پانزده - 15

Oranges in the bath like a boss

Key West was slammed Saturday by a "Southernmoster", a powerful winter cell, that dropped the mercury to 64 degrees! This is a jab at our New England readership. Holden has been in sweat pants and socks and enjoying the cool breezes. Locals look like New Yorkers with scarves about their faces and long coats. Today the sun is shining on his 15 month birthday. A newly weened Holden now makes constant sounds, walks everywhere and understands the processes of appliances, like how to fill water jugs at the grocery store and how to start the washing machine and dryer. He can also ask for many things. He mainly asks for food out of habit. For example, any time he arrives at home from a car ride he will signal "hungry" bringing hand to mouth repeatedly, whether he is or not.

Blueberries for Holden

Lounging with 9 month old Alise

His most favorite things to point out are bubbles, trash receptacles and military helicopters, lately in abundance in and around Key West in preparation for a Naval air show. He calls the helicopters, "Dada!" since Mommy has told him sometimes Daddy is on board.

As I type this post Holden has walked to my side and slapped his hand, simulating a corrective slap. We first thought that he was trying to clap. I will admit Daddy has spanked Holden's hand once or twice to enforce safety. In this case the lad knows he cannot touch the laptop so he spanks himself like a flagellating priest. Despite all the disciplinary tones of this anecdote we found it quite funny and terribly cute. He has now retired to his tent to read for about two minutes after which he will exit and return to the computer on my lap for another probing mission. So is life and Freud would say, this is his obsessive and defiant phase, until he turns three.

Today, the toy baby we are simulating as a future sibling was thrown by Holden. In what I can only assume was an action for attention and not something nefarious; Holden's friend Corinne at that same moment was across town trying to change the diaper of her toy baby.

Holden had a fun time at the Florida Keys Eco Center last week, exploring the aquarium and underwater sea lab simulation. He went with a friend of his named Alexander, a local boy he sees at the library's toddler story time. At music class, like story time, he constantly moves about  often standing directly in front of the teacher, about a foot away. When the lights are dimmed for quiet time he demands the lights be turned on and yells "Nooooo!" when it is time for the, "Good-bye Song".

Inspecting the Eco Center's reef-like mural

"The regulator hose reduces high pressure air and delivers it to a diver", at least that what he was probably thinking.

Buttons!