was fun.

Here is a preview. I didn't take many pictures so hopefully more will come later.

Ansel and I took a short train trip just for the sake of riding a train. Here he is waiting for the train back.


Postman Pat Ansel


Ansel's favorite part of the carriage house museum.


See the sky. Cold and damp.



Ansel is saying funny stuff right now. A common exchange goes as follows:
"Hey mommy"
"Hey Ansel"
"Yah"
I think he is just checking in but I find it quite amusing.

A toddler afternoon

Sometimes errands can be very toddler friendly. Ansel and I went to the grocery store and he kept touching things and accidentally knocking things off shelves. But, on the way out he spotted a car sales magazine in the free magazine area. Heck ya you can have that. Free entertainment. Then we went to the bank where the nice teller asked his name and age and then gave him three stickers. More free entertainment. Finally, my favorite, we drove home and saw a fire truck and ambulance a block up from our house. So, we went to the corner and watched. As the firefighters got back into their truck one spotted us and waved. Then he ran over and gave Ansel two junior firefighter stickers. As the truck rounded the corner they all waved. There was a woman firefighter as well. I love the fire dept. They are so kid friendly and nice. Ansel put all his sticker on his shirt but just now, 2 hours after the experience, he pointed to the sticker and said, "fire truck."