kids

Sat 1 Mar 08
BG said he dreamed about trains overnight. Demanded his pink milk cup over and over after Daddy handed it to him, calling it red — he refused to believe it was the same cup. “Last one,” Daddy said, letting him watch a final train video on the computer; when it was over BG said, “I need a different last one.” When Daddy offered to watch Cars with him, BG said, “No medicine? You promise?” To Mommy when she puts him down at night: “I’ll wait for you. I’ll wait for you.”

Fri 29 Feb 08
AR complained about being left in his bouncy seat during dinner. Mommy picked him up and he smiled. Kidding around, Daddy said, “You think you’re one of us, don’t you? You’re just a little squirt!” On queue, AR wailed inconsolably as if he understood.

Wed 27 Feb 08
BG: “No medicine? You promise?” Recognized Lydia’s house when we stopped by to drop off baby clothes. Playing the consonant/syllable game on the way home: “Let’s do it again.” (The last time we played this game he would just say, “More?”)

AR called Daddy at work to laugh on the phone.

Tue 26 Feb 08
BG’s first spanking — three swats, and later another two. Still, he won, the defiant little booger.

Mon 25 Feb 08
BG: “Pee pee coming. I’ll stay for a minute.” Trying to remember the word for millipede, he called it a monorail.

Sun 24 Feb 08
BG: “Mommy, which do you like better, farts or burps?” “Do not call me BG (given name). I’m BG (nickname)!”

Wed 20 Feb 08
At bedtime, BG started a round with “Amazing Grace.” Wouldn’t go to sleep without picture of Daddy beside bed.

AR charmed the office staff during Mommy’s doctor visit. Kicked in his bouncy seat in kitchen for a long time, rocking himself like crazy.

Mon 18 Feb 08
Mommy: “You’re going to get to see Dr. Lisweszki today!” BG: “How about AR’s turn? How about Mommy’s turn?” P State Park — when we drove in BG remembered the tunnel from the year before (Daddy didn’t even remember the tunnel). Bouncing bridge, train tracks. Mommy told him to hold her hand until the “stick” (divider) in the path; when BG saw a stick laying nearby he dropped her hand. Daddy: “Maybe your yellow train is upstairs.” BG: “Here it is! It was hiding, it was never upstairs.” Mommy told, rather than read, the story of the gingerbread man to BG. “Shup, turn the page,” he said at regular intervals; then, when the story was over: “Read it again?”

AR rolled over four times in a row! (But not for the videocamera, of course.)

Sun 17 Feb 08
BG coughing overnight: “I’m okay. It doesn’t hurt.” Knelt on the church floor to pray. Wanted us to retell children’s church story because he was too sick to attend. Afternoon nap in his big boy bed — wailed over and over, “I just want my crib!” Fell asleep in Daddy’s arms in order to go to bed. By night he jumped into his big boy bed and said, “I’m getting on board!” Sang more than twenty songs by replacing lyrics with “cows go home.” When I sang them right he’d say, “That’s it.”

Fri 15 Feb 08
BG, eating bowl of grapes down to the last one: “Uno!”

Thu 14 Feb 08
BG: “Walk myself” (another reflexive). “I have two train bookses.” H Club dinner at Chick-Fil-A.

Sat 9 Feb 08
BG, coming back from the grocery store with Daddy: “Mommy, I was patient! I didn’t cry.” (No one used the word “patient” in this context — he remembered it on his own.)

Fri 8 Feb 08
BG cried leaving Kelly at airport.

AR held on to his swing toy for the first time. BG helped him keep a pacifier in his mouth.

Thu 7 Feb 08
BG said he dreamed about bicycles last night. Apologized on his own. Mommy at Chick-Fil-A: “Do you want sauce for your nuggets?” BG: no answer, just raised his hand (as if yes). “What sauce do you want?” BG: “Applesauce.” Woke up at 2am, sang Amazing Grace to himself.

Driving without BG, AR looked for his older brother in his carseat.

Tue 5 Feb 08
BG after nap, crouching behind slats of crib whispering to Mr. Cow, scheming. Dinnertime. “We’re going to eat? Do you want cereal or ice cream?” Long drive during Mommy’s voice lesson — after an hour in the dark, BG still recognized our exit.

Sun 3 Feb 08
More genuflecting on the church floor for BG, laying flat on his stomach, folding his hands to pray. Getting down to the last piece in 3D tic-tac-toe: “Uno!” Looking at the calendar ahead he asked, “Be with Grannie and Nonnie on Valentine’s Day?”

Sat 2 Feb 08
BG in the car back from Grannie’s house, responding to Old McDonald fill-in song: “What’d he have, Dad?”

Thu 31 Jan 08
BG said he couldn’t wait for February. Thought Cinderella and Prince Charming were Mommy and Daddy. Used reflexive for first time: “Roll myself.”

AR looked at himself in the mirror, excited. Squeals like Mariah Carey.

Wed 30 Jan 08
BG, when Daddy blew his own nose loudly at the table: “Daddy, that’s not nice. Go to the stair.” Mommy: “Why is Daddy going to the stair?” “Daddy blowing nose, that’s not nice. Go sit on the stair and I will talk to you.” Bawled when Daddy nuked his ice cream. Laughed to the point of tears when Daddy kept singing, “Jesus when the cows go home.” “Jesus loves me, this I know … they are weak but cows go home.”

AR: got through 2 hours while Mommy at happy hour — bathroom faucet running.

Tue 29 Jan 08
BG corrected himself, changing the verb run from present to past: “I run down the hallway. I ran down the hallway.”

Mon 28 Jan 08
These days BG keeps saying, “Daddy not leave you. Mommy not leave you.” On his own, without prompting, BG thanked Nonnie for his mailtruck toy. Getting ready to leave for Grannie’s house he asked, “Should we walk or drive?”

AR cranky during Mommy’s voice lesson.

Sun 27 Jan 08
BG playing with a star slinky in the span of two short minutes: “It’s a book (turns like pages). It’s a tower (like blocks stacked vertically). It’s a train (pulling one end to pull the rest). It’s a whale (blue, whooshing upward). It’s on my hand (bracelet).” Played with his poop in bed; big boy bed problems. AR cranky all day, all evening.

Sat 26 Jan 08
Daddy tried to hide the Lucky Charms. BG: “I want a different cereal. It has a boy on it.” When Daddy brought out the Lucky Charms: “That’s my favorite.” Remembered the ingredients for ice cream — milk, sugar, eggs, and vanilla (even though he’s never seen a vanilla bean) — even though he only heard them one day several weeks ago.)

Thu 24 Jan 08
Two preschool tours for BG — guarded at first, grew more comfortable, didn’t want to leave second classroom. “Mommy, it’ s a lion sunshine.” Mall playground with Daddy; drove to watch spotlight near public library. Aunt Kelkie: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” BG: “I want to be Jesus.” Mommy: “Can you sing Amazing Grace for Kelkie?” BG: “How’s that go?”

AR rolled over on his own! More dancing with Mommy and Daddy in the kitchen.

Wed 23 Jan 08
AR sat in his papasan chair in the kitchen while Mommy danced above him — he kicked, waved his arms, laughed.

Tue 22 Jan 08
BG entering the kitchen: “What’s going on here?” Switched pronoun from “you” to “me,” correcting himself: “Hold you? Hold me?”

Sat 19 Jan 08
BG at the mall: “I’m very hungry.” “We’ll go home and eat.” Hoping for french fries, he protested, “No, BG’s hungry at the

mall!” Played Uno with Mommy and Daddy — immediately grouped the 4’s in his hand and Mommy’s hand; won the first round! In his afterbath puppy towel: “This puppy not eat peoples. It’s a nice puppy.” Bedtime hide-n-seek with Daddy in master bedroom; when Daddy threw him on the bed he corrected, “No boots!”

AR slept fantastic the night before. First ride on Daddy’s shoulders; laughed as Mommy sang “Say a Little Prayer for You” to him in the kitchen. Kicked like a madman in the bathtub. Beginning to laugh out loud more often.

Fri 18 Jan 08
BG’s been struggling with separation anxiety: “Mommy not leave you” he says several times each day as if reassuring himself.

Played with Ethan and Isaac in the morning, then Aidan, Sophie and Clip in the evening. Aidan had AR cracking up.

Thu 17 Jan 08
Meemaw’s house in the morning — BG nervous around their dogs; AR fell asleep on Meemaw’s shoulder. Played with Brecken. Snow! Walked through the snow (and rain) with Daddy to the village center to pick up a DVD.

Wed 16 Jan 08
BG played with Delaney all day — coloring, dancing, playing with trains, chasing each other up and down the hallway.

Tue 15 Jan 08
Music school — BG gave improv suggestions, AR loved watching the big kids and the finger cymbals.

Mon 14 Jan 08
BG, on the drive home from Nonnie’s house: “Can I touch the moon?” “It’s too high.” “Can Daddy touch it?”

Daddy got AR to sleep all by himself while Mommy was at work.

Sun 13 Jan 08
BG genuflecting on the floor at church during prayer. Dinner with Gary & clan — played guitar, trains, balls with Meghan. At bedtime: “Daddy’s not going to leave you. Daddy sleep with me?”

Sat 12 Jan 08
Udvar-Hazy Air & Space Museum with Grannie and Uncle Dave. AR got restless, needed to lay on the floor and kick. BG: “Daddy, Mommy, I want to talk to you.”

Fri 11 Jan 08
At Nonnie’s house, as Daddy supported the tunnel so he could slide through, for five minutes: “Don’t tickle me. Don’t tickle BG.”

Thu 10 Jan 08
BG jumped around the corner and roared; AR cried. “AR, don’t be scared, I roared at Mommy, not you.” Mall play place. Bathtime: “Stop!” “Don’t say that to Daddy.” Without missing a beat: “That’s enough. Don’t scrub BG.”

AR’s pouting photo at JC Penney.

Wed 9 Jan 08
Mommy noticed that BG placed his boogies at the foot of his bed rather than rub them off near himself. “Daddy, do you like dogs or monster trucks?” (The correct response is monster trucks; “dogs” prompts the question to be repeated.)

Beautiful weather again — ran about 3/4 mile around C Lake, yelping in glee. “You’re doing good running!” he told one runner. When he got tired he would run down the hills, but wanted Daddy to carry him up.

AR on Mommy’s lap making raspberry noises back at her.

Tue 8 Jan 08
BG on oranges: “They’re great.” Mommy asked, “Which name do you like better: BG or AR?” “AR,” BG answered. Likes to “play running” on his new TV storybook video game — BG thinks he is Alpha Boy on the screen: “BG is running!”

AR stayed awake through music class, watched the instruments. Beautiful weather — Daddy hiked both boys out to the river to throw rocks (AR’s first time), had to carry them both back home. AR frowned, wanting his teeth brushed too; smiled after Mommy used the baby brush.

Mon 7 Jan 08
“BG, did you fart?” Mommy asked. “Only fart in Mommy’s car,” he answered. Later, when Daddy hugged him: “Don’t hug me!” Daddy slunk away, dejected — then returned after a minute: “May I hug you now?” “Of course!” Train obsession slightly curbed thanks to daily Hullabaloo games (”play dancing”).

BG at Nonnie’s house, carrying a can of garbanzo beans he lifted from the pantry: “Guys, you want beans? It’s not hot. Do you want to try one?” After we opened the can and offered him some, he protested, “BG not eat that.”

Mon 31 Dec 07
“Daddy, can you lay down and I will surf you.” Later: “I will lay down and Daddy surf on me.”

Sun 30 Dec 07
BG found the ® symbol on a toy: “I found an R.” After Daddy scooped twice into the ice cream and was digging in for a third: “Daddy, that’s enough!” Danced with Daddy, Mommy and AR to a classical guitar version of Sting’s “Fields of Gold.”

AR screamed through the start of our rainy drive to look at Christmas lights (yeesh), but eventually fell asleep.

Sat 29 Dec 07
At breakfast Mommy held BG’s hands for some kung fu action, throwing fast punches and yelping. When she finished BG asked, “Mommy, more aiyo?” Warm weather — walked in the woods, threw rocks in the river with Daddy; 100 playground with Daddy and Grannie.

AR went on shopping/returning spree with Mommy and Grannie. More kicking toys.

Fri 28 Dec 07
Mommy: “Do you want to get in the bath?” BG: “No, I want to run away.”

AR learned to play with kick toys — rotating fish, farm animals. Played over half an hour, completely fixated, kicking energetically.

Thu 27 Dec 07
Daddy: “Mommy’s the man!” BG, looking at Mommy: “Yes sir.” National Arboretum — fixated on train sets; nearly walked out the front door alone.

Wed 26 Dec 07
Snuggled up and watched The Polar Express with Daddy. Wanting Daddy to carry toys downstairs for him: “Daddy, can you be BG’s helper?” To Nonnie: “Did you get a haircut? Did you watch a car movie?” Fired up the StoryReader videogame from Nonnie — fixated on the single page with the train.

Tue 25 Dec 07
BG enjoyed playing his Hullabaloo “dancing” game with Grannie and Uncle Dave.

Mon 24 Dec 07
Christmas at Nonnie’s — BG smitten with his drumset, train racing set. “Holy cow, that’s crazy” at breakfast. Kept asking “That’s for me?” when we handed him presents. Corrected the order of the train on his new train shirt: “Engine, then tender.”

AR enjoyed his new book and had a long playing session with Daddy.

Sun 23 Dec 07
Mommy: “Do you want eggs for breakfast?” BG: “What kind of eggs?”

Sat 22 Dec 07
BG, explaining to Grannie his itinerary for their time together: “Grannie train, then eat broccoli, ham, and cheese” (recalling his last day with Grannie). To a grocer stocking produce: “What are you doing?”

Fri 21 Dec 07
BG, coming in from the car: “Mommy, I saw a beautiful moon! And it was standing still.” Daddy told him, “If you eat some more dinner I’ll give you some …” then paused, deciding between cookie or chocolate. With missing a beat, BG filled in, “Money.” Later BG asked, “How about some white ice cream?” “You want ice cream?” Daddy said. BG nodded his head and clarified: “White.” Looking at Mommy and Daddy’s wedding album: “Uncle Dave big, Daddy small.”

Thu 20 Dec 07
After two recent pajama days, BG looked at himself in the mirror this morning and exclaimed with shock, “I’m dressed!” Hunted in vain for the J and the star in his train name. Keeps reading his Thomas Look and Find book. “Daddy, I want to sleep in bed with you,” he said at bedtime. “You want to sleep in Daddy’s bed?” Mommy asked. “No, I want to sleep in Mommy’s bed.” Read aloud The Little Red Caboose by himself.

AR tracked a bell and the happy apple; had a great tummy time while Mommy spun the stroller circus toys.

Wed 19 Dec 07
Before bedtime, BG jumping on Daddy’s back, standing/surfing — held his balance 10 seconds, then 20 — then suggested 30 on his own (grasps multiples of 10).

AR loved his bath — smiled when warm water was poured across his torso, scalp.

Tue 18 Dec 07
Music school with Daddy because Mommy had strep throat. Daddy tried to put one of AR’s diapers on BG and said, “Whoa, that’s way too small.” “Because I’m a big boy,” BG said — first time using because for a unique reason. Later BG asked Daddy to read a book on the couch; Daddy sat, pulled the book out of BG’s lap; he yanked it back: “No, BG hold it!” Daddy shot him a look (chin lowered, brow raised, eyes glaring under the brow) — and saw that BG was shooting the exact same look right back.

Sun 16 Dec 07
AR drove Daddy nuts screaming for 4 hours when Mommy went to a concert with Nonnie. Both BG and AR went to EC firehouse for train display; AR slept through bagpipes.

Sat 15 Dec 07
Mommy was going to slice a banana for BG’s cereal. “No no,” he said, “BG hold the handle?” Played with kids and adults at DaySpring’s Shop Til We Drop while Mommy shopped and Daddy wrote. Using more complex words: might, actually. Heart flip — went from disobedient and upset to obedient and loving. Bathtime — naked running down the hallway, hide-n-scare with Daddy.

AR: Shopping with Grannie. Smiled through entire bath.

Fri 14 Dec 07
Computer slideshow during dinner. When Mommy tried to fork some chicken into his mouth: “No, I’m drinking milk!” Then he tried to distract Mommy by asking, “Mommy look at pictures?”

Wed 12 Dec 07
BG still enamored with Baby Jesus from the Nativity set. “Baby Jesus has a poopy diaper” (referring to the swaddling around his loins).

Tue 11 Dec 07
BG: “E starts with elephant.” Setting up the nativity, Mommy explained, “This is Baby Jesus, and Joseph, and Mary.” He responded, “Mary Christmas.” Fell in love with Baby Jesus: “Baby Jesus is jumping on the couch!” “Baby Jesus sleep with Ben?” We settled for having Baby Jesus sleep in the green papasan near his bed.

Mon 10 Dec 07
Grannie: “Christmas is all kinds of good things.” BG: “Is all kinds of Christmas.” Cut down our Christmas tree in the rain — when we got back Daddy didn’t unload the tree immediately from the car, prompting BG to wail, “You forgot the Christmas tree!”

Sun 9 Dec 07
BG, watching his little brother nurse: “AR can bite BG’s nipples.”

Sat 24 Nov 07
BG at around 5pm: “I’m sleepy.” “You’re sleepy?” Mommy asked. He answered, “I’m sleepy again.”

Thu 15 Nov 07
BG still sick, still a spirited trooper. Distracted during schoolwork; watched Signing Time DVD, played Mac PhotoBooth. Climbed in the gym at ChickFilA — found Australia on the globe there. Played the floor videogame at Arundel Mills, watched the fish. Oggled a statue of a buxom woman in a red dress, a big grin on his face.

AR smiled several times at Mommy, twice at Daddy; even laughed out loud once. Wants snuggles and body heat all day and night. First trip to a mall — slept half the time, wide-eyed the other half.

Wed 14 Nov 07
BG sick visit to Dr.P. She asked him who she should examine first, BG or AR — he volunteered his infant brother. Wouldn’t let her check his throat until she brought out the train (tongue depressor) and asked him to open his tunnel (mouth). Pointed at beach ball’s “bellybutton.” Telling Aunt Kelkie the “This Is How It Works” story, he added pineyapple to the pizza.

AR baby well visit to Dr.P — didn’t scream once during the exam, but definitely voiced his dissatisfaction during his shot and heel prick.

Tue 13 Nov 07
Hawaiian pizza at Nonnie’s house. Daddy invited BG to drive to pick up the pizza, thereby finishing the “This Is How It Works” story — but he declined in favor of his trains.

Mon 12 Nov 07
When BG woke up in the morning: “Where’s Grannie? I can’t find Grannie.” Daddy asked him if Emily the train was a boy or a girl; he thought the latter. When Daddy corrected him, he frowned. He doesn’t like it when Daddy tries to nap: “Daddy, open your eyes.” “I member. Do you member?” It’s hard to dooo.” After tickling: “That’s harious.” First successful spitting after brushing teeth.

Fri 9 Nov 07
BG pulled utensil after utensil out of the kitchen drawer and asked Daddy, “What’s this?” “Spatula.” “That’s right. What’s this?” “Meat tenderizer.” “That’s right.” Has taken Mommy’s cue in asking AR, “Do you have a smile in there?”

Thu 8 Nov 07
First big outing — Towson Mall, rode in double stroller for first time. BG fell asleep on the ride home; when Mommy put him down in his crib he whispered, “Mommy, jacket off.” “Okay,” she said. “It be a good idea,” he added.

After an afternoon nap, AR smiled at Mommy and Daddy while eating.

Wed 7 Nov 07
A fussy day for BG. Started saying “That stupid table,” “That stupid chair.” Mommy tried to convince him the word he was looking for wasn’t stupid, but soup. He tried soup a few times but could tell it wasn’t quite right. Had a fun bath with AR.

Tue 6 Nov 07
BG played with Kylie (screaming for joy!) and Brecken while Mommy and AR went out. Went with Daddy to pick up Papa John’s pizza and learned the “This Is How It Works” story, which he kept repeating.

AR’s solo date with Mommy and the girls (Holly and Miranda).

Sun 4 Nov 07
Wiping BG’s face after a chocolate poppysicle, he ordered, “Clean Baby AR.” Mommy sat down to use the restroom. In the silence before anything happened BG said, “Mommy broken, needs batteries.” Then he heard the familiar sound and said, “Okay, all better.”

Fri 2 Nov 07
Daddy was singing along with a CD. “No, Daddy,” BG said, “listen to the music.” At nighttime he included Alex in his night-nights. “Medicine on it,” BG has started requesting at every diaper change, even if he has only a hint of a diaper rash.

Thu 1 Nov 07
Playing the Lego Star Wars game at the Apple store, BG saw the lasers and said, “Fireworks!”

Wed 31 Oct 07
Dressed as a train, BG trick-or-treated with bunny Natalie. Stared at one particularly gruesome ghoul that walked past as he approached one home, making the woman at the door laugh.

Tue 30 Oct 07
BG: Astronauts = nastersnots. Unsettled by the clown show.

AR slept through village center Halloween. Pulled off Daddy’s glasses while playing in bed.

Mon 29 Oct 07
BG: “Ben is crying, too!” Noticed the similarity between tar (tanker train car) and guitar.

Wed 24 Oct 07
After Mommy had a hard night, BG woke up at 6am, but was a good boy and went back to bed for an hour so Mommy could get more rest. Helped Mommy cut Daddy’s hair by holding the electric clippers.

Soccer balls on BG’s nipples, laughing with Mommy. Today he was told (only once!) that Daddy is 36, Mommy 29. Hours later, driving home from Costco, Mommy asked him, “How old is Daddy?” He thought quietly for a while, then said, “Thirty-six.” “And how old is Mommy?” He thought even longer, then said, “Nine?” (he remembered the last digit of 29).

AR is beginning to look at his toys. Napped for Daddy. Made it through his sponge bath with a pacifier — made the same sweetly content faces BG made during his early baths.

Tue 23 Oct 07
While Mommy carried AR downstairs, BG asked, “Mommy, two boys hold you?” So she carried both downstairs. Later she built a circular track for BG, who said, “AR need circle track too” — then he shared his Emily train with AR. Repeating after Mommy: “In fourteen years I can drive Mommy’s car. In sixteen years I can drive a schoolbus!” Daddy forked a bite of chicken pot pie into his reluctant mouth, scraping it off on his teeth so that it stuck to the roof of his mouth; he refused to close his mouth, leaving it hanging there in midair so he wouldn’t have to taste it. “BG, do you like it?” “I do like it.”

AR looked his Mommy in the eye and smiled — twice!

Mon 22 Oct 07
When Mommy left for work, Daddy thought BG had already been fed … and put him to bed without having eaten any dinner!

Daddy had a rough time with fussy AR when Mommy went to work, but eventually he took his bottle, fell asleep.

Sun 21 Oct 07
Grannie’s house — malt balls were “chocolate bubbles.” Cutting pineapple with Mommy, BG kept saying, “Two piney apples” — noticing that cutting one piece produces two. “Are you tired?” Daddy asked. “I’m tired,” BG said. “I’m tired too,” Daddy replied. “I’m tired one,” BG added.

AR makes tons of snorting noises, is beginning to enjoy his swing.

Sat 20 Oct 07
Sophie’s windy birthday party — BG cried when they cut into the cake and he saw that it wasn’t chocolate. At the county dump BG kept wanting to watch Daddy through a big one over the edge. Fell asleep in the car with Mommy holding his head. Spun ’til he was dizzy, then asked Mommy for milk but couldn’t take it from her because he was staggering. Grovercized on the office bed. “Thank you so much for my cookie, Daddy.”

AR flipped out when Mommy went to Target and Daddy didn’t have a milk bottle ready. Doug and Holly held him for awhile this evening.

Fri 19 Oct 07
When Mommy made a noise BG said, “Shh, Daddy sleeping.” Mommy got both boys out of the house to visit her doctor. BG flirted and introduced his brother to all the nurses saying, “I’m BG. That’s AR.” Asked Mommy for more train track — “We don’t have any more,” Mommy said. BG replied, “More track at the store.”

AR was awake longer today. BG showed off his trains for AR, who actually watched. Set out the aquarium playmat for AR, but BG and Brecken quickly took it over.

Thu 18 Oct 07
The foyer light was off, perhaps explaining why BG ran straight off the stairs. As he later explained, “BG running on track and say boom! And say bonka knee.” At dinner he kept talking about eating “acorns” (corn).

Wed 17 Oct 07
“Baby AR waking up! Yay!” BG accidentally bonked AR on the head with a tambourine; felt sorry, apologized, kissed him. “Mommy, don’t do that — Daddy is sleeping.” His favorite story to tell: “Daddy and Uncle Dave play frisbee and Daddy get an owie. Daddy go to the doctor and take a picture of his owie.”

Tue 16 Oct 07
BG hunched near AR and said, “Hi, Baby AR. You come from the hospital.” Music school with Nonnie and Meemaw. Pooping on the potty in the living room, he commented, “It’s hard.” “It takes a lot of work,” Daddy said. He scrunched up his face, grunted and said, “I strong.” His new favorite phrase: “I bonka head.”

More quiet alert time for AR. First walk as a family to the tot lot.

Mon 15 Oct 07
BG played with Nonnie during AR’s checkup and Daddy’s knee appointment. “Take a bath with AR?”

AR received a clean bill of health from Dr. L.

Sun 14 Oct 07
Eating pineapple with Mommy, BG said: “Do you like the piney apple?” Fenced against Meghan at the fencing club, striking her in the chest scoring area, then whacking at her epee. Was a perfect quiet gentleman during the guitar duo concert with Uncle Dave. Pooped in his potty (in the middle of the living room)!

AR pooped through his diaper into BG’s lap.

Sat 13 Oct 07
In the backseat, the first time we all drove in the CR-V, K2 said: “We’re all together! K2, Mommy, K1, and Daddy!” Planning his visit to Nonnie’s house: “First Thomas, then chocolate.” Eating a late-night snack: “Baby Alex want a hot dog?”

K2 kept Mommy and Daddy up until 5am again the night before; slept during the day. Kylie and Lynsey visited; Doug held him over an hour.

Fri 12 Oct 07
K1: “Baby K2 go to doctor. Baby K2 get a owie,” he said with quivering lip, referring to getting a shot. Unprompted, spontaneously: “Daddy, you rock.”

After keeping Daddy and Mommy up until 5am the night before, K2 slept. Doctor’s visit — weight down 12%. Holly visited.

Thu 11 Oct 07
K1 counted piggies going to the market on K2’s toes — then almost pushed him off the couch when finished holding him.

K2 came home, slept.

Wed 10 Oct 07
K1 visited the hospital, returned home with Daddy for a nap.

K2 pulled the yellow geyser trick three times the night before, then slept during the day. Examined by hospital pediatrician, missed passing the hearing test. Tina, Miranda, Gary and Krista visited.

Tue 9 Oct 07
K2 arrived, one hand beside his face — bruised, one eye bloodshot. Calmed down immediately, spent most of the evening asleep. K1 visited the hospital — not sure what to make of K2 at first. Later he asked to hold K2 and did a fabulous job.

Mon 8 Oct 07
Appointment with Dr. L., flu shot. Lunch with Nonnie at Applebee’s — kept asking the waiter, “Uh, my french fries?” Crying when he left Nonnie’s house: “Mommy, Ben is crying!” Rt 100 playground with Daddy.

Sun 7 Oct 07
A woman at Dunkin’ Donuts gave him two free munchkins. When he finished them he looked at the boxes we bought for church and asked for more. “These donuts are for church,” Daddy said. He replied, “First church, then more donuts.”

Played with Lydia at church. Walked on the path, played with Grannie. Dinnertime: “Yay, dinner!” Later, dessert with Gary, Krista, Meghan and Gretchen.

Sat 6 Oct 07
Walked on the path, went to the Highland fair, ran errands at the mall, rode the carousel.

Daddy bought him a $1 flashlight from Sears. Playing at home in the dark, Daddy asked him to use the flashlight to find his toys: “I see a train! I see a ball! I see a bulldozer!” Then Daddy said, “Find something else.” He pointed the light right in Mommy’s face and said, “I see Mommy!”

Fri 5 Oct 07
Mommy prompted him to get a pair of socks for himself from his dresser upstairs. Through the ceiling she could hear his footsteps, the drawer open, the drawer slam. Success!

Eating yogurt, cleaned up his own chin with his spoon. Spun himself dizzy in the living room over and over.

Looking for a film at Hollywood Video, Daddy heard him say, “I like this one.” He was holding a DVD for Reptilicus, a chintzy 1961 Godzilla ripoff. “See?” he said, pointing at the cover. “Alligator!”

Thu 4 Oct 07
Jumping school with Aunt Kate. Spoon-feeding Daddy, he kept asking: “Do you like it?”

“Mommy, hold you” in parking lot — hugged her for several minutes from his carseat.

Wed 3 Oct 07
Purple dinosaur park with Aiden, Sophie, Clip, Caleb, Hannah and Grace. Family hugs in the kitchen when Daddy returned from work: “Daddy hug Mommy, Ben hug Mommy.” Worship team practice at our house — formed marching band with Ruthie, Sammy, Lydia, Andrew and Ian (with Peter watching).

Tue 2 Oct 07
“Apples have nose.” “Ice cream popischool.”

Mon 1 Oct 07
Morning: sat in bed for 15 minutes listening to train song on CD. Helped Mommy vacuum and mop. Ate ice cream with Delaney, ran around chasing her. Long nap from 2-5p. Errands with Daddy, then walked around Arundel Mills: big fish, chicken nuggets and fries (Daddy spilled milk all over him), videogame mat, truck bed and tailgate — got home late (9:15pm).

Sun 30 Sep 07
Persuading us to let him eat potato chips: “Bite one chip? Yeah!” Sang “Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone” in the car with Mommy. Wanting to go outside, he sounded like Reagan: “Daddy, open this door!” Built several towers of couch pillows to flip over them.

Sat 29 Sep 07
At the hospital expo he said through a mouthful of cake: “Happy Birthday for baby brother!” Loved the elevator. Wowed Grannie with his computer mousing skills on the Big Bird game. Played a guitar duo with Daddy, sticking out tongues like rock stars. He keeps wanting to name the baby Wes (in addition to Bubba).

“Around around,” he commented at a neighbor’s pinwheel. “Ridow ridow?” Daddy asked, using his old word. He simply repeated, “Around around.” Those old words are disappearing.

Kicked Mommy out of bedtime, pointing: “Night-night, downstairs, Mommy.”

Fri 28 Sep 07
“Who’s your friend?” “Miss Lisa.” Walked with Daddy while Mommy slept — met two new kids around neighborhood.

Thu 27 Sep 07
Meemaw Sue. Jumping school.

Wed 26 Sep 07
Stung by two bees while picking apples. Played violin at Mommy’s old school.

Tues 25 Sep 07
Visited Daddy at work — saw himself on the chroma screen in the TV studio.

Mon 24 Sep 07
Played with Nonnie while Mommy worked and Daddy built utility room shelves.

Sun 23 Sep 07
Stayed with Nonnie and Grannie while Mommy and Daddy made a false alarm trip to the hospital. During evening bath he said, “Watch this,” then peed in the tub. When asked “What do sharks eat?” he answered, “Ben!”

Sat 22 Sep 07
He loves the number one — got upset when the digital clock turned from 7:01 to 7:02. “More one? More one?”

“Mommy, I reading,” he said, flipping through the multi-restaurant take-out menu. “What are you reading?” she asked. Answer: “Chicken nuggets.”

Jefferson Memorial — wanted to yell to hear his echo, watched airplanes and trains with Grannie. Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, fighter pilot IMAX. Got Thomas magazine from Aunt Kate — read it in the car and at Lowe’s. When he saw trains he’d never seen before he asked, “Who’s that?”

At Target we showed him an infant’s shirt with a dog flying a helicopter. “Should we get this for baby brother?” He answered, “For Ben!”

Fri 21 Sep 07
At bath time, Aunt Kelkie accidentally flipped the water to the shower faucet, drenching him from above. He froze with arms outspread, head lowered. When she turned off the water he opened his eyes, glaring at her without lifting his head (the Godzilla look) and growled, “Shower.” Mommy laughed and asked, “Do you want more shower?” He muttered, “Shower all done.”

Daddy said, “Pull my finger.” He did, heard a surprise, laughed — then said, “More fingers?”

A new favorite word, remembered from the day before, when Daddy returned a movie to Redbox: “DVD, DVD, DVD.”

Thu 20 Sep 07
When Mommy realized she was late returning the library books she said, “Oh, crap.” From the backseat: “Holy crap!”

Miss Lisa at jumping school has made quite an impression. He sang “Old McDonald” and added Miss Lisa to the farm, E-I-E-I-O. Now the wheels on the bus say “Oh my goodness, oh my goodness, oh my goodness.”

“I fixed it!” he kept yelling when Daddy got home from work, holding a foam earpiece in his hand. A set of our headphones was missing one earpiece; he solved the problem by ripping away the other.

Wed 19 Sep 07
Went down slide a hundred times with Gideon. At bedtime Mommy told him, “Tomorrow we go to jumping school. First breakfast, then jumping school.” His solution for getting to jumping school faster: “Breakfast now.”

Tue 18 Sep 07
Birthday party at mall for Madeline, rode carousel.

Mon 17 Sep 07
Tried to kill a mosquito at the top of the slide, then showed Mommy his open palm: “I got it!” Walking to the river with Daddy, he asked: “Broken car?” — remembering the last time he saw the broken-down car back there, three months earlier. Threw rocks in the river with Daddy.

Sun 16 Sep 07
One area of the path in the woods had gotten muddy. “Sidewalk dirty,” he said. “Dirty diaper!”

Sat 15 Sep 07
Bedtime: he was yelling as he walked upstairs, so Daddy shushed him to calm him down. “Shh, iguana sleeping,” he said. Interpretation: Daddy only shushes me when Mommy’s napping, but Mommy’s downstairs, so it must be my stuffed iguana upstairs that’s asleep.

Mon 10 Sep 07
Woke early — wanted to eat breakfast with Daddy, cried when Daddy went to work. “Daddy at work. Two Daddies?” (Ahh, if only there were two Daddies!) Entertained the lady cutting fabric at Joanne’s Fabrics. Driving around, saw several school buses: “One bus, two buses, three buses. Mommy, I count school buses.” Picked out train puzzle from Toys R Us. Pulled on yellow boots to join Daddy working on the deck. Sang “How Great Is Our God” while playing his guitar.

Sun 9 Sep 07
New big boy room — hung out, played, read books, all trying out his new room. Daddy assembled his new IKEA dresser. “Let’s go see your new dresser,” Mommy said. “No,” he responded, “let’s see Daddy.” Videotaped him playing guitar in his room, singing “Hello, Everybody.”

“It’s raining.” “No, it’s not,” Mommy answered. He replied, “Rain is off.”

Sat 8 Sep 07
B&O Railroad Museum with Ethan and Isaac. In the roundhouse, from the open door of a passenger coach, he kept screaming “All aboard!” to passersby. Fell asleep on the car ride home with popcorn in his hand — but then took only a fifteen-minute nap at home.

Aunt Kelkie’s house, then shopping. Poor kid — all the cool carts were taken at both Safeway or Lowe’s.

Watched Thomas videos while Mommy and Daddy prepared his new bedroom. Played guitar for Miss Dana, shared grapes with her: “One for me, one for Dana. One for me, one for Dana.” Loved playing with Baby Natalie; checked out her knees and toes and eyes. Whispered, “Shh, baby is sleeping!”

After Mommy washed his hands she said playfully, “Now go away!” He started to cry! She hugged him tight to make up with him.

Fri 7 Sep 07
Reunion with Gideon — ran, chased, wrestled and danced together. Sat in their wooden chairs and talked; played piano and basketball. He cried when Gideon went down for his nap. Kylie and Brecken joined in the fun for awhile.

Nonnie and Aunt Kelkie played with him while Mommy and Daddy painted his new bedroom. Nonnie brought him a little blue guitar — he sat on the kitchen stool and performed, singing songs, pausing his strumming to correspond with pauses in the words. Went to bed screaming for Nonnie (not Mommy or Daddy — a welcome change).

Thu 6 Sep 07
First Gymboree — or, as he called it, “Jumping School.” Loved the tunnel, the foam pit, the somersaults, the running fast, the stretches, all of it.

Mommy grabbed a shoe to kill a daddy longlegs crossing the floor. Excited, he ran over and insisted, “Ben do it!”

Banging a train on a porcelain bowl. “Stop that,” Mommy said. “It’s a bell,” he replied. “It’s annoying,” she said. He replied, “It’s annoying bell.”

“Do you want your new room to be green or yellow?” Mommy asked several times throughout the day. “Yellow or green?” Sometimes he answered green, sometimes yellow. Finally, on the drive to buy paint at Home Depot, she asked one last time: “Would you like a green room, or a yellow room?” — to which he responded, “Red?”

Screamed himself to sleep again.

Wed 5 Sep 07
Train museum with Kylie and Madeline — “Train museum, train museum!” he chanted the whole drive up. Hit Mommy in the model train car, prompting a very serious discussion.

He can use the mouse! On two different screens he independently and successfully moved the cursor onto objects that began with the letter Big Bird was holding up, then clicked the button to select them. Daddy and Mommy were stunned.

Slid high-speed down the totlot slide while sitting up. Hollered across the parking lot for Aunt Kelkie when she drove in. During bedtime prayers he confessed: “I bit Kelkie.”

Bedtime drama — he disarmed “the method,” leaving Daddy and Mommy no choice but to let him scream himself to sleep.

Tue 4 Sep 07
No more HoneyCombs. “Mommy has chocolate cereal,” she offered. Looking into the cabinet he saw Cranberry Total and said, “This one!” A red-letter moment: he chose cranberries over chocolate.

Later Mommy asked, “Do you want a donut?”

“Two?” he said.

“Okay, two,” she replied, handing him two mini frosted donuts.

After a beat he asked, “How about three?”

Exploded at Daddy about holding hands to cross the street. Exploded at Daddy about eating cheese at the table instead of in the middle of the kitchen. Exploded at Daddy about not sitting in the green chair while he laid in bed.

Mon 3 Sep 07
Drove to Grannie’s house playing the syllable game, with him leading: “Bay, bee, bye, bo, boo!” When he said “train,” Daddy repeated it — so he continued: “treen, trine, trone, troon!” Spent the day with Grannie while Daddy fixed her basement ceiling, then spent the evening with Nonnie while Mommy and Daddy painted his new bedroom.

Sun 2 Sep 07
Watched his six-month-old videos on TV; kept asking to see Aunt Kelkie. In children’s church he wore a painting smock, a white adult button-down shirt with sleeves that had to be rolled to the shoulders; he kept stepping on its tails. Played with H-club kids — climbed up and slid down tunnel slide with Aidan and Hannah. Spotted “another Daddy car,” an older model Civic, by its tail lights on the road at night (Daddy didn’t even recognize it).

Sat 1 Sep 07
Red-faced, contorted expression — Mommy asked, “Are you pooping?” He grunted, “No.” Up the big hill at C Lake he remembered (from six weeks ago): “I think I can, I think I can.” At the playground Grannie told to him wait while another boy was still on the slide — at the thought of waiting he made a face like he was smelling something stinky. Spotted a distinct car on the road and identified it: “PT Cruiser” (Mommy taught him). On the phone with Nonnie: “Nonnie, no push buttons.”

Fri 31 Aug 07
Pointed at Mommy’s belly button (now an outey thanks to pregnancy) and said, “Baby brother’s nipple.”

Flirted with nurses at Dr. Hammond’s office, told them about trucks in his Mega Trucks book. Dr. Hammond played with him, read his book — but he kept saying “this way,” pointing back toward the nurses.

Played with chairs, toys at La-Z-Boy store. Dinner with Doug and Kylie at the mall; Kylie tackled him in Sears, they rode carousel together. Screamed and ran with Kylie between living room and kitchen; she shoved him out of the way (twice!) during story time.

Thu 30 Aug 07
Playgroup, then library where he made a doggie in blue waves to go with the read-aloud story. Screamed when another boy checked out the freight train book he loves. Played piano at Faulkner Ridge while Mommy chose music. Talked to Grannie on our new speakerphone feature — carried the phone around saying, “See ball? See truck?” Did a great job walking with us through IKEA; rode on cart with dresser boxes.

Wed 29 Aug 07
Suffering from cabin fever — kept trying to influence Mommy, as she drove, toward every other direction except the way home; told her “Be careful,” and told passing trucks as well: “Be careful, big trucks!” Asked everyone in the living room if they wanted water or milk, then went to the kitchen as if to fill their requests. Played Piggy-Went-to-Market with Daddy’s toes.

Tue 28 Aug 07
Music school with Nonnie. He’s been doing an excellent job of crossing the street. Ran around Dick’s Sporting Goods trying out croc shoes, cheering the baseball game on TV; picked a pair of shorts and said, “Daddy”; played with one-pound dumbells: “Up and down, up and down.” Atlanta Bread Company — cheered like a banshee for Nonnie when she entered. Visited Gavin, played at tot lot.

Mon 27 Aug 07
Chuckled loudly in his sleep — what was he dreaming about? Swam in the bathtub. Snuck down to the basement with Lydia and Elizabeth to play piano. When Mommy told him he didn’t need help, he needed advice, he kept repeating, “Advice! Advice!” After we corrected him for lifting the dishwasher door and causing a dish ruckus, he walked over and sat himself on the timeout step. Cackled when Daddy stepped on Pastor Mike, then took his own turn walking on our pastor. Yelled in Pastor Mike’s face, “I’m sexy!” Ate popcorn upside-down during children’s church meeting. Jumped on the bed in the office — fell off and bumped his head; accidentally kicked Daddy in the eye.

Sun 26 Aug 07
After we hushed his yelling in the kitchen: “It’s funny, it’s loud.” During snacktime after church he asked a first-time visitor: “Cake please.” Ian’s birthday party — played with gobs of friends, cuddled up with Lydia at the piano.

Sat 25 Aug 07
Grannie came for breakfast and helped him hold Lilly — he sat there, frozen and grinning, then said “More? More?” whenever Lilly was taken away. On the drive to the B&O Railroad Museum he said “baseball,” remembering that stretch of highway from the night before. At the B&O he yelled in the roundhouse to hear his own echo; enjoyed the train ride better this time. Thunderstorm at Nonnie’s house.

Fri 24 Aug 07
During Mommy’s coffee with Ms. Holly, he got a chair for Kylie. Aidan, Owen and Lilly came all the way from New Jersey to play. “Two Daddy cars,” he said as we drove in a parking lot, pointing at two Civics — from different decades (how does he do that?). Ran around Rocky Run restaurant with Owen. First sports event: Orioles game — when he got bored he pointed and said, “Downstairs?” After two nights of difficult bedtimes, he finally went straight to sleep.

Thu 23 Aug 07
Played with Brecken, then Nonnie while Mommy and Daddy went to the doctor. Played with screwdriver puzzle pieces, strumming on them as guitars. Bedtime: screamed 1.5 hours, making Mommy and Daddy resort to the method.

Wed 22 Aug 07
Playgroup: rode springy rocking horse like a madman. Scolded Kylie for standing in a chair: “Kylie Marie, sit down!” Sang a concert as Mommy played piano. Succeeded at identifying some words’ first letters in a game on the Sesame Street website. Hard time putting him to bed.

Tue 21 Aug 07
Played with Ruthie, Sammy and Lydia. Took Daddy’s work laniard and mimicked the way Daddy used to throw his keys up and catch them — remembering from the last time he saw Daddy’s work laniard, two months ago. Heard Baby Brother’s heartbeat at the doctor’s office.

Mon 20 Aug 07
In his scary shark voice: “I’m sexy” (thank Daddy for teaching him that one). Looked at baby car carrier: “For baby brother. Daddy hold baby.” Nonnie asked him what the new baby should be named: “Train.” Sang into doorknob as if it was a microphone. Thunder made him nervous: “I don’t like under.” Hiccupped while he was falling asleep, then said, “What’s up with that?”

Sun 19 Aug 07
“Old McDonald had a … scissors” (snip snip). Flew off the rain-wet slide as Grannie watched him plop on the ground — then cackled as Uncle Dave duplicated the stunt. Enjoyed a shoulder ride from Uncle Dave, who brushed him playfully into overhanging leaves. Train cake from Grannie.

Sat 18 Aug 07
Hinted at a dream when he first woke up — Daddy brought him downstairs, where in a sleepy stupor he kept repeating, “Find it? Find it? Find it?” Brunch with Grannie, then met Daddy at the Tin Can Music Fest, where he ate popcorn and watched Clare play guitar. “Gideon come to Ben’s house? Gideon at Ben’s house?” Later he added, “Gideon, come here!” Later picked up Kelly: “First, Kelly tan, then Mommy’s car.” Cheered for the new Lowe’s being open.

Walked with Maria in DC — held hands in the street, loved running on grates and brick sidewalks. Saw a statue of Abraham Lincoln: “Jesus!”

Played with Kelly at playground with Tin Can Music Fest. “Old McDonald had a … light” (blink blink). Insisted on sleeping on the floor.

Fri 17 Aug 07
In the morning when Mommy retrieved him from his crib: “Mommy tired.” Her response: “I wonder why.” (He kept her up late the night before.)

First timeout — after an outbreak over cereal, Mommy had him sit for two minutes on the stairs, no company, no toys. He was pretty shocked and didn’t cry or play. Afterwards he prayed with Mommy, then walked to the table for breakfast.

Went to Jackson’s house — played with trucks and bike, went to oldest farmers’ market in America, ate a sugar cookie in the shape of a shark.

Helped Mommy make stirring flour for danishes, and helped wash dishes. Received another timeout for throwing and yelling at toys.

