A very special Bunky Christmas

Hello, everyone - I'd like to share our Christmas with you... Thanks to everyone who sent gifts (and thanks to those who didn't, trust me, I'm equally grateful :)

Our family usually celebrates on Christmas Eve, and so this year we went to have C-Eve on "Omi's Boat" as Fin calls it.

Here he is in his little Christmas outfit. Of course, it was too warm to keep the beautiful red coat on ... so mommy was sad.

We went for a ride on the dinghy (which I can't spell so don't even bother) which they call "the Dawg Bone" (the boat is called the Sea Dawg). Fin had to wear his lifejacket but it was a tad big...

Later, after dinner, Omi spent hours with Fin, who, as you know by now, loves to take photos. Well, this was no exception, and Omi's camera was way better than Mommy's!!! She'd hold it because it's heavy, and he'd point it, and I don't know who clicked it, but after Fin would pop open the protector over the screen and see what he'd shot.

But who is he taking pictures of?

OH! Uncle Erik, playing with his own new camera!

The next morning, Fin started handing out presents. The first one he grabbed was for our girl-cat, Peeper. Too funny - she won't come near him. So we gave it to her later.

Here's what Fin looks like when he's unwrapping his gifts :)

And here's what he looks like after he's opened his presents... he made a tent out of some wrapping paper. It was great fun.

Later Daddy cooked us some roast with Yorkshire pudding and roast potatoes and peas and we drank blueberry sparkling juice. Oh and Fin popped his first Christmas Cracker (hence the hat).

Fin insisted on using my glass, so we gave him his own. He seemed to think drinking from a wine glass was the coolest thing ever.

While Mommy cleaned up, Daddy and Fin played with Daddy's new remote controlled Dalek (from the "Dr. Who" TV show). Fin was fascinated, then scared, then delighted... Definitely a GEEK in the making!

Well we all wish you the merriest of holidays and a happy new year, and hope you and yours have wonderful memories of your own.

Captain Bunky of the "Sea Dawg"

Last weekend we went to visit Omi for an overnight stay on the boat in Santa Barbara. The boat is great. I reminds me how much fun it would be to live in an equivalent spaceship (one with unlimited fuel, no maintenance, an impervious hull, hyperdrive, and endless supplies of varying cuisines of all types - and of course, fresh water, hot & cold - okay and maybe a little bit more space, but hey, we're not planning on docking any time soon). Anyway..........

Bunky had a great time. Here's his "story," plus some other updates.

Update! Since my last post, in fact, immediately after my last post, Bunky became angelic and we have not had any TMDs since, so maybe that was just the precursor, and now we're in a calm before the storm situation. I'm braced... trust me I expect the worst. Much, much worse... Okay, on that note... here's his story.

AWWW BAPA HOW COME I CAN'T DRIVE THE BOAT!?

YOU CALL THIS THE CAPTAIN'S STATEROOM?
What do you think I am, a cabin boy???


Is this camera authorized? Hey!

Mmm, now that's more like it, cruise ship style!

Hmm... what is it?

Oh no, I'm thinking it's coming back out...
SEA FOOD (see food - get it? hahaha!!)

Who is this silly guy!?

No matter what happens, Omi will always love me...

...and take me to the ZOO!!!

IT'S GOOD TO BE CAPTAIN!!!

Enter the Terrible Twos (T2s)

Sweet Angel or Devil Child? - You be the Judge!

Well, he's only 22 months and I think we've officially begun - and no, I mean OFFICIALLY. I have told a few other moms who joke about their 15-month-old kids' tantrums and how the "T2s" start that early, and I would say to them, no, just wait, they get worse. And at 18 and 20 months when those occasional tantrums do indeed get more intense and more seemingly meaningless, I think, no, just wait, it gets worse.

And I'm sure they're going to get worse.

But let it just stand for the record that Bunky, heretofore the Ultimate Cuteness of the Universe, has unleashed his demonspawn side, the Unholy Freaking Terror of the Universe, at least once per day, usually twice. It seems to replace the time of day when he is/was most smiling, most cheerful, most excited to see you... wake-up time.

Now we're lucky if mommy gets a breakfast that stays in the bowl and not splattered across the kitchen, because gawd forbid I try to put him down, point to the wrong cereal box, pick the wrong color bowl, suggest "tete" (milk) instead of juice or juice from the carton instead of a juice box, and - heaven help us - the wrong identical Dwink(tm) holder on the left instead of the one on the right; or not give in to wanting a "dookie" (cookie) first thing after waking up, though I'm happy to suggest it after a nap when he'd rather have peaches or yogurt or something he's not supposed to have, and gawd NO NO NO do NOT put pajama pants on after you put the shirt on, no, they have to go on first (or some illogic like that).

It's really all a communication battle - he wants something specific and can't tell (or show) me, and if I get it wrong then he goes into LDM - lock-down mode - in which nothing but nothing is acceptable, not even the thing he wanted in the first place. Once in LDM he gets his underwear in a bundle so tight he can't even reason with himself which thereby increases LDM and mamma's anxt and the neighborhood watch gets called in and pretty soon the house is surrounded by SWAT sharpshooters.

Okay I exaggerated that last bit a little, the SWAT guys know our address by heart by now and don't bother coming to my rescue.

Anyway, on the plus side, he is talking a lot more, and by "talking" I mean stringing up to four or five somewhat vaguely recognizable words together into sentences, though honestly most of the time I haven't a clue what he is saying unless there's some context or he's attempting to mimic something someone said. "Lid up, pants down, sit on the potty" becomes "li-uh, pa' down, depedo boddy" usually with a big smile.

And don't get any ideas, we are not even thinking of potty training yet. Okay, thinking, dreaming, maybe even fantasizing a little bit about a future without diapers, but not trying, really. Since he mimics everything we just have him go through the routine on his own little potty whenever we do it, so that it's not such a shock when we're stressing him out and putting tons of pressure on him to perform the other (important) part.

First, though, the little devil is going to have to learn to predict his pee-pees and poo-poos and not make duties in the bathtub because butt bubbles are so much fun!!! Ah, little boys.

Gotta love 'm.

Random Photos from Autumn

Just a few random photos from Autum... for your enjoyment.

On a hike, Bunky pauses for a photo op.

Mama and Baby are enjoying something... I think sea lions at Central Park Zoo.

A fiery So Cal sunset to match Bunky's beauty.

I know Eve must be hiding around here somewhere...

Ha ha... with Grandpa...

More to follow.

Happy Halloween 2007!

Tonight Bunky went Trick-or-Treating with our friends the Rosquis. Although he went last year (same family, much fun!), this year was special because he could pretty much do the whole thing himself. Yes, he looks 3. He sometimes acts 3. Sometimes I feel like he's permanently 3 but maybe a bit speech-impaired. (He's size 3.) It's weird to see friends with kids about the same age (21 mo.) who still look like babies, and my kid seems so much older-looking.

Anyway, on to the Halloween story. I'll tell it with the photos. (Click to enlarge slightly.)


So on Monday when I got home from work, we went to the Pumpkin Patch to take some photos. We played a bit, but Fin was a pill, screaming at every other child and refusing to be put down. This photo was one of a few seconds where he was actually being friendly (to me). Another little boy came up to the Jack-o-Lantern and Fin, inside, screamed loudly which terrified the boy, who then cowered outside. I felt bad and pulled him out so the other boy could play.


Probably the best pic I got of his sourpuss face. Here is was distracted by a pumpkin painted like a kitty ("mowm" say the kitties) and so I was able to snap a shot of him. Pose? Oh no, not today, mom, I'm A PILL.


The wagon ride lasted all of about a half a lap, until he saw a little girl in one and screamed at her because, I think, he thought she was stealing his, even though he was still in his.

I gave up after about 20 minutes. I didn't buy a pumpkin. If the place doesn't have the mojo to make Fin happy, they don't deserve my $10. (It's all about taking responsibility when you're a mother - heh!)


"These are not the candies you're looking for."

So Fin was a Jedi. Yes, that's more to please me, but this is probably the last year where he'll actually be clueless and I get a say in his costume. Plus, we already had the cloak - we just needed some $1.79 remnants from Joanne's and some scissors and voila! Jedi costume for toddlers. Oh and a cardboard toilet paper roll and some tinfoil and hockey tape. (Who needs a lightsaber that ignites? He's better with the mind tricks.)


One thing's for sure, Fin was really into it. He walked about half the pace of Sammi & Tommy so we only went up to about every other house - but - he walked the entire way (except across a few streets) and Sammi actually pooped out before Fin did :) I got him to say "Thank you" ("Tenkoo") at a few houses, but mostly it was me saying Thank You and Fin saying "Byee" and everyone gushing at how adorable this - yes - not even close to three year old - was.


