Christmas tree 2010

Here's a picture of our tree from this year. Mama says it's light on ornaments because she didn't want to turn it into a horse tree. But she didn't have too many that were not horse themed.

The snowman guards the presents!

Mama got some unbreakable ornaments for the next couple of years. Nothing fancy, but some are sparkly and some are shiny and I will be able to hang them up.

Pre-Christmas at Oma's house

I got this neat erasable writing toy, which I still use in the car


I got a new stacking toy, and I do really good Dr. Seuss impressions with the rings.

I got a flashlight of my very own!


The mixing truck was a big hit!

I tried to teach Oma how to juggle

Grandma was trying to figure out my new bead toy and getting upset that she couldn't get all the beads to to "match" in the "proper" patterns. It was kind of funny.

Daddy and I hanging out, playing with my loot!

Everybody's crazy 'bout sharp dressed men!

Daddy got dressed up, and I wanted to "help", so he gave me a tie as well.

Look at us!

I got my paws on the camera, and took this picture of Daddy (with a little help from Mama.)

In the can

Well, actually it was in my "big boy" potty! I had my first successful session this morning, and a proper fuss was made by Mama and Daddy.

Now to get my communication skills up to speed so we can have more of these events. (This would make Mama very happy--she's grumbling about the costs of diapers.)

Brothers

Handsome devils, aren't we?

Big shoes to fill

OK, so maybe big slippers is a better description.

Swimming lessons

Mama did not learn to swim until she was a teenager, and she wanted to make sure that I learned before I was that age. So I have just completed my first round of swimming lessons. Daddy got to come and help one day, and that meant that pictures were taken.


Here I am kicking up a storm towards the end, even if I did complain about it.

To end the session, I went down the frog tongue slide. Daddy did actually get the whole thing.

The videos are taking a long time to load, so Mama will need to get the others up later.

A bear named Abble, or is it Aboo, or is it supposed to be Apple?

I have a new bear. He's big and tan and I like him a lot. I hug him very often and he never seems to mind. We were at a little store (Cracker Barrel has a store attached) and the sales lady was holding him. I almost dove out of Daddy's arms to get him because he was irresistible. All the way home, I chattered about "Abble"--kind of like saying apple, but with a "B" instead of a "P" sound. So that is his name.

We are hanging out on the couch, having a good time.


Mama thought I was going to kiss him, but I bit his nose. Fortunately, he didn't mind.


I carry him around the house. I have figured out how to carry him up the stairs. He goes to bed with me and gets hugs from Mama and Daddy. Sometimes I call him "Aboo" instead of "Abble" so they're not sure what his name will be in the end.

He even sat in on our picture session on Saturday. But those pictures will be posted later.

Eighteen months and counting

I went to the doctor yesterday for my visit. Only one vaccination (YEAH!) and one poke for a quick blood test. I was very good. I measured in at 33" tall, and weighed 22 pounds, 3 ounces. My head circumference was 18 3/4."

Then I went to my swimming lesson and got to use a "life jacket" to help me float. Once I figured out that I could stay on top of the water, I took off kicking and splashing. Mama grabbed a tether to keep me from running into people, but I figured out how to go on my own. I had such a good time.

Playing in the leaves

Today Mama and I went down to Oma's house. It was warmer there than at home, and so we went into the back yard to play for a little while. The wind had blown some leaves into one area of the yard, so Mama pushed them into a pile with her feet.

I waded through them. I tossed them in the air. I sat in the pile and Mama and Oma "buried" me in leaves. I ran through the pile a few times. I had a good time and had lots of pieces of leaves all over me.

Mama forgot the camera. So she has no pictures to share with you. Silly mama.

Photo opportunities--missed

I have a habit of rushing towards the camera any time it is pointed at me. I also have a habit of doing things that Mama finds adorable when the camera is not available. Here are a few examples:

I didn't want to wear my socks and shoes, and decided that they looked much better on my teddy bear. Daddy helped me with this project.

Mama and I put my foam blocks in a big "bucket" (think muck bucket, only cleaner) and I DOVE into them. I also knocked the bucket over and sat joyfully in the remaining toys.

I crawled in to a box--head first and then feet--and then couldn't figure out how to get out. It was very traumatic, actually. Daddy helped me out, and then I did the same thing again.

I was trying to shut the bedroom door and kept pinching my fingers. Mama hooked her fingers under the door and pulled it shut. One time was all it took. So I would close the door, stand up and "knock" on it, and Mama would open it for me.

***
I held Mama's hand and we had our first successful walk across a parking lot without her needing to carry me. I think she was pretty happy about that. She keeps telling me that I'm getting too big for her to carry.

My vocabulary has increased dramatically. I'm not always sure that my parents understand what I'm trying to tell them, but I have quite a lot to say these days. Now I just have to get them to listen to me!

Bathroom humor

I slipped away for a minute, and then Mama and Daddy heard a loud CRASH. So they came running.


Has anyone ever mentioned to you how much I like playing in the water?


Proud of myself

Juggling

Uncle Bear was juggling tennis balls to an appreciative, or at least very attentive, audience.

Pardner and I were quite certain that he needed our help.

So I tried to give him an assist.

Pardner would chase the balls when they fell on the floor, but I could tell he was willing to snag one out of the air, too.

Playing like Remus

Who says that cats are the only ones allowed to chase a light on the wall?

Halloween (a little late)

Last year, Aunt June got me a frog costume (mostly because Daddy likes frogs to much) but it was far too big for me. This year, it was a little too small! But I wore it anyway, and so here I am as Russell the FROG!



I did a little trick or treating with Antema

My morning activities

I've politely taken Mama's breakfast spoon from her and put it into the dishwasher by myself. I then closed the dishwasher back up.

Then I started dancing on the couch (Mama attempted video, but is pretty sure it didn't work. She made nasty grumbling noises at the video camera.) I was really "into" the song on the radio.

I've tried to help her with her posts this morning. I don't really understand why she keeps moving my hands off the keyboard.

But the morning is young, and there are more things to discover!

Playing with Pardner

Videos from Antema of Pardner and me.

Chairs

Today, I climbed up a dining room chair and on to the table, and crawled over to Mama. She wasn't feeding me our shared leftovers fast enough.

A little later, I managed to crawl onto the chair at Daddy's desk, and this one doesn't have a cross bar between the legs. It took some doing, but I finally managed it. Then I did it multiple times, just to make sure I could, before I sat up correctly in the chair and slid off (like at the top of a slide) and crash landed on the floor. I had helping hands around me when I stood up for a minute, and created some excitement when I began exploring Daddy's desk.

This makes using my toe as a pacifier look like kid stuff.

Late Summer Pictures

The traditional summer vacation for Daddy's family was going camping at William's Fork. These days Antema and Grandpa have upgraded to a camper, and they set me up playing on the table.


We camped near the river, but Mama did not let me get close enough to get my feet wet. She said the water was too cold and moving too fast.


Unfortunately, I was not feeling well, and I got Mama Bunny pretty dirty. Antema and Mama washed her, and Mama put her in my swing to dry. She looks pretty sad, but I looked worse so Mama and Daddy took me home early.


I played on the toys in Oma's back yard



I took pictures of Mama. She was being silly for me.


I enjoy squirting myself with the water (that are supposed to be for making kitties behave, but thankfully I haven't figured that out yet) and will soak myself quite thoroughly.



Cereal boxes make interesting hats


Playing with Zap, who is one of the most patient dogs ever.



Riding Daddy


Practicing with using a fork


Pardner and I play in the turtle "pool"

Long time no see

Hi everyone!

I went to the doctor last Wednesday, and I was 32" long, weighed 21 pounds and 1 oz and had a head circumference of 18 3/4".

Mama finally got some pictures out of the camera, but doesn't really have time to post them tonight, so I guess you will have to wait a little longer. Sorry!

Fifteen months and counting

It seems hard to believe that I've grown 11 inches since I came into this world. But I am officially 31 1/4" tall. I weighed 21 pounds last Friday.