Grannie spent the night while Mommy picked up Daddy from the airport.

Thu 16 Aug 07
Play-dough snake — wrapped it around his hand, offered it to Mommy: “You touch it” (remembering the Virginia Living Museum from two weeks earlier, where a docent invited him to touch a snake). Ran around kitchen table yelling, “No, no, no, no, no!” playfully.

B&O Museum with Aidan and Sophie.

Swam like fish in bathtub; poured water over his own face without crying. Answered his first choice question (rather than simply repeating the options): “Do you want to come with Mommy or stay here with Nonnie?” His choice: “Stay here with Nonnie.”

Wed 15 Aug 07
Kylie came over to play in the am. Asking for his Bertie Bus … Mommy just told him to keep looking for it. Grabbed the back of my dress into a ball and said “Tail, mommy is a dog.” Played at Chick-fil-A w/Madlyin and Kylie. When we got home looked for daddy. Because he saw daddy car in the parking lot. I told him daddy is still driving the big truck. Worship team practice — strummed his tummy as if playing the guitar, tapped his foot to mimic piano pedals; threw quarter, ran to find it.

Tue 14 Aug 07
Music class, talked with Kylie and Miss Holly. Dropped Daddy off at the train station (Daddy stole Bertie Bus by mistake). Mommy told him Daddy would be driving a big truck; on the drive home, every time he saw a truck he said, “Daddy in a big truck!” Bob Evans with Nonnie and Kelly.

Mon 13 Aug 07
Played with Isaac during Ethan’s piano lesson; afterward he played with Mommy on the piano in two long sessions. Later he took the Bible downstairs and placed it on the piano for Mommy to play (thinking it was a hymnal); spelled B-I-B-L-E like the song. Walked through most of the mall in the right direction to find the “horses” (carousel).

During errands we were going to drop Mommy off to return something quickly at Toys R Us. Anticipating his customary grief wail, I told him, “Say goodbye to Mommy, we’re never going to see her again. Bye, Mommy! We had a nice life together.” He waved and sent her off with a cheerful “Bye bye!”

Sun 12 Aug 07
In children’s church, everyone was asked what God made that was beautiful. His answer: “Mommy.”

Walked with Mommy in the woods, practicing “loudly” and “quietly” by banging a stick on the trees. Yelled to hear his own echo.

Sat 11 Aug 07
Hiked a trail at Massanutten, played at the playground, threw rocks in an almost-dry creek. More hiking along the Skyline Drive — angry when we didn’t allow him to boulder hop. Sang incessantly in the car. Now he fills in song blanks with animals and other items: “Old McDonald” and “Old Oak Tree” (he’s put rocks, trains, cars, bulldozers, and tunnels in the tree); he also leads tone patterns, expecting us to follow. He added mentally in his head when he asked for two kisses on an owwie, then two more kisses, and said: “Four kisses!”

In the evening he played with trains while Mommy and Daddy collapsed on the living room floor. After awhile he walked to the couch, pulled down a pillow and handed it to Daddy, then got another for Mommy, and one for himself. He finished by grabbing the fourth pillow. “Is that for baby brother?” Mommy asked. He pointed at the pillow and said, “Brecken!” We were impressed that he diagnosed a problem (Mommy and Daddy laying on the uncomfortable floor) and devised and implemented a solution (get couch pillows for them).

Fri 10 Aug 07
Moonbounces — a bit hesitant, drank gobs of water straight from water bottles, tried playing with the water guns. Hiked along scenic trail, then fell asleep during lunch at the golf resort. Back at the waterpark, sat in the front of the yellow tube with Mommy on the lazy river.

“It’s not funny,” Mommy said. His reply: “It’s funny. I laughing.”

Near bedtime he was playing with his trains. Sudddenly he rose and said, “Ben’s bed. Night-night, trains,” then walked over to his bed and laid down.

Thu 9 Aug 07
Waterpark! Disliked all the spray in his face; enjoyed the small froggie waterslide. Cheered for Daddy and Kelkie on the big waterslides (Mommy was too pregnant to join them), and for Daddy boogie boarding. Loved to see Mommy and Daddy slide down kiddie slides in tandem. Swam like tadpole on his belly in shallow area. At the arcade he played skeeball, Disco Duck, basketball; loved watching the bowlers.

Wed 8 Aug 07
Watching a video of himself taking a bath as an infant, he asked, “At Nonnie’s house?” (For eight months we bathed him at her house while we renovated the bathroom with our home’s only bathtub.)

Did fabulous on the drive to Massanutten. Seeing the pool at the resort: “Swim in pool and water!” Played in the pool, then in the McDonald’s toyland with Aunt Kelkie. From a nearby caboose he waved and blew kisses to passing cars like a politician. At bedtime, Kelkie fell asleep first; when we tried putting him down he kept looking over the bed at her and saying, “Kelkie sleeping!” Bedtime prayer: “Thank You, God, for our vacation.”

Tue 7 Aug 07
Music class with Mommy in the role of student instead of teacher — mimicked songs well, continued holding mini-music class at home. Asked him where we would be going on vacation with Aunt Kelkie: “Romania!”

Mon 6 Aug 07
Yesterday Nonnie brought him a Thomas the Tank Engine singing train with removable records for different songs. This morning he brought the toy to Mommy and asked, “Hello Everybody?” — wanting it to sing one of his favorites. “No, honey,” Mommy said, “Thomas doesn’t know that song.” He pressed his lips and looked up, deep in thought — then asked, “Praise Him?”

Sun 5 Aug 07
Scolded his train: “Thomas! No no, c-a-l-m d-o-w-n.” At breakfast he choked on bacon and grapeskin — Mommy saved his life by fishing them out of his throat with a finger. Later she taught him to eat cinnamon sugar by licking his finger, then dipping — after his first one he asked, “More?” Mommy pointed out there was more on his plate for the eating, and by his third try he became a cinnamon sugar eating machine, finger furiously zipping from plate to mouth and back as if he couldn’t get it all fast enough.

At church he asked friend Ian: “You have a train?” Four hour nap after church!

While waiting to pick up Aunt Kelly from the airport, he practiced escalators and moving walkways, played in the observation area and taught himself how to use a wheelchair, turning the wheels by hand. Learned that K-E-L-L-Y spells “Kelly.” On the drive home, he repeated phrases and song lyrics Kelly said to him in Romanian.

Sat 4 Aug 07
At the petting zoo he cackled at lemurs leaping in their hutch; saw the ducks and said “Nonnie” (she loves ducks). At the Virginia Living Museum he touched a horseshoe crab, saw twin-fin-fin fish (lionfish), tickled a stingray through its glass, and used “is” to equate two items: “Geese is duck.” A sea otter played with him through its tank window, going after his milk cup.

Slept through the great tunnel on the Colonial Parkway, but he enjoyed walking through the pedestrian tunnel at Williamsburg Pottery Outlet, where he also got to watch a long train pass right by.

On the drive home, Mommy invented a new song that he repeated again and again: “If you’re happy and you know it, say ‘Hi Dad’ …” At Grannie’s house he sat down voluntarily for a diaper change, and left a train track voluntarily to have his shoes put on to leave.

Fri 3 Aug 07
Couldn’t sleep, so at 4am Daddy carried him down to the beach to watch the ocean in moonlight. Woke for the morning, took time to pick up several items (cow, two trains, milk cup), then headed out. When Mommy asked him if he wanted bacon for breakfast, he responded, “Uh, just a minute,” then ran out to the kitchen to ask Grannie, “Bacon, bacon?”

In the waves again, got smacked by a big one in the face and scrunched up his eyes, tightly shut. “Are you okay?” Daddy asked when he stayed that way for a few moments. Still with his eyes shut tight he said, “Yeah.”

Sang along with Suzanne Vega’s Tom’s Diner song outside the Wings store: “Duh duh duh, duh-duh-duh duh.” Carried two guitar ornaments around the Christmas Mouse shop. Back through the tunnel as we left the Outer Banks — he enjoyed it much better the second time through.

Beside the Days Inn pool he learned to jump, actually jump, for the first time. More “I’m sorry” when Daddy let his face get wet. Jumped into Daddy’s arms in the pool, then regressed to sitting down to jump; when Daddy expressed disappointment with a loud, “Aww,” Ben internalized it, saying “Aww” whenever he squatted down before jumping.

Repeated a nine-word sentence from Mommy: “Thank you, Grannie, for taking me to the pool.”

Thu 2 Aug 07
Jumped in too-big waves with Daddy, always watching for a “big one.” Every time he got sprayed in the face he said “I’m sorry” — because back in the pool at home, that’s what Daddy would say whenever he allowed his face to dip too low in the water. At one point Daddy got knocked over and took a tumble under water in the sand and froth, but kept him above the surface the whole time. How did he react? “Funny!”

Saw dolphins playing from a distance. Followed ATV “train tracks” in the sand with Grannie, walking down the beach (his head appeared so large on his small body from a distance). Flirted with teen girls building a sandcastle. Cheered like crazy for Daddy’s kite.

Wed 1 Aug 07
He wanted to keep playing on the slide at the doctor’s office, so Mommy told him, “First doctor, then slide” (a mental construct he’s learning to grasp more and more). Immediately after the nurse gave him his shot and he calmed down: “Slide?”

Woke up in car with Grannie already in it: glanced in her direction, looked away, was solemn for a few seconds but then erupted in a huge smile. When Grannie showed him her lipstick: “Draw a picture.” Later Grannie pulled a Burt’s Bees product out of her purse and he immediately said, “Burt’s Bees” — though none of us remember ever saying this brand name in front of him.

Crossing the bridge to Outer Banks, he saw water on both sides of the car and said, “Two oceans.” First very long tunnel — for someone who professes such love for tunnels, he was a bit concerned. A bit cautious around the ocean as well — only stuck his feet in.

Tue 31 Jul 07
Roughhoused on the couches, jumped on pillow stack. Napped on Thomas bed (with Daddy napping beside him on the floor in his room). Watched his own baby DVD — fascinated by Daddy, kept touching Daddy’s face on the screen; imicked his own “face show,” squinting his eyes.

Crayons, pencils, pens: he loves them all, and calls them “sticks,” only it comes out sounding more like “sex.” Well, it finally happened in public: Mommy was checking out at the CVS, he wanted the stylus for signing the credit card reader, and screamed: “Sex! Sex, Mommy, sex!” She carried him out of the store as he continued screaming, “Sex! Sex!”

These days he’s constantly trying to divert us toward what he wants. So walking around the mall we hear an incessant stream of, “Bike? Bike? Bike?” (wanting to return to a tricyle in LL Bean), then “Water? Water?” (as we pass the water feature), then “Horsey? Horsey? Horsey?” (as he sees the carousel through the windows). Of course all of this is punctuated by howls and whines.

Mon 30 Jul 07
When Daddy growled at a bad driver, he asked from the back seat, “What happened?” Played with Brecken twice — told Brecken “no throw,” “be nice,” and “c-a-l-m d-o-w-n” (just like Daddy says it). Mommy taught him that D-A-D spells “dad.” After his bath, he pointed at the showerhead and exclaimed, “Cookie!” (it looks remarkably like an Oreo).

Sun 29 Jul 07
Freaked out during children’s church, ended up staying with us through the sermon. Dinner and trains with Andy, Ian and Peter.

Sat 28 Jul 07
Played with Brecken while we worked. Moonbounce with Caleb, Hannah, Aiden and Sophie. Mommy had an amazing save, catching him as he fell out of a lawnchair. We thought he was lost when he escaped the party with a toy lawnmower.

