Two Men and Some Wings

What's up, Mom? We're just hanging out, eating some wings. 
Ya know, checking out the dogs on the deck, all that...it's a hard life.

The second picture makes me pretty sure he got Ray's mom's cheeks. Enjoy your Friday cute, I'm going to go find a warm patio! Probably in another state, from the look of the forecast...

A Growing Boy and His Drunken Noodles

I'm still swimming upstream, so how about a pure photo post? Ray took me out for sushi last weekend, and it was funny how much easier it has gotten to keep Eamon entertained during a longer lunch. He loved the edamame and drunken noodles, and even ate off of a plate for a while before trying to use it as a projectile. I think it was the eating off of the plate that killed me - he looks so... boy.

I wasn't too verklempt, though - I had sushi, and half of that bottle of nigori sake you see Ray with (which was the lowest-alcohol sake I've ever seen, fortunately). Oh, and Eamon didn't much like the fortune cookie, so I had to help with that...

No picture

This entry gets no picture, because I forgot to take it, and the evidence is already in the wash.

What evidence, you ask?

You know the adorable little boy, the one whose picture is up here all the time? The one who is suddenly feeling so much better, who is not (knocking on wood) teething for the moment, whose sinus infection is mostly gone (see: more wood, knocking on)? Yeah, that one. The one who greeted me so very happily at daycare, who enthusiastically ate his white cheddar pasta and greek yogurt, smiling and laughing at me as we shared dinner? Yeah, him.

I think he's smarter than he looks. Because you know what that loving child did the minute I freed him from his high chair? He gave me a BIG full-body hug.

Remember the white cheddar pasta... and greek yogurt? Did I mention I was wearing a  black shirt?

Yeah.

Mom. This entry is for you. I know, I know. It wasn't Kool-Aid... but it's coming.

In the meantime... Wanna hug?

(before anyone takes this wrong - in no manner do I resent that hug - I just know that I deserve it, and not just in the good way... and perhaps E is learning from the cats.. Donut LOVES Ray's black pants)

(and for the rest of you... the cute baby will return tomorrow... after we've all bathed)

Carrying On

The fight for the bill is a tradition in my family. It seems to be making it to the next generation as well.





Dad wins!
For a kid who doesn't eat much, he's pretty adventurous - that's a "lowrider" from Proto's all over his chin. A pizza involving pineapple, feta, cilantro, and cayenne. He loved it, except for the cilantro.

It's the Most Wonderful Time...

Eamon had his first Cadbury egg (well, part of one, anyway). I think he liked it.

Caught Green Handed

I won't deny that this makes me laugh because, well, it's broccoli, Dad. And he loves it. Sorry.

Eamon discovered food this week. He discovered how to keep it in his mouth long enough to eat it. He eats more than he wears (although... he still wears a lot). And now, it's like he thinks we might try to starve him, with him bouncing up and down in his chair and oohing when we pull out something he wants. He still loves yogurt, but also noodles, and broccoli, and spinach, and anything else that can convey a sauce or dressing to his mouth. Marinara, dijon vinaigrette, barbeque, it's all good. He sucks on broccoli full of marinara like it's a sucker. He spent half an hour eating dinner two nights ago. He's getting an adorable little baby pooch. Where did this kid come from?

(Oh, and I think his eyes are turning brown. Ray still argues for hazel...)

(And chemist-types, if you can come up with a better adhesive for that suction cup bowl, you will own the world. Or at least the todders.)

(No superglue, though.. needs to come off. I see you coming.)

LOLEamons

I can haz nectarine?
Iz gud. Iz mine.

(Captions by Ray in the spirit of LOLcats.(or, for my mom)..feel free to add your own. Yes, the teeth are coming in handy, thank you.)

Hey, Mr. Driverman, drive this bus fast!

*Sigh*
This bus takes forever to get anywhere.
Good thing I packed lunch!


(Seriously, people, how many forms of baby containment could you find in ten square feet? There's only one of me!!)

8 months

Eamon is eight months old today.

His appearance hasn't changed much in the last month, but he's suddenly a mobile human. His play has taken on a whole new aspect.
He is, however, still working on levitating objects with his mind.
His treatise on random syllables is expanding, with the addition of m's and some interesting s-related sounds. Excitement is expressed with a whole-body arm flapping motion that can be hazardous to those nearby.

He's eating nectarines, pears, zucchini (sort of), and carrots now. He also discovered Cheerios this weekend, which has led to a whole new chapter in his thesis on the effects of gravity on babies and objects near babies. I am rethinking our decision not to have a dog. (Well, sort of... dust busters are lower maintenance.)

He still laughs readily, particularly for Ray. Smiles, those are for everyone, although he's getting shyer about it and will hide his face with strangers. The backpack, obviously, is a close friend.
Speaking of friends - those bottom two teeth are about to gain some - the top FOUR are working their way out.

Everything is still something to put in his mouth (except pureed zucchini, not so sure about that). We're babyproofing. Constantly. It just keeps getting more interesting!

7 months

Eamon is 7 months old today.

He's definitely bigger than a month ago, (or two - blue chair for scale), although no doctor's visit this month, so no numbers for you all.

His ability to dress himself has not improved. Hence, things like this happen to him.

New category:

Hair: reddish(?) blond (Dad, don't even start). Eyes: Still blue with brown in the middle.

New food: green beans, peas, whole grains (commercial millet/spelt/barley, because I just can't get barley smooth enough on my own - and has anyone out there intentionally eaten spelt?). He's eating a lot more of everything. Still prefers normal glassware to anything designed for babies, and hey, he gets a bath at the same time! (On that note, he's still enjoying showers, although showing a greater tendency to drink the shower water.)

Eamon can now say a variety of random syllables (alala, aga, ahoo, ssseh (which puts him way ahead of me at that age, "s"-wise)), but still is clearest with "dadadadada"

He is scooting backwards with confidence now, and in the last few days he has figured out how to connect it with his rolls to get where he wants. He's only really stumped if the object of his desire is about two inches past his reach directly in front of him (take advantage of that? who? me?).

And a couple of weeks ago he popped out two teeth - bottom front. Fang lost the race. Have yet to get a picture of that, but he'll gladly gnaw on your fingers (arms, calves) and show you!

I'm even content with my own fist, thanks! Well, that, and the wind in my hair...

Not distracted... Artistic?

And sometimes, he's really into his food....

.... and his food is really into (and on) everything!

[Edited to add: you really have to click on that picture - and look at my leg, his legs, his shorts, his chair - to appreciate fully. We tried to make squash puree pancakes. Squish is a better descriptor.]

Distracted?

Sometimes, he's not as interested in his food...

...as he is in the fun photo in his bib.

Good thing he smiles.

Experience

We got to spend the weekend with my brother and his family. We had a great time, and there are lots of great pics and such to share (so check back all week, hopefully I'll be on it), but one set of pictures made me laugh.

When Ray or I feed Eamon, it tends to look something like this.

(note: his leg, sock, shorts...)

Missy made it look more like this.

Yeah, look closely - the kid is clean. The BIB is even clean.

How? I have much to learn..