Its a Boy!

Holden received a free house courtesy of a family that has out grown it.

Starting future half back for the Tiger soccer team. Is there one?

Old man at the country store

Holden has begun the arduous journey that is potty training. Although just a blip in the memory of older parents, anyone in the middle of convincing a toddler to sit on a toilet will tell you it's no day at the beach. Holden has peed twice on the floor and pooped once in his new floor level toilet. The last triumph earned him two baby M&Ms, barely enough to taste in my opinion. Yes, some may call this a no-no of parenting. Some may even call it a bribe. Whatever it is, this incentive has yet to prove effective. Today Mommy left them out and Holden walked into the bathroom and simply demanded M&Ms.

"Holden! No Sir, do not drain water from that cooler!"

"I wasn't doin nuthin"

When I was single I used to cringe at parents who used incentive style talking to their children to get their attention. It hit me like a ton of bricks the other day as I am trying to coax Holden out of the car describing all the great things he can do inside. In the end I had to physically remove him. And to think I thought that my spoken word would be enough. Often it is a game to toddlers and it is hard not to want to play along.

Holden has thrown some serious tantrums recently with no indication of what is wrong, growing pains? Of course he is the only and soon to be oldest child so perhaps receives more concern and scrutiny than is necessary.

Holden's little brother

And now for any who did not know: Laila, Holden and I found out last week that "G-II" will be a BOY! No names as of yet but will keep everyone posted, honestly we were thinking mostly of girl names so this changes things. We asked Holden what his brother's name should be an he said, "No". I said, "No aint no name I ever heard of!" So we are still spit balling here at Casa de Griffin.

Toddler swimming lessons at the Key's community college

Holding on to the gunwale

Releasing to Daddy

He likes this now

The Prodigious Son Returns

 Mommy and Holden finally came home from California. Daddy had forgotten he was a family man and had done nothing but eat pizza, drink beer and wash whites and colors together. Holden had been told the day before he left that he would see Daddy the very next day. So he didnt sleep well the night before his travels, babbling about Daddy all night long and waking up at 3 am P.S.T.
Mommy, being the trooper she is, brought him and all luggage back safely to Key West after three stops in three different time zones. Holden took a couple of nights to adjust back to Key West time and weather but has re-synced his routine nicely.

"What do they do here Mommy?"

"You said there is what in this oatmeal?!"

Baller

His days in California consisted of checking the chicken coop egg supply with Grandpa, walking around the community common lawn and gardens, hippie fellowship at the Davis farmers market and traveling by train to downtown Sacramento to see the old train station. 

Holden doesn't necessarily have a robust new vocabulary but shows an increasing aptitude to mimic adult speech and try new words out at a rapid pace. You know those studies that indicate people say "No" more times a day than "Yes", meaning we are too critical or too lazy? Well, Holden in my opinion has exhausted not only his use of the word "No" but Mommy and Daddy's as well, all withing 17 months of age. He says "No" for yes, for "more", for danger and just because the sun is out.

Daddy is the usual closer in Holden's nighttime routine and reads and sings to Holden right before he goes to sleep. Well, the other night he didn't want Mommy to go just yet so he lay between us on a bed while Daddy read. He started passing his hand to Mommy's mouth for a kiss then to Daddy's, then back again. Well, a little time passed and Daddy for some reason kissed Holden's foot. Holden then thinks for a second and while on his back, does a full split so both parents can have a face full of Holden feet to kiss on!

It was pretty funny. He is in his cuddle phase and likes to get affection from us. Oh! and you may notice Holden got a haircut, well it happened with much lamentation I was told.

Balloons are tough to share

Cyrus the Great

Bubbles with Gramma

Reading with Papa Harry

Cheese the Day with Grandpa Perry