Kilian and Riley: The Wee Bairns

Just the two of you

noreply@blogger.com (Ty) — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 01:43:00 +0000

Breakfast, New Years' Day 2010
Originally uploaded by The Kilian and the Riley

I went in to kiss you both goodnight tonight, and you were both asleep. I kissed you first, Kilian, and then Riley (after washing my hands of course.) When I kissed Riley, I looked up and you, Kilian, were awake.

We spoke for a bit, and you told me about your day. You wondered if it was morning yet, because the lights from the street were shining through the curtains in your baby blue room.

I said no, those were just the lights from the street, and that it wasn't even 9pm yet. You wanted a kiss and a hug before I left.

As I was walking out of the room, you told me that I had to kiss Riley and give her a hug too. I had already done so, but I did as you told me (you didn't ask.)

It is very touching and loving of you to have asked for the same thing for your sister as I gave to you. We don't often have good markers for whether we are good parents or not, and I try my best.

You showed fairness and love at the same time, and I have never been prouder of the person that you are.

I love you both very dearly.

Posted by Pops, after a long absence.

Easter

noreply@blogger.com (Ty) — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 01:04:00 +0000

Nicenice.
Originally uploaded by The Kilian and the Riley

Went pretty well. The bigger kids snatched most of the eggs, but you two had a pretty good haul (though egg count is not a signifier of intelligence or future earning capacity, sadly, I mean, thankfully.)

We are making incremental progress on the reduce-the-whining-zero-tolerance parenting, which is also a good thing.

My new company is launching it's website in two days, so I have been even more busy than usual with work, and not spending enough time with the both of you.

I came home one day last week to pick up a computer cable, and you were both asleep for your afternoon nap. I went into your room and kissed you both, and that made my day (but you didn't know about it.)

You, young Kilian, are off this week and three days from last week for Easter/Passover. You keep asking if you are going to school, and we, groundhog day style, let you know that, no, young man, there is no school. Your friend Jay is coming over for a playdate tomorrow, and you asked about Kosei, and would he be coming.

Kosei and his family moved back to Japan because his father works for a big investment bank, and they no longer needed him in New York.

We have had one video chat with him, but I don't think that you understand that he is so far away. You got a little sad when Mummy told you that he had moved away.

I don't really know what to do here.

You, little girl, in addition to talking and being potty-trained, have developed some bad habits of your own, especially around ownership of items, like say, Papa's watch, that are beyond your payscale. While your reaction would suggest that we had branded you with an iron, we are hoping that the drama dies down as we ignore it.

To be clear, I love you both.

On Wednesdays.

Posted by Pops.

Godmother Mimi visits

noreply@blogger.com (Ty) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 17:21:00 +0000

Coloring
Originally uploaded by The Kilian and the Riley

Kilian, your godmother Mimi came to see you from California.
You recognize her now, and you, as always, appreciated her doting.
Your vocabulary is an odd mix of Papa's words that sound funny coming from a three-year old, and an endless (and lovely) fascination with counting numbers and reciting the alphabet.
The number counting started in February, and the alphabet started two weeks ago. You are just beginning to ask about what letters make up what words.
Which means the end of spelling things we don't want you to hear between your mother and I.
Posted by Pops.

You learned how to say Papa this week

noreply@blogger.com (Ty) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 17:15:00 +0000

You learned how to say Papa this week
Originally uploaded by The Kilian and the Riley

A variant on your mother's braiding technique is the afro-puff. Note the use of the singular here to denote but a single bob on the top of your head.
You are single-handedly going to bring this hairstyle back, nevermind what the haters say.
Posted by Pops.

Thomas the oddly-named Tank Engine

noreply@blogger.com (Ty) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 17:14:00 +0000

Train with Mummy
Originally uploaded by The Kilian and the Riley

This track and "action table" consumes most of your in-house time, and you can see that you and Mummy are enjoying yourselves.
On the behavior front: we have adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards whining, bad behavior and crying, which has made March pretty rough, but being able to write this from the hindsight of April, it seems to be paying off.
The things that you do that we love:
1. You are a gentle kind soul, and very affectionate.
The more-than-slightly-longer-list-of-stuff that we are trying to weed out:
1. You are a Seinfeldian high-talker. And the volume is epic. So we are trying to teach you about using your "indoor voice."
2. You cry at a moment's notice for no good reason or because you didn't get your way.
3. You whine like Papa's first car that never got serviced.
This last bit is the hardest to take, so we have resorted to ignoring any statement that is made with your high-pitched voice. That ignoring is prefaced with "I don't understand what you are saying because you aren't using big boy voice." This seems pretty effective.
They are echoing the zero tolerance at your school, and the net result is that your demeanor has been much better this past week.
Posted by Pops.

