Happy (Almost) New Year!

My nephew Zac took this picture of Miles on Christmas Eve...he was "helping" me make whipped cream.

8:40PM Bellingham time...I probably won't make it 'til midnight...but wanted to say Happy New Year, my friends! May 2010 be healthy, happy, and prosperous! Love, Grace

Merry Miss-mus

Merry Christmas (or "Merry Miss-mus" as he Miles would say)! Miles's third Christmas was delightful...he was surrounded by four older boy cousins from my side of the family, and he loved chasing after them and trying to be a big boy. My sister Gigi brought a karaoke machine, and here's Miles singing:

Here's my mom with her five grandsons:

And here is Miles, opening up his present from Santa, a matching construction vehicle game:

Miles the Hoopster

Thanks Grandma Kathy for the awesome basketball hoop! It's set to 3 feet right now, just the perfect height for Miles:

My-zohs and his letters

Miles refers to himself as "My-zohs" as in "I'm My-zohs!" The video and picture below capture a newly acquired skill: letter recognition. I've cobbled together several sets of magnetic letters from garage sales and hand-me-downs. I put them on a cookie sheet, and Miles can pick out and sort several of the same letters: I, T, L, and X.

T is his favorite, and if you listen carefully, he's saying "T for Thomas" (as in Thomas the Tank Engine). If you ask him to gather all the Is, he does, and same with the Ls (and a 7 thrown in for good measure).


I just like this shirt...it's my new favorite: Happy Holidays Everyone! I hope to post some Christmas photos next week!

Art Work -- Turkey Hands

Miles's recent "art work" from day care, otherwise known as Turkey Hands. They do a lot of projects in his classroom:

And here he is, spinning...he really likes to get dizzy:

"Helping"

Miles loves helping around the house! Along with lots of "do it myself" lately, he has been putting away utensils from the dishwasher, loading/unloading laundry from the washer and dryer, "folding" (he needs a lot of help on this one), and especially vacuuming:

One of the joys of this age is the number of new (to him) words he's saying on an almost daily basis. This morning, he pointed to my eyebrows and asked "what's that?" So he was pointing out eyebrows on his animals all morning. Some of my favorite words of his are "shoe horn" and "ketchup" and "weendy" (when it's windy outside). Have a great weekend, everyone!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to All! Chuck & Kathy Remmel came from Portland, ME to spend the week with us. What a lovely and delicious time! Miles was battling a fever, but rallied for a small dinner and scraping the whipped cream bowl.

Remmel/Wang Thanksgiving 2009 (my graduate student Deidre, who joined us for dinner, took the picture.)

Mmmm, sweet potatoes!

Licking the whipped cream bowl...

So tired he could barely keep his eyes open...

I survived!

I survived six long days away from Miles...more importantly, so did he! Miles got to spend three days with Ethan, and then 3 days with my parents. We're back in Bellingham now. Here are some photos from the last few days:

Playing with Play-Doh at my parent's house (my mom had made him a little bird's nest with eggs)

More stacking...

Haircut #3

Before...with curls

During...having fun

After...not liking the haircut

Okay with it...

Gymnastics

Miles attended a birthday party for his friend Elizabeth at Bellingham Bay Gymnastics this morning. We went to classes this summer, but haven't been able to attend because of my work schedule during the school year. Miles really enjoys climbing, jumping, and balancing:

I'm off to California early tomorrow morning to run some focus groups for the Forest Service. Miles will be with Ethan until Wednesday morning, when Ethan leave for a conference in Atlanta. Then, Miles will be with him Grandma ("ah-ma") and Grandpa in Seattle until I see him again next week! SIX DAYS away from him....wish me luck!

Miles and peanuts -- good news!

The doctor's office just called me with Miles's RAST results. Good news! Miles's IgE numbers went from 7.62 ("high" level) to 0.82 ("low" level) of allergen. We should continue to avoid peanuts, but the numbers are encouraging that Miles will eventually outgrow his peanut allergy.

