McSpins

The Storm

Sat, 6 Feb 2010 20:43:14 -0500

It began snowing about 7 p.m. last night and by this afternoon, when it finally stopped, we had 28.5 inches on the ground. It’s not so bad to be snowed in on a Saturday in early February. The boys spent several hours outside, as did Peter and I, taking turns trying to keep up with the shoveling. By evening, the sky was a beautiful, dusky pink, and as I stood oustide admiring it while grilling our dinner, I thought, it could be spring, if not for this wall of snow surrounding me.

Gated Community

Tue, 2 Feb 2010 20:48:53 -0500

When Ciaran crawled out of a room the other and began exploring, we knew it was time to put up the gates in the house. We have a small suspension gate that will hold us over until the weekend. Ciaran actually doesn’t seem to mind it as long as 1) he can get his mouth on it while standing and 2) somebody remains in the room with him. He has similiar feelings about his crib.

Eight Months Old!

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 20:54:10 -0500

Ciaran celebrated his eight-month birthday today with a special treat: a frozen waffle. He really isn’t interested in any food that he can’t put in his mouth himself. And the frozen waffle seemed especially nice on his aching gums. So far, he has two bottom teeth but more seem ready to erupt in the coming weeks. He also has a mild ear infection. It’s been a rough week for out smallest lad.

And Standing and Standing

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 20:56:59 -0500

If there’s an object even an inch off the ground, Ciaran will use it to hoist himself into a standing position. Here are some of his favorite places to hang out, pictured below. I especially like the Hugh Hefner look. His cousin Caitlyn gave him the robe for Christmas.

He Stands!

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 21:37:54 -0500

Ciaran crawled for about a week, then turned his attention toward bigger feats, like standing, first with two hands holding onto something, then one. He pulls himself up to furniture, sometimes takes a few wobbly steps around it. Who wants to place a bet on when this kid is going to start walking? His brothers walked before they were 10 months old. My money’s on Ciaran doing the same as he tries to keep up with them. It still startles me, though, to walk into his room and find him standing in his crib waiting for me.

Friday Night Out

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 21:58:59 -0500

It’s always nice when someone takes a chance on our entourage and invites us over for a Friday evening. And even though we end up doing the very thing in their house that we would do in our house--though wearing slightly nicer clothes--it’s a pleasure to enjoy the company of friends--this time, my colleagues Jason and Dee and their three kids. Just like old times. Only with less beer. And more babies.

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 21:22:33 -0500

Aidan and his classroom of fellow second graders had their first confession tonight. I asked Aidan if he was nervous and he said, “no.” I guess that’s the difference when you do your first confession at age seven as opposed to when you’re in your late 20s. It was an open-air confession, but private. Peter and I walked him up to our parish priest, Fr. Murphy, then stepped back. I overheard two words (overheard--I wasn’t trying to listen, honestly): “brother” and “Quinn.” And then I had to suppress a sympathetic chuckle. I’m often asking for forgiveness regarding Quinn, too. Afterward, we went to a reception in the school cafeteria hosted by the first grade parents. There, Aidan posed for a photo with two of his good friends, Matthew and Joe, all bright-eyed and conscience-clean.

City Nights

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 21:30:37 -0500

We took advantage of a warm January Saturday to go into the city for haircuts (Peter, this time) and dinner. We were disappointed to find that our favorite Chinese vegetarian joint--Cherry Street Vegetarian--was closed. (In fact, when I did some research on the internet tonight, I discovered it had been closed for over two years. A lot happens when you have babies and stop frequenting Chinatown for dinner.) But we came upon a new favorite: a sushi restaurant called Mixx. The boys were excellent, all three of them, as we enjoyed sushi and noodles and, afterward, pastries from a Chinese pastry shop. Quinn had a bit of a meltdown on the subway on the way home. He’d given us his all, and his all ran out apparently on the blue line six stops from home. A kind but intoxicated, Irish bloke proceeded to watch us handle the meltdown and offer his own parenting advice. Truly helpful! On the way into the city, the boys sat at the front (back) of the train, a perfect view for watching West Philadelphia disappear behind you as you roll into the city.

Field Trip

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 21:31:16 -0500

The second grade at Aidan’s school had a field trip to the Franklin Institute today and Ciaran and I went along. Originally I had volunteered to be a chaperone, then thought better of that: I decided it was enough for me to be responsible just for Ciaran. So Aidan and his schoolmates took the bus into the city, and Ciaran and I hopped on the subway. Ciaran is the most mellow of babies in all regards, save for the car. He can’t stand being in the car and screams the entire way, whether we are driving 10 minutes to the grocery store or an hour to relatives in the northern burbs. I will now do whatever I can to avoid having to take him somewhere in the car. So while it wasn’t easy lugging the little guy in the Bjorn all the way from City Hall, where we got off the train, to the Museum, then lug him around the museum for four hours, it beat listening to him cry in the car. And we enjoyed spending the day with Aidan, who did confess to me at one point that he preferred when we went to museums with our family rather than with the school. It is hard to negotiate the frenzy of classmates darting here and there and not paying attention to what you want to pay attention to. (I wanted to confess back that I have not lingered at a museum the way I have wanted to linger at a museum since he was born!) Above, Aidan checks out a telescope in the observatory. Below, two of the girls in his group enjoy the hands-on Cute Baby Exhibit.

Sink Baths

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 21:25:34 -0500

While there’s no denying the retro feel of our all-turquoise bathroom, one of its advantages is the 60s-era baby sink, a big old sink big enough in which to bathe a baby. In fact, since moving into this house, we have had no need for a baby bath tub. But as Ciaran gets more mobile, and now prefers to sit up in the bath rather than lie down, even the baby sink is beginning to feel too small. Tonight, he discovered the faucet. Below, some photos of the boys that I took earlier in the day. Actually, Quinn took the one of Ciaran’s head in the corner of the frame.