At the zoo

After five weeks in Beantown

Here are some photos:





Maybe I'm imagining things, but it seems like the pace of life just keeps picking up for the Korsons. After one month all together in our new home, the unpacking is still not complete and we have much organizing, etc. ahead of us.

However, we have had fun. We've taken two quick trips up to New Hampshire (where we hiked and visited a farm); entertained Grandma Mary and Grandpa Tom; visited the Museum of Fine Arts and the zoo; and attended a couple Baby music/storytime classes at our local library.

I've recently organized a childcare co-op for about 15 neighborhood families who, like me, could use a break occasionally, but can't afford to pay for it. So far, we've just had a few playdates to get to know each other, but Anika and I will be swapping a few hours of entertainment with some new friends next week. Creating this group has also had the benefit of enabling me to meet and socialize with other new parents in the neighborhood. I honestly feel like I've had more social engagements these past few weeks than I've had in a long time, which is odd considering we're so new to this place. So, in sum: we're very happy here, just very, very tired.

Tomorrow I'm going to become a member at a local gym that seems inexpensive and provides childcare. After having exercised only a handful of times during the past year, I'm looking forward to working out a couple times per week. Although Anika doesn't love me leaving her, she's increasingly interested in playing and loves to be around other kids. Plus, this gym shares a building with a toddler art/movement place AND a children's music school. I think we're going to begin taking advantage of some art classes here once the weather begins to cool.

Also, I know it sounds insane, but I just signed Anika up for a free "Countdown to Kindergarten" program at an elementary school down the street from us. Beginning tomorrow we'll be going to a 1.5 hour pre-school program once a week for one to three year olds. The class will be run by an early childhood educator, and is intended to provide kids with developmentally appropriate activities, help prepare kids (and parents) for school, and to help parents access social services. It seems like it could be a nice thing to be apart of, even if Anika seems (to me) too young to go thorough the whole pre-school routine.

And as for Anika's development, we continue to be amazed. She now has about 45-50 signs and is saying around 15 words. This morning over breakfast she kept signing "monkey", and after I told her (twice) that her monkey was still sleeping in bed with kitty, she signed "monkey" then "kitty" then "bed". Impressive for thirteen months, nay? She also does adorable things like sign "grandma/pa" when I turn on my computer because she wants to skype with them.

She's toddling rapidly and playing with a passion. She's become very interested in imitating us and donning accessories. There's apparently no greater thrill than waddling about our condo carrying her red Elmo handbag, talking on the phone and wearing a hat. Shoes are also totally awesome, as is feeding and passing the phone to her stuffed animals.

In other news, Andrew is surviving residency, though it is challenging. He is entering his third week without a day off, and has been largely working odd hours in the Emergency Department lately. While the nature of the ED means somewhat reduced hours, it hasn't been particularly restful since Anika doesn't care how late Dada was up. Nevertheless, we are survivors: we plan to visit New York next weekend, if only for a day or two.

Walking and the First Birthday

After a hectic few final days in San Francisco (during which Anika took her first steps and celebrated her actual first birthday) Mama and Anika are enjoying a week of respite and celebration in sunny Colorado. Here are some pictures from the birthday party today and a video of her walking yesterday.

As you can see above, Mama and Grandma baked Anika a very fun birthday cake, loosely modeled after her best friend Davely. It was created from a bear mold; I lowered the ears, constructed a prosthetic muzzle and added a tail. Needless to say, our resident monkey expert was enthusiastic.

Wielding Tools

I just took advantage of a rare moment when she was too busy to care about demanding the camera.

She's been more consumed by her play these past few days, which is nice. I think the ability to entertain oneself is an endlessly useful skill.

P.S. Some new signs: kitty, happy, sleep, hat, monkey, baby and possibly Dada. Anika's also pretty clearly saying bye, and taking an earnest stab at kitty, monkey and ball. Not much development in the walking department this week though. She's very good at standing on her own and cruising, but is hesitant to strike out on her own.

Freestanding!

Here's evidence of the near-walking. She's taken about 1.5-2 steps here and there over the past few days, and regularly stands on her own for about 7-10 seconds.

This image is evidence also of why I'm not taking more photos or videos these days. Every time I get out the camera Anika quits whatever she was doing and demands I relinquish the device.

One Giant Leap?

I saw Anika take one small step this evening. She's been trying to stand on her own quite a bit for the past day or so. I counted 9 seconds on one "stand" this evening. She's also really getting the hang of the sign language. I feel like she's learning a new sign almost every day. New signs include: diaper, eat, phone and fan. She's definitely still interested in signing and saying kitty, monkey, bird and duck, but none are passing exactly. She says "gi" often when pointing at her kitty and monkey stuffed animals, "di" for dog or duck, and "ba" when we talk about birds. But she says "ba" for bread, banana and ball too. Oh, and she says "ah ah ah ah" (as in "ooh ooh ah ah") whenever I talk about Davely or monkeys. Does that count as a word? If she's holding Davely she shakes him up and down as she says this, just like her mama does.

She's also capable of stacking a block, playing ball nowadays, and screaming when she doesn't get what she wants. I think my baby is transforming into a toddler before my very eyes...

The Eleven Month Update

Well, we are extremely busy these days. I'm juggling being a full-time student and mom (with short-term help from Grandma Karen), Andrew is moving into our new home after a brief--an surprisingly relaxed--week and a half of residency, and Anika is... well, just busy.

Andrew was surprised to learn that he'd been scheduled to have a one week vacation just two weeks into residency. It's not what you'd call much needed, but it's honestly an ideal time. He had the movers deliver our stuff yesterday, and after two days of unpacking he'll join us in SF again for a few days on Tuesday. Anika and I will be go glad for his companionship and help.

So that I can get back to work here, I've just posted some recent photos and will list off some recent developments below.

Words*:
Bread
Yeah

Signs**:
Hi/bye
More
Dog
Wash
Milk
Toothbrush
Hooray
Drink

Favorite Activities:
Brushing her hair and teeth, along with those of Mama and her stuffed animals
Kissing
Playing ball
Listening to music/dancing
Playing with nesting cups
Reading books
Pushing her walking toy--and giving rides to her friends
Eating (new likes: curry, nectarines and lasagna; new dislikes: baby food)
Standing (for about 5-7 seconds on her own)

*Anika's been saying "brah" and "yah" for at least a month now, but I'm just now coming around to the idea that they actually mean something. "Yeah" seems like an odd first word to me; nevertheless, when I said "do you want to brush your teeth?" (with no toothbrush in sight) yesterday she said "yeah", made the sign for toothbrush, and then did it again when I demonstrated for Grandma. That's pretty hard to deny...


**She also seems to be trying to sign (and/or say) duck, kitty, bird, eat, bread, and possibly "all done," but they're not quite passable or confused (she signs "dog" when she sees a cat, for instance).

What a smarty-pants!