Around he goes

We have been mucking about in the empty new house. Empty houses are great for little ones. There is a circuit in this one (even better) that goes from the kitchen, to the living room, to the front entrance, and then back to the kitchen. Matthew just walks around and around laughing to himself and wearing a sock... on his hand. Life is pretty good when you have a sock on your hand.

Ooooooh

We are really not sure where he gets this from, but it makes us laugh every time.

Happiest Baby In the Pool

Matthew started swimming lessons this fall. When I say 'swimming lessons', I use the term very loosely since really all he is doing is splashing in the water and being moved around by Mom or Dad as they sing ridiculous songs with all the other adults. Anyway, he had a great time. He loves the water, as you can see in the following pictures...

splashing with Daddy

playing in the mushroom shower with Mommy

happy baby

practicing his floats

looks like Daddy had a good time too!

Party of One

Matthew's first party was a great success. Not sure how one exactly judges success in this context, particularly given that Matthew will have exactly zero recognition of the event. However there was cake and singing and presents and friends and fun. So definitely all good. A special thank you to Auntie Tricia who made the cakes!

You know, it is funny introducing these rites of passage. It makes you kind step back and think about it. Celebrating birthdays is, in and of itself, not that weird an idea, but the fact that we all do it the same is fascinating. We all sing the same song, we have the cake and the candle, and presents. It is such an established protocol, and yet, all brand new for Matthew. And kinda brand new for us, since we get participate now in a different role. Fun.

Singing the song.

Daddy helping blow out the candle.
Matthew generally unconvinced about the whole process.

Cake. A hit.

Birthday Message from Zoom!

Our little one is 1, and what better way to celebrate than with a message from Zoom! Here is a blast from my past. Dave and I both had personalized messages from Zoom for our birthdays. Of course in our day they were on records - floppy plastic records if I recall - but the song is the same.

A New Perspective

I don't really what to say about this new behaviour. He figured out how to do it all by himself and realized that he liked looking at the world upside down. So he kept doing it. It makes us laugh and so we will keep encouraging him...

Communications....sort of

Matthew has learned the sign for Milk! ...or perhaps liquid in general...or good-bye... perhaps it is contextual. Anyway he is definitely sort of communicating. At least we are responding as if he is communicating. At the table he asks for milk fairly consistently. He seems satisfied by water as well, and he has begun using the sign at bed time just before Kristine starts nursing him. Of course he uses the similar sign for good-bye, but there is a noted difference is the angle and positioning of the wrist, which is clearly intentional and obviously meant to distinguish the two signs....clearly.