T tidbits for the week

1.) New words: plow, sunflowers, wood, drum, and melon.

2.) Start of the winter semester at Music Together. Learned a cutting-edge new song about Grandmas and Grandpas. (You can well imagine the giggle frenzy that incited for certain people.)

3.) First NY play date with twin girls from Music Together. Successful, despite the anxiety mommy felt watching T drool on a non-relative's toys, furniture, children, ect.

4.) Creative climbing. Yesterday found him atop the bathroom vanity. Standing up, mind you.

5.) Responds to the doorbell by descending long flight of stairs, to open door and greet Dad after a day at work. Plain ol' cute.

three recent reads

The system is this:
Books that have been read go out in the living room, stored away in the makeshift case that is really nothing more than a sweater chest. Books yet to be enjoyed take their place in a stack next to the bed.

So now that you understand the order of my book universe, you can understand how it unintentionally came to be, upon simply grabbing the next book from the bedside pile (many purchased for me as gifts), that I happened to read three WWII, Holocaust- focused books in a row. I probably wouldn't purposefully pick such a heart-wrenching, mind consuming, makes you want to curl up and cry sorta topic and then read book after book on it....but the system allowed for it to happen. All three books (and particularly the last one) were so enlightening and most certainly worth talking about for a few moments.

The first one, mentioned earlier, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, was by far the lightest read of the bunch. It peeked into German occupation of the English Channel Islands during the war and mixed in a little love story. Although it did touch on a couple lives affected by mainland concentration camps, it was not the focus of the story. Good, easy read. Go for it.

The second book I dived into was Sarah's Key. Thanks to long naps on Teddy's part and late nights on my own, I devoured this novel in 2 days. It was definitely the "can't put it down until I know the ending" type. Written by a Parisian, Sarah's Key told the story of one Jewish family's struggle under Nazi occupation in France's capital city. It focused specifically on the greatest mass arrest of Jews, on French soil (by French police), known today as the Vel' d'Hiv Roundup. Did you know in the span of 2 years, France alone sent 80,000 Jews to the concentration camps?!? The numbers are so mind blowing, life so devalued, that it's really difficult to even comprehend. Sarah's Key was a heart-stopping novel that makes you believe in the power of historical fiction to educate and help us remember.

My dad sent me Those Who Save Us a couple years ago and for whatever reason, it was never picked out of the pile until last week. When I read the first couple pages and realized it was another Holocaust narrative, I almost reached for a different pick. I'm so glad I didn't. Those Who Save Us told the haunting story of life inside Germany, for both Jewish and non-Jewish Germans. For the many who ask (myself being one), how could the German people allow such atrocities to take place during the Reich's reign? This book is for you. It is such a vivid glance into the economical, moral, and family conditions in German towns during the war. In no way does it excuse the complacency of non-Jews, if anything you could set the story aside with more judgements than when you began, but I promise you this....the story will seep into your soul, floating with you each day. And isn't that awareness, that recognition, that permanent piece of your heart that died just knowing what happened, one of the the only things we can give the victims?

So that's that. All great novels and if anyone else reads one, tell me...I love to talk books. For now, I'm sailing away to life in the southern hemisphere with The Savage Detectives.

grrraaa-nd-pa

just a weeee bit in love.

mi amour

it is here.

where i first loved you.

that i still love you the most.

cooking seasonally

My handsome, hardworking husband has been such a busy bee lately. The project here in Albany is starting to wrap up. Exciting, but also stressful. The poor dear has been working nonstop! We knew January would be a crazy month, so I bought a new book to keep me and baby bear busy.

And busy we've been...creating savory dishes to fill our winter bellies! It's the middle of January and my spirit was desperate for the yummy freshness of farm stand food. Our family tends to cook with a great deal of meat in the winter, absentminded of the delectable flavors winter produce can add to a dish. So my goal this week was to experiment with recipes that call for ingredients in season.

A couple nights ago I made a happy little melange of pan-roasted root vegetables. Who knew turnips, parsnips, and celery root could be so tasty when allowed to simmer in their own juices on the stove top! I also made a yummy variation of a favorite Brussels sprouts side dish that came out oh-so delicious! Brussels sprouts are one of Ryan's favorites too, he was delighted to reheat and dive in when he walked in the door later that evening.

Last night I made Pappa al Pomodoro, a classic Italian tomato soup that's thickened with leftover bread. It also has has lots of fennel and carrots (the seasonal ingredients). It was my first time cooking with fennel and I think it was a hit. Teddy loved it! He's a big soup eater, we all are, and I can't bring myself to do canned soups.

I've wanted to start cooking seasonally for sometime, but in the United States where ingredients are available year round, it's hard to muster up the creativity. The pay off is well worth it though, you just can't beat the flavor.

{deep, warm, cedar-smelling bear hugs from us to you...keeping it seasonal.}

in my heart always

Mary Kathleen Krutzig Morrow: 08/17/54 - 01/13/02

Eight years without our hugs is far too many.

kitty strife

Our human child is under the hilarious assumption that he is a cat. Although he loves Omar and Greta (our furry felines), they've also fittingly developed a sort of sibling rivalry. If the cats are playing with the squishy ball, Teddy wants to play with the exact ball. If Teddy's cuddling on my lap, Omar will stand 2 ft away meowing incessantly waiting for his turn to be held. The photos below demonstrate the situation. O and T are in combat over the box.

Clearly, they enjoy the same sort of games.

our toddler

Family photo taken in Nov. 09' by Thea Coughlin

Our dear, sweet Teddy has become a toddler. No if, ands, or buts about it. He's in a state of internal struggle with one arm clinging desperately to me and the other flailing wildly about, reaching for control over his world.

Over Christmas, he learned how to say "no." Now he uses the new vocabulary often. For example, I'll call out, "Teddy, it's dinner time." He'll call back, "No." I'll say, "Teddy let's go take a bath." He'll say, "No." You get the picture. The odd (and lovable) thing is the tone of his voice. It's not at all what you'd expect. The negative declarations squeak out quietly, ending in almost a whisper. He compliments them with big, wide puppy eyes framed by a raised eyebrows. Cute enough, right? After all, he's only 1 years-old and excited just to say new words. The thing is, despite the soft voice, he means business. When we insist that an activity be completed, despite his nix, he begins to cry and once in awhile will end in a full blown tantrum. Becoming less cute, right?

These outbursts are still pretty new to us. I began to see the first sign of them while in Minnesota last month. I chalked it up to the ear infection creating a sleep deprived, unhappy little snow angel. Now that we're home though, and the infection is gone, it's clear Mr. Theodore is just aching for more control in life. To be honest, I can appreciate that. It must be hard to have someone else make nearly every decision for you. After all he's intelligent, with likes and dislikes just like everybody else. Unfortunately he's still just a wee babe and incapable of making reasonable decisions. (Sorry, I know I'm stating the obvious....typing out loud ; ) So how do we find that harmonious balance of respect, authority, and love in our family?

My sweet husband only had to witness one such storm to kick start his solution-orientated mind. After the dust settled, I found him online frantically googling "toddler tantrums." He didn't have much luck so the next day I headed out to pick up Dr. Harvey Karp's, The Happiest Toddler on the Block. After some research of my own, I'd learned Karp's book was beloved by both parents and critics.

Well, that was earlier this week and so far I've read about half the book. I've found the material and research fascinating. Karp begins by educating parents on the mechanics of the toddler brain. He explains how immature it still is, struggling for language and logic, especially when it's upset. He goes on to give tips for communicating with anyone who's upset (toddlers included) and most notably reminds us to listen and repeat, rather than rush to distract and hush away their feelings.

So I'm anxious to finish the book. Although parts of it are clearly aimed at 3 and 4 year-olds, I've been able to put a few ideas into practice and I think we're seeing some positive results. I'll share more after I've utilized the strategies for a period of time.

