Christmas Eve Sushi! You Become Part of Our Tradition.

 Dear Luca,

    For about 30 years now, we have been celebrating your Daddy's birthday--December 24, 1977--with a sushi dinner.  This year, when he turned 45, was your first year to join us. I hope you like sushi, and I'm pretty sure you will.

    The pictures below were taken at HAPA in Boulder. Over the years, we have frequented many sushi places. Let me tell you about your father's birth-day and how this tradition started.

 

 

Grandpa Richard, Legend, Daddy, Mommy, Luca

Daddy, Mommy, Luca, Grandpa Doug, Uncle Steven

     

    Your daddy, André, was born on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1977, in Cabin #23, Chautaqua Park in Boulder, Colorado. It was a cold, clear day, and I had a wonderful midwife. It was a fairly easy birth, but I did have to do a lot of hard work to get him here. Your Grandpa Richard was there, along with my good friend Ellen, who held your dad while I went to get some stitches. Ellen had never held a newborn before, so, I learned later, that she prayed your dad would keep breathing--which he did. I remember staying up all night in awe of his birth.

    It's both a blessing and a curse to be born on Christmas Eve, but I think your dad has been quite proud of his birth date.  But from the beginning, we wanted to make it a real birthday and not a Christmas celebration. Also, from the beginning, his birthday has always been about family, although when he was in elementary school, we would celebrate his "fake birthday" with his schoolmates before school let out for the holidays.

    When he was about 15, we decided that we wanted to start a tradition of eating out for his birthday.  We began to search for places that would be open on Christmas Eve, but in 1992, Boulder was pretty much shut down. There were two sushi places open, Sushi Tora and Sushi Zan Mai. Actually, sushi was just beginning to be popular in Boulder, and I didn't know much about it, but we booked Sushi Tora just to have a place to celebrate.  And that's how it began. It turns out your dad loves sushi as do all his friends and your mom and your brother Legend. 

    Welcome to the birthday tradition, Luca!

     

You're a Problem Solver, Luca!

 Dear Luca,

   I'm posting this picture first. I really like it. I don't get much of a chance to take pictures because I have to keep my eyes on you all the time. But here it is,  you and I in a magic moment:

 

When I came to your house today, you had woken up from a two-hour nap (a bit of a record for you, I'm told) and had had your lunch, so it was pretty clear you were ready for some action. 

    And here was a first.  When your mom left, you didn't cry. You do cry most of the time, because, of course, you don't want her to leave. It doesn't last for long, because you have an active mind and get interested in something pretty soon, something usually musical. So I ever worry when you cry. It'll be over soon.

    But this time, the three of us were in your nursery playing on the floor, and then your mom got up and left the room. You and I kept on playing.  But then, while we were in the middle of banging on some musical keys, your mom passed by the big window in your room on her way to her car. You looked up and watched her go. You stared out the window for a few seconds after she had passed by, but then went back to making music, or, rather, banging on the toy that then plays music.

    As I predicted, this was a pretty active day, and, after about an hour of walking and crawling all over your room, to the toy box, to your changing station, to the window, to the chair, to your crib, and starting all over again, you became ready for the larger world of your house. Yes, after looking a books, playing with the tiny orange fish, using the clackers that look like cows, listening to the frog sing "Itsy, Bitsy Spider," and throwing a few things hither and thither, you were ready to leave the confines of the nursery and explore further. 

    So, into the TV room, crawling to the dining area, pulling up on your high chair, letting go, and making your way over to the pantry, you discover one of the great toys of all time--the step stool, versatile and sturdy, just made for a boy who wants to practice walking. 

    So out comes the stool and you walk in and push it back the way we came, but working hard. You get a little tangled up in the legs of the high chair because you've pushed yourself right under it. This is what I mean when I say you're a problem solver.  Most ten-month-olds, when getting stuck under a high chair, or anywhere for that matter, would give up in frustration and start crying so that somebody would come to the rescue and get them out of the mess. But you just kept on working at it. You'd push this way and that, but going forward just didn't work. You finally figured our that you needed to back out and go around. And that's what you did. I will admit that one of your solutions was to try to turn the high chair over, but I nipped that one in the bud. 

