t h e . r i d i c u l o u s . p a n d a

silas lee, we started out this month on vacation in new york city and ended it driving in northern california headed to our campsite in the redwood forest. you got it rough, kid.

point reyes, ca

if you weren't such a summer peach to travel with, we would have rethought our crazy big ideas. but so it goes, you are a transportation marvel. you squeal at the mention of buses, fling your arms to the sky when you think you hear an airplane, yell out the word "train" periodically during the day and knock yourself in the head every so often just to check to see if you are prepared and wearing your bike riding helmet.

museum of natural history, nyc

and so we want to take you everywhere. i keep thinking that when you turn two and have to have an airplane ticket is when we'll stay home. but your papa just shakes his head at that possibility.

foxwoods resort, ct

we know that if we can plan a getaway that has rocks and a puddle to throw them in, you'll be quite satisfied. add an apple, some raisins and nuts and maybe a new book and i could almost finish a crossword. imagine that.

foxwoods resort, ct

but the main thing, about this month, is that you are so not a baby anymore. you are huge, so long. you can holler out your requests, instead of just crying. you do this frustrated little stomp when you are not having your immediate desires fulfilled. you can turn on the tears in an instant. but you also find stuff interesting all on your own. we don't have to point out details to you, totally the opposite. you see, hear and sniff things before we do and make us stop and look at all the stuff we would have missed.

museum of natural history, nyc

instead of hustling upstairs when we get home in the afternoons, you always insist on taking a rest on our teeny front stoop. hanging out, greeting passersby, talking about dogs, sticks and flowers.

central park, nyc

it is amazing to watch you take everything in. there's so much to see and do that everyday we come across something you haven't been a part of before. and watching your face, your expressions while you process all the new sensations and information is, without a question, so far my favorite part of being your mama.

millennium park, chgo

golden gate bridge, ca

you can take your shoes off, attempt to change your diaper, build block houses with your papa, polish off an entire smoothie in one sitting, juice carrots, butter your toast, whisk up the eggs, read stacks of books before getting distracted, throw rock after rock before tiring, ready set race your parents down the sidewalk, share your ice cream and give eskimo kisses on request.

foxwoods resort, ct

but the one thing i always want to remember about this month is the first moment of every day: the way you greet your papa in the morning. a simple "hi!" that i can hear from our bedroom. so clean and precise. such happiness balled up in one expression.

point reyes, ca

thanks for always being happy to see us, silas lee. for always being up for whatever adventure we've cooked up next. we could not fathom not having you with us. seeing the water reflected in your eyes, watching your fingers pick out the perfect rock, hearing your sneakers hit the pavement or land on the pine needles after an attempted jump.

us101, ca

pretty soon, we'll let you start weighing in on our daily activity choices. that'll be crazy and quite possibly exhausting. but for now, stick with us. we're trying to do right by you.

riverside park, nyc

we love you, sweet boy. hi.

gill park, chgo