Annual impulsive self-haircut

...after midnight, true to form. I'm happy enough (it is straighter than it looks in this picture), though in reality the Spring Chop-off is much more about process than product. Perhaps only a fellow compulsive self-haircutter can fully understand.
Can you tell Naomi and I share a hair-dresser?

Pictures only today, too tired to actually write. Other than to mention that pigeons, sparrows, robins, and squirrels are also equally fun to chase.



5 cents to anyone who knows where in Central Park this shot is taken:
(another 5 to anyone who knows what Naomi is thinking about)

It turns out Naomi can climb on bars now (kind of)...yet again fueling my fear that she will fall in love with extreme sports when she grows up (and worse, be good at them).She can climb this by herself, for instance (kind of). She does miss the bars frequently, so she needs a spotter. But she can do it.The Natural History Museum: yet another venue for endurance climbing and running. Stairs, stairs, stairs!

Taking matters into her own hands one day, Naomi pushed this box over to the door, then climbed up, twisted the handle, and pulled. A strategic attempt to open the door and go outside...(marred, as you can see, by one critical flaw in the gameplan).

Struggling....

..to read these books. I haven't read a book yet for med school, but I am DETERMINED to finally do it this semester! (Before anyone criticizes me for being a slacker however, know that I have yet to miss or be late to a required class, lab, clinical site, etc. Also my grades are fine, so it's ok to not read the books in that sense, but still). The "ridiculously simple" book is a "baby" book (review book), but the other two are "adult" versions, which is simply evidence that my theoretically curious eyes are much bigger than my intellectual pea of a stomach. I have until Monday to finish "Big Abbas" (the immunology book) for the final. I'm really into the subject, but struggling to find time and ENERGY. Wish me luck!

Vote Becky Edwards!

I'm pretty sure the only people in Utah State District 20 who read this blog are my parents and grandparents, but just in case we actually DO have a secret readership base among district 20 Republican party delegates...Vote Becky Edwards!

A Hike Through the Middle of Manhattan

I love that we live less than a mile away from THIS:





In other news, I am having a plastics dilemma after watching these lectures (which I missed in the fall because I had a required small group for school). I don't want to convert to only unpainted wooden toys not made in China, and stainless steel dishes and food storage. I felt safe enough last fall because Naomi's blood lead level was low... but maybe we do need to do something to decrease her BPA and phthalmate exposure. Stainless steel water bottles at the very least? Or are the "safer" plastics (recycling labels 1,2,4&5) safe enough? *Sigh*.

Naomi's life currently consists of:

1. "Happy" (aka Mr/Mrs Potato Head), and
2. Playing at the Park

Consider this our tick-free (I think?) version of Waldkindergarten . Not entirely without its own dangers, however (for instance, getting run over by a bike while dragging the "Happy" bag hither and yon).
Dinner:
Dessert (Orange):
Ah, the simple life. Yes, it is officially Spring!

Random Pictures

A very good measure of humidity:
Us with Cecilee and Rin.
Two cute apple-lovers! (Naomi and Gabbi)

Why we have a Dora potty hidden in our closet...

Naomi has pooped in the tub maybe six times in the past couple of weeks. Regardless of when I bathe her. Perhaps I do not need to go into all of the details of why this is not ideal on a daily basis--Suffice it to say, I thought it might be useful to have somewhere to put her when she decided she needed to go, rather than having her repeat (clearly to no avail) "Okay, don't poop" throughout the duration of the tub. So we bought a Dora potty.

This was a mistake.

To clarify, I had no intention when buying the potty to start toilet training Naomi. I just thought we would occasionally have her sit on the potty in the middle of her bathtime as an alternative to forcing a diaper on her smeared, flailing body, completely freaking her out by holding her over the real toilet, or trying to clean the tub with her in it.

Unfortunately, Naomi was instantaneously OBSESSED with the potty from the second we brought it home. It is DORA, after all. But oh, the passion. All day Friday and Saturday, she asked to sit on it over and over again. Saturday, she spent about forty-five minutes after dinner sitting naked on her little Dora seat, wiping herself repeatedly (another unfortunate new obsession that is not appreciated during messy diaper changes) and then trying to wipe my neck (presumably because *her* neck is always grimy and we do frequently clean it with diaper wipes) and face. She also wiped the entire tub, part of the wall, and the laundry bin, and was very upset that I would not let her put my watch and a variety of other items inside the potty while she sat. I could not get her off, could not convince her she was done...she really, REALLY wanted to use the toilet like a grown up, and was apparently content to wait as long as it took to see some success!

