Kerry's Space

This weekend we took Friday off because it is our 10 year wedding anniversary.  We went to the Hamptons.  Our Friday started off with a visit from the dishwasher repair man visit to see our broken dishwasher.  He didn’t have the part so the dishwasher is still broken.  We stopped at the outlets to get teacher gifts for Munchkin’s teachers and then stopped for lunch at Johnny Rockets.  Johnny Rockets has that 50’s music that makes you just want to tap your foot.  Well Munchkin just wanted to dance.  Pretty much the entire time we were there he danced in his high chair.  It was soooooo cute. Then we were off to the Hamptons.  We walked around Southampton’s downtown.  Munchkin had sat for most of the day so we had him walking the downtown.

We got to our hotel and had a whole drama with the hotel so we didn’t stay there.  We found a nice little hotel in East Hampton.  Munchkin ended up sleeping with us because it was a new place.  It didn’t stop him from getting up at 5:30 though.  When in a hotel with a little kid and others sleeping we decided to go for a little walk.  Here is Munchkin pushing his own stroller. That was a new thing he picked up this weekend.  The little kid near the fence is Munchkin.

We also went to the beach all before breakfast was served at 8am.  Munchkin loved walking on the beach but didn’t like the water.

We walked around East Hampton and Sag Harbor and then went home.

Sunday we attended our company picnic.  It was nice to see the other people who had little kids.  Here is Munchkin for the first time on a swing which he loved.  We need to get ours up at home.

Here is Munchkin and a little girl from a coworker who is a similar age.  They both loved the dog.

Here are Munchkin and Dad.  Notice the t-shirts are the same.  See how Munchkin leads Dad around.

I also finished Munchkin’s Weasley sweater for this winter and also for the new premier of the Harry Potter movie this summer.  I am thinking about making Munchkin Ron for Halloween and use the sweater. 

Munchkin modeled his kitty sweater that was recently washed.  It is much too big for him now but I hope fits well in winter.

Munchkin is walking a ton.  He can walk probably 250ft just holding your hand.  It is really awesome. 

This week Munchkin started getting up and walking all on his own.  He will walk up to 25-30 feet on his own.  He is totally doing the Frankenstein walk with his arms up in the air.  This weekend we went to the Renegade Craft Fair and the Zoo in Brooklyn.  Here are some pictures of our Zoo trip. 

Munchkin and Dad at the monkey exhibit.  He found another child more exciting here.

We went to see a cow and Munchkin pulled himself right up to see.

Munchkin takes in an otter.

Munchkin needed a closer look at the sheep.  Good boy.  He knows how much mom likes sheep wool.

We saw a kangaroo.

Today we tried the pool in the back yard again.  He will stand in the pool now, but won’t sit in it.  So at least we are making progress.  Last week he wouldn’t even touch the water. 

In knitting I am done with the cat ssweater for Munchkin.  Just need to wash it. 

I finished the front of the Weasley sweater too.  Now onto the arms.

Last week there was a substitute day care teacher which Munchkin didn’t like not having his normal teacher.  I left him every day and he cried.  We had a nice weekend doing things around the house.  It was nice to have a down weekend.  Saturday I took two naps with Munchkin.  He got his car seats moved so he now faces front rather than backward.  We went out for dinner to a local restaurant on the water.  It was nice and Munchkin did a good job.  We still have to work on not leaving half our food on the floor but he ate our same dinner and behaved otherwise.  We had ice cream and italian ice for dessert so Munchkin had his choice of dessert.  He chose the italian ice more often.  It was so funny watching his little mind at work trying to choose which dessert to have.

Munchkin loves bubbles.  We blew a lot of bubbles this weekend and he learned how to say “bubble” when he wanted the bubbles.  We tried to introduce the baby pool to Munchkin but he was very skeptical of the situation.  Whenever we even put his toe in the water he cried.  He just loves to watch the kids in the neighborhood play.  We sat on our steps and he watched them for a while.  The kids love to see Munchkin because he is the baby of the neighborhood. 

