Little Monkey and Friends

My wild things could be found at our local zoo. After an especially long week, punctuated by 90+ degree days and soggy-blanket like humidity, we finally got a break. Today's mild temperatures begged for outdoor adventures. We were only too happy to comply.

We stumbled upon the county parks day. Lots of fun stuff to see and do. Among them - the "Budgie Adventures." Budgies, more commonly known as parakeets on this side of the pond, are cute feathery things. Apparently, they also have gloriously exploitable appetites, as we learned.

The walk-through exhibit at the zoo, equipped us with feeding sticks designed to lure the little biddies to our nesting fingers and hands.

This took some getting used to at first:




But once we got the hang of it, look out! Jordan with one budgie ...



And then two budgies ...



and some intra species conflict...



Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. Bye-bye Budgies.



Mina got into the act as well.



At first, she played nice.



But like other wild things, her true nature came out.



Bye-bye budgies.

Labels: adventures, two monkeys

This week I have been posting about our recent trip to California. Of all the memorable aspects, there is one thing that stands out in my mind - the cousins. Seeing our two monkeys interact with their west coast counterparts was fun. Really fun.

Three cousins helped keep the monkeys occupied - the three muskateers -a/k/a Lexi (6), Lauren(4), and Ashley (1 and a 1/2). The age differences at this stage mean a lot. Which made things all the more interesting. Jordan is almost 2 1/2. He's pretty verbal, active, and definitely knows what he likes and doesn't. His personality, ever growing larger, is pronounced.

The cousins, each at different points in their development, gave me comparisons and glimpses of what I might see in the future.



Lexi (6), was the nurturer and leader of the pack. As the oldest, she was the most verbal, the first to suggest games to play or books to read. Above, she actually enticed Jordan into sitting on the couch for a bedtime story before he went to sleep. And he agreed happily - not just once, but on a couple different nights.


Lexi, like her parents, hosted playdates with effortless ease. She shared her toys, tolerated baby videos after dinner, and helped me at bath time. By the way, how many 6 year olds do you know who understand the term "turn-down service?" This one does. And she did it. The beds in her parents house were turned down, the lights dimmed, and the only thing missing was a chocolate mint on the pillow. I asked Lexi if she would consider moving to New Jersey, but she declined.



Ahsley's wading pool was a big hit for the monkey. Ashley (1 1/2)was completely at ease in the water, climbing into and out of the pool unassisted. She's already potty-trained, and can keep up with her bigger cousins at the playground. Here, she seems mesmerized by the monkey's antics. What had me equally spellbound was Ashley the eating machine.



She and Mina were the pace setters for the pack at mealtime. After the others were sated and long gone, these two were still at the table putting the rest of them to shame.



Lauren (4)at first seemed a little bit quieter than her sister, Lexi. My initial impression was proven wrong as the week progressed. She was every bit as talkative, imaginative, and helpful. I think she got a real kick out of babying Mina. One night, she helped me give Mina a bath, diaper her, dress her in her pajamas, and brush her hair. We had a lengthy discussion about why we needed to brush gentle, because babies still had "soft heads."

"Not like us," said Lauren. "We're big."

"That's right," I said, trying not to smile, at the sight of this little burst of sunshine describing herself as "Big."



I guess it's all a question of perspective. She did blow big bubbles, that's for sure.



It will be a while before this group gets to hang out together again. The next reunion will hopefully be in November, and I am curious to see what they will all be up to then.

Labels: family get togethers, travelling

Our week in California was filled with activities designed to keep the monkeys busy and entertained. This worked for me. One of the pillars of my parenting philosophy is that tired out monkeys make good nappers. The Nap, as I think of it, is that sacred time of the day that anchors our entire 24 cycle. The Nap is sacrosanct. It is absolute. It cannot be messed with or taken lightly. Since both monkeys take only one, it holds a very precious place in my heart.

A good nap (read long one) equals more happy mommy time.

That, of course brings me to the cardinal rule of parenting - the foundation upon which I base my entire world view.

In a nutshell ... happy mommy equals happy baby (babies). Enough said.

Here's how the monkeys kept themselves busy in California.



Interacting with native wildlife.



Deep sea diving.



Constructing fancy light-brite sculpture.



Clay projects.



Testing gravity.



Exersaucer-size!

The little monkeys were not the only ones who entertained themselves. We were lucky enough to be audience to some good, old-fashioned vocal stylings courtesy of Lexi.





Monkey, Sr. could not resist the siren call of that little microphone. Karaoke night anyone?

Labels: family get togethers, play

From Alice Waters to Thomas Keller, California is at the forefront of culinary innovation. Now, maybe NYC has more stellar restaurants per square mile than any other place in the world, but there is something completely unique about the west coast approach to food. Maybe because it feels like the magic is more than just the cuisine - it's an entire lifestyle. Healthy eating and healthy living just seem to go hand in hand. Above, are two perfect examples of what the California lifestyle produces. Right - happy, good looking, relaxed people.

Is it the food? The air? The water?

This has been my fourth trip to the Bay Area, and every time, I come back marvelling at how amazing everything tastes out there. The fruit seems more luscious, the salads more creative. Even staples like pastas and veggies seem more interesting out west.

And everyone eats! A lot. But they're skinny!! And not in a NYC scary- skinny kind of way. Everyone is healthy! I couldn't walk out the door without being blindsided by someone jogging, or rollerblading, or walking their dog at top speed. Now, exercise is common enough on the east coast, but these people looked happy doing it. Maybe it's all the sunshine and fresh air. Maybe it's the fog coming in from the Bay in the mornings. Maybe it's the three hour time difference.

I dunno. Whatever it is, I want to bottle it and drink five glasses of that every day instead of the poland spring carp I have in my fridge. That just seems to make me grumpy.

Now, where am I going with this? Right here, patient readers.



Look at my child eating corn on the cob, all by himself, as though this is the most natural occurance in the world. I'm telling you, something about the California vibe got into him. He ate well the whole week.



We were all quietly shocked and awed.



Snacking al fresco.



A little appetizer before dinner.



We even caught the monkey engaging in some polite dinner conversation for a change.



I'm embarassed to say that our influence on our hosts was not as healthy. In anticipation of Monkey's food issues, we stocked poor Audrey and Richard's cupboards with all manner of calorie-packed nonsense, the likes of which they have never seen. And, unfortunately, it was too much of a temptation for some of the other little ones.

Frozen pizza, Ashley? I'm so sorry! Monkey grins in the background. His corrupting influence extends near and far.



A close up of what processed carbohydrates and refined sugar - the backbone of Monkey's diet, produces in otherwise well adjusted children.



Miss Mina would like to know what all the fuss is about. Her food tastes good no matter what coast it's on.



And no matter what time of day.

Labels: family get togethers, food aventures, travelling, two monkeys

Monkey, Sr. and I are in the market for a new car ...something in the minivan family with lots of seatage and strategically placed cupholders. It didn't occur to us, but maybe we should focus instead on getting the monkeys their own wheels. These for example, seem almost as practical as a 7 passenger minivan with automatic doors, no? I'm particularly impressed with the detail rendered in the pixie princess' aerodynamic hair.

These beauties came in handy one morning while taking a stroll downtown. The monkeys were amused, and I managed to burn off a few calories pushing them around.



Not content with the horsepower in her pixie rider, Miss Mina trades up for something a little sportier.



While her brother tests out the bells and whistles on another model. Sounds pretty good from the looks of it. Wonder what we can get on a trade in? Judging from the estimate the insurance company sent me for the minivan after the collision, I'd say we'd be better off selling it for scrap metal.



This is as close to driving as you two will be getting for a long while. Enjoy it, my friends.

Labels: travelling, two monkeys

We got back from California this week, and I'm trying to recover from our vacation. From the minute we departed to the last leg of the taxi ride home from Newark, it was an adventure. Needless to say, we're a little beat.



I wish I could say the three hour time difference between the east and west coast has not affected us.



But, I'd be lying.



We're all a little woozy. Some of us more than others.

It's hard to sum up what a wonderful week it was. Rather than trying, I'll just thank our very generous and patient hosts, Audrey and Richard. How many people do you know would let you take over three full bedrooms for your own use? Apart from filling their home like a horde of vagrants, we also subjected them to the screaming cries of two monkeys adjusting to west coast hours. That was fun.



