Sunday, June 28, 2009

Facial!

Brown has taken some HUGE "strides" in his walking over the last week. He is LOVING walking, and does not seem to enjoy crawling nearly as much as he did a couple of weeks ago. He gets really excited and starts walking so fast that he is almost trotting (or stumbling forward) and he raises both of his arms up in the air so that he looks exactly like an orangutan walking. Sometimes, a drunk orangutan.

Well, a couple of days ago he happen to be trotting on some asphalt and tripped and face-planted. Since his arms were up in the air, he had nothing to catch himself with but the tip of his nose. And then he did it again but this time he caught himself with his forehead. Poor guy. He looks AWFUL! We keep trying to hold his hand so he won't do it again, but Mr. Independent likes trying to do it on his own and will sometimes start crying and try to run away when we reach for his hand. Ahhhhh... good times ahead. He obviously hasn't looked at himself in the mirror lately, or he might decide that holding mommy or daddy's hand isn't such a horrible thing after all.

Even though he looks terrible, he's in great spirits and it doesn't seem to bother him at all.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Food Fights

Brown officially entered training for the world championship in food fights. Though his small size and lack of experience may be hindrances, his backhanded technique has improved to the point where he can hit a wall at 5 paces and he can make his mom beat her head against that same wall in a matter of 30 seconds. The funny thing about his training is that he seems to have fun doing it and we simply do not enjoy it at all. In fact, if you are looking to start a traveling team, please call us. If you call right in the middle of one of his training episodes, we might gladly loan him to you for a while. His crowning achievement this week occurred when he thumped a strawberry from the kitchen bar to the white upholstery on a chair at the table across the room at his Nana’s house. The accuracy, the stain and the complete lack of remorse has earned him a position of food chucker on the varsity food fight team. His final training begins this Sunday as we take him to Harrison Bay for a 2 week mission project (see posts from June/July 08). He is disappointed that there will be no white upholstery to make his mark, though I have assured him he will figure out some way to continue his training.He is being very helpful here by pointing to where he threw the chunk of banana. Such a little helper bee.

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Thursday, June 4, 2009

First dates



Chris and I were talking the other night about how when two people first begin to date, there is a freshness there, a newness that permeates the entire relationship.

What is she going to think about this?
How will she look today?
Will she think this joke is funny?
What are her parents like?
I wonder if she likes sports?
Would she rather have chocolate, or ice cream?
Or both!

Whether you are talking about dating relationships or friendships, there is something special about those first few months that may fade after you have learned many of these new surface traits. Finding these things out is exciting and is part of what gives so much energy to the relationship without even very much effort.

I have decided that having and infant / toddler in the house has many similarities. Just when you think you have learned what makes him smile, what he likes to eat, or when he likes to sleep, he goes and changes up the whole routine, not to mention the physical changes and abilities that seem to crop up every day. We were looking at some pictures from just a season ago and there was the picture of Brown without really any hair at all. Was he ever that bald? I don't even recall that. To compare it to a dating relationship (aside from being sort a strange comparison), it is like we are constantly going on a first date.

What will he be like today?
Will he stand up from a sitting position without having to grab hold of the couch today? Yes!!
Will he really eat that fresh bean? Yes!
Will he walk over here and give me kiss on the cheek? Fat chance - too many toys to play with...

As I sit here at the desk and write this, I wonder what is changing about him now. What schemes is he dreaming up that will send his parents into fits of laughter this evening? We will keep you posted.