Zoo Field Trip

We joined the Congress Park Play Group this morning on a trip to the zoo. I'll preface this by explaining the intricacies of our relationships with kids, moms, and neighborhoods.

We live in what is called the South City Park Neighborhood. Our neighborhood is filled with friendly people, but doesn't appear to have an organized play group. Just to our south is the Congress Park neighborhood, in which lies our coffeeshop, Under the Umbrella. It is here that Linus ran up to a little girl to play, thus beginning our relationship with Cheryl and her two kids, Lena and Gabriel. Lena is nearly the same age as Linus. Cheryl works part-time, so we are able to connect now and then at the coffee shop. She invited me to join the Congress Park Play Group. Most Wednesdays they meet at Congress Park to play, but every fourth week the group goes on an outing.

Just northeast of us is the Park Hill Neighborhood. We got hooked up with their fledgling play group through Langley, whose daughter is Chase. We met the two of them when we were at the library in Park Hill and Linus went over to a little girl at a little table and joined her in reading. Thus began my friendship with Langley. Notice a trend here?

Now, back to the zoo outing. Imagine about seven moms and eight young children meeting at the front gates at 9:30. Oops! The zoo doesn't open until 10:00. The kids are fine for about ten minutes and then out pop the snacks to keep them occupied. Moms pass out cheddar bunnies, animal crackers, and zucchini bread. Moms discuss where the closest Stride Rite shoe outlet is and how it was supposed to be warmer out. Once we are all in the zoo and in front of exhibits, interests range from looking at the animals to looking at the school children running all over the place. The hyenas are a hit with the group. Off we toddle to see the snow leopards and we ask the kids to roar. Oh, look! There is the baby giraffe. (Super cute!) Linus likes watching a giraffe near the fence eating hay. We laugh as it sticks its tongue out. On to the polar bears, the most popular stop of the day. One is swimming, which delights everyone. The toddlers giggle and school kids exclaim loudly.

After a stop at the sea lion demonstration, we head to the indoor tropics exhibit. We are required to park the strollers outside. Signs warn that squirrels will eat snacks left behind, but a sign on the entrance says no food is allowed inside. Hmmm. Oh, well. I let Linus carry his baggy of cheddar bunnies and raisins. I show Linus snakes. He is mildly interested. I point out turtles. He isn't too interested. He looks at the fish, but doesn't show an outward response. And then we go into the part of the building with the Komoto dragons. He is intrigued. One that is sleeping suddenly wakes up and starts walking toward the glass, flicking its forked tongue as it approaches us. Linus starts flicking his tongue. He is amazed to watch the lizard and waves hello to it. When I can finally tear him away to join the group heading out of the building, he waves good bye to it.

As we join our group, one kid is crying and the mom says she's heading straight home. More and more kids start to fuss and we decide it is time to head out. Those with crying children head directly out and the others mosey toward the exit and discuss who irons their husband's shirts. Only one does. No, it isn't me. Matthew has shirts that don't need ironing, thank heavens.

Helmet Head

Here is Linus in his new bike helmet. Annalouiza can pull two little ones in her bike trailer, so we got Linus a helmet for bike excursions with her and Lucero. We want him to associate helmets with bicycles so that he never thinks twice about putting a helmet on.

Do you notice how his overalls look like shorts now, instead of capris like they did in May? It is one sign of his physical growth over the summer. Another sign is his ability to play on Lucero's little play set that is designed for climbing and has a small slide. At the beginning of the summer, he needed help to slide down and couldn't climb up it without a hand. Now he even has the courage and ability to jump off the side of it. Wow!

Linus' 18-month portraits are in. I was hoping that family and friends could view all of the shots online, but Target doesn't provide that option. Sorry folks. He looks super cute. The shoot didn't go as smoothly as I would have liked, but the photographer still got some nice shots. Lovey is in several shots because he was getting tired and fussy and wanted it. There are some shots with me in them because I was trying to stop his crying or get him to cooperate with the pose instead of turning around to touch the backdrop. I purchased an 8x10 that is a compilation of three shots involving the two of us: me reading to Linus with him on my lap, a close up of me holding him and comforting him while he is crying, and one of him hugging my legs. I bought it because there aren't many pictures of the two of us together. I'm the picture taker in the family, so that is what happens.

I got the pictures taken on October 3, the day he turned 18 months old. I was sentimental about the milestone. It feels like there is just a sliver of his babyhood left. I love every Linus that comes along, but I wish very hard I could keep every single one of them.

Play-Doh Pals

Linus first played with Play-Doh at Alex's and Max's birthday party. He put some in his mouth. As I was trying to pry it out, he made a face and spit it out voluntarily. So that first lesson about Play-Doh was learned. Last week Linus played with Play-Doh at his friend Chase's house. The two of them poked Gerber toddler table knives into it. Lucero came over to play on Tuesday and we introduced her to Play-Doh. She liked flattening it with her hands and really got into it. Linus kept handing her tools. We acquired our own little set of Play-Doh as our party favor at Alex's party. It included four containers of Play-Doh and some tools for cutting out a duck, pony, snowman, and bell.

When I play with it with Linus, I make shapes and try teaching him how to roll some into a ball. He likes to poke and smell it. Today I said, "That is the smell of childhood. Just so you know."

My Cute Little Baker

Sadly, Matthew had to work Saturday afternoon. To perk me up a bit, I baked cookies with Linus. It was his first time helping with baking and he had so much fun. We tried a healthy oatmeal carrot raisin cookie recipe from the High Altitude Cooking book I got at the library. I chose it because Linus usually turns his nose up at yellow or orange vegetables, which means he's lacking in vitamin A. I thought this was a good way to sneak them into his diet. The dough was hard for him to mix and he got oatmeal on the floor, which elicited an "Uh oh!" from him. I reassured him that it was okay; we could sweep it up when we were done. I put the dough on one cookie sheet and let him do the other one. That was his favorite part. His whole body was giving off signs of glee. I had to work hard to repress my perfectionism and tendency to interfere. I succeeded for the most part and his little nuggets of cookies turned out just fine.

Impromptu Farm Visit

On our way up to see the elk, I pulled over for a pit stop at the first available place and it turned out to be a great farm market. There were gorgeous pumpkins, gourds, squash, and Indian corn. Linus picked out two tiny pumpkins and had a blast playing in this gigantic metal pumpkin. We also ran around the straw bale maze a bit. Matthew picked out some apples that smelled the way apples smelled in my orchard in Peshtigo. Such a great autumn smell. I got such a high being there. I loved hearing Linus giggle as he ran around and I enjoyed being surrounded by produce. I think I have farmer in my blood.

Grape Harvest

Our neighbor, Marie, sent out an email inviting the neighborhood to stop by and pick grapes in her back yard. I think we were the only ones to take advantage of her bounty. The three of us went over and had fun picking and eating the grapes. Linus choked on the first grape because of the seeds. I told him about spitting them out. And no, we didn't do a grape stomp. I'm still trying to locate some canning jars to make grape jelly.

Our other neighbor gave us a zucchini and as we walked home with it, Linus referred to it as "nee nee."

Today Matthew and Linus went in search of a bike helmet for Linus to wear when Annalouiza takes him and Lucero on bike rides. I went to a yard sale at an elementary school in search of a little table for Linus to use for crafts and such in the kitchen. We had great success! Linus is now the proud owner of a helmet with comical chicks and a table with two chairs. I got the table set for about a third what it would have gone for on Craig's List, so I'm pretty pleased with myself for being one of the first two people at the sale.

Treasured Backpack

Linus has fallen in love with his backpack. It is one that Lyz got him in Paris for his first birthday. Sometimes he wears it just to wear it. Other times we pack it with a few little toys and a book to take along when he will likely need a bit of entertainment, like at my doctor appointments. On our way back from our little road trip last Sunday he insisted on having it on his lap, even though I thought that might become uncomfortable. What do mothers know about such things?!

On Sunday we went up into the mountains to the Estes Elk Festival. The elk come hang out for rutting season. We took a little bus trip around town to see elk hanging out in people's yards and on a golf course. At the actual festival, Linus enjoyed seeing a turkey vulture up close at a talk on raptors. While we had our picnic lunch, the elk bugling contest was going on. People were competing to have the best elk noise renditions. Linus would mimic the sounds while eating his sandwich. I think we could have entered him in the contest and he would have won something.

I haven't been blogging because we've been so busy and Linus doesn't always nap very long. Plus, my fibromyalgia drags me down.

I read about making little kids some fun sacks, which are filled with interesting things to play with at boring appointments, like when mama is getting her car's oil change. I thought I'd make a couple of draw string bags with fabric from my stash and put things in them that would be fun. One thing I reserve for when I'm desperate to occupy him is giving him my wallet. He loves pulling out my debit card, coffee shop punch cards, business cards, etc. If anyone has an old wallet they aren't using anymore, can I have it for him? The idea is to rotate out the bags so each time you rely on one, the contents seem exciting.

Linus is saying some more words. On our walk the other day he pointed to a city bus and said, "Bus." Another time he pointed at my teapot necklace and said, "Teapot." He continues to adore books. As soon as he is done with breakfast, he pulls me away to read books, even if I'm still eating.

He had his 18-month well baby check up yesterday. I loved the clinic. Linus checked out as healthy. He has dropped down to being in the 20th percentile for weight. That explains why his pants fall down, even though they are the right size for the length.

For Grandpa

This post is dedicated first and foremost to Linus' grandpa, and then to his uncle and great uncles that are car freaks, and lastly to the relatives in the Boston area.

Linus now says car. He points to them and says, "Cah." When he says it he could pass for having a Boston accent. He touches my car tires and says, "Cah." He also likes to pull on the door handle and say, "Cah." Sometimes he says, "Cah, cah, cah." I admit that I'm a bit miffed because he says car over and over, but doesn't say mama much at all.

Alongside this new interest came his first foray into the street without an adult. I was upset about this, but not as frightened as I might have been because our street was closed for the most part due to road construction. He stepped off the curb and strolled into the street behind my parked car. I leapt after him, scooped him up and put him on the sidewalk. Then I launched into a repeat of what I'd read somewhere along the way. Rather than scolding him, I acted frightened and said something along the lines of, "Oh! I'm so scared! I was afraid you would get hurt by a car. We never play in the street because we could get hurt!" He then went about his business like nothing had happened and I shifted gears into the next phase of parenting; the one where I have to worry about his getting run over. (Heavy sigh.)

As Requested

BryAnn requested a photo showing Linus with kewpie baby in his overalls pocket. Shortly after this photo was taken, I put his zip up sweatshirt on him and we went outside to play. Boy was he ever an adorable sight, walking around with kewpie peeking out of his sweatshirt above the zipper!!

Pockets

Linus has discovered pockets! He liked putting pebbles in the pants pockets of our duplex neighbor before she moved away. Then I showed him the pockets on his overalls and right away he put a tissue and his kewpie baby in the top pocket. Another day he put acorns in his sweatshirt pockets. Acorns also end up being stored in the satin pocket on his lovey. They spill out in random places as he carries lovey around the house. This morning I found an acorn in our bed. It was like an autumn fairy had visited! Matthew showed Linus how to put things in the middle of lovey and then pull up the corners to make a little sack. He put the training to the test with crabapples in our front yard.

Art Week

Last week was Art Week for Linus. After talking to the neighbors, I learned that some of their kids have gotten to paint. Now Linus did have that very brief experience with painting by number at the art museum, but he hadn't yet had the freedom to paint one of his own creations. Charlotte got to use finger paints at her day care, but Annalouiza said she had Lucero use watercolors because they aren't so messy. When we went to Target I picked up some watercolors and chunky crayons that Crayola designed for Linus' age. He got into the watercolors more. He liked playing in the water. He mostly put the paint brush in the water, then into the paint, and then back into the water. He also tried putting the bristles in his mouth. His preferred colors were brown and black. Another day he also tried out scribbling with a pencil all over my list I was making of his winter clothes.

In the one picture you can see his lovey and Kewpie doll. He has taken to carrying lovey everywhere. I guess we should have expected that from a child named Linus! He also likes carrying around another small toy. Some days it is the bunny that used to be in the pocket of lovey. Other days it is the Kewpie doll. I refer to her as his baby. For a few days he carried around the small stuffed cow I brought back for him from Wisconsin.

Chef Linus

I involve Linus in the preparation of dinner as much as I can so that I can actually get dinner made. If I didn't keep him occupied with simple tasks like pouring the vegetables into the pot, he'd pull me away to another room to play and we wouldn't have any thing to eat. He is especially interested in stirring whatever is cooking on the stove, which requires vigilance on my part to keep him from burning himself. I put my apron on him the other night and he really got a kick out of it. I'll have to make him one of his own.

Independence

Linus is showing signs of having a mind of his own and the will to have his way. There are more times when he won't stop doing something or won't do something I want. After briefly explaining my reasoning, if he doesn't comply, then I intervene by taking an object away or picking him up and taking him somewhere else. Sometimes this elicits angry crying and other times he is compliant and moves on to something else.

Here is a picture of him running around the house after his bath. Matthew has a harder time drying him off because he wants to run away. I was talking to Matthew and snapping shots of "nakey" Linus. What a cute little fanny the child has.

First Real Separation

I went away for a weekend on my own. I went to visit Lyz and to see Timon of Athens at American Players Theatre. I wasn't sure how each member of our little family would do with me being gone. We were all fine. The toughest parts for Linus were when he and Matthew drove away, leaving me at the airport. I could see Linus was sobbing. I had to work to keep that image out of my head. Matthew says that Linus was upset when he woke up from his naps and I wasn't around. I was only gone 48 hours, so it wasn't that big of a deal for Matthew to have Linus on his own. When they picked me up at the airport, Linus was more interested in watching the fountain than looking at me. Figures!

Linus likes pushing Lucero's doll stroller around. I'm tempted to get him one, but each time I buy something he likes playing with at someone's house, he has little or no interest in it. He'll just have to play with hers.

Up, Beep, Uh Oh

Linus has picked up saying uh oh and he says it all of the time. Any time he drops something, the blocks tip over, or he spills water, I hear his little voice say, "Uh oh." He doesn't emphasize either syllable. He says "up" to mean up or down. If he is on a chair and wants help getting down, he says up. If he wants lifted up onto something, he says up. I find it quite charming. Beep continues to be one of the main words in his lexicon.

Here is a picture of Linus playing the piano at the museum. They are closing the Discovery Zone for two weeks and I'm excited to see what new things they'll have for us to play with. Matthew joked that maybe they are just giving the staff two weeks of vacation.

Cup Transition

The other night during dinner, Linus wanted my glass. I decided to give it to him to see how he would do and he did a good job of drinking without spilling it down the front of him. We told him, "Yay!" After every drink he would put the glass down and clap. He associates clapping with "yay." At lunch yesterday I gave him the silver cup we got engraved for him. He did a great job with it. Today, however, he put his food in it and stirred it around. Which isn't a bad job necessarily, but I had intended for him to drink from it.

This morning we met Cheryl at the coffee shop and went and joined her play group at Congress park. Cheryl has Lena, who is a few weeks older than Linus, and Gabriel, who is four. We met some other kids, like Daniel and Matthew. So many kids' and moms' names to remember! Linus has a way of meeting kids every where we go.

At the coffee shop, Linus and Lena played cute little chase and peekaboo games. At the park, they mostly each did their own thing. A boy had stowed his ball under the play equipment and Linus crawled under there to get it. The boy ran over and said in a very snotty way, "No! That's mine." I explained that Linus is little and just wanted to see the ball. The boy yelled again and I said, "Come here Linus. We'll go find someone who is willing to share." Linus was fine with it and ran off to play. On the walk home, Lena sang in a very cute little voice.