Finally, forty-five minutes later, Naomi stood up, said "Ok", and peed all over the bathroom carpet.

So last night we hid the potty in our closet. Naomi may be *emotionally* ready to start toilet training, but I'm not sure I'm convinced she's really in tune enough with her own body to be physically ready. Even if she is ready, I'm not! Hopefully she'll have just as much interest in it, though, six months (or more) down the road, because that certainly does seem like it will help. In the meantime, we have removed the temptation and will have to do without the potential convenience during bathtime.

Long Walk in Central Park

...this being the second Saturday in a row in which it was supposed to pour, but was gorgeous instead.

Cecilee and Rin are staying with us this weekend (for Rin's 12th birthday--Happy Birthday, Rin!!), so yesterday afternoon Naomi and I met up with them at the MOMA. I actually got to look at some art while Rin and Cec held hands and swung Naomi.
Naomi was very interested in all the windows...
...and in reading the museum map.

After Naomi went to bed, Matt and I went to my school's Masquerade Formal at the Manhattan Penthouse near Union Square (while Cec and Rin were at a play). We were not quite dressed to the occasion (I took enough time getting ready for Naomi to draw all over the wall, or in other words, about two minutes), but we had a great time.

Selfless parents that we are though, of course we only went so that we could bring Naomi home some masks.

Current Library Books

GREAT BOOKS!!
Five little monkeys jumping on the bed /by Christelow, Eileen (Naomi's favorite song and animal, tied with dogs and frogs)
Food for thought/by Freymann, Saxton. (Simply unbeatable...I LOVE this authors books. Naomi thinks they are hilarious, plus they are super creative, imaginative, sweet, and filled with fresh, adorable fruits and vegetables!)
Matías y el color del cielo /by Martínez Pérez, Rocío
Mister Seahorse /by Carle, Eric. (cool see-through pages)
Ten in the bed /by Dale, Penny
Ten little fish /by Wood, Audrey. (GREAT illustrations as usual)
Subway sparrow /by Torres, Leyla. (Understated, beautiful story about four very different people who work together to help a delicate sparrow out of a subway car. Plus, Naomi likes it.)
Dónde está el perrito? /by Christian, Cheryl. (part of a large series of Spanish books for babies that Naomi loves...this series is also great because every book features kids with Downs Syndrome, as well as kids with varying ethnic backgrounds, etc)
Baby Beluga /by Raffi. (big fan of Raffi books)
Blueberries for Sal./by McCloskey, Robert (lengthy for Naomi, but words can be abridged...)
Diez deditos = (another Jose Luis Orozco songbook, lyrics in both English and Spanish)
If you're happy and you know it :by Carter, David A. (the best version of this song EVER...sturdy pop-up at its best)
Los cocodrilos no se cepillan los dientes /by Fancy, Colin.
Shhh! /by Willis, Jeanne.
Time for bed /by Fox, Mem
A tu ritmo! /by Cronin, Doreen.
Ven aquí, Daisy! /by Simmons, Jane. (Naomi requests this one a lot)
Cerditos /by Wood, Don
Los sueños /by Gutman, Anne.
Off we go! /by Yolen, Jane.
On the day you were born /by Frasier, Debra. (hard to categorize...better for adults than kids in some ways)
Orangutans.by Helldorfer, Mary-Claire, 1954- (Monkeys!!)
Silly Sally /by Wood, Audrey. (funny to Naomi)
We're going on a bear hunt /by Rosen, Michael, 1946-
What does Bunny see? :/ by Park, Linda Sue (gardens...nice for spring)
What shall we do with the boo-hoo baby? /by Cowell, Cressida. (another frequent request)

Also in the great category, several Froggy books and Maisy books (Spanish/English), always a hit!


