Daddy noticed something peculiar when you are feeding yourself finger foods. When we are out, very little food ends up on the floor unless you are full and just want to play. At home, more food goes to the floor well before you are full and often with you looking right at us when you drop it. Daddy’s hypothesis: you know the dog will likely get what you drop and you want to have the dog nearer to you to watch, ergo, you are willing to sacrifice some of your bits for a good cause.

New parental decree: the dog stays on her bed until meal time is over.

The results: TBD

A sure sign that toddling is just around the corner: you want to stand and walk whenever possible. If you are on the ground, this desire results in you crawling over to the nearest set of big legs, standing up holding on to said legs, and waiting… until that someone picks you up or (better) offers you a finger of each hand to grab on to and walk around. This walking sometimes had a direction (at home, this is towards the kitchen or the dog’s bed–two places you are not allowed). Most times, you are content to walk in circles or figure 8s. There are two limits to the distance you can go: the back strength of your assistant or the presence of something you want to play with that requires sitting down.

Note: you do not seem to enjoy walking on grass yet.

Mommy had to go on another road trip, this time to Baylor University in Waco, Texas. She was looking forward to some relaxing alone time in the evening and a long night’s sleep….only to find out that it was too quiet to sleep: no traffic noise, no window unit air conditioner, no baby monitor static. On top of that, no bath time followed by story followed by bottle. I guess Mommy needs your bedtime routine just as much as you do.

Time to put away the 6-9 month clothes and bring out the 9-12 month clothes. As usual, there is still plenty of room side-to-side, but not enough top-to-bottom. Some of the new clothes we did not get to on time; they are already too small. This is especially a problem for sleepers as your feet seem to be the first thing to grow in each round. Mommy and Daddy are finding it hard to believe that these clothes could fit you. When we got them for your baby shower we were sure you would take forever to get that big. Then you grab on to things that you’re not supposed to be able to reach and we believe you.

Mommy’s advisor from geology, Dr. Masiello, had a brunch at her house for graduation and Mother’s Day. You went ready to charm in your little suit (definitely the last time for that suit shirt…the baby vest and baby trousers are still probably long enough for one more go). When you weren’t napping, you were doing your best to earn your title of temporary biogeochemistry group mascot by crawling from room to room to check on the party’s progress. Owen generously shared his big legos, including a castle with a dragon that you had great fun disassembling. You also helped Mommy and Daddy eat their food…especially cheese and pop-overs.

We hope you like the buzz cut look because it’s a look you’ll be sporting for many years. Daddy has been learning the art of using the clippers on your fine blond locks and the uneven bits are gradually succumbing to its ordering influence. This haircut is relatively easy and cool (in temperature…social “coolness” is TBD…) and therefore will continue. Daddy also got his haircut for the first time in over a year, so Mommy now gets to affectionately call both of you “fuzz heads”.

P.S. Daddy much prefers carrying you on his shoulders post-haircut. Previously you found that his long curls made great reins.

This weekend, you and Mommy were the recipients of a thoughtful act of kindness. Yesterday, Mommy took a squirmy, done-with-supervising you on a walk while Daddy finished washing the cars. We walked around our neighborhood, you directing from your captain’s chair pose in the stroller and Mommy doing her best to manuver the sudden changes in elevation (in Houston, there is no topography, just uneven sidewalks). Somewhere along the way, you kicked off your blanket and Mommy didn’t notice.

Today, you, Mommy and Daddy retraced our steps to see if your blanket was still there. Our hope was a crumbled, slightly dirty blankie off to the side of the sidewalk. What we found was blankie, lovingly washed, folded and wrapped in a baggie (just in case it rained), sitting on the retaining wall waiting for us. One of our neighbors must have had children at one point to recognize what had happened and how important the retrieval of said object would be. To that neighbor, thank you!

Please see previous entry.

This habit is not so endearing at 2:30 am, especially if you think it means the day has started and that it is time for Mommy and Daddy to hang out with you.

One reason so many people like dogs is that dogs are so happy about almost everything and are especially excited when their humans return home. Such an enthusiastic greeting makes you feel special and loved.

You are getting to the stage where you start to look for Mommy and Daddy if you can’t see them. Sometimes you even start to cry if they don’t reappear soon enough. In the mornings, this habit manifests itself in a slightly-fussy-baby alarm between 6 and 6:30. You are standing on the side of your crib facing the bedroom and start to bounce up and down with a big smile as soon as you see Mommy or Daddy. Once they pick you up, you drape your arms across their shoulders and just lay there for a while as if to say, “Yay! You’re here! I missed you so much! I can relax and wake up happy now!” These morning hugs are becoming one of Mommy’s favorite parts of the day.

A variation on “the grass is greener on the other side” is that someone else’s food/drink (especially Mommy’s) is always tastier than one’s own. This is especially important for sippy cups. As you spend more time holding your own bottle, you also spend more time playing with it, which results in milk getting everywhere. Mommy and Daddy want to solve this problem by getting you to drink from a sippy cup, either the ones with the mouth piece or the straw…we don’t care which. You think they are just toys. You feel differently, however, about Mommy’s water bottle, which was dubbed “sippy cup” when she was pregnant with you. You watch her drink out of it all the time and know exactly how to use it if you get your hands on it.

Daddy has figured out how to put this habit to good use. Mommy will drink her water out of one of your sippy cups until you have figured them out. She thinks it is tedious to have to refill every couple swallows but at least you are now showing interest.