11 months

This one turned 11 months old yesterday.

The changes are getting more incremental. He's more mobile, but not *quite* walking. He has more sounds (babbaba) but not quite talking.

He fills out his clothes in a way his brother didn't even at 15 months. He's closing on 19 lbs but is easily the tallest in his room at daycare. That's because he's still eating everything. (This would be his favorite, chicken.)

With the obvious results.

He's getting more confident in what he's doing.

He figured out how to use the coffee tables to get up on our couch, but that's mostly ok because, unlike E, he'll find the edge and then spin around to slide down feet first.

And he still has an awesome personality.

He was sick for a good chunk of the last month (cold turned to ear infection) and it made him a little fussy. I'm very glad to report he's back to his happy self with the addition of some amoxicillin.

(I wish this had sound so you could hear his motoroboat noise. It's his expression of general happiness, but he'll hold a conversation all in buzzes.)

His only question...
Wait, were you going to eat this?


(click here for all of the big blue chair posts)

Easy

Let's see...is this attempt to pacify me? I've been in this cart for an hour, and you give me the cups from samples you ate? Do you think it's that easy? Do you see this can I already rejected?
Ohh, look, they make noise! Okay, it totally is that easy...

This kid is having a hectic week. Teething continues, and possibly a growth spurt? We were both sick, but made it up to see the Steamboat clan (pics forthcoming, I swear). Soon the Grunzinger clan is invading. Lots of love for the little boy.

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.

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.

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?

11 months

Our little boy turns 11 months old today. It's been quite a big month- not much in the way of teething, but a lot in the way of getting mobile and taking on the world. I'll try get some vitals up in a day or so, when we're done holidaying. But for now...




...it's been an awesome 11 months. He has changed a lot about how we look at the world. I like his viewpoint.  Again, I hope you all have found this much simple joy this week.
(if not, we've got a dowel we can send to you...)