Sleeping with "Grumps"

A typical Monday . . .

Noah's First Channukah!!!

We had a wonderful first Channukah celebration . . . Noah was mesmerized by the lights

(he liked the songs too!)

Robin's Party!!

Our friend Robin had a Christmas Party, and Noah decided to get in the spirit to help her celebrate!




Baby Martin (age 6 weeks) was also there, and Noah got to visit with him!

Noah likes Dim Sum

We went to Dim Sum last week - Noah was intrigued . . . it's not long now before he can start on those Jin deui (they are my new favorite). Please, no fung zao though! (Although I hear Grandpa Steve loves them!)

(Noah with 烧卖 shāomài) (Ella, can you read this yet? We're counting on you to order for us.)

Saturday Morning with Dad

A typical Saturday morning . . .

Cool Kid

The Apple Doesn't Fall Far From The Tree

Dave and Noah
Who is who?

Noah is the Center of Everything

"Old Man" (with Noah on vocals . . . )

This is Noah's first musical number. Thanksgiving is also my dad's birthday. He asked for a "performance" from us - this is what he got (after the Wednesday night drafting session that involved much beer). The lyrics are provided below for your enjoyment

Old man, there's no need to feel down
I said old man, get yourself off the couch
I said old man, though you're in the same town that you've lived in all of your life
Old man, there's a place you can go
I said old man, you can drive there real slow
I said Ilan, take your dog and just go
There's so many streets to get lost on . . .

It's really fun to leave Sharon, MA!
Maybe you should get on the freeway
There's a world out there
That you need to explore
You can even go to Darfur
Its really fun to leave Sharon, MA!
Maybe you should get on the freeway
You can drive 35 - you can coast on the breaks
Trooper will come if you give him ham steaks

Old man, while we're on the subject
Of that crazy - dog that Zev made you get
I said Ilan - now that you're a grandpa
Time to ensure that dog can't bite Noah
Ilan - you got Trooper already used
It's not your fault - that he gets so confused
But its time now to give that dog away
Before he maims and kills the Be Be

It's really fun to leave Sharon, MA!
Maybe you should get on the freeway
There's a kennel out there
That you need to go toward
Before Noah ends up a corpse. . .
Its really fun to leave Sharon, MA!
Maybe you should get on the freeway
You can drive 35 - you can coast on the breaks
Mom will come if you don't mention "the mistake."

Ilan, we are not in your shoes
We're not phobic - and not often confused
We know its hard - to leave Sharon, MA
But you're driving Jody crazy
Ilan, she needs to sell this house
I said Ilan, don't just sit there and grouse
When she's trying to upgrade everything
Don't sit back and act like you're king

Its really fun to leave Sharon, MA!
Maybe you should get on the freeway
You can pack up your meds
You can go up to Lowes
You can support whatever Jody chose
Its really fun to leave Sharon, MA!
Maybe you should get on the freeway
You can keep your mouth shut
And don't plague her with doubt
And when things change - well don't freak out!

Old man, you've lived here your whole life
I said old man - you've survived lots of strife
You walked through snow - and you tempted the fates
When you braved the back drive in '78

(We kind of ran out of steam after that).

Friends forever

Sophie and Noah

Noah's Reading Ahead . . .

He wants to know What To Expect . . .

Ok, this is not my kid . . .

It's my friend and his kid . . . I just thought this was a poignant commentary on how great it is to be a parent . . .

Then Again . . .

Maybe Noah is the Walrus . . . (coo coo ca choo).

Coo Coo Ca Choo

Noah loved the choo choo at Keith and Diane's house (at least, I think it is a choo choo). So, did you know that the phrase coo coo ca choo has made its way into the Urban Dictionary? See Link here. Although there are several different definitions, the one I am going with is: "A term often used in the hippie era of the 60s, implying that everything is fine and there is no need to worry about anything."

That's how I feel right now . . . (I am the walrus)

Its fun to be a Dad . . .

You get to throw them up the air and make them laugh until they spit up their dinner . . . cool.

Grandma and Grandpa come for a visit!

This weekend we were very excited to get a visit from Steve and Maxine. This was the first time they had seen Noah since we went to Maryland in July - and as Steve said, he's a totally different baby now! We had a great time on Sunday walking around Salem, MA - although everything was a little quiet because I think the town was in post-Halloween hangover . . .


It seems like we did a lot of eating this weekend as well - what would a great weekend be without breakfast at The Lighthouse?


Not to mention Sushi!


But mostly we just hung out - and it was great. We can't wait to go down and see them in December!

Don't Let a Black Cat Cross Your Path . . .