In knitting, I sewed the buttons on Munchkin’s cat sweater and then realized that I totally messed up the shoulders and collar.  So I ripped those out and need to fix them up.  I started a Weasley sweater for Munchkin to have when the movie comes out. I really need to find more time to knit.

This week Nithin went to Redmond for 3 days.  This was his first time being away from Munchkin.  While he was away Grandma and Grandpa came to help out.  They decided to get ice cream from the ding dong cart or ice cream truck as others may know of it.  It was right before Munchkin was to take his bath so he only had his diaper on when he tried ice cream for the first time.

We also decided to let Munchkin try M&M’s.  He hadn’t had sweets before but I felt it was mean to not allow him to have chocolate.

We also went on very short bike ride for the first time. Munchkin didn’t know what to make of it and cried a little.  We only made it 2 blocks away and turned around.

This was Munchkin’s second year going to the Memorial Day parade.  He liked watching the parade.

Nithin and I went into the city and went to Per Se in the city a 4 star Michelin guide restaurant.  The following is what we ate.  It was art on a plate.  The latte was the only thing that wasn’t the most amazing thing I have ever eaten. 

In knitting.  I haven’t done much.  I have been working and taking care of kid while Nithin was away.  We also did a lot of work in the back yard this weekend.  So our back yard now looks more manicured and not just completely overgrown.  Hopefully it all comes back for next year.

This last week we got Munchkin out of the habit of sleeping in our bed.  He is now going down to sleep in his own crib every night.  The only problem is he is waking up at 5:30 am regularly.  This week was just crazy with work. 

This weekend Kerry, George, and Kyle came to visit.  We went to a local fish hatchery.  Here is a  conjoined turtle, one shell and two heads

Here is Munchkin and me looking at the fish in the pool.

We are saying hi to dad and posing for the camera.

Munchkin has taken to pointing things out to us he finds interesting. 

You can’t keep Munchkin in a carriage.  He wanted to get out and walk around. 

We got the jumper Munchkin got for his birthday blown up.  He tried it out a little after seeing Kyle do it.  He liked it once he figured it out.  He really loved watching Kyle jump.  I haven’t seen him laugh so long before watching Kyle jump, and jump, and jump.

We went to the local arboretum.  There was a huge chair we all got into for a family picture.

There was an amazing redwood tree we got Munchkin's picture in front of.  We call it Munchkin in Nature. 

Among the trees there was this cool brick castle.

I haven’t had time to blog this past week.  Work is crazy lately.  So I am doing two blogs posts today.  This one covers Mother’s Day weekend.  My friend since high school Chris came to visit.  On Saturday we went into the city.  We went to the Top of the Rock.  Here is Munchkin on the way up. 

Here is the family at the top and us with Chris. 

After that we walked over to Times Square and ate lunch at Junior’s eating pastrami and corned beef sandwiches the size of our heads.  Munchkin loved the sandwiches.

We walked back to Bryant park and Rockefeller center down 5th avenue.  I didn’t realize Bryant Park was so beautiful.  This was our first time there. 

For mother’s day Munchkin and Nithin made me stitch markers with Munchkin wearing my knitted items.  The detailed picture is my favorite one because I think Munchkin looks the cutest.

For mother’s day we went to the Belmont Race Track.  Here are some action shots at the track.

Here is Chris at the track.

Munchkin had a good time watching people.

Here is Munchkin, me, and Chris in front of where they walk off the track with the horses and jockeys:

A knitting girlfriend had a baby last week.  Her husband is a pilot.  I made her a girl plane for baby “S”.  I finished it a couple weeks ago but couldn’t post it yet.  I improvised the pattern based on other knitted planes I saw online. 

This Saturday we had a family birthday party for Munchkin.  I made a little sweater vest just for this occasion. 

Here are some pictures of the birthday boy.  Here he is in his first birthday gear and his cake:

We had a “1” pinata:

Here is munchkin opening some presents:

Munchkin got a pull along dog.  Since he loves this dog book he has come to wave both arms whenever you say “Stop dog stop”.  So we all got a kick out of showing Munchkin’s skills. :) 

After this we played a game of Munchkin trivia which quizzed the family on little facts about Munchkin.  It was great fun by all. 

