Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Things that make you go hmmm...


Homo Sapiens
Diligently inventing ways to screw with other species for over 100,000 years.

Yep. Proud to be a human :-) But for the life of me, I have no idea why a cat would want to be able to dive and breathe under water? To watch all the fish go by that he can't eat?

Monday, June 29, 2009

Our kiddo is a hoarder!

Okay, I can admit it; I'm a clutter-monkey. I am very good at becoming inspired, beginning a project, getting all the crap out, maybe finishing said project, and most likely not cleaning up after myself at the end of the project. Hey, but the first step is admitting the problem right? I know that between Brian and I, sometimes clutter in the house can become pretty scary.

Now the real question is if there is a "clutter" gene or a "hoarder" DNA sequence that is hereditary. If so, Tam is DOOOMMMMED!

Since we've begun finger foods, Tam has already figured out how to save crackers for "later". If I give him two, he'll gum both, but usually one falls off the tray and lodges somewhere in his thigh region. Having not watched this phenomenon, I look over and exclaim happily, "Yeah Tam, you ate all the crackers!" To which, he replies with happy grins and squeals. Then, out comes the second cracker, mushy, and possibly covered with gunk, and it goes into his mouth! Sheesh.

Besides hoarding food, I just found that Tam has a secret stash of pacifiers. For days, I have been wondering where all the binkies have went, knowing that we had 8+ at one time. Today, I move Tam's crib to dust and . . . lo and behold. . . just guess how many of the missing binkies were there among the dust bunnies.

Not 1 . . . nope, not 2. . . not even 3 or 4 . . . but FIVE! FIVE binkies that kiddo has dropped between his crib and the wall. Accidentally you inquire? I think not. I think he has been hoarding them there just to see how long we'll go before buying new ones. Or was he dropping them there just to hear them bounce against the floor? Or he is telling us that he's done with binkies and is ready to quit? He still certainly wants one when he's falling asleep for the night.

Silly baby.

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Oh the beautiful mess of finger foods :-)

I'm expanded Tam's food knowledge from puree goop to finger foods. He's been munching on Gerber "star puffs" for a few weeks now. These are puffed grains that virtually melt in the mouth. I throw a few puffs on the high-chair tray to try to occupy him (read take his mind off of how hungry he is) while I'm preparing his real food and bottle. He fairly quickly figured out how to pick up the little grains...mostly with all of his fingers. Then, he would move the fist of food to his mouth, but, NOT open his fingers! It was so cute to watch. He seemed so proud that he was "eating" when in reality nothing was getting into the pie hole. It wasn't until this past week he has figured out how to let go of the grains from his hand and deposit them into his mouth. Brilliant!

Once I saw this, I thought to have him try at other real food. I sliced up a banana for our lunch, placed the dish of diced fruit in front of him, and let him have at it...

I'm pretty sure some of the banana did get into the mouth and eventually into the stomach :-)
I loved to watch him grab at the slippery fruit and then just mash it in his fist.

We'll try some more with crackers and apples soon.

Saturday, June 27, 2009

You can just see his little brain whirling away...


Playing with my major score from last weekend's yard sales.  






Wooden bead maze = $15.00 at Ikea but paid $1.00
Baby amusement for 30 odd minutes = priceless.

I love these photos 'cause they really capture how entranced Tam was with the bead maze.  He couldn't quite figure out how to move them too much.  He did like pushing them a little bit, letting them drop, and laughing at the noise.  It was also fun to watch him "taste" all parts of the contraption too.  The only thing that finally distracted him was the sparrows began feeding at the feeders outside of this window.  He loves watching the birds too :-)

Friday, June 26, 2009

And here's to you Michael Jackson

Wow...
The end of a great music legend...
I just couldn't believe the news last night when I flipped on the TV and heard that he had died. The culprit? Cardiac Arrest and only 50years old. I just don't think that legends from my youth should be facing death already...they are too young!

I can certainly remember roller skating at the local rinks to "Bad", "Beat it", and "Billie Jean." Then later, I owned the cassette of Thriller and danced to "Black or White." It is certainly amazing to look back at all of the great and creative songs he gave the world. And the dancing! What moves! Not that I could mimic any of them (lol)

Eccentric at times, but his music kicked ass...Michael Jackson will certainly be a music legend to be remembered for years to come.

Thriller video
Bad video
Black or white video
Remember the time video

Thursday, June 25, 2009

How do you cool off..Part II

Yesterday we went to one of the city's free water playgrounds! 
 This one is only 4ish blocks from our house and I think we may be there more as the heat continues.  I slathered up Tam with sunscreen and stuck him in one of the swim suit sets we got last Christmas. (Thank you shout out to the relatives who thought ahead and bought 12mth size, they fit perfectly!)  Hats for Tam and me, and of course the camera.  Brian assured me he had no desire to get wet, but I was all for cooling of in the water with Tam.

The water playgrounds, and wading pools, are free and open everyday from noon to 5.  I was glad to see that it wasn't overly crowded, and that the water was chlorinated and cool (not bone-chillingly cold).  Water sprays and shoots out of various columns at various intensities at various times.  The bottom surface is cement, and not much water collects (less than 1inch) so very little risk of any drownings.  

We lost no time getting Tam under some of the water fountains.  I wasn't sure if Tam would like getting sprayed with water or absolutely hate it.  No worries, Tam seemed to like it, if only for the fact that it cooled him off.  I'm glad I had the hat on him because it kept quite a lot of the water out of his eyes.  I let him "touch" the water drizzles, stand in the water spray, and sit and splash in the pools.  He liked the misting water and just watching the rest of the kids the best.  

Good times!  We stayed maybe 30 odd minutes before heading home for dinner.  I bet Tam sleeps well tonight after our water fun :-)
More great photos, taken by Brian, will be up on kodak site soon.  Look for the link shortly.