Pulpo

The calimari are a little stringy.

Eamon is constantly on the go now, and the jellyfish (I know, not calimari) is a common companion because he can hold a tentacle with a hand that's also shifting a ball, cruising from one piece of furniture to another. Or he can just hold on with his teeth.

Is that what they mean by hands-free device?

Toddling Along

Did I mention that we have a TODDLER? Oh yeah, I did, yesterday. Well, we do.
The bell is Ray getting a text message (from Jeff M., I believe). Very exciting, that!

You Say it's Your Birthday?

Eamon's birthday party was on Sunday, between the football games, of course. It was a pretty impromptu thing, just the neighbors (Alli, Isaac, Jana) and a little chocolate-iced banana cake (yum, thanks, Liz!). And hats, because that's just cute... and a little obnoxious.
Wait, what's going on behind the camera?
Fair warning: the rest of this is me getting indulgent with the cute. You can turn away now... or keep going. If this isn't enough, click any pic and there are more in the Picasa gallery.

One Year

Eamon is one year old. What a year it has been... he has had to train two rookie parents into some facsimile of useful caretakers. At the same time, he has gone from a helpless, floppy little mob boss into this bundle of energy and personality who is constantly challenging the physical dimensions of his world.

He is eating normal food for the most part, but most of it just comes back out. He's still working on the whole tongue thing. He has embraced the bottle and is learning to accept the sippy cup, particularly if Ray shares his spirulina smoothie (ich). We've tried whole milk, but he either has a milk allergy or a very coincidental stomach bug... so we're back on formula for now.

He talks a lot, narrating what's going on around him. So far, the only true word, however, is "uh-oh". He has been using it for a couple of weeks, particularly every time he fell down ("uh-oh"... and... crawl), but I didn't realize he really had the concept until I dropped something without realizing it and he pointed behind me: "uh-oh". An appropriate first word for a kid who approaches life at Mach 1.

He is crawling on hands and knees now, since that makes it easier to get to the full upright position as soon as he finds something to pull up on. He's cruising very efficiently, and has even stood unsupported for a second or two. He can go up stairs like a champ (unless he gets distracted along the way), but has to be reminded not to go down them headfirst.

And we're still hanging out at six teeth. We are not missing teething during its hiatus. Wait.. I typed this entry a few days ago... I stand corrected. Teething again, but no idea what's coming in. Just that Eamon is very annoyed about it. (Edited to add... lower left lateral incisor just popped in today (Jan 28), but it definitely has friends coming.)

It has been an incredible year with our little guy.

Tappity Tap Tap

I need something to change out that last post... ah, here you go. Eamon's Rock Band skills are improving. Alli was losing her voice after nine straight songs, so ignore the vocals...

Double Coverage

As Ray told Eamon this morning, it's a special day. First time in 10 years that the Vikings play the NFC championship game.

Ray wants to be really, really sure he's got some lucky purple on.

SKOL!

Long Week

It has been a week. I started teaching at Front Range Community College (Bio111, intro for majors). At 8 AM. And I'm still working my same research load. Which means that, while I had an entry half-composed here, it never made it to posting. Sorry, I'm behind! But I am lining up some posts to keep you at least mildly entertained next week.

For now, though.. I am tired. Tired like this.

I'm going to go curl up with Grey's Anatomy and wait for Ray to come home and hopefully make a sundae for me. And if he does, I'll probably cling to it just like Eamon is clinging to that bottle.

Laid Back

It's a long week already. Yet another virus, no fun... So I hand you some cuteness from our last trip to Costco...





Hope you all had a better week!

Looking Smart

For Heather, the result of our Extreme Haircutting Challenge (and for Jen, who really wanted to do this on his announcement, but he wouldn't put up with it then):


Looking smart!

Milestone or New Extreme Sport?

Saturday was definitely time for a haircut.

No purple...

The Vikes are off this week, but there's always football to watch..



Eamon is stunned by the Patriot's play to this point.


So are Ray, Jana, and Isaac.
Hope your team does well this week.

Testing..

So....We have entered a new era. Iphoneon. I'm testing out Blogger via my phone. Ray is kindly entertaining Eamon.


It's a full kitchen...but we're having fun! More soon when I see how this goes!

Modeling

The time has come again for the boys to model Ray's mother's creations.
Eamon is pretty excited. He should be, as this is pretty darn cute...
Look, I match Dad...and if I try, my legs disappear into his!
Thanks, Grandma!
(sorry, Laura, still no picture of the bib.. it's dirty about as soon as it's clean.. but it's getting lots of use! Laura Rose, we owe you pictures as well... still working on it.)

Chopping Broccoli

Eamon eyes many things we feed him with suspicion.


But, much to my father's dismay, this one he likes. At least, coated in cheese, anyway...
Here's some broccoli for you, Grandpa!
I will note that he likes bacon as well...does that help, Dad?

Who Do I Look Like? ...Part II

Eamon has turned into a little human in the past few months, with very different features. The debate as to whose features continues.

Evidence: #1


E:

Evidence: #2

It's funny.... Ray and I had been talking about how much he resembles one of these photos, and now that I've assembled them on the same page, that resemblance is there, yes. But the cheeks, that smile... that's a whole different photo. Again, what do you think?

Random....

... truly random. Some things I've seen out and about that I feel the need to share.

Exhibit 1: For Ray's Mom, mostly. This sign always makes me think of the sign on the road outside of the MSP airport ("Report Suspicious Activity" - which is a pretty broad, Orwellian statement). But this one is funnier. As seen on the Denver area RTD busses.
The focus isn't great, but it reads "REPORT SUSPICIOUS BAGS" and the purse is saying "I think he's cheating on me."
Exhibit 2: Heather will probably get the most out of this, although it makes me think of Steve G's spaghetti monster plates. Our grad student presented us with these the day of her final last semester. Making cookies that look like bacterial isolation plates: Pretty awesome way to procrastinate.
Exhibit 3: Probably shouldn't dedicate this to anyone. But Ray said I should post it. As seen on the bus, again...

Caught Purple-Handed

Mo-om, you're blocking my view - the game is on!
Okay, you caught me - it's just the interviews. But don't let Grandma and Grandpa B know I'm watching a Manning!