Woods

Thank you for the loose pants! He definitely wants everything off before the performance begins.

During lunch, the heater came on and your smart baby discerned the new sound, as he has only heard the air conditioner sound. He asked what it was, and that I open the door. In the end, we ate with it open so he could monitor the view of the blue, gas flame, which I explained was heating the air to keep us warm. (So different from someone else, who is not comfortable with sounds emanating from various things.)

And, so cute when he inhaled the distinctive fragrance of the Christmas tree and pronounced it to be like a strawberry!

Christmas vignette, finessed by Blakeley

Holiday recital recap

When one attends a stage performance, it is always fun to ponder all that is happening backstage. And, though watching HRH poised as ever, was such a treat, who knew Woods would add his own performance art to the day! During the show, he would stand (oh, so briefly) to catch a glimpse of the action and then quickly drop down to lap level again until the next dancers appeared. As Woods and I navigated our way out of the audience, up a ramp and down a hall to the ladies room, I held little hope of making it in time. I told you that I pulled the scarf you gifted me off of my neck to line the toilet, stripped him down and away he went. He was instantly pumping his arms and smiling. I seated myself on the toilet and used my lap to dress

him again. As we exited the bathroom he spotted a group of dancers completing last minute stretches and kicks. Woods (loudly) began to call to them, 'Woods tinkled!' This was repeated as we made our way back into the cafeteria and the music covered his happy announcement to Brant.

Last night during dinner, Steve was assisting Woods, who was not eating well. Steve tried several tactics and finally, fork poised in air, asked Woods to tell him what he wanted to eat. Your son looked Steve straight in

the eye and replied, "Nm and Nm."

Happy Thanksgiving!

New Orleans trip

Playing with her new harmonica...

Steve and Woods, on and off, on and off, the bus...

World Champions! 2 hours on the bus...

"Christmas tree"...

Thank you for coming and for all the help!!

Gameday again!

So proud with puppy sticker and pumpkin tinkle treat!!

Woods and Blakeley, last week

I may have included a few of these earlier. Loved when Woods spotted the 'robot' trio sitting on top of the bookcase. He definitely wanted them in hand, immediately. Wish R2D2 was worth enough to help with college tuition!

Blakeley and Woods

It was a wonderful, chilly morning to play with both of the kids. Blakeley kept announcing "It's Fall...today!" The swings were a hit, and Woods was so happy to find his sister swinging next to him. He said, "Together".
Blakeley hoped Woods would pay closer attention as she toured him around her plants, and she offered him a Lambs Ear leaf of his own.

I wish I had used a camera instead of my phone to capture the two cowpokes, listening to the Pardners CD. As each song ended, Woods would say, "Again".

In 'surprise box' Blakeley found a tee shirt which celebrates children of the world. There are girls in various dress and it is printed with different words children use to say 'hello'. We discussed the concept of different languages, and she was happy to already know 'Hola, amigo'. She would point to a line of print and ask what it said and want to know which child spoke this way. At some point I hope to get it straight that Sarah never took French, but after Blakeley heard 'Bon jour', I advised she ask Mommy to speak in French to her. Brainy one contemplated this and said, "Gigi, I can talk French. French fries!"

Lady Bug Blakeley and Weensy Spider Woods

Good tinkle treat

Day with Woods

The photo of the bottom of the tiny Tom's shoes is to document a moment with smart, techy Woods Miller. We were heading outside, so I began working one of the shoes onto his foot while he held the other shoe. He studied the bottom, and holding it as if it was an iPhone, began to tap on the grid. When this yielded no results, he announced that it needed batteries. (Love this; he may enjoy it later, too, if you record it.)

In the swing, Woods enjoyed observing a monarch butterfly feed at length from the flowers nearby. Then, he pulled the wagon up and down the sidewalk, collecting acorns and caps for cargo. The Muhly grass in a nearby bed was a favorite discovery, with its waving, purplish tips. And, he like the velvety Salvia Leucantha, and ran his hand over any blossom within reach. A house down the street is undergoing major renovations, and we observed all the action. Woods asked about the green generator, humming away at the curb. That was a hard one to explain! Watching a man cut 2x4 lumber was interesting to him, as he listened to the rasp of a hand saw on wood and the clunk of a cut piece as it dropped to the driveway.

At lunch, Woods was laser focused on eating a Honeycrisp apple.

Before nap, I headed for the reading chair with Woods clutching his book of choice. It was the Haba brochure that came with the block sets, full of color photos of block configurations and children building. He loves it, and does not mind that it is written in German.

He is such a wonderful, mellow and smart baby. Thank you for today.

Forgot to add...

First; our little Houdini has kept me laughing since I returned home, as I have found myself locked out of the water dispenser in the fridge door, and I also remember that the dishes have been partially washed a few times in the dishwasher. He also loves unzipping one end of the crib sheet. This morning I erected the boys old Marble Run. Woods loved it, and watched the marble track the maze over and over again. His eyes really lit up when I yielded and let him hold the six marbles in his hand, so he could shoot them down in rapid succession.

I am sorry about the fit of the snuggly jackets I purchased for Woods. I think they are great quality and unique.

It was fun for me to get to show off you and the babies to Lynne today. She had not seen you in some time, and is a friend that I love and admire so much. She personifies goodness, and has much to teach others who marry into dynasty type families with the weight that carries.

Finally, at times today, I could see a bit of your handsome father in Woods’ face.

Adventure with Blakeley

While I packed our picnic lunch, Blakeley and pony took an extended ride through the living room pasture. Then, she used a ‘curry comb’ to brush out his coat, and inspected the hoofs for rocks. She covered him with a blanket and put him back in his stall. I offered a snack for both of them and she selected celery. She served the horse’s chunky stalks and her slender and trimmed pieces on the sterling, cut-glass wine coasters from the nearby table. Lovely.

The weather was (finally!) conducive to visit Mayfield Park and visit the peacocks. The males had lost all of the long tail feathers, and appeared smaller. We learned that two pea chicks had been born in 2011, and I was surprised the number was not greater. Blakeley’s balance is so good, and she loved testing her skills by walking on the narrow stones which connected ponds. Her peacock top was noticed by adults and children, and she was pleased to be gifted two wing feathers as we were leaving. We moved down to Laguna Gloria and she asked to visit ‘her studio’. Inside were two professional artists, working in acrylic and paper. They warmly welcomed Blakeley, and one pulled down completed canvases and stood them on the floor, encouraging Blakeley to run her hand over them. We walked down to the lagoon and ate on a bench by the cove. Two more artists were nearby, easels up, painting in plein air. It was such a wonderful, artistic environment, with nature as its setting.

The only improvement on the day would have been if you could have come, too. 

Coffee; Mommy