Christmas tights

Theo's arrival to So. California completes his venture westward. The young child takes advantage of this time away from the notoriously cold and overcast Ohio by visiting the beach and taking walks to the park with his parents. He occupies his morning play-time with short but profound conversations with Aunt Kaitlin and his late-night dream-time is spent in the arms of Nana Lou. Impressing Uncles Mark and Philip is a relatively easy task (e.g. sneezing on cue) and he appreciates the fellowship of his fellow “dudes.”

Christmas morning came and he figured “Hey, I’ve only got a couple years in which I could really pull off the whole ‘elf’ thing, I might as well begin now.” While the tights were slightly embarrassing, it was a small price to pay to impress his mother (who thinks he’s currently among the cutest babies in the world). Later that night the tights came off and Theo dressed appropriately to receive his blessing.

Great

Theo is pleased as pie to see that not only have Teeny Grandma and Grandpa Pollock come to pick him up from the airport, but his great grandparents Granny and Papa have come as well. He’s heard so much about them. Right away, he can tell they love him so much, and reminds Granny of how he uses the warm blanket she made for him every day.

Later that week as the boy eats his dinner at CPK with the help of his uncle Will, Theo appreciates his uncle’s familiar good looks. At the same time, Will is appreciating no longer being the baby of the family. Zimbob, the family dog, has his wish come true when after a week of pondering this new little creature, he comes across a trashcan of diapers and greedily chews them to pieces. All in all, the boy and his mother have wonderful time in Utah, appreciating the sunshine and bright white snow, and feeling successful in having met a big chunk of this side of the family.

four generations

Turkey Day Inspiration

Aunt Kate and Uncle Ben take a nice long drive to stay with their new nephew over Thanksgiving weekend. Theo had heard of uncles and aunts, and was so excited to meet them. Like his parents, Theo is impressed by Ben’s skill with cuisine: he actually brined the turkey; and slightly intimidated by Kate’s hard bargaining skills in Monopoly. He is thrilled with meeting these new family members and decides that he should soon embark cross-country to meet more of them.

Theo and his mother set out a few weeks later to do just that. First stop: a layover in Pheonix. Forgetting he has another uncle and aunt here, the boy becomes upset and confused upon how they ended up here and screams until they get back on another plane to Salt Lake. Feeling secure that he is on the right track again, he settles down and travels like a pro, befriending a large man in the next seat over.

Other points of interest:

-Theo's first bath leaves him speachless

Photo Shoot

At 3 weeks of age, just when he began to demand that his public would take him more seriously as an artist and a thinker, Theo’s publicist and photographer (his mother and Teeny grandma) schedule a photo shoot with that total-babe-just-rolled-outta-bed look. Alas, this presents just one of the hardships he must endure by lacking rights to creative control (see also the chapter on wearing “outfits” versus “clothes”).

Chapter 3 - Weeks 2-3

Teeny Grandma and Grandpa Pollock arrive –also their first grandchild (this boy is going to be spoiled.) Grandpa snuck away from work and has had a much better time hanging out with Theo. Teeny Grandma calls Theo ‘dear’ and cups her hands on his head like one would imagine warming one's hands on a hot cup of indulgent hot chocolate with whipped cream on top. She gets to stay a bit longer and is a whirl-wind about the house, keeping up the housework and staying up late with the child so Theo’s mother Caroline can rest. At most other times of the day, the new mother sits around with the baby amazed that he is hers, all the while trying to figure out how nursing is considered natural and wondering how parents throughout the ages have ever managed to get any sleep.