And they never complained once. Rather, they pretended to not hear a thing. There were a few naysayers who suggested that the two of them were just going deaf, but I choose to believe Audrey and Richard were displaying the highest order of hospitality.

And they fed us too.

A lot. I have much more to say about that later.

They also filled our days with kid friendly activities designed to keep the monkeys amused and tired.

Did I mention the rooms had blackout shades and double-thick insulated glass? The monkeys have never napped so well in their lives. I almost didn't know what to do with myself with all that free time in the afternoon.

Ha.

More details to follow. But for now, thanks again to the entire west coast clan - Audrey, Richard, Amy, Todd, Lisa, Craig, Lexi,Lauren and Ashley. Our mini reunion was a blast! You all made us feel right at home. Uh-oh.

Labels: adventures, family get togethers, travelling

And we're off again!

Bright and early tomorrow morning (ouch), we're boarding a plane for a six hour flight to California! I am fully confident the monkeys will do a splendid job of keeping it together during the duration of the flight. After all, we have brand new Little Einstein DVD's to keep them occupied, one Mickey Mouse, and my all-time favorite cartoon movie from childhood - "Alice in Wonderland."

We also have chocolate cookies, wonder markers, and books. Moo and Bunny are stowing aboard in the carry-on bag. I'm hoping the presence of the cuddlies will inspire the little ones to nap for at least an hour or two.

I can dream, can't I?

We're really looking forward to visiting family out in CA. It's been a long time since we were out there, and our own family has grown exponentially. I'm fairly sure this time out will be a decidedly different trip than before. After all, last time, we were young and childless.

I just caught myself sighing for a second there.

That's ok. The more the merrier. Sort of.

Labels: adventures, travelling

The picture is a little out of focus; the image is a bit blurred. But if I look real hard, I can almost imagine the face of the man he will one day be.



But then he pulls one of these, and it's back to being a toddler. And that's ok too.

Labels: Jordan

We are big readers in this house. Books are our friends, and we can never have too many. Like me, Monkey loves them. His favorites change over time, and sometimes he will put one aside in favor of another, only to return to it again. One such example, is "Curious George Makes Pancakes."

This was a favorite, some months back, as evidenced by the well worn pages, and splatters of food marking key passages. Monkey has his own annotation system. George had been forgotten for some time, because we discovered the rhyming fun and teamwork spirit of "I can't said the Ant."

Recently though, Monkey specifically asked for George and his pancake adventures. Relieved that I didn't have to sit through yet another rendition of the ant and his kitchen adventures, I gleefully turned to George. It's amazing how a change of scenery works to brighten one's spirits.



Part of the fun of having kids is allowing myself to see the world through their eyes. The most mundane things become a grand adventure. George had a fun time making pancakes, maybe my Monkey would too. And who knows, maybe he'd actually eat some too?



But first, we have to make sure we have the right equipment.



We found the perfect recipe, which conveniently helped me use up a nice amount of my leftover buttermilk and blueberries. We poured the batter onto the griddle in little, round circles ... just like George.



And even dusted them with powdered sugar to make them pretty. So far, so good. Monkey helped by stirring the batter, folding in the blueberries, and scooping just enough into a 1/4 cup for me to pour onto the griddle.



But then, we got to the table. And the fantasy was over.



oh well.

Labels: books, food aventures, Jordan

Miss Mina is officially too young for toddler gym class, but she sneaks in once in awhile. She has yet to be carded. But the way she is cruising around on the speed walker might get her pulled over one of these days.



Which is why she has begun practicing her best "get out of a ticket" story for just such an occasion. She comes from a long line of good talkers.



And in other news, we picked up a sweet kitchen set toy at a neighbor's yard sale down the street. Monkey has been enjoying it and his plastic food tremendously.

Perhaps a serving of irony, with your sandwich, ma'am? Supersize mine, please.

Labels: two monkeys

I tend to avoid discussions of news events on this blog mainly because I save my remaining brain cells for political debate in private with Monkey, Sr. and a few select individuals. Plus, I work out intensely at the gym to achieve an endorphin high that I hate to lose with thoughts of the state of the world.