H1N1 Vaccination

Miles got a H1N1 vaccination today, the nasal spray. He did great! I've been squirting his nose with Simply Saline many nights, so he's used to having stuff in his nose. Then we all went out for a yummy Mexican dinner with friends..."my people!" as Miles would say.

Blood test

Miles got blood drawn this morning, poor kiddo. He was sitting on my lap, and I could feel his heart racing the minute the techs started gathering the equipment. He cried, of course, but didn't kick or otherwise wiggle...he kept saying "owie, owie."

We're getting a RAST test, which will determine his IgE levels for peanuts. We've totally avoided peanuts for a year now (he broke out in serious hives the first time he ate peanut butter), as well as tree nuts, shellfish, and sesames, though he only tested positive for peanuts. His allergist said that if we avoid these allergens until he's three, there's a good chance (70%) that he'll outgrow the peanut allergy.

Beet Risotto

Ethan made beet risotto the other night, and Miles loves it! (So do I!) Miles is pretty verbal these days, and it's really a joy to listen to him. He refers to his Playmobil figures as "my people" which I think is hilarious.

NaBloPoMo

Don't think I can do it...posting every day this month. In fact, I'm pretty sure I won't, with a business trip and (can you believe it?!) no Internet for a few days in the remote areas of California. But it's November 1st, here goes:

The day didn't start out so well. Miles got up at 5:00AM, which, even with the time change, is about 45 minutes earlier than usual. And, he wouldn't nap! That's very unusual, as he's normally a great sleeper. But the day itself was gorgeous and sunny day. We spent awhile outside, and Miles and I took a walk around the block. It takes a very long time to walk with a toddler, but it's really fun to get the narration: "trash" and "seek" (stick) and "truck" and "bird" and so on and so forth...

Video below: Ethan, Miles, and I are in the backyard...Miles would like me and/or Ethan to sit next to him on the rock ("Mama sit bock.").

Happy Halloween!

I'm not sure Miles understood the concept of "trick or treat" today. We went down to the local village (Fairhaven), where the merchants always give out candy. It's a crowded, but safe and friendly environment.

Here is Miles in his dragon costume, with faint evidence of having just finished 1/2 a Kit Kat bar:

PS: Miles had his two-year well check yesterday (which included three shots!). He's doing great and has moved from the 10th to 25th percentile in height (34"). He's at about the 40th percentile weight, and 90th percentile head circumference. All those brains!

Stacking

Miles has really enjoyed stacking things lately, and getting pretty good at it. Here he is, stacking empty plastic containers at my parents' house (my mom helped, but Miles did most of it, really!):

And here's a video:

Pumpkin Patch

Our second year at Stoney Ridge Farm, this time for a costume party. Miles did not like the kiddie train, much to my surprise, and he also totally freaked out on the tractor ride. All in all, he did not have a good time, except when looking at the animals.


Before the train started moving...

"I see goat!"

Here's video of Miles in the train:

Last days of good weather...

Our unbelievable summer in the Northwest is finally coming to an end...I think today was the last of the beautiful, sunny, and warm days. The forecast for this week (and the next six months): rain, showers, rain, and then more showers. So Miles and I have been maximizing our exposure to Vitamin D, spending loads of time at playgrounds, taking walks, and playing in the yard.

Today, my parents had some old friends over for lunch, and Miles tried to ride the tricycle, but he still needs a push because his legs are just a tad too short.

Happy Autumn, Everyone!

Croup

Miles has (had?) croup! Poor kiddo, it was pretty scary for about an hour last night, but he's fine now (and so are his parents). He went to bed at his usual time of 7:30 and he was fine. But when I went to bed at 10:30, he was wheezing and coughing and crying, and just so miserable. And the cough sounded horrible! I was pretty sure it was croup, but Ethan called the night nurse, and she confirmed it (by listening to him over the phone), and then recommended sitting in the bathroom with the shower running for about 20 minutes. That did the trick! He calmed down, went to sleep, and woke up in good spirits. He has a runny nose today, but otherwise seems fine.

More evidence that Miles is indeed my kid. Though it's hard to see, the lower picture shows him lining up the pear pieces on their ends.

Communicating

Miles has really taken off with his language the past month. With his body language and growing vocabulary, I think that I understand him about 80% of the time. I know that he gets pretty frustrated if I don't understand him. Also, Miles will throw himself on the ground when something disagreeable is happening (saying "no" about something, leaving the playground, or taking something away). It's hard to not smile because his tantrums are actually kind of cute.

Some recent milestones:

• Miles can sing the first part of "Row, row, row your boat." (It's cute.)
• The other day, he had a blanket on his head, and he then pointed to me and said "Mama no hat."
• He points out "big, big BUS" every time a city bus passes. I thought he could really distinguish between big and small, but I think he just says "BIG" because I usually refer to them that way.
• Miles can say "up, please" when he wants to be picked up.

Miles starts his new day care classroom tomorrow, Toddler Three. It's a big jump from the Peanut Patch (he's skipping two classrooms!), but the teachers and director think he's ready. Happy Back-to-School, Everyone!

(Sorry, no photos today!)

State College

Miles & I have just returned from State College, where we visited dear friends from my days at Penn State. We had a grand time, hanging out and also going to the local splash park. Here is Miles with his pal Ryan:


Miles liked to drink the water spouting from this frog...

And of course, Miles with his favorite thing, "trash"

And me, with friends...

Real Birthday

The good thing (for a kid) about having relatives close by is the multiple birthday celebrations! We spent the evening with my family in Seattle. Miles is two today...poor kiddo, battling a stomach virus, but he ate a few bites of cake anyway. Happy Birthday, Sweet Boy!

And here he is, banging away!

First Camping Trip

Miles & I spent the night in a tent! It wasn't "real" camping in any other way; we had access to electricity, water, wine, and lots of great food. But we had a great time with our friends Jim and Crispin, who hosted about 40 adults and kids on Guemes Island, just across the channel from Anacortes, WA. Miles slept soundly through the night, nice and cozy in the Pack 'n Play and a down comforter to keep him warm.

Here's our set up:

Pack 'n Play in the tent...daytime

Just before bedtime...

In the morning, with my headlamp...

Early Birthday

Miles celebrated his second birthday a few days early, with both sets of grandparents! What a treat:

Had a little help blowing out candles...

Mmmmm, I love chocolate cake!

Opening presents...I love puzzles!

Mid-August update

Not much new to post, just a few photos. Miles is his usual charming, funny self. Lately, he has been very interested in puzzles, and can put together a few easy ones. I've also been letting him watch about half an hour of Thomas the Tank Engine every day ("choo choo" as he says). He sits in a birch-bark chair made by Ethan's friend, and uses a footstool as a side table. It's kind of cute.

Maine!

Our annual trip to Maine was terrific! Miles loved the beach and hanging out with Seth and his older cousins, William and Benjamin.

Playing at Cove Beach

With Benjamin at Cedar Beach

Benjamin, Miles, Seth, and William

First corn on the cob!

Playing with Benjamin at Bowdoin's Coastal Studies Center on Orr's Island

Hot weather and trains

1. It has been incredibly hot here! I know you East Coasters won't feel sorry for us, but with temps in the 90s and a bit humid, it's very unusual (and miserable). The temperature may actually hit 100 today, which is pretty rare. Miles's day care has sprinklers set up, and the local spray parks are open for extended hours.

2. Miles has been playing quietly and by himself for longer periods of time (~30 minutes). Here he is with his latest favorite thing: trains. I set up the track for him, but he connected the trains himself, and entertained himself. I was in the other room, but I could hear him making "choo-choo" sounds and pushing the trains.