Dat Boy

You know how they say we don't use all of our brain power? Well that's how I feel when I realize what Holden has been trying to communicate. It makes me wonder about all the other sounds, pointing, exclamations and crying he does. How much of it do I really understand? I am not saying he is pointing out gravity or trying to tell Daddy about love, I just mean that when I realize his request or observation I am touched by the sign of intelligence and humbled by how poor a teacher I am.

I have blogged long enough about all the cute good things Holden does, now for some of the bad. He is in a throwing stage: rocks, balls, music instruments and toys. He never throws food. The other day he was sitting on the couch and had a ball, when he cocked it back both Mommy and Daddy looked at him sternly and said "NO". Break - I realize it is a ball, which is meant for throwing but we are trying to keep it an outside only activity.  Well, what seemed like an eternity passed as he held the ball high over his head. You could see his wheels turning as he mulled our warning, nay our command! Finally he decided to...throw the ball! It was so funny that Laila had to leave the room and Daddy had to act upset.

Music class has started back up again every Saturday morning. Holden is with a new group and is much more outgoing than last year. I say this truthfully, he is one of the better dancers, as he is one of the only dancers. He still cant walk all that great, so his move is to stand in place and do the Booty Pop a la Beyonce. Today, however, he took nine steps in Mommy's presence.

Holden continues to take trips to the beach, park, library, commissary and local food joints.  Here are some pictures of his adventures.

Smoothies at the Vegetarian place

Hangin at the park

Moray Eels at the Locals Free Sunday KW Aquarium

Holden loves birds and notices solo fliers as well

We had to make adjustments to car seat

He treated as his LazyBoy

Holden abhors order...

and any structure Daddy builds..

DESTROY!

Daddy got promoted to Master Sergeant - I don't know what they are looking at

An interesting part in the book

Mommy laid him here and he just stared at her

fascinated by the gator

KW nude beach

Times like these

Strange weather today here in Key West

Good morning all. How does it feel to almost fall off of a cliff and then be rescued by a group of bureaucrats? Pretty good right? I mean, thank the stars for a democracy of dunces. We watched Lincoln the other day (which was outstanding) and the modern comparison is stark. The 1865 House of Representatives was somehow able to do good with Lincoln's prodding, despite a prejudiced party. The movie is enough to give good faith, while imperceptible, to the current House.

Mommy taught Holden how to use a fork, he loves it.

  

Well, Holden has no idea about any of that and he seems pretty happy. So Daddy will take a cue from his son and heir (We have been watching a lot of Downton Abbey) and find joy in things like bath time, graham crackers (we call them cookies) and dishwashers. Holden took, and continues to take, baby steps toward a thing called "walking". Daddy will stand Holden up a few feet away from a bed or couch and have him walk to it. Holden then takes a couple of steps, enough to get close and then falls forward, arms outstretched. We reason he is perhaps too tall to be graceful at this point, he is still in the 95th percentile. Holden now has more books and toys than he knows what to do with. His favorite toy is a used Ricotta cheese container and a bouncy ball. He "loads" the ball into the cup and then raises it above his head. He then rotates the cup, dropping the ball to the ground while saying, "FIRE!". It sounds more like "FIYAHHH!". Okay, Daddy may have taught him to "Load the cannon!", "Prepare to Fire!" and "Fire!".

 

Walking to Daddy

FIRE!

 He continues to learn his own anatomy and can point out his bellybutton and nipples. We also struggle at times to keep his belly full; as he eats as much as Mommy per meal and has a snack in the morning and afternoon.

His vocabulary includes the following but is not limited to, Mamma, Dada, Uh-Oh, Nana (banana), Wow and this.  He can sign hungry, phone, tired and breast milk. Holden now only has breastmilk or "mehmeh" in the evening and early morning.  Today he played quite the clever ruse on Mommy by crying when he was supposed to be napping. So Mommy went in, he's standing and giving her the "mehmeh" sign. So she picks him up, lays him down and he lays there with teet in mouth looking at her, pretending to suckle! He never did take his morning nap...

Best thing: Holden reading by himself

Old man Holden tending his garden