We finally got a fun new digital SLR, which we are still testing out. Here are some photos. Dahrius is beginning to be interested in Ranier, and he really likes to make him smile at him, read stories to him, bring teddy bears for him, play music boxes for him. IT's very sweet!
Ranier is still quite the hefty baby--he's nearly 16 lbs. at 2 months, with rolls and rolls of fat to show for it. (maybe it's all that ice cream mom's eating?)
One of the things we'll miss about Durham is the rapidly growing and improving Durham Farmer's Market. Music for kids, tasty rhubarb and peach-pecan empanadas, plus the latest in-season produce.
A photographer friend came with us to our weekly visit to the Durham Farmer's Market and took some great photos of the family.
Other things we'll miss about NC: KIN (Dahrius' fantastic daycare), fireflies, thunderstorms, spectacular springs, the cost of housing, locopops...
Maman swung into town at the start of the month... I'm only just now getting around to getting the pics up on the blog. She somehow squeezed the trip into her schedule on her way back from Europe, desperate to see Ranier before he gets too big. Of course, all of this was planned before we had any idea that we would end up in Berkeley in a few months!
Here is Maman with the two boys. Ranier is in his "quiet mode".
We managed a few decent pics of ourselves on the couch right before Maman left...
Ranier has been smiling quite a bit more lately. It doesn't take too many smiles to make you forget the fussy periods for a while.
Maman was also here during our annual Duke Park Neighborhood Beaver Pageant, an event that is sure to become renowned the world over before too long. Some history: When they started widening the nearby freeway, the NCDOT changed the flow patterns of the local creek, which sort of parallels the freeway adjacent to our neighborhood. Some apparently displaced beavers (yes, the real type, with flat tails, builds lodges, the whole bit) moved in about three blocks away from us and clogged up one of the new drain pipes, creating a large beaver pond and threatening to inundate some nearby houses.
Understandably, the owners of the threatened houses wanted something to be done, so the NCDOT came and checked things out and announced that they would send over someone to kill the beavers ASAP. This "solution" didn't sit too well with the owners or anyone else in the neighborhood, and after substantial activism on the part of the whole neighborhood, we eventually convinced the NCDOT to come up with a clever engineering fix that keeps the pond at an acceptable size for both the beavers and the home owners.
In tribute to this rousing display of neighborhood togetherness and compassion for our fellow mammals, several enterprising neighbors set up the "Beaver Local 506", based at the nearby Beaver Lodge, a regular gathering spot for neighborhood parties. They also inaugurated the annual Beaver Queen Pageant, a celebration of all things beaver. It's quite silly and quite fun. The turnout was very high this year, it's second in existence, and I expect that the turnout will just get better in the future.
I bring all of this up because at the start of the pageant, there was a special rallying song, led by a company of kids from the neighborhood. As they were going up to the stage, the announcer offered that any kids in the audience who wanted to come up and sing along should feel free to do so. Half-jokingly, we suggested to Dahrius that he go up there. To our astonishment (or mine, at least), he immediately hopped out of his seat and ran up to the stage. He was definitely a little lost and confused, and perhaps a little frightened, but it was an amazingly bold act. After the song was finished, he didn't want to leave the stage and I had to usher him off. Fortunately, there were some nearby beach balls that quickly captured his fancy. You can see Dahrius in the pics below if you look carefully. The first shows him just after arriving on stage with all the kids; the second shows him during the performance.
Apparently he is growing up. Sigh.
It's HOT here. Hopefully everyone else is staying cool.
The heat of the summer has arrived, though today we're finally getting a good soaking from tropical storm Barry. Our garden grows quickly; we harvested our first peas and cucumbers the other day, and I'm expecting the tomatoes to kick in any moment now...
Ranier seems to be slowly mellowing out, though he is still reliably fussy in the evening (exhibiting, as one friend put it, his "5-o'clock colic"). Fortunately, the warm evenings make for pleasant walks, which is currently the only truly reliable way to calm Ranier down. Megan and I can't take the walks together like we used to with Dahrius since someone has to watch after Dahrius at home, but I have had some company from visitors and otherwise just enjoy the fireflies which are in great abundance this time of year. Ranier's fussiness seems to have no negative impact on his weight gain! I'm almost afraid to weigh him. I'm willing to bet he's already topping 15 pounds.
Part of the reason why things have been so hectic relates to the fact that I have been interviewing for a job. The interview process had me fly to Boston, NY, as well as San Francisco, in addition to an interview here in NC. Fortunately, the end result of all that travel was that they offered me the job, and I accepted! I will post separately with more details, but the most important elements are: I will be the Executive Director of the new CCLearn division of Creative Commons. This division will focus broadly on all matters related to maximizing the usefulness and use of open educational resources (OER), at all grade levels, all over the world. It is an extraordinary opportunity for me. The job also happens to be located in San Francisco, so we are in fact, at long last, moving back West. Our plan is to move in August, so all of a sudden there is quite a lot to before we go.
Megan, fortunately, has worked things out with her postdoctoral adviser so that she can work part-time for much of next year from the Bay Area, during which time she can focus on the boys and build connections as she considers her next move. We are very hopeful that she will be able to find something wonderful to do.... there are so many opportunities in the area that it seems likely.
Dahrius has definitely become a bit more reticent to give out love and favors, especially when he realizes that the attention is divided between himself and Ranier. But he doesn't seem to have any obvious feelings of jealousy per se, and in general, he's handled this transition to a four-member family with aplomb. His language skills continue to astonish us. He is now making up stories, and he and I will play a game where we add on to the story, though he tends to want to turn over all story-creation duties to me after a round or two. We are realizing that we should schedule more playdates with friends on the weekends because we can't keep up with him, let alone with Ranier in tow.
OK, on to some updated pics...
Josh and Joanna (Jojo) paid us a visit for Memorial Day weekend. We had a great time hiking...
... and playing in the pool, among other things.
For those of you wanting more than a still image, check out this video!
Dahrius is proving to be a "very useful big brother".
Here are Jojo and Ranier in a quieter moment.
More pics from Maman's visit to be posted tomorrow!
One of the things we'll miss about Durham is the rapidly growing and improving Durham Farmer's Market. Music for kids, tasty rhubarb and peach-pecan empanadas, plus the latest in-season produce.
We managed a few decent pics of ourselves on the couch right before Maman left...
Ranier has been smiling quite a bit more lately. It doesn't take too many smiles to make you forget the fussy periods for a while.
Maman was also here during our annual Duke Park Neighborhood Beaver Pageant, an event that is sure to become renowned the world over before too long. Some history: When they started widening the nearby freeway, the NCDOT changed the flow patterns of the local creek, which sort of parallels the freeway adjacent to our neighborhood. Some apparently displaced beavers (yes, the real type, with flat tails, builds lodges, the whole bit) moved in about three blocks away from us and clogged up one of the new drain pipes, creating a large beaver pond and threatening to inundate some nearby houses.
... and playing in the pool, among other things.
Here are Jojo and Ranier in a quieter moment.
More pics from Maman's visit to be posted tomorrow!