My mom made Munchkin a quilt with all our favorite shirts and onesies from his first year. 

Munchkin’s cake was building blocks with his name spelled out.  I also made “R” and “S” cookies for everyone to take home.

Overall Munchkin did so well with everyone around and participating in his party.  He was so excited from the day though that it was tough to get him to bed. 

The cousins were all watching Disney in the morning on the couch:

We had to do add a 1 year mark to Munchkins growth chart.  What a good picture of Munchkin and dad. 

Munchkin is so close to walking.  He can walk holding one of your hands only.  So we thought it time to get him a good pair of shoes to aid his walking outside.  So he got these “stylin” sneakers this Sunday.  He looks so smart.    

Now life goes back to normal.  :)

This weekend on Easter Munchkin said his first word, “ball.  We have evidence.  We got it on video, just need to get the video uploaded.  Munchkin is having a hard time with his back teeth which are coming in. 

Munchkin and dad went to the grocery store this weekend.  It was raining so Munchkin was in his windbreaker and fell asleep on the way home.  He took a little nap in his windbreaker and running shoes.  Nithin called him Marathon baby.

Munchkin got his own Easter basket.  No candy though, just a few little toys and a lamb puppet I made for him.

Munchkin is getting along better with Ned lately.  they sometimes play together because they both are interested in the same toys.

Grandma and grandpa came for Easter.

Here is the best picture of Munchkin in his Easter outfit and his bunny bib.  We call him our Hamptons baby because this is how we imagine people in the Hamptons dress.

I made a bacon wrapped pork tenderloin for Easter.  You can never have enough pork.  :)  It tasted really good, but didn’t look the best so we didn’t take a picture of that.  I made a trifle for dessert which was really good and pretty for a picture. 

I have been working, working, working so not much time for anything extra.

Munchkin wore his Kiss Me I’m Irish shirt this week on St. Patrick’s Day. 

Munchkin caught a cold this week and I also caught it.  Nithin hasn’t gotten it yet.  :)  Munchkin is also starting teething again this week.  We saw the acid poop, drooling like a rabid dog, and general crankiness.  I got called from day care twice this week because he pooped too much in one day and wouldn’t eat his lunch.  They found out about 10 min after they called about him not eating his lunch was because he had a huge poop that got everywhere including on the day care worker holding him.  That is our boy.  :) 

Also this week Munchkin expanded his vocabulary from “bah bah bah bah” to “ma ma ma ma ma”.  Now if he could just put it together to say “mama”.  We are working on it.

We went to the mall on Saturday and got Munchkin his own chair for TV watching.  He does much better getting into and out of this smaller chair.  The cats like it too, they have already slept in it.  Macy’s and Khol’s were also having excellent sales on baby clothes so we pretty much have Munchkin’s summer wardrobe done.  Just need one more bathing suit and some summer shoes. 

I also finished making Munchkin’s Easter gift of a lamb puppet. 

Pattern: Estonian Hand Puppet by Anu Kotli and Carol H. Rhoades from Spin Off

Yarn: Dale of Norway

Needles: size 1

This week Munchkin is starting to vocalize more.  He consistently says “bah bah bah bah bah bah”.  It is like he is trying to say baby. 

This week was Nithin’s birthday.  He wanted to keep it low key so we went out to dinner at Red Lobster.  Munchkin did really well eating out except he did make a bit of a mess on the floor.  Oh well.  We got home and gave Munchkin his regular evening bath.  We had another first were he pooped in the tub.  It wasn’t too much.  After Munchkin went to bed we had carrot cake cupcakes that I had made based on Nithin’s request for cupcakes rather than a cake.  Then we watched Harold and Kumar: Guantanamo Bay.  It was a nice, relaxing, dorky birthday.

