Simkinitis!

This is a term Nate coined to explain the idiosyncrasies he's uniformly observed in my family: the Simkins.

Some symptoms of Simkinitis are: not replacing the empty toilet paper roll, allowing toothpaste to clog at the spout, slobbering while sleeping, leaving chewed gum in random places, anything we may do that resembles something my Dad might do, acquisitioning all covers and bedspace at night, habitual lateness, gushy and consistent physical interaction (aka cuddling), inability to follow directions while driving and high likelihood of getting lost, sleeping to radio programs that primarily involve talking or storytelling (at relatively high volumes)... and various other tiny, minute, little things.

Well, over this last weekend, Des obtained some bubble gum from a checkout girl at the grocery store who took pity on him. It was a lot of gum and when we got home I tried to keep a close eye on his chewing progress. After putting Zoe to sleep, I checked in on him playing in the living room and noticed that he wasn't chewing anymore. When I asked him what happened to his bubble gum, he pointed over to the bookcase. Confused I looked over there and asked him to explain, "the picture mom". Then I noticed this -- see if you can see it.

Many of you know this story. Many years ago, when Nathan and I were in our first year of marriage, I had a bad case of leaving gum in whatever random place I could find to "save it for later". Understandably, Nathan was completely annoyed by this. He tried various shame tactics but nothing worked. I just couldn't let a good wad of gum go to waste! Finally, he brilliantly began his Relocation Counter Defense. I began to find my ABC gum in places I never would have placed it, e.g. on top of my toothbrush in the bathroom, inside my little velvet ring box where I kept my wedding ring, on top of an ice cube in the icecube tray, on the bathroom mirror, on the headboard on my side of the bed, on the wall (which took the paint off when I removed it), etc. After a short while of this counter attack, I got the point (and had some good laughs!) and have been able to throw my gum away without any pangs of regret ever since.

A Potpourri of Updates
Zoe's talking!! When it's time for bed and we do our traditional good night kiss and hug with Desmond she suddenly began saying, "nigh nigh, nigh nigh, nigh nigh". When she and I went into the bedroom together to nurse&cuddle to sleep, she repeated her words, getting excited, "nigh nigh! nigh nigh! nigh nigh!"So cute!!

There has been increased mischief over the past few weeks as Des has amplified his level of curiosity and independence. He's interested in pouring his own beverages now, so when we happen to be occupied it can make quite a mess when he takes things into his own hands. I had a friend over the other night and we were having an emotional conversation and Des decided to take a beverage break and help himself to some grape juice. Things were going well, I suppose, till the juice pitcher fell off the table (splattering the wall) and cracked. Eventually all the juice oozed out over the kitchen floor.

Des has renewed his interest in coloring/drawing. On a recent night, I was enjoying his company so much that I let him stay up later than usual. He wanted to color, so we sat down on the floor together. After awhile, I left the room for a few moments and when I returned I found him asleep. When I picked him up to move him I noticed a big drool puddle - just like me!

"Laalaa... I made this song by myself -- its my own music!" One of Desi's latest rock-n-roll lyrics. All songs that Des sings seem to meet with the "I hope they call me on a mission" tune.

Des calls the computer the "cute picture", which is similar in sound (sort of) and hints at the many photos he's been viewing from the computer screen. It has certainly replaced the album so far in this household.

Zoe has begun cruising around the furniture, the cupboards, our legs. She's very strong and when she protests anything, she'll kick her legs and arch her back and we've got to hold on tight! She's also figured out the best way to handle undesirable food items -- drop them overboard onto the floor!

Des has been attending preschool for 4 weeks now (It's once a week, on Tuesdays). He looks forward to it but when it comes to reportage he has so far been unwilling to detail anything to me. Ugh! I want to hear all about it! So, I've been calling my friends, whoever happened to teach that week, for information fearing that perhaps he'd been a distraction. I've been told he's fine and participatory. I suppose he's just not ready to talk about it yet with me.

For more snapshots of us click here

I'm a Helper!

Happy Halloween!

My little superboy and my little clowngirl. We threw ourselves together in under 15minutes. Hectic day. Grammy had sent the costume many months ago (the ‘S’ lights up!) and I’d found Zoe’s at a flea market somewhere – lucky it still fit!



Desi and Thomas as hulk – these two boys are very attached to one another. Anytime they go anywhere they each want to know if the other is going to be there. And when they find each other, they always embrace with such happiness.

Zoe doing clown tricks. She did a lot of people watching -- so many crazy colors and noises!!

Zoe and Emelia as cowgirl – Emi is a month older than Zoe. Emi was standing at 8mos and walking at 9mos!!! Amazing little girl!!

Ayden Fugal (Emelia's big bro) as Buzz Lightyear and Des and Thomas. These boys have fun together.

Zoe and me people watching from the sidelines.

Grammy also sent other options the day before Halloween. Des loves being a Knight in Shining Armor. He puts it on and asks us what he can do to help – so this morning I asked him to get me a drink of water.

MORE PHOTOS HERE

Bronx Botanical Gardens II

I Love taking this trip in the Fall with friends here in NYC! Here’s the group of babes – I think only 2 are missing. From left: Cole, Margaret, Desmond, Famke, Roscoe, and Zoe.

Lots of scarecrows along the way. Des tried to undress a lot of them or shake their hands.

Here he is falling into a bunch of potted plants. Instead of getting him out like a good parent would, I snapped pictures.

Here we are having a good time.

Zoe a budding scientist.

Des is taking art very seriously these days.

Leaving the gardens – Roscoe and Desi hand in hand.

Sleeping Zoe – a very big day for my little baby.

