cruising

Tim discovered that the coffee table spins not long after we arrived. He's been weary of it until today when he started using it for cruising.

average day

Tim and I are developing a routine. It helps take my mind off of missing Paul and, I think, helps give Tim a sense of security. These are a few of the things that we do each day.

Halloween PJ's

He wakes between 05:30 and 07:00, more often on the 05:30 end. While the world is waking up, Tim and I play with all the toys GG bought for him before he moved to the US. (Mom and Dad have many names as grandparents and great-grandparents. Originally, Mom wanted Tim to call her Grandy in memory of what her mother was called by her great-grandchildren. That didn't stick with Mom, however. Her great-grandson, Bradon, calls her GG for great-grandmother and she calls herself that without thinking. So we've decided that's what she'll be for Tim. She is a grandmother that is great after all.)

morning run

When Tim starts to get sleepy and wants his morning nap, I put him in this jogging stroller and go for a run to the park not far from here. I get a 30 minute run, and Tim sees a bit of the neighborhood before he drifts off to dreamland. He usually sleeps for a while after my run, so I have time to eat breakfast and gather my wits about me.

'showering'

We have an agreement for my morning shower. He plays with his toys sweetly in the bathroom while I shower and sing to him. For being so sweet, I dry the shower and he gets to play inside while I get dressed and dry my hair. Sometimes he sings to me.

what's for lunch?

My mother has the best stocked refrigerator in the west, possibly in all of North America. Most people are intimidated by it, but not Tim.

afternoon walk

At around 15:30, the neighborhood gets active and Tim likes to see what's going on. He loves the school buses and big trucks that blow the wind as we walk on the main street, and he loves the children playing, lawnmowers going, and dogs being walked that he sees in the subdivision.

play time

After dinner, it's time for some more play time. This usually includes chase, a game he discovered soon after arriving. The house has many rooms and corners that lend themselves for this game. The adults here are ready for Paul to arrive to take over this game as Tim can outlast us all.

self-feeding

Tim isn't an insistent self-feeder yet, but he's willing to try. Most of the banana is in his lap and between his fingers. He likes to squish it in his hand more than eat it. His feet still play an active role in how he experiences things.

on his way to walking

Tim pulled himself up on the hearth next to this toy. When he turned around, the 'handle was towards his hand', so naturally he started walking. I didn't catch his squeals of delight. My apologies for the dull news report in the background. At least he'll be able to say what was happening in the US when he started on his way to walking.

comedy hour

enjoying his bouncy swing


Tim is learning things fast. He's come close to what looks like waving bye a few times, but tonight I'm sure he did it. He uses his whole arm. It's very cute. He points with his whole hand now at the ceiling fans, which fascinate him and the lights. Tonight, he chased me and I chased him back and forth between the wall and couch in their great room. We were both panting.

His most impressive act was just as we were sitting down to dinner. I went to the basement to get myself a beer and took him with me. I had the beer in a can in the beer glass to pour it when I got upstairs. I put it down on the kitchen 'bar' and set his bum on the bar to take the weight while still holding him. On his other side were our water glasses for dinner waiting to be filled. Dad said something that distracted me and Tim grabbed the glass with the beer and it broke on the marble bar before falling to the tiles and breaking more. The glass punctured the beer, which sprayed all over my leg. Neither Mom or Dad knew this as the stream was very thin. While we were looking at this, Tim grabbed one of the water glasses. I realized it and yelled help, but neither of them could figure out what I needed help with in time, and that glass went to the tiles as well and shattered sending glass everywhere. I was barefoot and the glass was on my feet and all around them. My dad was cackling uncontrollably and my mom was looking for the broom. I was saying help me, help me, but no one made a move in my direction. There was glass all over the bar and Tim was not sitting still. I needed someone to take him from me, pick up the beer can to stop it from soaking me thoroughly, and get me some shoes so I could move and help clean up. It all came right in the end with no cuts and only a pant leg bathed in beer. I think Tim and Dad would like to see it happen every night.