426. One Year Doctor's Appointment

Andrew had his year doctor's appointment. He weighs 23.5 lbs. I couldn't find in the blog where William was weighed at 1. It should be April 2005, but I don't see it in a couple tries. Of course I can't really sit at the computer any more. The doctor gave him 3 shots. He says he's lactose intolerant or whatever, and we should switch him to soy milk from the formula, which will be considerably cheaper. I'm kind of glad he's not going to take bovine source milk. I myself like soy milk. The doctor said he's not going to have trouble with the shots, but he was a bit clingy the past few days.

It's been a stressful week. When I loose it a little and raise my voice in frustration, I just think, "they're internalizing the bad object." Yeesh. Grunty, Grunticus, Terradactyl is a bit of a babyzilla. He smashes plates of food, he grabs books out of our hands, he climbs over my body using his tough little toes to get painful toe holds.

William struggles with it, too. He tries to put his Thomas trains places where Grunty can't get, but Grunty is a plucky tough little thing, he can get everywhere. We often find him precariously in the window sill in his room, not the one with the soft couch to fall on.

Tuesday, Zane's last day, we spent a long time in the park. Mia was there, and Daniella, who began to get severe contractions. She called her mother, but later when I saw her, she was back from the hospital.

Paquita is doing a good job, or "Kita" as William calls her.

Thursday night, my night with the boys with Diana in class till late, I played the boys a lot of music. Grant Green, Kind of Blue by Miles Davis, some hip hop and some Alison Krauss.

Last weekend I saw some leaves changing color. Grunty's birthday was officially autumn.

425. Andres turned one

Andrew turned one on Saturday! The family had a big party to celebrate at Virginia and Tim's in New Jersey. In attendance were Abuela and Abuelo, Aida, Robyn, Natasia, Harry, Angie, AJ, Emma, Jose Antonio and wife and newborn daughter Arianna, Jessica, Jacky, Zolt, Nicole, Christian, Josephine, Ava, her sister, and her daughter Jillian. Poor Diana who is overwhelmed with motherhood, work, marriage, didn't get the invitations into the mail--they sat in her backpack until it was too late, so it was just family, but that was more than enough. The party is a family event in a way. There was cake, and a pinata. Abuela cooked perniel. Thank you to everyone who helped out and attended.

Zane came the Thrusday before. He's been a huge help, he's totally focused on the boys, you can tell how much he loves them. Pauquita still came Thursday and Friday, I didn't want him to be overloaded. He got to see the speech therapist at work with William. And Paquita came with us to the aquarium, we needed her help.

Monday we went to the aquarium, and then William dipped his feet in the Atlantic ocean for the first time at Coney Island. Andrew and William wanted me to carry them, making Paquita and Zane helpless to help me with their demands. They actually helped a lot. Andrew didn't like the loud public address system in the sea lion show, so I walked him around. We had lunch there, and toured all the exhibits. I have a great picture of William running away from a sea lion because he was scared. Andrew fell asleep, and I took William down to the water at the beach.

Zane leaves today.

424. Long Time No Write

It's been overwhelming with Diana going back to work, hard to write. Andrew has gotten his 5th and 6th tooth, and a skin rash. William and Andrew had their first swimming lesson today. Monday Paquita comes to take care of William and Andrew, the era of Paquita begins.

I enjoy Thursday nights with the boys. Diana has class Tuesday and Thursday. Aida is going to watch the boys Tuesday so I can go to sangha night.

Last Sunday was Harry and Angie's wedding. William was dancing with Delilah. I went home after 4 hours because I had stomach trouble. It was a lovely wedding, even though Harry left Aida and Natasia about 9 years ago to be with Angie, I see that as water under the bridge. Harry and Angie have 2 children together, and AJ is one of William's favorites. I think it's better to get married, and then have children. I think that works best, but I realize that the world is imperfect, things often don't go off in the best way.

423. Diversity and Limits

I love the diversity of our neighborhood. At the park today, we were closer to the Jewish section of Main Street Flushing, so there were some Jewish kids, which is quite a diverse thing in itself, from the religious orthodox Jews of Europe or the Middle East. But there was also a woman with a French accent, and an Asian man. The other day in Vliegh Park there was a Muslim woman with the complete hidden body thing, with only the eye slits. There was also a white woman with an indeterminate European accent with mulatto children. Many Indian (not Native American) and Hispanic and WASPs like me. Many varieties of traditional cultures from all over the world, and less traditional people like me, who love it all but can't really cling to my own culture. I have found a different religion, have merged with a different culture. I love the diversity of New York City. I find it really vibrant and alive. I know some people feel best when there's a tight community of similar values. I'm sure I would love that, but where am I going to find a Wasp/European/Hispanic hybrid Buddhist community? I want diversity and tolerance of difference. Not idiot tolerance, not unlimited permissivism. I still wish ethical, family oriented, and tending towards high culture instead of monster truck rallies, but I have room for that too. I like the racially mixed couple upstairs, the Hispanic woman with the Catholic white man upstairs, the Philippine families. It is a rich and hearty broth.

William got one time out for marginally provoking, and not diffusing a conflict with a little girl. William has gotten into a few shouting matches with other little kids. Also no pushing. I remember Wes saying on our week long visit, "ah he finally said no to William." William is getting a lot of no's, I want him to get some yeses too. Andrew gets no's too, about climbing into the window sill in his room, about climbing up onto the computer chair. I do believe in limits and teaching children to be civilized and easily integrated into the group without causing lots of troubles.

422. Thomas The Tank Engine

When I first saw Thomas The Tank Engine, I thought it was weird, preposterous. As the Wikipedia article mentions, it has subanthropomorphism.

But a few thousand hours later of DVD and video watching, I've found the tales to be quite good. And when William gets a fad, he gets a fad, there's not stopping him. Here are some of his favorite web sites:

Official Site

Riley and Drew's Site

Drew's site

421. Back to work

Diana went to work a little while on Monday and back to work full time on Thursday. The boys have a cold, and so they're whiney and winge, but they have a kind of unnamable discontent with their mother away. William is more conscious of it, and he sees Abuela as the absence of his parents. Andrew enjoys playing with Abuela, and does not seem to be as traumatized by it. Aunt Di visited this week too, with her kindness and goodwill.