His Last Baby Teeth

I haven't written about teeth in awhile. He now has all of his canines and maybe a couple of months ago he got his bottom second molars. I just noticed last week that his upper second molars are now cutting through. I decided to look because I noticed he was chewing on stuff and putting things in his mouth again. I'm glad I kept some of his teething toys because he will still chew on them. His favorite is probably his cow star though. That thing gets sopping wet! Blech!

From this this toothless grin:

To this full mouth of teeth in what feels like no time at all:

Mother's Day Deconstructed

This was my second official Mother's Day but it felt like my first because I received a bouquet from Stan B, thanks to daycare. It was a styrofoam cup that said in sharpie marker: "To: Mom, Love: Stanley"

When we got home I was carrying my bouquet and our bags into the house and he pointed at the bouquet and said, "MINE!" I told him that it actually was mine and I thanked him for it again but he didn't care. So I handed it to him and he proceeded to fill it up with more dirt.

 Then he grabbed his favorite truck and put the bouquet in it and pushed it to the road. I thought, "How cute. This is sweet."

 Then he dumped it...and then turned the cup upside down and everything came out.

 I asked him to scoop it all up and put it back together. He did....

 ...and then he didn't.

There he is at the top of the frame with his truck...and the bouquet at the bottom of the frame.

I ended up scooping it up and putting it in the cup before I went inside. I salvaged the one non-living flower (made of crepe paper) but the rest of it will end up in the woods (cup in trash.)

Birthplace, No. 8

Number 8:

THE PEOPLE

The people. The people. The people. Some of the biggest hearts I've ever met dwell here.

There are so many missing pictures of the people. I started naming them and then it became very long. I wish I had pictures of all of them. That will be my charge in our last three weeks here. Pictures of people holding Stan B so we can make a book of The People.

I found this video of Stan B and one of my co-workers ages ago! The Bear was probably 5 months old (I might be way off). I thought it was lovely:

I thought I would, for our Bear cub, write a post a week documenting something that I associate with his birthplace, Chapel Hill. You can see the first seven here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

Bedtime Puzzles

Lately Stanley has been really enjoying his puzzles. Many times he will forego his bedtime story and choose to do a puzzle or two instead. His favorite puzzles are this big alphabet puzzle (above) and a little animal puzzle (featured in the video below). He's really good at them too!


puzzle from erin kawamata on Vimeo.

The Zoo

If only giving birth to him were as easy as cracking an egg.

Each weekend I've been trying to do something in our area that I've been meaning to do with the Bear and several weekends ago we went to the Asheboro Zoo. I don't think I've been to a Zoo since the late 90s...it was a zoo in Australia...so it was super cool. Anyhoo. It was huge. It was split up into two sections: North America and Africa. We did Africa first. I was impressed with the giraffes and zebras...what gorgeous animals! The giraffes were so graceful.

I think Stan B's favorite were the gorillas. There were baby gorillas too! He probably could have watched them all day:

Watching the gorillas.

Since I've been doing this exploration of our area each weekend I'm learning a lot about myself really. I wish I would have done this kind of thing when I first moved here. I feel like I'm enjoying my weekends more. I feel like I am making better friends with people. I want to carry this goal over to Idaho...maybe not every weekend but more often than I did here to start with!

The Latest on Language

I think the last time that I wrote about Stan Bear's language was back in February. Three months later and he is still talking and making noises. He's really good at copying our words just like you saw in the "Can you say" video. He can say words but some of them he doesn't know the meaning of them...for instance, he can say something like "tack" but I don't think he knows what that is. Lately he has been using these words a lot:

Heady = Heavy
He says "heady" when he tries to carry Mike's yoga mat, or his big Curious George book, or a large branch.

When he first found this branch he said, "Heady." Then he and his pal Jacob went to go lift it as a duo. This is at Jordan Lake.

Keet = Kick
He's totally into playing with balls. He's actually getting good at kicking. So, naturally he says "keet" a lot.
We were actually playing catch with a ping pong ball inside the other night and I kept saying things like, "I'm going to throw the ball." "I caught the ball." "I got it." "Now, you throw the ball." "Catch it!" "You got it!" and he started to say these phrases:
Gotchit = Got it
Chatchit = Catch it
I actually have a great kicking video but can't figure out how to get it from my new smarty pants phone to this here blog. I'll work on it and will take any hints from smart phone veterans.

Titty (ha!) = Kitty

Hot

Bokem = Broken

Done

Roll
He said this last night while rolling up a small piece of cardboard. I had no idea he knew what this meant but I think he learned it when we were rolling up yoga mats the other day.

Yawga = Yoga
When Mike went to yoga the other night the Bear said "Papa?" and I said "He went to yoga." "Yawga." and then grabbed my mat and walked to the door. He got upset when I explained that we weren't going to do yoga with Papa. He ended up putting the mat on the floor and jumping on it.

