September 14th, 2011 by admin

We continue to be afraid of bears.

September 14th, 2011 by admin

Today Charlie’s good friend told him he wasn’t his best friend anymore and didn’t want to play with him. I knew he didn’t mean it–he is only 4–and it would last only about 15 minutes, but Charlie was devastated and sobbing and it broke my heart and gave me a glimpse of the way things work with kids and their friends. I hugged him and tried to get everyone to play together but it wouldn’t work and Charlie kept wailing so much that everyone on the playground was watching and I wanted to let him know that crying and screaming generally drives kids away more but how do you convey that to a 3 3/4 year old? As I predicted about 20 minutes later they were happily playing again.

September 14th, 2011 by admin

MJ and I went on a date to the Dancing Crab for crabs the other night. My favorite part was MJ pointing out that the hand towlettes they give out “are like the working man’s finger bowl.”

September 14th, 2011 by admin

The Brooklyn Bermans gave Teddy little stuffed Spiderman, Thor, and Incredible Hulk dolls for his birthday. He didn’t take to the Incredible Hulk. Charlie took the Spiderman as his own and is in love with it and won’t let Teddy touch it. So Teddy was left with Thor, and as Siri said “Teddy is skeptical to Thor.”

So I ordered him a Batman and he is deeply in love with it.

September 14th, 2011 by admin




Charlie has been eating lunch at school (and begun telling me what his friends eat that he wants. Like gummy candies) and he often goes to a friend house so isn’t upstairs when Teddy wakes up from his nap. Teddy asks each time “Charlie go?” He loves his brother.

September 14th, 2011 by admin

Teddy has begin climbing up on everything every time I turn around. Last week during nap time he climbed out of his crib and up onto his changing table and tried to change his own diaper. Despite the mess and my fear of him falling, I was impressed, especially by his use of wipes.

September 14th, 2011 by admin



I love hearing Teddy say “Go!” for “Here you go, ” when he hands you something.

September 14th, 2011 by admin
Meaghan came to visit today and play with the boys in the park which prompted this conversations…

Charlie: “Why isn’t Meaghan our babysitter any more?”

ALB:” She is going to graduate school so has to spend her time studying but she will babysit again sometime.”
Charlie “She should babysit us again.”
ALB: “Should we tell her that.”
Charlie:” Yes. Wait no. Let’s let her be alone and think about it and she will decide to babysit us again.”

September 14th, 2011 by admin

ALB: “Charlie, the water has been running for a long time–what are you doing in the powder room?”

Charlie: “Wasting time.”

September 14th, 2011 by admin

Scottie and Nell will not stop smiling. And they coo and try to talk back when you talk to them. Scottie tries to get Nell’s attention when they look at one another. They can hold their heads up and push up on their tummies. They love kicking their legs and waving their arms. They follow your around the room with their eyes. They are so good natured and easy going. When Nell gets fussy she pretty much stops the minute I put her in the Bjorn. And they have begun sleeping from 11 pm to around 5 or 6 am with only a little waking up in the night.