Cooking with Dad

Connor has been coming up with all sorts of unique ways to stay up a little later. Tonight he decided he really wanted to watch his Daddy cook Chicken Pot Pie. He had a little trouble with the culinary rule that you should try to keep your feet off the cutting board.

Michael

Young @ Art

This is our second week of Young @ Art, an art program for two to five year olds at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts http://www.vmfa.state.va.us/Calendar_and_Events/Kids_Programs/Young_@_Art.aspx

We go every Tuesday morning and Connor is really loving it. Each month has a different theme. The theme for March was "Discover Virginia" and focused on some of the exhibits on loan from the Jamestown Museum. Each week the children have playtime, listen to a story, visit an exhibit in the museum and then make an art project related to the exhibit.

I was so surprised to see how well Connor listens to the teacher. I was expecting him to give her the same look that he gives me when I try to tell him to do something, the look that says "not now, Mom." Instead, when the teacher says, "Connor, can you find a spot on the rug to sit for story time?" or "Connor, can you show the children what you made?" he smiles a little nervously and follows her instructions. He especially likes when the teacher gives the museum rules at the beginning of each class. The rules are (1) Walk like we're tip-toeing, (2) Talk with really low voices, and (3) Do not no touch the art. Connor then proceeds to creep slowly around the museum with his lips pursed shut and his hands behind his back.

Poor Michael. As usual, art class falls right during his nap time. I bring a bottle, some Baby Mumm-Mumms, and some toys to try to keep him happy but he starts to get a little grumpy the last ten minutes of class. When class begins, he plays on the rug with all the other children and has a blast licking and eating all the toys. Then he is relegated to his stroller for the remainder of class. I keep telling him it will be his turn very soon.

Here are some photos of Connor and Michael the first week of class, outside in the scupture garden as well as some photos of Connor in class today. He loved using the glue.

Picasso

Connor has always loved his crayons and coloring books so we decided to see whether he would show any interest in painting. A few weeks ago we bought him an easel, paper, chalk and paints from Toys That Teach. Phil put the easel together on a Tuesday night. We set it up on the porch, where the least damage could be done, and Connor immediately got to work.

He keeps a leisurely art schedule, allowing breaks during the day for food, trains, "shee-an box" (sandbox) and walking around the yard. He usually does his best work in the morning after he chugs a sippy cup of "baby-ro" (baby yogurt).

Here are some of his finest pieces so far. You may notice that his new found interest in painting has coincided with an obsession with elephants. If you happen to be near Connor while he is painting, he will ask you to draw your best "Whoo-whoo" (elephant). Although he is rather demanding that you at least try, he is never judgmental about the outcome. I think that is one of his greatest characteristics.

Let's Make Music Together

Here are some photos of Connor and Michael after music class this morning. We have been coming to the JCC for a music program called Let's Make Music Together since Connor was six months old. LMMTVA.com His favorite songs right now are "Me, me, me" and "Pony Galloping." We listen to the music class CDs in the car everywhere we go and whoever puts him to bed has to sing the Pony song until he falls asleep. Michael has been auditing the music class since the week he was born. This is the first semester that he is officially enrolled as a student. Michael loves smiling at everyone and eating the instruments. He only cries when we have to put the instruments away or when it gets a little too close to nap time. I look forward to the class each and every week because I get to see how much the boys are changing. When Connor started at six months, he was the most outgoing kid in the class. He would flap his arms and kick his legs to every song. Now he is a little shy around the other children and he wants me to hold him all the time ("up mama!"). We had to have a talk today before class so that I could explain that I cannot always hold him and he would have to walk by himself like a big boy. He actually surprised me and was pretty independent. There was only one crying incident during the "free dance" portion of the class (we danced to Footloose). Luckily the teacher, Ms. Carol, rescued me by dancing with Michael so Tow-ree and I could boogey. At the end of every class, Connor starts to come out of his shell. He even hugs Ms. Carol at the conclusion of the Good-bye song. Then he gets his music stamp on both ends and we walk to the snack bar for a "Cha-cha" milk and some peanut butter crackers. It's really more a distraction so that I can give his brother a bottle but he thinks it's a treat. Connor will be starting summer camp at the JCC in the middle of June. www.weinsteinjcc.org/summer-camps/camp-ganim/

The Boys

We recently were invited to a friend's house for a playdate and our friend Christina took these photos of the boys. It makes me so happy to see them smiling together. Maybe it's time to call a professional photographer again and see if she can take some photos. The last time we tried Michael was 10 days old and Connor was 15 months. We drove thirty minutes for a two hour photo shoot during which Michael was an angel and Connor was the opposite of cooperative (ask aunt Mimi). In that two hour session we managed to get one photo of the boys together - Connor had his eyes closed and was hysterically crying. I think I may have been crying a little as well. Anyway, I am learning that kids go through many phases. Maybe Connor has finally turned a corner and will allow the paparazzi to do their job. We'll see.

Sunny day in Richmond (but Tow-ree hates the sun)

So it has been a little while since the last time we've blogged and a lot has happened. In May 2011 we moved from our little house on Stanhope Avenue to a house across the river on Cherokee Road and we had a wonderful little boy named Michael. (Phil and I finally agreed on the name Michael while on the way to see the movie Bridesmaids the night before he was born). Michael is now almost 10 months old and Connor is two years and one month. Connor is a great older brother. He is finally starting to see the good in his little brother Michael, whom he calls Mutt-Mutt, so long as he is not trying to play with his "alms" animals. Connor prefers to be called "Tow-ree" and actually gets upset when I remind him that his name is Connor. Here are some photos of the boys at the botanical gardens on Thursday. It was a beautiful day, in the seventies and sun shining. Notice Connor is wearing his "ball-ball" hat and sun glasses. He would not wear a hat for the longest time but now he won't leave home without it. He is so happy that "sun not in eyes" that he makes sure we have his hat and glasses every time we leave the house. I have so much fun with these boys. They keep me laughing (and moving) all day.