3 years, 2 months/1 year, 1 week.

This very blurry picture is of the bear cave Graham constructed while Connor chewed on lego pieces and took 2 consecutive steps!

3 years, 2 months/1 year, 1 week.

Look who's walking!  Look who took his first step today, that is.  I think this picture is a more accurate representation of where we're going to be for awhile, though.

3 years, 2 months/1 year, 1 week.

On the last day of Grammy's visit, we went to the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens for the cherry blossom festival (the fish and turtles were the highlights for Graham) and then Connor took his first carousel ride.  Connor rode happily in the ergo backpack for more than 3 hours--a new record!

Thank you so much for coming to visit, Grammy!  We loved spending the past two weeks with you and hope you'll come back soon!

3 years, 2 months/1 year.

Graham was very interested in watching Malcolm install our new built-in radiator cover/bookshelves, but didn't like the drilling noise.  Thanks for the new shirt, Grammy!

3 years, 2 months/1 year.

Graham had a great time going to the Fire Station with his preschool class this morning.  L to R, Miss Laura, Ruben, Graham, Fina, Lily, Lola, and William.  Not pictured--Hunter, who found the fire truck very scary.

Meanwhile, Grammy and Granny Annie took care of baby Connor.  Once we got home from the field trip, Grammy, Graham, and Granny Annie did a little reading together before nap time.

Thank you for coming to visit, Aunt Mary Ann!  It was so wonderful to see you and the children loved playing with you (and that amazing new magnet toy)!

3 years, 2 months/1 year.

Granny Annie came to visit!  Graham quizzed her on her knowledge of children's songs ("This is the Way the Ladies Ride" and "The Itsy-Bitsy Spider" pictured) at the nature park.

Connor and I stopped at the pediatrician's office on our way home from the park for his 1-year check-up.  He passed with flying colors and is 29.5" tall (41%), weighs 20 lb, 13 oz (22%), with a head circumference of 46.5 cm (54%).  Connor sleeps from around 7:30 pm - 6:30 am and takes 2 good naps per day, around 9 - 11 and 2 - 4, optimistically speaking.  He started sleeping through the night in the past week, dropping his very persistent early morning (4 or 5 am) nurse.  He nurses 6 times/day most days.  He's generally a good eater who will try pretty much everything and happily eats spicy foods like curry and chili.  Some favorites are carrots (especially glazed in orange juice!), roasted asparagus, grapes, kiwi, brown rice & black beans with cheese, scrambled eggs, quinoa, and birthday cake!  He can cruise and walk with push toys or holding a hand, though he hasn't taken his first independent step yet and doesn't seem too interested in trying.  He's starting to understand English and can follow some simple directions, like "put the ball in the basket."  He says a few words--Mama, blanket ("ba"), more ("mo")--but mostly babbles non-stop nonsense.  He loves to play catch, swing, and go down slides at the park.  He's very ticklish and laughs easily, especially in the bath.  He's started to like reading board books recently and giggles at pictures of animals.  We love our cheery little bunny rabbit and can't wait to get to spend the next year exploring the world with you, baby Connor!

3 years, 2 months/1 year.

We spent the day trying to detox from the Weekend of White Sugar at the nature park with Hazel.  NYC parks don't have the water turned on yet...good thing Graham and Hazel are 3-year-olds with active imaginations.

3 years, 2 months/52 weeks, 1 day (1 year!).

Happy Easter and happy birthday Connor!!!  The Easter bunny came and left baskets and an egg hunt for the boys.  After digging through their baskets and eating a big breakfast, we met up with Honor and Gil for an egg hunt at Prospect Park.  Graham and Honor ate themselves sick (literally, in Honor's case) on candy while Gil and the birthday boy munched on leaves and a few carefully rationed jelly beans.  After his nap, Graham tried his hand at dying Easter eggs.

3 years, 2 months/52 weeks.

It's party time!  Happy (almost) birthday, baby Connor!  Connor was in a great mood throughout his party and loved his cake.  He ate an entire slice!  At the end of the party, we had an egg hunt on the roof deck which lasted about 5 seconds but went over well nevertheless.  After we cleaned up, Molly and Graham helped Connor unwrap his presents.

So many thank you's--to our travelers (Grammy wins the prize for greatest-distance-traveled, but Nana, Aunt Emily, Uncle Bob, Molly, and Claire get very high points as well), gift-givers, and helpers (for party-prep as well as surviving this first year), our most heartfelt thanks.

3 years, 2 months/51 weeks, 6 days.

Graham and Connor are having the best time playing with Grammy.  Today, Graham and Grammy spent hours playing "Bear, " a game which involves picking "blackberries" (magnets) off the "bush" (refrigerator) and bringing them back to the "cave" (couch) to eat.

I guess Grammy didn't wear out Graham quite enough, though--he stayed up way past bedtime reading in his room.  He does this a few nights a week, probably a sign that he's getting close to dropping his nap.

3 years, 2 months/51 weeks, 4 days.

Graham and I went to the city today to have lunch with Daddy.  Graham introduced Will to a random person in his office by saying, "This is my daddy.  His name is Will."

Later on, Graham tried his hand at one of the new (to him--this one was handed down from my cousin Lou) puzzles Grammy brought for him.

3 years, 2 months/51 weeks, 3 days.

Grammy's relaxing vacation to Brooklyn continues by revisiting the days of cooking with multiple children and all the unbreakable kitchen items underfoot.

3 years, 2 months/51 weeks, 2 days.

Grammy came to visit!  Grammy arrived on Saturday but we haven't had much time to photograph her yet because we've been too busy putting her to work cooking, cleaning, and minding the children.  Can you stay until 2031,  Grammy?

3 years, 2 months/50 weeks, 6 days.

Connor is still working out his slide technique.  We're trying to convince him to go feet-first, but he prefers the head-first method in both sliding (acceptable) and crawling down stairs (unacceptable).

3 years, 1 month/50 weeks, 5 days.

This afternoon, we went to our old stomping grounds, Carroll Park, to see some of Graham's friends.  He had a fantastic time playing trucks and running laps with Sam, Reed, and Bennett.  Hopefully we can make this trek on a more regular basis now that the weather is nicer.

3 years, 1 month/50 weeks, 3 days.

Watercolor - "River"

Crayon drawing - "Untitled"

3 years, 1 month/50 weeks, 1 day.

The boys brunched with Sam and Jessie this morning!  Thanks for coming to visit and entertaining these two ruffians!  It was great to see you.

3 years, 1 month/50 weeks.

A very helpful girl tried to teach Graham how to climb a tree at the nature park today, but he may have been too distracted by her to learn much.

3 years, 1 month/49 weeks, 5 days.

On a beautiful spring day, Connor practiced standing and pushing a chair around our roof deck while Graham studied a ladybug he found crawling on the deck.