Life in the Boonies

It started as another playful afternoon. Frank likes to drop his head onto soft pillows and squish it with his face. Mom was playing with Frank on the bed and Frank went to inspect the fan on the nightstand. Ignoring the pillow he crawled to the fan. Then his hand slipped off the sheet at the edge of the bed and bunked his face on the edge of the nightstand. Immediately mom picked him up to look at where he hit.  Frank’s eyes were tearing and his mouth was wide open.  His lips turned blue as he held out for the big wail.  As his cries filled the house, mom noticed blood seeping out in the eye area. Left eye.   After dabbing it with a tissue, mom was somewhat sure it didn’t hurt the eye. The cut is on top of the eye lid at the outer corner of the eye. By the time mom got through to the nurse hot-line, Frank had stopped crying and was pointing at things and saying “dat” and playing with the telephone cord. We were told to get the cut checked in case stitches were needed.

When the doctor tried to clean the cut, Frank wiggled and cried. Not being able to hold him still, the doctor went out to get help. He returned with a nurse and a sheet. He told mom we have to wrap/constrain him. Ok. So Frank got swaddled and placed on the examination bed. The nurse held his head firmly and the doctor cleaned the wound. Frank cried his loudest and looked at mom like what are they doing to me and how can you let them?  Frank struggled so hard as the doctor completed his examination, Frank also freed his right arm. Mom remembered that was how he got out of the swaddle blankets when he was 4 month old. The cut is not too deep. If left untreated, it will heal with a scar. Stitches will be too traumatic (for Frank or for the doctor?  maybe for mom). So we decided on glue. Swaddled a second time, the doctor decided he needed more help. Mom held Frank’s swaddled body, one nurse held Frank’s head, another nurse held the skin around the eye to close the cut properly, and the doctor applied the glue. If it was possible to scream louder than better, Frank did. Mom noticed that his canines are coming in. When it was all over the nurses commented on how cute Frank was. The screaming continued until we were half way home. Mom told the people in the waiting area it wasn’t that bad.  They returned doubtful looks.  Daddy came home early to snuggle his babylove but Frank was all better and played as usual. Now he is peacefully asleep. Ah he just woke up. Ok now his is peacefully asleep.

Everybody likes tacos! Especially when they can adjust them to their preferences. Frank’s taco of choice would be 1 part tortilla, 1 part meat, 0 parts lettuce (a taste, just for the essense), and 17 parts avacado. Mom kept the slices of green coming, and everybody quickly wrapped their tortillas over their avacado, lest Frank see a piece not destined for his tray. Mom tries some tricks: avacado mushed on top of some meat? Frank delicately picks the avacado off and eats it. avacado with meat on top of it? Frank removes the meat to the floor. We clearly prefer our avacado unadulterated. The last taco eaten, mom and dad flash the all-gone sign. Not so fast, thinks Frank, and he points to the cupboard that holds the biscuits we call cookies. Coincidense (Frank has been pointing like a drunken cowboy aims his six-shooter…)? No, he is fully aware, and demonstrates by defiantly pointing again when we suggest dinner is over. Post-cookie, he still protests the towel coming to wipe his hands and face, but we think that is mostly that it confirms the stream of food has ended.

After breakfast, we went off to town. We picked out some pots, plants and dirt at the garden store, and then off to the toy store to exchange the plastic shovel that broke 10 seconds out of the package. We brought home a much sturdier set, with a plastic bucket, sifter, and shovel. Frank still prefers Mom’s metal trowel, with it’s delightful clanging sound against the concrete. We played in the garden early afternoon, with Dad potting tomato plants and seeding basil, and Frank trying to upturn pots and fling handfuls of soil out of the wheelbarrow. We spent late afternoon in Ambrose park, which was all ours except for one other dad and daughter. We climbed around the structures, swung on the swings with Dad, played peek-a-boo with Mom, and lots of our favorite activity: rearranging the bark.