Hope you are all having cozy, cuddly January days. We are in it. In the heart of winter. Over Christmas, I turned to my dad on a particularly frigid day and asked "Who lives like this? What sort of extremists exist in such conditions?" Although I love a snowy day, I hate the below zero stuff. It makes my bones ache and my mind numb. Today I'm dreaming about the hot, heavy days of summer.

home from the holidays

We are finally back in New York after a wonderful holiday break in Minnesota! Well, most of it was wonderful. Theodore did get a pretty nasty ear infection and Ryan did a lot of scurrying back and forth across the country, but all in all it was a great holiday.

Highlights of our time at home:

1.) First night back in Minnesota, cuddled up in bed, staring out at the soft, still, snow-covered lake. The shoreline alive with the swaying shadows of leafless branches dancing in the yard.

2.) Decorating yummy cookies at my dad's house with he and his wife, Maria. My brother and I managed to quietly slip through childhood without ever decorating Christmas cookies so it was a treat (no pun intended) to start this tradition. Note to Self: For at least the next couple years Teddy may be better utilized as a cookie taste tester rather than cookie decorator.

3.) Having my husband home for four days in a row! He'd worked every single day since Thanksgiving, so when I picked him up at the new train station on the 23rd we were SO EXCITED! Four full uninterrupted days together! Teddy's ear infection also fell over that time so it was a Godsend to have him home with us.

4.) Completing my first quilt. Over Thanksgiving I started a quilt for Kelly's growing bambino. With lots of support from my wonderful in-law's, I finished just in time for her shower. It was a challenging project...picking out fabrics, deciding on placement, but it was so fun! I also got to spend lots of time with my lovely mother-in-law as she patiently gave tips, helped re thread the bobbin, and simply kept me company during a few late nights. A special project for a baby that is already so loved and fantastic time spent learning the craft with Ryan's mom.

5.) Helping to host Kelly's shower. We tried to create a vintage theme centered around old family china, teacups, platters, table clothes, and aprons. All the guests wore an apron and we talked about all the ways they can be used by a mother....to dry little hands, wipe away a tears, or hide a shy child. It all came together beautifully and everyone seemed to have a great time! Most importantly, it was a special day set aside to celebrate mother and baby as they are much too far away from us most of the time.

Hope you all had a lovely holiday season too! I did want to mention, I finished The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society over Christmas and found it to be such a charming story. If you haven't read it yet, go pick it up!

our owl family

Special thank you to Kelly for the new Alcott Family Blog banner! I told her of my vision for an owl family, and off she ran creating the fabulous image completely herself. It came out so stinkin' cute! For my birthday a few weeks ago she also sent me this adorable tote I'd had my eye on over at Etsy. Pretty great friend, aye?!

I've had a thing for owls lately. I told Ryan about it a few months ago, and he said "Really?! Me too!" Theodore, who would prefer to be a night owl himself, also appreciates the nocturnal animals. One day I heard him making "hoo hoo hoo" noises in his room. I went in, and there he sat, an open book before him, looking at an owl. I'd no idea he knew how to mimic their hauntingly beautiful sounds.

To bring our infatuation full circle, we saw a Great Horned Owl at our land over Thanksgiving. Growing up, Ryan said the birds were common, but they haven't seen as many in recent years. So beautiful to know they are still in the area and living on our land. Definitely seems to seal the deal, we are owl people.

One wise old owl to another.

a must read

If you haven't yet read this book yet, go pick it up asap! It's so worthy of your time. I promise.

{A recommendation I've been meaning to share for months!}

a year and a half

Saturday was Teddy's 18 month birthday! Below are two videos, one taken last year at this time and then another from Saturday night. How much he has changed in a year! Ryan and I had a blast watching these last night, such laughter and joy this lil' guy brings into our lives.

Theodore Ryan Alcott: 6 mth b-day weekend

Theodore Ryan Alcott: 18 mth b-day weekend

silent night

Many mornings, as we slowly ease our way into the day, TLC is softly on in the background. Teddy and I've fallen in love with the oh so sweet Pampers commercial playing for the holiday season. I wish you could see Teddy Bear's face when it comes on. He's usually playing on the kitchen floor, but he springs up when he hears the music and rushes into the living room. He watches the babies with such a serious and studious expression, as if to say "You sleep too?"