Here are some pictures of Munckin this weekend playing with my yarn and making a cute face while trying to touch the camera.   This weekend Munchkin and I went shopping to BJs, Target, and the grocery store.  He is a good shopper.  We almost lost a toy at BJs because Munchkin dropped it on the floor, but a nice man returned it.  It was such a nice weekend that we went on a walk every day.  It was nice.  We think Munchkin is getting his back teeth.  He is not eating great and is generally cranky sometimes. 

I finished the body of Munchkin’s cat sweater.  I am now working on the sleeves. 

This weekend we went to Philly to see Nithin’s family and go to the flower show there this weekend.  It was a really nice weekend.  We had a nice time with the family and the flower show was really amazing.  Here are pictures from the flower show…

Here are some shoes that I love.

Here were some orchids that were bigger than I have ever seen.  So beautiful.

The theme of the show this year was Italy so there was some beautifully themed displays          

Saturday night all of Nithin’s family got together for a big family dinner and birthday cake.  There are 3 birthdays in the next week and a half: Nithin’s aunt, our neice Surenna, and Nithin.  Here Munchkin helped blowing out the birthday cake candles:

Here are some family pictures:

This week munchkin is starting to try to stand on his own.  He can balance for a few seconds and then usually falls.  He is being more adventurous and trying to stand on his own.  I think he is getting more vocal too.  We haven’t heard words yet though.

In knitting I have been working on an Estonian lamb puppet for Munchkin for Easter.  I have to just finish one ear and then embroider a face.  I hate embroidery so expect completion of this project to take weeks. 

I am back to working on Munchkin’s cat sweater.

Muchkin learned how to wave hi this weekend.  It is sooooooo cute.  We think he also learned how to use the phone at day care because he picks up all his toy phones and puts it to his ear.  This was also a new development this week. 

Day care this week they had Mardi Gras:

Grandma and Grandpa came this weekend to get their Munchkin fix.  We found a second hand kids clothing store near by.  Nithin and I went to see Slumdog Millionaire.  I don’t understand the hype.  It is one of the most depressing movies I have ever seen.  I think since having a child my sensitivity to seeing children in bad situations is severely heightened to the point where I wanted to walk out of this movie. 

I finished my first project of 2009 which is a baby blanket for Munchkin.

Pattern: Opt Art Baby Blanket

Yarn: Cascade Superwash & Debbie Bliss Cashsoft

Needles: size 7

Now I am working on a cat sweater for Munchkin and a lamb puppet. 

This week Nithin was sick with a cold.  Munchkin and I were OK.  Munchkin has become an addict of the Gerber Puffs.  He seems to like to feed himself and wants to eat whatever we do.  This week he had pizza, turkey sandwich and cinnamon roles.  We just put the item up to his mouth and he takes his own little bite.  He has 9 teeth to he can tear little pieces off on his own. 

Here is a picture of Munchkin this week at day care in the infant room.  Tomorrow he goes to the next room with kids who are walking.  Munchkin is really, really close to start walking.

I also finished my first project of the year.  I am going to a talk tomorrow night by an editor from Vogue Knitting.  The price of admittance was to bring a chemo hat.  I didn’t find a standard chemo hat pattern.  They just seemed to be a longer hat that was comfy.  So I decided to make this hat to be a bit more stylin’. 

Pattern: Side Slip Cloche from Boutique Knits by Laura Irwin

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Chunky

Needles: Size 5

The cover of the book as a better picture of the hat:

We got called today and Munchkin has graduated from the infant room at day care to Miss Carol’s room.  Miss Carol has kids that are much more mobile and walking.  Our first graduation.  We are so proud. 

Well I came home from work on Tues with a stomach flu this week.  Munchkin got it on Thurs.  By Saturday Munchkin got a bit better and Nithin’s sisters family came for the weekend with their three little girls.  We laid low for the weekend because we were all sick.  We only went out to our local Long Island Children’s Museum on Sunday.  It was intended for a little older group of kids than Munchkin.  There was a tot room which had a motorcycle for posing. 