    I watched you do the same thing with your toy box, when you were trying to reach the little goldfish that was off in the corner. You tried about four times, but your little hands just couldn't reach it. Again, as I've said, this is the point where many ten-month-olds might plop down in a crying fit, but you figured it out. You edged your way around the toy box, reached in, but still couldn't get it, so your edged your way closer until you could grasp it in your little hands. It went straight to your mouth, of course. Where else?

Luca with Goldfish in Mouth

When your daddy got home, the dogs started barking, so you crawled over to the door to wait for him to come in. He was surprised to see all of us at the door when he came in. We had a big groups hug, and I headed down the mountain, frankly a little tired, but so at peace.

Lots of Snow and Your Snowy White Teeth!

 Dear Luca,

    It really was one of our best days today. You know me pretty well now, and even though you put up a fuss when your mother left--it took you by surprise because you were all happy and smiling and taking your bottle, and then...as always, I show up and she leaves. But your fussiness lasted a few minutes before we settled down to play for a full two hours and more.

    When I first showed up and walked in the door, you clapped your hands. That's the very first time I saw you do that. Also--you are trying out standing on your own. You're not afraid to take risks. But you do need someone to watch you carefully because after a while you do plop down. But walking is in your near future, I predict. 

    About the snow. We're always, almost always, grateful for it. It was a good storm, but with very frigid temperatures, so I wasn't sure that I'd be able to make it up to your house.  Tuesday was cold and snowy, but today the sun came out, the roads were clear and those that weren't were snow-packed with lots of gravel on them. I love my Subaru, and I especially love my studded snow tires that I had mounted this year especially so I wouldn't have to worry about coming to see you on Wednesdays. So far, so good. It was such a beautiful drive up and down Boulder Canyon, with the beauty of the snow capped mountains and the pine trees and the deep, deep blue Colorado sky on a sunny day after the snow.

    About those snowy white teeth. 

Just look at that! You're really proud that those upper teeth came in at last. I could tell that when you began biting my watch band. And also because you gave me a big smile, showing off those teeth.

    I think that now that winter is setting in, we will have less and less time outdoors, walking the roads as we used to when it was warmer. I do miss that, and I'll get you out when I don't have to worry about the roads being icy or when it's not too windy or when it's not too cold. 

    But we were fine inside today, as I watched you with your never ending curiosity and your love of music. We played with all your toys that make music, you crawled and stood up, and when you became fussy, you let me carry you into the kitchen, where I fixed your bottle. Then we sat in the big chair by the wood stove, and you took your bottle in both your hands and drank and drank and fell asleep until the dogs started barking, announcing the arrival of your papa, and, of course, you were delighted to see him as he walked through the door. We had a threesome hug, and then I stepped out into the snow and into my car to head back down the canyon.

You Are Back: The Day Before Thanksgiving + Thanksgiving

 Dear Luca,

    There is so much excitement in the air when it's time for Thanksgiving.  You and I had a good day that Wednesday, doing our usual things while your Mom and Dad were busy working.

    On Thanksgiving Day, we went to your Grandma Brenda and Grandpa Brett's house up in the mountains, along with you and your family, your aunts and cousins and friends. I thought what a lucky boy you are to be born into your mountain family. Your grandparents' house has such a beautiful setting, and the inside is inviting and warm. 

    We had a big table of turkey, dressing, my signature sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, green beans, bread, pumpkin pie, everyone's favorite. It was delicious, but even more delicious was the wonderful company of all these welcoming people. We listened to stories and got to know that part of your family better. We laughed and filled our plates some more. 

    As it got dark, your dad walked your Grandpa Doug to the car. He has a lot of trouble walking these days. Your dad turned our car around for us so we could easily head down the mountain and back into Boulder. It was a beautiful ride back down as we could see the lights of town and bask in the feeling of being thankful for family.

    And I forgot to take pictures!

You Are On Vacation in San Diego! Here Is Some Info About Your Father.

 Dear Luca,

    There are some great pictures of your family trip to San Diego, and I enjoyed seeing the whole family at play on the beach, in the pool, and on bikes.  My favorite one is of you and your brother Legend in the pool. 

Of course, I didn't come up to your house because, of course, you weren't there. But I was thinking that you may want to hear some stories about your dad from time to time, stories about when he was a little boy.

    Your papa's name is André (and that is accent on the "e," but we seldom use it any more), but when he was your age until he started school he was called Muggins. You will have to ask your Grandpa Richard how he came by that name. Even today, there are people who knew him when, and they always ask: "How's Muggins?"

    He was born in a cabin at Chautauqua Park in Boulder, Colorado. You will soon learn that he was born on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1977, at about 5:30 pm. It was a beautiful. cold night, and I stayed awake with him all night long, looking at the stars on that wintry night.

    I did have to leave pretty soon after he was born to get stitches. But he was in good hands. I handed him to my best friend Ellen when he was only about an hour old. Ellen had never held a newborn before, and he weighed only five pounds, so, she later told me, she just kept saying to him, "Please keep breathing. Please keep breathing." He did, of course, and I was gone for only an hour.

    You are very much like him. He was always full of energy when he was your age. He took little naps, but mostly liked to be awake and entertained. His very first words were "Papa," which he started saying one night when he was taking a bubble bath. He said it over and over again: "Papa! Papa! Papa!" 

    We moved to the mountain house when your dad was two years old.  Your Grandpa Richard still lives on that property, but in a different house. It's a long story that you'll hear one day. But your dad is a true mountain boy, just like you will be, I think. 

    There will be other stories about him and his sisters, your aunts, as I continue to write your book. Maybe he will add some of his own.

    

What Did We Do Today????

Dear Luca,

 What ever did we do today. Let me look at some pictures to remind me. Oh, of course. Some of my favorite pictures here. We played a lot in the living room. You wanted a change of scene.

    I especially like the one of Rio trying to be dignified and ignore the two of us crawling around on the floor.  So today is gathered in these pictures:

 

    

All in All, A Good Day. You Wore Yourself Out, Playing and Playing!

 Dear Luca,

    What a day! I sat down with you at noon, as your Mom stealthily left the room. I noticed that you weren't looking when she sneaked past the window. For the next two hours, you crawled, pulled up to your musical toy, your crib, your changing station, the window sill your toy box (where you leaned over too far and almost fell in, and the gate that keeps you from crawling out of your room.

    For two hours, I crawled around with you as we played music and made sounds on the various instruments in your room. As I did the last time, I had to warn your dad when he came home that anything with a battery in it was turned on. I was actually quite taken by a musical toy that I hadn't seen before, and it became my favorite, because, really, I'm getting a little tired of "I have an arm, and so do you," especially since it's a frog that is singing that song, and we all know that frogs don't have arms. I don't know what they call their limbs. Oh, yes, I do. The call them legs, because as anyone from the South could tell you, frog legs are a delicacy on any menu.

    But back to this toy I liked so much. It's small, and has five buttons, four on the edges and one in the center. On the edges are the drum, the xylophone, the french horn, and the violin, which could also be called a fiddle I think. When you punch they four outer ones, they each play their tune, and when you punch the middle ones, all the tunes are played together, and if you listen hard, you can hear each one individually and all together as well, and the tune is really pretty. From time to time, you dance little up and down motions, which makes me convinced that we were all born to dance before we can walk, although walking will happen pretty soon for you.

    You are nine months old now, and you are full of curiosity about your world. You examine your toys carefully. You try new things, like pulling out the bottom drawer of your chest and then, with your little fingers gripped on the edge, pushing it back in. Yes. I caught the drawer before your fingers got caught. I'm pretty cautious about that, since when I was little, but older than you are now, I did get my fingers caught, and I ended up in the hospital.  Actually, I don't exactly remember it, but the scar is still with me. 

    You are also a little toddler of infinite expressions, and your dad manages to catch a wide range of them. In fact, I've never seen a nine-month-old who had so many different expressions. Like these:

To be continued when I can upload the pictures!