The Big Fall Wrap-up

Fred has set another personal record! His last Fritzwinkle posting was almost three months ago. The man has been busy. But when he’s not busy, or avoiding other work, he’s unwinding with some Playstation soccer. Our daughter knows the sight so well that she tells me, “Daddy watching soccer game.” She’s kind of a narc about Fred slacking.

Snowman Hat
Little toy

Lovin' the Leaves

A lot has happened since the end of September. For one thing our son is now five months old! He’s rolling over, eating rice cereal and jars of vegetables. Squash and green beans seem to be his favorites so far. He’s a big chunk of a boy, weighing over 18 pounds. He’s pretty solidly wearing nine-month sized clothes. It’s fun to remember what our girl was like at this age…and size, which are very different.

Puppygirl
Checking the Candy

Our daughter has really been getting into the Christmas season. She is starting to enjoy all of the holidays, like her mother. Hmmmm…is there a connection? She started off by dressing up as the cutest witch in the world for Halloween. She walked from house to house trick-or-treating on our cul du sac. Then she really enjoyed getting to eat the candy she was given in her plastic pumpkin. As soon as she learned how to say, “Happy Halloween,” it was time to learn how to say “Happy Thanksgiving.” She picked this up much quicker. In the blink of an eye, we were packing up all signs of the fall holidays in order to make room for Christmas.

Thanksgiving Dinner

Letter to Santa

First Snowman

Our little girl got to mail a letter to Santa this year. She had watched some Christmas specials on TV, so she understood the concept. So after I went to vote in the primaries for our new Senator, we walked across to the big red mailbox that had the word “Santa” painted on the side. She posed for a few photos, and then gleefully dropped her letter into the box. Yesterday we actually got a letter back! She loves the Christmas tree, but has a really hard time not touching the ornaments. That’s understandable since she’s two years old. She’s enjoying eggnog – “This is really, really good!” – and opening a door on her Advent calendar every day after lunch. Her absolute favorite thing about Christmas so far is the music. She wants to listen to Christmas music all the time. Then she walks around singing Deck the Halls, Jingle Bells, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, and Up on the Rooftop. We have several books with the words, so I can sing along correctly. I don’t know what she’s going to do in a few weeks. I’ll probably be listening to Christmas music for months.

All Dressed Up

I will take this opportunity to wish you all Happy Holidays. Check back in early 2010 to see if Fred has made a New Year’s resolution to keep up with his fritzwinkle posts.

Another Summer Ends, Another Autumn Begins

As if the last day of summer rang a bell for the seasons, New England is already beginning to show its fall colors. The leaves are just now visibly changing, speckling the green with red, yellow, and orange. We have had a couple of sharp, biting cool nights which usually helps make for a beautiful autumn.

Of course autumn signals the start of football season, and the indoctrination process has long since begun. Of course soccer has started across Europe too. Plus, more games than ever are now on ESPN. I am loving it.

Go Pats! Cutest Pats Fans

School has gotten off to a good start this year, at least more noticeably than the typical first month. The only real trouble is that our computer network has rendered the internet almost unusable, which significantly impacts the day. Yet, I have been able to work round this for the most part. It is just mighty inconvenient, especially now that three out of the five classes I am teaching rely heavily on regular internet components, one is exclusively online, one is half online, and the other will spend half this term involved in a project that is almost exclusively online. Despite all of this, I am very much enjoying the classes and it looks to be a good year.

In His Grill

On the soccer front, my team of freshmen girls look like they are about to start really making progress and getting results. It is still a bit early to tell for sure, but the early indications are good. Their last game was the best they’ve played yet.

http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377

Ali continues to be a remarkable mother of our beautiful children. Fritz is really starting to reveal his personality now that he is smiling and cooing. He definitely has quite the expressive little face, in spite of his Chuchillesque cheeks. His expressiveness seems to be focused in the brow and mouth, as opposed to the eyes like his sister. Sadly, the photographs don’t quite capture this as well as video. As for Hadley, she continues to talk away with enthusiasm. If only she would do more of it when prompted by the phone. Then everyone could hear her little chipmunk voice cuteness.

http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377

Hopefully, the videos reveal a bit more about each of them that a simple photograph can’t quite capture.

Returning to Work & Kid Update

The new school year is officially underway and our daughter turned two years-old. Much has been happening. Since the arrival of Fritz, time has become even more of a challenge, especially for Ali. What we are finding is just how much more work two children are than only one. Still, Ali continues to be the most wonderful of mothers.

Warning, I'm Two!   Cookie Monster Cake

Sharing Cake with a Friend

Hadley remains absolutely delighted with her brother. It is hard to refer to him as little, considering how big he has gotten so quickly. Fritz routinely charts in the 90th percentile for height and weight and definitely qualifies as a big boy. The pictures don’t quite accurately demonstrate his size, unless there there is something else in the frame to provide scale. Regardless of the photograph what is more obvious is why we often introduce him as “Fritz and his cheeks.” He certainly is a bit more fickle than his sister was and has quite a set of lungs. He definitely lets everyone know when he is having some trouble.

Smiling at Sis   New Sheriff in Town

Two Kiddos

Cutie with the Flowers

As mentioned, Hadley is taken with the little man and showers him with kisses and conversation. She is definitely becoming Mommy’s little helper, doing everything she can to help out with Fritz. Plus, her conversation skills are improving at a rapid rate. She is already stringing together short sentences and is turning out to be a most polite little girl, with pretty regular use of “please,” “thank you,” and “welcome.” She also regularly celebrates her actions with a joyful, “I did it!” even when it is quite debatable as to whether that statement is true. The kid takes credit for everything. No matter, we get great pleasure from her little chipmunk voice.

With Mom at the Orchard

Purple Outfit   New Stroller

Daddy's Girl