We have been working on Munchkin to learn how to clap and wave.  He is starting to catch the waving almost.  You can see him trying in this picture.  Once this weekend Nithin and I were waving hi to him and he did the same thing but had his hand turned around so he was waving hi to himself.  It was so adorable. 

Here are some cute pictures of Munchkin this week while we were home sick…

This week Munchkin had his 9 month doctor visit.  We moved to a new doctor.  At the appointment the doctor was checking Munchkin out and once Munchkin stood he started his jumping.  He jumped right into the doctors arms.  It was super cute.  Munchkin’s stats from the doctor’s visit is:

Weight: 21.4 lbs

Height: 28 inches

Here is a picture of Munchkin at daycare studying his family book.  We gave this book with pictures of all the family members to day care when Munchkin started.

We arrived on Friday to pick-up Munchkin to find this…

I started making Munchkin’s food at home in the food processor this week.  It has worked out pretty well.  He eats what we eat for vegetables and meats except for sweet potatoes.  He loves sweet potatoes and we don’t so we make those just for him.   He has learned to eat larger solids.  He is now chewing off pieces of cookie.  I was eating an apple this weekend and Munchkin wanted some too so he chomped off a few little pieces.  We are making lots of eating progress. 

In knitting i have two bands of color left on his blanket before it is done.  I actually had time to knit some on it this weekend.  Yea!

Today is Munchkin’s 9 month birthday.  We did a little photo shoot of Munchkin standing on the couch which he does all the time lately.

While he was standing he found a book:

Here is a

We noted Munchkins height for this milestone.

Dad also figured out how to get Munchkin up on his shoulders for a ride around the house which Munchkin loved.  Dad now needs to figure out how to get Munchkin down from his shoulders. 

This weekend we tried to feed Munchkin more solid foods.  We tried a pancake which he just loved and ate about half of it in one sitting. 

More teeth are coming in the back which means Munchkin steels the spoon and sometimes makes a big mess.  Here he got yogurt everywhere including his eyelashes. 

Munchkin is having a better time in the bath tub.  One night he was having such great fun we had to take picture of it.

2 weekends ago we went to visit Grandma and Grandpa so they could get their Munchkin fix.  Grandma is busy with tax season and has a hard time getting away. 

The past 2 weeks have been crazy with work.  I haven’t knit at all.  I have been just taking care of Munchkin and working.  I am hoping things will get more calm now that we have shipped but fear things will be crazy for the next month or so. 

Munchkin got a sweater when he was born from a knitting friend.  It is funny to see how he has worn it since he was 2 month old.  Here he is at 2 months:

3 months:

Today at 8 months:

He will probably wear it for a few more weeks and then be grown out of it.  It has gotten a lot of wear. 

Munchkin’s this week tried turkey dinner baby food.  Munchkin applied for a passport this week.  So he can be a world traveler. 

This week was a pretty average week.  Very nice though because no one was sick.  With the cold weather he has really dry skin so we moisturize twice a day but it still doesn’t seem to be enough.  We have been going to bed every night at 9pm.  Munchkin is sleeping in his own room.  The fits of crying are significantly reduced but not gone.  He will now cry sometimes for 15 min or so when we started at an hour and half.  So sleeping on his own is getting much better.  Having time in the evening has allowed Nithin and I to keep up with our Blockbuster subscription.

Last week Munchkin had his first fever of 102.  The fever only lasted one day but he was just out of sorts through Thurs.  He was fine on Friday and went to day care.  Friday evening we started the process of trying to get Rowan sleep in his own room.  He has slept in his own room every night to varying degrees of success every night.  We will keep with it and hope it gets better.  Some nights have been pretty nice where we have had the opportunity to watch a movie (XFiles – very disappointing movie) and the new season of 24. 

Nithin got a new camera lens last week and here are some of his first pictures with it.

Grandma found this shirt that says “Daddy’s Rocker”.

Munchkin’s feature of the week is that he is starting to use things around the house including his farm yard walker to hold onto and walk.  So we are getting close. 

