Tag Archives: Mom

November 1st, 2015

It was such a warm autumn day, we had to start the day outside. What better destination than the old market? Chance also had it that dad’s friend Rachel was in town for her own baby shower.

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Des and mom had their own sushi date while dad and Rachel caught up. “What do you mean these aren’t drumsticks?” (nice form though, son)

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Des exploring the new kids boutique shop. Mom and dad will definitely be back, lots a great toy ideas for young minds.

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Des is finally warming up to the slides in Gene Leahy Mall.

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With daylight savings time, everyone got to enjoy a gorgeous midwestern sunset on the back deck.

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Ok, dad may have added a submarine from the shop today to accompany the tugboat ma got Des.

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“All right, this isn’t so bad. I like the flower smell! Which is okay, because I’ve got my boat.”

Halloween 2015

Halloween started slowly with hitting the gym in the morning and a quality nap, but soon it was off to ma and pa’s house.

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With the traditional chili all ready for dinner, it was time for It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. A special night, so Des got his first bit of screen time, dancing with dad to the classic soundtrack.

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Des was old enough this year to make the rounds to a few close neighbors for some light trick-or-treating (con botella).

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Des’ first experience with dad’s lifelong appreciate for all things Charles M. Schulz.

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Grandma and King Max before bedtime.

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“Oh, please don’t go—we’ll eat you up—we love you so!”

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Let the wild rumpus start!

Each Halloween at Des’ daycare, after each room has their own party, the kids load up for a buggy ride tour of the building. The parade makes trick-or-treat stops throughout each department in the building (the daycare is just one portion of the organization’s overall community mission and facility). It was really quite cute and all the employees just loved seeing the kids dressed up.

It was also contemplative for mom and dad- this was the first “kids event” participating as observers while the kids, both collectively and Des, were the focal point. A new parental experience.

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All ready for the buggy ride parade. Front-left is Audrey, the closest to Des’ age in his multi-age room and routinely Des’ friend we read about buddy activities on the daily sheet.

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Des and his teacher, Ms. Kristin.

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Our little Max.

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A quick visit to mom’s work, which is close to daycare and home. King Max rules the office chair.

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October 22nd, 2015

Play with the tree shakers (honey locust pods) in the front yard

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Trying on his Halloween costume

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They say it’s your birthday

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Year One

desmond, i’ve been meditating all day on what it feels like for you to turn one. as my mind wanders, there’s just a distilled stream of moments and dynamics.

this morning a year ago, i walked out to the car to quickly change shirts (we’d been at the hospital for a few days) before your mother went into labor. in the dark, there was both quiet peace and the intensity of hundreds or thousands of birds squawking away in the trees. after you were born, and the room settled to darkness again as your mother slept, it was just you and me. there was both elated peace of holding you and the first learning of how to soothe your cries.

in the years to come, we’ll be soft, we’ll be loud, we’ll be:

“i carry your heart with me(i carry it in my heart)i am never without it(anywhere i go you go, my dear;and whatever is done by only me is your doing,my darling)” –e.e. cummings

One year ago today, this joyful, curious, active, determined creature came bursting into our lives. If it’s possible, we love him more & more every day.

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Just the four of us in Elmwood park for a picnic and birthday cupcake.

Long Island

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.

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Des really seemed to enjoy looking out the window with dad during takeoff and inflight.

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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.

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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.

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Des decides that “head first” is the new preferred technique for slides.

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All smiles for his Sunday morning bagel

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Des and dad getting some fresh air in the front yard

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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.

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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.

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A pit stop at the park on the way back to the house for Adelaide to run off some energy

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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.

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New York

We quickly dropped our bags off at the hotel and walked east to Prospect Park. We’re greeted at the northern edge by the Grand Army Plaza and Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Arch.

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Mom and dad picnic (more bagels and lox) aside Bailey Fountain while Des takes a morning nap.

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Des relaxing on the Long Meadow in Prospect Park. The park was designed by the same two architects that created Central Park. It is said that they preferred their second park, and it’s easy to see why. Impressive, rolling green space, tree-lined paths and seemingly endless hiking trails.

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At first, Des seemed pretty excited about the carousel in Children’s Corner.

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As the ride accelerated to truly a surprising speed, he was less than enthused.

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While Omaha is quite spoiled with the Henry Doorly Zoo, visiting other zoos is still enjoyable. We made our way over to the Prospect Park Zoo. Not a lot going on, but we watched the monkeys dance.

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Des and dad hanging out on the streets of Brooklyn while mom pops into a shop for some better walking shoes.

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We check into the hotel for nap time before mom has to attend an evening kickoff event for the conference. We all ride the subway up to Court St. where we kiss mom goodbye and walk over to Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Lots of people gathered to watch the sunset. After a few pictures, we head over to Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory. The strawberry ice cream was the first cold treat Des has ever liked. For good reason- it was sublime.

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Watching the boats pass as the sun sets.

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Back at the hotel, Des is clearly ready for bed.

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What do you do with your little one asleep so early? When you’re in New York, you can have anything you could ever fathom delivered right to you. Mom and dad have a sushi feast.

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