tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5840734978960830452023-11-16T04:42:26.786-08:00Livvyland + ShepardvilleOlivia Rita Thomas arrived on September 22, 2007, and has had it turned all the way up to 11 ever since.<br>
On May 25, 2011, Shepard Elliot Thomas did a roundhouse kick to Mama's womb, then arrived less than one hour later--after four sets of pushes.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger138125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-584073497896083045.post-47539655353395572722013-01-22T18:30:00.000-08:002013-01-22T18:36:21.770-08:00Shepard Thomas, Conversationalist, Alphabet ConsultantShepard is actually a great dinner companion. Here he is not actually eating, per se, but he is more than holding up his end of the bargain, bursting into song, laughing at my jokies . . . what a guy.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-584073497896083045.post-4259574685084717792013-01-22T18:22:00.001-08:002013-01-22T18:23:13.435-08:00Gravity, or Imminent Peril<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Few childhood joys parallel the thrill of jumping of a high surface onto a bean bag. And few offer their parents such corresponding terror. Half of Shepard's flair is that he appears to care not a whit where he lands. The other half is that he claps for himself.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-584073497896083045.post-2542904047568508822013-01-22T18:19:00.001-08:002013-01-22T18:35:48.354-08:00Olivia Thomas, Latke ElfOlivia's classmate Theo invited his mom to school in to conduct a latke making lesson. Olivia, being my child, got all fired up about replicating these at home. Since they also, in the thinnest way possible, arch *toward* my own family heritage, I thought it would be a great idea. It turns out that we had surplus elf hats on our hands, courtesy of Geoff Wagg, Head Elf, Midatlantic Region. Behold the melange of yuletide cheer and shredded potatoes.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-584073497896083045.post-84007096569769201172013-01-21T17:59:00.000-08:002013-01-21T17:59:27.568-08:00YogurtWe take no credit for Shepard's eating fervor. That all goes to Pollywog Pond, his school, where Kasia the Owner/Organic Meal Fairy comes down from the kitchen with things like Barley Berry Casserole and Split Pea Soup and apparently the six weelings eat with great delight and fervor. Also: Shepard loves yogurt, it seems . . . EXCEPT for that unexpected bottom part.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-584073497896083045.post-80207798037880164122012-11-08T18:26:00.003-08:002012-11-08T18:26:56.504-08:00Handholding (with a strong undercurrent of tension)I'm not going to lie. On weekend mornings my children turn into insane, sibling-taunting, whining-screaming MANIACS unless they get outside before 9. Here, I have liberated them and they seem to be turning things around, though Olivia's "guidance," not surprisingly, teeters right on the edge of "torment." Judge ye yourself.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/oMHeHCe74bc" width="420"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-584073497896083045.post-59668710263625758252012-11-08T18:23:00.002-08:002012-11-08T18:23:43.415-08:00Incomprehensible Friend LanguageThis may go down in history as one of my favorites. Ella, Olivia's partner in crime and across-the-street neighbor, sometimes peeps out the street-side window, spots her friend, and then does some kind of signaling that they have a playdate soon. Here is how Olivia responded. I have no words.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xfVy-8DzDYk" width="420"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-584073497896083045.post-6903371199569480932012-11-08T18:20:00.002-08:002012-11-08T18:20:50.120-08:00The "Please" FaceEarly(er) in his life, I taught Shepard the wrong sign for "please." It involved putting his hand near his face. Later the hand fell away, but the earnest "please' face remained. Here is a mild version of it. I will try to capture a stronger one before he remembers to say the word consistently and then it disappears.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/QxofmLm1e8E" width="420"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-584073497896083045.post-53229862663558975542012-10-06T08:10:00.003-07:002012-10-06T08:12:17.296-07:00Poet savant, or song memorizer?Olivia and I were in the kitchen this morning. She was making thank you notes for her birthday presents. She asked me to write this down for her--she wanted to put it in a card for her sweet friend, Luc:<br />
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Should I tell you the secret?</div>
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I have been floating</div>
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Beyond the sky</div>
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Like fire.</div>
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What do I do with this?? I have emailed her teacher to find out if it is a song, or song snippets. In "Stripes" class at school they learn about God. Is this one of the songs they learn? I am so floored by the beauty of this utterance, it's bordering on agitation.<br />
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The beauty. That child. The beauty . . .<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-584073497896083045.post-41639677998649739642012-10-05T18:49:00.001-07:002012-10-05T18:49:19.937-07:00Siblings (and babies)This video captures siblinghood. First, one sibling engages in sweet, meaningful play with parent looking on (and recording) . . . but it turns out, the toy belongs to THE OTHER SIBLING. Olivia's body position, negotiating voice are both impressive. Unfortunately poor Shepard does not prevail in this exchange, even though I think that he was able, with my intervention, to retain Baby.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6FMbRDIeSu4" width="420"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-584073497896083045.post-43248430365383488362012-10-05T18:45:00.000-07:002012-10-05T18:55:59.570-07:00Olivia and the Beach DonutsAt Dewey Beach, most things come in size L. When we first went there, I had spied The Fractured Prune, but didn't muster enough momentum to get over there to get some donuts. Well, with my trusty assistant in tow, we went to investigate the mysteriously-named shop in our 2012 trip to Dewey. And boy was the payoff . . . large.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/QbsPu2uONgs" width="420"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-584073497896083045.post-7586148693264119752012-10-05T18:37:00.002-07:002012-10-05T18:40:16.066-07:00Shepard loves "Tats"Not surprisingly, Shepard loves cats. (Note to self: post link to earlier Earl-tackling videos starring Olivia.) Here, in August of 2012 (at 15 months), Shepard communes with the cat statues around the fountain at Betsy Ross's house in Philadelphia. (Apparently she also loves cats.) Then, in September, upon waking up from a nap, Shepard has a catfest, including the wonderful naming (and naming, and naming) of Cat, and then the [priceless], true-to-life imitation of Bella's meow.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/boo3UeJTFEE" width="420"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-584073497896083045.post-67125494229183864672012-10-05T17:19:00.002-07:002012-10-05T17:19:54.249-07:00Olivia's Kindergarten Class: "Voiceprint"<object height="360" width="480"><param name="movie" value="https://voicethread.com/book.swf?b=3394294"></param>
