Growing, Crawling & Chillin'

As you may have guessed, the boys are big and getting bigger. Zane is starting to crawl and has been working his way around the house, spending most of his time with the dogs and various power chords. He is already a thrill seeker.

Atticus is still an excellent big brother, splitting his time between doting on Zane and playing games on the computer. I can't wait until it cools down outside so we can all go out in the yard a little more and play out there. I don't want Atticus to become some computer geek. Next thing you know he'll be blogging.

Six Months for One, or Half-Year of the Other

Today Zane turns 6 months old. For a baby that is a milestone akin to a teen turning 16 and getting their license or a college kid turning twenty-one and getting their first beer. It's that big. Being six months is big business for a baby. Congrats Zane!

Zzzzzane

Zane does not care for sleep. He sees it as a sign of weakness. Getting Zane to go to bed is like getting Mel Gibson to quit drinking. Except Zane is not anti-Semitic. Still, he throws a fit and says things that he should regret. It is an exercise in frustration.

Atticus is no better at accepting an induced sleep, but he will allow himself to succumb to it when it shows up uninvited. Unlike Zane, Atticus does not have a set bedtime. Rather, he sits on the couch, watching TV and eating pizza until he passes out. Basically he has already mastered the skills that will guide him far into manhood.

As for myself, I have no such qualms concerning a good slumber. I can sleep anywhere at anytime. I can sleep for hours. My problem is I'm not allowed the chance.

There are two little obstacles on my long and winding road, and exhausting as they may be, they make the ride all the more enjoyable.

Even Bunnies Can Be Scary

Zane has a mobile above his bed that was at one time decorated with various "cuddly" animals. Over the coarse of his time in lock-down they have mysteriously vanished. I had assumed that they had come loose and managed to fall under the crib and/or been raked into a pile of other cuddly things. I'm not saying that didn't happen, but I'm starting to develop another theory.

I suspect the rabbit. He is the lone survivor. He just hangs there, silent and stoic, guarding the entrance to Zane's crib. It reminds me of Fatal Attraction. He shows no sign of remorse or loss. I fear that he is mocking me.

Zane does not seem to care one way or the other. He does not care for conspiracy theories. He has a rabbit guarding his crib, and that's okay with him.

I Get Around

Zane is almost 6 months and he is a scootin' little rascal. A moment on the floor and he is rolling, pulling and wiggling himself into all sorts of places. The lastest was under the ottoman. He was stuck, but being the good sport that he is he posed for some pictures and shared a laugh before demanding his removal.

Monster House & the Potential for Nightmares

We saw the movie. It was very good. It was also very scary. Atticus had to leave for a while mid-movie. Zane just laughed. Atticus will tell you all about it: The house, THE HOUSE, is a MONSTER! It walks on two branches. It's a BAD house.

He's right. It is a bad house. I recommend the film, but I suggest strongly that you prepare your children for some very strong and dark images.

It's a bad house.

Waiting for TT

Atticus fell asleep on me while sitting outside waiting for Tiffany's arrival. I had to put him down (I left him standing) so that I could hobble my way through the house to check on a crying Zane. I returned to find him curled up on the lawn furniture, out cold.

Forgive the poor picture quality, it's the camera phone in the dark.

The Boy That Bounced Himself Asleep

Zane bounces. He is Tigger in a diaper. There are few things that bring him joy, or us a moment of freedom, than time spent in the jumper. See for yourself:

bounce the baby

I suppose, like all good things, there can be too much. Zane has found his limit. He is a boy that laughs at sleep and mocks all that encourage him to succumb to it. However, he is no match for the riggers of bouncing and the tiring effect that it places upon his little sparkplug body.

The jumper is a bully. It toys with the excitement and energy of the unsuspecting. The jumper has no mercy. It takes everything a boy has and demands more still. The jumper goes quiet only when the last bounce has bounced. It respects those it has beaten, and will cradle them softly until they bounce again.

So You Want to Know About the Shirts?

We've had a lot of comments on the shirts we made for the Atticus Disneyland Birthday Bash. We made them online at Disney. Just go into the shopping area and there will be a link for creating your own stuff; shirts, mugs, stamps, whatever. There are hundreds of images available.
Tricia, Atticus and I picked a character for everyone and placed them on the front of the shirt. On the back they all said "Atticus" across the top like a sports jersey with the number "3" centered below.
They garnered much attention, and as one parent told us, "you just earned a bunch of parent points." I hope so, they weren't cheap!

Us, Summed Up Quickly

Just Checking In

The boys are fine, just doing the summer thing. We'll keep you posted.

Atticus Turns Three

Wow! Our little big boy is becoming a big big boy. Three just seems so old. Atticus told me this morning that he was old now. Enjoy it silly boy!

We took a little trip to Disneyland this past weekend with Nana & TT to celebrate the occasion. It was also Zane's first trip to the park. We had a blast.

Today we're off to see
!

Birthday Trip Math

+

X

$

=

Starting the Disney Thing

FLOATING ON A SEA OF MICKEYS

Three Months & Almost Three Years

Boys of Summer

Upcoming Hannon Addition Announced

There's a new hero in town. Well, in a belly in a town. Regardless, "Flash" will be here in about 7 months, and is a lucky kid already. Congratulations Jeanine, Dirk & Champ!

Atticus: The Mother's Day Interview

It is Mother's Day. I thought who better to discuss the attributes of our in-house mommy than her son (the one that can talk).

Q: Atticus, what is a "mommy"?
Atticus: Mommy is a good mommy. She gives me ice cream.

Q: Why is your mommy special?
Atticus: Because I love her.

Q: Is she a good mommy?
Atticus: Yes! She makes chicken and corn and rice and tomatoes. She is pretty.

Well, there you have it. Happy Mother's Day Mommy!

Always the Nursemaid. . .

A few days ago Atticus was being swung by his arms and suddenly cried out in pain. He said his arm hurt so we did what any nurturing parent would do and bought him ice cream. After an afternoon nap he still winced in pain anytime the arm was touched and his body language led me to believe that his shoulder may have become dislocated.
A relatively quick trip to the emergency room introduced me to a very common and easily corrected injury called Nursemaid Elbow. We spent two hours in the waiting room and two minutes with the doctor. She quickly performed a 'reduction' and amazingly Atticus was all better. He then spent an extra five minutes hamming it up and flirting with the nurses that had gathered around his cuteness (that's my boy!).

Yesterday, shortly after he pulled his toy phone out of his pocket and called everyone he knew while waiting for Tricia to shop in Santa Monica, it happened again. He was trying to climb on me and when I saw a hand flying fast towards an area sensitive to aggression I grabbed his wrist and swooped him up. Tears and stares followed. Immediately I sat him down and assessed that he was indeed suffering the same injury (they warned he might- they grow out of it) and I performed the reduction that I had watched the doctor do. Ta-da! He was fine and my conscience clean. Passer-bys went back to being their weird and indifferent selves (3rd Street Promenade= freakshow).

Springtime In Honeaville

Not a lot going on over here. Tricia is winding down her maternity leave and Whit is working at a deadend job that he can't stand. The boys are excellent!