Too many fun things going on, and not much rest. A 45 minute nap at 2, but otherwise busy times from 6:30 ’till past 7. Maybe someday we’ll sleep in…

Frank is mostly on just one nap now. With a entire morning and afternoon to entertain ourselves, we have started a quest to locate and test out the parks in the area. Tuesday was a busy day. We met with our playgroup in the morning and played inside with Frank’s buddies. Frank is starting to interact alittle. He gave Morgan a magnet off the fridge. Later she gave him a ball. That afternoon we went to explore Ambrose Park. It is hidden inside a street line with abandoned houses on the outside. When I saw it on the map and discussed it with Nat, he said it was where drug dealers hang out. So we went in our car in case we needed a speedy getaway. A man was standing by the gate and I was hestiant. But it was in bright daylight so what can happen. Well, there was no one else at this park. We parked and got out anyways. The park itself looked lovely. Lot of trees, and green grass. We passed by a area with balance beams and other gymnastic looking things and stopped at the playstructure area. There was one huge structure with several steps leading to a yellow slide on one side and a bridge on the other. The bridge didn’t shake but had enough gaps to scare one with a fright of heights. Then more steps to a long twisty tunnel slide. Frank climbed around some but the best part was the panels on the ground. They had holes scattered so we played pee-a-boo. Seeing mom’s face appear from one hole and then a different hole made Frank giggle with delight. We also played on the smaller structure that was designed like a fort. It had a platform with fake chains like the castle gates over a mote. Two swings were also available but not for little toddlers. Not long after being there a man came to tell me they are closing the gates. At 4:30? They will keep it open later when it is summer. The hot and sunny weather here has made me forget we are just starting spring. We chatted some and he told me the park has been completely fixed up and he often looks after it to keep it that way. It has been in the past a shady place and that is why no one comes here now. The swimming pool is also due to open in the summer. I’m sure glad we ventured this way.

Wednesday was another long day. We spend the morning in the garden. Mom pulled weeds and Frank pulled mom’s plants from there pots. He has broken a few clay saucers so now only the plastic ones are left within his reach. But now Frank has found his love for the trowel. He carries it walking from here to there and tries to dig with it. He also likes the clinking sound it makes on the cement. He even carried it into the house. He even stepped up to get inside the door without dropping it. One hand on the trowel and one hand on the door frame. Lift up a leg and in we go. When mom takes the trowel to return it to the backyard, Frank follows and stays outside playing with his trowel. After a bit, he comes toddling back, trowel in hand, and knocks on the door to be let in. We did this three times before mom closed the door before Frank can make it back out again. He stood by the glass door and pointed at his trowel.

After lunch we went off to Stoneman Park. We have gone there often for picnics and strolls. We picked the side without all the people today to avoid Frank being in the way of other kids. He is still too little and often climbs up and down the structure blocking passage to the slide for others. The other side sent over waves of laughter from many kids. One 2-year-old boy came to play and he really wanted Frank to go down the double slide with him side by side. Frank obliged and it was a blast. He didn’t stay long. Another family came. Probably looking for the same solitute. The little girl sat at side of the slide, collected pinecones and arranged it in a circle with a stick in the middle. Frank looked on occassion and sat next to her for a while too. He even offered her a popicle stick from the ground. No words were exchanged. No facial expressions passed except for the blank stare. The popicle stick was rejected by the girl so Frank stuck it in his mouth. No eating, mom said. That was the end of the popicle stick. Frank went down the slide head first. He had his head lifted for the beginning half of the slide and then clunk. Good thing mom was there watching and rescued him right away. Or maybe because mom was at the bottom of the slide, Frank felt he can go head first. Regardless, no major injuries. His lips rubbed off alittle blood from skidding on the slide. No cuts. Later a very energetic girl came to play. She ran all over the place and up the picnic tables and down the slides and around the area. She didn’t want us to leave but got over it really fast and went off to play some more. That was about 3 hours of our day. Did I mention Frank put sand in my hands while I was trying to put sunscreen on him. So he got some sandy sunscreen.

We walked to the Bart station to meet dad in the evening.  Frank followed a bird from the sidewalk to the parking lot.  When mom takes him away, he returned.  Look at the other birds over here.  So he did and then followed a different bird around.

