Pedestrian

• "Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step." -Martin Luther King, Jr.
• "Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time." -Steven Wright
  
  
  

• The bottles are put away and there's no more formula in our house.  The boy is growing up. 
• Karah had a very special mommy moment last night.  She was singing "You Are My Sunshine" to Bennett (just as she has since the day we brought him home from the hospital) before bed.  He thanked her by giving her an unsolicited kiss on the lips.  It brought her to tears.   
• Bennett had his one year checkup last week.  Current stats:  30.5" long and 25.8 lbs. 
• A year ago every conversation involved, "So, ya gettin' any sleep?"  Now the FAQ is, "So, ya ready for another one?" 



The 1

• The boy had his first birthday yesterday.  It's hard to believe that a year ago Bennett (currently happy and healthy as can be) was in neonatal intensive care with an oxygen cannula jammed in his nostrils.  As the Grateful Dead once put it, "What a long strange trip it's been!"  A few highlights from his birthday festivities follow:
• He likes cake (No surprise . . .  Cake is food and he loves food!): 

• We took him to the park for a birthday swing: 

• The next Tommy Lee??? Mommy prays for other mentors (Dave Grohl, perhaps?):

• He already thinks he's Superman.  I thought I'd get him the gear to match the attitude: 

• An update on Brux:  Two weeks ago, I wasn't sure that he'd be with us right now.  Much to our surprise (and pleasure) he's made quite a turnaround.  He's gone from a lethargic "old man" to his spunky old self. He's back to snagging frisbees from midair and heckling the other dogs in the neighborhood.  No doubt, he still has the kidney dysfunction and aggressive cancer to contend with.  Yet, it's pretty amazing what love, attention, and an excellent diet can do for a dog's (or a human's) health.  Thanks for keeping him in your thoughts and prayers.  Livestrong Bruxy!
• Speaking of sick . . . What's the opposite of empathy?  I was pretending to be sick (Oscar worthy acting) and Bennett thought it was just Hee-Hawlarious:



• While I was watching Celebrity Apprentice on Sunday . . . the news broke.  The current "face" of evil had been taken out (God bless those SEALs).  I can only hope that my son doesn't have to see the destruction of another hitler, stalin, saddam, bin laden, etc. during his lifetime.  Let's hope the information age can help expose such monsters before they gather substantial following and power. I just saw an interview with several kids who lost parents in the Towers in 9/11.  Their optimism was inspiring.  The American Dream lives on!
• "I've never wished a man dead, but I have read some obituaries with great pleasure" -Mark Twain

Bennett's puppy

• This has been a tearful week in the Maloley household. Brux had been ill for several days . . . his days mostly consisted of lying around (and puking). I took him to the vet last Saturday. We found out right away that his kidney function was poor. By midweek, we knew he had cancer.
• I drove him to see an oncologist in Denver on Thursday after work. The specialist discovered a tumor in his abdomen. She wasn't able to determine the type of cancer, but we know it's aggressive. Chemotherapy is considered a long shot and was not recommended.  
• Karah and I drove back to Denver on Friday to bring Brux home. We decided that we'd just love the heck out of him and have lots of fun with whatever time we might have left with him. Remarkably, he's showed more "life" in the last two days than he has in the last two weeks.
• I never really understood pet lovers until I picked the 8-week old Brux up in South Carolina. I thought that treating a dog like a child was pretty wacky and over the top. Now I understand! He's been our loyal companion for 3 years now. He's brought more laughs and love to us than I could have ever imagined. What he means to our family is unmeasurable and indescribable. There is no doubt that he helped Karah and I become better parents for Bennett.
• I saw this at the specialty animal hospital in Denver on Thursday night. I couldn't say it any better:

• Brux and Bennett admire a "get well" painting from our friends the Kassmels (blurry, but still captures the moment):

• Here's a quote on an lighter note (I'm a poet and didn't know it): "I named my dog 'Stay'... so I can say 'Come here, Stay. Come here, Stay.'"- Steven Wright  
• Don't get me wrong, Brux is plenty ornery (and sometimes on the lunatic fringe). He's eaten my socks (and a cycling glove), steals toys from the neighbors' yards, jumps on strangers (he calls them new friends), etc. But as far as big brothers go, he's been the best (we were worried!)! He was in Karah's hip pocket her entire pregnancy (literally following her everywhere) and has been so good to and for Bennett. I never would have guessed that such an amped-up dog could be so gentle around a baby.
• Just so this entire blog isn't about our Bruxy (and  doesn't give him a big head) . . . here's a little video. Bennett has been in awe when he sees Karah and I brushing our teeth with our Sonicare toothbrushes. Karah put a little brush head on the toothbrush and Bennett will actually allow us to brush his teeth with it (until the vibration becomes unbearable):

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: