Flashing Lights

A few minutes ago, I found Lil Sippy Cup quietly staring out the window into the semi-dark street.

Curious as to what he was doing, I peered out the window myself and saw nothing.

Me: "Little dude, what are you looking at?"

Lil Sippy Cup: "The night time."

Me: "Fair enough.  Shouldn't you use something to help you see a little better in the dark?"

Lil Sippy Cup: "I do."

Me: "Oh really?  What do you use?"

Lil Sippy Cup: "Firetrucks!"

Me: "That doesn't make any sense and you know that."

Almost as if on cue, a firetruck comes racing up the street, horns blaring and various lights flashing.

Lil Sippy Cup: "You see?  When the firetrucks come, its not dark anymore.  They have a lot of lights on the truck!"

Me (shaking my head) : "Good job little dude, good job."

Career Day

This morning, just out of curiosity, I asked Little Sippy Cup "What do you want to be when you grow up?"

His response?

"A firetruck!"

Sometimes, I worry that my time at home with him has had an adverse effect on both his education and his career aspirations.

Miniature Golf

The other day, I asked Sippy Cup what he wanted to do for fun this summer.

His response?  Miniature golf.

My first reaction was to ask him how he had even learned of miniature golf but I decided against that and opted to just enjoy his response instead.  I figured, if Wii Sports Golf is any indicator, I am a certified professional golf player, so I might as well grace the local green with my skills and also bestow many important lessons to my golf heir as well.

As it turns out, Randall's Island is home to the Randalls Island Golf Center which has an 18-hole miniature golf course.  Little Sippy Cup had a great time, choosing to completely ignore all of my free lessons on proper form and course etiquette, and simply picking up his ball and placing it in the cup at the majority of the holes.

PS - As it also turns out, Wii Sports is not an indicator of any actual skill in a real-life version of any sport.  Just thought I'd put that out there.

As always, there are more pictures after the jump.  Enjoy.

Nany Nany Photo Shoot

So remember how the other day I mentioned a professional photo shoot? (Click here)

Here's the story.

There is a children's consignment boutique in the neighborhood named Little Closets.  As their website explains, "Little Closets is a children’s consignment boutique selling new and gently-used clothing, gear and accessories for children and parents..."

Last week, they were offering free photo sessions with a local photographer named Arianys Wilson who has a website of her own at NanyNany.com.

While we signed up for the shoot just to give Lil Sippy Cup another fun activity to do over the summer, the results were phenomenal. 

I have learned, from experience, that if you try to get a child to sit still and pose for a picture, you are just going to embark on a fruitless journey into hair-pulling frustration.

Children's photography requires a subtle combination of patience and creativity and Arianys manages to combine both skills gracefully, engaging the children in play while carefully capturing the small, intimate moments.  I was utterly amazed at how she was able to transform my little war chief into a smiling, happy and adorable 3 year-old little boy.

So, Arianys, if you are reading this, thank you.  Thank you so much.  The pictures are amazing and we had a great time at the shoot.  To some, photography is a way to capture the truth in a moment; to others, it is a way to create art in a moment.  Somehow, you manage to do both.

There are more pictures after the jump everyone.  Enjoy. 

Window Into My World

Right now, at 10:15pm on a lovely Sunday night, Little Sippy Cup is walking around the house, semi-dressed, banging on a war drum with a massive salad spoon chanting, repeatedly:

"NOOOOO SLEEEEEP TIME!!!  NOOOOO SLEEEP TIME!!! COOKIE TIME! PLAY TIME! COOKIE TIME! PLAY TIME! NOOOOOO SLEEEP TIME!!! NOOOO SLEEP TIME!!!"