Christmas

Sorry I haven't posted about Christmas before this, but really, there's just wasn't much to report. It was pretty much like any other day.

Asher spent some time glued to the TV.

He played for a bit in the living room.

I guess he spent a little more time in his crib than usual, but other than that. Same ole same ole.

Hope you enjoyed your Christmas.

YEAH! I LOVE THIS SONG!

No more snow days

Seeing the state of our car, I was pretty sure I wasn't going to be making it in to school today.

But apparently the thought of spending another day trapped in the apartment trying to entertain an active toddler was enough to to send Deenesh into a frenzy of shoveling.

Just hanging out

For those of you that don't check facebook...

Deenesh coming out of a somersault down the hill - it was actually a little impressive.
Path of destruction
Heading in after a full day on the slopes.

Yes, those are dolphins on our "sled" - look we had to improvise okay? I figured we didn't need to go out to buy a sled after the last snowfall. I mean, what were the chances of getting more snow?

Why do Daddys throw snowballs at little toddlers?

Boy, it is just a vicious cycle isn't it.

Cute babies hanging out in the snow

Another example of a bad energy ratio

Although I'd put this one at closer to 3:1.

We got a LOT of snow

Asher enjoyed walking in the snow for about 30 steps. Then he decided it was much easier to just insist on being carried.

The Energy Ratio

In the last several months whenever I do an activity with Asher I judge it in terms of its “energy ratio” – that is the amount of energy I expend versus the amount he expends. Thus I try to avoid anything with a high Mommy ratio, and try to seek out activities with a high Asher ratio. For instance, a playground spin where Asher sits down and I have to hold him on while pushing it and running in circles, is a pretty high Mommy ratio at about 4:1, where a slide, where he has to climb ladders or stairs and then slide down and run back to climb up again, all while I stand around watching, has a pretty good ratio at about 1:3.

So sledding? Let’s see, 25 + lb Asher loaded down in layers of winter clothes gets carried while I hike up a steep hill through about 2 feet of snow.

Yeah, I’d say that’s a ratio of about 132:1. It’s a good thing we don’t usually get this much snow.

(and sure, in the video Deenesh is the one sliding down with him – just to let you know, Asher was having a “mommy” day, so he generally insisted that I be the one to carry him up the hill. And everywhere else. Again, carrying a baby - a bad energy ratio)

Why do toddlers throw snowballs at Daddys?

Long memories.

Actually, it turned out that Asher's absolute favorite part of the snow experience was sitting in my lap in the snow while Deenesh threw snowballs at us (either going over his head or hitting him in his chest). Each time Asher just laughed and laughed.

Happy last night of Hanukkah

Some presents are timeless

Mine

Just in case you can't hear it very well...

Transcript:
Daddy: Do you want to share with Mommy or Daddy?
Asher: Mine.

He wasn't kidding. Out of the entire grapefruit (both halves) Deenesh got 2 bites. I got zero.

And he's usually such a good sharer.

If anyone is looking for a new morning exercise routine...

...just try not to get distracted by the car-cars.

"Now, where did I put my shoes?"

Knowing about I love you

I kept forgetting to blog about this, so I figured I would let my mom (Nana) do the talking. This is from an e-mail that she sent me.

"I loved the phone call the other night and the part that will live in my heart forever is when I said I Love You to Asher and you mentioned that he didn't know those words yet and then he blew a kiss. He does know it! It was the most wonderful thing."

Carpet Cleaning Adventure

We finally took Asher’s not so subtle hints about the cleanliness of our apartment and got the carpets cleaned.
















Which involved getting everything up and off the floor.

















And of course the rescuing of certain items. Like Gobi. And his toothbrush and toothpaste?

















Here’s Asher squeezing into a closet that is normally closed.






















And here he is when he found 2 long-ago-confiscated items in said closet. Knowing where Asher was going (both items were confiscated after Spinx-related incidents) I followed.





But I underestimated him.
























He was putting them away where they "belong". Into the regular confiscation closet.























Asher also helped getting the place vacuumed in prep for the cleaning.























While Deenesh (typical) “supervised”.

(Of course, considering I couldn’t do much since I had photography duties, really that left Asher to do all the work).























But in the end, Asher wised up to the “supervision” racket.




