Today, it's raining again. And Graham and I have already spent some QT with the playgym. It's 8:45am.

Luckily, I'll have a birthday reprieve later in the day. We're well and happy here- I promise to drag the camera to the playground later this week, so you can see what G gets up to outside.

We've had a busy few weeks here. TJ was here (thanks for the dinner!); then Kiki and Grandad (thanks for the dinner, too!). Free food is all we need to be happy hosts.

Ps. Note the hair! We're talking haircut around here, people. It's very yellowy blond these days- similar to my brother Ryan's. I'd claim it is my mom's hair color, but hers was, you know, professionally maintained.

Here's what we have been doing every day: gardening outside in the sunshine.

That is, until yesterday, when it rained all day. My dearest hope for all of you is that you won't ever be stuck in an apartment with an antsy toddler boy all day. It's no good.

Sorry, everyone. It's just suddenly gotten harder to get the camera outside with us every day. I mean, I think about taking it, but because I have to chase G out the door, leaving a trail of baby-essentials, the camera is always left behind.

So, I guess I'll tell you some things:

1. Graham sunburns really easily. He refuses to wear a hat. His hair does not protect his scalp.
2. He can go down the slide by himself. On both bum and belly. He prefers the upright version.
3. He likes big kids. Alot. Anyone 3 years old rules the world, as far as he is concerned.
4. He runs. Pretty fast.
5. He enjoys sitting, casually, on benches. This is hilarious because benches are still way too high for him to access casually, so it's all act.
6. He likes a snack before playing. I do too. At least in this way, we are well-matched.
7. I have not been outside this much, well, ever. I need a hat, too.

Spring! Springing!

Sorry about the lack of posts this week. You see, we've been outside ALL DAY LONG. Wearing t-shirts, even. At the park. We even got an ice cream. It's heaven. I snapped this shot of Graham inside, but he still looks very springy, I think.

Good weekend, everyone.

A big day

Thanks to the early influence of some friends with older kids (Smolchas! Poons!), we've got a good start on the world of kids's music. The stuff is good, really, and much different than the sappy recordings I remember from my and my brothers' youth. One favorite is Dan Zanes, a musician who started recording kids music after his daughter was born. Others that make the cut include Elizabeth Mitchell (acoustic guitar, lovely harmonies, See "Three Little Birds") , Laurie Berkner (more traditionally kid-like, catchy as hell), and They Might Be Giants (Even if it wasn't cool, I'd still listen since "Birdhouse in My Soul" is still one of my favorite songs ever.). Graham and Jen take a music class together as well (it's their thing they do while I'm at work), so I'm guessing we're all set in the early exposure to music category of parenting.

So, today, in the spirit of overdoing things, we took Graham to see Dan Zanes in concert. I was a little anxious: 1) because I always am 2) because the concert interfered with nap 3) Graham had never been exposed to live music and a big theater.

It was great! We took the T up to Somerville, ran around before the concert, and took our seats. Most of the kids were in the 3-8 range, but G was by no means the youngest. You know how at concerts, people can be a little self conscious about singing and enjoying themselves (unless they're drunk). Kids don't have that filter, so as soon as the lights went down they started clapping, yelling, dancing, and hollering. The band gave us things to do (like sing along), but it never felt over done. Graham stood in his seat and waved his hands around for 45 minutes, refusing to do anything but stare at the musicians. Then he climbed into my lap and fell immediately asleep (system overload, I guess). We left, went to Redbones for lunch (G loved the hushpuppies) and then came home.

I got a little teary as I watched Graham. It feels like I've been waiting my whole life to be there in that theater with him and Jen, singing and clapping along together.