Thursday we didn’t go to the park. Instead, we went to Toys-R-Us and spend an hour there. We came out buying a sand/gardening toy set. The child needs his own trowel. Frank walked around the store and played with some of the toys. He pointed at some balls and when given one, he walked off with it. He really wanted the marbles set. While mom picked through the gardening set, Frank got all the marble set off the display and examined them one by one. He was really mad to have them taken away from him. The new sand bucket helped ease the pain. We tested it out in the parking lot of the library while waiting for the kids program to start. Cheap plastic busted before Frank even give it his best shot. On the bright side we met two new friends at the library. A little boy who is just 1 and a little girl 2 1/2. The librarian sang and read and blew bubbles. All the kids got egg shakers to sing and dance the Shake My Sillies Out song. We got a drum to color and the girl shared her crayons with us. Frank scribbled some, the other little boy mouthed his. Later Frank helped put the crayons back into the box and everyone was impressed. None of it made it into the box but it was the attempt that counted.

As for today, we headed out to Hillsdale Park. Frank walked around alot and tried to take his shoes off. He didn’t like the play structure here as much. We were going to return his broken sand toys but Frank rubbed his eyes and sucked his thumb. He just sat back down when mom tried to get him to stand and walk. But as soon as he hit the crib, all the energy returned. He fiddled the shades, tried to climb the crib railings, and later yelled to get out. Dad thinks Frank gets energy charges from just being in the crib.

This is no news to us as we have seen evidence of Frank’s intensity in many forms. He is often late in starting a new skill but once he starts he goes all out. Crawling, for example, he went from scooting to crawling in 2 days. And then it was mobile Frank on the loose. Walking is another. He cruised for months hardly ever letting go. Then once he did, he went from taking one step to making it halfway across the room in 5 days. Now he toddles around the whole house exploring every last inch that he can reach.  Today he was even walking in circles looking for mom while we played hide and seek.  Frank is getting really good at not falling.  He walks around some toys and stumbles on others but often he maintains or regains his balance.  He is still working on standing up without help.  He has squatted down to pick up stuff and stood back up once or twice.  Still practicing those muscles.

While the height is still a deterrent, he can now climb up the rocking chair, the recliner, the couch, and one of the end tables.  The good thing is he can get down by himself but still mom’s heart skips a beat when she sees him almost climb over the back of the chair or flip off the side.  Once, he almost made it up to our bed.  He had one foot in the crack between the mattress and the box spring, both hands clinging onto the sheets and pulling, the other foot was off the ground but couldn’t quit get the knee up to the top of the mattress and his little butt sticking way out.  He grunted and squeaked in effort until mom realized where he was and what he was up to and she put an end to that attempt.

Frank is also starting to throw forward.  At the playground, he throws the tennis ball down the slide while mom tries to catch it in a bucket was a hit.  It scored lots of giggles.  Later he would throw it down the slide adjacent so mom fails catching it.  At home, Frank climbed up the rocking chair and threw the ball down the side.  He has learned to use both hands when the ball is too big.  He picks it up and throws in down and laughs.  Then again mom started to catch it before it hits the carpet.  So Frank stood up and threw it over the back of the chair.  Lots of giggles on that one too.

Recently Frank started to point.  Now he points at everything.  Especially when he is in his high chair and eating.  He points to the light, the light switch, the fruits on the table, mom’s orchid, the cupboard where his cookie lives, his sippy cup that was tossed to the floor, the refrigerator, etc.  With the new interest in books, Frank points at the pictures too.  He especially points to stuff he knows, such as grapes, banana, tomato, pear, and ball.  Today mom pointed to the picture of the ball and Frank went looking for his ball in the other room.  Coincidence?  Maybe, maybe not!

The next milestone is the first word.  He has muttered many sounds.  Some more pleasant than others.  But the first word…  Well, based on past experiences, once he starts talking, it will no doubt be a force to be reckoned with.

The Masque of the Black Tulip
by Lauren Willig

Again I have read a book out of order. This is the second book in a three book series. I can’t wait to get my hands on the other two. Rarely do I laugh out loud from reading a book. Parts of this book was just so funny. Nat thought I was losing it the way I just broke out into laughter. Other parts so romantic. I don’t read trashy novels but maybe I should start, heehee. I loved the sexual tension that builds and builds and explodes with a love scene. It also has the mystic of a mystery novel as the identity of the deadly French spy (The Black Tulip) is discovered.

A young American history student gets her hands on papers detailing the hunt and discover of the Black Tulip 200 years ago in England. Henrietta, a innocent looking young maiden, works with the War Office and their spy, the Pink Carnation. Letters are passed between them with codes so the French will think it is only letters about fashion, balls, and other female gossip. They discover that a deadly French spy is after her and her friend Miles (who also works for the War Office). In the course of the story they also discover their feelings for each other. The author does great with witty dialogues and creating some really funny scenes.

While the rash disappeared by Monday, Frank didn’t completely return to himself until Tuesday. Good thing too since we had our playgroup. The weather here have been exceedingly warm. Global warming? So we met at a park for our playgroup today. This one had a really nice play structure that was more designed for smaller children. The railings were much narrower. Frank kept wanting to climb to the very top where there is a long spiral slide. Mom didn’t let him slide down that one but we climbs up the stairs and down the stairs and went down three other smaller slides to get down. Frank didn’t like the swing. The other kids loved it. Everyone toddled around and went up the structure and played by the sandbox.

On the drive back, Frank fell asleep. When he got moved to his crib, he rested for another 5 minutes and that was the end of the power-nap. And it was lunch time. Virus-free, Frank ate with enthusiasm. He has developed his own sign language. When he doesn’t want to eat what you are offering, he leans to the right and bend his whole upper body sideways. He bonked his head a few times due to the closeness of his highchair to the dinning table. When he wants it, he will lean forward, or wave both hands in the air. The right hand does more of a high five movement while the left hand flops back and forth around the wrist. Lamb biriyani was for lunch and Frank liked the lamb but not the rice or yogurt. He loved the whole wheat tortilla instead.

All day Frank was very interested in books. He grabbed the books off his shelf and hands them to mom. Then he sits while mom reads and points at the pictures in the book. Frank helps flip the pages sometimes but he remained for long periods of time. He switches the books sometimes as if he was tired of that book and now wants to hear a new one. After his afternoon nap, Frank only wanted to read the Baby Body book. We pointed at facial features, body parts, things the babies were doing in the the pictures. Frank flips it back and forth. We even pointed at a ball the baby was playing with and then when mom pointed to Frank’s ball, he went over there to play with it. Then he came back and we read some more of that book. When we have finished the book he would pick it up and hand it to mom again. We read that book for 20 minutes, at least.

Frank has started pointing. A few days ago he kept pointing at the banana. So mom kept giving it to him and he ate almost 2 bananas. Mom had to put a stop to it. She hid the bananas out of view. At dinner today, Frank kept pointing at his sippy cup. When mom gives it to him, he bangs it on the tray and the dinning table. Then it gets taken away. Then he points at it again. Mom still gave it to him just in case not doing so will discourage the pointing. He also kept pointing to the avocado. Not the one we were feeding him but the whole one resting on the table. Finally daddy did a trick and made it look like he was pointing at the lime. So he got a lime. He didn’t hesitate in trying to eat it. Some silly faces as he bit into the peel but it didn’t stop him.

Frank can now climb on the rocking chair and the recliner without any help. He is either taller or stronger or both. He has seen the remote controls being put into the compartment under the armrest of the recliner. Now he climbs up there and tosses all the remotes out. Mom held her hand there to prevent Frank from opening the compartment. Frank tried and tried and then stopped. He looked at mom and then at her hand and then tried to remove her hand. Eventually we will give up and surrender to being outsmarted. But not quite yet. So, the baby proofing continues…

It started as a slight fever on Wednesday. Mom thought it was due to teething. Frank’s gums looked pretty swollen. Frank was also really cranky. He also didn’t eat as much.

