Dogging the dog

Bennett thinks:  "Brux, you are my bestest friend.  I love playing with you!"
Brux thinks:  "My life was much simpler a year ago.  You aren't playing with me . . . you are playing at me!"

Concrete floor = 2, Bennett's footwear =0

Walk of Life

• We saw Bennett take his first two steps tonight (and by the looks of it he'd much prefer to run than walk).
• Clifford the Big Red Dog was on TV yesterday.  The cartoon kids started to applaud when Clifford arrived in their classroom.  Bennett joined right in.  That cracked me up (and left me astounded).
• I was watching Sesame Street (no, I wasn't by myself) for the first time in almost 30 years.  They still know their audience!  They had Elmo (& Rev Run) singing a rendition of classic Aerosmith/Run DMC ("ya ain't seen nothin till your down on a muffin, and theres sure to be a change in way") tune from my youth:

• I was 35 when Bennett was born and had heard my share of annoying parenting cliches: Enjoy it while you can.  They grow up so fast.  Don't blink.  Blah, blah, blah.  Well . . . all true.  He turned 11 months this week.  I feel like our baby has transformed into a little boy over night.  The rate of growth and learning is unbelievable! 
• Speaking of songs from my youth . . . thinking about Bennett taking those couple of unsteady strides towards Karah planted another song in my head tonight.  I must have been about 10 when this song and awesome video came out.  I thought it was the coolest thing I'd ever seen!:  

• He got the action, he got the motion
  Oh Yeah the boy can play
  Dedication devotion
  Turning all the night time into the day
  
  
  
  

Swimming, Dancing, & Shish Kebabs

• I haven't blogged in weeks and the natives are experiencing symptoms of withdrawal . . . so here are some updates. 
• Bennett enjoyed his first morsels of dog food this week.  He's discovered if he can maneuver his walker to the dog dish, go up on one leg, and lean over . . . his arm will extend to the top of the mound of dog food.  He seemed to enjoy the Lamb and Rice blend (and commented that it tasted like a fine shish kebab dinner). 
• Bad hair day:

• He had his first swim last week at the Loveland Embassy Suites:  

• Here he is hanging out with his lady friends in Loveland:



Ella, Bennett, & Emma

• He's got Mom's smile and Dad's rhythm:

• They say dentist's kids always have messed up teeth.  So, I anxiously await the eruption of each tooth and thoroughly inspect it to make sure it's in good order.  Thus far we are 6 for 6 defect-free (but if he keeps playing tough guy and bumping his head . . . there are chipped teeth in the future). 
• This kid loves to laugh:

• He's starting to climb the walls ala spiderman:

iSon

• Bennett has an affinity for my iphone.  After many evening games of keep away, last night I let him hold it.  Whenever I went to grab it from him he'd tighten his grip on it and pull it in towards his chest. I know for a fact, he's been listening to the Sharing Song, but I'm pretty sure that's not Dad's iphone anymore (in his eyes at least).
• This evening I put some music on the iphone for him (and he somehow got to the facebook app on his own).  He doesn't seem to be impressed by Dave Matthews' vocals, but watch him break it down when the horns and harmonica kick in:



Home & Lost

• I had a great day with Bennett today.  Karah went skiing in Beaver Creek.  So, I had most of the morning and afternoon with him . . . which I refer to as "Dudesday".  He's quite mobile, whether crawling or in his walker.  He's starting to get into trouble . . . trying to get into cupboards, drawers (time for a trip to Home Depot for some locks).  He's pulling papers and magazines from the end tables.  I even busted him (twice) trying to take the fireplace pokers off the rack.  AND when I was feeding him he swatted at the spoon.  That sent baby food flying and splattered the dog. 
• At this moment (as is nightly bedtime protocol) Karah is having a "last dance" with Bennett before she puts him in the crib.  I usually think nothing of it (i.e. take it for granted), but tonight it seems especially sweet.  It makes me incredibly proud of and grateful for my family.  The songs she played tonight were the Foo Fighters "Home" (one of my faves) and Michael Buble's "Lost": 

"'Cause you are not alone

And I am there with you

And we'll get lost together

Till the light comes pouring through

'Cause when you feel like you're done

And the darkness has won

Babe, you're not lost

When the worlds crashing down

And you can not bear to crawl

I said, baby, you're not lost

I said, baby, you're not lost"

Michael Buble - Lost



"Echoes and silence, Patience and grace
All of these moments, I'll never replace"





what a difference . . .

A few days makes:

hot shot from David M on Vimeo.

Crawl space

-Bennett had his nine month check on Thursday:

• Tale of the tape:  23 lbs, 29.25" (~80th percentile)
• He received a shot in each thigh (simultaneously).  He had a hearty scream and cry for all of 3 seconds.  He collected himself, gave the nurse a dirty look and pout, and then it was like nothing happened (I didn't tell him that he should not let the girls see him cry.  He must have just enough testosterone to know that innately).
• She mentioned that he'd be crawling soon (sure enough (see below)).    

The heart of rock n' roll is still beatin'

-Bennett made his first crawling movements last night (he was going after the keys, but he's not ready to drive just yet).  We busted out the camcorder at the end of the action:

-More wrestling matches with the stuffed animals:

Where's Waldo?