“Oh Daddy, I’m not allowed on the porch”















So I guess at least one of us adults had to do some of the work after all.

The Battle at Santa's Lap

Santa visited our apartment complex so of course we took Asher to get the obligatory photo on Santa’s lap.

He liked the candy cane thank you, but no he would not be going anywhere near Santa thank you very much.

So we hovered near the Santa. I thought perhaps if he sees all the other kids clamoring to get on Santa’s lap, he might get interested too. (It always works with toys after all. The most uninteresting toy becomes desirable, even irresistible, when in the hands of another child).

No, he was fine with sharing this time. In fact, perfectly happy for the other kids to keep Santa all to themselves.

I thought perhaps if I stand right next to Santa while Asher sits on his lap he might deign to take one photo.

Asher did not approve that plan.

So finally we “compromised”. I sat on Santa’s lap, and Asher sat on mine. And that was just fine with Asher.

Why do these “compromises” feel more like someone else won?

Sorry no other post tonight...

but it is time for bed.

On Demand

Given that Asher is only 1 and a half, it didn't occur to us to set parental controls on the television quite yet.

Our mistake.

Asher loves the remote control.

Asher loves pushing buttons.

Asher managed to order a $14 adult film.

He managed to watch a minute of it before Deenesh came back in the room.

I'd like to think that my son was just trying to figure out how to turn on his Baby Einstein video.

But just in case we've now set the parental lock for ordering.

Monster in the Bathroom: Guests be warned.

More on the Pho Lunch

Asher appeared to have finished eating and I realized I had only moments before he made it clear it was time to leave.
I was not done with my lunch.

Out of desperation, and because clearly I have been living with some people too long…
I made a rookie mistake.

I picked up my bowl to at least down some of the soup before we had to leave.
Big mistake.

Monkey See. Monkey Do.

Ah well. At least it bought me some extra time to finish my soup.

Pho

Yesterday I took Asher to his favorite restaurant for lunch.

You guessed it. Pho.

I quickly realized that without Deenesh with us there was no option to tag team and have one person feed Asher while the other eats.

So the only way to make sure that I got to eat before Asher finished his own food and started to attract other diners attention by his desire to get down and play was to allow him to eat on his own.


I left a big tip.

Halfway through the meal, I started to realize even the subtle ways in which the presence of Asher has changed my dining experience.

1. I was eating the pho noodles with a fork instead of chopsticks because normally by the time the food has come Asher has thrown all the chopsticks on the floor. And it is easier to feed asher with a fork and many of my bites go into his mouth.
2. I no longer get to add any hot sauce to my soup. Again, many of my bites go into his mouth.
3. I have eaten at the pho restaurant approximately 10 times since the last time I went to the Thai restaurant next door. I really need to convince Asher Pad Thai is as good as Pho.

Not a good Jew

See that menorah on the stove?

Anyone want to guess what a clever yet destructive little one year old with a long stick in his hand did next?



Yeah. Sorry there’s no additional photo. I was too busy making sure the place didn’t burn down.

Fortunately Deenesh has some insight into the mind of clever, active little boys and made the judgment call to move the menorah from its original location to the relatively safe position on the stove.


Happy Hanukkah.

Giddyup Cowboy!

Asher rides his zebra while wearing his mother's glasses.

You can't see me

"Eh". Asher goes sledding.

"MORE!" Lights at the Zoo

On Friday we went to the Lights at the Zoo. While it was not quite as elaborate as the Trail of Lights in Austin, Texas that we went to last year, it was a lot less crowded and a lot of fun.

Asher has just learned the sign and word "more", so at every display he would look at it with wonder and would demand "MORE".

Joy with friends

Joy

Newest Youtube

Move over Beach Boys. You've got some serious competition.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=astISOttCQ0

Oh lucky us.

Remind me to screen all youtube recommendations before showing them to Asher in the future.

More Couch Potato

Dear Baby Einstein,

I know you haven’t been getting a whole lot of love lately, but I just want to let you know that we in the Sohoni household still appreciate you. But then, we never expected you to turn our child into a genius. Rather, we’ve always appreciated you for what you are really good at – reducing our active 1-year old to a virtual comatose state thus allowing us to engage in luxurious activities we might not get to do otherwise. Like making dinner. Or Showering.

So thank you Baby Einstein. And keep up the good work.