Once in awhile though, certain things shatter the pink bubblegum world I live in ... terrorist plots to blow up JFK airport, the death toll in Iraq, human rights abuses in Islamic countries ... and stories involving organ donation. I pay attention to those for obvious reasons.

For any newcomers to this blog, I wouldn't be posting the happy pictures I do but for the fact that someone came through for my son when he needed a heart transplant. Hi Nikki.

So, a story came to my attention about a game show in the Netherlands whose premise involved a dying woman willing to give her kidney to one of three contestants vying for the "prize." Each of the contestants was in need of a transplant, and the woman would decide, with audience participation, who was the most worthy of her gift of life. Here's a link.

The show caused a sensation in the Netherlands with charges of tastelessness and questionable ethics. The Dutch Parliament debated whether to allow it to air.

It turns out, the show was a big hoax. The woman was not dying. She was just an actress. The contestants, although in need of a kidney, knew this was all a hoax; and they were in on it. The show's producers say they concocted this elaborate farce to raise awareness of the need for organ donation in the Netherlands. Unlike much of the rest of Europe, Dutch laws on organ donation make it harder for recipients to find organs in time.

Honestly, the whole thing makes me really sad. It takes actions like this to get people talking about the issue? How did it make actual people who needed a kidney transplant feel watching this show and see people compete to win a kidney? What does it say about audience members willing to watch this show and vote on who has the best sob story most deserving of the prize?

But what if all the media attention resulted in just one person deciding to register to be an organ donor? What if one day that person's decision saves another human being's life? Is that alone worth the momentary discomfort of seeing human tragedy exploited for entertainment and shock value?

Obviously, our family has some experience with media efforts at organ donor awareness. For the most part, we had a very positive series of encounters with kind individuals who gave us a chance to talk about Jordan's story and what organ donation was about. We had no idea what we were getting into, and no idea that the story would explode the way it did.

We also had some bitter experiences with the media and certain individuals who questioned our morality at making our appeal a public one. Some people went on the air to suggest that our actions were inappropriate because other, less educated people, with less access to media resources, would not be able to launch the same degree of effort in their cases.

Those charges hurt me to this day. I will never forget how I felt when I sat there in the hospital waiting room and watched a woman appear on a television interview to say that what we were doing was wrong. I will also never forget the countless individuals - friends and strangers, who wrote to me to tell me that because of Jordan's story, they registered to be organ and bone marrow donors. There were many of them. I wonder how many lives they will be saving in the future.

Maybe this stunt in the Netherlands was a good thing. Maybe it was tasteless. Who am I to judge?

Labels: Jordan, news, transplant

Labels: Jordan, Jordan outdoors, play

Living with a toddler means waking up each morning (at 6:00) without any idea of what life has in store for you. It means living on the edge. It feels like someone's put me in some weird sitcom combining elements of Fear Factor, 24, and Jackass. The shifting landscape of moods I confront daily makes me feel as though I have a house full of kids to keep occupied.

Oh, wait. I do have a house full of kids I keep occupied all day long.

When do toddlers outgrow the "terrible 2's?" Do they magically become rational human beings at 3? Do they start picking up after themselves, without me making a game of it? Do they eat what's put in front of them without songs? Do they go to bed without an elaborate routine that takes a half hour? Somehow, I suspect not.

Monkey has been a good sleeper and napper since he was nine months old. It was about that time that I instituted firm rules about nap times, bed times, and sleep routines. I faced lots criticism from some, but I held firm, and was rewarded with a kid who slept through the night, napped on schedule, and woke up happy and recharged. After reading countless parenting books, I settled on the advice of Dr. Marc Weissbluth, author of "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child." I read it cover to cover, and practiced his suggestions diligently. I felt vindicated whenever Monkey willingly went up the stairs as he announced, "Time to take a nap."

Until recently, that is. For some inexplicable reason, he's decided that napping and bedtime are overrated, and he'd rather be doing something else. Like jumping on my bed. Or playing with his bathtub frog. Or racing up and down the hallway while his sister sleeps. He makes it as far as his crib, and then the tantrum begins. With it, the ear splitting screams, the crocodile tears, and the hysterics seen only in the worst B-movie theatrical productions.