Care hair bear.

noreply@blogger.com (Ty) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 17:04:00 +0000

Care hair bear.
Originally uploaded by The Kilian and the Riley

Well, I, uh don't know what to say. Your hair is quite unlike your brothers, and closer to mine. Which is to say, insanely dense but straight. Thicket-like, if you will.
Your mother has taken to braiding it because it gets unruly (and we use that word in the nicest way possible, as opposed to you being unruly, which is a polite way of saying you're being a terror). When it comes out of the braids, this is what you get.
Also, *like* your brother, you rubbed off a lot of the hair on the back of your head when you were a little girl, so that part is shorter and thus even harder to tame.
On the behavior front, you have picked up a lot of curious habits, like breaking into tears when you don't get things that are not yours that you seem to have glommed on to. This includes scissors, your mother's jewelry, keys, iPhones, and remote controls.
Just so you know why you might be slightly bitter as a teenager, we explain why we are taking the items away, but we ignore the crying.
Nice hair.
Posted by Pops.

First day of Spring is broken

noreply@blogger.com (Ty) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 18:34:00 +0000

Vertical
Originally uploaded by The Kilian and the Riley

Because it was snowing outside today, on this, the first day of Spring. You, Kilian, asked to see what it looked like, as it hadn't snowed for quite a while. Your sister wanted to do her first-thing-in-the-morning-go-to-the-bathroom thing, as she is accustomed to do.
This was the first day that she was off of her anti-biotics, so she was, uh, smelling better.
Posted by Pops

Our family in Vienna

noreply@blogger.com (Ty) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:36:00 +0000

Abdul-Malik visit 01
Originally uploaded by The Kilian and the Riley

The Abdul-Maliks came to see us during their visit to the States from Austria. They brought a lovely noisemaking little car for you, Kilian, and an unspecified (I didn't see it yet) gift for you, little girl.
They had just come from Atlanta, where they saw real-Auntie Maryam.
Mummy made them lunch and you were only able to see them a bit, as it was warm enough for you both to go to the playground with Ilyana after school today.
Posted by Pops.

Sunday night tradition

noreply@blogger.com (Ty) — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 18:39:00 +0000

Original Ray
Originally uploaded by The Kilian and the Riley

Our is pizza. However, for reasons that are muddy, we served this up to you on Saturday.
Most of the time we go to Bella Napoli, and the price seems to adjust based upon who is serving us (sometimes $2, sometimes $2.15, sometimes they round to the closest number.) It is nearby.
Today, it was Original Rays, which is paradoxical, because there are about 20 Original Rays in Manhattan, and I will spare both of you jokes about this, as they have already been told and they are mostly unfunny.
You do love your pizza, though.
Posted by Pops.

Este loco

noreply@blogger.com (Ty) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 18:42:00 +0000

Este loco
Originally uploaded by The Kilian and the Riley

This doesn't need much explaining, except to say that you share your brother's fascination with things electronic.
Posted by Pops.

Sharing

noreply@blogger.com (Ty) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 18:41:00 +0000

the quiet before the storm
Originally uploaded by The Kilian and the Riley

You two are getting good at getting along, but there is still a vague undercurrent of menace, I believe.
Or naughtiness, shall we say.
Posted by Pops.

090308 Sunday Morning

noreply@blogger.com (Ty) — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 18:44:00 +0000

090308 Sunday Morning
Originally uploaded by The Kilian and the Riley

You both have been good, but we found out that the neighbors below us can hear when you drop things, and I can hear you 30 yards away at the elevator through the front door, so we have the NYC dynamic of wanting you to be kids, but needing you to be quieter.
Those two goals can't coexist neatly.
Posted by Pops.

The Bans' last visit before heading back to Japan

noreply@blogger.com (Ty) — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 19:46:00 +0000

The Bans' last visit before heading back to Japan
Originally uploaded by The Kilian and the Riley

Kosei, Ryusei and their lovely family left NYC to go back to Japan, so this was our last playdate with them. We have been keeping up to date with them via Skype, and Kosei is enrolled in the English-language Montessori in Japan.
Posted by Pops.

Haircut #3

noreply@blogger.com (Ty) — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 19:45:00 +0000

Haircut #3
Originally uploaded by The Kilian and the Riley

As I say every year, this should happen more frequently.
Posted by Pops

Riley watches the inauguration.

noreply@blogger.com (Ty) — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 19:48:00 +0000

Riley watches the inauguration.
Originally uploaded by The Kilian and the Riley

This is a big deal, and I will explain it again when you are older.
Your mother didn't really support him because she thinks he doesn't have enough experience, but I thought he was a better choice.
Your Grandmother Ahna went to the event, but couldn't see anything and basically froze.
Your Auntie Ayisha was also there with Great Auntie Shahara, your cousins, and about one million other people.
Posted by Pops.

See the fishes. Count the fishes.

noreply@blogger.com (Ty) — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 04:55:00 +0000

A Cold Visit to the NY Aquarium from The Kilian on Vimeo.

So you two had a good time at the aquarium, even though Papa froze.

Posted by Pops.

Leche time.

noreply@blogger.com (Ty) — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 21:16:00 +0000

Dropping the milk, drinking the milk from The Kilian on Vimeo.

Your mother (and maternal grandmother, Mamina) loathe dairy products, in part because they were forced to drink it in Catholic school.

You two don't have any problems of this sort, so far.

We switched you from organic whole milk to 1% lowfat milk because we understand that whole milk, given every day, may lead to pre-school obesity or some other malady that is lurking around the corner.

