So what is Leo liking these days? The most remarkable development has been his increasing interest in music. It’s perhaps the only thing that holds his interest for long stretches of time. In the car, he now eschews his books in favor of listening to music, the same songs over and over until he can sing them by heart (which doesn’t take long).  We enrolled him in Music Together over the summer and fall, and even though the teacher kind of sucked and Leo was uncharacteristically anti-social in class, he loved the music.  He also listens to other kiddy music both old and new, world music (especially songs in Spanish), and the occasional things that we used to listen to when we still listened to our own music. He constantly orchestrates the selections from the back of the car, saying “I don’t WANT that song!” and “I LIKE that song! Again!”  At home, when he’s not talking (which is nearly non-stop), he runs around singing, making up his own lyrics to things and achieving a remarkably near-perfect pitch. His talents definitely skipped a generation, and must come from either the Levinsons or the Regenbogens.

As we learned from recent trips to Joshua Tree and around here, he loves swimming, camping  and the great outdoors (especially the ocean, which, with the exception of seaweed,  he has no fear of), and has taken to hiking.  He can hike almost a mile now unassisted, and pretty much runs the whole way. It doesn’t sound like much, but it’s really improved our quality of life!

His capacity for imaginative play has been developing, too–he loves to play “family” with his stuffed animals, give his baby doll medicine (and throw it in the toilet), and create imaginative worlds with his trucks and trains.

Perhaps the most rewarding thing for us, though, has been experiencing how loving and affectionate he’s become. He always tells us that he loves us, and in the mornings climbs into our bed and asks for hugs, kisses and snuggles.  That affection has also extended to his grandparents, who he runs to with hugs and squeals of delight when they are in town.  As two highly affectionate people ourselves, Adam and I are convinced that we wore down his resolve early on my smothering him with kisses and hugs, so that he had no choice but to capitulate.

With a sibling on the way in a matter of weeks, we’re excited and apprehensive as to how Leo will react. He’s been the king of the roost, the center of our household for so long, that it’s sure to be a huge adjustment. But we’re sure that eventually he’ll settle into his role as big brother.

Below is a video of Leo singing a few songs in Spanis. More photos to come soon!

    

This year was Leo’s second Passover and Easter, and he had a blast at both holidays.  This year we wisely decided to forgo having a seder at our place in favor of “allowing” (strong-arming) our childless neighbors to host one instead.  Three toddlers were present, so the Haggadah was essentially a series of bullet points, but a good time was had by all, especially when it came to “finding” the afikommen. Leo also got to experience two easter egg hunts.  The one pictured above is at the park near our house. Looking at these photos makes me realize the extent to which Adam and I have embraced parenthood.  We not only go to an “easter egg hunt” in a park attended by hundreds of toddlers where all the easter eggs have been placed in a baseball field, but we post the photos of it.  Is that our child in a bouncy structure? Why yes, it is.  Did I really take a photo of that? It appears so.  And hold on, is that a family photo in front of a fire truck? Seems to be.  It’s funny how excited we get by family friendly events and gestures,  like when a restaurant provides crayons or the free balloons at Trader Joe’s.  Even more surprising is how it seems to suit us just fine.

2. ‘Wanna hug a bug!’

3. ‘Kiss a fish!’

4. ‘A bunny in carrot car! Delicious!’

5. ‘Amazing race car!’

6. Turning everything into songs (i.e. “change a diaper”) and also singing his favorite medleys (i.e. “Frere Jacques/Las manitos,”  “A,B,C,D/Twinkle twinkle little star”)

7. “Iiiiiaaaaaaannnnnnn” (wailing for his best buddy)

The pictures below include Halloween, with Leo dressed up as a little newsboy with a just-a-few-days early sign proclaiming Obama’s victory (hell yeah!), as well as some great outings we’ve had in a very busy few months: Leo’s first trip to Austin (the place where his parents met and where his buddy Elliot lives), a weekend exploring Sonoma and wine country with Grandma Patty, and most recently a Thanksgiving trip with his friends Henry, Jonas and their families up to Tahoe.

He also sings a lot (the title of the post is one of his favorite hybrid songs), in a near-perfect pitch he definitely did not get from his parents.

Other photos include bathtime with Ian, a gaggle of kids over at Henry’s house, the debut of Daddy and Leo’s matching old man hats, and more.

Leo is running around, having a blast with pine cones, twigs, and all of nature’s other great toys. His favorite words include: bus, thank you (well, ‘da-doo’), bubble, cat, moon, hat, taxi, apple, outside (’ow-side’), and of course, choo choo, which he’s now extended to “choo choo chain.”

He is so much fun.

We didn’t bring our own camera, so we’ll be posting photos as we get them from friends and family. This batch, from Newton and Gloucester, are all taken by Grandpa Mike. Nice work, Grandpa!