Would be better for an older kid...
El sueño de Matías /by Lionni, Leo, 1910-
Curious George goes to the Aquarium (Naomi loves Curious George, though)
It Looked like Spilt Milk
The Ants go Marching
Hay un molillo en mi bolsillo! / by Seuss, Dr.
The Jazz Fly (Great book; we read this a few times, but it's ultimately better for maybe a 5 year-old)
Knuffle Bunny Too (Naomi loved the first Knuffle Bunny, but was completely uninterested in this one, which seemed to be aimed at considerably older kids)
Achoo! Bang! Crash! (Noisy alphabet...cute idea)
Old MacDonald Had an Apartment House (I thought this book was going to be just the regular song with a few different words relating to cities...it's not, but the storyline is adorable, just way too old for Naomi)
Me duele la lengua /by Mainé, Margarita. (It's hard to pick out Spanish books that are at an ideal level for Naomi...I don't know as many authors, have a harder time finding lists online, etc)
Not a stick /by Portis, Antoinette.
Perdona, pero ese libro es mío /by Child, Lauren. (really cute, very unique illustrations, but a little hard)
When I'm big /by McBratney, Sam. (I don't think Naomi understands this one)


Good but not spectacular
My friends /Tiger Tales,
Tall /by Alborough, Jez.
Trashy town /by Zimmerman, Andrea Griffing.
What can you do in the rain? /by Hines, Anna Grossnickle.
Where is baby's belly button? :by Katz, Karen. (not as good as Counting Kisses!)
Today is Monday :/by Carle, Eric. (you can draw on the pages with a dry-erase marker)
Chugga-chugga choo-choo /by Lewis, Kevin.
Bling blang /by Guthrie, Woody, 1912-1967
Penguin /by Dunbar, Polly.
Nelly y Gus : by Godon, Ingrid.
Run, mouse, run! /by Horáček, Petr.
Cómo cuentan hasta diez los dinosaurios? /by Yolen, Jane. (I would put this in the great category, but Naomi isn't really into dinosaurs right now)
Cuenta de ratón /by Walsh, Ellen Stoll. (Not as good as Mouse Paint!!)
Hora de dormir /by Ross, Tony.
Move! /by Jenkins, Steve, 1952-


Just OK
Go Away, Big Green Monster (Lots of kids love this book...just not Naomi)
Time to Say Please/by Mo Willems (Not all Mo Willems books are created equally!)
She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain (not enough repetition in the author's new words)


Music
Fiesta musical/ Music for Little People
Latin lullaby/Ellipsis Arts
Sea music/by Zanes, Dan.
Sing along with Putumayo

A few good books...

...that I have read over the last few weeks.

Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy by Walter Willett

This was the nutrition book I decided on about a month ago when I realized I don't know anything about nutrition. I read it (along with a bunch of pediatric nutrition info) before the health fair on Saturday, so at least I felt a little more informed in talking to the kids that came by to our screening booth (and awesome freeze dance/jumping jack question-answering game!). I loved it (so did all 112 reviewers on Amazon), thought it was very to the point and evidence-based. On the other hand, this is a pretty basic book, so it might not be worthwhile to read for someone who is a little more savvy than me about food. Anyway. I've long-since failed at my most recent attempt to cut out all sugar. But we are being a little more thorough in sticking to all whole grains, eating more fruits and vegetables, replacing butter with olive oil, etc. I'm also convinced that Matt is either lactose intolerant or allergic to milk, so we've switched to soy milk for us (still organic cow for Naomi).

The Emotional Life of the Toddler by Alicia Lieberman

This is a pretty good book in terms of talking about how toddlers make sense of their world and deal with stress. I liked it because Naomi fit one profile of a normal, emotionally healthy kid (the chapter on "the active child" must have been written with her in mind!), and a securely attached kid. I'm not an attachment parenting disciple (not opposed to doing things the AP way, I just don't think it's the only way, and kind of hate any movement where differing styles of good parenting are unilaterally looked down on...). But hey, we all want our kids to be attached and secure, so there you have it. This book also made me question my assumption that it is best to be consistent once you've given an answer even if you later think there is no point to the rule you've established. It also made me think I could be a little harder on Naomi in some ways and easier in others. Overall a good book, not phenomenal, but probably more useful if you are seriously concerned about your child's emotional status. Or if you want a pat on the back--the author argues at length that kids benefit emotionally from having imperfect parents (it helps kids see that things can go awry from time to time and still be ok). Check! :-)

Playful Parenting by Lawrence Cohen

This book is 100% unrealistic! But also 100% useful (for the very same reason). I never think of joking around when I'm mad (what a weird idea!), but after reading the book, I want TRY to. There is certainly a lot of hype in our society about "play-based learning", but this book is the first I have read that has really given me some insight into what it means to incorporate play into parenting. It sounds like a dumb idea (duh, we all know how to play with kids!), but it really is insightful, if also a little extreme and, as I said, ultimately unrealistic to fully incorporate.

