Wordful Wednesday: Bathtime Then & Now

Bathtime is the only time they don't whine or fight. Bless these 10 minutes of peace. 
 

June 2012

November 2013

Nano Poo Particles

I am so over poop.

Desmond is 18 months and he shows zero interest in potty training. I know boys don't reach this milestone as quickly as girls, so I don't expect him to be out of diapers by age 2. But the boy won't even communicate that he has eliminated. He doesn't pat his bottom and say poo-poo. He doesn't even walk funny as if it bothers him. He just continues to eat, play or whatever until I sniff him from across the room (I have a bloodhound's nose).

Which leads me to my original statement. I am so over poop. More specifically, I am tired of smelling poop. I once read an article that said the smell of poop is actually tiny molecules of fecal matter reaching your olfactory receptors. Double Ew. I freaked myself out thinking about nano particles of poop trapped in my nose hairs. That article seriously disturbed me.

By Camiech (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

I have been doing some internet research on how to gently coax little man onto the potty train or at least get him to let me know when he's soiled himself. Is there an app for that? I am open to advice. I need to figure out something pronto because he has started removing his dry diaper at night. He has already peed the crib twice. It's just a matter of time before we wake up to poo-smeared bedding. Then I will be scrubbing poo off the walls and thoughts of micro poo stuck in my nose from my mind. As my Jamaican grandmother would say, "Lawd take the case!"

Wordful Wednesday: Halloween 2013 #Costumes

You know I love dressing up my kids in themed costumes for Halloween. And I'm going to keep doing it for as long as I can get away with it! Here is Marlie and Desmond as Minnie and Mickey Mouse. Get ready to be overcome by the cuteness!

Minnie Mouse Costume: Etsy; Mickey Mouse Hat: Etsy, Black Onesie: Amazon, Red Pantaloons: Ebay

Our neighbor came out to take pictures of the cuteness

They have their pumpkin baskets and are ready to go trick or treating

We went to the Fairy Land Jack o Latern Jamboree with our friends

Desmond found another Minnie Mouse to flirt with

What are your kids going dressed as for Halloween?

The Kids Stay in the Picture #WordfulWednesday

The fall season kicked off this week, and I miss summer already. Don't get me wrong. I enjoy Autumn... cranberry-colored leaves, juicy nectarines, pumpkin pie, Halloween costumes. It's all good! But I just had to give summer one last salute in a pictorial (with words).

Clockwise: (top left): Marlie celebrated the BIG 0-4 with a cowboy western-themed party and pony rides to boot! (top right): Marlie on an urban hike with her dad. (bottom left): Desmond in the bathtub using ducky to cover up his bits. (bottom right): Desmond is thriving at his new preschool. His favorite activity is art. He is a budding Picasso!

Missed Me?

Hello friends!

Sorry I went off the air. That's not entirely the case. I was posting some reviews and giveaways, but I promised more life posts and I've dropped the ball. Sorry 'bout that.

I am struggling to find the time to maintain this blog. Truthfully, I am doing social media stuff all day at work and it's been hard to summon the power to post on my personal site. Plus work is time-consuming and I find my "free time" divided between family and chores. Aw, balance (post on that coming soon!).

Here is a few updates: I was featured at Mom Meet Mom this week. Mom Meet Mom is like Match.com for the mommy set. One of a my favorite bloggers Christa of I Know How Babby Is Formed, is the visionary behind this movement. Please go check it out!

Marlie's sass meter is off the charts. She likes to argue and thinks she's smarter than you so she tries to justify talking back. Now, I'm all for encouraging my child to use her reasoning skills and powers of persuasion, just don't be rude! I told her I was sending her to law school so can turn all that back talk into billable hours. She learned to snap her fingers recenltly which she enjoys doing while watching Michael Jackson videos on YouTube. She calls him "Michael Jack" and she asked me why his nose looks different in Blame it on the Boogie and Bad (she's very observant). She turns 4 next month and the birthday party is all planned out. If you follow my boards on Pinterest then you already know the theme is Toy Story Western. I can't wait to share photos! This fall we will take her on kindergarten school tours because the public school system has school choice option (it's really a placement lottery). We will also visit a couple of charter and parochial schools. I am trying not to freak out about it.

