I began this blog seven years ago, when Ellie was a newborn, and week by week, I meticulously documented her hiccups, speculated about her nascent personality, and included accompanying photos in each post. Now Ellie is 7, Myles is 4, and I have not posted since August—though I have dutifully written “kids’ blog post” in the margin of my planner for weeks now. I never anticipated that my brain could become so oversaturated with stress and stimuli that it would freeze like a computer on the fritz. And how does one reboot an almost 40-year-old working parent? Asking for a friend. The blog is ostensibly about the children but since I have been subsumed by the children, I will permit some of own musings.
So. It is that sleepy week between Christmas and the beginning of the new year, and we are camped out in an Airbnb in Encinitas, where we flew on Christmas Eve after an early family celebration on the 23rd. But before we jump right in, let me catch you up on everything since August.
In late August, we returned from Montreal and Nitin immediately for to North Carolina to retrieve Ziggy, our new chocolate labradoodle puppy. Ziggy has been enthusiastically welcomed by all and perhaps most of all by Ellie, who attended puppy training classes alongside Nitin and sleeps next to Ziggy’s crate in her room. We’ve been so impressed with how Ellie takes Ziggy out to pee and feeds him in the morning—a big responsibility! Ziggy himself is a lovable, shaggy character—more on the Labrador side of the game pool than Zoe, he is floppy, friendly, and voraciously hungry. We think he’ll also be larger than Zoe when he grows into his giant paws.
A second dog has amplified the chaos in the house. We are still working on carving out a bit of peace for ourselves. But Ziggy’s sweetness adds joy to our life and I suspect life may feel calmer once he is past peak puppy mania.
Ellie began first grade in Ms. Van Hook’s class this year. Few of her buddies from kindergarten were assigned to her class but she is forging new friendships in her own way and at her own pace. Ellie finished a stint in therapy recently with Dr. D, and one of the mementos we left with was a turtle fashioned out of pipe cleaners—a reminder to be respectful of Ellie’s natural pace and way of being. My own mom gently gave similar advice. We have to let our children be who they are—and beyond that we must accept and celebrate who they are. Ellie and I talked about how sometimes social situations can feel harder for people like her and me. But we are both so worth getting to know and are great friends to the people we love.
Ellie is blossoming academically this year, reading chapter books and graphic novels like babysitters club little sister series. She still delights in art and seems so at peace when she is drawing or otherwise using crafting new creations. And like me, she likes to make lists! She also is enjoying cooking, including making new recipes from a cookbook received for her birthday and making Blue Apron meals with her dad. Ellie and I will begin guitar lessons next week and she will be playing basketball and taking a cooking enrichment class after school for the next few months. Ellie continues to belong to her Girl Scout troop , which is a great source of friendship and a way to stay close to kindergarten friends—and my way of trying to help support friendships that will make her feel more comfortable in whatever class she is assigned to. Ellie teased me that in my notes to her, I always say that I love to watch her grow. But it is true. She is funny, kind, sharp, and so observant. She is loving and wise beyond her years.
Myles is in his last year at CCCC this year, a big kid in the upstairs classroom—dubbed the Colorful Sky Painters, a name I personally find delightful. Myles continues to enjoy watching his documentaries—a varied collection featuring diverse topics such as marine life, the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and the burning of Notre Dame cathedral. So, light fare.
He continues to enjoy hanging with his “mighty crew” and is such a social guy. He gives hugs easily and loves looking at books. Myles is a charmer—he’s got a great smile that lights up his face and may say out of the blue, “mama, I don’t love anybody but you.” And then two minutes later he will earnestly say the same to his dad or to one of his two favorite stuffies, bow wow and bow wow pito. I am so curious to see how Myles unfolds as he goes to Glebe for kindergarten next year. I think he will love that potential for more enrichment activities—whereas Ellie needs more alone time to unwind, Myles is always clamoring for more activities and social time!
And as for other occurrences this fall…both kids continue to tame swimming lessons at our local high schools, with both making good progress! We visited Grandma and Grandpa in Chicago in October and saw some of my old friends while we were there. Grandma and Grandpa visited us for Thanksgiving and both kids delighted in spending time with them. Both kids have loved spending time with Nani, with Ellie visiting on Tuesday and Friday afternoon, and Myles visiting on weekends. Shefali and Emma visited for a couple of days in November, and we all celebrated Diwali together! Grandma, Grandpa, Dylan, and Angelica visited us for an early Christmas—ice skating for Myles’s first time was a highlight. And that brings us to present day.
We have much to look forward to in 2024–trips to Charlottesville, Boston, Europe, Chicago and beyond; kindergarten for Myles and second grade for Ellie; diving into home renovation plans. And hopefully, a great many slow, peaceful moments, too.
Notable Quotes:
Correct, Technically...
N: You have to believe in yourself!
E: No I don’t! It’s my choice!
Language Confusion...
B: I have to turn on my computadora.
M: Your computer's name is Dora?!
Just making sure!
Myles, home with a fever:
"daddy, do you want to keep me healthy and care about me so much"
Everyone's special little guy
N: you know you’re my special little guy right?
M: no, mommy says I’m her special little guy.
N: what? How can that be?
M: I guess I’m both the parents’ special little guy.
You and only you...
M, while feverish: Mama, I don't like anybody else but you.
M, an hour later: Daddy, I don't like anybody else but you.
Future marketing exec
M, while looking at zoe's little heartshaped mini treats and spelling out the word B-I-T-S: they should be called meat hearts.
Making his mark
M edited Adamsville Cemetery on Google Maps and shared his google maps location with Jeff.
Wordsmith
E: Coffee tastes horrid.
N: At least you have a good vocabulary.
E: What does vocabulary mean?
Mapper Myles
M recognized Sydney Opera House and then said: Daddy, can you show me Wolf Rock off Rainbow Beach in Queensland, Australia?
Marine Myles
Sleepy M: “Mama?”
B: “Yes, baby?”
SM: “Bull Sharks live in rivers and estuaries.”
Benign Hunting
Myles, wearing a backpack, shoes, and a pole with a dog toy attached to it: "I am hunting for labradoodles!" Pauses. "I am hunting for labradoodles so I can give them food and protect them in their habitat."
Introspection
E, re: her therapist: Why is she so wise and nice but not my type of woman?
Vampire Tendencies
B: When people ask you not to suck their blood, it is polite to listen to them.
M: I wasn’t really sucking daddy’s blood.
E: It’s kind of an alarming thing even to say though.
Quick Question
E: "I have a question."
N: "Go ahead."
E: "If all life on earth came from tiny organisms billions of years ago, how did the tiny organisms start?"
N: "That's a good question. People don't know the answer yet. There are a few theories. One of the theories is that the tiny organisms traveled to earth on a meteorite and spread out from there. But there are other theories and we haven't figured out the answer."
E: "Oh. Let me know if we figure it out."
N: "I'll keep you posted."
AKA Turkey
E, referring to a blow up turkey in a neighbor's yard: Is it...a Thanksgiving chicken?
Bedtime Requests
M: “Mama, can you draw the USS Arizona on my back?”
Holiday Spirit
E: Why do we never go caroling? Do we just not have the energy?