More to come later...

One Year's Growth

This past week, we've had three birthdays in our little playgroup: Danielle Cheluchi Nef, the most gorgeous newborn *ever*; Shira Kurshan, the most beautiful, thoughtful one year-old *ever*; and Olivia Kang, the adorable witty two-year old who makes everyone else excited to someday be two! One year's growth makes a big difference. Here, for instance, is the bald Buddha-belly blob we referred to as "Naomi" just one short year ago:She's changed a bit, eh? I must say, I think she's a lot more fun to have around now...but I don't know if I'll say the same thing a year from now. It may be that one and a half is the best age (though also potentially the most patience-trying?). When in the future will I ever be as excited about a new word, new snippets of a song we've been singing to Naomi for months, a new way of holding a pen, new attempts to write "letters" (she doesn't write them, but she thinks she is!), new expressions, a new ability to sit still for a book and fill in phrases in well-loved favorites, new steadiness climbing stairs alone, etc? Naomi's moods are as volatile as equatorial weather--brilliant sun one moment, drenching thunderstorm the next--and nowhere near as nuanced as the weather this far north. But it is refreshing in some ways because she's so straightforward about what she wants and how she's feeling (pretty good at labelling how others are feeling too...either "happy" or "boohoohoo"). In the process of learning to control our emotional outbursts as adults, I feel like we lose out on some of this simplicity. It's necessary and ultimately beneficial, but I think it's a real loss.

Yesterday Naomi and I spent the day together. Naomi frequently puts her coat and hat on in the morning as a way of telling us she wants to go outside, and yesterday was no exception. So we went to the park. After about ten minutes in the frigid April air, we took a train to Soho instead, where we hung out for a little while in the Scholastic store. Check out the dinosaur:Then we went to the Children's Museum of the Arts. Three mornings a week, the museum is open only to kids 3 years old and under. After about 50 minutes of free art time, the kids head downstairs for some music (just ok) drumming (awesome), and a story (also just ok). We had a great time. There really isn't much there that you couldn't do at home...but the freedom of being able to not worry about a mess if your child leaves the table (which is the case at home) is really quite liberating. Also, you don't have to clean up. Also, it's pretty reasonably priced. Also, it is kind of social--you can't hog all the brushes or crayons or clay, for instance.

Is it just me, or is this kind of a mature way to hold a marker? I just noticed this while we were at the "museum". We haven't really worked on holding utensils or pens any particular way (I figure she'll learn to hold things the correct way when she's ready, just by watching us). Anyway, apparently Naomi has changed how she holds things without me even noticing until now.

After Naomi's nap, we took a trip to the pediatrician. We've been a few times since Naomi turned 11 months or so because she has developed "reactive airway disease", which is basically a catch-all term that means she frequently wheezes when she catches a virus. We're sort of transitioning out of the phase where we go to the doctor when this happens into the phase where we feel like we know what to do and how to assess the seriousness of the wheezing and don't need to take her in. So, Naomi has a cold, but her wheezing turned out to be minimal, and she has not developed bronchitis. After the pediatrician, we went to my school for a meeting for a health fair we're putting on this Saturday. Naomi was great and loved all the attention she got from other med students.

Today Rossana and Gabby came, but it rained all day. So the three had a ton of fun in the apartment, but didn't go outside at all. So Naomi and I went to the Children's Museum when I got home (the regular one, not the art one), which is free the first Friday of every month. Plus we got to ride on the bus to get there--a major bonus in Naomi's eyes! I forgot the camera, but we had fun, especially on the Dora floor, which Naomi has been too young to really enjoy in the past.

Finally, here are some pictures of a race Matt ran the other week. Naomi and I went to see him cross the finish line. He did great!

Naomi waiting at the finish line:
The runners through the trees
Stopping at a playground afterward: