and in slow motion

Firsts: Cruising

I created a little station yesterday. At one end of the couch is Marek's beloved laptop. At the other end is his bird sound book. I thought it would just be good leg strengthening with all that standing, but today ... Cruising. It seems wrong how proud I get of something I had nothing to do with :)

Saving the best for last

Marek has always liked computers like Mommy and Daddys'. He had a little toy one for a while, and then we gave him an ancient old real one. However, that will no longer do, he has to play with our computers. If your working on one, he climbs on to you lap and tries to force his way to the keys. Scaling you to get to the computer keys.

Blackberries are the only substitute he'll accept.

Doggie

Marek loves Leo Doggie. Unfortunately for Leo he feels the need to touch his face: smack his nose, pet the tongue, etcetra. One day they'll be the best of friends.

On other fronts, we have declared (drum roll please) A SECOND TOOTH. So we've had a few nights were Baby Tylenol has been needed.

Marek got another haircut

It's short. Little boy short. As in not my little baby boy. I'm in mourning and refuse to post any pictures of the new haircut until I've gotten over it being so short. So here's some pictures from yesterday: first day in a tank top.

As promised, I give you ...

stairs.

Breakthrough

I was going to write how Marek no longer pulls himself up, instead puts out a hand for balance and squat thrust himself up. But we had a breakthough:

For weeks I've been showing Marek the stairs, trying to encourage him to climb them. He'd stand up to go get something but he would give up when he realized it wasn't just a standing up issue.

Then just now, he climbed 2 whole stairs to get me, after watching me climb the stairs baby style. I interrupted him with hip hip hoorays. Then put him down to see how far he'd go. With a book light at the top of the landing for motivation, Marek climbed the whole flight. Fast to.

The video botched, so I'll have to get you more later. In the mean time here's some pictures.

I can't belive I forgot...

... toothbrushes.

Marek still loves toothbrushes. All kinds: baby tooth brushes, my electric toothbrush, your basic toothbrush.

Yet, he still fights you when you try and brush his teeth.

A few of our favourite things

Current favourite toys are wind up toys, Dad's old computer, a bamboo wisk, Yaya's buzzing bee book (he loves to open the book and make it buzz), and balls. Opening and closing doors of all kinds and playing hide and seek, and Marek style peek a boo are still high on the list.

Went to fitness class yesterday and Marek played with Daniel who's the same age. By playing I mean crawled around each other and stole toys the other was playing with. They touched each other and slapped the others hands away. It's the most Marek has ever interacted with another baby.

Later we went and hanged out on Jake the dogs grass while Leo played.

Just the family hanging out

"I will pay you $5"

I have 4 wonderful men in my life.

I have a consitent, reliable father who I can count on in a crunch.

I have a wonderful husband who is a natural dad, and whom can make my son laugh more than anyone else. Lucky me I L him to alpha centauri and back.

Leo is Marek's baby sitter, and takes all of Marek's slapping and cookie stealing like a champ.

Then there's Marek who brings a smile to all of our lives. Okay, maybe not Leo's yet.

Happy Daddy Day!

First trip to the petting zoo

And when we got back another first; Marek learned how to open the forbidden under the sink doors. More work for Mountain Man post Daddy Day Weekend.

3 hour nap

Since Mountain Man didn't mention it; Marek liked the jelly fish and Arctic cod at the aquarium. There were to many school kids to get him close to the sea turtles, sharks, and whales. Maybe next time.

Chore Day here at Handley House. Marek's chores are to play with his ball on the enclosed patio, open and shut doors many times in a row, and to climb over mommy a lot. He's also in charge of terrorizing the dog in his spare time. Busy boy.

We think we'll be able to declare a second tooth any day now. Stay tuned sports fans.

