Pinky & the Brain

There are probably eight or nine other people like me, who will think this is hilarious.

more about where we are now

Peter started clapping on Saturday. He recognizes all his family members and claps when they enter a room. Somewhere in the last month he stated crawling up stairs. He cannot crawl down stairs.

He offers his food to other people (and random inanimate object). The other day after he offered my breast to his toy monkey and then to me. On the other hand, while we were at the library one day he pushed another baby down and took his bottle. And this Saturday at a picnic he crawled onto another family's blanket and ate all their baby's puffs. So much for sharing!

He's always very active. He tries to stand on his head while nursing. He also sits up and crawls and throws himself around in his sleep. I've been taking him swimming at the Y since he was 4 months. He LOVES this. He gets really excited when we start walking down the hall for the pool. He can stand on his own for longer in water then on land. He's not at all afraid of getting his face wet. They have a bunch of cool squirty elements in the pool, which he loves to play with. He's extended this "fun with fluid mechanics" play to his bottle, and breast milk. Funny: I can barely pump him a bottle with a pump. I can't express ANY milk manually, but Peter can work me like a cow.

We are trying to teach him simple signs. A few times he made the "milk" sign, tho he usually just tries to pull my shirt up. Not ideal -- but, at least it's clear. He does repeat simple phrases like "all done" and "bye bye." And he waves. He knows that he's "Peter" and I'm "Mommy." He knows if he says "Mamamama" in a pitiful voice he can get my attention.

perpetual motion machine

You may have noticed that there hasn't been a lot of blogging since Peter started to crawl. This is because in the moment that Peter first crawled, life totally changed. I have been feeling like Roger Rabbit in this cartoon. You read in science fiction and fantasy books about "magic doors" -- where you go through the magic door and life on the other side is totally different in an instant, and there's no going back. Baby learning to crawl is a real-life magic door. (Auto accidents are another, but that's a different story.)

Peter has started inquiring about the world around him. If he hears a sound (we have live near the train and the fire house, so there are some big sounds that interest little boys) he indicates the sound as if to ask about it. Also, if he sees a creature move, he points and makes inquisitive sounds. Taking him to the zoo is FUN now. He gets sooo excited. Hearing Peter laugh is the best sound I know.

Peter also has started feeding himself. It's a giant mess -- but I get to feed myself at mealtimes now. :)

This week Richard Grunn ( a fellow member of Zuppa del Giorno) and I had to busk at a conference. So, Peter got dragged to his first theatre-related event. He had a big time. He thought the juggler was about the coolest thing he ever saw and laughed heartily at the stupid sounds that Rich could make with his face (Rich is also a foley artist).

Chris' last day of school was Monday. So, now we have a lot more Daddy in our life. This is a wonderful thing! Pictured right are Chris and Peter taking a nap together. I actually got something accomplished that day -- tho, I don't remember what because my brain got left behind somewhere in the birthing process...

Mystery resolved

Introducing Dracunculus vulgaris!

(Thanks to the nice folks at carnivorousplants.org)

Garden mystery

This thing has been growing by our deck for a month. Last week two big spears started growing. This morning one popped open to reveal what looks like a giant fly-trap! Flies are swarming around it now. There is a big bulb at the bottom of the "blossom" that looks like a digestive organ. There is a faint not-pleasant odor, and the thing seems intent on pretending to be carrion.

What the hell?? A giant carnivorous plant in Bernardsville? Can anyone identify this?