where is...

Who needs expensive toys? One of Schuyler's relentlessly enjoyable games is definitely "where is...?" (known on the mainland as "peekaboo"). She'll play "where's Schuyler?" and hide herself and "Where's Mummy?" by hiding Mummy. Mummy and Daddy like to play games like "where is... all our free time?" and "where is... all our money?"

hunter gatherer

I used to not believe that there were any differences between men and women. That was before I lived with a very kind and patient woman who gently instructed me that I had far too few pillows, too few soaps, too few shoes and also too many guitars, photos of musicians, and useless paper. I also learned that hearing is different from listening. That kind woman gave birth to a beautiful little girl who taught me that this little girl likes to gather. With the aid of her crocodile cart, she collects various objects (remote controls, burp cloths, books, phones, dishtowels, dog toys) on her cart and then drives them around the room, presumably looking for a checkout counter. On the other hand, the similar aged boy babies taught me that boys like to break stuff, run around with 100% energy and 0% knowledge of what there are going to do next. I'm starting to understand why women think we men are dumb.

Little Dresses - Part 2

Liz has been waiting for the day when Schuyler will toddler enough to withstand a little dress and the day is finally here. Although she only walks six steps or so before gravity takes over, she seems to try a lot harder in a dress. In this scene, our hero is trapped outside after a perfunctory bath while Schuyler taunts him by both being inside where the action is and also getting the better part of the Big People's attention. Sorry, Magic... how about we buy your love back with treats and bones?

little dresses - part 1

whats on?

Schuyler likes to lounge on the couch in her underwear and watch television. All the books do say that they will imitate you. Maybe i'll have to find a new leisure activity for when she is around. Perhaps Calculus.

saucy

Forget, "blue steel", this is the new model pose from Schuyler "saucy".

uh-oh

Although Schuyler's first word was probably "ug" for "dog" and then "ca" for "cup", "cat", "car" (we're not sure which), her first fully intelligible word is "uh-oh" which she learned from her new mate, Trystan. She says it whenever she drops something. And now, she has started the oh-so-fun game of deliberately dropping anything and everything just so she can say "uh-oh". Picking things up all the time is no fun but hearing her say "uh-oh" is priceless.

water baby

and we're in!

You can't really see her face (unless you click to enlarge the image) but she was thrilled with her swim. Her dad's back was less thrilled with all the work it did to keep her afloat.

Theo, Alex (Theo's Dad) and Schuyler (and her Dad) take a rinse off after their saltwater foray.

After their swim, Theo and Schuyler chat about their experience and presumably practiced their french.

just a quick splash

During a fun afternoon chez les Potts, we were not expecting a swim (and we therefore not exactly dressed appropriately) but we jumped in anyway. Schuyler and her Dad both went swimming in their underwear. Schuyler's reaction confirmed that she is a BermyBaby. She loved the water. Her dad found the water a little too chilly since it was breaking the Bermuda rule of only entering the water after May 24th. Schuyler didn't seem to mind the cold at all, confirming that she is indeed half-Vermonter. Not a bad blend.

how about them apples?

saturday afternoon

Schuyler's parents had a wonderful discovery: The baby monitor at Ward and Kim's works out by the pool! Helloooooo naptime! Of course, getting Schuyler to nap in different places is part of an elaborate training regime for her Sweden-Bahamas voyage and not just an excuse for her parents to have a little naptime of their own in the sunshine by sparkling waters. It was a very welcome respite. Come on in - the water's great.

as the day she was born...

Just before bath time, we had an escapee. Fortunately, she couldn't get very far.

current family favourite

Well, at least in our little family of three she's the current favourite (sorry, Magic).

ou est ta tete?

Look! Look! She's a genius! She understands French and knows where her head is!

Look! Look! It was all a fluke! Pure correlation! She has no idea what i'm saying!

baby steps

Well, there's no photographic evidence but witness at the scene (Mum, Dad, Lucy) all signed a sworn affidavit to the effect that Schuyler took her first unaided step today. Her Mum was holding her while Lucy lured her with a red block. Schuyler stood for a moment without help and then took a step toward Lucy. She tried another step but landed on her little bum. Reading this entry, it probably sounds banal but watching it left us gobsmacked. There are no words to describe it. Well, there are probably all the words in this paragraph but they still don't do it. It was pretty darn cool. As my students would say "nuff respect" to the little bear.

a mother's day walk and climb - everything is o-"kah"

happy mothers day

The only men in our house at the moment are dogs so it was a delight to celebrate mother's day with three generations of Zalinger women - all of them looking good and all of them brushed their hair (although the older, more practiced ones had more success than the malcoordinated little one who still poops her pants).

Schuyler prepares for college

zoo

Grandma Tobe had the peculiar pleasure of visiting our little (and much visited by exhausted parents) aquarium and zoo. Schuyler was very patient with the fact that we made her wear her hat AND Baby Banz sunglasses. She even seemed to take somewhat of an interest in the animals this time which is a nice change from her obsessive interest in only falling water on previous visits. Hey, at least she's easily pleased.

adventures in babysitting

With Lucy on vacation, Grandma Tobe stepped up to the plate and readily took on the burden of leaving the frosty fields of Vermont for the sunshine of a tropical island to care for the little bear. Well, sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do to keep the family together! Grandma Tobe and Schuyler had a great week, venturing into Tom Moore's jungle, playing on the porch, building towers, playing "pull down every book off the bookshelf" and other fun games. Tobe was a big help and i'm not quite sure what we would have done if she didn't answer the call. Schuyler really took to her and always burst into a great big smile when Grandma came downstairs in the morning. Thank you, Grandma! Same time next year?