Felix, standing on a crowded bus in the morning rush hour.
F: My pants are falling down because this bus is going too fast.
*****
A tender moment.
F: Daddy, I just love you. I will keep you safe so you don't get hit by a car or fall down concrete stairs and get stitches on your lip.
*****
A less tender moment.
K: Felix, you need to calm down and be nice to Cosmo. And to Cooper, and to me and to everybody. That shouldn't be hard, because I know you are a nice guy.
F: (intently) I am the guy who will decide what do to.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Monday, January 14, 2008
This morning
Felix, remembering waking up in the middle of the night, hearing a strange sound from upstairs:
All the parts of my skeleton started to burn because I was so, so, so, so scared of that noise.
After Felix got dressed:
Mommy, lets get on with talking about smoke alarms and how they work.
All the parts of my skeleton started to burn because I was so, so, so, so scared of that noise.
After Felix got dressed:
Mommy, lets get on with talking about smoke alarms and how they work.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Move over, Frank Lloyd Wright
Felix: When I wake up in the middle of the night and when I wake up in the morning orange is my favorite color. Yes, orange is always my favorite color.
Felix: When I am an architect maybe I will learn how cars and trucks and snowplows work. 83 is how old architects are.
Here is a picture of Felix's "old-fashioned, modern-fashioned TV radio tower"
Monday, January 07, 2008
Persistence Rewarded
Overjoyed because, for the second time in a row, his examination of the candy-machine hopper paid off:
F: Daddy, my wish became true because I was the one who wanted to eat a Skittle from the dry cleaner.
F: Daddy, my wish became true because I was the one who wanted to eat a Skittle from the dry cleaner.
Monday, December 24, 2007
More Engineer Than Marine Biologist
Sleepy, snuggly, morning thoughts:
F: Daddy, I love being on the earth. I don't like being in outer space very much.
K: Don't worry, you'll probably never go to outer space.
F: Why? Why will I probably never go to outer space?
*****
At the aquarium, Felix quickly becomes bored with the beluga viewing.
F: Daddy, take me to see something with buttons.
*****
Grandma Nancy and Felix examining an exhibit that explains how some shapes are better suited for swimming than others.
GN: Do you see that teardrop shape?
F: That's not a teardrop shape, that's an ellipsoid.
GN: Well, you can really call it either one.
F: I call it an ellipsoid.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
The Mystery of Purring
I'm finding stuff everywhere! This was written on the back of a Christmas party invitation:
The other night, as we had snuggle time before bedtime, Felix was petting Cooper and speculating about where purring comes from.
Felix: Mommy, where does Cooper's purr come from? Does it come out of his ear? Does it come out of his butt? Does it come out of his tail?
etc. etc.
Cosmo calls Cooper "Pooper." Fairly accurate.
*****
Felix, wearing pants on his head.
F: I look weird-looking.
The other night, as we had snuggle time before bedtime, Felix was petting Cooper and speculating about where purring comes from.
Felix: Mommy, where does Cooper's purr come from? Does it come out of his ear? Does it come out of his butt? Does it come out of his tail?
etc. etc.
Cosmo calls Cooper "Pooper." Fairly accurate.
*****
Felix, wearing pants on his head.
F: I look weird-looking.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
I Can Play No More Forever
Can you tell I'm cleaning off my desk?
F: Cosmo, I am so pwoud of you because you don't need the stool anymore. I don't need the stool anymore, either, because I am three years old.
We've noted a key difference in the kids' personalities that is symbolized by the way they answer in the affirmative:
Felix: Yes.
Cosmo: Yeah.
*****
Before the snow started falling, Felix and Cosmo had a blast playing in the leaves. Then one day we came home to find the lawn raked clean as carpet.
F: There are no more leaves...now I can play no more. I think that was not very nice.
*****
F: Daddy, you are the oldest boy in the world.
*****
One day, Felix was counting up his "ladies"--kids and teachers at school.
F: ...Paula, Roshni, Jenna, Miss Graham, Miss Corbett--now I have eight nice ladies.
