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