Wishing you all a peaceful weekend. Stay in, mail some cards, avoid the malls.

fridge finds

Last December, Theodore was just a tiny mite during the Christmas season. Other than all the hustle and bustle, I don't think he noticed anything out of the ordinary.

So this year I've been bound and determined to help him understand the wonderfulness of Christmas. We've spent the week giggling at snowmen, listening to Bing Crosby on repeat, and pointing out every Christmas tree within walking distance. This morning though, Ryan really helped to pump up the volume with an introduction to Santa Claus.

Teddy's daddy likes to leave little treasures strewn about the house for him to find. Today he surprised us both with a fun fridge greeting from Old Saint Nick. Teddy spotted it as soon as he walked out of the bedroom. So now it's all about Santa. We've done so many Ho ho ho's, I think I got an upper abdominal workout. We talked about the difference between Santa and "At" (Grandpa) more than once. We've even put Teddy's mittens on a handful of times so he could stand next to Claus and chuckle at their parallel attire. Yep, I think he's going to be quite excited to meet Santa in the coming weeks and eventually leave out treats for him on Christmas Eve. My sweet baby.

before the snow, we had four-wheelers

Rumor has it, Minnesota got snow! Woohoo! We got a big dumping in Albany last night too! It's a beautiful morning. We'll go out and play soon.

The last couple days Teddy has been missing Minnesota. When we first returned to NY he was beside himself with glee and excitement, now that's wore off a bit. He talks about "At" (his name for all the Grandparents) and loves looking at photos of them. Poor pumpkin, we'll be back in MN for Christmas soon! This morning I remembered a video I took of him using the children's four-wheeler. I'm excited to show it to him and thought you might enjoy it too!



PS A big welcome home to the Dynamic D's! We missed you over Thanksgiving and can't wait for Christmas!

5 things

photo via weheartit

1. Ryan and I are buying our first house! It is my childhood home. We've been swimming in the process for months, and honestly we're still a ways from completion...but, I'm staying positive! Maybe saying it aloud will send out speedy transaction energy into the universe. It's been a special, and crazy, and difficult experience that I'll share more about soon!

2. The same small town in which we will soon be home owners, now has a commuter rail line connecting it to Minneapolis! GO GREEN!....and take the Alcott trio with you (we'll ride in the Caboose).

3. After nearly 6 months in Albany we've finally discovered a good pizza joint. Inferno was yummy yummy delicious and had an chewy authenticity we've not found since NYC.

4. Big, thick, beautiful snowflakes are falling as I write. Our first New England snowfall. My sweet baby is down for a nap. My loving partner is at work. Pot Roast is in the slow cooker. The three of us will eat together tonight. Lovely.

5. I've now officially written over 100 blog posts! Yipee! When I started this blog last January, I had no idea what a therapeutic, gentle, sweet community I would encounter. It's been a wonderful experience. :)

Opps...correction: Upon closer inspection I realized I've written over a 100 posts if you count the drafts (posts started, but never published). I still have 7 more published posts to go.... I'll have to get excited again in a few weeks! ; )

smarty pants

I wanted to carve out a little time tonight to share a photo of our happy little boy. We're still in Minnesota and he's been having such a lovely week. Spoiled rotten with lots of G & G love. He's been changing and growing so much too! Today alone, the lil' pumpkin said five new words! Out popped, "tree, ball, red, blue, and Grandpa"! Can you believe it?!? Five words in one day!

I read that around eighteen months toddlers have a speech burst, suddenly everything connects and the words start to pour out. I think he's definitely entering that stage, in the two previous days he also said "Elmo" and "wolf" for the first time! My heart just melts with each new word. His little voice is the sweetest sound in the whole world.

Hugs from us to you.

happy birthday

I love you from here to there. From now until forever.

Happy Birthday my love.

motherhood and a case of the worries

My lovely Grandmother (pin curls and all) with one of the ten she had to worry about, my own mommy.

Fear. It must come with the job title. For me, there exist two types. First, the category I've come to think of as perennial fears. Insecurities or concerns I've always carried in my corners, not necessarily related to motherhood at all. In fact, mine existed long before Boy Wonder.