Jonch = Jump

Cheeten = Chicken

Side = this either means Outside or Other side...for instance, if I am nursing and he's done and he wants the other side he points at my other breast and says, "Side".

Kohw = Cow

My favorite word that he says is:
Binky = Blanky the way he says it is just so darn cute.

Shteet = Street
and he's really good at getting out of the street when a car is coming. It's a good, healthy fear that I am thankful for.

Cheet = Treat
I call those little pouch snacks treats. They are basically mashed up fruit and veggies and grains in a pouch and it's easy to slurp them out for a toddler. He thinks they are dessert. I'll say, "I have a treat for you but we'll have to wait until we get into the car." I will completely forget about it and when we get to the car he will say, "Cheet?"

Chee = Auntie C

Molk = Milk
He rarely does the sign for milk anymore, he mostly just says, "MOLK!" He likes to say it loud, he thinks it's funny.

Mine
This is one of his favorite words to say.

Teetyu = Thank you
This is also one of my favorite words that he says. He not only says thank you when I do something for him but he also says it when he does something for me. It's very cute.

Wakum = You're welcome
If I say thank you he says, "Wakum". Haha! 

Mun = Run
I have been running a lot and I usually take him with me in the jogger stroller. He seems to really enjoy it. Sometimes when I say, "Let's go for a run!" He says, "Mun" and then goes and finds my running shoes.

Pretty
He said this the other day while looking at a light.

on and off from erin kawamata on Vimeo.


Howlp or Howch = Help
He still does his sign for help which is a loose interpretation of the actual sign for help. Stan B basically clasps his hands together to make the sign for help. We are trying to get him to say help instead of whine/cry about something because usually when he whines or cries it's because he needs help with something. It's been such a useful sign.

We are trying to teach him the sign for "want" which is helpful because he'll whine or cry if he wants something and it could be anything between wanting to get out of the kitchen (we have it gated) or wanting more berries.

He doesn't really say sentences yet but he asks people to do things by saying their name and pointing. For instance, "Mama?!" and points to the ball which means, "Mama, pick up the ball". Or, "Chee?" and point to the lake which means, "Auntie C, come into the lake with me!" or "Papa?" and point to the guitar...etc.

One Stan Band

Stan B loves his harmonica and his drum:

one stan band from erin kawamata on Vimeo.

Birthplace, No. 7

Number 7:

MARYLAND...or our proximity to it!

Cousin A and Auntie S

We have been far away from the majority of our family but semi-close (about a five hour drive) to our beautiful minority in MD! We will truly miss our roadtrips up and our visits on Christmas. We even started going up to visit twice a year in the last few years. Stan B loves them so (as do we!)

Sleeping in the car on the way to MD

We were lucky enough to visit them over Easter where they gave Stan B the full Easter experience including dyeing eggs:

And visiting DC by riding the Metro (and Auntie S didn't even vomit! She probably feels a bit nauseous just by looking at this picture):

Riding on the Metro.

Here is the live-action metro documentation, plus other scenes around the mall:

riding on the metro from erin kawamata on Vimeo.

At the WWII Memorial

Watch this video of Cousin C helping Stan B dye eggs. I love the way he talks to him:


dyeing from erin kawamata on Vimeo.

Arteest!

We have this roll of newsprint sitting near the kitchen doorway and one day Stan B dragged it out and I watched him go. It's a long video but I think it's fun to watch. (highlights: at 15 seconds he rolls it out, 32 seconds he starts drawing, at 2:45 he says, "pink", at 3:08 he says, "green", at 4:32 he says "green" without my prompting, at 4:44 he crawls to the other side of the newsprint, at 5:32 he starts rocking and drawing, at 6:23 he rolls up the paper and then unrolls it, at 7:00 he jumps on it, kitty walks over the paper at 7:51, he eats the marker at 8:00, you see my foot at 8:14, at 8:52 he defies me and draws on his face, at 9:28 he rolls it up, at 9:51 he does his "where'd it go" thing with his hands, at 10:14 he drags it back to the doorway, at 10:30 he high fives me.)
arteest from erin kawamata on Vimeo.

Playing Together

It was Lauren's birthday and she had friends over to their pool...their kiddie pool! Just enough room for two almost-two year olds. So Stan B and Z jumped right in. We were actually amazed at how well they were playing together:


pool from erin kawamata on Vimeo.

And here they are playing not as nice together, but it's not too bad...typical toddler behaviour. (Stan B's new favorite word is, "Mine!":

mine! from erin kawamata on Vimeo.

Dandy Seeds

Earlier in the spring, the fluffy dandelions (seed heads) were popping up everywhere and I would point them out to Stan B. Here he is experimenting with one.


dandelion from erin kawamata on Vimeo.

I apologize for the weird cliffhanger ending. I don't know what happened but I bet those fluffy seeds on that dandelion are long gone thanks to the Bear cub.

Digging!

Holy Guacamole! I almost forgot to post something today.

