Rye, 15m

Rye uses a lot of signs now: he's added tapping one index finger on his open mouth for "water," clapping his hands together for "help me" (which he used with Daddy to indicate he couldn't get the baby lock open), and he has picked up approximations for the signs for banana, raisins, grapes, He's pretty reliable with "more" and "eat," helicopter, "go out," and now "siren."

It's been tough finding a good online ASL dictionary for foods. If you know of one, please message us. This book and this book are helping, but neither are all that comprehensive.

He's making sounds with his vehicles: tsuh tsuh tsuh for the train, and small vrooming noises for cars, and bzzzzzzzz for the buzzy bee and the bee chant.

He likes to turn the lightswitches on and off, and he has figured out how to work the dial dimmer switch.

Sometimes, after he asks for a book, you can give it to him and he will open it up, point his finger to the text, and start talking some organized gibberish in a low tone as he moves his finger across.

He has at least four molars coming in, after two new ones at the end of last month. He's drooling a lot.

I'm sure there is plenty more to talk about, but the milestones come fast and furious. I'll update if I think of others.


Rocking out at home.

Lunch with Mommy at Islands.

Rye loves straws.

Finding his sea legs on the wobbly bridge with Daddy.

Creating Christmas gift artwork.

Scenes from Thanksgiving

Mama took it easy with the camera, so the scenes are a bit random. Rye's favorite things right now are WALKING, reading, and eating Os+raisins. Playing with cousins in Grandma's OT gym isn't so bad, either. Here's three out of four:



Reading The Fuzzy Duckling teeny tiny book

Avid Reader

Rye pulled out the Richard Scarry book, climbed up onto the couch and read to himself for a while this afternoon. He does this frequently—always with Richard Scarry.

Discoveries about Cheerios and Joe's Os

1. Os fit in the slats of the heating vent.
2. It's quite a show when the heat turns on and Os come blowing up out of the floor vent.
3. Guess whose next weekend project is to get screens made for the vents?
4. When you teach the child that an O will stick to the tongue, remember that when he shows you that he can do it, he will have three chewed but unswallowed Os on his tongue already.
5. When getting the child ready for bed after dinner, and Os fall out of his clothes, he will eat them immediately regardless of freshness, then suddenly become inspired to have an early breakfast with many more.

More camping

Another great weekend in the desert with the usual suspects. Rye rocked his faux Robeez in a Royal Robbins impression, shoved his wagon through the sand, and poured gravel back and forth between cups. He missed the late-night drum circle, which included a Persian Daf, a dumbek, djembe, a couple of digeridoos, several plastic egg shakers, some castanets, and other various noisemakers. It's a pretty international group—and some are more musical than others, especially once you factor in handcrafted beer and homemade French apple whiskey.

Rye, 14m and a half

Peek!

Snacking at his cousins' place.

Interacting with peas, which apparently aren't eligible for eating, at an outdoor restaurant.

Playground with Grandma and Grandpa

He's walking!

Rye finally feels like his walking is ready for public viewing. At the playground yesterday he actually let go of his wagon and toddled over to the slide (which he then tried to walk up). This adds a new dimension to his skills, beyond climbing up on chairs and the couch to get into mommy's stuff on her desk. The video is from Sunday.



Reading Richard Scarry's Cars and Trucks and Things that Go with Daddy.

Early reader

This morning, Rye requested a book by signing "book" and asking "buh?" I gave him Curious George Goes Fishing, which is what was right there in the bed. He opened it up, then traced his finger across the text, mumbling some type of organized gibberish in a steady, low voice. Does this qualify as his first read aloud?

Reading Richard Scarry's classic I am a Bunny, while stylishly sporting the handknit sweater that Aunt Baba sent from Vermont.

Bathtub pouring

Rye worked on his pouring skills tonight. Mommy gave him the metal pitcher after he'd asked to work with the glass (family antique!) one that he usually uses with the barley. Wasn't safe enough for the bath, so he was able to carry the metal one to the tub, and he worked until the water got cold, the bubbles dissolved, and Mommy pulled him out, screaming. Literally.