There are many more pictures -- click here

Le Petit Academy

We held our second co-op preschool class today. It was all perfectly timed: it was our turn and I happened to have the day off due to a UN observed holiday (Ramadan)! Nate will be teaching from here on out. We're basing our lessons around the alphabet and today was the letter "B' and also number "2".

We colored pictures with letter "B" objects. We also played a matching game trying to find "2" of each picture out of many in a large pile. We had wiggle time and many beverage refills. At the end, we made Halloween bbbats with our hands (thanks Heidi for the idea!). After the boys hands had been traced, I busied myself with the cutting and tried to go quickly till I realized they were each happy doing their own things: Des was most content coloring on the floor and Ian and Ayden had each found a book and sat themselves down on the couch completely absorbed. I couldn't believe it! There was a complete studious silence for 30-seconds or more (before I tried to raise an enthusiastic round of the Alphabet Song!) 3 boys!! So quiet and diligent!! I had envisioned things a bit more, er, crazy!


These boys are sooooo great!! It was so much fun! Ayden Fugal is the oldest (turned 3 in Sept) and he instructed me on how to spell his name (!) and Ian Todd was most pleased with himself when he decided to color his bbbball with bbblue and Des Jones was so pleased to have his friends with him that he was frequently playing good host and asking them if they needed any more refills for their bbbeverages. ;)

Desi Candor VII

He's been speaking unforgettable things at a fast clip these last few weeks. So much laughter!

With the crib tent now gone, Des rises when he wants and tries to recruit playmates. On a recent morning, too tired to move, I tried to coax him to come cuddle. His reply was, "No. I have my own bed."

“Magnet guy is stuck – his powers are broken!” Our can opener became a favorite plaything for a week, he said this when it had gotten lodged between some folded chairs in the kitchen.

“Jesus! Hi Jesus! I’m Desi and I love you!” While looking at a picture of Jesus Christ.

After a morning bath, I sent Desi into the living room with his towel, clothes and diaper while I got Zoe dried off first. When I entered the living room, I saw Des there with his rain boots on and nothing else saying to me, “I’m a naked boot guy!!”

"Mommy? Can you open the door for us? Can we get out!?" I heard this through the closed bedroom door one morning. It struck me that it was the first time, I could remember, that he spoke for Zoe and used “us” and “we”.

While getting seated in his high chair one evening Des says, “We’re at Mommy’s restaurant”.

Des enthusiastically approached me saying, “Hey everybody! I’m a kazoo!” then he gave a big blow on the little kazoo in his mouth, “Thank you for all mine heart!”

Hello little lady!

I’m doing hip-cups while I’m reading.

I was showing Desi one night how full my belly was after dinner and he smiled and asked, “Do you have another baby in your tummy?”

Mommy, can I watch the superhero video? Pleeeeeeaaase? You’re a nice girl... Please!

While looking in the mirror, Des said to his reflection, “I’m Desi and I love you!”

I explained one afternoon about my wedding ring and after listening carefully Des said, “When I grow up to be a girl, a guy gonna marry me and give me a ring! Yippie” and began to prance around the apartment shouting over and over again, "Yippie!”

Without fail now, while eating dinner together, DPJ will ask me, “Mommy? What you do at work today?” He loves to hear my work stories – it’s so cute. Even on the weekends and my (1) day-off during the week, when I’ve spent every moment with him, he’ll ask me.

Mommy? Dadda was eaten by an angry bear last night. Poor Dada.

Last Sunday morning after getting all dressed up in his finery Desi declares, “Excuse me everybody! I’m a church boy!”

Zoe I love you. I’ll keep you forever!

As I placed some avocado’s on Desi’s tray, he sang out in a happy voice, “Avocados! These are my favorite!!” Then he placed them in his mouth and immediately spit them out, “Yuck!” It was then I realized that they weren’t quite ripe enough. Ha!

Tonight, for some reason, I referred to Des as “My Pet”. I’ve never called him that before. He screwed up his face and said, “What Pet? What you talking about pet!? I’m a pet! I’m a pet?”

“Here’s spaghetti, you should eat it.” He said this to Zoe after putting some long shoelaces on her highchair tray.

Des was undressing for his bath and got as far a taking his shirt off then was briefly distracted by something else. When he took up the task again, he looked a bit confused and asked me urgently, “Where did my shorts go? Mommy, where are my shorts?” I asked him what shorts. “The shorts I was wearing at breakfast time, those shorts.” I responded, “Honey, I think you’re still wearing them.” He looked down and saw them still on his body and began to laugh at himself.

Hi Zoe! You’re a cute baby.

Pretty Baby

I know, I know but I just can't contain my love for her!!! I had some friends visiting from Utah a couple of weeks ago and so I had the use of a camera. One gorgeous evening, while we were walking through Central Park, we found the prettiest place with a little pond and a bridge all glistening in the setting sun.


Here are the pics.

Zoe is now 9months old. Her hair hasn't quite reached it's birth length again, but she's probably easily doubled her birth weight (8.2lbs) by now. We visit the doctor next month. She's still sticking to her creeping around, no knees just elbows. She's moving quicker though and now will follow us from room to room. It's incredible. She's gotten used to her nighttime routine, bedding down at 6:30pm and even if she hasn't fallen asleep before I leave her most evenings she won't cry in protest. Such a triumph!! She regularly creeps around at the playground while i intercept acorns and leaves from going into her mouth. I don't want to dicourage her from feeling things with her hands so I will let her touch and hold them all the while telling her, "no mouth Zoe". Sometimes I think she understands me, though not quite able to obey! She recognizes her name, which is most sweet, and will usually smile when I include it in my little sing-songs and chants. She still enjoys Desi but definately lets it be known when he crosses the line and she wants him out of her face. I know I've written here before, this girl can be fierce!

Desmond's Weekend with Auntie Heidi III

Desmond P. Jones loves his auntie Heidi it looks like from the below account a lot may have to do with her apartment (!) or the fact that she spoils him everytime he takes a solo trip to spend a weekend with her in Connecticut. This was their 3rd CT weekend together. Heidi sent me an email account of their adventures together:

Urgh- another missed opportunity. I accidentally left the camera I borrowed from Chris, with Heather so I had to turn to the ol' camera phone. I was still able to catch some fun moments although I didn't have my bright idea until the day was half over. :(

We had a great time- I picked Des up from the city around 8:30 on Saturday morning and he was half out the door before I could walk in. Very excited to come to Connecticut to my apartment. The trip up to CT was full of laughter as usual. A lot of cute funny things came out of his mouth. It started at the elevator in NY when I went to kiss him. He had a grossed out look on his face and he said "Heidi have coffee" I giggled and said yes, can you smell it. He said "Yes, it's yucky and not for little boys. Little boys only drink milk and juice not coffee" ha ha Soon after that I popped in some gum to avoid grossing him out any further. lol :) Once we got into the car, we started talking about all the fun things he did last time he came to CT. He'd obviously had been thinking of it for awhile. He remembered EVERYTHING!! :) I told him he was a "Keeper" and he asked, "what is keeper?" I told him that it means I hope we are friends for a long long time. He then informed me that we couldn't be friends cause I was a girl and that he can only be friends with "boys and big guys". lol :) So who knows where that leaves us girls. He was very talkative 15 minutes into the trip and then silence. Every question I asked was ignored until suddenly he warned me that he was going to throw up- I quickly pulled off the road and found a bag and got it to him just in time. We cleaned up what missed the bag and I realized it was the same spot I pulled over last trip up to CT. At least he is consistent. :)

Some time passed and I told him about the haircut appointment I'd made for him at a salon for kids. He was not excited about it in the least. "I don't need a haircut", "I don't like haircuts", "No haircut- go to Heidi's apartment" In fact, all he seemed to want to do is go back to the apartment but I promised him a "creature guy" if he was good during the haircut. That worked. He was soooooooooooooooooooooooooo good during the entire cut. He sat in a jeep and watched "Dora the Explorer" even when she got out the razor and the blow-dryer he remained still. So good- I was proud of him! He walked out with a new do, balloon, and lolly pop. I have a feeling the next cut will be a little easier to talk him into. :)

Off to Target we went to find a creature guy- he specifically wanted an "angry guy". Not sure why he is so fascinated with angry guys- it must be a boy thing. :) We found one that he was quickly drawn too and we were on our way. I suggested we buy something for baby Zoe, which he quickly got excited about. He went straight to the pink isle and found a stuffed frog and hugged it saying, "it's cozy- this will be good for baby zoes"..."and it's little". :) (So Heather, that's the explanation for the random frog in your target bags) :)

During our whole shopping trip all Desi wanted to do was go back to my apartment. What is it with that place that sucks you in and you never want to leave???? ha ha :) It was such a nice day, I wanted to take advantage of it but des was persistent with his request. I managed to keep him out longer by going to McDonalds and eating inside. But even then he wanted to take the food back to my apartment. Strange huh?

So finally- I was the good Jeannie and granted his wish. He inspected each room one at a time and then went straight for the toys I keep under a chair in a box- we played for a little while and then he wanted to watch the movie he picked out at Target "POWER RANGERS"- well ... he wanted angry guys and boy was that movie angry. He was glued to it for the first 5-10 minutes before I realized how violent those guys are. I shut it off quickly, knowing that if Heather saw this she would be cringing, telling Des that it was a very short movie and we would have to find something on T.V.

A few hours later he had enough and wanted to go to a playground- Bad me- I hadn't done my homework so I wasn't sure where a park was located in my area. So we went for a walk to find one. He stopped to smell each patch of flowers and took it all in. I was amazed how much he noticed and appreciated. He would go to every flower sit down on the ground and stick his nose in each bushel. So sweet. We came across the court house where they have recently added a few statues. That was all the playground he needed. He was so surprisingly happy with just this small area. He climbed on the benches, balanced along the wall, came nose to nose with the statue (See Pictures)- we spent about 30 minutes there before it got too cold and back home we went.

We got home and started making Halloween Decorations. Desi painted a paper plate with all fall colors and we made a pumpkin mask with a paper plate, a wall hanging, a few lolly pop ghosts, a spider wind sock, and the funniest part we made hand print spiders with googly eyes, and ghosts out of his footprints. Applying the white paint to the bottom of his feet was hysterical- we were both giggling so hard and then trying to get him to stand up on the paper with one foot painted was so funny. After a few tries and a lot of laughs we just applied the paper to his foot instead of his foot to the paper. :) ha ha They all ended up really cute and he was very proud of all his work. After that we ordered pizza "AND ROOT BEER" (which I almost forgot), and got ready for bed. It was such a FUN day!

globalgirl246's AOL Pictures Public Gallery.

Flea Market Saturday

Fun times last Spring when I set up a spot with a friend at a local flea market at the Ring Garden, so we decided to do it again this Fall and invite two more friends to do it with us – we split the cost of two spaces between the 4 of us and had a great time talking, helping each other sell their stuff and sharing hot cider and cookies! The weather was perfect and the other goods were so enticing to me that I found I could easily shop and sell at the same time! Therfore, I came away with $11 and lots of new great junk – clothes mostly for the babes. Great fun (such a nerd!)

Heidi, the cool Simkins, came to the city to hang with the babes while I was gone all day -- they stopped by for a visit and as usual showed them a good time. We love her!!