I have added a few more words, although two of them are in sign language, that my family recognizes. I've gotten fairly solid on "DA" for Daddy or Grandpa. I sometimes call Mama "DA" as well. I can sign for "hungry" and "more" when I want food--which is normally followed by a trip to the kitchen. Anyone could figure it out, right?

The weather is turning cooler, with highs that are in the low 80s instead of the mid-90s, and Mama is happy about that. Much as she liked letting me run around in onesies for the last few months, our apartment stays very warm, and the cooling bill was running high. She keeps saying that "fall cleaning" needs to happen. Not sure what that means, and I just get a sense of dismay from Daddy.

I'm a funny size, long in the torso and skinny in the waist. So Mama is at a bit of a loss for pants for me. The ones that came with my 18 month outfits don't stay up and the smaller ones she has aren't long enough. She says that we will have an adjustment because I got used to running around in onesies all summer and didn't worry about pants. That won't be an option this winter.

I am waking up now, so Mama needs to stop typing this and get ready to FEED ME. Sorry that there are still no pictures. They are trapped in the camera, and only one of the computers has a program to open them, and the two haven't gotten together for a while.

So far behind

Mama likes to say that she's so far behind she may never catch up. I am just whining at her because she is typing instead of picking me up.

I'm still growing like mad, I am up to 12 teeth (all the ones in front and four molars) and I'm cranky. I know what I want and get frustrated when I can't have it or can't make my parents understand what I want. *I* know what I mean, and I try to explain, but there is a gap between Russellese and English that they haven't bridged yet.

Mama has some pictures and videos to upload, but needs to do that from the other computer.

Teeth and other stuff

I now have nine teeth, and my tenth should be putting in an appearance sometime soon. The upper left molar is taking its own sweet time and making me cranky.

I got to see Oma today, and I played in her back yard. I really like the dirt. It feels so good in my hands, and it makes such a mess when I let go. Nicole helped me dig some up with the bulldozer toy, and then I spread it around with my hands.

I'm not so sure about the cherries, but the cantaloupe was very tasty, as were the blueberries and strawberries. I was pretty full before Mama got the corn off the cob to me, but I liked it well enough. I ate quite a few green beans as with my chicken dinner tonight. I like to eat!

No pictures, but news

Mama is bummed about the pictures not working, but said I have enough news to share:

Today I went to the doctor, was 31" tall, weighed 20# 8oz, and have a head circumference of 18 1/4". I got my TB test and another vaccination. I was screaming before the needle hit me (Mama here--he was having a tantrum and almost flung himself to the ground a couple of times) and carried on until Mama finally found a plug in the car.

Yesterday I got to go flirt with the doctor at urgent care because I succeeded in flinging myself to the ground from a chair. I'm supposed to tell you that I have not yet learned my lesson.

I have two new teeth, molars on the bottom, that are peeking through. Cutting two at once was rough and I was pretty grumpy. I had an incisor on the front that poked through but went back into hiding.

I have a new game to play with my parents. When they feed me, I turn the tables on them and pick up a piece of food to feed them. When I ran out of food, I fed Daddy pretend food. I laughed about it pretty hard.

I like my books with animals, because I like the animal sounds. I got a "Thomas" train toy on my birthday, and was making "whoo-hoo" whistle noises when playing with it. I've gotten pretty good at drinking from a straw and have had a little bit of success in eating with a spoon.

I've got to go now, but I'll try to write more soon.

Sometimes it's the little things

I have just spent close to half an hour practicing putting a cap on (and back off) a water bottle. Mama has seldom seen me so excited when I succeed, or so upset when I don't (or she took the bottle away for a minute.) I was doing a good job of cheering for myself.

I also have her habit of sticking out my tongue when concentrating, which Mama finds amusing.

Time for a hair cut

My hair was beginning to take on a life of its own, so the parents decided that they were going to try out the clippers on my head. Even with the longest "comb" attachment, my hair is still pretty short. I was a trooper, though, and now I have a style that should be cool for the summer.

I am showing off in my after-hair-cut bath.