Thursday morning he woke up still feverish. The molars must be exceedingly more difficult in coming out so Frank got lots of hugs and kisses. He was so tired and didn’t want to do anything. He woke up, ate a breakfast, and then plunged into mommy’s arms and sucked his thumb. He didn’t even try to wiggle out of the snuggle to go explore. So we sat in the rocking chair and took a little nap. He looked so peaceful mom just held him and listened to the rhythmic sounds of his breathing. When he did wake up, he cried out and then buried his face back into mom’s hug and sucked his thumb some more. Eventually he got a lunch. The afternoon was much the same as the morning. Lots of snuggling from one place of the house to the other. We went from the recliner to the foot of the stairs to the bed. While mom lied on the ground/bed, Frank would kneel and put his head on mom’s tummy and fall asleep this way. After a light dinner, Frank was put to bed for the night. He didn’t eat much all day but mom kept giving him water. He was still feverish that night.

Friday morning the fever was gone. Frank was noticeable happier and more playful. But no teeth came out. Instead, there were red dots on his tummy. Mom was now alittle worried so she googled for it. Rashes right after a fever goes away came up with Roseola. A virus that just needs to run its course. Frank played some but was mostly still very needy. Saturday morning came but the rashes didn’t go away. It has spread to his face. All around his ear and some on the neck. By afternoon there were dots on his forehead and a few even on his arms. So mom took him to see the doctor. Frank was REALLY unhappy at the doctor’s office. Frank just hates the crinkly paper on the examination table. He was hanging on to his dear life when mom tried to put him down on it. He has got some ab muscles. Maybe a six pack hiding under the round belly.

Everything checked out. The doctor looked at his ears and throat; listened to his lungs while he screamed bloody murder. Later the doctor said no problem with the lungs. Mom wondered if he heard anything with all that screaming. Just a virus like we thought. But not roseola. The pattern of the rash didn’t match. Mom and the doctor talked extensively about the different types of things it could have been and the various symptoms that Frank didn’t exhibit. Anyways, send home with a prescription of rest and hugs and Tylenol if needed.

Absent Friends
by S. J. Rozan

What a great story! I have enjoyed several books by this author before but this one is so far the best. A firefighter dies in the twin towers during the 9/11 attacks as a hero. A reporter writes a series of tributes about this hero and then unravels some mystery from 20 years ago which links this hero to organized crime and a shooting. Then suddenly this reporter jumps off the Verazano Bridge. Was it suicide or did he get too close to the truth? His protege, lover, and colleague picks up where he left off to continue the dig for truth.

I loved how the story evolves and the way it is told as 4 different stories. She really captures the essence of NY and the atmosphere of NY after 9/11. And the characters, I loved how she tells the story of the 7 friends and how their friendship evolved as they grew up. It is a story about honor, friendship, truth, and hope.

What a beautiful surprise when we woke up this morning! My bird of paradise has finally blossomed. I remember back in December when it looked as if it would the next day. I was worried I would miss the first day of its bloom while spending Christmas away from home. But it didn’t and I waited and waited. Just yesterday I was out there in the backyard looking at it. It looked the same as it did in December. Then out it came. What a spectacular flower.

Today we set out to have dim sum with our friends in SF and then to the Chinese New Year parade. Frank, as usual, was not on board with our plans. He decided to take an exceptional long nap. We waited and waited and finally it passed the time we were suppose to be there and he finally woke up. So off we go on the Bart. Frank wiggled in the seat and stared out the window. It was a long ride but we finally made it. Our friend drove us to the restaurant only to find that they are closed until dinner time. We missed the lunch window being that it was almost 3pm. Next one also closed. Third one is the charm. We get settled and Frank is in a high chair with Cheerios spread across in front of him. He has been eating it steadily in the car. Mom even started to munch on them. We ordered quickly and soon the food came. It wasn’t dim sum but no one cared at that point. We had scallion pancakes, pan fried beef with scallions, thin noodles, pork, dumplings, beef noodle soup and mapo tofu. We ate and ate and Frank ate and ate. There was still some left when we were all done. Maybe Frank wasn’t quiet done but we left and went to David’s house.

We played in the backyard where there was a basketball hoop. Frank liked watching the ball dribble. He also walked and walked all over the place. He even stood up without holding on to anything. He made teeth marks on an orange to claim it his.

As for the parade, we didn’t go after all. It got late so we headed home for dinner. On the bart ride home, it was less crowded.  Probably everyone was at the parade.  Frank walked from where daddy sat to where mommy sat.  He wobbled when the train moved and worked hard to keep his balance.  That was more entertaining then the parade.