Baby Blase

We have started to let the kid watch a bit of TV (or “TEEEEDEEEEEE!” - rather) now and then. I know - that along with breakfast-cake - means that pretty much all of our parental goals have gone the way of last weeks recycling. We had a great 18-month run, but, it had to end some time.

We still don’t really have cable - Marc and I watch shows via hulu - the greatest invention since television. So, Harrison is stuck with whatever programming we can scrounge up on YouTube or archive (dot) org. His choices are Bettie Boop sings about having pep! - hilarious; YouTube videos of farm animals, firetrucks and motorcycles (for some reason H calls motorcylces TACO! I can only guess that he is aiming for cycle, but, there’s really no way to know.); and the Japanese sub-titled Totoro.

And because I’m a pretentious yuppie - I’m totally OK with with this one and we let him watch it A LOT.

So, now if there is a lull in play he immediately pulls on my hand, tells me to “coming” and drags me towards the living room. When I ask where we are going he usually replies “THIS WAY!” or “THAT WAY!” and points vigorously. When I ask him why, he replies shyly with a sneaky little smile, tucks his head down into his chest and says “teeDee”.

TV is heroin. Plain and simple. Addicting and euphoric. The kid WILL NOT SIT STILL for anything. He has never been a cuddler - not when he was a baby and certainly not now. He’ll swing by for a hug and a kiss and wants to be picked up - but, only if you will escort him around the house so that he can see and touch things that are out of his reach. But, if he is parked in front of the idiot box he is the sweetest little angel you can imagine. He is so calm and still that Marc and I just sit next to him and stare at his cute little features that are usually just a blur of spaz. He will sit in the corner of the couch propped up by pillows or on my lap with his Curious George stuffed animal in one hand and my hand in the other.

It is an incredibly special, drug-induced bonding experience.

Listening: Wild Nothing

This post has been a long time coming.

Once upon a time - almost three months ago which in toddler-development-time is like three hundred years - I started to write…

At H’s 18-month doc appointment three weeks months ago, I knew it was coming - the dreaded question - and was prepared with the canned answer I had been giving when anyone asked about his speech.

“Physically - he’s advanced, but, seems like he’s maybe a little behind with speech.”

The doc very nicely asked how many words he had. And like all good mothers I looked to my brain for the list of words spoken by my child. Each carefully noted with a date, time and context. Each cute new sound scrapbooked for all eternity. Unfortunately that list didn’t exist.

So I meekly answered, “Oh I don’t know…” and with a few hems and hahs I tried to count the words I had heard him say.

The doctor sensing my distress clarified, “10 words?”

“Yes. 10 words - definitely… I think. Yeah, probably 10. Sure.”

Later at home while coloring at the craft table with H I started the list, written in crayon, of the words I had heard him utter. I included animal sounds in order to boost the stats. That first list was about 20 - below is an attempt at remembering the words.

Yes
No
Hi
Bye
Mama
Dada
Go
More
Please
Poop
Bike
Tree
Truck
ta-da
moo
meow
ruff
roar

And it was maybe the next week, if not the next day that the words just started coming and haven’t stopped. Below are some of my favorites.

Momma/Mom/Aimee!
Dad/Dada/Marc!
Pawbaw
Auntie
Maggie
Kylie!
Finn
That way
This way
Totoro
Hear it
Red, Yellow, Orange, Blue, Green, Black, Brown, White
Toast
Mite (Vegemite)
Banana
Coffee/Hot Coffee
Skateboard
Football
Fence
Bench
Tractor
People
Teacher
Tourist
Pilot
Sorry
See ya!
Love ya!
Giddyup!
I love you.

“Thank you” is the one phrase that is eluding us - at least partially. H has actually said “thank you” for quite a while. Since before 18-months. However, it has always manifested itself in the oddest collection of syllables: PeeBee, PeeMee, PeePee, MeeMoo, MeePee… so, there’s that. But, what are you gonna do?

So, from all of us here in the newly-uber-communicative Blase household: SEE YA! LUV YA!

Listening: Freelance Whales

The kid woke up asking for cake. So, I gave him some.

No frosting though - duh! - I’m not a totally delinquent mother!

Marc’s parents are here and they bought some cakes and left them in the fridge right in front of the milk. So, every time I fill up the kid’s milk - he sees CAKE!!!! CAKE! CAAAAAAKE!!! EAT AATTT! PLEEEEEEEEEEASE!!!!!!!

And to make matters worse he is in love with Curious George and one of his favorite bedtime stories is when George goes fishing and uses cake as bait! What in the name of all-things-that-are-good-with-the-world were the Rey’s thinking when they put CAKE! into a children’s story. Now, granted the cake in the story looks like fruit cake (gr-oss) but, the kid doesn’t know the difference. Last night before bed we read the book and he asked so politely for cake and was so good when I told him tomorrow, that I just had to let him have some.

So, when he woke up this morning asking for cake I happily obliged.

WHAT!? He’s just so Effing cute! I’d like to see YOU say no to him!

Listening: Broken Bells

I was just going to post this old animated gif of the kid (sort of) waving without commenting on it, but, the more I look at the roundness of his face I can’t help but, reflect on how far we’ve come.

In just a year we have gone from waiting weeks for any sort of sign that his brain was growing as fast as his chubby cheeks. But, now, every day is a new accomplishment. He’s learning tons of new words each day and starting to say things with great force and intention like “DO IT!” - pronounced “DOOOOOO AAT!” (meaning: get your hands off that {blank} immediately - I want to DO IT!).

Listening: Washed Out

Beer.

Great friends that we so rarely get to see.

But, whom after years and years we never loose a beat with - we just start right back up with the stories, the laughs and mutual-admiration.

Movie. With Wine/Beer.

Back to the Chow’s place to stay the night sans kid while they are away (THANK YOU!). Jeremy and Annika came over for an hour of more laughs and some stolen borrowed Chowanec beer (THANK YOU!).

Listening: Real Estate

We found her!

She started.

And is doing great.

But, since I don’t have permission to post all of the details of her life yet. I will leave it at that.

Yesterday she organized a shaving-cream-play extravaganza that my kid loved and probably could have done with an hour or so more of.

However, Finn touched the foamy, white substance and almost immediately declared that it was a juvenile endeavor far too messy for one as sophisticated as he.

He lasted another 15 minutes and I did get two videos of some serious Finnegan-fun:

But, he was basically nonplussed and cut out before Harrison. At which point I got some shots of the mature, clean one of the group.

The plan is to continue the nanny-share for another year. It should be a good one!

Listening: The Joy Formidable

Happy-Cheesy-Smile-Christmas from the McKirdy/Blase/Keyzer/Kato/Vanderzee/Broadbears!

Yet another awesome smile from the kid on Christmas #2.

: )

Listening: Vampire Weekend (the new album - BUT, I just can’t stop thinking that this is the new “Your Mom’s Favorite Band” - which makes me not really want to listen anymore)

Just 3 words for you - Kylies.

MOVE. TO. AUSTIN.

And those aren’t my words, although, it’d be great to have you and Jeff in town so that we could take advantage of all of your childless-time for free babysitting. But, seriously, I look at all of the photos of you and H and really worry about all of the permanent damage that you’re doing by not living in Austin. I mean, let’s be serious - what does San Francisco have that we don’t!???

: )

So, be warned - the new nanny’s primary objective over the next few weeks will be getting him to say it!

The bond between H and Kylies is inexplicable. Sure she’s a pretty girl - which he has a fondness for. Yes, she is related and we are all comfortable around her. Yes, she has spent a good amount of time with him. BUT, the way he says TYEEEEEEEE! The way his face lights up when her name is mentioned… let alone the way he acts as though NONE of us exist when she is in the room… It is amazing.

While we were here at the parent’s house last week still all decorated for Christmas I spotted a photo of Kylie and I with Santa where the little blond one of us looked so much like H that I had to comment:

“Kylie - Harrison really looks like you!”

To which she replied: “Yeah, I think he’s mine.”

That pretty much sums up the last few weeks around here. I carried the kid IN MY BELLY for 9+ months. PUSHED him out of me for 33 HOURS. FED HIM from my breast for A YEAR! And my little sister comes for a visit and steals his heart. What are you gonna do? Apart from loosing my kid to my younger sister, the last three weeks have been great.

Thank you to all of the Blase’s, McKirdy’s, Keyzer’s & Kato’s for the gifts, the time, the love and the Christmas memories. Our California vacation has been wonderful!

Listening: Ol’ Blue Eyes (DVD a la Grandpa)

We head back to Austin tomorrow. Excited to be getting home. Sad that we didn’t get enough time with friends and family. And scared that Harrison will be forever scarred from being taken 2,000 miles away from his most favorite person in the whole wide world.

Listening: Dead Man’s Bones