Here is a lovely video of the Bear saying the word, "Digging!" He loves being out in the old garden plot, digging around, putting dirt into pots, pouring them out, spraying water, filling up the watering can, picking plants. He really loves it.

digging from erin kawamata on Vimeo.

Birthplace, No. 6

Number 6:

THE BIRTHING CLASS BOYS

From the red jacket, clockwise: Zak, Stan, Tav and Sebastian

I may be the most sad about this. This group of women(the moms) has been one of the best things that has happened to me as a mother. I'm so glad we kept in touch. I was knocked to the ground after Stan B was born and I remember having our Birthing Class Reunion and I felt like I could see the light again.

We hiked together and talked about our bodies, baby poop, sleep, you name it.

I don't know if Stan B will remember these guys. We shall see.

We have been fairly consistent in getting together.

I really hope we keep in touch (social media will make it easier) but I will really miss these families. I feel like we walked through fire together and came out the other side stronger and with adorable and bright humans. I know my little family can create a community where ever we go...but I feel so bonded to these ladies (and now I am crying.)

Here is video from the second Egg Hunt with some of the Birth Class Boys:


egg hunt 2 from erin kawamata on Vimeo.

21 Months of Growth

At the Bear's last check up (it was when he was diagnosed with Cocksackie virus) they weighed him and he as about 28 lbs. I was looking through pics and found a trio of pictures I collaged together for this post, back when he was 12 weeks old. I thought it would be fun to see his growth in the last 21 months.

Papa Airlines

Telling Papa, "More!" because who doesn't love Papa airplane rides?

flying stan bear from erin kawamata on Vimeo.

Sous Chef at Chateau du Wilson

Stan B enjoyed helping Auntie Sue make dinner and lunch.

Here he is helping make Smashed Potatoes.

Here he is making egg salad with our beautifully dyed easter eggs:

egg salad sous chef from erin kawamata on Vimeo.

Can You Say.....

We play the can-you-say game a lot these days. It was a great thing to do in the car on the way up to Maryland. We could go on and on and on. Here is a snippet of us playing it:


can you say from erin kawamata on Vimeo.

Birthplace, No. 5

Number Five:

THE LIGHT

I think that every place has a special light and I'm sure there is a golden evening-time light everywhere in the world but for some reason it is extra-super-magical here; it's like everything is glowing in golden pixie dust. I think it's at it's height in spring, especially after a long, cold and dark winter. The bright new green of spring in combination with the light is especially gorgeous but the dry, red, fallen pine needles look pretty great basking in the glow of the light too:

The tall Loblolly Pine looks regal in this light:

Even junky, plastic toys look warm and cozy in this light:

And I had to include a pic of the Bear (that's the real reason why you all show up here in the first place.) Here he is helping me (un)pot plants. I saw some old mint popping up in the old garden plot (boy is mint hearty!) so we potted (and unpotted) some of those plants for a friend and also for us (I'm going to take some mint and oregano from the garden with us to Idaho and see how it does.) I think we'll pull up some thyme too. This is pre-golden hour but it is still gorgeous...the boy doesn't hurt the picture frame one bit:

I thought I would, for our Bear cub, write a post a week documenting something that I associate with his birthplace, Chapel Hill. You can see the first two here, here, here, and here.

Yay! Piano!

Stan B is getting more thoughtful with his piano playing. He is also his very own biggest fan:


piano playing at 21 months from erin kawamata on Vimeo.

And if that wasn't cute enough for you watch this one...

metronome phone from erin kawamata on Vimeo.
 

Coffee Grinder Blues

Recently Stan B came upon Papa's harmonica. He loves playing that thing. He also loves helping grind coffee with Papa in the mornings. What's amazing is that he is learning when it is appropriate to play the blues...in this case, when the coffee grinder breaks, it's time to play the blues:

Mimic II

I think this is actually when Carter was mimicking Stan Bear. They stopped to smell the flowers.

I wrote about how Stan B started mimicking his Pa by walking with his hands behind his back. I mentioned that I hadn't captured it on video...well here it is:

walking like papa from erin kawamata on Vimeo.

And then he started to mimic cousin C. It was adorable:

mimic from erin kawamata on Vimeo.

Running With the Big Dogs

When we first arrived in Maryland Stanley definitely remembered Nala the Dog but there was a second dog there too! They were dog-sitting a sweet black lab named Ebbet. Stanley didn't like it when Ebbet stuck his wet nose in his face but Stan Bear was good about saying no to him. By the end of the weekend I think the dogs were more scared of him than the other way around. Every morning he'd get up and go to the back door and either say, "Nala!" (his pronunciation sounds more like "Nana" than Nala) or "Ebbet!" (his pronunciation sounds something like "Attit!") It was darling.

Here he is running around the yard with the dogs at 7:30 in the morning or possibly earlier! He was so loud but so full of joy running with Nala and Ebbet. 
running with the big dogs from erin kawamata on Vimeo.

P.S. Happy Anniversary Grandma and Grandpa!