Longer Days, Shorter Naps

A bit of social commentary. The alarming use of observed cell phone activity by mommies and nannies at parks has motivated Mommy and Daddy to limit their use. If your child observes you staring at a device all day, what does the child learn? I was just as guilty of it until Mommy pointed out that Holden will question his value compared to the iPhone 5. I guess in the big picture the parent has had their time to text, talk and browse so why not edify the new mind with books, discovery and learning. That is the plan anyway.

Touches the helicopter and says, "Daddy" over and over.

Holden exhausted after maneuvering through spring breakers on budgets in Publix.

Genteel Holden gave up his throne to his lady friend, Corinne. 

Some sort of baby communication happening here.

Teamwork. Looking for a ball.

Holden's friend Alexi putting on a scooter clinic

Yesterday was the Preschool Co-op Spring Fair complete with rides, petting zoos, Easter Egg hunts and crafts. The weather was perfect and almost every one of Holden's friends were present. There was just one thing amiss, Holden was imitating a colicky infant due to a rough night of sleep. So there will be no pictures form this event as it was cancelled by a helpless Mommy and Daddy.
As I type this Mommy is giving Holden his customary evening bath. She is explaining daylight savings time to him and how he may be confused because of how bright his room will seem at bedtime. Lately, since being weaned he wakes less often and self soothes. We rarely have to go in now. However, thanks to the US government issued cottage bungalow we still hear every cry, whimper and cough as if he is in the room. In case you guys have not noticed Holden C is, BLONDE. If he didn't look so much like Daddy I would suggest an Icelandic milk man had seduced Mommy.
Holden did well again at music class, running around the room more than any other kid. I say this is good because the first semester he would rarely leave my lap. Holden had to buy new pajamas because his current ones couldn't cover his enormous belly as he walked around. Holden likes going for evening walks and is still the community custodian, identifying all trash by announcing, "guck!' and then throwing the guck away.

We still do our part to limit our environmental footprint and use cloth diapers but I feel like Mommy should get an award. Holden waits to take his constitutionals when he wakes up in his crib. This makes it difficult to sit him on the potty and encourage a proper passage. This means that most of the messier...messes are dealt with on cloth. Well, I guess you get the picture I am just saying that being a Mommy is hard. So here's to all the Mommies!

A newly forward facing Holden. Seems unimpressed with traffic.

I will leave you with an amazing story of communication. Holden and Mommy were reading on the couch and he eloquently asked for  what I think is his last request for breast milk. The genius, touches Mommy's chest, then signals the following, "MehMeh" "Eat" "More". He has not breast fed in weeks! Daddy for the record has never seen the sign for "MehMeh" or breast milk.

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!

Big Brother

I love babies!

             This September, god willing, Holden will be a big brother!  Yes it is a long way off but we are hopeful and excited. Daddy wonders how another baby could be as great as Holden but anything is possible, right? Mommy is glowing and fine. She craves mashed potatoes and loves naps. When not taking care of Holden and house she looks for names. I am thinking, Holden II. Any suggestions?

             We are pretty bummed that the last doctor no longer practices, Holden was one of her last deliveries. We are considering asking Ina May Gaskin since I think most of the doctors in Key West were trained in veterinary school. I would like to submit a diatribe on our current doctor since he may not read this. The man has zero bed side manner and talks to Mommy like she is a dumb-dumb. Mommy asked about skipping all ultra sounds except the 20 week and he starts off saying how that is not a good idea and we need to know things, etc. Well, this puts him on a soap box for about 15 minutes talking to us like we are 13. At the end he says he guesses we could skip all those but then he wont get insurance for his fancy new 3D ultrasound! Well he didn't say that exactly but dealing with these guys makes me wish for a different time.

 

 

Holden has been showing signs of being a lefty which in our culture means he is.....I don't know, creative? I tell you what is not creative, waking up at 3 am crying and when Daddy picks him up he goes from upset to furious. Furious at being awake is my only guess but we are still learning here.  I have learned that I think we can handle this multiplied by two.
Holden loves to say "moon" and can spot it day or night. He is a wiz with the garden hose and loves to throw away trash. He will ask for a napkin and mock dab his dirty face while eating and then request to throw it away. Today while reading with Daddy, Holden was asked if he wanted to go for a walk. He got up immediately and speed waddled to the door and stood there like a dog. Well I asked him where his shoes were and he started looking for them. Once he had his Velcro Merrells on we went on a "walkabout". He walked around pointing out dogs and airplanes. Holden even helped Daddy take the recycling and trash out. After doing this Holden found a piece of grass in the street and declared it "ICK!" which meant it must be thrown away. He then walked about 20 meters, all the way to the recycling and put it in.

Saw this phone and asked to call "Dada" with his hand to his face

No more staying still for photos unless he is eating

Mommy said he read by himself for the longest yet today

Holden went to a birthday party a week ago for his friend Blaine, the one with the toy Cadillac Escalade. At the party while sitting on Daddy's lap a dog came up and licked Daddy's pant leg leaving much drool. Well Holden picked up a napkin from the table and took care of it. What a guy!
Holden kind of liked the dog, the bounce house and other kids. What he really liked was eating popcorn while sitting in a chair and watching it all. Today he went to play with his old pal, Corinne. They played well together; playing hide and seek and shared sip cups.

Holden being sociable at the party. Mommy said he sat in that chair for an HOUR!

This is how Holden eats sandwiches. Pulls apart the bread and licks off the good stuff

Sorry for the photos lately, we have been using our phones and leaving the Canon Rebel behind.

A Little Personality Goes a Long Way.....

Lil Clam Digger

HAPPY MARDI GRAS!

Holy Hell this is hard! The cute days are over. Personality has set in. This guy is assertive if he is a quarter Persian and Mommy even called him "strong willed" today. And observant?! Don't think he didn't see those cheerios in your purse because he did and will expect them, most expeditiously. His social life is busy and diverse, sometimes he is seen exchanging "NO!"s with a girl at the library over a toy. Or throwing a ball at a boys nose from a foot away thinking that is how catch works. His throw technique is to hold an object close to his chest and look mischievously at nothing in particular then with lightning speed cocks his arm behind his head and releases on a downward strike. It is his release that prevents great damage to our home and faces. His throws rarely go past him and often behind him!

The Reading Tent

He still only likes soft vegetables as he lacks many teeth, he has only eight today. One thing he does have a lot of is falls on his booty. I now remember why we have bottoms as often as I see Holden fall down. He loves to walk about the house and talk to himself, even telling himself, "no" (or maybe us?). By far his mission in life is to go to the drawer that holds his sip cups, remove one cup and cap, proceed to the water cooler and attempt to draw water from it. His basic dexterity has prevented him from emptying our five gallon jug but that day is coming. His walk is more of a waddle but he appears to be picking it up nicely.

 His least favorite activity is having his teeth brushed. Once he has sucked the flavored tooth paste off of the brush he will treat the entire process as torture. Every night he expects his screams to be heard by neighbors who will rush to his aide despite both parents only trying to clean his central incisors.

He knows how to fart now and will giggle and show his eight teeth. Even though we say "Excuse me" every time. I think he thinks that is the phrase that means flatulence.  Well the other night Daddy had bath duty and he is just farting up a storm both of us giggling as Mommy isn't around. Well the natural occurrence happens and he soils his bath water while standing. He starts crying, I've got him draped over one arm thinking of the correct sequence of events and staring at the doodoo. Just then Mommy walks in and handles it like a champ. That's what I get for playing fart-fart games with a 1.3 year old. Well, the next day at a play date with three other Mommies Holden wasn't being a giving host.  Mommy begins telling the story and once at the climax all the Mommies start yelling "NOOOO!", well he hears this and starts yelling "No!" right back at them as if he knew the story was about him.

Holden did not enjoy sharing with the beautiful ladies who visited

Holden at Daddy's work

Despite the fussiness and picky eating he makes it all worth it when you see how happy he is after a nap, or gives you his big smile or lets you read a whole book to him. Holden enjoyed Gran Gran Griffin coming to visit and her sweet digs at the Casa Marina, a Holden favorite by now. Picture below is one of his "blankies", a Linus security blanket if you will. This is not his most prized however. No, that distinction belongs to a dog boat captain named "Skip-It", given by his second cousin Jennifer. It is amazing, any tantrum is quickly neutralized by Skip-it. Not that we let him have it all the time, usually only before bed. But if he gets it, no matter where he is, he will lay down in the prone and feign slumber, it's crazy!