Fun With Woy

So, Mom and Dad snuck out and went on vacation for a week. They went to Hawaii and I got to spend the week with Grandma and Grandpa. Clearly, I came out ahead on that end of the bargain. We had a good time playing; I got to go out in the snow for the first time.

I turned 18 months old Friday and oh my the changes this week. I had teeth #13 on Monday and #14 on Friday come in. Both incisors, Monday's on my bottom left and Friday's on my bottom right. Now, I am able to tear into flesh more easily. Mmm, Steak, ribs, and pork chops. Bring on the meat! Thursday, I enjoyed my first bites of Pumpkin Pie. Mmm...mmm; that's good eatin'. I've really come to like

pumpkin foods. In fact, there has been a unacceptably low level of pumpkin cookies around lately. Friday, I had Macaroni and Cheese for the first time, the spiral kind, of course. Dad said it's the best kind. I also had some pizza for dinner.

One of my great new fun finds are the joys of playing in water, or as I like to call it "Woy". My teacher at daycare says I have the cleanest hands in the room because I insist on washing my hands so often. It's also quickly become my favorite activity to do while I wait for Mom and Dad to make me dinner. I spend about 15-20 minutes on some evenings splashing in the sink. I am also drinking woy out of cup, now; the days of sippy cups are winding down. I still get a little on me, but I am getting better and better every day maneuvering the cup.

Perhaps, the best part of woy is swimming. I just finished up my first session of water babies. It was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed getting into the water. We worked on splashing, floating on our stomachs and backs, blowing bubbles and kicking. I also practiced jumping in and out of the water.

It was very tiring, though; one 25 minute class was usually followed up by a 2 hour nap by myself and Mom and Dad. More exhausting than any of us would have thought.

Boo!

It was quite a Happy Halloween. Technically, it was my second Halloween, but this was the first time I am able to participate at full force. After much ballyhoo and debate, I went as a duck. My second favorite choice was a pumpkin. I waged a successful protest against my parents choice as a rabbit. I visited about 4-5 neighbors and got some Teddy Grahms from my buddy, Ed. Overall, it was a goodtime.

The Halloween festivities actually started a couple of weeks ago when I chose my pumpkin.

I spent the day before Halloween helping mom and dad carve the pumpkin. As you can see, I was very instrumental in the cleaning and sculpting of the pumpkin.

After cleaning the pumpkin, I helped mom carve the pumpkin and shape the mouth.

After all my hard work, I decided we were done, put the top on the pumpkin and put the tools away.

And my of my piece de resistance...

Ill Communication

With all of my new wheels and houses, my high profile lifestyle is starting to become a little crazy. It's becoming a second job just trying to stay in touch with my peeps.

I've even acquired an iPhone, so I conduct business on the go:

Since Mom and Dad are kind of slow, I have had to develop an variety forms to communicate to them. I've increased my sign language 200% (from 1 to 3 words). I have recently added "more" and "eat"; combined with "all done", what else would I need to say? Basically all of my needs can be satisfied in these three signs: "I'm hungry, feed me" (eat), "I'd like a second (or third) helping please" (more), and "I'm finished, please clean up, and I'll be on my way "(all done).

Here I am signing "more":

Not only have I been signing, but I have also been expanding my vocal vocabulary. I am very good at saying "Hi" and "Bye" at the appropriate times and also waving. In fact, when we go to Key's for pancakes, I take it upon myself to visit all the surrounding tables, say "Hi" and make sure they are enjoying their meal. Another favorite word of mine is "Puppy". When we go on a walk, I see probably 8-10 puppies and point each one out. I am slowly starting to acknoweldge the existence of "kitties". While, I am excited for both puppies and kitties in theory; they make me pretty nervous whenever I am relatively close to them. Best of all, last week I added the word "no" to my lexicon. It comes in very handy whenever mom and dad want me to do something I think is ridiculous.

Mom and Dad have been doing a good job lately and I have been working on lots of non-verbal communication styles to show my approval. I have started giving lots of hugs, giving hi-fives, and have also learned how to communicate via interpretive dance; here's the Happy Dance:

The Happy Dance even works when standing on a chair:

The best thing about the Happy Dance, is how easily it can become the "Your'e not Giving me What I want Dance" and "Pay More Attention to me Dance".

The improved communication seems to be working. Mom made some great pumpkin cookies this week that got me really excited. At first, I was nervous because I often referred to as a pumpkin and cookie, so I didn't know what this meant. But after I had one bite I got really excited.

Now, whenver I see the cookies, I can sign that I want to eat, tell my mom and dad that I want more, and then give them the happy dance to let them know of my approval.

Some New Wheels and Some New Digs

It's been a busy fall. I've been working hard and decided to invest in some new wheels and real estate. Working so hard, sometimes has pushed me over the edge, and I do crazy things...like wear a flower pot for a hat.

I've come to like fall afternoons. Dad and I watch football, help mom with the laundry, do some yard work, then we all go out and do some exploring. We recently went on a walk and I rode in a swing for the first time. It was a lot of fun.

I've been working hard trying to support to parents and finally earned enough extra cash to get myself a new car. I decided to get myself a fleet of new wheels. I got a new scooter which I like to push up and down the street.



I also acquired a radio flyer so I can zoom around when I am in a hurry. Both, the scooter and little flyer, are nice casual means for me to cruise up and down the street and also keep an eye on the neighborhood.




