At last, the birthday pictures, and an update on Sania's physical state, et cetera

Yes, things have been quiet. We are all tired, both from the things we do while the children are awake, and from all the things we are trying to do while our children our asleep. Many of both things are pleasant, and many aren't.

Nonetheless, there is information to report! Sania passed the physical of living one year with flying colors. Her numbers, as of April 19th, were stellar: Her head is gigantic (I love leading with head circumference), coming in at 46.5 centimeters, which means that her head is bigger than all but 10% of the other one year olds. Take that 90% with smaller heads!

Also, she weighs twenty-four and a quarter pounds. This puts her in the 91st percentile. She is 31 inches tall, and taller than all but 4% of the other kids at 12 months.

The doctor was also pleased to hear that Sania can wildly demand foods in two languages ("app-puh" for apple and "ag-ah" for water (aqua). All parties were surprised by Sania's ability to walk (we've been surprised about it for two months now), and that she is so beautiful. I added that last bit.

Of course, this means that Sania's birthday party was some time in the recent past, and I know I've alluded to it, but I haven't quite got around the pictures until just now. So here we are. As you can see from the first photo above, there was cake and Sania (actually) didn't eat much of it. We also made the same mistake as with Reid's first birthday, in that we bought a cake with red icing so the aftermath of the cake-attack looked decidedly brutal. Well, we won't be making that mistake again. For obvious reasons.

Also, there was Easter Egg hunting at Sania's birthday, because it was the Saturday before Easter and also because the plans to acquire a moon bounce to entertain all the children fell apart. Why? Because it snowed.

Reid's friend Owen came over to join in the festivities, and he demonstrated truly intrepid Easter Egg-hunting ability. Then the boys did some horse-trading of eggs, all of which had either some chocolate or some goldfish crackers in them.



Of course, Sania and Petra got together to demonstrate their ability to look cute doing anything. Here, they sit on a kitchen floor, and Petra eats bagel.



Sania opened gifts, shared the love with everyone and then promptly dropped off for a nap. Thanks to everyone who joined us for our special day.

The Birthday Preview

Hey there, we've been a little busy around the house since K came back from her trip. Nevertheless, the actual day of Sania's first birthday, Monday, was a nice celebration complete with another taste of cake (Reid blew out the candle, natch) and a nice dinner at home with the whole family.

Above is a preview of the photos from Sania's birthday party which was a blast (until I poured cold coffee on a friend's head by accident, sorry Kerry). More soon, and tales of life with a one year-old.

Nothing But Fun

It seems like a lifetime ago, but I used to write what I thought were quite funny little narrative bits on this blog about how comically disastrous things would become after K was gone a few days. K then complained that I complained too much, which I found ironic. Nevertheless, I've ratcheted up the rosebuds and big smiles and mostly keep the genuinely amusing but easily misinterpreted tales of woe to myself.

Shoes and Mountains

None of the still photography from tonight turned out very well. Luckily, I captured some video of Sania playing with slippers and Reid launching a mission to the uncharted region behind the couch. Enjoy.






Sania, Shoes, Reid, and Mountainclimbing on Vimeo

Nothing Fancy, Just Cuteness

Another wild ride tonight here at Rizkerson Central. We had chicken all around for dinner; unremarkable except for the fact that Reid and I were out-eaten by Sania, whose fresh pollo ala brasa motivated her to chomp down a whole chicken breast. I tried the normal slip her a little chicken here and there routine (we're much bigger on peas right now, and drinking water/the exhilarating sensation of pouring water down our shirt). Sania kept tossing the chicken bits on the floor. Long story short, she got her hands on a chunk of chicken about two inches square. This is a girl with 2 and a half teeth. And she puts this chunk in and I'm waiting for it to shoot out. Meanwhile, she's gumming away, happy as a clam. Nothing comes out but yelling, wanting more chicken. Another chunk (smaller this time) and it's gone. And another. That wonderful first tear of meat on an El Pollo Rico chicken breast? She ate it all. Smiling.

Then she poured four ounces of water down her front and spent the rest of the evening shirtless. Thank goodness K isn't here.

Hi, Mommy!

K is on travel again, heralding the return of the RSPOD -- now with video!

Sania refused to sit still for any photography tonight. There are several blurry videos of her running around with the Fisher Price corn-popper. I need to more closely examine them to see if there are salvageable seconds of cuteness. In the meantime, this caught-in-the-act of man-handling Buzz Lightyear shot will have to suffice.

Reid, however, was in rare form all night. I already told K about one or two of the moments, tender and trying, that make the solo-parenting gig such a splendid time. Battery life was slipping away from the camera as I snapped pics for the nightly RSPOD. (The batteries are drained from Sania's birthday party this weekend -- and yes, there will be photos from the party in due time.) I implored Reid to "smile, put your hands down, stand still, move the book, look at me, open your eyes -- not your mouth!" And the battery died.

Here's video of Reid saying hi instead. We miss you, mommy.






Reid Says Hi on Vimeo