It's Christmas Time!

After being pretty bah-humbuggy for a good part of my life, I have now regained my interest in Christmas. It's all because of Sterling. To see the look on his face when I finally plugged in the Christmas tree was all it took. It squeezed my heart just a little tighter than usual. He's been thrilled with Christmas decorations, and sometimes we drive out at dusk to see them (that's at 4:30, these days). It amazes me how quickly he's picked up on Christmas. He's already told us that Santa will bring him a police car that has two doors that open. I didn't even explain to him the whole Santa story! He woke up from a nap and told me that was what Santa was bringing him. He caught on to Halloween pretty quickly, too. Hmmmm.

Sterling, Steve and Shilo inspecting the "tree." (It's really an upside down tomato cage with evergreens wired on it. My DIY tree.)

Sterling back to his every day play: puzzles from Aunt "Yora." He's better than me at them!

Down by the Hudson River

We had a really nice day down by the river last week. It was very cold, but the sunlight was beautiful. We played on the quiet river's edge, where there's a beach made of broken up Kingston bricks, weathered from a hundred years of small river waves.

Sterling and his new cape

Helping Mommy wash the dishes.

This is how Sterling smiles for the camera nowadays.

Here he is with Shilo, his new playmate.

What Sterling Was for Halloween

Well, you probably can't really tell, but he was a train engineer. Being a last minute Halloweenie, I couldn't find our red bandana and instead used a napkin! And it was cold outside! So my ideas of Christopher Robin were dashed. Sterling loves Christopher Robin, and calls him Robin, a very nice boy.

Sterling Can Talk

There's quite a few pictures or videos with Sterling eating. One of the reasons is because that's when he sits still. Another reason, is that he loves to eat. And of course, that's a joy for me. But I posted this because you can hear him talking.

Happy Birthday, Sterling!

Sterling is now two! And he loves to eat!

It's been way too long!!

Here's Steve and Steeno, yukking it up for the camera. Steeno is what Sterling has started to call himself. We sometimes call him The Steen Man. They are wearing matching shirts made especially for them by Nana!

Down By the Riverside

Sterling and his Pals

On the River

Dirt and Flowers

Good Morning, Chickens!

Wellies and Mud Season

Poor Baby!

Sterling took a nose dive on a cement step yesterday. It was a bad day for all of us! Today, when we went shopping all the nice grandparents were out and about and they clucked over him while telling their own stories of cuts, and scrapes and gashes that healed in due time.

Artist in Action

Artist at Work

Train Ride in Kingston

We went on a Christmas Train ride with Sterling. It's a cute little affair in Kingston. A very short ride of about a half hour on an old engine.
He seems okay about it...
Maybe not so sure...
All aboard and Sterling doesn't seem to fully enjoy the ride.
No crying, but he was definitely not into it.
Train rides always make one a little wistful...