The second type are the doubts that wash in and out, changing with the day. Lately, my nooks and crannies have held more fleeting fears than fixed, and they're almost always in connection with my biggest job to date...being Teddy's mumsy.

Last night after crawling into bed, I read a beautiful article in the NY times about a woman attempting to conquer 100 big (and small) fears in 100 days. She kept a journal that had a honesty and rawness that was so real. More than facing her fears, I liked how she simply said them out loud. It seemed brave.

So in the name of bravery, I thought I'd share a few of my own fluttery fears....

* Am I disciplining Teddy enough? Should I be stricter?
- It's so difficult to know if the everyday whinnies and whines are nothing more than toddler transgressions or if he's getting a little spoiled.

* Is Teddy talking enough?
- When I read about the number of words our pumpkin should be saying, he seems a bit behind. Then again, he may just be like his daddy...a quiet soul.

* Will the balance between wife, mother, and a spirited self get easier?
-no more explanation needed.

Author's Note: I actually wrote this post a wee bit back, but never finished it. It was fun to open it this afternoon and revisit those little motherhood worries. Although it still has kind of an incomplete feel, I thought I'd post it anyway. Funny, all three fears still hover near... maybe they should be moved from the "fleeting fears" category and stored away with the "perennials."

{sending you a whisper of weekend love on a soft and sweet new york saturday.}

baby ambidexterity

Our little Theodore is still completely ambidextrous. A couple days ago he ate his entire bowl of oatmeal using only his left hand. Then afterward, helped me wipe up the floor using his right hand. That's his normal, everyday, back and forth.

After doing a little reading, I learned most children don't show consistent preference toward one hand until they are 2 or 3 years old. Isn't that fascinating? Hand dominance is greatly influenced by genetics, so Teddy will likely end up a righty....but, I kind of hope he's a south paw. You know, a significant number of Presidents are left handed.....

mid week hugs and oatmeal kisses to our sparklies.

Azco Inc on a Sunday afternoon...

On Saturday afternoon Ryan called from work to let us know it'd be a long day and he'd likely not be home before Teddy went to bed. Tougher still, he reported Sunday would be the same situation. However he ended the conversation by trying to cheer me up with a "but you and Teddy could bring me lunch tomorrow, that might be fun!" I agreed, Teddy would think that was fun and heck, we'll take what we can get!

So yesterday we set off on our first field trip to the Empire Generating Facility. Teddy was so excited to bring daddy lunch. We'd talked about it all morning. By the time we arrived with Chipotle, he could barely make it in the door before he was pulling out burritos to show Daddy. :)

Sunday turned out to be the perfect day to visit, Ryan was one of the only employees there so we had the whole building to ourselves. Teddy decided within minutes of arrival that it was an awesome place to hang out with dad and even set to work reorganizing a file cabinet. Good lil' worker!

Ryan gave him an "official" (okay, maybe just a sticker) Azco name tag. A decorative artifact that was rubbed affectionately about 1,000 times before nightfall.

My handsome husband was even so kind as to pose for a photo at his desk! I love that I can now picture Ry's place of employment. I got to see his desk space, where he eats lunch.....all the good stuff.

It was funny. I didn't expect a half hour together to recharge me for the whole day, but it did. I think it helped Ry too. After he buckled Teddy in the car seat, he came around front and gave me what had to be a much too passionate kiss for the work environment. A quick meal together was everything we needed.

gotta have you

Galena, Illinois. February 09'

I've recently discovered The Weepies and have fallen pretty hard. They're the perfect mix of folk sound and sweet lyrics. Baby bear and I are dizzy from all the swirling and twirling.

This song warms me from the inside out. When I look at Ryan and Teddy, I can't help but think they are the only ones I really gotta have.....

a photo session + a little more

Late last year, while skimming one of my favorite blogs, I noticed a chance to win a free session with a photographer in Albany, NY. I entered the drawing (with no luck), but made a mental note of the photographer's name because we'd received news of our impending move to Albany.