The scooters are nice, but as you can see they are only built for one. I still needed something that would come in handy when I am out at night and on the prowl. So, I decided to splurge and got myself a new Mini Cooper. I really enjoy driving it around. It has a keys, radio, a horn and gets pretty good gas mileage. Parents, lock up your daughters.

Here's some video of my new car. Just a forewarning...there's just a little shaky-cam.



So, since I got some new wheels, I decided to upgrade completely and get a new place. A man of my social stature needs to have a little privacy; plus it's nice to get out from Mom and Dad's thumb, so I decided to move out and got my own pad. I just needed a place where I can hang out, maybe have some friends over, and just chillax. It comes with a pool, and my own private sandbox. I really like my new house.

Man, there's a lot of yardwork that goes into homeowning. I spend a lot of time opening and closing the windows and moving rocks around. I can't decide if rocks belong inside or outside of my house, so I do a lot throwing them in my house and then taking them back out. Here are at least 9 rocks I have added to the inside of my home; then decided to one by one throw out.

I decided just a new house wasn't enough, so I commissioned my grandfather to build a sweet summer cottage. It has windows, a deck and a great location. I am looking forward to spending my summers relaxing in the palatial estate, taking in some nature, and if I get the chance, maybe wrestle some bears.

It's been a busy fall, but I'm making it through.

Holy Crap, There's an Octopus on my Head!

So there I was, after a long day, enjoying a good soak in the tub and the next thing you know, I have an ocotpus on my head! Has this ever happend to you? This must be what happens when you spend too much time in the water. I had gone swimming and taken a bath in the same weekend - that's a lot of water time. I can't think of when there would have been an opportunity for the octopus to come in the house, but there it is. You can never be too safe, I guess. You've been warned.

A couple of weeks ago, I had my first experience in the pool (octopus free). It was pretty fun, just chilaxing in the pool enjoying the evening. This weekend I begin water babies which will be pretty fun too.

I begin water babies this week. I like playing in water, but I don't really like it in my eyes, so I'm a little nervous. I just hope the pool is octopus free.

Get Your Game Face On

Ahhh....My favorite time of year is here - football season! Time to put on the game face and ratchet up the intensity. No more devil-may-care attitude; it's time to focus. Smiling isn't allowed, this is serious business. Since Minnesota doesn't have either an NFL or division one college team, I am able to fully devote all of my attention to the Iowa Hawkeyes. I was really excited for football to start. In fact, when Dad turned his back for a minute during halftime of the first football game, I called Grandpa to share my excitement! Boy, was he surprised to pick up the phone and hear me talking on the other end.










I powered up for the opening of the college season with a leftover pancake from dinner the night before. I was unable to finish the whole thing in one sitting so I had some the next day while watching the game. Ahhh...every Saturday should include pancakes, a glass of milk and football.









Here's the original pancake. We went to Key's the night before and I had a pancake for dinner. A pancake for dinner! What an ingenious concept. Dad took an unauthorized bite, but that's okay, I guess.













I was tired from guiding the Hawks to victory, but still had a little energy left to do a celebration dance...





I have really come to enjoy pancakes over the last couple of weeks. Dad usually makes a bunch on Sunday and the leftovers last through the week. Aside from pancakes, I have been motoring around all over the place. I really enjoy playing outside. I walk up and down the sidewalk, waving to the neighbors. When I go on walks, I'm starting to notice all sorts of animals - dogs (which scare me), cats (which I am leary of), and squirrels (which Dad seems to have a strong dislike for).

Aside from entertaining the neighbors, I have also been entertaining Mom and Dad. I know a sheep says "Ba" and can point to my belly button. I also run to the door whenever Mom and Dad talk about going outside.

Here I am walking a dog, my new favorite toy...

The Perfect Height for Mischief

Now that I'm bigger and older, the world in front of me is exapanding exponetially. That means I can help mom and dad more. Unfortunately, Mom and Dad, or the "Committee of No" as I like to call them, are always harshing my mello:

• "No Spencer, you can't put your toys in the garabage."
• "No Spencer, you can't play in the dishwasher."
• "No Spencer, we don't throw our food on the floor."
  
  

They never let me do anything.

Quite a bunch of changes in the past week. Instead of crawling, I am walking almost 100% of the time. Instead of knocking blocks down, I have been maticulously stacking them. Three more teeth came in this week - #s 10, 11, and 12 for those of you keeping score at home. Needless to say, I wasn't always in the best of moods at times during the week, but then again who would be if they had three little razors coming through their mouth. Overall, I am still a happy and perfect little boy.

Here are some videos of me exploring / helping (i.e. getting into trouble):

I can help clean cupboards and shelves:

Now that I am tall enough, this is perhaps my favorite activity: Cleaning off this table. Mom and dad just don't seem to understand that I don't want anything on this table. No matter, how many times I throw their books and magazines on the floor, they just keep putting them right back on there.

Here I am having fun in the bathroom...

Here I am exploring the garbage can. Lots of interesting smells and items in there. Basically, if it has a lid, door, or drawer, I like it.

I'm also a master of electronics. I especially like TV remote controls: Once, I almost successfully programmed the password lock on the TV, but Mom and Dad caught me before I could be type in a code. I did however press the right combination of buttons on the remote for a brand new TV to change the source from the cable to the DVD player before Mom or Dad new how to do it. It was fun watching Dad spend about 20 minutes to figure out how to get it back to cable. Here I am playing with the phone. Afterwards, the joke is on Mom and Dad when they grab the phone and realize that I may have called one of thier friends.