Giddy-Up, Grandpa!

Many of us are familiar with the children's chant and game, "This is the way the gentlemen ride...the ladies ride...the children ride..." Grandpa has played this with Frankie often enough over the past year that now Frankie asks to play by climbing up on a lap, sitting back on his knees, and bouncing up and down. In this video, Grandpa sings a "customized" version.

More Balloon Antics

New Year's Birthday Party

What New Year's Party would be complete without noisemakers? Doubly required for a New Year's BIRTHDAY party! Who knew they would be such a hit with 20-month-old Frankie? And, who knew he would be so adept at making them work? His only dilemma was that he couldn't seem to blow hard enough to make "the noise." So, he tried trading with someone whose noisemaker was working. When all else failed, he dubbed in his own "noise," as in the second video.

Birthday Balloon Bash

New Year's Day 2011: It's Mommy's 25th birthday and lots of colorful balloons are on display. Frankie delighted in discovering their many uses and Grandpa was an all-too-willing accomplice!

Hokey Pokey with Frankie and Elmo!

Christmas morning, 2010: Frankie meets Elmo, a gift from Mommy who knows how much Frankie likes music and dancing. Elmo does the Hokey Pokey and makes us all laugh. For about a week, Frankie preferred to watch Grandpa, Grandma and Mommy dance with Elmo. Frankie, meanwhile, would watch from the sidelines and run to re-start Elmo to keep us going--even though, after a while, we all concurred with Elmo who declared at the end of each dance, "That was fun. Elmo's pooped!"
By New Year's Day, 2011, Frankie had decided to join in the fun. He preferred to do it in a corner, rather than out in the middle of the room. These videos capture his delightful reaction Christmas morning to the silly dancing Elmo and then show Frankie's own version which includes a lot of spinning, a few hops, and a mimic of Elmo's words, "that's what it's all about!"

Like Mother, Like Son

We can't get over the likeness in these 2 photos: Esperanza, age 7, taken in Colombia in 1993; Frankie, age 1, taken in Taos just last spring.

Our Happy Little "Swinger"

These videos demonstrate why taking Frankie to swing at the park became our favorite activity whenever we were together. He is so obviously delighted, how could we not be as well?

Sweet Slumber

What Grandma could resist capturing this sleeping little "froggy" for posterity?

Our Little Naturalist

Grandpa and Frankie spent lots of time exploring the treasures of the courtyard--grass, leaves, pebbles, stones and sticks. Inexpensive toys, for sure, and all quite fascinating for Frankie!

Grandpa's Favorite Sound

The one "word" or sound which Frankie says over and over again happens to sound very much like "Gram-pa!" This, of course, delights Grandpa Bob who, to his credit, tried very hard to help Frankie learn also to say, "Gram-ma!" By the time we left, Frankie was still very partial to "Gram-pa." (We only managed to record Frankie saying it once in each of these videos, though, so listen carefully--or just watch a video again if you miss it!)

Dancing with our Star

Play Hard...Sleep Tight

After a busy day of getting re-acquainted with Grandpa and Grandma, and
exploring new toys, snuggling with Mommy is pure bliss!

"Cool" Little Man

On Frankie's first solo outing to the park with Grandpa and Grandma, he seemed to feel a bit tentative--until we put on his "cool" shades. Then, almost as if he thought we couldn't see him behind those "Foster Grants," he seemed to relax and enjoy himself. By late afternoon, when Mom was back from work, he was ready to warm up to us and began to show some of his little personality. (Be sure to check out the video below: "Drumming Up" Frankie's Friendship.)

A Collage of First Birthday Memories

Getting "Gussied Up" for His Big Day

Today (April 18, 2010) is Frankie's FIRST BIRTHDAY--well-begun, in his "birthday suit," and enjoying his morning bath.

This Walking thing is Great!

Even the blanket underfoot doesn't stop him now--

Frankie is on the move!

Maybe puppies have the right idea--
carrying things in their mouths.
The jury is still out on that one!

By jove, I think he's got it all put together--

he can walk, carry, and babble/talk all at the same time!

Look Who's Walking Now!

At 11 months and 7 days, Frankie is truly a little boy on-the-go.
Here he is, taking nine whole, though still a bit wobbly, "first steps."

Look at him go!

Here are 3 new videos of Frankie, newly crawling, taken during his first Christmas.

Loving this independent feeling!

Watch Out, World!