Motor Man.

So.

Little Dude is growing like a crazy man.

He's finally started crawling around and now there is no stopping him.

He takes his time doing things, but once he decides to do them, he is a force to be reckoned with.

He is the babbling king.

I love the stage infants enter into at this age in language development.

He has some very clear words: Momma, Daddy, Nay-Nuh (Nellie), Num-Num (pacifier), Dog-Dog, Bye-Bye, Hiiiiiiiiiiiii, I eeee yooooooou (I see you) and Love.  :)

These words are totally discernible by outside parties and that makes me smile. :)

But the part of development I LOVE is the phrasing of random sounds.

He's realized there is a rhythm to language.

A pace and timing.

It's almost like his inner mind has made some sort of connection regarding the art of speaking, of communication among humans.

He phrases all the sounds he can muster and then stares at me as if to say, "Right, I mean, come on Mom that was soooo clear."

Except I have no idea what he's saying.

E-zizzle is clearly laid back.

I frequently find him decked out in princess gear or with a cereal box on his head.

He doesn't seem to mind.

Sesame is growing like a weed.

I wish I could freeze time some days.

She is becoming such a little girl - with daily opinions that differ from mine.

She is effervescent.

She is emotive.

She is hilarious.  ;)

He is almost a year old.

 

A YEAR!

I just don't know where the time has gone.

I love his crazy faces.

They are so very different from the faces Sesame made at this age.

More proof of an imaginative, existing God if you as me.

They have the same gene pool

same home environment

and yet they are so very different.

I love it.

God is awesome like that.

Always surprising me with his creativity.

He rocks.

Clandestine Events.

Realization #1: I love gardening.

Realization #2: I do not know how to garden well.

Realization #3: Sesame loves to garden.

Realization #4: Little Dude loves to garden.

Realization #5: Some of my plants are shriveling into nothingness as if I have starved them -- they look like the little weird plants on the bottom of Ursula's ocean cavern in The Little Mermaid may be dying.

Realization #6: I love to garden. Wait.  I already said that.

Realization #7: Both my Nonnie and Grandma are excellent gardeners.  Note to self: ask for more help.

Realization #8: It matters not if our garden produces anything of value, because it has produced unbelievable joy in the faces of my children.  Points to the grimy fingernails, soil-stricken clothes and muddy shoes.

Garden = Constant reminder of the Lord's plan to take something tiny, dead and lifeless and transform it into a beautiful, bountiful wellspring of life.  God is Awesome.  :)

Carnivore.

So.

Here I am.

Hi.

That's right, I do still exist, and not in some ephemeral state.

I'm real and kickin'.

Hence the lack of posts.

We've been a bit too kickin'.

As in, waaaaaaaaay busy! 

But, such is life during this season.

So.

Here is the newest carnivore:

He looooooooooves meat.

Sesame never ate meat.  

It's still a struggle sometimes.

Little Dude, however, would eat alllllll meat if we let him.

He snarfs it down and then literally,

no really,

literally,

bangs on his tray for more.

Love it.

Check out his amazing curls too:

Love it.

But how could you not love a curly-headed carnivore who looks exactly like his Daddy!?  :)

Canal Walk

Okay, ya'll, it's picture dump time. I'll try to nudge Emily into posting some real words here soon, but let's be honest - you mainly want to see the kids anyway.     =)

Little Dude is steadily becoming a person. In addition to no longer looking entirely like Winston Churchill,

he's also been roped into games a-plenty by his big sister.

Thursday ended up being his first Taco Bell experience. This is the "Hey, Dad, how's about you let me try the good stuff?" look.

.......and it was good. Grade D beef has a new fan.

Needless to say, Little Dude does not have the monopoly on personality. Sesame was generously providing a soundtrack for most of the adventure.

Let no one accuse us of not using the things we're given. Small group people, you rock.

We decided to take a walk on the canal downtown, as the Event Coordinator failed to correctly read the hours for the Zoo. It worked out.

She's a fan of Little Dude.

The feeling is mutual.

Little Dude is quickly picking up the game of "So Big" with enthusiasm.

This is the "I'm done" face.

And yet they give it the ol' college try (whatever that means).

Hope you enjoyed. More words next time. I'll also let Emily do it. She brings the funny, not me.

-Husband-

PS - Happy Mother's Day to all the moms (especially mine)! We love you!