F: Cosmo, I am so pwoud of you because you don't need the stool anymore. I don't need the stool anymore, either, because I am three years old.
We've noted a key difference in the kids' personalities that is symbolized by the way they answer in the affirmative:
Felix: Yes.
Cosmo: Yeah.
*****
Before the snow started falling, Felix and Cosmo had a blast playing in the leaves. Then one day we came home to find the lawn raked clean as carpet.
F: There are no more leaves...now I can play no more. I think that was not very nice.
*****
F: Daddy, you are the oldest boy in the world.
*****
One day, Felix was counting up his "ladies"--kids and teachers at school.
F: ...Paula, Roshni, Jenna, Miss Graham, Miss Corbett--now I have eight nice ladies.
Weather, Cats, Death, and Excavators
A couple of older things I just found:
F: Daddy, on October 10 it will be 55 degrees.
K: Marya, did you tell him that?
M: No, he knows how to read the weather report.
For awhile after that Felix was on a real weather kick, asking for the paper while he ate his cereal, informing us of the day's predicted highs and lows.
*****
The cousins come up now and again...
F: Mommy, Wilhelmina likes to drink like a cat. I like to do what Wilhelmina does.
*****
Somewhat more recently, Felix and I were talking about the castle in Dr. Seuss' Sleep Book and the conversation quickly took a darker turn:
F: Daddy, how do they build that castle?
K: I don't know how they built it. But it must be very hard to build a castle.
F: When I am 694 years old I will know how to build that castle. And then I will die.
K: (flabbergasted)
F: I will be a little bit sad when I die.
K: (feeling a little bit sad, too) Felix, let's talk about something else. That's a long ways away. You're going to live a long time. You're just a kid and you've got your whole life ahead of you.
F: And then when I'm 695, I will be the oldest boy in the whole world.
*****
3 a.m. the other night, Felix bright-eyed, Daddy groggy
F: Daddy, on Saturday we can go the toy store in Lincoln Square and look for a toy excavator. Not a real excavator, a toy excavator.
F: Daddy, on October 10 it will be 55 degrees.
K: Marya, did you tell him that?
M: No, he knows how to read the weather report.
For awhile after that Felix was on a real weather kick, asking for the paper while he ate his cereal, informing us of the day's predicted highs and lows.
*****
The cousins come up now and again...
F: Mommy, Wilhelmina likes to drink like a cat. I like to do what Wilhelmina does.
*****
Somewhat more recently, Felix and I were talking about the castle in Dr. Seuss' Sleep Book and the conversation quickly took a darker turn:
F: Daddy, how do they build that castle?
K: I don't know how they built it. But it must be very hard to build a castle.
F: When I am 694 years old I will know how to build that castle. And then I will die.
K: (flabbergasted)
F: I will be a little bit sad when I die.
K: (feeling a little bit sad, too) Felix, let's talk about something else. That's a long ways away. You're going to live a long time. You're just a kid and you've got your whole life ahead of you.
F: And then when I'm 695, I will be the oldest boy in the whole world.
*****
3 a.m. the other night, Felix bright-eyed, Daddy groggy
F: Daddy, on Saturday we can go the toy store in Lincoln Square and look for a toy excavator. Not a real excavator, a toy excavator.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Who's the Guy in the Beard Again?
Last Saturday, Marya's work had a family Christmas party. There was a magic show and a visit from Old Saint Nick...
Big Questions and Lots of Sugar
Felix, reading the cover of a risque issue of Time Out Chicago:
F: Daddy, what does S-E-X spell?
*****
Keir: Felix, I'm going to give you two choices. One, take a nap right now. Two, read a book.
Felix: Three.
*****
The day after Halloween:
Felix: If I drink milk, it gives me more energy to play with candy.
...Daddy, I have zillion hundreds of candy. Zillions and zillions, hundreds and thousands.
*****
After two successive sidewalk mishaps:
F: I have concrete in my head and in my knee.
*****
Felix loves having company over.
F: As soon as Josh takes off his coat, I am going to wrestle him.
*****
Coming in on Felix whopping Cosmo with the spiky worm:
K: Don't hit Cosmo. Do you know why he follows you around all the time? Because he wants to be like you.
F: But I just want to be like him!
*****
...Daddy, I just love to eat sugar--and cookies, because they are good for me.
*****
F: Daddy, there are 24 hours in a day. How many hours are in the night?
*****
After a big struggle to get the kids to go sledding with me so Marya can wrap some presents, I try to play on Felix's innate sense of big-brother superiority:
Keir: You see, Felix, Cosmo doesn't understand about Christmas and surprises....
Felix: I don't understand, either!
*****
Soon we'll be doing more reporting on Cosmo's dialog, too. So far, his vocabulary is a lot more surferesque than Felix's, with lots of "whoa!" "all right!" and "fell down!" He is very exuberant. He likes to point out when things are "on top!" of other things. Also, street sweepers are still a favorite ("sweeper!").
F: Daddy, what does S-E-X spell?
*****
Keir: Felix, I'm going to give you two choices. One, take a nap right now. Two, read a book.
Felix: Three.
*****
The day after Halloween:
Felix: If I drink milk, it gives me more energy to play with candy.
...Daddy, I have zillion hundreds of candy. Zillions and zillions, hundreds and thousands.
*****
After two successive sidewalk mishaps:
F: I have concrete in my head and in my knee.
*****
Felix loves having company over.
F: As soon as Josh takes off his coat, I am going to wrestle him.
*****
Coming in on Felix whopping Cosmo with the spiky worm:
K: Don't hit Cosmo. Do you know why he follows you around all the time? Because he wants to be like you.
F: But I just want to be like him!
*****
Sweets for the sweet.
F: Cosmo is eating his cookie! Good thinking, Cosmo!...Daddy, I just love to eat sugar--and cookies, because they are good for me.
*****
F: Daddy, there are 24 hours in a day. How many hours are in the night?
*****
After a big struggle to get the kids to go sledding with me so Marya can wrap some presents, I try to play on Felix's innate sense of big-brother superiority:
Keir: You see, Felix, Cosmo doesn't understand about Christmas and surprises....
Felix: I don't understand, either!
*****
Soon we'll be doing more reporting on Cosmo's dialog, too. So far, his vocabulary is a lot more surferesque than Felix's, with lots of "whoa!" "all right!" and "fell down!" He is very exuberant. He likes to point out when things are "on top!" of other things. Also, street sweepers are still a favorite ("sweeper!").
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Halloween
Felix: If I drink milk, it gives me more energy to play with candy.Daddy, I have zillion hundreds of candy. Zillions and zillions, hundreds and thousands.
Felix reads!
He started reading simple sentences a few weeks ago and last night he read the original Curious George from cover to cover. Wow!
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Their First Conversation
Felix: Cosmo, let's go into my room and dive into the crib. Do you think that's a good idea?
Cosmo: Yeah.
Felix exits living room toward the bedroom. Cosmo drops his toys and follows close behind.
Cosmo: Yeah.
Felix exits living room toward the bedroom. Cosmo drops his toys and follows close behind.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Saturday, October 13, 2007
A list of Cosmo's most used words
Mommy (all the time, even as I write now)
Daddy
taxi
river (Cosmo stands up to see the Chicago River each day)
bicycle (uckle)
milk, juice, cereal
Ernie
yellow (yoi-yo)
stuck (his favorite game right now is getting himself wedged between the crib and sofa, and repeating "stuck!" until we rescue him)
driver (refering to the bus driver)
jump (when about to jump off Felix's bed)
and lots more...
Daddy
Felix (Fewish)
dump truck, car, bus, school bus, airplane, train (Cosmo has matchbox versions of all of these which he obsessively carries with him everywhere)taxi
river (Cosmo stands up to see the Chicago River each day)
bicycle (uckle)
milk, juice, cereal
Ernie
yellow (yoi-yo)
stuck (his favorite game right now is getting himself wedged between the crib and sofa, and repeating "stuck!" until we rescue him)
driver (refering to the bus driver)
jump (when about to jump off Felix's bed)
and lots more...