As with most things, we don't know for sure, so we are just taking precautions.

Kilian, you didn't adjust to being back in school very well, with two straight days of maniacal early morning crying when I dropped you off. On Wednesday, you were suspiciously normal, or you been replaced with an alien who looks just like you.

Posted by Pops.

New Year's Eve (and the following weekend)

noreply@blogger.com (Ty) — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 02:13:00 +0000

081231 New Year's Eve from The Kilian on Vimeo.

Riley didn't dig the hat.

Kilian liked staying up late.

Riley stole Kilian's train.

Kilian told Riley "no."

Kilian showed the lovely Pia how to ride a big wheel.

The un-biased status update is complete.

Posted by Pops.

New Year's Eve, Day

noreply@blogger.com (Ty) — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 19:51:00 +0000

Ring around the rosie.
Originally uploaded by The Kilian and the Riley

The last day of the year.

You, young Kilian, have shown a good grasp of numbers, including the ability to count to 15 (things get hazy after that, as you seem to bear some grudge against 16 such that you jump to 17 immediately after the one-five.)

You also know your age: three.

And your sister's age: one.

This dynamic plays itself out on the toy front: you feel like you should get more toys because you are older.

A direct quote: "I should have three trains and Riley should only have one because I am older."

And you can't wait to turn four.

Riley: your molars are coming in, so you are running the insane fevers (102-103°) that kids seem to be able to have without dying.

And it makes you cranky.

The best thing about both of you: you seem to be learning how to share. Riley gives up trains and other stuff without prompting, and you give her things to play with without throwing a fit, Kilian.

Bravo.

Posted by Pops.

Christmas Day video

noreply@blogger.com (Ty) — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 23:13:00 +0000

Christmas
Originally uploaded by The Kilian and the Riley

Chronicling all of the sugar-enhanced craziness.

Kilian, you have played with the Thomas the Tank Engine, which is somehow different than just a train for reasons that are unclear to me, nonstop for the three days since Christmas.

Pieces go missing from the track, and the train can't run.

You reconfigure the track, and the train can't run.

I appreciate that it is pushing the engineering side of your brain, but you need to spend more time with humanistic things, me thinks.

Or not.

You seem to be digging it.

As our oldest child, however, you have the burden of learning to share, whereas Riley can simply get away with stuff because she is only one and can't talk.

Sometimes she is wrong, sometimes you are wrong, but we are trying to work with you to understand that sharing is not a horrible thing. Apparently, child psychologists are of two minds of the subject, stating that it is good for you to learn how to share, while others point out the fallacy of a three-year old not being emotionally-inward-looking.

I don't know who is right, so we are trying to find a way to help you get better at it in a way that makes sense to you.

We will find out later if we were successful.

Posted by Pops.

Christmas dress

noreply@blogger.com (Ty) — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 23:07:00 +0000

Profile over the city
Originally uploaded by The Kilian and the Riley

This was given to you by your Auntie/Uncle Paula/Brian in the UK. It is your second Christmas, and, like the first, one that you aren't likely to remember.

Mummy got you a lovely scarf, and you and Kilian got gifts from Uncle Ranah and Aunt Johanna, Godmother Mimi, and your Auntie Ayisha, who also spent Christmas Eve and Christmas night with us.

You enjoyed having all of the people in the house and the resultant attention.

Neither one of you like the smoked turkey or anything else that I cooked for Christmas dinner, but you did dig your mummy's pound cake (which is universally loved.)

Posted by Pops.

A gift from Auntie Jay

noreply@blogger.com (Ty) — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 02:16:00 +0000

This has me rolling
Originally uploaded by The Kilian and the Riley

You are, unfortunately, too big for it, but it looks, uh, ah, uh, unique on you.

Papa might sell you to the circus for Knicks tickets.

Posted by Pops

Stella and Sam leave town for LA

noreply@blogger.com (Ty) — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 02:03:00 +0000

Most dangerous way to go
Originally uploaded by The Kilian and the Riley

Papa's good friend and former boss and his wife gave a going away party for their children. Stella was in your class at Montessori, so we see her every morning when I drop you off at school.

Her papa is going to run MySpace Music in Los Angeles, and maybe we will go visit them out there in the summer.

You really enjoyed the trampoline, man.

Posted by Pops.

Gol. Gol? Gol!

noreply@blogger.com (Ty) — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 02:00:00 +0000

Gol. Gol? Gol!
Originally uploaded by The Kilian and the Riley

You are progressing on the soccer front. Papa was traveling the week after this one, so Mummy had to take you herself.

Posted by Pops

Our best Czech peeps come to town

noreply@blogger.com (Ty) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 01:59:00 +0000

Sanders in the playroom
Originally uploaded by The Kilian and the Riley

Mark, Kristi, Natalia and the lovely new Oliver came into town from Prague. The last time we saw them was over two years ago when you were unborn (Riley) and you weren't one (Kilian).

It was great to see them, as we only get to see them once a year at most. Mummy and Papa went to their wedding in Prague in 2003 when we were just dating. Uncle Ranah was there too.

Anyway, you and Natalia had a great time together, and Riley and Oliver followed in your footsteps.

Posted by Pops.