Tonight, I convinced him to lay down and sleep after informing him that "everyone else is sleeping." He looked at me, curiosity piqued. Recognizing an in , I continued:

"Mina is sleeping. And Oscar is sleeping. And Grandma H is sleeping. And Grandma B is sleeping. And Grandpa is sleeping. And Uncle Osman is sleeping. And Uncle Riz is sleeping. And Jessica is sleeping. And Aunt T is sleeping. And Azziza is sleeping. And Medina is sleeping. And Samina is sleeping."

And then I moved on to his favorite inanimate objects:

"And the garden is sleeping. And the basil is sleeping. And the garage is sleeping. And the hose is sleeping. And the kitchen is sleeping."

And on, and on.

His response?

"Again ..."

And so, I "read" him my sleeping story again. And again. And one more time for good measure, alternating names and places, people and things. Always ending with, "And now, Jordan is sleeping."

All I have to say is, it's time to consult my sleep training guides again, because it looks like we've reached a new chapter in our saga. And it's not pretty. I have a sneaking suspicion this behavior might be related to the relinquishing of the binky, but who knows? It could be because the moon is in the seventh house, or Jupiter's aligned with Mars. It could be because the days are longer, and his bedtime still shines with sunlight coming through his window. It could be because he knows I'm tired, or because the grass is growing too fast.

I think it's because he's a toddler who's rapidly becoming a little too spoiled for his own good. We'll need to think about this one.

Mommy is sleeping now and I am ignoring Monkey's voice on the monitor as he recites:

And Grandma is sleeping...and moo is sleeping...and Mina is sleeping...and the garage is sleeping...

le sigh.

Labels: Jordan, toddlerisms

On this blog, I write a lot about my monkeys and their adventures. Some adventures lead us far from home. Most tend to be pretty routine. In terms of adventures, nothing is more reliably hazard prone than the one we embark on five times a day, every day - eating. Three meals a day and two snacks (as per all the feeding guidelines) provides us with countless opportunities for mayhem, exasperation, hand-wringing, eye-rolling, and patience-testing.

Why do I devote so much time to the whole eating thing? In a nutshell, I think it's because this particular issue is a microcosm for parenting as a whole. First time parents take note, you will learn a lot about yourself when confronted with the task of feeding your child. If you think breast-feeding is hard, wait till they learn to talk back (the kid, that is.) If you sit back now in your blissful singleton state rolling your eyes in judgment at parents feeding their child chicken nuggets and french fries, just wait. The time shall come when your sanctimony and smugness will come back to haunt you. The time will come when you shall look into the depths of your soul and ask yourself, "Do I have what it takes?"

In my case, I already know the answer. I gave up months ago. It's a complete free-for-all in our house and I don't even care.

What kind of parent are you? Test yourself by having two children, close in age, each of whom has a radically different approach to culinary exploration.



Exhibit A - the picky toddler. Every moment spent at the table is an ordeal to be borne with the patience of Job, the stiff upper lip of a true Englishman, and the fortitude of a hardened combat veteran. Here Jordan pantomimes his feelings about being there. Who is that little companion beside him? Why it's a Smurf, of course. Don't you eat all your meals with some form of diversion to occupy yourself?



In contrast, here we have his sister, Miss Mina. Not only is her tray loaded down with twice the amount of food as her brother, she is so eager to get at it, that I have to keep it a safe distance from her to allow me enough time to snap the picture. For those wondering - she is eating some Orzo pasta, tomatoes, spinach and ricotta filled raviolis, and a side slice of pizza (her brother's sole concession to food).



Ever the comedian, Monkey frequently uses humor to distract me from my stated mission of feeding him. On this particular occasion, the Smurf paid the price.



"Just try it, you might like it," he says to the Smurf ... then demonstrates by face planting said Smurf into the plate.



And yet, I considered this particular meal a huge success. Why? Because Monkey then proceeded to lick the food off the Smurf's head. Yes! Calories in!

Monkey could sit at the table all day goofing off with Smurfs and books, and bottle caps. It doesn't matter, as long as no one pressures him to eat anything. On the other hand, this is what happens when Miss Mina is not fed quickly enough.



She tries really hard to feed herself; and she does a good job for the most part. Except when she misses. And then the floor looks like this.



Which is why we have this.



Buon Appetito!

Labels: food aventures, siblings