SEE MORE PICS

Excursion to the East Side

Back in September Nate had a Saturday free so we took the babes through Central Park over the the East Side to this wonderful playground north of the Metropolitan Museum. Took some footage of the babes and the playground and a bit of the neighborhood.

Baby Contemplations

To have a little baby, who will be
A daughter. A girl. An echo of
Where I was once.

We belong to each other --
You remind me, I remind you
Of traveling -- of journeying.

You take the nuances of your heritage -- hand picked
Or undetected. And I now wonder
Will that blue vein sit plumply
Across your left index finger
Keeping pulse with my Mother and I?

Desi Candor VI

Desi and I were in the kitchen: I was fixing dinner, he was avoiding picking up toys in the living room. He said finally, “I’m gonna go see how my mess is doing.” He left and returned in 3seconds saying, “Its fine.” I wasn’t sure I heard him correctly and I asked him, “What did you say?” He looked at me sheepishly, “My mess is not fine.”

Sorry, maybe next time, bye-bye!

Mommy? I LOVE Daddy!!

I’m a marching band boy.

Mr. Jones drawed in my book!

Des was eating lunch and squishing it through his fingers and said at one point, “Really cool dude, crashin’ dudey!”

We were eating baked ziti the other night at home and remembering the last time we had it, a month ago, at our friends Kendra&Lexi’s apartment. Desi was remembering particular details like: eating it on a plate (that night we were eating it in a bowl) and playing with a couple of cows there on the table. Then he offers up this memory, “She has a wonderful sink!”

I’m a beautiful neighbor.

While taking the train home one evening Des shouts, “Mom! You’re a superhero!”

After finishing a joint effort of picking up toys in the living room and kitchen Des brushes his hands together and says, “Mommy, that was hard work to do.”

After placing a pretend crown on my head and his head, DPJ declares, “I’m gonna marry you!”

While digging through a box Desi finds a random toy and exclaims, “Oh! I’ve been looking all over for this toy!” He then promptly drops it and forgets about it.

Zoe Turns 8 Months!

MyZoeMyZoeMyZoe... still besotted. :) She turned 8-months on Sunday (along with Auntie Holly who turned... shhhh... it's a secret -- Happy Birthday!;))

Zoe's now pulling herself to standing. In fact, this a.m. after waking up and happily laying there for a bit, talking and making sweet sounds, she decided to pull herself up for the first time and take a look! I've been draping a blanket over one side of the pack-n-play so that when she wakes she wouldn't be able to see us from her reclining position. Well, now she can simply stand up and look over. She laughed her raspy little laugh when she saw us over on the bed and I couldn't resist her. It was 5:45a.m. :::sigh:::

We've discovered her ticklish spot -- the ribs. Her laughter is still a bit rusty, not a lot of practice yet so we hope to tickle some hardcore guffaws out of her soon. :) She certainly squeals with delight though. Love that.

A couple of weeks ago I introduced *cheerios* to her! A big hit. She takes it very seriously and focuses and works quite hard to control her little fingers to get the small round 'o' to the small round mouth. I love watching her long delicate fingers make their maneuvers.

Her hair is continuing to grow and I continue to massage (a-la-grandpajones-style) it along. It's a light brown, golden in the sunshine. She's startled us by losing all her darks locks and replacing them with a lighter shade. Her brows are still quite dark as well as her eyes. It's a nice contrast.

She has said "mamamamamma" a couple of times which is sooner than Des ever said it -- I think he was 10 or 11mos.

In the Bedroom

Zoe was about 7mos in this footage. I thought I'd include it here on the blog because I'm often asked how we all fit in our 1-bedroom apartment. Take a tour!

Three thousand flags fly in tribute to those lost in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks at the NYC 9/11 Memorial Field, which opened to visitors this weekend in Inwood Hill Park, on the upper tip of Manhattan. The Flag of Honor exhibit will remain open through today as part of New York's commemoration of the fifth anniversary of the attacks.

We've been taking the babes to the Memorial everyday since it was errected (Friday afternoon). The lovely Inwood Hill Park is in our neighborhood -- about a 10-minute walk from our apartment -- if you've been to visit we've taken you down there. Nathan took Des&Zoe on Friday afternoon and they walked into the middle of the feild of flags sat down and Nate began to tell the story to them. Des was fascinated and Nate said that he was asked to tell it three more times. When I took them Saturday and Sunday Desi wanted to repeat what he did with Nathan, he lead me into the flags picked a spot and invited me to sit down and "tell the sad story".

Howdy Partner!

At high noon we gathered at the church on Labor Day for a Opening Social Ho-Down. We all (well, some of us) dressed as western as we could. There were varying degrees of cowboy gear, flannels and jeans and redneck attire. Professional Callers were located somewhere in CT and brought into the city to lead us all in square dancing, line dancing, and hoolahoops!

There was a Chili Tasting Contest judged by Bishop Billy and the gang (yes, aka nate jones -- HA!) My award for the chili I threw together that morning was, "Chili Most Likely to be Eaten by a Real Cowboy". Others given out were, "Chili Most Likely to Wake You Up at 1:00AM" and "Best Roadkill Chili". My favorite was the award given for the, "Most Chilean Chili" to a new move-in from Chili. Ha!

Click on the above images for a reel good time!! yeeeehaaaa!

PattyCakePattyCake

More updates on little Zoe -- trying to keep up with her -- last week she began clapping her cutelittlehands!!! So sweet! She claps when she's happy, she claps when she's upset, it's her emotional conduit. In fact, I'm playing basketball with Des right now and she just clapped for me when I made a basket!! When she claps she's usually saying something that may translate to, "yeahyeahyeahyeah!"