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Olivia's class records their likes. Olivia is second-to-last in the class lineup. I won't give away what she says she likes doing first . . . and then repeats at the end. But I will tell you I almost cried.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-584073497896083045.post-41624775526323023392012-07-07T14:09:00.000-07:002012-07-07T14:09:57.745-07:00Olivia saves the toadletsAt the beginning of the summer, we went down to the Skukyll Center in the evening time and saved little toadlets, whose hatching ground and maturing ground are separated by a road. It was VERY exciting. They were VERY small.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/OjIfJohowsc" width="420"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-584073497896083045.post-37916955411743385282012-07-07T14:08:00.000-07:002012-07-07T14:08:21.236-07:00Hi-yee! (How I know my baby loves me)I know my baby loves me because every time he sees me he says "HI" so enthusiastically. (What? He's genetically engineered to do that? Oh, shush it.)<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/K5ea4Cers4I" width="420"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-584073497896083045.post-34363949436129619692012-07-07T14:06:00.001-07:002012-07-07T14:06:44.031-07:00Shepard walking, Natural History MuseumI especially like the end, as he heads toward the elk display . . .<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6XjbIJSIrt4" width="420"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-584073497896083045.post-81737167283175780602012-07-07T14:05:00.000-07:002012-07-07T14:05:08.280-07:00Meditation, or "Why??" hands? (You decide.)I am unclear whether Shepard is engaging in baby meditation, or silently asking the universe, "Why??" Please let me know what you think is happening here.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/AIgquZdTG8g" width="420"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-584073497896083045.post-38624104850110678982012-07-07T14:03:00.000-07:002012-07-07T14:03:16.952-07:00In the long tradition of Turner fart humor . . .Behold, the whoopie cushion playground friendship:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/s14uWVlUYxQ" width="420"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-584073497896083045.post-80067702006759758982012-07-07T13:37:00.000-07:002012-07-07T13:56:29.604-07:00Shepard, months 13 and 14 (photos)These are some of my favorite Shep shots, months 13 and 14. His hobbies right now include seeking out and then enjoying baby-sized seating, eating ice cream, and wrestling with Olivia. Words include "hi," "bye," "cup" (repeats when asked), "no" (does not need prompting). Emerging signs include "thank you" and "more."
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-QP0yJBjKQM2fzetivzRfJyemcsFwegQogaqhrf1VtTAHFLweDrWgBlja9mOgdAJ3NonSODpUydh623xUB6nafbOtTofJyrBRf-rQOI6DnRaYXThCU2mqjWo6cdg62Nz_cNOa_J9k-cc/s1600/IMG_1124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="238" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-QP0yJBjKQM2fzetivzRfJyemcsFwegQogaqhrf1VtTAHFLweDrWgBlja9mOgdAJ3NonSODpUydh623xUB6nafbOtTofJyrBRf-rQOI6DnRaYXThCU2mqjWo6cdg62Nz_cNOa_J9k-cc/s320/IMG_1124.JPG" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-584073497896083045.post-64352777264745397902012-06-03T11:48:00.000-07:002012-06-03T11:48:45.977-07:00Yet another bath videoBecause if you are a parent, you just can't get enough of these . . . (of your own kids, I mean. Not so much of other kids).
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/dUIly0CrP1A" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-584073497896083045.post-69699083963414707872012-05-09T19:23:00.000-07:002012-05-09T19:23:46.016-07:00Run Toto, Run!This video captures Olivia's Dorothy phase (4 years old). We are cooking up a Toto costume for Shepard's second Halloween. Stay tuned.<br>
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/JVEUT2qjHog" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-584073497896083045.post-52527657180311597952012-05-09T19:19:00.000-07:002012-05-09T19:19:10.725-07:00Twisty SwingShepard loves the prospect of being twisty-swung by his idol, Olivia. I, on the other hand, am relegated to referee.<br>
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/uP3R3juSZQU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-584073497896083045.post-62878114319770526462012-05-09T19:14:00.001-07:002012-05-09T19:14:42.549-07:00She Walks with Sticks (Angrily)Olivia was pissed off on the day we went hiking. The incongruence of the fluffy pink tutu makes this priceless.<br>
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kIg9DzlvjFc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-584073497896083045.post-71155105675367918762012-05-09T19:12:00.001-07:002012-05-09T19:12:50.584-07:00Sock Bandit Strikes AgainShepard's favorite pastime, months 6-12: sock banditry.<br>
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bo-tUI8PxeU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-584073497896083045.post-645590616458115712012-05-09T18:55:00.001-07:002012-05-09T18:58:17.292-07:00A Message for Big Kids, Who Ruin Everything with their Gum Chewing WaysA Scolding Lecture
(in the hopes that she will be allowed to chew gum on the way to school once the big kids learn to manage their own gum properly)
by Olivia<br>
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/m5RuXdSPMJs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-584073497896083045.post-44260366808260521382012-03-25T17:43:00.001-07:002012-03-25T17:44:58.748-07:00Milestone: crawling (10 months)<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxqI7JVvLRp8jHZo5tXQ65ddDhS-xhjtrj-RgA6FREWE1C1n2mHp9qGvVloNWscYQeMqTQLJYjPiNAfr7LjRw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0