Monkey See, Monkey Do

We've all seen the videos of chimpanzees or other apes in the wild, where a Mama Monkey will use a tool then the Baby Monkey will try the same.

Imagine that video with Deven & me as the Monkeys, just wearing clothes & slightly less hairy:

This morning, deven wanted to eat some 'pishtas' (Hindi for pistacio) - but he was stymied by the nuts with shells that weren't opened enough.

I took the spoon from our cereal breakfast, and used it as a tool to wedge in the slightly-opened shell and open the nut. Deven happily gobbled the nut down, then within seconds, he used the spoon in the same way.

I know I shouldn't have been surprised, but I still was by level his manual dexterity. And as any good mother, I immediately thought his new skill was proof of his brilliance, enough to get a full scholarship to UPenn or Stanford. :)

Rohan, meanwhile, is taking after cousin Ante and standing up a lot - already enjoying a table Deven got for his first birthday. Spells trouble ahead, for sure!

When they're good...

...They're very, very good.

And when they're sleeping, they're better!

Our Muffin & Cupcake, sacked out on a warm & sunny Saturday afternoon in San Francisco.

Happy Birthday, Uncle Tommy!
:)

Deven the Bul-bul-bee

Today was Deven's first day at Holy Family Day Home preschool. He's in a class called the Bumblebees, or as he says it, the Bul-bul-bees.

After a bit of drama at home (he slept poorly last night and fussed this morning before leaving), he seems to be enjoying himself at school - it's me who's having the emotions.

I'm feeling:
- twinges of bittersweet sadness (my sweet little baby boy is growing up SO fast!)
- nervousness (will he be happy here? A good boy? Nice to other kids?)
- pride (wow, he's a lot less aggressive than that wild-child...but I'm trying to curb this emotion because Deven can be just as horrid)
- fear (is he safe here? Will that wild-child there hurt him when the teachers aren't watching? Will he get sick? And omigosh...after loving this school for all the right reasons, did we make the right decision?!?)

Breathe...I guess only time will tell.
:)

Bye-bye Cedar Lake

Bye-bye Auntie Heather,
Bye-bye Uncle Tommy,
Bye-bye Cousin Ante,
Bye-bye Uncle Paulie, Tetee Bridgett, Cousins Emily & Eden, Baca & Didi, & Uncle Leland.

We have to go back to San Francisco now. We had a GREAT time in Chicago & Cedar Lake! We miss you already, and can't wait to see you again soon!
Love,
Katie, Yogesh, Deven, Rohan, & Daadi

Images from Cedar Lake, part 4

On our last full day @ Cedar Lake, Rohan started eating Auntie Heather's sarong, pulling himself up on my pant leg, and the boys had a nice evening on the dock & boat & water, despite the cool/wet weather earlier. :)

Images from Cedar Lake, Part 3

More photos of the littlest cousins on the porch together, and of dinner - with images of cousins Emily & Eden (partially hidden) as well.

Fun times!

Images from Cedar Lake, Part 2

Just some more snaps of the cousins on the sunporch together...

Images from Cedar Lake

The weather hasn't cooperated with us the past 2 days, but I laugh as I type that, because I realize that I had gotten used to the California never-rain-in-summer weather.

Uncle Tommy's brother Paul, Bridgett (sp?) & family joined us Wed. Today we had a nice walk to the local DQ with their girls Emily & Eden, then a nice boat ride in the late afternoon to see the other (less windy) side of the lake-followed by a nice dinner courtesy of Titi (Aunt in Croatian) Bridgett.

We jumped into the water near the Pacific Heights-homes of Cedar Lake (Heather & Tommy live more on the Mission-side), where Deven & Rohan continued in character - Deven with his vocal fear of the water & Rohan slept thru it all.

Swimming in the deep, I was reminded of a nice memory I have from childhood; that of visiting my Great Uncle Edwin and swimming in Lake George, NY when he took us out & anchored his boat in the middle of the lake. I could even still 'feel' the squishy bottom of Lake George in my memory. I hope our boys can have memories something like that as they grow up.

Like a Sandbox in the Water

Deven has always been somewhat fearful if water. In the shower, he covers his face & cries when water pours on his head; he didn't like pools/swimming classes, and doesn't like to go in new water, even in a floatee, at all.
Rohan, like cousin Ante, is very different - they love the water; sit & giggle in floatees, and generally have a good time.

When we got here Monday, Yogesh convinced Deven to go into the shallow water on his own by holding him and slowly lowering down (as he whimpered) until Deven's feet touched bottom.

By yesterday, this was the scene - Deven refused to wear anything over his Birthday Suit; and had a grand time with Daddy in the lake.

We knew Deven was finally comfortable standing on his own when he calmly told us "It's like a sandbox in the water!"

Stepper-upper

Rohan has learned to go up a step! Here he is, quite proud of himself and smiling @ Auntie Heather, after crawling up the 1 step from the lower sundeck to the covered porch.
Call me biased, but I'd say he's going to be a ladies man!