Like a Man

Tonight when I was putting Avery to bed, he asked to hear a "kitty cat story." 

I told him, "Not tonight, sweetie. I already read your two books. You need to sleep so you can grow big." He was quiet for a moment and said, "and grow a beard?" 

"Yes," I said, "someday you will be able to grow a beard like Uncle Tommy." 

"And drink wine," came his happy little voice in the dark.

So Proud of Cousin Kurt!

My cousin, Kurt, recently performed on the Conan O'Brien show. 

Below, he is the red-head (and I am the red-panted).

Here is his clip from the show:

John Bates's Pocket-Sized Doppelganger

I am sure many of you are fans of the fabulous Downton Abbey on PBS. Last week, while nursing sweet Zeal, I suddenly saw the face of John Bates. John Bates is Lord Grantham's valet. The context of this doppelganger vision was alarming, but definitely blog-worthy. 

(It also worked well that we had a mini tweed jacket.)

Makin' It Look Easy

Avery loves his baby brother and has been nothing but nurturing and protective. 

This, however, does not mean that Avery and Zeal can be alone together for one moment. 

This makes daily life complicated, as you can imagine.

Thus, the Moses basket was invented (or appropriated) for indoor and outdoor use. And instead of reeds and bulrushes, we have the basket often hidden in the tomato bushes.

The two-kid project has been cute:

exhausting:

entertaining:

and wine-deserving:

Avery's Sunday Date

Avery got all dressed up and picked flowers for his date with Sabine.

The evening ended with a rousing game of tic-tac-toe. 

Zeal is Four Weeks Old!

Zeal had proven to be a very sweet babe with quite a squeal when he is unhappy. 

We call this the 'Zeal Squeal.' But, as with all newborns, he spends most of his time sleeping. 

We call this one the brother Klimt painting.
Avery looks like he's been up all night nursing.

He especially sleeps when Avery makes unusual requests like this one: "drink my milk, baby Zeal."

But for other play, he is totally game! 

He met his Aunt Katie.

He listened to Katie's adventure stories from her summer in Seattle.

He sleeps,

and sleeps,

and sleeps.

He loves sleeping at cafes

and in the kitchen when Mama makes tomato sauce.

He is now four weeks old this very minute!

Music Man

So this post is about Avery, though Zeal was present for all of it (in the background, nursing or sleeping).

Avery and Chris performed at our neighborhood talent show two weeks ago. 

It was an improvisational jam. I did not capture a video because I was nursing.

Avery now has his own ukulele.

Another performer had Avery's full attention.

And at home, he has been practicing.

He knows just how he wants everything to be before he starts: blanket over his legs, Papa nearby.

Here is our dear friend and neighbor, Astrid. She is a superb singer.

We figure if she and Avery recorded an album together, this should be their album cover.