Fri 27 Jul 07
Blueberry picking with Brecken and Madeline — enjoyed feeding blueberries to Mommy, but it was a hot day: “Hot, hot, Mommy” he whined, “hot, Mommy car.” Tried Miranda’s soda at McDonald’s: scrunched his face up in pain, groaned “Mommy, Mommy!” and dribbled it back out. When we parked at the pool in the afternoon he was excited; then Daddy turned the car back on to move to a different spot and he panicked: “Pool? Pool!?” Accidentally dunked himself several times; loved it when Daddy took him into the deep end by holding only his hands.

Thu 26 Jul 07
Told Mommy sadly, “Kelkie Mamonia” (Aunt Kelly is in Romania). Add-libbed the bus song: “The people on the bus say holy cow, holy cow, holy cow …” The dentist went better than we’d hoped: he probably won’t lose the tooth. The dental assistant allowed him to pick a toy out of the toy chest, but he picked two and wouldn’t give them up: a yo-yo and a small plastic backhoe, which were both big hits throughout the day (hey, he earned ‘em).

Railroad museum: rode a train, marveled at two model railroads, played with engine knobs. Delighted by a water fountain — we asked him what it was and he said, “Tunnel!” (The water makes an arc, and anything you can conceivably push a toy train through is a tunnel.)

Visited Nonnie at her work, then got home by 3pm and slept until 7pm. We pooped him out!

Wed 25 Jul 07
Amazingly well-behaved at the doctor’s office, the bank, the community center. Outdoor concert: rolled around in the sandbox, danced in front of the speakers, hung out beside the stage … until a bigger boy knocked him over. It was bad: he was still on his back unable to breathe by the time I sprinted to him from fifty feet away. We didn’t see exactly what happened, but his mouth was bloodied and one tooth is chipped and may be loose. Tomorrow we go to the dentist. Poor kid.

“Do you love me?” Mommy asks him. At lunch he asked her back: “Do you love Ben?” Yes!

He’s been contributing to bedtime prayers for several nights now. When it’s his turn to pray he mentions his favorite things: “Grannie, Nonnie … train … cow … duck … Grannie, Nonnie … Uncle Dave … train … tunnel … train …” Then he repeats train, his voice growing quieter and quieter, until he falls asleep.

Tue 24 Jul 07
Slept horrible last night. Actually asked to bathe in the new tub. Music class with Nonnnie, Kylie — filled in the final “you” on the welcome song, kept steady beat with cymbals. Browser got stuck on a movie trailer, and he repeated the skipping syllables: “Usta usta usta.” Ate outside in Columbia; watched airplanes, a flock of geese crossing the parking lot; fed a duck.

Mon 23 Jul 07
Two naps. “Where’s Aunt Kelkie?” “Mamonia!” First bath in the new tub — startled by the yellow wind-up frog, later amused and said, “Frog clapping feet!”

Sun 22 Jul 07
Seeing planes on way to Grannie’s house for dinner: “Planes coming to get Ben!” Learned to identify Uncle Dave’s car.

Sat 21 Jul 07
Added a word to the driving song: “Zoom, zoom, drive in Daddy car …” Threw rocks in the river — he waded thigh-deep, then sat down in it, and later made a mudpie with his hands. Helped Mommy make cookies (he likes oatmeal raisin). Got to the exit for Kylie’s house and said her name. Ran through the garden sprinkler with Daddy and Kylie; played on the wiggle bridge with Doug.

Fri 20 Jul 07
When Mommy hit a raw spot while changing his diaper: “Mommy, be kind.” First PBJ sandwich at Annie’s house; played with Aidan, Sophie, Caleb and Hannah. Evening concert; danced with Mommy, ran around building ruins, enjoyed eating both of Daddy’s ice cream treats, plus Mommy’s strawberry popsicle.

When Mommy walked off to use the restroom he ran after her, whimpering. Daddy called his name and held up the second ice cream treat. Immediately he smiled, eyes sparkling, and ran back. The boy has priorities.

As we drove to Nonnie’s house, he recognized the streets and said, “Nonnie’s house” (as he always does), then added, “He’s smart” (which is what we always say in response).

Thu 19 Jul 07
Nonnie took him to the train museum. Walked around part of C Lake — walked up steep hill saying “I think I can” and walking slowly in step. Sent toy train down slides, followed it himself. From the backseat, after his mother fed him Cocoa Puffs: “Uh oh, I drop a chocolate.”

Wed 18 Jul 07
Went to aquarium with Kylie — liked the sharks best, enjoyed riding in Holly’s car. Responding well to sequencing (”Medicine first, then chocolate”). Reminded Mommy to pray for Uncle Dave.

Tue 17 Jul 07
Cooperating much better for diaper changes — lays himself down upon request. Impromptu evening visit from Brecken and Kylie. Longest sentence yet: “It’s a sticker, and it’s Thomas!”

Mon 16 Jul 07
Music class with Delaney. Basically a day of playing with trains — gave them up willingly when we finally called bedtime (10pm).

Sun 15 Jul 07
Colors, trains, steak, reconnecting with the Meghan and Gretchen. Danced when he got his Ben train; stayed up until 11pm, positively wired. A great day.

Sat 14 Jul 07
Train, carousel at Burke Lake — screamed “Daddy car! Daddy car!” (meaning “Put me back in your car and get me out of here!”) when we first boarded the train, but calmed immediately when it started moving; loved the tunnel. Trusted Uncle Dave enough to ride the carousel with him. Picnic lunch near the train bridge.

Fri 13 Jul 07
Watched airplanes landing with Kylie, Brecken, and Madeline. Climbed again to the top of the jungle gym at Chick-Fil-A; six-months-pregnant Mommy had to scale the twisty yellow slide to get him back down.

Helped me tile the shower walls — I pointed and asked him, “Give me the orange,” and he walked across the bathroom, picked up the orange screwdriver and handed it to me. “Okay, now put it back,” I said when I was finished, and he did. Soon after that, however, he commenced dropping metal tools on the new tile floor, so I called in Mommy for extraction. (Sorry, son. Your day is coming.)

While swinging, he pointed at his gator shoe and said, “Stick in the toes,” and sure enough, he had a piece of mulch lodged in there. Yet another four-word combination, this one original. Later he pointed in the direction of the river and asked us to bring him there to throw rocks, “Big ones!” Amazing, since we haven’t been to the river in several weeks; we were surprised he even knew where it was.

Thu 12 Jul 07
Called to me from downstairs: “Daddy, what are you doing?” — a question he evidently learned from Mommy.

Asked to use the bathroom: “Poopy in potty,” so Mommy pulled down his pants and I gave him some pointers. Apparently our excitement was enough for him — he wasn’t all that interested in doing the deed after all.

Played with his train outside, using a neighbor’s wooden border for a track. Their lawn hadn’t been mowed; he grabbed a long blade of grass, bent it over his train and sent it through, proclaiming, “Tunnel!”

Asked Mommy to help him fix a train track while she was eating. She replied: “What is Mommy doing right now?” “Eating.” “Is Mommy going to help you now?” “No.” “So what do you have to do?” “Wait.” (Pretty mature conversation for someone not yet two years old!)

Shopped for presents at Toys ‘R’ Us, the scene of many tantrums as he asked, “Help? Help?” — wanting us to open boxes for him, then squawling when we don’t.

Wed 11 Jul 07
Meltdown during his two-year-old photo at the mall — kept pointing, “Outside? Outside?” Carousel rides with Kylie, Brecken, Madeline, Aiden and Sophie, plus lunch and cupcakes at the food court. Watched Joshua and Abby play Atari, then cracked up bouncing around in bed with Delaney: “Daney!” Demanded to sleep in bed with Mommy after Uncle Dave and I left for a late-night Transformers.

Tue 10 Jul 07
Called to Mommy in the basement: “Ms. Hobson!” Music class with Kylie. Nonnie brought him the wearable train costume. Each time we told him it was time to leave Nonnie’s house, he immediately said, “Chocolate!” (She has stashes of chocolate in her living and dining rooms.) Nonnie’s response: “You want that in a take-home bag?”

Mon 9 Jul 07
Directed Mommy at breakfast: “Chips. Table,” (pointing at table). Plastic train set: enthralled! Grocery store with Kylie — chickenfights on daddy shoulders, running through produce like crazies, pushing mini-cart. First time noticing fireflies — kept calling them butterflies, chased a few around at the tot lot.

He’s not yet two on the calendar, but definitely in temperament — throws fits incessantly, and over the littlest things. Worst of all, when he’s upset he forgets his fabulous vocabulary and can no longer say what he wants. Frustrating for all.

Sun 8 Jul 07
Long day with no Mommy. Lemonade stand with Joshua and Abby. Came near to drowning when I was distracted helping a friend retrieve a model plane out of a tree — he snuck through a neighbor’s open gate and went straight to the edge of a pool.

Sat 7 Jul 07
Woke up asking for Grannie (we’d told him the night before that she would be coming, and he remembered overnight). Pool with Nonnie and Grannie. Grannie taught him to put his face in the water (a first!) to blow bubbles. He directed each person in turn to blow bubbles: “Nonnie bubbles. Grannie bubbles. Mommy bubbles.”

Fri 6 Jul 07
After a rough night, a rough morning. Furious when I put a Thomas shirt on him (apparently he only wanted to hold it); screamed his way through a morning bath at Nonnie’s house.

Thu 5 Jul 07
Played in the jungle gym at Chick-Fil-A. He climbed up the spiral yellow slide until he made it to the top level — out of my reach! When it was time to go I had to climb up there to get him.

At Best Buy, a stunt cyclist was making jumps on TV. As we watched, Ben kept saying, “Bike. Up, down. Up, down. Up, down.”

Wed 4 Jul 07
RH parade — saw firetrucks up close. A bit nervous: “Daddy car,” wanting me to take him back to our car and safety.

Invented a funny voice today: lizard-talking, chin pulled back into his neck, lots of tongue, quick gobbledy-gook syllables. His mom and I both laughed the first time we heard it.

At Ethan’s and Isaac’s house to watch fireworks from their front porch. The whole time he wanted to return to their living room to play with their train set. Thus we watched fireworks to a constant barrage of, “Train? Train? Train? Train? Train?”

Mon 2 Jul 07
We gave him a stuffed iguana from the Virgin Islands. His immediate response: “Ribbit!” The stuffed iguana doesn’t look that realistic, but he still noticed the similarity immediately.

Wed 27 Jun 07
Enjoyed taking in DC streets. Met Taylor, loved bouncing around with her in Jake and Abby’s hotel king-size bed.

Tue 26 Jun 07
At the doctor’s office, I counted with him up to 30 (nothing new), then kept going. I expected 31 to please him with its familiarity (it’s formed just like 21). Then we hit 40 (an entirely new number for him) and kept going, counting 41 and beyond. Since the 40’s are just like the 20’s and 30’s, he enjoyed repeating each one after me. Finally we hit 50: another new number. At that milestone, I was done.

But he wasn’t. “Fifty-one!” he added.

What a smart kid.

Laughed loudly in his sleep. What was he dreaming about?

Mon 25 Jun 07
“Draw a picture, draw a picture: train!” He holds the pen the way I do — braced between middle and ring finger (is that observed, or genetic?). Laid on the carpet on his belly, coloring, swinging his feet in the air. Crouched next to his Mom, passed gas, looked over and chuckled: “Heh, heh. Fart.” Played with Joshua, Abby and Delaney.

Awake from 1am to 3:40am. Went ballistic, screaming “Mommy! Mommy!” when I took over. But when he suggested we watch a train video and I moved to walk downstairs, immediately his fit disappeared and he smiled, enthused. “Train? Train?” (How can his mood change so quickly?)

