Words

I feel like I am the only one who is concerned that Tyoma is not speaking much.  They say that mothers just know when something is not right with their child. So I wonder. Is his pattern of losing words and not saying much a big deal? Is he not learning to speak because I get and do everything for him?

Still,  when I consider my neurotic, imaginative disposition, I realize this is probably nothing. Mom thinks it's nothing. Tanya thinks it's nothing, too.  When we were in 'Cruces she said that E didn't speak until he was older than two.  Now she says she can't remember,  but boys always talk later.  She has dozens of anecdotes about it. I need to chill.

But!  When I consult google, I realize that he is behind. He is nowhere near using two word sentences, he barely uses one word consistantly.  It is so strange.  He'll blurt out some random word and it sounds incredible, but then its gone into the abyss.  I should not be too worried, though.  He knows what things are.  We have lots of picture books and he can point to the pictures correctly.  He also knows at least 12 colors--he can pick them out across a variety of places. He knows the letters of the alphabet, especially X which he points out with much enthusiasm everywhere we go.

Tanya Arrives

Tanya arrives from Moscow today.  I hope that our visit goes well, I expect so since there is so much I need to do and her help will allow me to get stuff done without taxing Tyoma.  He does not like to shop or go out much.

I can't believe that we are mostly moved in! I was able to get so much done when mom was here, but a multitude of boxes still remain, unopened, unorganized.

I feel so scatter-brained.  The hardest part of moving is finding a new permanent place for all the stuff we use.  I can't keep track of my car keys, purse or scissors since they don't have a "place" yet.  this is so frustrating.  It will all come together, but it's harder than you think to know all of the places in your new home and to transmit onto this new space a map of where your old stuff used to go. Labels. I need lists and labels!

Love From Tyoma!

Obviously it took two of us to spell this, but he added on his favorite letter "X" as a personal touch!

Budding Klee?

Hmmmmmm. Tyoma has been making little mosaics all around the house. It has been very curious and unexpected. He lines up his blocks into shapes and patterns, like this little composition. I like it. It might be random, it might be the start of some untethered artistic ability that we all have inside of us.

Tyoma has been lining up his unit "triangle" blocks in long undulating waves. Beautiful and a touch unnerving. Wish I had a picture. It is so strange to shift my gaze from him playing on the floor and return to seem his little projects.

First Spring in New Hampshire

Ahhh Spring!!!
Today, Egor's mom planted flowers, while I distributed the vibrantly dyed mulch favored in New England to to the flowerbeds. It's a shock to the system to see workers rapidly blowing swaths of orange-red mulch from the bellies of huge green trucks. It's like they're airbrushing people's landscaping with Pine-sol scented granola.
 
Yesterday, the moving company hauled off a garage full of debris. Most of the trash was from our move--459 folded boxes, 24 trash bags of wadded up wrapping paper, plus a box or two of stuff that we should have tossed in New Mexico.

But the former owners left their legacy of odd stuff behind for us to discard. Almost all of the window treatments were dumped, along with a gargantuan refrigerator-sized brass chandelier which we kept knocking our heads into. We rid ourselves of three big boxes full of tacky Patriots memorabilia, primarily window stickies and strange outdoor decor items such as Patriots football-shaped stepping stones and a Patriots garden gnome.

Initially, I assumed that they were out of their minds, imagining that the new owners would be thrilled to find Patriots welcome mats at every entrance. But in reality, moves are a bitch, and they probably thought, "Screw it, we're moving to Florida and we'll have to change teams anyway to get along with the neighbors, so bye-bye Patriots wind chimes!" Heh. So, here it is! Our debris-free, freshly mulched home!

Pear!

OMM NOMM NOMM (sorry, too many hours of flipping through Photoshop Contests at Fark !)

Voodoo Gears

After Tyoma's quiet time, I found this arrangement of toy gears in his room:
 

  

I don't know why this seems so strange to me, but it looks spooky for some reason.

Where's My Espresso?

This pretty much sums up how we all feel. Uhhhh, zzzzz.  I think we are recovering from the move and a little bug.  I bet there will be lots more little bugs since the East Coast is so metropolitain.  It's still snowy outside and so beautiful!

Ahhh, Much Better!

 Tyoma focuses intently on his gear set--baby espresso always helps one's focus! He still hasn't figured it all out yet, but it looks like another cup and he'll get it!

P.S. I am so ashamed! I really need to get his hair cut!

Papa Sasha!!!

Yay! Papa Sasha is in Town. He'll be sleeping over at the house over the weekend, coming up with exciting plans for our new place!