I'm starting to hear more about area preschools and some of what I hear is worrisome. In addition to being expensive, one of them asks strange questions on their application, such as whether the child was breast fed and how was he delivered at birth. And that is relevent how, exactly? I didn't think I had to worry about this yet, but apparently all the good preschools have waiting lists.

Corn, Again

We had corn on the cob again and Linus insisted on eating it with his fork. It kept falling off and he was becoming frustrated, so I jabbed the fork into the end of the cob, like a corn skewer. Then dinner went on quite peacefully, except that Linus only ate corn and nothing else.

We played at a new park today with Linus' new friend that he met at the library. Her name is Chase and she is only a couple of weeks older than Linus. Her parents just moved back to the States after being in China and Switzerland for work. I've been trying to help answer Langley's questions about where to go for different things. The babies play nicely together and it was fun to visit a new park. Langley calls it Turtle Park because there is a cement turtle in the play ground. Nearby is a coffee shop and bakery with the most gorgeous looking baked goods.

Berry Picking

Today Annalouiza and I took the babies to Berry Patch Farm in Brighton, which is about 25 minutes north of Denver. We had such a fun time and Linus was talking up a storm the rest of the day. I always interpret that as a sign that something made a big impression on him. When we first entered the grounds, Linus became very excited to see hens and roosters walking around. (I admit, I was also excited. I love chickens.) There were also turkeys in a pen and cute little banty chickens walking around. And numerous barn cats. Needless to say, Linus was in heaven. First we picked raspberries, which is depicted here. Annalouiza was instructing Linus and Lucero on picking red, not green, berries. The two kids couldn't shove the berries into their mouths fast enough. I only ended up with one basketful to bring home. Then we rode out on the wagon to the strawberry patch. Linus thought the tractor and wagon were very cool. The kids were pretty filled up with raspberries, so we were each able to bring home two baskets of strawberries. I had fun cutting my own flowers while Annalouiza watched the kids. Then we took turns watching the kids play while the other shopped in the farm market in the barn. Linus played on the wagon while it was between trips and Lucero played on a bale of straw.

It was the kind of experience that left me with a glow that persists even now, right before bed. For dinner I cooked up the patty pan squash and used an onion that we got at the farm and it felt so good knowing exactly where they came from. I've forgotten what that is like, since I haven't grown my own food since 2002. Linus "helped" me make dinner and when I was cutting up the onion, he grabbed some to eat. I watched to see his response and he proceeded to finish the slice he'd taken. It made me think of my mother, who likes to munch on raw onions.

Spectacular Sliding

Here is a picture of Linus on the big slide. Sliding is his favorite thing to do at the play ground.

Over the weekend we went to the main branch of the library downtown. The children's department is incredible. It has tons of books and is set up with lots of stuffed animals, a table-sized checkers game, big pillows, and whimsical paint colors on the walls. Linus got four books that we've had to read over, and over, and over again. We read so many books together each day and some get read probably 8 times. One book we got that I really like to read out loud is Baby Danced the Polka. Johanna (in Wisconsin) has this book. Linus likes it, but I think I enjoy it more. Matthew and I played with Linus a lot and the two went to the museum while I sewed yesterday afternoon. It was a pretty mellow holiday weekend for us.

Museum Fun

Here is Linus playing a djembe drum at the Museum of Nature and Science. The Museum has a Discovery Zone with hands on activities for kids. Volunteers and staff help kids explore and at 11 they hold a story time or activity. On this occasion the talk was about African music, specifically from the Ivory Coast. The kids got to hear some music and then play instruments. One kid broke a shakere and the facilitator handled it so well.

Linus' favorite activity is to play in the tub filled with a dish soap bubble concentration. There are a bunch of bubble wands in there. We can easily be at that tub for half an hour with me making bubbles and encouraging kids, while Linus watches and swishes wands around in the soap. I think it is fun to get to make a bubble mess on carpet! He also likes to play the piano. It has a window so one can see what happens inside when keys are pressed. After he played it for the first time, he was much more interested in his little 4-key toy piano.