Back in the water again

The way the rain has been coming down these past few days we've all been feeling a bit like ducks, but Calvin and his dad took it a step further today and acted like fish.  We can't truthfully say that this was Calvin's first swimming class, but we also wouldn't go so far as to call him a seasoned veteran of the swimming community.  Last year at this time Calvin entered into and then graduated from the infant swim class at our community rec center, and today he proudly (or at least with interest) splashed into the toddler group.  The class, which is aptly named otters and pups, since it is a class with parent participation, is taught by the same energetic woman we enjoyed last year, and if you've seen any of Calvin's pictures you will not be surprised to hear that she remembered him immediately thanks to his rosy cheeks.  Of course last year those rosy cheeks graced a rather serious and brooding face, as Calvin spent most of time enjoying the pool from a state of deep contemplation.  For a brief moment we thought this year was going to be much the same, but it did not take long for him to find his comfort zone this year, and for the rest of class he was all giggles and grins.  Well, until he had to get out, that is, and then he was just cold.  We consider today's return to the pool a soggy success.

Water pictures are in the Jan 12-18 album. 

The wonders of the season.

Be it the strange decorations  that have come out of the basement or the sudden change in the weather, the crowds of people or simply a spirit in the air, the wonder of this season is more than just a commercial phrase coined by companies such as Coca Cola and Hallmark.  we know this to be true because we have already seen the look of wonder spread across our son's guileless face.  On Friday morning he stood agape, staring at our singing and dancing animatronic snowmen when first they appeared (and performed).  Saturday afternoon he traipsed through stores with a cheerfulness that can only belong to one who has never been responsible for holiday meals, deals, or clean-up.  Then tonight, as we enjoyed our first real snow of the season, he stood wide-eyed on our deck, face turned up to the heavens, a look of fascination on his face that clearly knew no cold.  Though last year may have been his first Christmas, we are ever more aware that this one will hold a place in our memories that is so much more special.

 "The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science."
-Albert Einstein

These must be the halcyon days of fall

Fall is here: the leaves started changing, the nights started cooling, the days turned rainy and grey... and then came a return to the sun and warmth of the previous season.  Some would call it an Indian Summer, but we think a more appropriate term might be "paradise."  Sure it's hot, but we try to remind ourselves that instead of complaining about the heat we could be breaking out the hats and mittens like this time last year, and who wants that already?  So we took advantage of the hand mother nature dealt and made today a hiking day.  There's something a little odd about sweating through your shorts and t-shirt while shuffling through richly colored fallen leaves, but we didn't complain back in July or August so why should we now?  Not to mention that when we went on hikes back in July Calvin was a very different kind of hiking partner.  Back in July he enjoyed looking at the things we pointed out but was basically just along for the ride in his backpack carrier.  Today Calvin seemed to be doing most of the pointing, followed by that babbling noise that sounds suspiciously like a well posed question that we just can't understand.  He spent half of the hike in the backpack and the other half pushing his own little feet through the downed leaves.  He found a squirrel, a cat (inappropriately out of doors), a spider, and even a wee little frog, and he made sure to point them out for our own viewing pleasure.  He amazes us.  We love watching him discover the natural world we love so much, and we are thankful for these halcyon days of fall.

Driving edamommy up the wall

Animals of all kinds are able to identify their offspring by the unique sound of their call.  For whales this sound is a haunting bellow, for birds a beautiful song, and for dolphins a cheerful chirp.  Other animals are not so lucky - next time you are compiling your sympathy list you might consider including that poor hyena mother, or the mom to a baby howler monkey.  And somewhere along that scale, of course, fall human mothers.  We hear it all:  tears, screaming, laughing, babbling, and, we can't forget, whining.  Who can forget the whining?  At this point in time we are convinced that the whine is the single most identifiable sound in Calvin's vocal range - we can pick it out of a busy room anywhere, and it often sends us heading in the opposite direction if possible.  Unfortunately the whine is also the most frequently heard sound, and it has a long list of uses to which Calvin is forever adding.  Over the past few weeks Calvin has begun to take an interest in "driving" things around the house, such as toy cars, elephants on wheels, and even blocks without wheels - he will drive anything that will push easily, and of course he accompanies this new driving skill with motor noises that sound suspiciously similar to his ear-piercing whine.  We try to remind ourselves that this is creativity at its earliest and best, but that's hard to keep in mind as we sit through lunch watching and listening to Calvin driving his edamame across his highchair tray, wondering if we wouldn't prefer that baby howler monkey after all.

Not exactly twinkle toes yet

Calvin started dance class today, and what a riot that was!  We really had no idea what to expect but it should not have surprised us to find out that, even though the class is open to anyone ages 1-3 years of age, Calvin is the youngest by about a year and is the only boy.  All those girls thought he was just the cutest thing since My Little Pony and just wanted to love him to death, but Calvin thought that was a rotten idea and spent most of his time in a constant state of forward motion.  The objective of the class is to learn "purposeful movement" so we figure this gives him a head start.  That and it gives us a preview of all those elementary school years that are yet to come.  Can anyone say Cooties?

And we are really pleased with the class itself, girls and all.  The teacher was calm and patient, the music was lively and fun, and the activities were varied.  The best part about it was the relaxed atmosphere: there was a definite structure to the class but there was no circle to have to stay in, and the kids were encouraged, but never forced, to take part in the activities.  While the moms danced around to a Simon Says kind of song some kids took part, Calvin marched around the room laughing.  We played with hula hoops for a while, sitting in them, jumping in and out of them, and pushing them around the room.  Calvin just watched with rapt attention, until it came time to walk through the hoops like a tunnel, then he decided to join in.  His favorite part of the morning was the parachute:  he loved walking on it, he loved walking around it, and he really loved walking under it.  It was clear throughout the class that he was enjoying himself.  He was engaged the whole time, sometimes just watching, sometimes joining in, and almost always smiling or laughing.  We are looking forward to watching his progress throughout the year long class.

 Since dad was at work and mom was busy dancing there are no pictures from this momentous occasion, but there are some cute new ones in the Sept 9/8-14 album.