Other news -- ZoeDKJones has her top two teeth arriving, one ahead of the other. Her Daddy affectionately calls her snaggletooth. She's grinning so much more. Whenever Nathan or I or Des, in fact, enter a room she recognizes us and gives a happy little smile usually accompanied by a squeal.

Desi Candor V

Desi’s new friend Thomas was over playing. Thomas held up his batman and said to Des, “I save bad people.” Des held up his Buzz Lightyear and replied, “I save happy people!”

I’m thirsty for my arm.

I wear my basketball jammajamma’s. I can play basketball with the guys!

“Johnny’s little babysister is a boy?” Des likes to engage in these conversations every once and awhile; going through family and friends and identifying gender and roles. I thought this little mix-up particularly cute.

“And here is the best shirt I’ve ever met!” Presenting his new superman action figure wearing a white poncho made from a wipe.

“Babyzoe want to live on the floor!” In protest to Vanessa picking Zoe up.

“What are you doing?” Desi asked Vanessa, she replied, “popping a zit.” Desi giggled, “that’s funny!”

“Hi Zoes! We’re family together!” I’d just told him he could hold her – it was the first thing he wanted to do when he woke up this morning.

Yes Mother.

Upon entering our building a young woman holds the door open for us to get babes and stroller through. I thank her and when she’d left I remarked to Desi how nice that girl was to help us. He replyed, “That’s a spicy girl”. I couldn’t get him to explain what he meant.

Super Zoe to the rescue!

In the park late one afternoon, Des held up a stick to me and said, "it's wood, our favorite breakfast"

Visitors are Required to bring Cameras!

Last Saturday Heidi came for a long over due visit. DesmondJones gets so excited when he knows AuntieHeidi is coming -- his jaw drops and he makes an audible gasp and then it all turns into a big smile! He loves her!! This time he actually greeted her with a big hug which made her so happy -- he usually plays shy for awhile. She brought her camera (hooray!) and we took lots of pics -- see how goofy we are!

Click here

Zoe at 7-months

Zoe is now 7-months old and had a recent doctors visit. She weighed in at 18.5 lbs and 26 inches!! She received 2 shots which rattled her world but for a moment. Ugh! Those crys!

She's begun creeping across the floor. This morning she crept with real vigor trying to reach my rain boots with Desi shouting, "No! Zoe! Not mom's rain boots!!" I've begun placing her in a standing position in her pack-n-play and she'll hold onto the sides and stand quite independently for several minutes. She hasn't pulled herself to standing yet, or gotten up onto her feet while creeping, nor has she figured out how to get into a sitting position by herself. Which is to say… she’s still very much an infant! :):):)

She loves to eat!!! She figured out the open mouth routine: i open it and mom sticks the yummy spoon in. Sometimes she just sits there in the highchair with her hands clasped together opening and closing her mouth prettily. I love it.

Zoe has also discovered her lower registers. Every once and awhile a deep, raspy growl will build in octave levels till it's quite astoundingly loud -- esp. for such a doey-eyed little babe! When those sounds are transformed into a more emotionally charged cry or yelp, Nate calls her a little wildcat! eeeeks!! The sound is a bit scary!

Here are more pics taken when Ini and Vanessa were visiting.

Click Here

Weekend with Ini and Vanessa

Bathtime Blunders

I've had this rather funny footage of what Miss Zoe D.K. Jones has to endure with her rough-n-tumble brother and mother who loves seeing them together!! Both these videos were taken within the last couple of months.

Disclaimer: Not to worry, no injurues were sustained!!

August in New York

Zoe's enjoying playing with her friends. This is little Ava Turley who is a month younger. She's a sweet baby!

We met them in the park last Friday and Zoe&Ava both enjoyed the swings together. Fun times! It's so thrilling to see them squeal such happy squeals.

I'm beginning my second week off work. It's been soooo lovely to be with mylittlefamily fulltime. We've been alternating days with Dadda and days with friends. We've had many play dates with friends and many trips to museums with Dad. We particularly love those suggested donations venues in the city!! Des has seen a lot of modern art, sculpture, African artifacts, and animals behind glass-- he loves the Natural History Museum.

Zoe has begun to wake during the night again so my latest strategy, I've had a string of them, starting this week is to move out fulltime to the livingroom. We'll keep this up for at least two months and then slowly move back in. It worked with Desi, though he was much older, but I'm hopeful!!!

About two weeks ago Zoe's little personality suddenly seemed to emerge fulltime. We don't know if it had to do with having Vanessa around for 4-5 days as an adoring companion or that she simply had surveyed enough of her surroundings and was ready to join in. She's been markedly more smiley and vocal. She has this cute little squeally/squeaky laugh (will try and get it on video soon) where she will throw her hands up in the air then double over with delight and squeal into her belly. So cute. When she sees me she will usually welcome me with a large smile and laugh and reach out happily and when I come to her she grabs onto me desperately and pulls me too her laughing. I love to do this on the bed with her where we can bury our faces into each other and kiss and cuddle. I love her so much!!

Desi has been playing ring-around-the-rosies with her. We do it on the bed where I hold Zoe around the waist and Des takes her hands and they sway back and forth while DPJ&I sing the song. He usually lets go when he falls down but even when he doesn't she actually loves it!! She loves him so much and he, more often than Nate and I, is the one that produces such interest and laughter from her.

Zoe Eats!

This is video from one of her first sittings with rice cereal. She has now become quite the epicure. Her array has grown to include sweet potatoes, green beans, bananas and prunes. This week she will try peas, peaches and oat cereal!! I love this part of my job!