Desmond had a huge growth spurt and is already more than half Marlie's height. People comment that he is going to be taller than her. They may be right. He clocked in at 75 percentile for height at his 15 month wellness check up. He weighs 20 lbs so he is going to be long and lean. He has taken to school like a fish to water. He likes stacking and sorting. He even stacks and sorts things around the house. Too bad we have to transfer him to another school because we can't afford to keep him at Marlie's school (long story). He is also talking up a storm: nana (banana), hair-to (here you go), du (dog/duck), baba (Marlie), mama, dada, and oh-oh.

Me and Damon went through a rough patch recently. Lots of arguments and nights on the couch. After a particularly nasty day of exchange barbs and hanging up on each other, we put the kids to bed and talked. It was a huge breakthrough. Things are on the mend and just in time to have a happy 13th wedding anniversary on July 15.

The Kids Are Alright #WordfulWednesday (PHOTOS)

The sporadic posts are driving me crazy! I miss blogging but this mama is busy trying to get a job, which is a full-time job. The bad news is that I am still unemployed. I didn't get that job I was interviewing for. The good news is that I have an interview with another organization next week, one better aligned with my experience and interests. Say a little pray for me! Once I am settled into working, I am going to figure this blog thing out. Meantime, I wanted to share some recent photos and updates of the kiddos. They are blossoming like spring buds.

playing rocket ship

 

Marlie is busy with preschool, gymnastics, and working her parents last nerve. She has added some new gear to her Terrifying Threes toolbox included stomping with her arms crossed, staying up until 10 pm every night, calling her daddy stupid, and telling me she hates me. Oh, that last one cut me deep like a stabbing to the heart. I didn't go off on her or punish her because she was obviously repeating something she heard and wanted to see my reaction. I don't believe she is fully aware of the emotional consequences of that word. I responded like any other time she says something that is not nice. I didn't want to overreact and unintentionally give that word power less she start using it on a regular basis as a weapon to hurt people.

 

Desmond has finally stopped crying when I drop him off at his class. This is a huge milestone. It is also wonderful to and see him smiling when I pick him up. He has two more teeth coming in and he's been using his chompers to pick a chicken leg clean and bite all of us. He's been capitalizing on being the baby of the family. He likes upsies and following his sister around. She sometimes indulges him by letting him play pretend with her like rocket ship or mailman.

Marlie at the top of Lombard Street, the most crooked street in America

We've been taking advantage of the sunny California weather every weekend...sightseeing in San Francisco and backyard pool parties!

Pool party, baby! It was a cool party!

Happy 1st Birthday Desmond!

Dear Desmond,

One year ago I was blessed to give birth to the surprise gift that is you and our family became complete. You came into the world so quietly that the doctor massaged you to make sure you were okay, but that is just your way. Even now, you only make noise when you need to. You cracked your first crooked grin a couple of hours later and you've been smiling ever since. You are the cheese in our ham sandwich.
We all marveled at the breakneck pace at which you developed over these last 12 months. You sat up at 4 months, crawled at 6 months and walked at 9 months. It feels to foolish to call you a baby when you are more like a mini superhuman. Your freakish strength is sometimes a challenge like when I am trying to change your diaper, but you never fight me to take a bath. We nicknamed you The Hulk because you can go from sweet, docile baby boy to mean, destructive mutant in a split second when someone or something makes you mad. It just takes a hug from mama to calm you down and you are back to your sweet self.

You love to eat, play with trucks, the basketball, blocks, and watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. But above all this you love your big sister and look up to her with those big eyes as dark and brilliant as two chocolate diamonds. I can tell you think she hung the moon and you follow her around like a puppy. Your eyes light up when we pick her up from preschool and you wiggle out of my arms to go to her. I know sometimes she acts like she can't be bothered with you, but she loves you to pieces. She proudly tells everyone that you are her her baby brother. In the last month you two have become closer and started to really play together. Sometimes you two fight over toys (or who gets to sit in my lap), but the beef usually only lasts as long as a commercial break.
You and me have been road dogs for the last year, a journey that has taken us to a new city, new home, and new friends. You've been my constant companion through it all. I rarely went anywhere without you strapped to my chest in your carrier. You helped me with the transition more than you'll ever know. I relish the fact that I can always decipher your baby babble or your facial expressions. It's like we have our own secret language. My heart soared when you first started calling me mom. I hope we will always have this special bond.

You were supposed to start school yesterday because I am plotting my return to the workforce. But since we all have a bad cold, everyone stayed home. I can say without feeling guilty that I am happy for the extra snuggle time. It's proving harder to let you go since you are my youngest (and last). I am sorry that you are sick on your first birthday. We are going to try and make this a happy day for you with a homemade Mickey Mouse shaped cake.

Happy birthday my son. I love you to the the farthest star and back, and I can't wait to see how much you grow in the next year!

you are so special they named a street after you!

The Kids' Log: March 24-30, 2013

HAPPY EASTER!!!  

My sister came to town on Wednesday and we've been enjoying the highs and lows that having a house guest brings. I have taken full advantage of having an extra set of eyes and ears and hands on deck by scheduling a flurry of appointments and tasks that would have been impossible to complete while schlepping a baby around.

Isn't it funny how a visit from a relative frees moms to make trips to the eye doctor and car wash instead of the hair salon and spa? It's not all been business though. We took her to Jack London Square yesterday to see the famous author's log cabin and walk by the waterfront. I was hoping to take a tour of FDR's floating White House that is docked there (USS Potomac), but it was closed.

Toddler Log: 3 Years and 32 Weeks Old

Jack London's cabin

Marlie and her auntie getting a closer look

Marlie has been enjoying her auntie's company (and the extra attention). This includes staying up until midnight for the past three nights because she is entirely overstimulated. She came down with a cold yesterday and I spent a couple of hours napping with her after the fever wiped her out. It was nice to snuggle with her for a change. It's been so long! She's usually going a million miles per second and I usually have Desmond attached to my side like a koala bear. I'm glad we got those couple of hours even if it was caused by the sickies. We all eventually succumbed to the same cold. Damon needs to stop bringing home his public transit germs.

Baby Log: 50 Weeks Old

Desmond eating chilli and cornbread

In two more days, my sweet littlest one will be one! He seems to be racing to leave babyland behind. This week he learned to stack blocks and he's been developing his taste palette. He loves scrambled eggs and meatballs and chilli. Having those upper incisor to tear food has awakened the foodie in him. His first day of school is tomorrow. Wish us luck!

The Kids' Log: March 17-23, 2013

You may have noticed my absence this week (or maybe not). It was on purpose. I needed a break from blogging, but I'm back and ready to share especially about the prom fashion show I attended yesterday at Macy's! Look out for that post tomorrow, and I'll be visiting all you lovelies to catch up on what's going on in your corner of the world.

If you are reading this around 9:15 am Pacific Time, please send me some cheers as I will be starting the Oakland half marathon. My goal is to walk the 13.1 miles in 3 hrs 30 minutes. Thanks for your support!

Toddler Log: 3 Years and 31 Weeks Old
It was a typical week in the life of my fair lady. We took a trip to the Marin Headlands last Sunday, had a picnic near the old ramparts, and then hiked to the Point Bonita Lighthouse. She has been telling everyone about the "light up house." cute.

Baby Log: 49 Weeks Old
The front teeth are making their slow decent and that makes for a super cranky Desmond. He's been in a bad mood all week. I hope they finish coming out before his birthday!

The Kids' Log: March 10-16, 2013

I curse you to Daylight Savings! I have a note from my mommy excusing my tardiness because Daylight Savings is screwing with my internal clock and mind.

Toddler Log: 3 Years and 30 Weeks Old
Daylights Savings affects Marlie differently each time. We just wait and see how she'll handle it. This cycle, she's up until 10 pm and wakes up close to 8 am creating a morning panic that she is oblivious too since southern molasses runs in her veins.

Baby Log: 48 Weeks Old
Desmond is all welly in the belly again. With his appetite back, we've been working on fattening him back up. He was 20.1 lbs before the sickies and now he's 18.8 lbs. We're feeding him ice cream and doughnuts! Just kidding. It's more like buttered noodles, avocados, and Greek yogurt.

The Kids' Log: March 3-9, 2013

The stomach bug that the outbreak monkey brought home eventually got everyone under our roof. Even Teflon baby couldn't avoid The Contagion. I am so tired from cleaning vomit and diarrhea and not getting enough sleep that I almost forgot to write this update. Better late than never, right?

Desmond got accepted to the same preschool as Marlie to start April 1. That is six months earlier than I had planned, but it is one of the very few affordable, flexible and high-quality daycare options in this area. I do not want to defer which means accelerating my job search. It might sound like I am putting the cart before the horse, but I could not wrap my brain around getting a job and then stressing about daycare or, heaven-forbid, enrolling him at a different place than his sister. I can do this. I just need some confidence and a little luck. Let's not even discuss how I am freaking out about the morning rush, the drop-off/pick-up, handling sick days, school breaks, coordinating vacations, etc...We'll cross that bridge when we arrive there.

Toddler Log: 3 Years and 29 Weeks Old
Patient zero is all better. I sent her back to school on Monday. She has been more defiant than usual this week. Or maybe I have a shorter fuse because I am exhausted from caring for two sick littles.

Baby Log: 47 Weeks Old
Poor Desmond was the last to come down with the stomach virus and he was sick all week. I got scared on Monday when he threw up so much that bile was coming up. Then it worked its way into his gut and I was changing diapers on the hour. He looks like he lost about two pounds which is a lot for a baby. He was able to eat some food last night without it running through him so I think he is almost over it.

The Kids' Log: Feb. 24-March 2, 2013

Sickness descended upon our house this week like some kind of vengeful Biblical plague. Damon came down with the flu or a severe cold. He only took Monday off and dragged his butt to work the rest of the week. Me? I caught a milder version of what he brought home. I didn't have a fever though. I did have aches and chills so I thought it was flu, but that only lasted a day. We both have lots of chest congestion and a sore throat and a bad cough. Marlie picked up a stomach bug at school and was blowing chunks for three days straight. She'd seem fine and and eat but would throw up as soon as she drank any water. I did my best to avoid her germs by wearing plastic bags to clean up, washing my hands obsessively, and disinfecting every surface in the house but there really is no germ preventative for a preschooler who coughs in your face. So I also developed a pinch of her stomach flu. It wasn't full-blown, just enough to knock me on my butt on Friday with fever and stomach cramps that had me begging for mercy. The worst part of it all was the righteous weather this week that we couldn't enjoy because we were stuck inside. By they way, someone needs to write a caregiver manual on how to care for a sick child and a well child when you are sick too.

Teflon baby was the only only who escaped the sick fairy (three cheers for breast milk antibodies!)

Toddler Log: 3 Years and 28 Weeks Old
I may have mentioned once or twice that Marlie is not a typical sick child meaning that she doesn't curl up in bed and convalesce. She bounces around like a bunny on uppers and that is what she did for the past four days. She turned the house upside down between whining about wanting water (which acted like syrup of ipecac) and asking when she was going back to school. Saturday rolled around and she didn't vomit all day so we let her ride her bike around the block. She looked so happy being outside again.

Baby Log: 46 Weeks Old
I can't believe this boy is going to be 1 years old in a month! He suddenly looks less like a baby and more like a little person to me. His new thing is to walk around in a circle, get dizzy and fall to the ground laughing. It must be a boy thing. He is certainly a boy's boy, all rough and tumble and mischevious. He favors the basketball and trucks at playtime. Lucky for us we have plenty because his sister likes them too. His new favorite snack is sliced and quartered bananas. He acts like a big man when he's eating them and pushes my hand away if I try to help him pick one up. Yesterday I noticed an upper incisor breaking through. Finally!

The Kids' Log: February 17-23, 2013

I hope you enjoyed your President's Day! Damon actually had the day off, which surprised me since he did not get MLK Jr Day. We made the most of the holiday with a trip across the bay to San Francisco. We originally planned to take the ferry, but they were on holiday too! So we took the train and then walked through Chinatown and Little Italy to Coit Tower. From this high point we could see the span of the bay, including Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge. We walked downhill through Filbert Gardens and back to the Fisherman's Wharf where we had lunch at Pier 23. I ate fish tacos made with charbroiled snapper that was oh so good that I am going to try to recreate the recipe today.

The remainder of the week was the usual. Chauffeuring Marlie to and from preschool and gymnastics and play dates.

Toddler Log: 3 Years and 27 Weeks Old
Poor Marlie has inherited my calamity gene. First, she pulled out a nice chunk of her with a comb meant for one of those stupid pony dolls. I found bits of her hair all around her bed and freaked out. I might have gone a bit overboard with the admonishment, but I had already warned her once not to use that comb on her own hair. SIGH. Yesterday, she woke up with a huge sty on her left eye. She looks like Rocky after two rounds with Drago!

