Buggy rides at daycare are tiring when you wake up at 4:30am
Pre-season sandbox visit, dreaming of summertime
Sixty degrees on a Friday in February? That can only mean fish fry time at Holy Name, with our friends Eric, Gini, and Ethan.
Ethan found a pine cone and gifted it to Des
Just goofing around
This was Des’ second year at the fish fry, but the first for eating. Basically a plate of fried stuff, so it’s a once-a-season visit.
He also took quickly to dunking french fries in cocktail sauce.
This year we met up with many friends at Durham Museum’s Noon Year’s Eve.
Des and dad were interviewed on KETV (see at 0:53 below), though poking the boom mic was only interesting part
Snacks across Omaha
Des exploring one of the Union Pacific heritage trains
Ringing in the new year and exchanging gifts with Grace, Jason, and Clara (kept the same red balloon all day)
Pointing is the new “in” thing, with Eric and Gini
Winter with a toddler in the Midwest apparently means finding new indoor weekend activities. We had only been to Omaha Children’s Museum with Liam and Viv before, so thought it’d be a nice to take Des. It was fun, but quickly realized a lot of the activities were for slightly older kids.
Des wanting to turn everything into a walker, a lawn mower was an ideal choice.
Clinging to mom, still not up a fan of carousels.
Having fun sliding down Gordy, the elephant from Richman Gordman’s Zooland. One of dad’s first memories in Council Bluffs was sliding down this at the store on north 16th St.
Balls galore to throw and chase after.
Tossing the green ball into the hover machine.
Perhaps a bit of parental projection.
Jamming on the light piano.
After exploring, we decided to head back to the “wee ones” section and Des fit a bit more at home.
Always great to see our KC friends, hanging out with Jackson and Morgan.
Watching Jackson jam on dad’s electric guitar from high school.
Dan reading 100 First Words to Morgan and Des before bedtime.
The trip to New York started out a bit groggy. Des did not sleep very well the night before and had not yet had a nap when dad picked him up at daycare for lunch. Result: the first instance of Des eating while sleeping. Bags were quickly loaded though and it was off to the airport.
Des really seemed to enjoy looking out the window with dad during takeoff and inflight.
After several delays to an already long layover in Chicago, the connecting flight was finally in the air. Des was a champ with all the travel, with each leg coinciding with nap time or bed time. He didn’t even flinch during the rough landing into LaGuardia.
Our friend Katie graciously picked us up at the airport and we were soon off to their new house in Huntington Station. Des slept as the rest of us stayed up late and caught up.
The next morning we took a leisurely stroll to a neighborhood bakery for the first of many bagels on our trip. Later in the afternoon, we drove up with some of Katie & Stephen’s friends to Northport.
Des decides that “head first” is the new preferred technique for slides.
All smiles for his Sunday morning bagel
Des and dad getting some fresh air in the front yard
It was humbling to see Katie’s theatrical training allow her to whiz through Dr. Seuss’ tounge-tying Fox in Sox with nary a stumble. Mom and dad are still practicing.
Later in the afternoon everyone hiked up to Jayne’s Hill, the tallest point on Long Island. The poem Paumanok by Walt Whitman is inscribed on a boulder marking the peak. Des napped in his carrier with his hat shading him a la Indiana Jones.
A pit stop at the park on the way back to the house for Adelaide to run off some energy
Back in January or February, Des really didn’t like getting into his carseat. Of many random songs dad sung to soothe him, Day-O somehow struck a calming chord. One of the daily rituals has now been singing Day-O while leaving the house in the morning. Dad pulled it out for bedtime tonight, featuring Katie:
The next morning we were up early and joining Katie on her commute into the city. Des was fascinated with the Long Island Rail Road. At Atlantic Terminal, we transferred to the subway for Brooklyn, Katie continued on into Manhattan.
Lunch with Des and Cal
Meeting Rod and Nora
Playing with Cassie
Mom and Des recreating a photo of mom and dad when they were first dating in 2003
Des investigating grandpa’s mouth
Losing a toe to Phyllis, Travis, and giggling
This was the first year we made it to Dundee Day, an annual festival in our neighborhood. We walked up and had pancakes and watched a (small) parade with friends. While some of Des’ older friends enjoyed the bounce houses, we just chilled with the other parents.
Everywhere we turned, more friends and families. There was also a farmers market and craft fair. We ended the day by grabbing a pizza at Dante’s mobile pizza oven and walking over to the community garden picnic tables.
Des likes picking clovers, right-side up or upside down.
New and improved – now with 50% more teeth!
Chatting with Darian
Whew, that was exhausting.
Before and after the weekly Sunday morning walk with mom and ma
Playing a game of tug-of-hat with Honey before lunch arrives
Until Des is standing on his own, he’ll have to settle for bopping to Louis Armstrong on dad’s shoulders
With the music in the background, we ventured over to the swings