Bronx Zoo

We took a trip to Bronx Zoo while Vanessa was visiting at the end of last month. It was a great afternoon and we paused here on this green patch for a bit of a rest..

Storytime

Zoe's First Party

Saturday we went to Emilia Fugal's Welcoming Party. She was recently adopted by our friends Cori and Jayson. Emi is just a few weeks older than Zoe. Her older brother, Ayden, is one of Desi's little friends and they are also the same age (there are pictures of them on Desi's baby blog) It's perfect!

WELCOME EMI!!

Tour Guide

Drummer Boy!

Summertime Weekend

Finally got ourselves out of the city to Garrison, NY for a weekend in a very lovely house in the woods with tons of amenities!!

Bathtime Chat

Des Jones getting chatty in the bath.

Desi Candor IV

Still camera-less but Desmond P. Jones continues to provide vivid picture-substitutes with his colorful, amusing language.

“This like pillow. This is comfy.” After taking a bite of a homemade crouton.

Ever since Desi learned the “If you chance to meet a frown…” song in nursery he’s been much more conscientious of our faces. For instance, noticing on the day my parents were leaving, that my mom was not her usual self and finally saying, “Grammy? You’re not smiling! Grammy smile!” He told me the other day that I was supposed to smile. And our friend Lindsey, who was helping a couple days after mom&dad left, was cajoled into carrying Desi up a hill and all the way home after Lunch Bunch while she was also pushing Zoe (!) Once back to our apartment the last thing she was thinking about was smiling, but Des noticed and began singing, “No one likes a frowny face, change it for a smile!”

“Oh my goodness, I’m naked!”

“I look like a girl!!!” We’re not sure why he said this, he was not playing dress up, he was just having his lunch. We laughed and laughed…. “I look like a girl, Grandpa Gary!!” [shortly thereafter Grandpa presided over a very short haircut]

Desi was struggling to get his snow pants on (yes, in June) and I heard him say, “Where’s that cute foot? Where’s my cute foot?”

About 20minutes after my parents said goodbye (headed for the airport to return home), I found something that they’d left behind, which always devastates me. I began lamenting and saying how sad I was that they forgot something. Desi approached me, put his arms around my legs, gave them a kiss and said, “I’m here, I’m here.” Then he pulled away saying, “I know what will make you happy,” and began to play the kazoo.

“I smell something, I smell something… it’s babyzoe’s breath!” His proximity to her was not close – she was in the bassinet he was on the changing table “Kind of yucky stuff, kind of yucky stuff… Like potato salad.” I don’t remember the last time we had potato salad! I laughed for hours on this one!

A tremendous thunderstorm a few nights ago – I was lovin’ it but Des had different feelings, “I don’t like thunder, it’s thundery. I need to hide somewhere.”

While holding up to his mouth the new baseball bat Auntie Heidi got for him Desi declared, "toot! toot! toot! I have an announcement: I have an emergency! I lost an earring!"

I changed my mind -- my mind is something else.

Zoe and Desi -- Message to Grandma & Grandpa Jones

Desmond Tutu

I just shook Desmond Tutu's hand!!

One of my colleagues here at the United Nations who knows when all the VIP's are coming and going, tipped me off (per my long ago request) and I darted to the lounge where I was told Archbishop Tutu was sitting.

He was all alone on a white couch, dressed in black with the purple shirt underneath -- the Anglican dress. He had his head resting on his hand, looking world-weary. He saw me from afar off and watched me approach him. It was daunting but I was driven by adoration!

I began by saying, "Sir... may I shake your hand?" And he extended it. Overcome. The hand of a man who has worked so hard for peace and understanding. A hand that has been in the trenches of human injustices and lifted so many to find peace and reconciliation in their lives.

I rambled on a bit about waiting for him to visit the UN again so that I may meet him -- then said how much I admired the work he's done for our world... then got around to saying that because I was so grateful and inspired by him I named my son Desmond. He raised his brows ever so slightly. I wanted to tell him more about the reasons why but he stopped me mid-sentence and asked me if I lived in NYC (I suppose one can only take so much passionate outpourings from strangers!) I said yes but that I was originally from Utah. I hoped to get a response from that but didn't. He then said to say hello to his namesake for him. I warmed joyfully to this and said thank you. He pressed his hands together, smiled and bowed to me and I with my heart full returned the gesture and then left, nearly in tears.

What an honor. A blessed man. I wish now I would have sat down on the couch next to him and talked with him about what is concerning him these days.

The first time I heard Desmond Tutu was during our Philadelphia days. I was at home listening to NPR (I'm a junkie for good reason!) and heard the following interview with Alex Chadwick. I cried, I laughed, I wrestled with his ideas -- there was something about him and what he was saying that made him unforgettable to me. Here is a link to that interview: Morning Edition, October 7, 1999


Nobel Site on: Desmond Mpilo Tutu

A good synopsis of his work and views: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desmond_Tutu

The Desmond Tutu Peace Center -- a non-profit group for nurturing visionary leadership


A perfect time to share one of my favorites passages from his book, "No Future without Forgiveness" (1999)

We are bound together in what the Bible calls "the bundle of life." Our humanity is caught up in that of all others. We are human because we belong. We are made for community, for togetherness, for family, to exist in a delicate network of interdependence. Truly, "it is not good for man to be alone," for no one can be
human alone.

I think the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ exemplifies this thought so beautifully in the principles it teaches about our family relationships being ETERNAL. Archbishop Tutu is driven by the Spirit of God, to be sure. I can't tell you how happy this makes me. To have an individual like him in our world leading us all to love and forgive one another. In my mind there are two very great men in our world, who lead us so lovingly: the Prophet Gordon B. Hinkley and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. I wonder if they have met each other? What did they talk about? I suppose it would likely be about us, Gods will for us.