He also is learning to mimic.  I crinkled my face and he did the same here.  Isn’t he the cutest.  I think so.    

In knitting I am still working on Munchkin’s blanket.  I have been taking care of a sick baby or working a lot so not much knitting getting done. 

Happy New Year!  We spent the new year at Nithin’s parents.  Aja and Bapuma to Munchkin. 

I want to try to add a new feature to my weeklyish blog post where I note a funny or milestone Munchkin hit.  The first Munchkin Milestone is: This last week Munchkin is getting better on his feet and more able to stand with littler help.  He has gotten so confident he will do a little jumping dance.  It really looks like he is dancing a little.

I made all attempts to finish Munchkin’s stocking for Christmas and got to the heel.  He will definitely have it for next Christmas.

Because I didn’t make the deadline of Christmas for the stocking I put that aside and am working on the winter blanket I am behind on for munchkin.  Boy deadlines stink.

Here are some pictures from our trip to Nithin’s parents.

Munchkin just loved his cousin’s dog Meena.  He would squeal whenever he saw her. 

Here is Munchkin on two different days unwrapping Christmas presents.  He had multiple Christmas’ this year. 

We went to Nithin’s sisters house on New Years day.  Here is a picture of Munchkin and Meena looking at each other through a door.  Meena is outside and Munchkin is inside.  Here is Munchkin and his three cousins.

We went back to work for Monday and Munchkin went to day care.  There are two new girls in Munchkin’s class.  The two previous girls moved up to the next class.  We got called at about 4pm on Monday that Munchkin had a 102 fever.  We immediately took him to the doctor where he had a 102.7 temperature.  His temperature seems to be better but he isn’t eating like he normally would so we have been trading taking days off of work to take care of him. 

For the new year I hope to get a little more balance in life and find time to exercise more.

Christmas eve we had Coq Au Vin with potato pancakes and brussel sprouts.  For dessert we had Paris Brest for the second year in a row.  Overall this was a great meal. 

We thought it would prepare Munchkin for all the gifts he had to open so we would start on Christmas Eve and put him in training.  Here is Munchkin unwrapping his first gift and then promptly putting it in his mouth.

We got family pajamas this year.  Nithin agreed, I didn’t force it if that is your next thought.  Here we are on Christmas Eve before heading to bed.

Here is Munchkin with his gifts Santa left for him.

One last family picture in front of the tree in our PJs.

Waiting for Aunt Darryl and Uncle Rich to Arrive Munchkin and Grandpa were board with everyone in the kitchen preparing for the day so they decided to ride around in this box.

Here is Munchkin on his new rocking horse.  He loves to bounce so it is just perfect.

Munchkin working on more presents with Mom and Dad.

Munchkin got a LOT of toys.  He won’t need anything new until his birthday I think.  He is also good until the spring on clothes.  Nithin got money for his camera lens, Adobe Lightroom, camera bag and a new winter jacket.  I got ebony needles in all sizes, a Chumby, watch, and wireless card for my camera.  It was a great Christmas.

Here is our Christmas Dinner.  I did the Elton Brown’s City Ham recipe which was fantastic.  Then did squash, mushroom, gnocchi and a buche de noel for dessert.

I used the big cupcake pan I got for Christmas to make this cake for my dad’s birthday. 

Yesterday Nithin and I went into NYC to see Speed the Plow and eat at Spice Kitchen.  We got into the city early to go and see the Rockefeller Christmas Tree and do some shopping.  We didn’t end up buying anything but had fun going to a bunch of stores.  We happened to be walking by the American Girl store and even went in there.  Oh my gosh that store is amazing.  We went to Toys R’Us in Times Square and weren’t able to find a talking Cookie Monster.  If you can’t find it there then does it exist?  The play was really not great.  Jeremy Piven was the lead character and he came down with mercury poisoning so a backup actor played the role which just didn’t make the play.  We went to Spice Market which had really good food.  We had a nice time hanging out alone with Munchkin home giving Grandma and Grandpa a run for their money.