Saturday, September 21, 2013

Michael & Pete's Wedding

In September we traveled to Seattle for the wedding of Michael & Pete. Soren continues to love airplane travel, especially when we bring sticker books for entertainment. Our trip was pretty epic in terms of transport. We took:
-A bus from our house in Saint Paul to the airport
-A light rail to our terminal at MSP
-A plane to SEATAC
-A train from SEATAC to the city
-A light rail from the last train terminal to the bus stop
-A bus from downtown Seattle to Jana's house
-We thought about getting a taxi when we took a wrong turn (walking) and couldn't find Jana's house. But then: we found it! Whew! It was a long day and Soren was a trooper, and pretty pleased with all of the different modes of travel.
We stayed with Rebe's LVC roommate, Jana, and her fiance James. Soren loved (to harass) their black kitten. Jana & James live in a cute little neighborhood in Seattle and we were able to walk to Starbucks (because, Seattle, obviously). We also went to an awesome playground/lake/running path to play. Best part: canoe in the sand pit. Really cool. And: the best Thai food, ever.
Andy and Kerri came too! This is a blurry photo, but one of the only ones I took at the wedding. I swear there was a bridge and groom there...
The day after the wedding we took a bus to a park on Puget Sound. Soren loved going by the harbor and looking at all the boats and construction equipment.
 Throwing rocks in the sound. It was super cold, and these Minnesotans didn't bring appropriate gear.
A Scandinavian wedding cake...

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Cousins Again

Same photos, just edited.  Someday I'll find a class so I can actually learn what I'm doing.  For now, these will have to do!

Saturday, September 14, 2013

18 Months

Soren is already 18 months are we are way overdue for a little upkeep on this blog. After a really great summer, we are settling into a new routine here in St. Paul, a routine which includes a new "school" for Soren.  This fall we moved him to a Montessori center that is close to my high school. We took these photos on his first day, when he was super excited to carry his "pack pack" with his lunch in it.  So far, we are super happy with the school and how Soren is transitioning to it.  The first week he cried for "mama" quite a lot at drop off. The second week, he whimpered as we walked in the door, stopped crying once we got into his room to peek into Marshmallow's (the class pet guinea pig) cage to see if he was awake, and by the time I got to the exit I could hear him cock-a-doodle-doodle-ing with his teacher (his new favorite noise).  Now, our little boy's done grown up. He switched from calling me "mama" to "mah-meeeee" and then...starting Friday...mum.  What?!  I am NOT ready to be "mum" yet. However, it was quite entertaining when he switched just this morning from "dada" to "dud."  Haha! Sorry Micah!  We are emphatically replying with "dad-deeeee" to make sure that one doesn't stick.

So Soren at 18 months is a really, really awesome kid. Ok, so we're biased. He says all sorts of silly things.  Currently he's really into colors and counting.  Particularly the colors blue and green ("bu" and "geen") and the numbers two and nine.  No clue why. Some of my favorite words that he says are: peeeese (please, with the sign language too), no noooooo! (oh no!), shhhhhhh (with the finger to the lips, to Papi usually), bao-bao (bobo which is the Dominican word for pacifier, which he says like a little British man), two-weeeee (one, two, three, wee for going down slides), DOWN! (yelled to himself after he stands up in his high chair and knows he shouldn't), and bebeeee (baby).

 He loves toy cars and trucks and also toy animals.  And real animals too.  He carries one or the other around pretty much all the time (see yellow bulldozer in photos above). His favorite toy horse often joins our meals (Soren shares) and tonight went in the bath. Often it ends up in the crib, too.  He likes lining up his train cars and can figure out which side of the magnet makes them stick together. He gets pretty mad when they fall off the track but he's getting a better handle on his frustration with that. Outside time is still the favorite, and any time we pass a playground he yells "PAY" (play) and claps his hands.  This child has no fear and will go down any slide. This has lead to many near heart-attacks for the parents of said child.  Micah built Soren a sweet water table and that has been a favorite outdoor activity all summer. Also, Soren still loves pushing the umbrella stroller or his lawn mower all over the West 7th neighborhood.  We're pretty famous in these parts for all the concrete mowing Soren has done.

At 18 months I think Soren's favorite foods would have to be cheeseburgers and pancakes (not eaten together....usually).  He also loves pluots and mangos.  And let's be honest, he also loves the cookies at church.  And DATES.  Still!

He's got all his teeth expect for the final 4 molars. And he brushes them often.  He's got 5 toothbrushes. What a hoarder!

All in all, these are good days.  We feel very, very lucky to get to spend them with this boy.