Many times in the Scriptures the prophets talk about how important we should be to one another:

1 Peter 8:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous

Mosiah 2:17 And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the
service of your God.

Individuals who give and believe so much really influence me and direct me toward more openness with humanity. I want it to be said of me that I loved humans, that I was good on humanity. The more I experience things the more I feel that a part of the meaning of life is not what happens to us, but what happens between us.

BLESS ALL OF YOU!

Desmond P. and Zoe D.K. Jones

would like to wish their wonderful

GRANDFATHERS

a

HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY

FATHERS DAY!!!

Experimentation

Back up (same video)

Video Blogging

Click the screen then the play button at the bottom.

You may have to download the Micromedia Flash plug-in to get it to work, then restart your computer.

Please let me know if this doesn't work fo you. I've been wanting to upload video for sometime and Vanessa (Miss MySpace Queen) helped me figure out this option.

or CLICK HERE

Letters from Central Asia

We are missing Nathan like crazy!!! For two weeks we were fine in the care of Grammy&Grampy but all this week Des&I both are constantly invoking Dadda's speedy return!!

6/9/06

Well, as indicated above, I had quite an adventure a couple of days ago. On Wednesday, I still hadn't been able to track down Professor Mathis and I was wondering what to do -- should I stay and see if I can find him or should I just leave? I had called him at his home and office several times, spoke with his secretary, and even went by the university, and I was getting tired of it -- I also felt a pressing need to get back to Kazakhstan -- so I tried to spend all of the rubles i had left on snacks and drinks and hopped on the next bus to Semipalatinsk.

About an hour into the trip I began to doze and was later woken by a "pop" sound followed by the bus coming to stop. The driver got out and looked around and eventually climbed back in and told us that the bus had broken down. He tried to drive us to the next "bus stop" but the bus was only moving at about 1 mile per hour -- at this rate we would reach civilization by August. I was gradually becoming quite concerned -- we were in the middle of nowhere and I didn't have any rubles! Suddenly the bus stopped again and the driver quickly jumped out. When he came back he said there was a bus behind us going to a town called Rubzovsk and we should all get on it. We all climbed on this small dirty bus, and I started to panic -- where is Rubzovsk? How big is it? How long will it take us to get there? How far is it from the Kazakh border? How will I get to Semipalatinsk from there? What am I going to do for money -- I spent all my rubles?

I finally saw a mileage marker and ascertained that it would take a couple of hours to travel to this town Rubzovsk and I kept my fingers crossed that it would be large enough to have a bank with an atm, a good bus station, and a hotel if necessary. As I mentioned, the bus was pretty small and old and slowly puttered along like the "train-that-could" -- every time we approached a hill, I began reciting "I think we can, I think we can."

After about four hours of that, we reached Rubzovsk, and I breathed a sigh of relief as I saw a bank with an atm on the way to the bus station. I checked at the station and saw that there was a bus to Semipalatinsk the next day in the afternoon, so I was going to have to spend the night here. I saw one of the guys who was on the bus that broke down and struck up a conversation with him -- he was pretty shocked to meet an American and was happy to chat with me for about an hour. It turned out that he lives in a village nearby and was able to point me in the direction of a cheap hotel. I thanked him and headed to the town square where the hotel was supposed to be.

I soon found the hotel, walked in and told the lady at the desk that I needed a room. She looked at me suspiciously and said "you can get a room if you have the proper documents!" I assured her I did and gave her my passport. She looked through it very surprised and said she didn't think that she could legally provide me with a room since I am a US citizen (this town obviously does not get to many international visitors). I explained to her that I was on my way to Semipalatinsk, but the bus broke down and I was stuck in Rubzovsk until tomorrow. She sympathized with my predicament and decided to call the local migration police to see if would be okay for me to stay. The officer said it would be fine if I supplied a photocopy of my passport, visa, and Russian migration card. I said I would do it and had to run out and find somewhere to get my passport photocopied. When I returned I was given a small room in this rather large, but very old and run down hotel. The place was huge but there wasn't to many guests staying there, so it had the feel of a haunted house. To get to my room on the third floor, I had to venture up an old grand staircase (complete with cobwebs!) and walk down a dark hallway with dozens of chairs, tables, and beds stacked along the walls. My room looked liked it hadn't been occupied in a decade and the bed had one of those noisy coil-spring mattresses. As uncomfortable as the place sounds however, I was happy to be there and was able to relax after my scare with the bus breaking down.

So its Friday now and I am in Semipalatinsk -- the trip from Rubzovsk to Kazakhstan went smoothly thank heavens. I am leaving for Almaty in a couple of hours on a train and I will arrive tomorrow afternoon. I will check back with you when I get to Almaty.

I can't wait to get home -- I am beat! Love you guys!

MEGA Pictures

Just before leaving on Monday, my Dad uploaded all the photos we'd taken over the last two weeks to his Ofoto/Kodak Gallery site.

300+ count!!


Click here!
This is for serious veiwers!

Letters from Central Asia

We went for nearly a week without hearing from Nathan -- finally he emailed! Whew!