Noah had a great first Halloween! We went trick or treating with Noah's cousins: John, Ollie, and Andy (and my cousins Sarah and Jay) in the neighboring town. They have an awesome neighborhood where all the houses really do it up. There were about 60 kids and their parents out on the streets just in the hour that we went. It was total and complete bedlam! (The only down side was that I found out that it is waaaayyyy more fun to be a kid at Halloween than to be a parent - stressful!). At first I was taking him up to the doors and getting candy for him - but the other adults were giving me the evil eye in a "we know he can't eat candy yet" kind of way. So, then I got wise and enlisted his cousins to grab extra candy "for Noah" when they went up to the doors. Candy which Dave and I prompty ate. Thanks John, Ollie, and Andy (especially Andy - he was very consciencious about getting candy for his younger cousin).

Pumpkin festival

We also went with our good friends Keith, Diane, Ella, and Sophie to a pumpkin festival. Here are some pictures of us - and a picture of Diane and Sophie getting Sophie's face painted!

Pumpkin Carving

A family resemblance between us and our pumpkins?

DAVE . . . NOAH . . . ME

Of course - they're not the coolest pumpkins I've ever seen - This is the coolest pumpkin I've ever seen!

Pumpkin choosing

We went out to a farm near us to choose our pumpkins . . . While Dave and I chose ours based on size and shape, Noah was more concerned with the "sitability" of his pumpkin!

The spoon - mastered. Bring on the chopsticks!

Rebecca and Phyllis

Aunt Phyllis came to visit Dave's cousin Rebecca, who is a student here . . . we had lunch with them and they met Noah for the first time! Rebecca was so enamored with Noah she begged us to let her baby sit (and believe me, we will take her up on it sometime!)

Dr. Spock (and other horrors)

Dr. Spock no longer rules - you are no longer supposed to let babies sleep on their stomachs (or play with sharp knives . . . ) Watch this "re-enactment" of our discussion the morning my parents were due to take Noah for their first full day . . . :)

First Day of School

In September Noah started to go to daycare, then in October he started going for full days, three days a week. (Then later in October, he promptly caught a cold . . . well, what can you do?) Here is a picture of Dave and Noah on his first day. Note that Noah is asleep in this picture - he's not adapting easily to this 7:30 in the morning thing - he is a night owl!

Bears come out in the Fall

Well, fall is here - and with it, cooler weather, and with cooler weather - cute and cuddly baby outfits! I couldn't resist this one.

Rosh Hashana

Noah experienced his first Rosh Hashana dinner at my parent's house. The next day he and I went to synagogue just in time to hear them blow the shofar - he liked it. I am posting home movies of our family dinner because Noah and Nana are in them. Nana is now in the hospital and our thoughts are with her. (Please ignore my singing - NOT one of my strong suits).

All Smiles :)

Noah has been smiling for a while now - but he's been wily enough not to get caught - until now!

And Mischievious Grins . . ;)

What more is there to say? We are in trouble now . . .

Dave's Take on Storytime with Ilan

Dave had his own take on story time with Ilan.

The caption reads: "If he tells me one more time about the blizzard of '78 I think I'm gonna loose it!"

Ah! The Blizzard of '78 - when Dad walked up the back driveway in chest-high snow and almost didn't make it - the penultimate in "Storm Lore". I don't think there is a day it snows when one of my parents doesn't attempt to compare it with '78 or re-tell the tale . . . thankfully it's summer now . . .

Hey, what's He doing here?

Noah has been busying himself with his mirror lately - but why does his friend keep disappearing every time he looks away???

Noah Conferences Cases

Noah hung out at Case Conference the other day - potentially his last trip to NHPD, sniff! Even though its great for me to be doing something new, I am really going to miss everyone enormously - maybe that's why I keep going back there even though I don't technically work there anymore - they just can't get rid of me!


Behzad still remembers how to hold a baby - it's just like riding a bike, right?Nanette kept me sane (relatively) while I was at NHPD - I don't know how I'm going to do anything without her!
Matt got in some good practice - it won't be long now before he experiences the sleepless nights for himself!
Robin kindly offered to watch Noah while Behzad and I were on a conference call - she's a natural!
Hmmm . . . Paul didn't pose for a picture holding Noah - perhaps he didn't want to give me any more ammunition against him after I surreptitiously snuck the "Diamond Buying Guide" into his inbox . . .

Noah and Grandpa Are In Tune

On Wednesday my Dad sang various made-up songs to Noah for hours (sorry kid) - I believe the lyrics were "Nana Jo is the boss of the world . . ." Finally! He's got it right!