Sun 24 Jun 07
Woke up calling out, “Grannie? Grannie?” (We still rank low.) Remembered Goodnight Train overnight enough to ask for it. Wiggle-spazz at church. Played with trains for two hours at Aidan’s house.

Sat 23 Jun 07
Woke up calling out, “Shiloh! Shiloh!” (We’re dogsitting, and apparently my wife and I rank lower than the dog.) Grannie took him to the neighborhood church picnic, music class, then to the bakery with Mom to decorate cupcakes. Ate salt-n-vinegar chips with yogurt. Fed white duck at Elkhorn; stood up on wobbly car, imitating older boys. New favorite book: Goodnight Train. Swung his feet so wildly as I sang him to sleep that my voice wobbled.

Fri 22 Jun 07
Nonnie’s pool with Brecken and Kylie: walked up to chin deep, wanted both the big pool and Mommy (not enough to have one). Installed child seat in Nonnie’s car. Picked up CR-V: “Two cars” again.

Thu 21 Jun 07
First day of summer with Dad. Dropped off the CR-V to have A/C redone: “Two cars.” Went to Larriland Farms to pick “strawbabies” (yummy in my tummy song), got rained out when storm blew in. Found letters on jukebox at Silver Diner. Driving back from bath at Nonnie’s, overpasses were “tunnels.”

Wed 20 Jun 07
First conjunction: “I need Mommy and milk.” Also referred to taking a picture of me (holding our digital camera and pointing it at me): “Daddy’s cheese.”

 

It’s criminal for me to have left this page without updates for eight months — a third of my son’s life. No explanation can excuse my negligence, and, sadly, those memories can’t be regained. All I can do is resume.

Sat 4 Nov 06
Still sick. Walked along river, threw leaves.

Fri 3 Nov 06
Sick — coughing, didn’t sleep from 12:40 - 3:40am.

Thu 2 Nov 06
Learned to raise his arms and yell, “Uncle Dave!” Loves being chased around the house: “I’m gonna get you!” Folds hands, lowers head for grace at dinner. Blows goodbye kisses with two hands.

Wed 1 Nov 06
Strained voice. Learned to close the jack-in-the-box with two-handed coordination (each hand performing a separate simultaneous action). Shot at the doctor’s office. Walked across field to watch geese.

Tue 31 Oct 06
Hit Daddy in the head with the inflatable giraffe hammer. Dressed as Superman — walked after group of big kids, wanted to be one of them (”Just like his Daddy,” Grannie said).

Mon 30 Oct 06
Fell down the stairs. Fascinated by the inflatable snowglobe at Sam’s Club. Told Nonnie about everything in the neighborhood.

Sun 29 Oct 06
Shook the shaker eggs at church. Airplanes, seagulls at Gravelly Point with Grannie. Daddy had him cackling on the bouncy ball at Grannie’s house.

Fri 27 Oct 06
Still sick. Wife dragged him around on the kitchen floor by the hairbrushes he refused to release. Climbed on big tupperware by himself; joke of knocking over toy lady with toy cow. Discovered graham crackers. Spurned his penguin finger puppet book. Starting to like being in his crib by himself — now when he sits up he doesn’t necessarily scream.

Thurs 26 Oct 06
Still sick. Slept more than he was awake.

Tues 24 Oct 06
Still sick. Doctor appointment — didn’t have to get his shots because he was sick! Nonnie taught him to say “Gobble gobble.” Videotaped splits in the kitchen, jungle gym on the nursery glider.

Mon 23 Oct 06
Still sick. Has begun getting paper out of the printer as soon as each sheet is finished printing. Saw a cupcake and sang the first notes of “Happy Birthday.” Ate at the little table at Nonnie’s; aunt put stickers on his face. Said “bubbles” when he saw dust in sunbeam in the car. Turned away from playing on the computer to greet his dad when he got home from work.

Sun 22 Oct 06
Still sick. Repeated the “wha” sound for W on his Leapfrog bus.

Weds 18 Oct 06
Fever: 103.5. Sang a few of the pitches prompted by his Music Together CD; popped up at the right moment in Pop Goes the Weasel. Anticipated getting to Nonnie’s house at the Wal*Mart light by issuing her signature pow-wow call.

Mon 16 Oct 06
Library program — stared at teacher whole time. Said “ball” at basketball court, even though he’s never seen basketball played. Squat-walked like a duck in kitchen. Loved his first lime tortilla chip. Keeps adjusting volume on the white noise machine in our bedroom!

Sun 15 Oct 06
Smiled at his mother from across the sanctuary today (she sings on praise team). Swam at H’s heated pool! He wanted to walk into the pool himself, clothes and all.

Sat 14 Oct 06
Cheesecake factory with Grannie; played with watering rocks at mall. Fell in love with Winnie the Pooh keyboard from his great uncle JM.

Fri 13 Oct 06
French fries at GHS football game; loved the halftime show.

Thurs 12 Oct 06
His mother ran him up and down grocery aisles, with him cracking up. Fingerpainted with applesauce; played games on Fisher Price website; played outside with J’s daycase kids; toddled down steep hill behind J’s house. Learned to say “um” when starting a sentence! (Guess his parents do that a lot.)

Weds 11 Oct 06
Said “Jesus” for the first time, along with hand sign (index finger pointing at palm of other hand). Went to park with mother and DK — threw leaves, played on first soccer field.

Tues 10 Oct 06
His mother caught him on video singing Happy Birthday to his uncle, and doing the hand signs to the Itsy Bitsy Spider — priceless.

Sun 8 Oct 06
Uncle’s birthday. Threw his uncle’s homemade clay pots (he thought they were balls); played drums; enjoyed uncle’s didjeridoo performance.

Fri 29 Sep 06
He was grossed out by a worm on the ground during a walk — tried to shoo it away. Went to the Maryland Science Center in Baltimore — his first time seeing the big city. He almost pulled down the Tyrannosaur’s head when I lifted him up and he caught hold of a tooth. Saw his first movie ever in the IMAX — fussy at first, then relaxed, eyes shifting around the screen. Repeated “oohs” and “ahhs” and “ees” on the drive home.

Thurs 28 Sep 06
Climbed on chair in order to climb on table in living room.

Weds 27 Sep 06
Plopped himself down on blanket in the middle of the living room floor as if it was story time: “Okay, I’m ready — what happens next?”

Tues 26 Sep 06
His mother was helping Nonnie fix up her house, so he grabbed a toy hammer and walked around the house banging on things to fix them. Played with machine gun bubble machine

Mon 25 Sep 06
Said “bubbles” for the first time. Hung out with D, who always revs up his talkativeness. Threw baby frisbee with his aunt.

Thurs 31 Aug 06
Learned to spin himself in circles today. Guess his balance and foot dexterity finally developed enough. Imagine the fun of watching the world spin before your eyes for the first time — and then again and again, whenever you want it to.

His mother took him to Bagel Bin today. He walked in, saw all the bagels in their glass cases beneath the counters (perfect eye level for him), extended his arms and said in breathless excitement, “Mammas! Mammas! Mammas!” (Mammas is his word for food.)

Weds 30 Aug 06
He said his first “sentence” this morning, stringing two words together. When he saw me making a bowl of cereal for breakfast he walked over to me and said, “Dada mamas.” Dada is, of course, me; mamas is his word for food (not to be confused with mommy for his mom). So he was saying, “Dad’s got food!”

He also snuck down to the basement by himself today when I was in the restroom. Sure, I heard him on the stairs — but 1) I was a bit occupied at the moment, and 2) I knew he wouldn’t go far. It didn’t sound like he did. But then I couldn’t find him anywhere, and he wasn’t upstairs. The little sucker went downstairs (a relatively new trick) and was playing on his own in the basement. Sneaky!

Sun 23 Jul 06
Walking across the parking lot to church, he tried to eat a donut he saw another kid drop in the grass.

Said “Ga-nie” for Grannie on the car ride to the big family picnic. His first time meeting cousins and second cousins. Cracked up when Mom, Uncle and I whacked each other (and him) with dodgeballs. Waded briefly in the pool; played with a helium balloon Grannie tied around his leg. Cousins R & L hugged and doted on him; cousin J pushed him around in a stroller. Played badminton with Grannie, batting around a balloon in the grass.

A great day. He was awake from 1pm to 10pm after only a half-hour nap; conked on the drive home and slept the whole night for the first time in over a week.

Sat 22 Jul 06
Mom took him to get the oil changed while I caught up on an utter lack of sleep. Went to the county dump; ate a Whopper with me while mom bought fruit at the Asian supermarket. Canceled dinner plans with neighbors K&M because he was too tired and fussy.

Fri 21 Jul 06
I took him to Target, CompUSA, Wal*Mart, and tried to teach him to walk beside me, holding my hand. He threw a major fit each time.

Thurs 20 Jul 06
Doctor’s office — 67% height, 24% weight, >100% head; three shots. Nonnie watched him while I worked on the kitchen ceiling. His mom and Nonnie taught him to pretend-talk on the “phone,” a wooden block shaped like an arch. Learned the hand sign for “milk.” Ate dinner with neighbors R&L and their son G. He was fascinated by their house and kept checking it out (same layout as ours, but different decor).

Weds 19 Jul 06
Went to his mom’s music class today, where he spent much of the time walking around. Later I took him to his aunt’s pool and taught him how to sit on the edge and lean forward to jump at me — he pulled it off five or six times entirely on his own, and gleefully! At dinner he began to learn the hand sign for “more.”

Tues 18 Jul 06
His mom built him a ramp for his ball drop toy. Went to playgroup, where he ate birthday cake and splashed around in a kiddie pool. He spent the afternoon at his Nonnnie’s house, then conked out early on the way home.

Mon 17 Jul 06
His mom taught all afternoon, so he and I ran errands and played. Library, post office, ATM, Home Depot, Target, then two hours at Arundel Mills, where we did the coin vortex. He walked away from me at Best Buy as if he’d completely forgotten I existed — simply happy to explore aisle after aisle.

Sun 16 Jul 06
Blue cupcakes at church; napped; went to his aunt’s swimming pool, where we scattered floating baby toys all over. He loved it when I threw him up out of the pool and caught him.

Sat 15 Jul 06
Party, blue/green streamers, octopus cake, lots of toys! Enjoyed walking around with two balloons, knocking down block towers. Didn’t manage to blow out the candle; smeared blue icing all over his bare chest. He laughed and laughed and laughed through the whole day.

Fri 14 Jul 06
His mom took him to IKEA with friends, where he and A played with a wooden pushtoy he loved.

Thurs 13 Jul 06
Went to lunch with a friend and her daughter, then visited Toys’R'Us and an educational toy store. Later went to his Nonnie’s pool — he slept on his Nonnie’s lap at first, then took awhile to adjust to the water.

Weds 12 Jul 06
Went with his mother to babysit a friend.

Tues 11 Jul 06
While his mom was teaching, I juiced him up with sunscreen and took him to his aunt’s pool — but it was closed! So we walked around Arundel Mills instead. Later he got to play in a kiddie pool at playgroup.

Mon 10 Jul 06
Worked with him on not standing up in his wagon when he’s getting a ride. He began playing peakaboo himself, with a frisbee and later a cloth napkin. Went to Barnes & Noble with mom and a playgroup friend, where he picked out some new touch and feel books for his upcoming birthday. Learned to play basketball with his toy hoop. Carrabba’s with mom and Nonnie — he tried to filch salad from a server’s tray, held a conversation with diners at the next table. The wait staff sang Happy Birthday to him in Italian; he glowed when they gave him ice cream with a single candle. Visited a new park on the way home, where his mom almost sheared off his ankle on a curly slide.