"You will give me cheerios."

Wait a minute. I'm starting to understand how it is he doesn't need to speak to get what he wants. Hmmm.


Did I mention he did all the walking? Oh - there was one house where he saw some toddler toys and he went right in! Fortunately they were nice and let me in after him.

By the end of the night, he had the routine down pat. He even held Sammi's hand most of the last stretch and she helped him open his bag when he got to the doors, or if I had his bag, she made sure he got his loot and didn't linger too long. It was great.

At one point he was behind Sammi, and he went up to her to push her (like pushing a train or something), and with his little hands raised, he put one on each of her cheeks and from behind, with our supposedly-adult mentalities, it looked like he was goosing her. Very cute. Sam didn't really notice it like that, thankfully!


"Now where did that droid get to?"

All in all I'd say he enjoyed himself. Mark was able to arrive just in time, too, and so he got to experience Bunky's first real TorT along with myself and Pam! :)

Finny Blog Update

I'm sorry, I will update soon! I have tons of new pics and NO TIME to transfer them!!!

Love you all - Finny is doing very well - very smart!

He got moved up in his music class to the next level a month early because he's too far ahead of the 16-mo-olds that just joined the class... but it's good, it's 3 other boys and they are like four little terrors.

Bunky Turns 20 - Mama Adds Photos

So Bunky turned 20 months yesterday - no longer a teenager and one step closer to the very heart of the Terrible Twos. Though I believe it's really the terrible 18-36 months. Good lord. Anyway, here are some photos since I know everyone is pining for them!

FIVE CANS! Now that's an achievement.
He's learned to alternate the big & little ones.

Portrait of a troublemaker.
Oh you can see where he split his lip. Ouch.

Grandpa gets him his favorite snack:
Frozen Blueberries!

Mama was sick. Baby was sick.
So we napped together sweetly.
And sweatily.

It was sprinkling, and we don't have a raincoat for him yet.
So I broke out the Jedi cloak.
Into the cave on Degobah: "Alone you must go."

Rock out, Mr. Cool!

A little crazed look that is all too familiar now.

Bunky built a secret passageway behind the kitchen chairs.

Okay, Snack time! PBJ...mmmmmm!

Oops, another long delay

It feels like it's been forever and a day - in this time, Bunky has picked up a knack for Duplo blocks, learned when to clap, stomp feet, and raise his arms for "hooray" at the appropriate time for "If you're happy and you know it" song, and taken to taking naps without as much fuss.

Usually.

It's a lot less exhausting chasing him around, though still exhausting keeping up with his need for attention and activity. So any excuse to do so is welcome - park, shopping, birthday party, Omi's boat, his classes, you name it.

By the way I was very proud of him in music class today, he kept up very well and we had a ball. For the first time he followed direction. I think a few days ago he had a good solid nap and woke up a bit smarter - I could tell immediately. I've decided that sleeping is when they leap forward.

Some photos... long awaited I'm sure... forthcoming as he broke my camera and I have to transfer them and edit for web, etc.

Fin's first big movie star

I spent two hours getting an eye exam and two new pair of glasses (one sunglasses, one regular) at LensCrafters in Santa Monica today while Mark took his parents to the farmers' market with Fin. When I returned later to pick them up, I took Fin with me. I went to the "pick-up" table and there was already someone there. Fin was squirming and fussy and I nearly fell on him. Then we took a seat next to him -- well, Fin did, and I spun Fin around and around trying to amuse him. That lasted about a minute...

This guy was wearing gray and neon green striped running shoes, probably RBKs, and green knee-length cargo pants, and a t-shirt. His hair was graying. He was short. He kept looking at me as if we were annoying him so I tried to hold Fin on my lap in the next chair over. Then something hit me - something familiar about his profile. I looked again, and sure enough... ... and then to confirm it I heard him speak to the guy helping him fit on his glasses.

Suddenly I was kind of self-conscious... Bunky and I were annoying Dustin Hoffman.

Yes, that's right, just three feet away sat Dustin Hoffman getting fitted for his own new glasses. In LensCrafters. Of all places.

Well that was cool. Too bad Bunks won't remember it. And too bad I didn't have a camera - not that I would have asked for a photo - though it would have been cool.

By the way, my new glasses are cherry. Literally. I'll get a photo up soon.

Bunky's Photo Gallery @ 19mo.

Yes, he does these all by himself. Very interesting seeing the world from the perspective of an uncoordinated guy under three feet tall.