Last Sunday, on a gorgeous fall day, we met with that photographer and had an awesome family photo session! We spent a couple hours in the antique district of downtown Troy. The lighting was dreamy, the fall colors still beautiful, and the old brownstones a perfect backdrop. I'm torn because I want to tell you all about it, but I also want it to be a fun surprise when you get our Christmas card in the mail....so I'll try and hold off on saying too many details.

As I walked our photographer to her car, I learned she is good friends with Boho Girl, someone whose writings have brought peace and serenity into my life for some time. I was SOOO excited to make the connection! During hectic, busy, and sometimes isolating days at home, she helps me feel more connected, balanced, and gentle. She's pretty darn great....and now it's fun to know someone who knows someone....

A couple other tidbits on my mind....

1.) I am SO ESTATIC that my kindred spirit, Kelly just learned she is having a baby BOY! We've been overflowing with joy and downright giggly over the growing bambino for months, now to learn it's a little boy is pure bliss. Confession. I've had a secret desire all along that it be a boy. I wanted us to be able to share the experience of having little chaps. Can't believe it is really going to happen!

2.) Today, I bought Teddy's Christmas gifts! Last year the three of us went to a bookstore on Christmas Eve and we let him pick out a new book for Christmas. At 6 months old, I think he enjoyed getting a say for once, as much as he enjoyed Snowy Bear. In a way today was the same. I brought him to a small, old fashioned toy store and watched him wonder about and play with the goodies. Based on the things he wanted to open the most/made him giggle the loudest, I picked out a few things. It's funny, they are really the exact things we'd spoke of getting him anyway....a musical instrument set, a couple puppets, and a set of beautiful handmade wooden cars. Now I'm so excited for Christmas! He's going to thrilled!

Okay dokay...I think that's all the random, gushy, mushy thoughts a girl can have for one day. Every post needs at least one photo so I'll leave you with Teddy modeling his new shirt from cousin Dashiell. That smile just makes me giggle....a bit of a Dennis the Menace! A glance at what's to come Kel Bel! :)

Bennington Potters

I've been so excited to share a few treasures Judy and I bought during our trip to Bennington! We arrived in Vermont to find our vacation home stacked with gorgeous, deliciously unique pottery. Lovely little potter's stamps indicated they were made right there in Bennington.

Ironically, without even telling each other, we both set off on separate journey's one afternoon to track down a place to purchase the local pottery. Judy successfully came back with a few pieces and then later we purchased more together. As we dug into the history of Bennington Potters we learned pottery was one of the first economic livelihoods of the area. Produced using local clay deposits during the Revolutionary War, it became one of the things to put Bennington on the map. How interesting is that....and the crockery is beautiful to boot!

I've found a way to use my new pieces every night since we've been home...even when it means eating stew out of batter bowls. :)


And desserts bake beautifully in the thick-walled pans!

The pottery is one of those true treasures, I'll love even more in years to come. Timeless cookware with memories of family and our time out east.

Blowing you all big brownie kisses.
Goodnite!

kin folk

Last week we had such a WONDERFUL time with Ryan's family. We went to Teddy's music class together, made yummy meals, role played barnyard friends, and even went swimming! The highlight was ending our stint with a beautiful weekend in Vermont. Since I'm pretty positive most of my lovely blog readers are also my friends on Facebook, you've probably seen the Vermont photos so I won't post more. Below though, is cute photo of Darrel and I with Teddy at music class.

There is absolutely nothing more dear to our hearts than family. This visit was extra special too because Alissa also came with Jake. It was such a wonderful gift to spend an entire weekend together! Even though we make it home to Minnesota often, Ryan and I miss our parents quite a bit. Lately we tend to talk about how much our little monkey enjoys his Grandparents, but the fact is, we think they're the best too :) It was really special to have them all here with us.

I'll end with the sweetest little swimming video. Teddy's adored best friend (who conveniently also happens to be his Grandfather) was trying to teach him to blow out when he ducks his mouth in the water. Swimming alongside them, I thought he was doing so well. Upon video review though we can tell he was really doing more sucking in, then blowing it out! Too funny! Such a little Turkey. :)