Sun 9 Jul 06
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. He’s healthy again, active, smiley — and tireless. Took only one nap; after a long day, finally had a wretched two hours trying to go to bed. How can such an exhausted little shrimp last so long?

Went to his aunt’s pool, where he kept a firm grip the entire time on his wooden block (sometimes we tossed it a distance away, then waded over to recover it). Early on, on my watch, he was wading in the one-foot kiddie area, lost his balance and went for a full-submersion dunking. He staged a dignified recovery, no fussing at all. Still, I held on to him a lot better after that.

Adjusted the straps of his carseat today. In the morning, funny nursing games, emptied out his whole toy basket. Impressed us by repeating the fly-away handsweep motion of “Two Little Blackbirds” (his mother got teary eyed).

Sat 8 Jul 06
Still sick; grandmas one and two took turns stopping by to help. He figured out that the keyboard downstairs has five instrument settings, and enjoyed playing through them all. Later on, as I hummed the M*A*S*H theme to him, he hummed the same notes back to me — not necessarily in the same order or rhythm, but definitely the same notes. Fever broke in the evening.

Fri 7 Jul 06
Still sick; fever still at 102; visited the pediatrician, who basically told us to wait it out, medicate him only if he’s uncomfortable. After hardly sleeping last night, he spent the day quiet, playing sluggishly. For some reason he doesn’t like the “Whoa, Joe” part of the “Trot, Old Joe” song — he takes on the saddest little face, then he starts crying.

At lunch today we heard his first clear word: “mama.” Said it three times in a row, looking at his mom, carefully practicing the syllables. Up until now he’s been saying “mamamamama” and “dadadadada,” but he never consistently limited the syllables in the understanding that it was a word. Hooray for talking!

Thurs 6 Jul 06
Sick: fever of 102. Nonnie came to watch him while his mother taught a voice lesson. Hardly slept at night (Thurs night) — kept waking up after 2am, wouldn’t let me comfort him. Finally woke for good at 4:45am, so I played with him upstairs while his mother slept.

Weds 5 Jul 06
Gym with playgroup friends — stretching to techno music, so different from his typical music class fare. Enjoyed swinging, walking around looking at colors. Tried the zipline, the ball crawl, but didn’t love them.

Played with four “H Club” friends for dinner.

Tues 4 Jul 06
First 4th of July. Went berry-picking with friends from out of town, plus neighbors. Too hot — he was a bit cranky, and unimpressed with raspberries and blueberries.

Played with friends from St. Louis, plus his once-a-week buddy. Followed A around the room until A got bothered and pushed him down. He took it well. With three other kids here, he entertained himself mostly by walking around and around and around, circumnavigating all of the action.

Mon 3 Jul 06
He was walking down the hall humming loudly, “Mmm! Mmm! Mmmmmmm!” — suspiciously excited. “Check his mouth,” my wife suggested. I did a finger sweep and found, sure enough, four pieces of … dog food. We’re dogsitting, and the Maltese scatters her food in different rooms before eating it. Normally we find it before our son does, but apparently not always.

Saddest part of this incident? Afterward his breath smelled like dog breath. No lie.

Sun 2 Jul 06
At church he didn’t find silent confession to be enough. He needed to ask for forgiveness very vocally and passionately. Have to admire the boldness of his faith, but it does distract others.

He’s highly entertained by the Maltese. When she roughhouses with us, if we run away she gives pursuit — two pounds of white fluff growling as she chases 165 pounds of fleeing man. The humor is not lost on our son, who cackles.

Fri 30 Jun 06
The Maltese bit him on the leg, poor kid. No damage, just a red mark — but it hurt, and it scared him.

Took him hiking at a nearby state park. He loved the waterfall and the trees, then fell asleep in the backpack as we walked back to the car. Then I whacked him in the forehead with the car door. Knucklehead dad. Didn’t realize the swing of the door would meet him where his head was hanging to the right of my shoulder.

Restroom peakaboo has become an official game. Enjoyed his first watermelon at a church cookout.

Thurs 29 Jun 06
Chick-Fil-A breakfast. The boy loves him some chicken!

We’re dogsitting a small Maltese, and he cracked up watching her attack her food. She has a habit of pulling pieces of food out of her bowl into another room, then stalking and pouncing on it. Our boy found it hilarious — and the louder he laughed, the more aggressive she became, growling and thrashing to put on a good show for him.

Visited one of his adoptive grandmothers today, where he showed of his walking, “talking,” egg-shaker rhythms, and all-around cuteness. Invented restroom peakaboo all by himself. Swam with mother at Nonnie’s pool.

Weds 28 Jun 06
IHOP breakfast with mother and Nonnie — eavesdropped on nearby diner’s cell phone conversation. Played peakaboo with Nonnie at the supermarket, banged on pot-and-pan drumset in her kitchen.

Tues 27 Jun 06
Home Depot in the thundering rain (the DC area flooded). When Grannie’s backyard river came within ten feet of her deck, she neglected to take a photo — apparently she thinks her digital camera will only function if her grandson is in the frame.

Mon 26 Jun 06
He stayed with our good friend and neighbor while I had to go teach and my wife had to run to the doctor to make sure we got all the superglue out of her eye. We were afraid he’d freak out — he hasn’t been babysat by hardly anyone but family members — but he had a fun time with her. What a relief! (And yes, we got all the superglue out of his mother’s eye.)

Sun 25 Jun 06
Nonnie taught him how to drag wheeled toys on a string behind him while walking today. How pleased he was! He also enjoyed pressing a button that played the song “If You’re Happy and You Know It” over and over while his mom and Nonnie sang and clapped … over twenty times in a row. He smiled with expectation every time he hit the button.

At one point he was upstairs and began looking around. “Are you looking for Daddy?” my wife asked. “Da da da,” he repeated, and began fussing. I jogged upstairs, and when he saw me through the railing he grinned the biggest grin. It’s the first evidence I’ve had that he remembers me when I’m not around. Amazing.

Sat 24 Jun 06
Music class in the morning, then he played with a new friend: the electrician’s daughter. Their favorite game was taking toys from one another and screaming. Later Grannie came over to watch him while his mom and dad went out for a hot date of dinner and hardware store and donuts.

Fri 23 Jun 06
A long, hot, humid, sticky, six-mile walk at Gunpowder Falls, Monkton Station. He played on a defunct railroad tie with one of his friends, enjoyed watching a river from a bridge overhead, and ate a huge picnic lunch. Plus, he got to see, and pet, his first horse.

This evening he reconnected with an old friend from across the womb wall: Shiloh the two-ounce Maltese. We’re dog-sitting again, and this time our boy gets to play with Shiloh in person — although in their first evening together, it seemed Shiloh did most of the playing, chasing our little boy around the room. He’s not scared of her … he just doesn’t like her nipping at his diaper.

Thurs 22 Jun 06
Fell today. On the asphalt. Straight on his face. Bruise on his forehead, abrasion and swelling under his eye. The kid would look tough, mean, if it weren’t for those irresistible smiles and laughs that keep bursting past his scars.

We tried to let him cry it out tonight. Didn’t work. What a way to feel awful about ourselves. He used to be able to put himself to sleep, but then he learned how to stand in the crib — and that keeps him screamingly awake.

Weds 21 Jun 06
Longhorn steak lunch. You should see him eating mashed potatoes and small pieces of steak from an adult’s fork. Priceless. Sharing the best of my food with him is somehow just as satisfying as eating it myself. A great way to diet — especially good for the heart.

Got him to sleep again by myself tonight.

Tues 20 Jun 06
It’s been a long time since I got him to sleep. When he wakes in the middle of the night, he definitely prefers his mother — so much so that he actually screams louder if I go in and pick him up. But last night I caught him off-guard by walking him into the hallway, then making shadow puppets on the wall with my hand. He quieted down, fascinated. After ten minutes of slow finger shadows, he began yawning. Another ten minutes of rocking and singing, inching back into his room, and he began his can’t-pick-a-shoulder restless thrashing. Laid him down in his crib and he was actually grateful. I am a master.

Fri 16 Jun 06
First big walking boo-boo today: fell and bit into his upper lip. It bled and swelled. Poor tough little tyke.

This evening we ate at Baja Fresh with friends and their kids. Ours joined theirs playing in a small grove of seven trees only three feet high before widening into thick foliage. It was like a dark child-sized cave in there, and our kid enjoyed tromping around under the trees with his friends (as long as Daddy was nearby).

And tonight, in his usual mania before bedtime, he ditched crawling altogether, instead walking frantically between piano, dehumidifier, bed, couch, swing. Also, he can now zip down the hall and start climbing the stairs in just a few seconds of parental distraction. Yeesh.

Thurs 15 Jun 06
He ate breakfast at Chick-Fil-A with his mom and Nonnie today, then stared at a laughing stuffed orangutan. He doesn’t really get the humor of new toys — he’s too busy trying to figure out what they’re about.

Our walk this evening was preempted by a kid’s bike left laying on the sidewalk. He spun the front tire, then the rotating pedal, then the rear tire. He played with that abandoned bike, without any particular attention from me, for ten minutes.

Best of all, today was his first real day as a pedestrian. On two feet he now chases me around the living room as I crawl away from him.

Weds 14 Jun 06
I let my graduate class out early and got an hour with him before he went to bed. In that brief time he: 1) showed off his new ability to clap along with a song, 2) meandered comfortably around the room on two feet, looking for something to interest him, and 3) used amazingly precise fingering on the piano while switching back and forth between soft (piano) and loud (forte) playing.

But crazier than all of that, he deliberately repeated a pattern on the piano six times in a row: da-da-da-da … BAM BAM! Da-da-da-da … BAM BAM! Da-da-da-da … BAM BAM! I didn’t realize it until my wife pointed it out after the first four cycles, and he pounded out another two while we listened with our jaws on the floor. It wasn’t harmonic, but he kept hitting the same keys, and the rhythm and pattern formed a music of its own. We were stunned.

Tues 13 Jun 06
Inhaling games at dinner tonight. He figured out he can make a wheezy, squeaky noise by inhaling with his throat partially closed — and he and I spent several minutes wheezing at each other.

Entertained himself for half an hour after dinner, playing with various toys and non-toys in the living room. His mother asks: “What makes him decide to spend several minutes with one toy, then suddenly cross the room, bite the couch and squeal happily?”

Fell asleep in the backpack on our evening walk through the woods. So honoring, to have that little head nestled against my shoulders and the back of my neck.

Mon 12 Jun 06
He brought me lunch at work today. How neat to see him catch sight of me through my office window. I can only imagine how that must feel, his mother driving and carrying him around through a kaleidoscopic world of places and people until hey, it’s daddy! We ate lunch in my office together, my wife feeding him yogurt as I ate chicken and mashed potatoes (yes, I shared some chicken with him).

Later in the afternoon my wife was pushing him in the stroller when he stood and faced backwards to watch a roof construction project they were leaving behind. He executes maneuvers like this as if they’re practiced.

Sat 10 Jun 06
Grannie was going to skip coming up this weekend because of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge construction. “If you wait till next weekend, you’re going to miss it,” I told her. “Already he’s twice as sure on his feet, and going three or four times as far.” We picked her up from the Metro so she could enjoy his burgeoning independence.

The daring soul surprised us by standing up in his wagon today while en route.

Thurs 8 Jun 06
His first deliberate steps! The couch provided the confidence he needed, allowing him to crash forward into it as he stepped toward his mom. After awhile we shifted to the open floor, where we spent the better part of an hour laughing and cheering as he staggered gleefully between us. What a magic day.