Zoe on my lap

Here's Zoe, checking me out. This is just about my favorite way to sit with her, so I can bicycle with her legs and make silly faces more easily, though I recognize it creates kind of an odd photo of my legs. 

Blowing bubbles for Owen

Jen is really working hard for that Fresca. 

Matt and Benji

Isn't this a nice photo of Matt and Benji? 

Owen and Benji

Owen's friend Benji came by with his 'rents tonight. The played together a lot more than they have in the past, though this photo really doesn't represent that. 

Backyard pool!

We got a backyard pool for Owen. It was really a hit. The water was freezing, but Owen kept going in it until we had to force him out when his teeth starting chattering. 

Not of Zoe or Owen

Our neighbor Marc was in a tree (look very closely right above the car).

This is the view from our backyard with zoom on our camera.

Zoe and B

I think Zoe's face here looks so grown-up. 

Zoe and B

B and Zoe hang out at home. Isn't she lovely? 

Gang post of picnic photos

Here are a bunch of picnic photos of Owen and I.


 

Toddler picnic!

Our Sunday picnic was about 3 hours long. I'd bet Owen and Eli spent 2 hours and 43 minutes running to or from adults while kicking/hitting/carrying a ball, 1 minute eating, and 16 minutes apologizing to the other/accepting apologies from the other. In this photo, Eli's mom Lisa takes a turn chasing the toddlers. 

Eli & Owen

Eli checks out the camera, while Owen wonders how long he's got until Eli comes back and takes Owen's monopoly on both the ball and the rocket. 

Eli was hungry

It's amazing what you can do with spam and lots of blue food coloring. 

Picnic time continued

Here, B and Zoe chill at the picnic blanket. 

A day in the park

We met Matt, Lisa and Eli in Rock Creek park on Sunday for a pre-Memorial Day picnic. Here, Owen and I kick the ball around. 

Cutie in a sun hat

Don't you wish you slept so well? And looked so good doing it? 

Splash!

Owen really likes splashing. Here, he poured the water from his dinner cup onto his high chair tray so he could splash a little. 

Owen and Zoe

They aren't quite playing together, but this is pretty good for them. 

Thank you Gran

Gran (my Gran) very generously bought us a double stroller that (1) can fit both the kids and (2) is light enough that we can actually push it with both kids in it. Life is much better with this thing.

Thanks very much Gran! 

Gifts

Some of you have asked what I'd like for my birthday. Accordingly, I've created a wishlist on Amazon (to find it, go to the Amazon wish list page and type in my name - I'm the only Matt Kaiser who lives in Silver Spring and has a June 30 birthday).

Recent events - Zoe

Zoe is growing by leaps and bounds. She's given me some really good smiles this weekend, and (B reports) she's eating 27 hours a day now. She does seem to be in a big growth spurt, but she's sleeping through the night (or 6 hours of it, which, for a 7 week old, is just ducky).

The nicest thing though is that her personality is really starting to emerge. She smiles easily, and there are a few dorky daddy-Zoe games that can reliably get a smile out of her. She spent some good time sleeping on my chest as well this weekend, though I'm really afraid that time is drawing to a close. I think Saturday she slept for about 4 hours on my chest. And, she's almost grown out of her 0-3 month clothes.

It's funny, but I do think I relate to her differently because of her sex. I don't quite know how, but I roughhouse a little more gently with her, and I tend to coo more when I talk to her. Or maybe I'm just comparing how I am with Owen now with how I treat her, and now how I was with Owen at her age. It's so hard to tell. But she definitely looks like a girl to me now, whereas before she seemed less definitely gendered.

Recent events - Owen

I hope that it's clear from this blog that I love Owen very much. That said, he's driving me absolutely f*&#ing crazy. There are two main issues that have emerged in the last week.

First, bedtime, which was on a very nice track, is now completely haywire. He doesn't just need someone to lie in his room as he falls asleep (something he was getting out of, for what it's worth), he now tries to renegotiate going to sleep in the first place. In the past week, bedtimes have become 2 hour tear-laden ordeals, and Owen's not the only one crying.

Second, mealtimes have become crazy. Owen will now only eat applesauce, yogurt, pudding, and "hot doggie." I made him a frittata Saturday morning and he wouldn't even try one bite. I can understand if he tries it and doesn't like it, but to not even have the one F-ing bite is really unacceptable. I offered him some trout today, and he wouldn't eat a bite, after I took the skin off. He wouldn't try pizza bagel. So we have these absurd scenes where he cries and says "hot doggie" while I cry and say, "one bite then hot doggie." I remember so well when he used to eat curries and sushi. Now cheese with egg is too adventuresome for him. If anyone has any solutions, or, equally helpful, a way I can blame this on Bridgette, I would love to hear it.

There have, however, been some really nice times this weekend. Owen's started singing along with music (though not well; don't look for him on the next season of American Idol) and he really gets into it. It's very sweet. And he and I spent a ton of time outside playing this weekend, which has left me really tired and achy, but I feel very close to him (or did before tonight's bedtime).

Owen and (his) Gran

Owen really likes pointing. 

More party people!

Yet more photos from our party!

First, public defenders contemplate the Alito/Robert Court.

Then, the Kessler Krew Klass of 2002 remembers a light moment from their time together in chambers.

Finally, Lisa tries to get Eli to use his dad as a ramp to the juice bar to refill his sippy cup.

 

Party people!

We had a party on Saturday; here are some shots.

First up, the Spiggles, (from right) Harrison, his mom, his dad.

Then, local people (mainly) from church (from left) Tom H., Sally, Laura H., and Dr. Dean Lisa Kiely.

Below that, our neighbors the Wooten/Charpentier's watch Owen run away (doubtless toward the street).

Below that, Jonas holds Zoe while his girlfriend Michelle watches.