Quoth Felix, Even More
Keir: Felix, be careful, you just peed on me a little. I know it was an accident, but be careful.
Felix: (singing) Peeing on your eardrum, peeing on your cheekdrum, hi ho the dairy-o, peeing on your legdrum.
*****
At bedtime, Felix has a strong preference as to where I focus my attention.
F: Daddy, look at the book when you're reading. Don't look into my face. It hurts my ears.
*****
Felix, standing at the bus stop, banging two sticks together.
F: I am just banging this stick to make those cars go faster.
K: I don't think that will make the cars go faster.
F: I think it will.
*****
After a disaster at Rique's, en route to Tedino's, when Felix gives me a kiss.
F: Daddy, I just kissed you because I love pizza.
M: You should kiss your pizza.
F: No way, that's too messy. That's way too messy.
*****
When I arrive at Felix's school, he is building something interesting out of bristle blocks.
F: Daddy, that's a pneumatic smoke-steam car. Don't touch the engine because it gets really hot when it makes noise.
*****
Felix, reading a label.
F: Daddy, that says "organic." That means there is no spinach, or celery, or carrots in here.
****
F: I want my milk!
K: Do you think milk grows on trees?
F: No. I think apples do, usually. And pears do, very often.
(N.B. When Felix says "often," he pronounces the t quite clearly, like "off-ten.")
*****
Felix looks into the future; his parents beam with pride.
F: When I am 31 years old, I won't pee in my pants anymore.
*****
But at least he'll be employed.
F: When I am 56 years old, I am going to be a waiter.
*****
He is a gentle soul.
F: Mommy, screaming on the bus freaks me out.
*****
After the Cubs won the Central Division, and before they were swept in the NLDS, Felix proved he has the makings of a long-suffering Cubs fan.
K: Felix, can you say, "Go, Cubbies"?
F: Go, Cubbies!
K: Felix, the Cubbies are the champions!
F: No, they're not, they're the Cubbies.
Felix: (singing) Peeing on your eardrum, peeing on your cheekdrum, hi ho the dairy-o, peeing on your legdrum.
*****
At bedtime, Felix has a strong preference as to where I focus my attention.
F: Daddy, look at the book when you're reading. Don't look into my face. It hurts my ears.
*****
Felix, standing at the bus stop, banging two sticks together.
F: I am just banging this stick to make those cars go faster.
K: I don't think that will make the cars go faster.
F: I think it will.
*****
After a disaster at Rique's, en route to Tedino's, when Felix gives me a kiss.
F: Daddy, I just kissed you because I love pizza.
M: You should kiss your pizza.
F: No way, that's too messy. That's way too messy.
*****
When I arrive at Felix's school, he is building something interesting out of bristle blocks.
F: Daddy, that's a pneumatic smoke-steam car. Don't touch the engine because it gets really hot when it makes noise.
*****
Felix, reading a label.
F: Daddy, that says "organic." That means there is no spinach, or celery, or carrots in here.
****
F: I want my milk!
K: Do you think milk grows on trees?
F: No. I think apples do, usually. And pears do, very often.
(N.B. When Felix says "often," he pronounces the t quite clearly, like "off-ten.")
*****
Felix looks into the future; his parents beam with pride.
F: When I am 31 years old, I won't pee in my pants anymore.
*****
But at least he'll be employed.
F: When I am 56 years old, I am going to be a waiter.
*****
He is a gentle soul.
F: Mommy, screaming on the bus freaks me out.
*****
After the Cubs won the Central Division, and before they were swept in the NLDS, Felix proved he has the makings of a long-suffering Cubs fan.
K: Felix, can you say, "Go, Cubbies"?
F: Go, Cubbies!
K: Felix, the Cubbies are the champions!
F: No, they're not, they're the Cubbies.
On the Other Side, Narnia!
This cabinet used to hold my Scotch collection--I was cleaning it out to make room for some books.
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