Higher

(Evan just waking up)

Evan is always trying to get a leg up on Nathan. And on the sofa, on the bed, on the chair... He's really into climbing things. He was trying to climb onto a storage bin this week, and I was busy across the room. He kept throwing his leg up, trying to leverage his knee on the edge and pull up. Grunting, falling over, fussing... I was just letting him work at it, not expecting him to succeed. Moments later, I heard a triumphant, "Yesss...Haaaa!!" I looked over, and there he was, dancing on the container. I clapped and congratulated him as I moved toward him. I wanted to get him down before he took a dive. He knew what I was after, so he lunged for the bed next to the container. He almost made it right over the other side of the bed as I caught his foot and pulled him back while he giggled delightfully. He is definitely fearless! Just last night he turned over a small storage bucket from he and Nathan's room and climbed up on it with hands up to the sky, yelling, "Aaaaaaa..." Look out, trees!

The Recycler

Have I mentioned that Nathan loves to help? One thing he likes to do is place recyclables in our recycle container. He is quickly learning what is and what is not recyclable. He is always asking if this or that is recyclable. "Can we recycle ________, Daddy?" is a daily (and often recycled) question. A few mornings back, we were all eating breakfast and Nathan was helping to clean up the kitchen. Having finished his cereal, he brought his bowl and spoon to the sink and threw away his napkin. I was trying to get Evan to eat some more oatmeal, when I noticed Nathan throwing the morning's paper into the recycle bin. "What are you doing with the paper, Nathan?" "We have to recycle it, Daddy!" "Ok, but how about letting me read it first, pal?!"

The Bouncer

So, yeah, continuing Evan's pudding-induced adventures...

Nathan used to spend a lot of time in his "bouncy seat". Naps, general hanging out, etc. Evan would rather have his tonsils removed with no anesthesia. Unless it's in a moving vehicle, or there is food on a tray in front of him, he HATES confinement. Nevertheless, I had to strap him into the old bouncy recently so I could shower. He squirmed, screamed, and scratched at that thing (and at me) until I got him out of it. It was ten minutes of absolute insanity!

It was later that same evening that someone lost their mind and gave the boy AN ENTIRE CHOCOLATE PUDDING CUP just before bed time. In our bedroom, the bouncy seat sat waiting. Evan must have heard me call it a "bouncy" seat. He just doesn't understand the "seat" part yet. He climbed up into the seat, facing the back. It was backed up against the footboard of our bed. He grabbed the back of it, stood up, and began bouncing up and down like some rodeo cowboy, laughing so hard that he fell right off! Before I could get to him, he was back on, riding off into the sunset as Nathan encouraged him with his own laughter. I decided to rescue him from his own madness, when he let go of the back and put his hands up in the air, bouncing and laughing. I'm planning a trip to Six Flags for his two-year birthday!

No Pudding After 8!

Our boys go to bed a little later than other kids. They do this because they get up later, too. It works best for our schedule not to have them awake at 6AM. That said, there are certain things we try to avoid. Feeding Evan an ENTIRE cup of CHOCOLATE, sugary pudding at 10 PM is one of those things. Laura now understands this. (I've seen Tigger bounce like that on TV!)

Snuggly Soft

Evan is a little helper, like his big brother. He often brings us things - sometimes random, sometimes very appropriate. He really likes to share (unless it's a banana - more on that another time). This past Saturday, I had gone to the grocery store while Laura and the boys slept in. When I returned, everyone was in the kitchen. I placed several of the grocery bags on the floor as I unloaded the car. Evan eagerly and excitedly (arms waving up and down) started to help me unpack. He pulled a can of beans out of one bag and walked over to the slightly open pantry door. He opened the door, raised the can over his head toward the shelf, and said something that sounded like "THIS!" as he looked back for my approval. I helped him with the cans before any toes were smashed (remember that, mom?), and continued with another bag. Laura was at the sink, Nathan was at the table, eating, and no one saw Evan helping with the Snuggle fabric softener. I heard his excited voice along with the "glug, glug..." sound of liquid leaving a bottle, the heavy aroma of "blue sparkle" filling the room, while Nathan exclaimed, "Oh, MAN! Look at all that MESS!"...

(Yes, the camera was right there on the counter, as I had just shot some footage of his helping with the groceries.)

About 50 of the 60 loads in the bottle were all over the kitchen floor (better than the living room floor!). I know he unscrewed the bottle cap. I just don't know if it was already loose (from some weak-wristed, sniffing shopper?) or if he just man-handled it. He is very strong - just try changing his diaper by yourself!

Mini-Wheat Monster

Nathan loves mini-wheats (the frosted ones, of course). Recently, there were only a few left in the box along with a small pile of shreds in the bottom. Nathan was willing to eat the shreds, so we fixed his bowl with milk and set him up at the table. I was in the living room with Evan (or so I thought). I suddenly realized that Nathan was in the living room playing where Evan had just been, and there was a curious silence from Evan. I called to him as I headed for the kitchen. There he was, with Nathan's spoon lifted up over his head as milk and shredded wheat ran down his arm. A small trail of milk and (sticky) shredded wheat lead back to a large pile just under the table's edge. (Did I mention that Evan can reach table and counter tops?) I turned back to realize Evan still had the bowl in his left hand, waving it (and dripping sticky goo) across the kitchen. I went to pick him up and prevent the further spread of stickiness, when he darted away like Reggie Bush in the Dallas Cowboys' Secondary! I used to wonder why some parents placed hard-soled shoes on babies who are just learning to walk, as they limit their mobility. Suddenly, I was trying to remember where Evan's new shoes were, and how quickly I might get them on his feet. (You know, they limit his mobility!) That boy moves as fast as his big brother talks!

Not For The Squeamish!

If you are easily disturbed or sickened by the thought of sick baby emissions, just skip this one! (FOR THE SAKE OF EVERYONE AROUND YOU, STOP READING, PAW-PAW LEW!!)

Ok, so Evan had some little virus that had him sick for about six days. He wasn't feverish. He wasn't whiney. He was just as happy and hungry as ever. But, when he had to go... he had to BLOW! Yep, thankfully his little bout with diarrhea was limited to him alone! (Well, there were quite a few incidences involving his clothing, and that one big leak on the carpet, but no other people caught the bug.) Along with other diet adjustments, we were steadily giving him Gerber LiquiLytes - an electrolyte solution to help keep him hydrated (it tastes better than Pedialyte, and costs a little less). Nathan wanted to know why he couldn't drink Evan's juice. I explained to him that it was a special juice for when you are sick. He coughed a little and claimed that he, too, was sick and needed some of that juice. "Nice try, buddy!" I told him, as I explained this juice was especially for babies/kids who have been throwing up a lot or have diarrhea. He was cool with that.

Two nights later, while while the boys and I were lying on the bed, Nathan passed gas rather loudly. "Oh, MAN!" I exclaimed, "WHAT was THAT?!" He laughed and informed me he had "tooted". "Whew, buddy! That sure is stinky!" I teased. He thought for a moment, then asked, "Do I need to drink some of Evan's diarrhea juice?"

"No, son. No you don't. And let's just call that juice "LiquiLytes" from now on, ok?"

Birthday Boy

Evan's birthday fell on Thanksgiving Day, and we couldn't be more thankful that he is a part of our family! Enjoy the pic's...


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Simple Pleasures

I always enjoy seeing the boys light up with excitement over simple things. For example, one day this week I bought some Dixie Cups for the bathroom - with the characters from "CARS" (the movie) on them. Nathan was so excited! He ran around singing about them and proceeded to take ALL of them out of the box to examine the variety of characters listed. (DIXIE CUPS!! I could have wrapped them for Christmas!) Evan had his own moment of simple pleasure... I was helping Nathan with something in his room, when I suddenly realized I had left the bathroom door open. I realized this fact when I heard the sound of the toilet seat clang open followed by giggling and SPLASHING! I made sure to splash those hands in some warm, anti-bacterial soapy water right afterward. (I wonder if there's a connection there to Evan's recent bout with diarrhea)

Dangerous

Nathan is dangerous! I mean that in a good way. Actually, he's much more cautious than Evan, but he still attempts some stunts that are more dangerous than safe. Case in point: I walked into his room the other day to see this...

Baby, It's Co-o-old Outside!

(You have to sing the title in a Dean Martin style voice for effect!)

It was finally cold enough (40's) yesterday to bundle the boys up. The sun was out, countering the chilly wind, and we headed out into the great big world of our front yard/drive. Throwing the football, wrestling in the leaves (and acorns - ouch!), shooting hoops, having a pic-nic in Nathan's wagon, laughing at Evan walking in real shoes for the first time (high-stepping with curious frustration), the boys battling over who would be "king of the road" (Nathan on his trike, or Evan with his walk-behind walker), laying on our backs while admiring the bright blue sky through the oak branches, and all of this infused with much laughter. Days like that make great memories!

Mad Lips

Dinner was served. It was taco salad night. Nathan, Evan and I were all chowing down on our meaty meal while someone was playing football on the TV in the background. It was an all-boy moment. Then, all of a sudden Nathan's expression changed. He had several Mission Tortilla Chips in a row with his meal, and they were a little salty. He looked at me with his serious face and said, "Daddy! These chips are making my lips mad!"

COMMENTS

Ok, so some of you have attempted to leave comments in the past, never to see them appear on the blog. Just recently, I converted the blog from the "old" version of blogger to the "new and improved" beta version. (yada, yada, yada...) When I did this, about FIFTEEN comments appeared for approval which I had never seen before! I was so happy to see them that I approved all of them - although most were months old. Anyway, please feel free to comment, and make your own contribution to the boys' blog. I'm sure one day, when I turn their little stories into personalized books, they will read them with enjoyment!

User Error

Nathan deleted an e-mail draft I was almost finished with - when asked what he was doing, he said he was trying to find "Switchfoot" - one of his (our) favorite bands. I'm sure one day we might not share the same musical taste, but for now it saves on music purchases!

Packs a Punch

Evan is very strong. He is a very physical little guy. When he wants to get somewhere (or away), he's extremely hard to wrestle into submission. Sometimes, he's attempting to show affection but he does so with such force that we're left in pain. For example, he loves to nuzzle up to us and give us hugs. That's fine. It's not fine, however, when he does this quickly and forcefully while leading with his forehead. All of us have received Evan's "kung-fu head-butt of love" and we have the bruises to prove it. Recently, I was holding him and he was sleepy. He was fighting sleep, so he would plop his head on my shoulder for a moment and then pop up like a little "Evan-in-the-box". He would look around, smile at me and then plop back onto my shoulder. I looked at him during one of his pop-ups and, as he smiled sleepily at me, said, "give daddy a hug, buddy!" He smiled, stretched out his arms, and punched me in the nose with his fist! When I could see again, he was still smiling sweetly at me. No more hugs for daddy - Evans hugs really pack a punch!

Fresh Pic-ings, II

The Conversationalist

con.ver.sa.tion.al.ist [kon-ver-sey-shuh-nl-ist] –noun - a person who enjoys and contributes to good conversation; an interesting person in conversation.

We were outside, visiting with our next door neighbors. Laura and Liz were talking about various remodeling projects, ideas, etc. Liz asked a question about some plumbing work we had done a while back relating to our hot water line. Within our conversation, I explained to Liz that our water heater lines ran to and from the attic from our hall bathroom. Nathan, who had been playing close by, piped up when he heard me talking about the bathroom and the attic...

"And there's a vent fan in the bathroom, too!" he said, joining the conversation.
"That's right, buddy!" I replied.

He continued, "And the vent fan sucks all the poopy smell up into the attic!"

Amidst the outbursts of laughter, I confirmed, "Yes. Yes it does, son."

Where's the Baby?

Ok, so I know that you all want to see the latest pics of Evan, after the shots of Nathan last post...

Attacking the swing mobile

Attacking the spoon

Peek-A-Boo

Watching "Baby Einstein" Video

Daddy's favorite view in the car

Express Yourself

Here are some of the facial expressions Nathan is learning. He often interrupts me to describe or question my expressions so he knows the proper time to use them himself.

(He named these himself, by the way)

Happy Face

Tired Face

Silly Face
Spanking Face

Oh Man! Face

DOGGONIT!

The phrase echoed through the night air. It was a familiar voice. It rang out from the back of the house. It was ELEVEN O'CLOCK AT NIGHT. I was at the street in front of the house, bringing the trash out. I quickened my pace toward the back door. "DOGGONIT! It's RAINING! DOGGONIT!..." He must have repeated himself five times or more. I imagined sleeping neighbors turning over in their beds and cursing us. I anticipated the chain reaction dog barking episode that might follow over the next hour. I wondered, "WHERE IS THAT BOY'S MOTHER?!!" (She was trying to wrestle Evan, by the way, who was trying to get into something in the bathroom) I came around the corner of the back patio and made eye contact with Nathan. "WHAT are you doing?!" I asked quietly but forcefully. He gave me his serious face, though it was softened by my own frustration, and said in a loud whisper, "DOGGONIT! It's RAINING!" I took a deep breath and said quietly, "Go in the house, son." He took a deep breath and said quietly, "Yes, sir." I think he got it.

Swim Lessons

So the boys had their first swimming lessons last Thursday (10.12.06). Evan was a little fish! He splashed and kicked and blew bubbles and jumped and lay on his back and had at least five or more supervised submersions. His instructor said, "Wow, Evan, you're definitely a water baby!" Nathan was the exact opposite. He didn't want to get in the water, and when he finally did, he wanted to stay on the "island" - a platform in the pool that placed him waist-high in the water when standing. He did blow bubbles in the water and splash and kick, but was adamant about not leaving the security of the island. I peeled him away into the pool for a few minutes of the session, but while the other child in the session was very free and trusting of her mom, Nathan had both legs and arms wrapped tightly around me and refused to let go with even one of them to float or move about. Not even my most sincere promises of not dunking him could convince him. I guess he saw enough of Evan's adventures to believe the "worst". We'll see how next week goes, when Laura will be out of town!

What's In There?

Where did we get/buy ____? (the bed, the clock, that car...) We get these questions ALL DAY LONG. Tonight, it was, "Where did you buy Nathan?" We explained that we didn't "get" or "buy" him. We told him he was conceived by mommy and daddy and grew inside mommy's tummy until it was time to come out. "And there's babies in Daddy's belly, too!" he said. "No," I replied, "There are no babies in Daddy's belly - just some food!" Nathan continued, "And some water, and some juice, and some grapes, and some taco salad...and some ICE CREAM!" He was correct on everything but the last item. Laughing, I said, "Not yet, but we can work on that ice cream together!"

Scared

We were all in the kitchen. Laura was feeding Evan. Nathan was helping me prepare lunch. I don't remember exactly what fell, but the noise was extremely LOUD! Everyone jumped and there was a brief pause to assess what happened. Nathan spoke up, "Oh Man! That scared my ears, Daddy!"

Grams

Nathan has been dealing with child fear issues lately. He's had a couple of night fear issues in particular. One was the cicadas from early summer - he calls them "oob-oobs", because that's how he describes their sound. Lately, he has been afraid of "the grams". What are "the grams"? I wish we knew! He says they are round and they make a "ding-dong" sound. It's very curious, but he has been very fearful of dark rooms (especially his) at night because of these "grams". We've prayed with him and I've gone into his room with a big flyswatter and "chased those grams away". Still, he sometimes says, "those grams are not gonna get you!" when it's time for bed. It sure is hard to be a dragon slayer for my son when his dragons are invisible!

Say What You Mean

I'm one of those people who tries to be literal when using directions. Since we live in South Louisiana, there aren't many places we visit "down" anywhere. If we go to Dallas, we go "up" to Dallas. If we go to Baton Rouge or Houston, we go "over". If we go to Orlando, we go "down". When we adjust our thermostat, we adjust it "up" for a warmer temperature, and "down" for a cooler one. If someone asks me to turn "up" the air, we assume they mean warmer. Recently, I replaced our old manual thermostat with a digital one. The old one had a dial, the new one has buttons. The day after we (Nathan and I) installed it, I was putting him down for a nap. I was sitting with him for a moment, when I realized it was a little warm in his room. I got up and told him I was going to go "turn the air down". He sat up and corrected me, "You don't turn it down, Daddy! You push it down!" I can't get anything past that kid! (Not even the things that get past me!)

The Sound of Music

I may have mentioned before that Laura's all-time favorite movie is The Sound of Music. Nathan has come to like it, as well. He's learned a couple of songs (Do-Ra-Mi, and Favorite Things), which he enjoys singing around the house. I'm just glad that my sons are drawn to music (as most children are). Evan likes to rock back and forth or turn his head side to side when music catches his attention. He's most responsive to a hip-hop/dance style beat for now (the new Chrysler Aspen commercial really gets him excited, rocking back and forth). If he's standing, he'll semi-squat/stand up and down to the beat!

Evan wants to PLAY!

Evan is a very sweet baby. He also has an agressive side. When he wants something, he will risk his very life to get to it. There are not many times when he can be held one-handed. The two things he is most aggressive with is the bathtub and Nathan.

If you even go near a bathtub with Evan, he will fight tooth and nail to get in it! When it is bathtime, he yells and fights to get in while you undress him, and once inside the tub he loves to plant his face in what little water he hasn't already splashed out. Don't worry - he comes back up for air! Sometimes red-faced and slightly choking, but always with a smile and laughter. We're looking into swimming lessons for him now.

When it comes to his brother, Nathan, Evan wants to play about 90 % of the time. He loves to climb on, slap, pull, wrestle, etc. with Nathan. If Nathan is playing with his cars, Evan wants to play with the cars. Recently, Evan had one car while Nathan was lining up about fifteen of them along a window sill. Nathan grabbed Evan's car and took it from him. Evan fussed and looked to me for help. From across the room, I said, "You boys are going to have to work that out yourselves this time!" Evan turned toward Nathan, pushed him over, and with one sweep of his hand knocked the entire car convoy off the window sill. Now Nathan was the one fussing, as Evan grabbed his car from the floor and sat there smiling at Nathan. He will also attack Nathan while Nathan is sleeping, if he wants him to wake up and play!

They do have some moments of peacefulness throughout the day, like when they are sleeping or reading...

(this peaceful moment lasted all of about 32 seconds!)

Lawn Boy

Nathan has been somewhat scared of the trimmer and mower. He loves to look at them, and he has his own toy versions of them, but the sound levels they emit simply keep him hidden in the house when I'm using them. Today, September 26th, 2006, that came to an end. Nathan had been "mowing" last night while I barbequed in the back yard, and today he asked if I wanted to go outside and mow again. I told him I needed to, and he could help me with his mower. He hesitated, and then said that my mower was too loud. I informed him I would put earplugs in his ears like mine, and his eyes lit up with excitement. I instructed him to wear his hat and sunglasses (eye protection), and that he must follow me with his mower once we started. He watched me check the oil, add gas and prime the mower, then we plugged our ears.

He winced and shrugged nervously when I first started the mower, but I motioned for him to follow and I turned away to start mowing. I half anticipated him running back into the house and watching from the window as in times past. Not today! Today, he was "Lawn Boy"! He followed behind me for a little while and then I sensed my "shadow" was not immediately near. I looked back, and he had stopped to check one of the wheels. He then pulled a couple of times on his "starter cord", and then quickly caught up to me. He had such a "professional" expression that I laughed out loud (it's ok, he couldn't hear me).

I think if I remove the top section of my mower's handle bar, he can take care of things himself next week! Don't worry anybody! - I'll be sure to give him an allowance!

Going Someplace

Nathan loves going places. Today, he asked, "Daddy, do you wanna go for a ride?" I replied, "Where would you like to go?" Now, usually, I'll get things like, "the park", "Home Depot", "Wal-Mart", "bike ride", or some friend or relative. This time, he just wanted to go! He said, "We can just go down Pleasant View Drive and go some place where we can go!" I questioned, "And, what place is that?" He gave me a "quit-messing-with-me" look and said, "Just some place!"

I guess he had that "anywhere-but-here" feeling.

Hot Dog!

We were preparing a hot dog lunch. I asked Nathan if he was ready for some "hot doggies". He made a "don't-be-silly-Daddy" face and replied, "They're not hot doggies, Daddy!" I was disappointed in his lack of playfulness. Why did he have to be so serious? I was just having a little silly fun! Seconds after his first statement, he said with a big smile, "They're hot DIGGITY dogs!!" That's my boy!

Nathan's Day

On Sunday, we had a sort of "focus on Nathan" day. He'd been seemingly frustrated lately by the extra attention given to Evan (he's teething, starting to walk with assistance more, and in the "attachment" phase). Nathan had been disappointed that our Saturday evening bike ride had been rained out, so we went for a nice family ride (the boys have seats on our bikes) before lunch. Nathan announced he wanted to go to "that hamburger place" for lunch, so we hit Burger King for some vittles. As we were finishing up, I suggested we go home and give the boys some nap time. Nathan frowned and discouraged that, "You don't want to go home and take a nap, Daddy!" Then, his eyes got big, and he smiled at me like I do when I'm trying to make something seem like the best thing ever and said in a very excited voice, "Daddy! You wanna go to Home Depot?!" I couldn't help but smile, which fed his enthusiasm. "We can look at some oscillating fans and some lawn mowers! And we can look at those grills and all that stuff in there!" As Laura and I laughed out loud, I asked, "You think so?" He replied, "And we can go to Lowe's, too!" (They're across the street from each other here - aren't they everywhere?)

We had a great trip to Home Depot. (Lowe's is only for when you can't find it at Home Depot, as a last resort!) We saw fans ("Look at that big one there, Daddy!"), mowers ("See that big engine, Mommy?!"), grills (if my 2-1/2 year old can tear it up in 30 seconds, it's just not quality!), we played hide and seek in tub and shower displays (hey, that's what they're for! right?) and bought a new thermostat (which Nathan helped me install that evening - he's pretty handy with a cordless drill!).

With all that excitement, who needs Chuck E. Cheese?!

Pray it Again, Daddy!

Nathan has been going through a little season of acting out against Evan (and us). Slapping, kicking, pinching, pushing, and stepping on us are just some of the ways he's attacked us. After several repeated acts one evening (and no apparent response to disciplinary measures), I scooped him into my lap and held him close as I gently prayed over him for God's peace to fill his little heart and mind. I prayed for him to lose the desire to harm anybody, especially Evan. I also prayed that he would not even entertain any hurtful ideas toward any of us. He agreed with me and echoed, "In Jesus' name... Amen!"

A few minutes later, he came running down the hall where Evan was playing. He ran right up to Evan and grabbed his chubby little arms between his thumbs and fingers, squeezing. "I'm gonna pinch you, Evan!" he declared. "Nathan Peck!" I said, sternly.

He turned to me, cocked his head and reflected my disappointed expression, "I think we might need to pray again, Daddy!"

Smart kid, considering I was holding the spanking stick!

Male-Centric

Recently, we started teaching Nathan about being polite. Included in this teaching is the use of "sir" and "ma'am" along with yes and no replies. He's actually taken pride in his politeness, incorporating "yes, sir" and "no, sir" with me quite regularly - without being prompted. He's also included this in his interaction with those outside of our family as well. Just this week, we were at Laura's store when one of the managers greeted him. She asked him if he was having fun with Daddy and Evan. Nathan smiled and replied, "Yes, Sir!" (We'll have to work on that Ma'am thing.)

Midnight Caller

Ok, so it wasn't quite midnight, but it was well after 10pm. I don't know about the rest of you, but 10pm has always been some sort of unspoken "do not call" timeline for me. If you call someone after then, you need to have a really important reason, or at least have a mutual understanding that it's alright to do so. Anyway, Nathan had picked up Laura's cell phone and was looking through her photo files (or changing ringtones, or whatever - he knows how to operate it as well as either of us!). All of a sudden, he put it to his ear and said, "Hello! This is Nathan talking to you!" Knowing it was something like 11pm, I quickly told Laura to get the phone from him (she was closer, but tending to Evan). She grabbed the phone and closed it, hanging up on the call. I thought I had heard a voice from the phone, and told Laura. We looked and found that Nathan had actually called one of Laura's former employees (sorry, Amanda!), and we figured (hoped) it was just her voice mail. I guess that's one of the disadvantages of speed dial!

The Literalist

Nathan takes most things literally. You'd better mean what you say, and say what you mean when dealing with him... We were going to the park. I was ready. Evan was ready. Nathan was playing with a toy Hummer. "Nathan, come get your socks and shoes on." (No response) "Nathan. Come on, pal." (Vvvrrroooom...) "Nathan! If you want to go to the park, bring your booty over here right now!" He immediately ran to where I was waiting with his socks and shoes, turning around just before he got to me. "What is he doing?" I thought. Before I could ask him why he'd turned his back to me, I realized I'd instructed him to bring me his booty!

Son of My Right Hand

And so it begins... The whole "mine" and "yours" routine is as old as time, but it has reared it's ugly head in my boys' relationship recently. Nathan has fussed about a couple of toys he had as a baby being given to Evan. "That's my toy!" he cried. We informed him that he was donating them to Evan now, and that he was welcome to show Evan how to play with them. That seemed to work for the most part, especially since Evan gives no ground easily. (Evan appears to be a more fierce and determined fighter than Nathan thus far.) Today, Nathan raised the stakes. I was holding Evan on my right side, when Nathan protested, "That's Nathan's side!" At first, I wasn't sure what he was talking about. "What do you mean?" I asked. "Hold Evan on the other side, Daddy! That's Nathan's side!" I guess it's a good thing Evan doesn't mind the left - for now.

Night Vision

Laura was helping Nathan go to sleep and he was nervous about the darkness. "Turn the blue light on, Mommy, so I can see," he said. "It will be alright once your eyes have adjusted," she replied. A moment later, she said, "Can you see better now?" "Yes." Just then, I turned on a light down the hall and the light reflected into his room. Nathan exclaimed, "Now my eyes are adjusted, Mommy!" Unaware of their interaction, I then turned a light on in his bathroom, which sent light directly into his room. "My eyes adjusted again, Mommy!"

The Things Kids Hear 2

I was trying to pump the boys up for football season. I was doing my impression of the UL Ragin' Cajun band's cover of "Respect" on one of those party favor noise makers. "Ba-da-daaa, Ba-da-daaa..." (or maybe more like, "bz-bz-bzzz... bz-bz-bzzz!") They were laughing and looking at me like I'd lost my mind as I danced around them, playing the tune. Finally, I stopped with the party favor and sang the words, "R-E-S-P-E-C-T, find out what it means to me... sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me..." Just then, Nathan got real serious and interrupted, "I wanna sucker!" I stopped, puzzled. "What?" I wanna sucker, too! (A sucker, too?!) After a second or two, I realized he heard me say, "Sucker to me, sucker to me, sucker to me..." I guess we'll be looking for the sucker vendor at the next game!

On Being Polite

We're trying to teach Nathan about what is appropriate and what is not in given situations. We have been working with him lately on being polite. One evening recently, he ran up behind his mommy and grabbed her "booty". He quickly received the lesson that such action is not polite. Several days later, Nathan was getting sassy with me and I warned him not to do so with the threat of a spanking. When he persisted, I fulfilled my promise. After a brief protest and cry, he looked at me with a furrowed brow and said sternly, "It's not polite to touch booties, Daddy!" I agreed, but informed him spankings were not intended to be polite!

Picking Up

Nathan knows how to pick up his toys, clothes, etc. Knowing how and doing so properly are not the same thing. Recently, Laura was helping him pick up in his room. She called me in there for a "like father, like son" moment. "Look, honey! Nathan picks up like you do!" she said sarcastically.

Trippin'

No, not as in falling down. We took a little trip recently (you may have noted the blogless week) to Florida. We brought the boys to see their grandparents (maternal), who live there. It was quite a journey for the little guys! They had flown with us there a year ago, but Nathan could not remember the flight, and Evan was in utero at the time. Leading up to the trip, Nathan was very excited about flying. Every morning for two weeks, he would wake up and say, "We're gonna go for a ride in a airplane today!" We would explain how many days were left and he would say, "Maybe tomorrow we're gonna ride in a airplane!" Finally, the day arrived. With one eye on Ernesto, we headed for the New Orleans International Airport. The trip began early in the morning in Uncle Brian's big Dodge Dually. At one point the conversation centered on Dodge trucks, and Nathan recalled on of his favorite commercial slogans, "Bigger in the deep south - Better in a Dodge!" Once we arrived at the Airport, we took a short ride on a parking lot shuttle. Finally, we boarded the airplane and Nathan was wide-eyed with excitement. "Push that button, Daddy!" (reading light) "What's that, Daddy?" (air vent) "Look at that big engine, Daddy!" As we lifted off of the ground, he said, "We need to make this airplane go faster!" Nathan enjoyed the airplane shaped crackers, peanuts, and sprite on the plane, and had a great time. Evan only fussed a little bit. They also got to ride on the airport tram in Orlando, a rental car shuttle, a mini-van, and daily golf-cart rides at Grandad and Grandma's house! Nathan was always wanting to go faster, and Evan kept leaning his head out into the wind like a puppy dog, (without quite as much slobber)!

Pet Sounds

No, we don't have a house pet. But Evan has several pet sounds. He likes to make various grunts, squeals, and coughs to get our attention and let us know what he does or doesn't want. His favorites lately are, "NANAAAAN!!!" to get Nathan's attention or to fuss at him, along with his attack yell, "AAAAGGGHHH!!!" Oh, and he likes to pull out the watch-mommy-and-daddy-come-running fake gag sound, too!

The Things Kids Hear

That's right - hear. It's funny how Nathan hears things sometimes. One of Laura's favorite movies is The Sound of Music. Nathan's probably watched it several times with her in his short life. He likes the "deer song", as he calls it (Do-Re-Mi), and recently asked Laura to sing it for him. The following is a replay of the moment:

Laura: "Doe, a deer, a female deer... Ray, a drop of golden sun... Me, a name I call myself... Fa(r), a long long way to run... Sew, a needle pulling thread..."

Nathan interrupts: "That's at mommy's work!" (HUH?!)

Laura and I looked at each other, puzzled.

"What's at mommy's work?"

Nathan: "Miss Anita is at mommy's work!" (she's one of the managers)

After some thought on our part, while he patiently waited for us to "get it", we realized he had heard "Sew, ANITA pulling thread..."

After much laughter by all of us, Nathan brought us all back to focus...
"Sing the deer song again, mommy!"

In (and out of) Hot Water

I was at the computer. Laura was in the kitchen with Evan. Nathan was in his room (I thought). Laura asked, "David, can you get the boys' bath water ready?" I replied, "Sure, just let me finish up here first." I heard her running water in the kitchen sink while I wrapped up my activities on the computer. It took five to 10 minutes, and as I got up to go start the bath, Nathan scurried past me into the kitchen. I checked on everyone in there, as Laura turned off the water at the sink. I realized at that moment that there was water running elsewhere - the bathroom. Imagining water flooding the bathroom, I ran to it. There was no flooding, but the water (the hot water!) was running wide open into an open drain - hidden by a mountain of bubbles. "NATHAN PECK!" I shouted. (The pitter-patter of little feet approached quickly) "I put some bubbles in there, Daddy!" "I see that, buddy." What was once a partially depleted 48 ounce bottle was about 10 ounces less full than the previous use. I placed the stopper in position, and checked the water. Only the hot water was on, but there was only lukewarm water coming out. Lesson for the day: It doesn't take long to empty our hot water heater via that tub!

Unnnggghhh!

That's just one of the sounds that echoed from the tennis players on TV as we watched the match. (Hoooaah!... Neeeaaahh!...) Nathan: "What are those guys doing, Daddy?" Me: "They're playing tennis." (Haaahh!.. Ho!) Nathan: "Haaahh! Ho!!" Me: laughing. (Unnngghh!..) Nathan: "Unnngghh!" At that point, I jumped to my feet joining Nathan on the floor and we loudly compared grunting noises while running and jumping around the living room while Evan laughed at us. Boys are cool!

Let's Talk!

It had been a long day. It had been a stressful evening. Just getting everyone ready for bed was a tiring chore. Laura was tired. I was tired. Evan was falling asleep. Nathan had caught his "second wind". As Laura put Evan down, I tried to calm Nathan down and get him to sleep. I hugged him, kissed him, and prepared to turn out the light. "Don't turn out that light yet, Daddy!" he said. "Nathan, it's time to go to sleep. We're not going to read tonight, because it's already late," I explained. "We don't have to read a book, Daddy!" he said, looking intently into my eyes. Then he continued as he sat up on the bed, "Let's just talk!"

Photographic Memory

My birthday was back in mid-August. I received a number of cards in the mail, and shared their contents with Nathan. I showed him the cards and told him who each one was from. The cards have been in a pile on the counter for a week and a half. Today, cleaning up, I knocked them onto the floor. Nathan came over to help me pick them up. He grabbed one my mom sent, and said, "Look Daddy! This one's from Granny!" I had to look a second time to make sure he was right! Of course he was.

Talking In His Sleep

Those of you who know Nathan know that he is a "talker". I know you wonder, as I do, where he gets it from. He doesn't even stop to sleep! Oh, he sleeps alright. He just doesn't always stop talking when he does. Frequently, he'll wake me up in the night (I'm a very light sleeper) with laughter or some mumbling - when he's out cold! Twice within the past couple of weeks, he's talked to Laura (who was awake) while he was asleep!

In one instance, Laura was getting ready for work and had left the iron on. She was about to leave, when she heard Nathan call out down the hall, "Turn that thing off!" He was probably dreaming of one of us fussing at him to turn off his CD player at naptime or some other appliance he was not supposed to have on. Still, it was quite a coincidence.

The second instance was, again, when Laura was leaving for work. She was headed down the hall to leave, and Nathan called out (as he does every night, ala "the Walton's" [I'm getting old!]), "I LOVE YOU, MOMMY!" When she peeked in on him to return the love, he was sound asleep in the same position he'd been in earlier!

As long as he's just talkin', and not walkin' in his sleep, I'll be alright!

The Things We "Used To" Do

We were running some errands on a recent afternoon around the time schools were letting out. Nathan pointed out a bus across the busy intersection, "That's a school bus, daddy!" "It sure is," I replied. Noting that it was behind a few vehicles, he said, "That school bus is hiding!" I smiled and explained that it was just waiting behind the other vehicles. I told him about children riding buses to and from school and concluded, "I used to ride a school bus!" As we continued our driving, Nathan pointed out various "Hummers" (his generic term for most SUV's), trucks, and "Mustangs" (his generic term for sporty looking cars). At one point, there really was a Mustang near us, and he quickly pointed it out, "You see that Mustang, daddy? That's a Mustang car!" (He's big on them since his Uncle Brad bought a bright yellow GT recently and took us for a ride in it.) "Yep! That's a nice one, isn't it?" I replied. "That's a nice one," he echoed. Then, in response to my bus riding statement earlier, he said, "I used to ride in a Mustang car!" I love that boy!

Personal Trainer

Many people subscribe to the idea of having a "personal trainer" - someone who will instruct and encourage/push you to get/stay in shape. They usually assign and track your excersise regimen. Nathan indicated (in so many words) one recent morning that he might like to be one of these trainers. While eating breakfast he stated, "Daddy. Mommy needs to exercise!" I immediately checked on, under, and around the table for some listening device in case this was a trap. He continued, "Mommy needs to do sit-ups for her tummy!" Now I was nervous. What if he says these things to her? What if she thinks I told him this stuff?! Finally, after a thoughtful pause and mouthful of Cheerios, he concluded, "Daddy needs to excersise, too!" I broke my nervous silence, "I think you're right, buddy!" (Although, to clarify, I meant he was right about me. All that stuff about his mommy is between them!)

Duh!

Nathan was looking for one of his stools, and enlisted my help. He usually has one in the kitchen and one in the bathroom. The "kitchen stool" wasn't in it's place. It was evening, and the back of the house was dark. I escorted him to his bathroom. No stool. We checked his room. No stool. We checked my bathroom. Voila! He quickly retrieved it and headed down the hall. Following, I asked him what he was going to do with it. He stopped and gave me a why-are-you-asking-me-such-an-obvious-question look. He squinted a little, as if to see if I was ok, and stated matter-of-factly, "I'm gonna stand on it!" The best response I could give was a laughing, "Oh. Ok."

(He was going to help mommy wash the dishes, by the way!)

Daddy's Piercing

I had my ear pierced once. The left one. Actually, I pierced it myself with some other friends after our Senior year of High School. I didn't have it long, and I remember it hurting when I did it in my friend's driveway, with a piercing stud, ice cube, and too many beers. I almost needed an ice cube recently for my eyebrow. The left one. My 8-1/2 month old has just broken through with his first top tooth, to go along with the two on the bottom. He used to sometimes gum my face in a playful, cuddly sort of show of affection. Even with the two bottom teeth, it was no problem. This time, as he almost broke the skin on my eyebrow, it was a problem. I yelped, he got scared, and I'm thankful I never got a piercing there! Oh, and my face has been removed from the list of available chew toys!

The Rocker

Nathan loves to rock. Both musically, and physically - in his rocker/glider. He likes to read a book or look at photo albums in the rocker while listening to his CDs. Sometimes he likes to rock before taking a nap or going to sleep for the night. He'll often say, "I wanna rock first!" So, we've started letting him put on some soft music and rock for a while before putting him to bed (sometimes with us, and other times on his own). Usually, when go to get him out of the rocker, his head is bobbing and weaving while he tries to keep his body motion rocking, as he's almost out. Sometimes, he's out by the time we arrive...

My Birthday Gifts

On my birthday, Laura took the boys to get a cake for me. She had Nathan pick out a card and presents. He picked out a cool card with a motorcycle on it - like Paw-Paw Kelley's. (It's funny how he thinks motorcycles are cool, except when he's close to one that's running!) He decided on four brightly colored balloons, and added a bottle of bubbles! By the end of the day, he and Evan had worn the balloons out and popped one of them by getting the bunch caught up in the ceiling fan. (Oh, it was definitely on purpose!) We had to cut the ribbons short so Evan couldn't reach them, since he kept winding himself up in them! Nathan can hardly wait for me to go out and play with my bubbles! I'm guessing I'll have to share.

Something Borrowed

I thought he was in his room. He was in the bathroom. I heard the clunking around from the kitchen and called out to him to get out of there. He quickly came to the kitchen with a mischievous look on his face. "What were you doing in the bathroom, Nathan?" "I was drinking some of daddy's gargle." (Yes, in case you're wondering, my Listerine bottle does have a child-proof cap.) "Let me smell your breath," I said, kneeling before him. "Haaaahhhh..." Yep. He'd had some. How much, I was sure was minimal, as the stuff probably would have had him crying and throwing up if he'd had even a mouthful. I went to the bathroom, to find the lid securely fastened on the bottle. I wondered how he got that lid off. (Probably the same way he opens the "child-proof" cabinet and drawer locks - he watches us do it and does the same thing). Anyway, I don't think he got much. I scolded him for getting into my things, and informed him of the consequences he would face if he did it again. He looked at me with a slightly defensive look and stated with a similar tone, "I just borrowed some, daddy!"

Evan Strikes Back!

It was inevitable. Nathan just kept pushing him. He kept taking his toy away. I saw the look of surprise and frustration turn to determined vengeance. This time, Evan did not find another toy. This time, he did not attempt to play with his brother. This time, Evan went straight for Nathan's head. The battle cry of our "young warrior" (The Celtic meaning of "Evan" is "young warrior")reverberated through the house! With a fierce and piercing gaze, he kung-fu gripped Nathan's hair and tackled him at the same time! His three sharp teeth searched for some extremity to sink into! He may be smaller than his brother, but he's fierce and fearless! Oh, the next eighteen years are going to be such fun! Do they make boxing gloves in infant and pre-school sizes?


(By the way, the English/Biblical meaning for Evan is, "Yahweh/God is gracious". We're hoping for a nice blending of the two meanings. Nathan is praying for grace!)

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Either/Or (pt. 2)

As stated in the previous post, Nathan is learning about choices. He is also implementing the "either/or" in his conversations with us. Lately, he's been using "or" to let us know what he wants (or doesn't). For example (trust me this is one of many), I informed him one afternoon that it was time to get ready for his nap: "Nathan, you need to pick up your toys and get ready for nap time." He replied, "Or not!"

Either/Or

As we're giving Nathan opportunities to make decisions, we often let him choose from limited options. "Would you like to wear your shoes or your sandals?" "Would you like to use your Elmo toothbrush or your green(powered) one?" "Would you like to eat a banana or some grapes?" One morning this week, I was preparing some oatmeal for Evan. I asked Nathan, "Would you like some oatmeal, too?" He replied, "Or some eggs and toast!"

Too Much

Many times, we've instructed Nathan with the phrase, "Not too much!" We use it when his fork or spoon is clearly overloaded. We use it when we're letting him pour his own milk into his glass. One of his latest uses for the phrase is a re-working of it. For example, he ate very well at lunch the other day and I offered him a cookie. I lowered the tin so he could get one. He reached in with both hands, attempting to stockpile a couple of fists full. I told him, "Just one, pal!" He looked up with a furrowed brow and said, "I want too much, daddy!" I was thinking the same words, but I don't think we shared the same intent.

Happy Anniversary!

Monday, the 7th, was our 13th anniversary. As we celebrated with dinner at home (date night had to be re-scheduled), Evan was crawling around on the floor in the kitchen. He was playing with an empty diaper box. He's been pulling himself up on things for sometime (standing), but this night he took the next (or first) step. He pulled himself up on one side of the box, and pushed it across the kitchen, walking behind it, until it stopped against the wall. I don't know who was more proud - him or us!

Wanna Pray?

Nathan likes to pray - at meals, bedtime, and other random moments. He often asks, "Wanna pray?" and gets excited about it. He likes me to pray and then repeat after me. He'll hold mine and Laura's hands at dinner and watch me while I pray, then close his eyes tight while repeating my words. I especially enjoy when he adds his own prayers to ours. He always wants to include his brother and various family members in our prayers. Recently at dinner, we thanked God for the food, for our health, and for a good night's sleep in advance. I was about to say, "Amen," when Nathan looked at me, then closed his eyes tight to say something else. He recently learned our address, and apparently wanted to remember our home in his prayer... "And Pleasant View Drive in Lafayette!" he said with a big smile. Amen!

Got Earplugs?

Nathan, Evan and I got some sort of allergy/cold thing last week. On one of our days of misery, Nathan was really whiney and clingy, so I was holding him while I made coffee. He was resting his head on my shoulder, when all of a sudden, he lifted his head and let loose a MONSTER sneeze! IN MY EAR!! I guess it's better than in my face, but it's still pretty bad, with the snotty nose and all. Being the understanding father that I am, I comforted the miserable young man and moved him to the other hip as I wiped the left side of my head with a tissue and searched for a Q-tip. I must have been a little out of it myself not to remember that sneezes often come in pairs, when I was rudely reminded by the slimy blast in my right ear!! I decided it might be a good idea to insert some earplugs! And maybe don a large shower cap (or poncho).

Stepping Stool

The other night, the boys were playing on the living room floor as we watched the evening news. Evan was low-crawling in front of the sofa by my feet, streatching for an elusive toy of some sort. Nathan decided he wanted on the sofa beside me, so he climbed right up - using his younger brother as a stepping stool! I fussed at Nathan as I reached down for Evan, who didn't seem to even notice the big monkey on his back. I suddenly caught a whiff of Evan's "leftovers" from lunch. "Yep!" I exclaimed in my "old-time Pentecostal Evangelist voice, "It's time for a change 'round he-uh!" Now, I'm not sure if the "deposit" was there before Nathan put the squeeze on Evan, or if he caused it. Regardless, a few inches back, and Nathan would have planted his foot in a stool rather than on one!

Thpppppppt!!!

That pretty much sums up what happened at lunch with Evan today. It started innocently enough...

Nathan and I were having sandwiches. He was having peanut butter and honey. I was having turkey. Evan was enjoying chasing one of his toys around our feet. Finally, I finished my lunch and prepared Evans - Beginning with some chicken and rice, complimented by a serving of country vegetables, and concluding with some refreshing peaches. Each of these were finely prepared (pureed and strained) and cleanly presented (in little jars). Lets just say that Mr. Particular (a.k.a. "Evan") did not appreciate the first two choices of the menu today. He grimaced horribly at the first few bites of chicken and rice, before placing his lips on "lockdown" (or, lockjaw). I came at him with the veggies. "C'mon, son!" I complained, as he gave me the "British" treatment (stiff upper lip), "these are country vegetables - they're really friendly!" He wouldn't bite (literally). So, I pulled out the secret weapon - Sweet Potatoes and Chicken! This is one of the keys to Evan's mouth gate. About a third into them, I decided to pull the old "bait-and-switch". (We can't let the other foods go bad!) Well, I'm through with my mother's "veteran" strategies for feeding Evan (sorry, mom)! Apparently, in his mind (and mouth), those foods were already bad. As soon as I got a spoonful inside his wide-opened mouth, it pursed fiercely. His eyes looked deep into my soul and registered my betrayal with infant rage. His nose wrinkled and snorted. And then, just when I thought he was going to go on lockdown again, he opened back up and... THPPPPPPPT!!!!!!!!!!

From now on, I'm wearing the bib!

In the Spotlight

Nathan loves flashlights. We finally got smart and purchased rechargeable batteries and charger for just about anything he uses regularly. Too many flashlights were left on, face-down, for us to appreciate. They say Duracell batteries are trusted by many. With Nathan, they can be trusted to run out in a short amount of time. Oh, and if you're looking for something or someone to keep going and going and going... longer than Energizer, see the picture below. Anyway, I bought Nathan a headlamp style flashlight months ago, and he's finally been using it on his head. (For a while, he just didn't like anything on his head.) It's really cool, because he can use it outside, or to find something in a dark room, or his favorite - chase the rest of the family around and try to shine the light in our eyes!

Being Direct

Nathan has learned from his parents about being direct. We don't beat around the bush with him on many things. If he makes a mess(toys), he picks it up (most of the time). If he spills, he at least helps get it up. If he asks for something he is capable of getting for himself, we give him permission and instruct him to get it. He is also helping others to do for themselves. Case in point: Nathan's "Aunt 'Neen" was visiting this weekend, and inquired as to where his "Billy" and "Colorado" were. (Nathan used to regularly sleep with these two small stuffed friends.) Nathan told her that they were in his room, and proceeded to show her where. After pointing out their location, Aunt 'Neen said, "Go get 'em, Nathan," assuming he would want to be reunited in time for bed. Nathan quickly replied, "You want 'em, you get 'em!"
Uncle Brad laughed and said, "He got that from his Daddy!"

Encouraging Words

Recently, I was putting Nathan to bed, when we had the following dialogue...
Nathan: "I love you, Daddy."
Me: "I love you, too, son."
Nathan: "I'm proud of you, Daddy."
Me: "I'm proud of you, too, son."
Nathan: "You're smart, Daddy."
Me: "Thank, you, buddy! So are you!"
After a moment of silence, Nathan whispered, "Daddy, you're dangerous!"
I whispered, "You're dangerous, too, pal!"

(I wonder why he left out "you're handsome"?)

Not Listening

Laura was washing dishes and Nathan was "helping". Unfortunately, his helping really wasn't. After repeated instruction for Nathan to get down from his stool, with no compliance, Laura stated firmly, "Nathan, you need to get down now." Nathan replied, "I need to help with these dishes!" Laura: "You need to listen to mommy!" Nathan: "You need to not listen to mommy." Suddenly, the room was filled with the thick, foul scent of defiance! (But only for a brief moment... Man! Mommy's quick with the spanking stick! :-)

Reminiscing

Laura came home from work and needed to nurse Evan (for her sake). Unfortunately, Evan had just eaten about an hour earlier and was not hungry. Laura stated that she would have to pump in order to get some relief. Just then, Nathan piped up, "When Nathan was little, I was a pump!"

Got Milk - 2

I'm guessing that Nathan was reflecting on the afore-mentioned encounter with the milk cow replica. I cannot otherwise explain to you why in the world he was trying to pour the rest of his milk from his cup into/onto his cow flashlight. More frustrating is the fact that he attempted this on the sofa, as opposed to in the kitchen. The infuriating part is that he missed. On the other hand, the cow flashlight survived a potential short-circuit. How now, milk cow?

Got Milk?

We visited some friends in the Houston area last week (hi D, M & C!) and we went to the Children's Museum. Among thousands of really cool things to see, play with, and inspire little imaginations, was a life-sized dairy cow replica with working udder! Don't worry, it was shooting water, not milk. Nathan walked over to get in on the fun with the other kids and grabbed hold of one of the teats (hey! that's what they're called, ok?!). He pulled down and, sure enough, water squirted out for him! He was so excited. The little girl next to him was not as thrilled, as he failed to point the thing downward, and shot water all over her shirt! Unaware he was hosing this young lady down, I was several feet away behind the video camera - encouraging him to do it again (milk the cow, not squirt the girl). He did. Squirt! All over the little girl's shorts. This time, she backed up a little and gave him a stern look. He never noticed. He was so engrossed in this new wonder that he was oblivious to her increasing shade of anger. He yanked on it again! All over her arm! I had finally realized the trouble, and apologized to the young lady (about 5), as I told Nathan to wait. He squirted her again, never realizing he was infuriating and drenching the poor girl as he was intensely focused on the udder and it's function! ("Sorry sweetie - there's a blow dryer in an exhibit down the hall!")

Two's Company

Nathan is getting good at using "please" and "thank you". He is also gaining interest in sharing. "Can I please go outside, Daddy?" "Can we please go to the park?"(Yeah, yeah... and how many people do you know who say, "May I"?) "Can I please have a popsicle, Daddy?" "Thank you, Daddy!" Now, here's one of my favorite phrases: "Can Daddy have one, too?" "Why SURE! Thank you!"

Hey, Mama!

Evan has expanded his vocabulary. After weeks of random, multi-syllabic babbling and variations of "hey, da-da" and "da-da-da-da-da", he has added "ma-ma" and "hey, ma-ma" to the mix. He's even doing a pretty good job of using the two terms correctly in addressing us. Of course, he just addresses Nathan as, "AAAAGGGGHHH!" (That's Fitting!) He also enjoys chasing Nathan around the house (still on "all fours"). As he prepares for his top teeth to erupt, he's also into chewing on/sticking out his tongue...

Aye, Captain!

Funny how, at such young ages, kids can be so picky!

Nathan is very particular about his clothing. There are certain shirts, shorts, etc., that he simply does not like to wear. Laura recently bought a couple of truckloads (ok, it seemed like truckloads) of clothes for the boys. They were mostly for Nathan, as we're milking the hand-me-downs for all they're worth with Evan (he doesn't mind so far). Before cutting the tags and washing everything, she presented each article of clothing to Nathan for his approval. I fully intend to require the same respect of him to us when he's a teenager! (She did good, by the way - according to Nathan.)

Evan has his preferences, as well. He prefers to nap in his swing over any flat surface. He prefers any pureed baby food product over the green beans (maybe we just need to try ketchup, huh Uncle Brad?). And, when it comes to pillows, he has this thing for chenille. I can't explain it, but once he's got a hold on one of our chenille pillows or throw, he's a goner. You have to wait until he's done with it, or until he passes out in a euphoric coma. When it comes to these items, truly, "love will keep them together"! I'm gonna start calling him "Captain" (and chenille ;)!

The Artist

Evan loves to "paint" - with baby food drippings on his tray, droolings on his shirt (or on Nathan's head), and with his spit-up! As disgusting as it may sound, some of his works on wood(floor) are quite amazing! The carpet canvass is not so artist-friendly (or clean-up friendly)! I may try to capture some of the wood pieces with my camera and share them sometime. On the one hand, I guess I'd prefer these art sessions be more planned/scheduled, in a designated space. On the other, I can save on paints and encourage spontaneous creativity this way. And I can choose the colors of Evan's palette via his meal menu! More peas and carrots, my little "Picasso"?

Say What?!

Sometimes Nathan gets worked up over one thing or another, and it's difficult to understand what he's saying. We're trying to break him of two recent tendencies: whining and putting his fingers in his mouth. One of the ways we do this is by telling him we can't understand what he is saying when his fingers are in his mouth, or when he's whining. It works pretty well most of the time. In fact, just a couple of days ago he used it on Laura. She was explaining something to him, and he looked at her with his serious face, head slightly tilted and said, "What's mommy saying?"

My Technologically Savvy Son

Nathan is pretty technologically savvy for a two (and a half) year old. He knows how to use the TV and DVD controllers to get "Elmo" (or whatever video he's interested in) going. He can turn on the dishwasher (even when they are already clean). He knows his way around his CD/stereo, and how to skip forward or backward to his favorite songs (which vary from day to day). He knows how to turn the phone on "you hear that lady talking, Daddy?"... "If you'd like to make a call..." He knows how to take pictures and review them (for friends and family) on mommy's cell phone - "Look at that picture of Evan!" AND, he's learning he can totally change the appearance of the computer screen by using the mouse and keyboard. (I spent over thirty minutes last week trying to get the desktop back like I had it!) I guess with all this, it would be too much to ask that he poop in the toilet already! Perhaps he just doesn't want us to forget he's still just two!

Dream a Little Dream

I'm pretty sure Nathan is beginning to remember his dreams. He has recently begun to talk about things, after waking up, that are sometimes off-the-wall. He also refers to these stories as having happened "last night", or "yesterday".

For example, yesterday (not "dream" yesterday) Nathan sat at the table during breakfast and said, "We were chasing that bunny last night!" "What bunny was that?" I asked. "Daddy, and Mommy, and Evan and Nathan were chasing that bunny in Grandma and Grandad's car!" (Oh, that bunny!)

I HAVE to talk!!

Recently, Laura was explaining to Nathan why his behavior in a particular situation was unacceptable. Nathan kept interrupting her, in an attempt to change the subject and avoid the confrontation and impending punishment. Laura stopped him and said, "Nathan, you need to be quiet while mommy is talking to you." He simply replied, "Mommy, I have to talk!"

Nathan (2yrs/8mo)

Time Flies...

It's been a little while since the last post... The boys are growing fast!

Evan has been crawling for a little while now, although when he first began he was only using his hands to pull himself around (his feet dragging behind). He then started getting up on his hands and feet (skipping the whole knee thing). Now, he's hard to keep up with! Occasionally, he stops and sits up to look around or check out some object (or eat some object). He is also throwing out random "words", which is cool. Now, I say "words" because I don't think he really knows what he's saying. I just hear things that sound like they could be intentional! I haven't heard him say "Na-tan" again since father's day, but he does regularly say, "da-da", "da-da-da", and "hi da-da" (I think those are intentional). Just this morning, while he was eating breakfast, I moved the spoon toward his mouth and asked, "do you want some more?" He smiled, and lunged toward the spoon with his mouth open, saying something that sounded a lot like, "hell, yeah!" I'm pretty sure that was not intentional!

Nathan has been becoming more and more independent. This is fine at home, where he is comfortable exploring the back yard or taking naps without being told. It's not so good in public places where he wants to go off on his own (ie: Wal-Mart). He's beginning to sing more - both along with his CD's, and all alone. He even makes up his own songs, and phrases on occasion. There are still some things he needs to learn about Evan, though. For starters, he's learning that he can't jump on Evan like he can on me! He's learning to share his toys. He's learning not to run over Evan with a stroller! And he's learning that Evan is tough and will slap and bite (lovingly, of course)!

Speaking of the boys, I've gotta run! Nathan is dragging Evan across the room by his feet! (And, as usual, Evan is just smiling and laughing!)

Evan (7mo)

Evan Speaks!

Nathan started talking early in his life. He was 5-6 months old when he started with "mama" and "dada". The first time I knew he was saying "da-da" intentionally was when I had my back to him and he loudly said, "da-da-da-da-da-da!!!" after I had seemingly ignored his more civil chatter. Nathan has come a long way with his vocabulary, as most of you have experienced first hand.

They say the younger children sometimes take longer to talk, especially if the firstborn/older siblings are very outspoken as Nathan is. So, we're in the sixth month with Evan, and he's been "talking" baby-talk for a while, but nothing really clear. I wouldn't try to tell him that he's not making sense, as he always has a look of confidence in what he's trying to say.

On Father's Day (06.18.06), I'm confident I heard Evan speak his first clearly spoken words. We were at Paw-Paw and Nana Peck's, swimming in the pool, when Evan spoke! He did not say "mama". He did not say "dada". No, as his big brother had exited the pool and was walking away from Evan and I (still in the water), Evan began to "baby talk" very forcefully toward Nathan: "Ba-da-la-ma-da-ma... NAAA-TAAN!!!" I was pleasantly surprised to hear him say it. Laura said the look on my face was one of shock. I thought about it, and concluded that, as Nathan is going through his two-year-old test-the-boundaries stage, Evan probably hears "NATHAN!" more than just about anything else. I just found it amusing that his first word would be the name of the brother he so clearly adores.

Chuck-E.-Who?

Most kids, when asked where/what they'd like to go/do, will tell you things like, "let's go to the park!", and "Chuck-E-Cheese!" My son (Nathan) answered that question this past Saturday: "You wanna go to Home Depot?", with a big smile and much enthusiasm. I inquired as to what he would like to do there. He said, "We can look at all the fans, and all the lights, and all the lawn mowers, and all the barbeque pits..." So, we loaded up and went to Home Depot! Nathan is also becoming a fan of the Home Depot car (driven by Tony Stewart) from the Nascar Nextel Cup series. He's not really a Tony fan, per se, but he knows the car when he sees it! It's ok, he knows Jeff Gordon, too, Nana! (and he has a Jeff hot wheels car!)

Little Knot-Heads

There have been a few occasions where, in anger, I've called Nathan a "little knot-head" (ie: "quit pushing on your brother, you little knot-head!"). I know there are worse things people have called their kids, but I still felt bad about calling him anything derogatory. In the past two days, both of the boys have suffered self-inflicted "knots" on their heads, prompting this post. On Sunday, Evan was playing on the floor and got a hold of Nathan's wooden hammer (for his little peg bench toy). I realized he was chewing on it just as he pulled it back, looked at it, and popped himself in the eye socket! The sweet baby who rarely cries was wailing for a few minutes after that one. Today, Nathan "took a dive" on the back porch while playing and ended up with a pretty nasty hematoma. We took Nathan to a doctor to get it checked out, and everything seemed fine other than the swelling. He never lost consciousness, and his hearing was normal - selective, as usual. He even told his aunt "I have a golfball on my head!", repeating my description earlier in the evening on the phone. I have a feeling he'll look a lot worse than he feels for some time. So... here are my little knot-heads:

Thankfully, Evan's knot didn't leave a mark.

Nathan's did!

Neanderthal profile.

"Knot? What Knot? I got a sucker!"

Who's The Daddy?

Nathan and I had a rough day yesterday. He "pushed" me all day long. It seemed that anything he knew not to do, along with anything I told him not to do, is exactly what he did! Our discussions and corrective measures were frequent over the course of the day, and I really felt frazzled by the end of it. I was "telling" on him to Laura before we all went to bed, and Nathan marched over to where I was sitting, climbed up on my lap and put his hands on my face, pulling mine right up to his. As our noses were smashed into each others, he looked intently into my eyes, and said firmly, "I love you, Daddy!" It was as if he said, "Ok. Let's not re-hash all the drama of the day for Mommy! Let's put it behind us and move on, Dad! I love you, you love me. LET IT GO, ok?"

Nathan's gonna be a great dad someday. (Someday 25 + years from now!)

I wonder what he'll teach me today.

Lint-erally Speaking...

Nathan was playing with one of those roll-of-masking-tape-turned-inside-out-on-a-stick thingies and was picking up dust, etc. on the sofa, on the walls, and even himself. He asked Laura, "what is this, mommy?!" She told him it was a "tape roller". Later, he ventured back to where I was, and rolled my shorts while I brushed my teeth. "Look at this tape roller!" he said. I informed him that it was called a "lint roller". He repeated, "that's a lint roller!", and scurried down the hall. The next thing we know, he shows up with a sheet of lint on his roller and his pants. "Where did you get all that lint, son?" I asked. "From the dryer!" he said matter-of-factly.

Awww, Man!

This is a favorite phrase of frustration with Nathan. I've heard it used in connection with spilled drinks, food, etc. I've heard him use it when he's "got poops". He's used it when he was covered in sidewalk chalk, when he inserted several screws and a lolipop stick into his CD player, and he's even used it to tell on himself: "Awww, Man! Nathan pulled those flowers off of that plant!" (Yes, he's on this trip of referring to himself in third person right now) Just this past week, I spilled a glass of water all over the table at dinner, and Nathan exclaimed, "AWWWW, MAN! Look what DADDY did!!" (Awww, Man!)

"Fridge-A-Raider" Photo Journal (pt1)

Yeah, yeah... it's cute alright! I just didn't get any pictures of when he got into the pudding! (NOT so cute!)