First Trip to the Vancouver Acquarium

Okay, I have to apologise; we missed taking a lot of photos or video. Actually, all I have is this one for you...........and now as a treat a posting by the mountain man:

Since the dawn of time, man has set forth to conquer the seas. Today, a mission for fishin (oh yes..that rhymes) was undertaken. With his trusty sidekicks Mountain Man and Accounting Girl, the supreme admiral of the fleet M set out on a voyage of knowledge. Through expansive exploration of the coral reefs, the Arctic seas and the amazonian tropics our fleet commander lead his troops. Jellyfish were spotted off the starboard bow just prior to mid day, with the commander yelling out his orders to pursue. M pointed and clearly set forth the roles that his sidekicks were to adhere to. Looking at Accounting Girl, M stated "ahh blass dood lesss pphhbbt" which Mountain Man translated to mean, "me want food, me want to eat shiny slimy jellyfish." The troops returned, having defiantly conquered the seas, with the commander receiving a ride in his silver chariot and reuniting with his trusty steed and cheerios.

Fulcrum

There has to be pictures. So you get these today.

However, the main even is Fulcrum. Marek invented a fulcrum all on his own. He uses his second hand as a pivot point to bring his clacking alligator closer (video below). Yes, I may be biased, but I think my baby is a genius.

Did I tell you I made healthy Banana Blueberry Muffins (that Marek and I have been stuffing our faces with all week. This weekend I'm going to try them with apple sauce instead of bananas for Mountain Man.

Little man is napping now so I have to go look up the signs for our new super cheap Cosco Dr Seuss board books.

A Twist to Peekaboo

Last week Marek got into finding objects under small pieces of clothes. So proud of himself. First he would watch me hide the object, then he found noise making toys, now he picks up every piece of cloth on the ground expecting to find something.

Also, he's taken to finding me in a game of hide and seek. At this point I make little noises to help him out.

Still we were floored when last night he hide himself in peekaboo. Best explained by video and pictures.

Then today he started opening and closing the room doors in another version of peekaboo.

I know they're supposed to grow up fast, but WOW!!!

Schools In: Snail

Marek fell in love with this little snail wind up toy. I wind it up on the bathroom tile and when it gets stuck Marek bats it free. He also likes to open and close the bathroom drawers.

For all those eager beavers out there,

I've attached a link below for the sign for snail; S sliding up the back on your closed hand. Bonus points for learning that in French snail is escargot.

http://www.signingsavvy.com/search.php?search=snail&find=1

Spagetti Free For All

When I first put down the plate of plain cut spaghetti for Marek, he happily put a few hand fulls in his mouth. Then he decided all the spaghetti must be removed from the plate by swooshing with his hand. Then he smooshed it with a serving spoon and whisk. The brushed the spaghetti with his toothbrush.

Luckily I have a very good mop named Leo to help clean up food messes.

Media Monday - toothbrush

Sorry for the delayed posting. New computer took some getting used to.

Now that Marek has a tooth, we're trying to get him to accept any form of tooth brushing. None seem to be accepted; my electric toothbrush, Mountain Man's toothbrush, baby tooth brush, cloth.

Mountain Man can get him to accept my toothbrush, but Marek won't take it from me yet.

A New Level of Dirty

Baths are starting to become a daily thing. I guess faster / more crawling (which is now tummy off the floor crawling) has opened up a new level of exploring / dirtiness.

It's a good thing Marek doesn't mind them anymore. Although M still complains and fights you if you try and put him on his back to get his hair washed.

We tend to end up bathing right before nap time, as that is peak filthiness.

By and by, we declared Marek's first tooth to officially be here as of yesterday.

Media Monday - Bath Day

In the begining Mountain Man bathed Marek; photographs were forbidden. Listen anything R rated accidentally get posted. For the last few months I've been bathing Marek. However, since I usually do that during the day when nobody is home, no photos. Finally we got some media taken. Enjoy.

A 2nd Media Monday - In honour of Aunty Yellow Hair

Marek's love of bouncing knows no bounds.

Who knows, maybe this one could be KP's media Monday next week. Hint, hint.

Crackers

Marek has yet to meet a cracker he doesn't like.

Papa needs to stock the cabin with more whole wheat cracker variety though