6/6/06

I made it back to the civilization yesterday after spending a week in various villages in Kazakhstan and Siberia -- I am now in Barnaul in Siberia, and will travel back to Kazakhstan tomorrow -- to a town called Semipalatinsk. I have done so much over the past week, it will be impossible to give you a thorough account so I will summarize. My first stop was a village in Kazakhstan called Uspenka. I just wanted to visit the village because I knew there were many Germans left living there. I received a pretty warm welcome from the locals, and got a quick tour of the town and was fed lunch. Later, I was taken to a meeting for people who were subjected to repression during WWII -- which means that they were deported to Siberia and Kazakhstan and forced to labor in what was called the "service army" -- in which many people died during and after the war. Most of the participants were Germans, but there were other groups represented as well. During the event I managed to meet and cozy up with the mayor of the village and the president of the county, as well as a member of the local senate. I stayed with a family affiliated with the local German center -- who were very nice. When I arrived at their home, we spent the evening chatting. I left the next morning for Sharbakti -- another Kazakhstan village which dislocated just a few kilometers from the Siberian border. I have chosen this town as my eventual research site in Kazakhstan (after checking out Uspenka, I made that decision). The reasons are its size (it’s much larger than the other villages and has more resources), my contacts there (I am well acquainted with the assistant to the Akim/major which helps), its proximity to my Siberian research site Podsosnovo, and finally because of the presence of the Catholic church. The father here is an American, and there are some other Americans priests here as well as some European nuns (the head nun is a very nice lady from Austria). I think that it will be good for you and the kids to have some people around who seem much more familiar and speak your language. The church runs a center for abandoned and neglected children, so there are always a bunch of little kids running around the church. After I arrived to Sharbakti, I met with Gulnara who is the assistant to the Akim, and explained to her that I wanted her to help me find a place to live when I move there next year. We discussed a few options and she suggested that I go and speak with the Catholic father, because the church has purchased a number of houses. I spoke with him the next day; however his only suggestion was for us to buy a house (we can get a nice big one for $5000 -- haha). Gulnara indicated that there are other options -- we can probably find someone to rent to us -- and I should check back with her when I arrive to Siberia next year. I feel pretty good about the situation because it appears that my contacts there are totally prepared to help us.

After Sharbakti, I crossed the border and traveled to the Siberian city Slavgorod and then later to the village Podsosnovo. This time I didn't want any help from the German org. here but instead I wanted to make my way around the region myself (in the past, the German org. has provided me with transporation). Unfortunately, there is no bus service to Podsosnovo from Slavgorod, so I had to take a bus to the closest road to the village. When I climbed out of the bus, I was disappointed to see a distance marker indicating 15 kilometeres to Podsosnovo (I think about 8 or 9 miles). I began walking and stuck my thumb out every time a car passed, but no one would pick me up. After about 40 minutes an older guy and his wife stopped and let me climb in their car. The couple quickly realized that I was not Russian, and after telling the driver that I am from the US, he almost drove his car into the ditch along the side of the road. He said (what is an American doing wandering around in the middle of Siberia!). Anyway, I finally got to Podsosnovo, got set up in the local hotel, and got Alexei (my buddy the mayor) on the phone. I met with him and his family later at his house, and we went back over my plans -- which are totally all set. He said that there are several houses that have been kept by Germans who have moved to Germany, and they would be glad to rent them. Fortunately, all of the houses here have central, electrical heating and indoor toilets (as opposed to Sharbakti which uses coal, meaning we will have to pay for coal deliveries and figure out how to use a coal burning stove, and outhouses -- meaning a small wooden enclosure with a hole in the floor). The only concern is furniture, which he says we can buy in Podsosnovo or Slavgorod. Of course, I told him that us moving there is totally conditional, however if it works out, I will write him and he will spring into action providing the necessary paperwork. The rest of my time in Podsosnovo, I spent visiting some acquaintances, and going to the local German church (I went to 4 hours of church on Sunday!).

Yesterday (Monday), Alexei drove me to Halbstadt (the county seat), so I could register my visa and where I could catch a bus for Barnaul, to where I arrived last night. I spent today trying to track down people. My main concern is to find Professor Matis at the University of Barnaul. I need to talk to him about getting academic affiliation with the university for my research period in Russia. Unfortunately, I have not been successful -- I have been to his office and have called his office and home phone several times today, but have not been able to track him down. I am
leaving tomorrow and don't think I will be able to get him. Darn! I did pay a visit to the local German House and checked with my contacts there about getting ourselves officially registered when we arrive in Russia. After calling the local migration authorities, I was told that the procedure had totally changed from what I was told last year; and they explained how I need to do it (hopefully it does not change again next year when we get here!) Anyway, it is evening here and I am little disappointed about not finding professor Matis. Oh well - I am going to call him at home tonight, and maybe go by the University tomorrow before I leave. My plan is to leave for Kazakhstan tomorrow morning -- unless I can arrange a meeting with Matis tomorrow afternoon -- and if so will take an overnight bus tomorrow night (ughh!!). This trip (which has been quite fruitful) is winding down -- really meeting with Matis was the last thing I needed to do -- other than getting to Almaty for the flight home.

Letters from Central Asia

5/30/06

I am in Pavlodar and am leaving for the country villages tomorrow morning -- and will probably not have email access until I get to Barnaul next week.

I was really blessed yesterday. I arrived to Pavlodar and quickly found a place to stay. Then I went looking for food and accidently took the wrong bus. I got lost for a few moments and then recognized the street I was on and began walking in the direction of the restaraunt I wanted.
Suddenly I heard someone calling my name, I turned around and it was my friend Oxana who works for Rebirth. It turns out that the organization moved their office to the other side of town last year, and I just happen to be walking by the office, and Oxana just happened to be there late teaching a German class, and just happened to open the door for an instant for some air as I just happened to be walking by!!!! Had that not happened, I would have had a bear of a time finding them!

Anyway, they have me all set up to visit two villages tomorrow and the next day -- and after I visit them on Friday, I will make for Russia. The last village (Sharbakti) that I will visit, I really like (I was there last year). I am going to visit with the mayor's assistant and see about living accomodations for us if we come next year.

Faces

Desi said tonight -- "I miss Dadda so much!"




We love you!!