the language of Cael

Cael spits a ‘no’ out in a short defiant burst of sound. But his ‘yes’ has developed into this lovely long ‘yaaaaa’.

juxtapositions

Cael's 1st and 2nd birthdays

let them eat cake

chasing squirrels with a stick

For the past few days Judd and I have been wrapped up in planning, preparing, executing and recovering from Cael’s birthday party. We now have a two year old! Pictures are coming soon to an email near you.

next stop- trees and flagpoles

I don’t know how he did it- but when I went to check on Cael after I put him to bed (in the big bed), he was in his crib. He must have climbed in somehow. My first thought was that someone else must have helped him, but upon further inventory of the household occupants I realized that this must not be the case.

reading in bed

I had thought Cael was sneaking into our bed to sleep after I put him down because of a need for parental comfort. “How sweet,” I sigh, as my heart melts a little. Instead, I just now deciphered, he is there for the light. He can turn our lamps on easier than his own and he needs light to read Curious George. I find him passed out, surrounded by books, with both bedside lamps on, his own room illuminated by an inadequate nightlight.

more siblings

By brother, Tim, comes to visit for a couple days. I don’t think I have been around him for this long since a family vacation over 6 years ago. It is so lovely to just hang out with him. He was recuperating from his trip to Burning Man, starting a 5 day fast and finishing Harry Potter. I helped out by giving away the part with the aliens and the time travel, and cooking up some bacon- mmmm, smells gooooood!

escape artist

Cael follows the kitty down the basement stairs and out the dog door. I notice the house is empty of toddler after a prolonged suspicious silence. Childhood is filled with too many ‘almosts’ for my taste. Although, they do make good anecdotes.

Scary...

touch-a-truck, crash-on-couch

After a busy nap-less day following Chloe around, climbing into trucks, testing out horns, and rearranging the barn, Cael crashes.

wherefore art thou, sanity

Cael picks out a book of Shakespeare sonnets to read. I limp my way through one and he requests another. Maybe he understands this stuff better than I do.

the return of the grandparents

After three full weeks deprived of all grandparental attentions, we are overjoyed to have them home again. It is so much fun to see the relationships develop between each of our children and our parents.

Den is drawn to Isabel (moth to flame, fish to water), rushing over to hold her, waiting impatiently for Louise to hand her over. Isabel smiles up at him and coos while he rubs her feet.




Cael grabs Louise’s hand, dragging her off to whatever adventure the two of them dream up. Any time our family gathers we lose Louise to Babyland.




And my mom has bonded with my son over horse poop. He runs around the pasture pointing to each pile of manure for her to scoop up. She has finally found a child as enthralled with barn chores as she is. She just had to wait through a generation.



So welcome home, Grandparents. Your presence in our lives is much enjoyed and appreciated.

get 'em while they're young

Cael and Judd are hard at work teaching Isabel the wonders of television.

morning moment

Cael runs around the house as I do dishes this morning. “Baby,” he shouts, and heads for the stairs taking them one at a time- thump, pause, thump, pause, thumppausethumppausethump. After a suspicious period of silence Judd checks up on him. He finds Cael snuggled next to his sister, head on the pillow, watching her sleep.