Hi peoples! The end-of-summer activity has put a serious dent in my weblog updating. Another significant dent: the one in my lower gum, which has become the victim of calcium deposits and periodontal ligament activity. (For ye laypersons: I HAVE A SHARP TOOTH IN MY MOUTH, OW.) So, you’ll have to excuse me if I periodically interject crabbiness into our conversation.
Prior to the dental havoc, I learned to identify my mom — provided that I’m not already too distracted by something blinky or noisy. I also started babbling “mmmbbb” or “pfffftt” with some regularity, in-between my persistent tooth-based fussing, of course. And as if sleeping wasn’t enough of a challenge, eating has also turned into a game of trickery, where my mouth is the target and the most entertaining jester wins the opportunity to sneak food in while I’m giggling. This, along with the cat, is all highly entertaining.
In early August, we went on another mini-vacation to a beach with friends, and loved it (note, video now available in Super Really Impressive Definition, or something, I don’t know):
To conclude this post, here is an abbreviated record of funny things we say or sing to keep me feeling happy.
“It’s music | A-B-C | learning time!”
(when a toy phone is present) “hello? it’s for yeeooouuu!”
Frog Song: n little speckled frogs sat on a speckled log, eating some most delicious bugs. [Yum yum!] One jumped into the pool, where it was nice and cool, now there are n-1 speckled frogs. (Repeat until n=0.) Note: n is an estimated integer directly proportional to my degree of fussy.
Turtle Song (alternate version): there was a little turtle and her name was Mads, she loved her moms and she loved her dads. She had a little belly and her belly was round, and wherever she went, she made this sound: Mbmbmbmbmbmbmbmbmbbboo! I loovveee youuu.
Do not be misled by my serious demeanor. Because, in fact, THE FUN IS ON!
The past couple of weeks have been filled with exciting changes and exciting times. Let’s start with the changes.
I’m eating solid foods now, and I want to emphasize that I use the term “solid” quite loosely. I don’t know who thinks mushed up pasty peas constitute a solid substance, but hey, I’m the baby here, I must be missing something. Anyway, I dig pears and carrots. Sweet potatoes and peas are passable, and oatmeal is so bland that I haven’t even noticed when I’m eating it. I could be eating oatmeal right now. Who can say?
I’m a standing, wiggling, rolling machine. I can do anything (other than staying still for five seconds.)
I developed a surprisingly decent level of hand dexterity. I can grab small puzzle pieces by their tiny nubs, and then chew them. I also learned how to add and remove plastic objects from a stack, or toy chickens from a toy barn. Most impressively, I successfully and repeatedly strummed a guitar, mainly to highlight my father’s rife incompetence with said instrument, but also because I’m kind of a punkster.
Now for the fun times:
Visited Lake Geneva in Wisconsin, and played on the beach for the first time. The water was a balmy -400°F, but who cares? It was incredible.
Got a killer new car seat that could have qualified as a throne for a midget king in medieval times.
Spent some time with the fam on my guncle’s boat, for my first boating excursion. It went well until the end, when I became tired and subsequently really, really mad — true to my namesake. Ed: the term “guncle” is shorthand for “grand uncle,” and should be pronounced “gunk-le.” Also acceptable is “gaunt,” in reference to a “grand aunt” (not to be confused with a very thin person, or a type of Powerpoint chart.)
My mom brought home a fancy turtle pool, so I can quietly reminisce about the lake and boat experiences, all while sitting in a puddle of stale hose water. OK, so it’s not glorious, but it’s still loads of fun.
