Baby steps and stuff

Some domestic inanities to close out the week.

We think that Declan is starting to get over his debilitating fear of detritus.  Though he may, sadly, be replacing it with something else. When Amy took him to play in the backyard sandbox while Tavish and I watched the first period of the Oilers' collapse agaist the Red Wings last night, she introduced him to all the things for which he showed fear, named them for what they really were - not bugs - such as seed, pine cone, twig...  He showed promise.

Unfortunately, when I deposited him in his evening bath and his sock fluff aggressively dislodged itself from between his toes and made like Dex was a chum bucket, well, he backed himself into a white plastic corner of the tub and wailed for protection.

*****

We'll never have to worry about his table manners, if early indications are anything to go by.  He regularly gets cereal, oatmeal or eggos for breakfast, followed by fruit of some sort.  Thursday was eggos and strawberries.  When he finished his eggo waffle, he flatly refused to eat his strawberries until his mother replaced his soiled fork with a clean one.  (WTF?!?!)  Plus, when food drops off his utensil, he MUST pick it up, place it back in his dish and get it to his mouth properly.  It's sometimes painful to watch him eat rice, given that Declan and gravity aren't the best of friends yet. 

Even I'm not that bad, and Amy calls me anal on a regular basis.

*****

He has better manners than his old man too.

Thursday evening:

AMY: Hey Si, did you know that Dex has grasped the concept of "pull"?

SI: No, I didn't!  When did that happen?

AMY: We were looking at the box of metal puzzles above the TV yesterday and he wanted to get the sliding lid off but couldn't, so he passed one end to me and demanded, "Pull!"

SI:  That's great; what a smart little boy...  Hey Dex, pull my finger!

DEX: No!! 

[runs and buries face in Mom's lap, fleeing from Dad's vulgarity]

*****

Just taped Wednesday's video clip at the kitchen table last night too.  Best one yet.  This is the first time I've ever pimped a post I'm going to make in the future and, though somewhat ashamed at doing so, my disgusting adoration for my boys precludes moderation.

*****

Lastly, so you know (and mostly for those like me who rarely look at anybody's sidebar on websites like this), I recently added an Email subscription box to the bottom of the sidebar on the right hand side.  You receive in your Inbox every complete post I make as well as whatever accompanying pictures are embedded.  Not the videos though.  Only drawback is that there seems to be about a one-day delay between my posting it to the site and you receiving it via Email.

I have three subscribers already, and damned if I don't feel special!

*****

OK, really lastly this time:

A neat thought struck me when I first saw this picture I took at my dad's place over Easter.  In the foreground, not quite two years; in the background, slightly in excess of 200 years.

Trippy.

Comments

[Mark]

Love the generations picture.

The "pull" section reminds me of a picture of Ben pulling his grammy out of a tight spot. I'll have to dig up that pic and use it soon.

I'm sure Declan's debilitating dread of detritus is just a phase.

Have a great weekend, Canuck!

[Grampa]

Yes, young Declan has a long way to go and lots to experience ahead of him. I am sure that he will do well due to the fine guidance of two exceptional parents. Keep up the good work you two.

[marian]

Poor brave Declan. There are so many bits and pieces in the world and how can we ever be sure they'll cooperate? As you know, Max went through his own OCD phases, and many kids do. It's a bit unsettling, or in our case heartbreakingly frustrating, but love and time work wonders.

Oh and the leggo/strawberries thing? It's my experience that kids hate it when one food group touches another food group. They're like that from two until they're about 11. It's great fun!

Looking forward to your next video!

[Paul]

I'm still like that.