Baby Log: 45 Weeks Old
Desmond called me Mom yesterday! It sounded more like maam, but whatever. He is developing so rapidly as he approaches his first birthday. My sister is flying in to help celebrate. I am not planning a big party, just a family outing somewhere like the shore.

The Kids' Log: February 10-16, 2013

Please don't take notice of the conspicuous lack of pictures again. This week was kind of ordinary with the exception of a few instances of some extraordinary things that happened to me.

First, I applied for a job! This was one of the to-do things on my homework checklist. Another parent happened to mention an opening for a Communications Manager at a local private school so I submitted my resume on Monday. I am so proud that I was able to quiet that little voice of self-doubt and go for it.

The second cool things that happened is that I won a $50 gift card to REI which I used to buy gear for the marathon (now a half marathon). I bought two pair of walking socks with padded heels. They cost $30 but they are so worth the price because after I wore them on my 14-mile training walk yesterday my feet did not feel like pulverized meat for the first time since I started long distance walking.

The third nice thing that happened was our first date night since moving here. We set up a babysitting swap with our neighbors where we watched their girls on Friday night and they watched our kids on Saturday evening so both couples could enjoy a Valentine's outing. I'm not going to lie folks, it felt weird being out after dark. It hit me that I rarely go out at night anymore and that made me a little down. As Krissy said, we need to get a life! That's why we are going to try these date night swaps with our neighbors more often.

Toddler Log: 3 Years and 26 Weeks Old
Miss Social Butterfly attended two birthday parties this week, one last Sunday and one yesterday. She has a busier social calendar than me. I really, really need to get a life. I am happy to report that she was not kicked out of gymnastics class on Friday. She walked up to the teacher and told her she was ready to listen. She had a good time an was rewarded with a stamp. I also took her for cupcakes afterward.

Baby Log: 44 Weeks Old
Desmond came down with a cold earlier in the week. This was on top on the teething, so he was extra miserable. I spent most of the week wiping his face. It was hard to tell where the snot ended and the drool began. LOL!

The Kids' Log: February 3-9, 2013

Welcome to another week in our lives. A lot has happened in the past seven days. We lost another buyer (Dallas house) and another quickly sprung up. Let's hope this one sticks! I have been diligently working on my homework. Some days I could only get around to brushing/flossing and praying but I'm making progress on reclaiming my joy.

Toddler Log: 3 Years and 25 Weeks Old
Last Sunday Damon took the kids to a play date with Marlie's classmates at a farm. Her daddy didn't see fit to comb her hair before leaving the house. I bet no one even noticed. They were all probably like, what a wonderful farther he must be to bring both little kids to the park by himself! I would have gotten side-eyes if I took her out with her hair looking like that. LOL!

Marlie got expelled from gymnastics class on Friday. She ran off twice and the teacher had to chase her down while she shouted "you can't catch me!" Marlie was shocked that she was sent home and cried so hard. She said she just wanted to play with the teacher. I did my best to explain that the teacher was trying to teach and needed her to listen and do the exercises. I could tell she was having a hard time processing it. I told her she could go back and try again next week and work on her listening skills. This is what worries me about her play-based preschool where the teachers routinely engage the kids in chase, tag and hide 'n seek. She doesn't seem to understand the switch between instruction time and play time.

In better news, I finally started planning her 4th birthday party. I am off to a late start, but preparations are officially underway thanks to a super-sweet daily deal for a mobile pony party and petting zoo! I am leaning toward a Toy Story Woody/Jessie color scheme for her cowgirl festivities.


Baby Log: 43 Weeks Old
Baby boy has been keeping us awake all week and his daytime naps are sporadic. His appetite is off and he wants to nurse round the clock. Sounds like more teeth are coming, but they've been threatening to break loose for weeks and nothing. Oh, and did I mention he caught a cold this week too? Fun times!

The Kids' Log: January 27-February 2, 2013

I came bearing pictures! A round of applause, please. The weather has been cooperating here and that makes for wonderful play dates at the park on Friday. It's especially nice now that Desmond can join the fun since he got his own pair of kicks these week. He likes sand. a lot. He digs his fingers in it and sucks the sand off. ick. It gives me warm fuzzies to watch them together even if it last a millisecond (more on that is a minute).


I needed cheering up after getting the disappointing news that the buyers have backed out of buying our home in Dallas. I am ready to be done with it come what may.

Toddler Log: 3 Years and 24 Weeks Old
Marlie's challenging behavior continues. It's not just the extreme defiance that is draining, it's the all out meltdowns when I ask her to do anything. It's to the point I dread engaging her because I know what's coming. I even witnessed her do it at school, which is where is is usually on her best behavior. I arrived earlier one day just in time to see her crying over having to clean up the toys she'd been playing with. I try to remember the tips from the books I read, but honestly, in the heat of the moment when I have a nursing/crying/wiggly baby in my arms I don't have the brain cells how to communicate on her level. I just want her to eat her meal and brush her teeth without the push back. I feel like every interaction from eating breakfast to getting ready for bed has become a hostage negotiation. sigh. Someone suggested she's feeling displaced by her brother now that he's an active little person and not a sleeping blob anymore. I can see that, especially when she resorts to baby talk. We each spend as much one-on-one time with her as possible. What we are working on is getting them to play together but she's not having it. She wants all of our attention and all of the toys to herself (not possible). She even asked me if I could leave the baby in the car when we went to the park. How can I get her to see him as a playmate and not competition for affection?

On a positive note, she had a great time at her first gymnastics class. I am hoping this will be a good outlet for her and she will start acting like her normal self (which isn't an angel by any stretch, but she was not a mean girl).


Baby Log: 42 Weeks Old
Boyfriend received his first pair of shoes this week and he has been walking outdoors ever since. He also learned a new word this week! I am "Na Na." It's not mama, but I'll take it. It took a minute to realize he was calling me when he first said it, but there is no misinterpreting when he says Na Na while reaching for me! We embarked on the rocky road of transitioning him to his own sleep space. He starts out in a co-sleeper next to our bed and then his daddy moves him to the crib in the kids' room. It's going swimmingly! Yeah, right. On his worst nights he wakes up realizing he's not in our bed and starts screeching like a scalded cat. His best night was Friday when he slept on his own from 8 pm- 2 am, so there is hope!

The Kid's Log: January 20-26, 2013

No photos this week, sorry!

I had my cavity filled on Thursday and I never, ever want to go through that again. So I started researching natural methods for preventing and reversing tooth decay. One article stood out. I am going to start making re-mineralizing toothpaste.

Toddler Log: 3 Years and 23 Weeks Old
Marlie had a challenging week. She has been acting extra needy as in she suddenly can't do anything without help. She's been extra cranky too and taking it out on her brother. I hope this is just a rough patch because she is usually gentle with him. She starts gymnastics this week and I hope that brings her out of her funk.

Baby Log: 41 Weeks Old
Desmond had his first peer play date on Tuesday at a neighborhood park. There was a baby three months younger than him and one 3 months older than him. He was the only one who could walk which he gladly showed off. He was the toast of the playground. At one point there was a crowd of moms gathered to watch him go! I wish I could say all that activity wears him out. But he is on a nap strike. I wish I could say that means he sleeps late. But he is waking up between 5 am-5:30 am every morning ready to party. I'm the one who isworn out!

The Kids' Log: January 13-19, 2013

This was a good week. A really good week. And I have pictures!

The weather has been awesome. No rain and temperatures in the mid-60s. It was so pleasantly warm that I walked the kids to the organic ice cream shop after our park play date on Friday. On the way home I saw the most beautiful hummingbird in a flower garden. It was iridescent and just stopped me in my tracks. I fumbled in the diaper bag for my camera and scared it away.

Our mortgage bank accepted an offer on our home in Dallas. It will be a short sale, but that's better than no sale and foreclosure!

Toddler Log: 3 Years and 22 Weeks Old
Marlie is such a drama queen. All little kids have dramatic moments, but my child is a true dramatic actress. She moves and speaks with such performance. Even eating is like a mini play. When she is accepting her first academy award, I hope she mentions that her mother recognized her talent early on.

I don't know when she learned about dying. After a I squashed an ant she I told me I "died" it.

Baby Log: 40 Weeks Old
Desmond has moved onto climbing. Stairs, chairs, the couch are all obstacle courses now. He tasted pineapple for the first time this week and he is a big fan. He is definitely a bigger eater than Marlie was at his age. He is also more physically aggressive than she was (hence the early walking). He attacks me when he's nursing. He pinches my ears, knees me in the ribs, tweaks my collar bone, and sometimes he goes for the jugular and squeezes my throat. He is like a scary character out of Shakespeare.