15 months old!

I can't believe he's already 15 months! We spent the day at the lake and some friends came down. Dennis was excited to see Chloe after 2 weeks without seeing her. In fact, they invented a new game together today. We were all sitting on the sofas when we heard this inordinately loud bout of high pitched screeching and squealing. We jumped up, thinking they were killing each other, and Dave reached them first. It turns out that they were playing 'tag'. They were taking turns chasing each other and giggling hysterically. Dennis would chase Chloe in one direction, and she would scream, then they would switch and she'd chase him in the other direction while he screamed. And they both laughed the whole time. It was so cute!

Dennis also enjoyed some time visiting his cousins Laine and Emily earlier at his Grandma's house. And, joy of joys, he had hot dogs for 2 meals! He had them at Grandma's and again later when we grilled out. His lucky day!

He and Chloe enjoyed sharing the car today. They were very sweet about it, and each one only broke out into tears once. They took turns pushing each other around in the car. They also took turns holding each other's special security toy. When she took over the car, he grabbed her duck. She couldn't enjoy her car ride because she was so focused on watching Dennis with her duck. When she was out of the car, she got hold of his frog or his pacifier, as was only fair. And for one brief moment, he had everything, duck, frog, AND pacifier, and he was so proud of his accomplishment! Shortly after this, they both got put to bed and the adults had some prize Nintendo time. Good day!

drive naked

Dennis was reunited with his beloved car ("cahw") today for the first time since we've been back, and he was in it for a good part of the afternoon. He was so cute today, walking all over the place and talking constantly.

This morning, he developed a fascination with the broom. He kept grabbing it even though it's twice as tall as he is, and he even made some sweeping motions with it. He calls it a "bwooo". He walked all over the house with it, with me following close behind to make sure he didn't injure himself.

Tonight when we were getting him ready for bed, he insisted on driving his car around a few more times, and he even escaped during his diaper change and made a break for the car. I caught him driving naked, which he thought was hilarious.

He was happy to be at the lake house today, exploring all his favorite areas and trying the cabinets to see if maybe the childproofing had failed while we were on vacation. It hadn't. He did overcome one childproofing measure today, though. We called him and he came walking down the hall to us while holding our brand new toilet lock in his hand. He had apparently ripped it free of the toilet once he discovered that it prevented him from opening the lid and splashing in the water. I guess we're just going to have to keep the bathroom door closed!

Who are you?

I picked Christi, Gary and Dennis up from the airport last night. When I spoke to Dennis, while he was in his stroller, he looked at me like I was strange (ok, stranger than normal). Then while I was loading him into the carseat, again he looked at me like I was weird. Its really unnerving to see your own facial expressions from someone else. He didn't want anything to do with me after we got home either, he just wanted Christi.

Of course, that changed this morning when I went to get him out of his crib. It also might have had something to do with the sippy of chocolate milk I was carrying though. Not only that, he wanted to make sure I hadn't forgotten how to change a diaper, so after four diapers he decided that was enought for a while. Yesterday was a long and difficult day for Dennis, because he took two long naps this morning. He also dozed a litttle on the way to Birmingham on our hunt for pillows. But he was really irritable once we got back home and was getting ready for bed. But as is normal for him, once changed, dressed, and placed in the crib with his frog, he was out like a light. Christi is dozing while reading so I get to enlighten the free world as to Dennis' exploits today. The only thing to say is that he enjoyed himself shopping. But that is pretty normal for him. And as usual, he enjoyed himself while we shopped. He's out as of right now, and with a little luck, he won't be back up until the morning rolls around.

flyboy

It was sad to leave Bellingham and the family today, but our sadness was mitigated somewhat by the news that there was room on our flight for the carseat. We were relocated to a bulkhead row and Dennis was able to sit in his carseat all the way from Seattle to Atlanta. He was very comfortable, and so were we! Lots of room in a bulkhead row! He was a dream baby on the flight, falling asleep after about 45 minutes and waking up about 40 minutes before we landed. I enjoyed watching his tiny hands and feet flexing and grasping his stuffed frog. He was smiley and giggly and so happy when he was awake, and naturally adorable when he was asleep. This flight was very comfortable, being a much larger plane. Dad and I watched free movie previews on the screens in front of us for half the flight.

We are in Atlanta now, and I don't anticipate being able to bring on the seat again, but this will be an extremely short flight. Dennis has been running up and down the B Terminal, getting rid of some energy before we board again. Pop and I took turns trying to corral him or (God forbid) hold his hand, which he hates!

We had a wonderful time, and we're almost home.

pink sunglasses

Our last day in Washington! Here Dennis is trying on Mirella's sunglasses. He looks like a mini Elton John. This is not a good thing, but wearing the glasses made him giggle. He walked around in them for several minutes, giggling mischievously.

Today we went to Hovander Park, where there was a demonstration farm that the kids enjoyed a good bit. Dennis met some cows, turkeys, peacocks, pigs, sheep, goats, horses, chickens, geese, and rabbits. He said all of those words except rabbit! He walked around so well, even though the ground was wet from all the rain yesterday and this morning. He's getting to be so mobile! He enjoyed sitting on a tractor and attempting to steer it. He also very much enjoyed the boardwalk that wanders through a bog at the park, talking the whole time, narrating our tour from his seat in the stroller.

He saw a big waterfall today, and he was very impressed. We stopped by Whatcom Falls Park to see the effects of all the rain, and the falls were powerful! Dennis was entranced, and he stared at the view, smiled, and waved at the waterfall a number of times. He talked all the way back to Gran's place.

Tonight Michael and Kristin made a delicious dinner for all of us and the children enjoyed playing with all the toys (and Dennis especially enjoyed relocating the toys). A sitter came (the nice girl that keeps Caedmon in church nursery) after the kids went to bed to watch (well, listen for) them while the adults went out for a decadent dessert date at Nimbus, a restaurant located at the top of Bellingham Towers with a gorgeous view of the bay and nearby islands and city of Bellingham. Too soon we were back here and now are in the midst of a packing frenzy. Mom (Gran) is staying another week, so Dennis and Pop and I will be flying without her tomorrow. Maybe I'll get to take the carseat on the plane in her place...

artist in training

We're taking it easy today, which has been great. Dennis and I both took long morning naps today, and afterward, Kristin brought Caedmon and Mirella over to visit. The cousins enjoyed playing together again. Caedmon worked on his puzzle while Dennis and Mirella enjoyed climbing in and falling out of the booster seat that was on the floor and again sharing sippy cups. They are all napping in their pods right now, and I can't believe how quiet it is!

It's raining here, which happens a good bit, and instead of braving it to see the sights, we've been enjoying staying around here. Mom and Dad and Kristin have just left for a walk around Our Lake, which is here in the complex and beautiful. It's like a damp winter day outside, and even that is more refreshing than the miserable 95 that David reported back home.

Dennis painted his first painting today, featured here. Gran bought canvases for each of the children to paint, and Dennis pioneered the project because he was the last to go down for his nap. He started off slow, but once he put his fingers in the paint blob, he figured out he could spread the paint on the canvas. He loved this! He completed his masterpiece by slapping his had down on the canvas many times. Not bad for his first art experiment (well, second I guess, as he wrote on the chalkboard this morning for a minute before eating the chalk).

It's so cozy here, watching the wind blowing through those extremely tall northwest evergreens, knowing it's cold outside and enjoying hot tea and wearing thick soft socks! In June, no less. It's really going to be a shock to my system to return to Alabama in 2 days. It is due to warm up here soon, and there are always 2 very hot weeks every summer made more miserable by the fact that no one has air conditioning. Michael said that everyone lives in their baby pools during those weeks, so I expect we'll be living in the water back home for the rest of the summer.

Everyone here does so much outdoor stuff, and there are so many parks around. Mom and I hope to continue our walks when we get back, and we'll be headed to the nearby mountains to find cooler spots to exercise. We're looking forward to it!

pacific Dennis

Dennis dipped his toes into the Pacific Ocean for the first time today. All of us went to Lummi Island today so that Dennis could get to ride a ferry, which he liked very much. Of all the adventures that Dennis has had, I think that he had more fun at that beach today than he's ever had. He loved running around on the rocky shore and running right up to the water line and walking in the water. He loved picking up the rocks and tasting some of them. He found some driftwood and brought it to the water after he watched Caedmon do this. He laughed and laughed and laughed today, just because he was so happy. He got soaked, of course, and absolutely filthy, but he had the best time ever. We could hardly keep up with him, and we had no luck keeping him out of the water!

Uncle Michael is proving himself to be that zany uncle that every kid loves. He tossed Dennis up in the air and tickled him, and, most importantly, gave him a driving lesson today. He actually turned loose of the steering wheel when Dennis brushed his hands off, but he managed to regain control after Dennis steered us sharply to the right, perilously close to a ditch. It was hilarious, and Dennis was so proud of himself. Caedmon drove us onto the ferry for the return trip.

It was another fabulous day here, and I love watching Dennis's eyes go wide as he takes in all the new scenery. We are having such a good time, and words cannot describe how wonderful it is to see his delight with all the things we are doing. He loves his cousins very much, and I hope we get to visit often so that they will get to know each other well. Caedmon can say "Dennis", but Dennis hasn't tried to say his name. Dennis started calling Mirella "Rella" today. They enjoyed each other's company in the back seat today, as their carseats face opposite directions. Pop had to referee some sippy cup and pacifier wars, but all in all they had a great time together.

This trip is going by entirely too quickly! But Dennis misses his Daddy, and asks for him a little more insistently every day. We'll be home in just 3 days now.