Growing Up Kellobowitz

They Talk, They Sing

By David Jacobowitz on May 8, 2011 4:55 PM

Just a quick post here to follow up on Ann's photo post:

Here's a good one of Cole singing Puff the Magic Dragon. It's a lot less sad than the PP&M version, if you ask me -- which is good, because that song is seriously depressing.

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And here's a nice vid of Tess in tummy time, showing off some of her spoken and body language skills.

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Posting videos to this blog is unnecessarily difficult. I'm trying to figure out a better way, so that we can post more without it being a project each time. If anyone is an expert on this, please do lend some advice. Currently, I convert from .MOV or .AVI to .flv. I also extract a .jpg from the .flv. Then I upload the files separately. Then, I write some html+javascriptto containerize a flash media player and load the .flv and .jpg. There has got to be an easier way, right? Help

Spring 2011 with Cole and Tess

By Ann Keller on May 8, 2011 4:01 PM

The Kellobowitz household is settling into its new norm with two children. We spent a few really wet weekends trapped indoors in March. Though this led to the occasional parental-two-year-old tense moment, it also was an engine for creativity. Cole developed the CWJ signature approach to drawing candles on his chalkboard. Note his technique...the side of the chalk is used to make the candle tower, and the tip is used to make the wick and flame. Nice!

Though clothing advertisers endlessly promise otherwise, Easter was cold and and wet. Given the proper clothing and Tess's willingness to nap at the appointed hour, we actually had a pretty good time during our Easter Egg Hunt out back. Here, Cole admires and early find.

And here, Cole, in froggie hat and galoshes, displays "monster face" while holding his Easter basket.

After all of my complaining about cold, wet weather...we experienced about five consecutive days of sun with temperatures above 70...a rarity for Berkeley. Even more surprising is that two of these days happened on a weekend. We decided to take advantage by heading to the beach. We spent the night in Tomales Bay with friends Lisa and John. They welcomed us late on Saturday night (we arrived just before 10PM) with freshly roasted artichokes and the perfect nighttime set up for parents with small children. The next morning was John's birthday. Lisa and John cooked a lovely breakfast, and we ate at leisure while Cole ran around on their sizable property playing with Sheba, the dog. It was so nice to be in a place where Cole could roam with only occasional parental attention. After that, we all headed to Dillon Beach for some fun in the sun. It was nearly impossible to get Cole to look up for a picture, but here are a few images of our day at the beach. David's left foot makes it into this shot of Cole digging a trench.

Tess's visit to the beach was less eventful than Cole's. She was asleep most of the time, and almost entirely covered up by her perhaps overly protective mama. I, in a very closing-the-door-after-the-horse-has-left-the-barn move, am slathered in high spf sunscreen.

A good time without sunburn was had by all. Big thanks you to Lisa and John!

Next up, a relaxing Mother's Day with a picnic in the backyard. Cole was not excited about sitting still or looking at the camera, so we have more pictures of Tess this day than Cole. David, who spends most of his time behind the lens, gets out in front for this one.

David saved this one in B&W to give it that picture-that-comes-in-a-new-picture-frame look.

Finally, here is one with the whole brood:

As always, there is a gallery with more pictures and full-resolution versions of these.

While we were out ...

By David Jacobowitz on April 10, 2011 11:18 PM

Oh, we started this blog with the best intentions. It would be an up-to-date play-by-play of all the developments, exciting and boring, in the Kellobowitz household. There would be plenty of entries with cute kid pics, but also there would be a chance for me to expound on whatever was piquing my interest that day, in the "best" traditions of the blogosphere.

Well, reality set in, and, in particular, fatigue. So that didn't happen. In fact, not much of anything happened.

On the blog, I mean.

In real life: a lot.

Introducing Tess Campbell Jacobowitz. Born, ahem, 8 weeks ago, on February 9, 2011, Tess weighed in at a trim but healthy 8 lbs 9 oz. She's a healthy girl, with a nice dark head of hair and a generally happy disposition. She sleeps in short increments, but nobody is perfect.

This is where I would normally post pictures right in the blog, but I'm too tired, so here are links to another page on this site:

Tess' First Day of Life

Tess' First Week of Life

March 2011

But wait, that's not all, we've got some videos, too! Cute ones!

First, we have a nice chat with Tess, from last week:

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Here's another one, a couple of weeks ago:

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Cole Performing the "Buttferfly" song:

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Cole Performing "It's OK, by the Shins: