Indoor exercise

"Mommy, I'm going for a little run, 'kay?" 

Here's Gemma in her selected outfit: running pants, running shirt, running shoes, and assorted necklaces, including one wrapped around her head which she calls her "ear muffs" (i.e. ear phones). She then takes off running from one end of the house to the other - from her bedroom, down the hall, through our bedroom, through the living room, through the kitchen to Timo's closet, turn around and go back.

Action shot!

Meanwhile Timo plays with his cool new toy (from Auntie Rachel), grinning away and look quite chubby (hand-me-down from Hayden Felske) and very focused on the task at hand.

Pizza and ice cream

Recently, I (Jim) had the urge to make homemade pizza. It had been too long - and homemade pizza is so good! The pizza turned out well: an aromatic sauce topped with chicken sausage, peppadews (that's the official name of this small, red, sweet pepper, and in fact a South African "invention." It is usually known in the States as piquante peppers), feta, caramelized onions, mozzarella, and a few shavings of romano. Yum!

Later, we took Gemma out for a big treat: an ice cream cone at McDonald's. She earned it by doing a really good job of potty training so far (stays dry all day although still wakes up with a wet bed...) and filling up her potty chart with stickers.

"How does it taste, Gemma?"

"It's cold and sweet!"

She was a very careful, patient ice cream cone eater.

"Baby Play" in action

Now that Timo is getting more interactive - making eye contact and 'talking' in response - one of his favorite things to do is watch & listen to his older sister. And of course that is a very exciting development for Gemma, who loves to dance and sing and entertain AND who has been waiting and waiting for her brother to start participating in the activities of Baby Play. This book (a gift from Nonna when Gemma was a baby) is filled with game ideas for infants 0-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-9 months, and 9-12 months. Gemma has spent many happy hours engrossed in this book (even before Timo was born), staring at the babies and the games they are playing.

On a recent rainy morning I asked Gemma, "Well, should we get out Baby Play and look for a game that Timo would enjoy doing with you?" She slowly paged through the book until she found a picture of a baby building a tower, and then she got out her blocks to show Timo how it is done. 

He was totally attentive and loved it, too.

"Like this!"

note: yes, Gemma is wearing her tutu under her dress...

Gemma's new love: ballet and Tanya

Thanks to Tanya and the Red Shoes, currently Gemma's favorite book (from the library), along with Gemma's new-found interest in ballet, we are daily witnessing the budding of our young dancer. We are also witnessing her remarkable abilities (like most kids) to remember stories and memorize them word-for-word.

Here's the daily scene: Gemma with book open on the couch (while Timo observes and slobbers on his blankie), dancing around the living room working on ballet moves and simultaneously reciting lines from the book:

"She whirls and whirls and flies in a leap that I've never seen her do before. Ah that is the magic, she flies my sister."

"You're too young for toe shoes, my teacher says. One day perhaps. ...One day is just too far way."

"And the dancer is me!"

Usually she is wearing her tutu or leotard (or both) or tights or other creative outfit - although right now the leotard is taking a hiatus in these early underwear-learning days. But the pink ballet slippers are always present. She will play this 'game' throughout the day, and even pop out with lines from the book at random times. Tonight at dinner she suddenly looked up and said, "I have danced with my friends, boys and girls, to music that we love." She will also correct us when we ask her, "Gemma, do you..." by saying, "No, I'm Tanya!" Oh, and then we refer to her as Tanya.

Driveway fun for Gemma

"Come on, Daddy, let's go for a little run!"

Top of the driveway: ready, set, go! (Gemma giving directions)

A Saturday morning walk to the Farmer's Market

What a better way to enjoy a sunny Saturday morning than with a walk to the downtown Durham Farmer's Market! After an uncharacteristically long morning nap by Timo (long but wonderful), we moseyed down the trail to downtown, then 4 blocks more to the Market. 

Some scenes from this section of town - lots of changes in recent years and some very positive revitalization going on, with new stores and restaurants coming in, plus some old ones still around.

the defining rivalry!

the Durham Athletic Park (formerly AAA baseball, now used for a local college and other events)

 And some scenes from the Market:

Food trucks line up on an adjacent street

I included this picture below of the park and porta-potty because it was the scene of a successful potty training moment. As we were walking around the market I said to Gemma, "They do have a potty here, so please tell Mommy when you need to go. It's right over there." etc. And she promptly replied, "Where? I wanna see it." So we walked over, went in, and she made use of the facilities. No tears, just delight and pride. And since then she has seemed to enjoy finding public restrooms and going in to use them - the mall, the library, and a local store. Hip hip hurray!

We met up with the Freys and had an impromptu lunch together

From one of the trucks: pork sandwich with roasted onions & peppers

 

And Gemma's pb&j (or: Jim getting excited with the close-ups)

Success and Freedom!!

What will this week hold, I asked on Monday? 

For Jim: his Dissertation Defense went very smoothly on Tuesday. Completed and "signed off" by his dissertation advisory committee.  He will make some minor revisions to his concluding chapter and then will be 100% complete and ready to print out on his fancy linen paper. YES!! He will graduate this May from IU with his Ed.D. in Higher Education and Student Affairs.

Jim with 2 of his committee members: Don Hossler and Sylvia Martinez.

For Jul/Mommy: we are now the proud owners of a double jogging stroller! (thanks in part to a kind gift from a wonderful uncle of ours) We live one block from the trail; half mile from the park and from the Freys'; half mile from the mall; one mile from East Campus; one mile from the YMCA (hopefully can get a membership soon...); and just under two miles from Dad & Mom's. To have the ability to get out of the house for fresh air and to exercise is, you guessed it, so freeing.

Our inaugural walk. It was a bit chilly but no problem! (thus no sunshade on for this walk)

For Timo: "I can sit in the Bumbo all by myself and slobber on my blankies and toys to my heart's delight! All while watching my older sister dance around the living room, of course. I just love to do that."

For Gemma: no more diapers!! "I'm so glad I wear underwear now!" (that quote is verbatim) We are currently on Day 3 of the Underwear Celebration. Thankfully we all are still feeling the energy and momentum to keep going. (though we haven't actually left the house yet...except for a quick walk around the block...) More on this later.

What will this week hold?

Today is Monday, March 4th and that means Jim is off to Bloomington (flew up this morning) for his Dissertation Defense!! The big event is scheduled for Tuesday morning, wherein Jim will sit down with his committee (2 professors and 1 administrator) to discuss his research and writing. Pray for a good conversation and successful defense!

In the meantime, it's the 3 of us back at the homestead, keeping busy playing and eating and napping and crying (naturally) and getting out for a bit of sunshine when we can. Here are a couple of recent photos from life at home.

Yep, it's bathtime in the shower!

A special moment - not all mornings look like this, that is for sure! But when moments like this one come along, what a joy!!! ...I had plopped Timo down on the chair and was making a move to get out his playmat when Gemma said, "Timo's in the chair. I want to read a book with Timo and sit next to him." She got a photo book and climbed up. Naturally I grabbed the camera!