A Worthy Hero

Stephen is so patient and good with Thaddeus. He LOVES to make Thad laugh and he will spend time with him whenever Thad is around. He is trying to figure out what to do with a 19-month-old who insists on following you every.where.you.go. Who wants to touch your hair and hug on you and squeals every time he sees you. Who has so much affection-energy that he plays you with his drumsticks and gives you love-thumps on your heard. Who starts flapping his arms when your name is even mentioned. It is hard to be someone's hero. Particular when they have a vocabulary of about 15 words and haven't developed a lot of social graces yet.

Still, Stephen doesn't just rise to the occasion; he masters it. He kindly bears Thad's focused attention and even better, he thrills to make Thaddeus laugh in very creative ways. He will take prat falls, play chase, allow his hair to be messed, make funny faces and sounds . . . it seems endless.

Stephen has won my heart by handling Thad's heart so well.

Thanks, Stephen!

(and Cliff & Sandy for raising such a lovely son!)

Closing the Deal

Like Father, Like Son.

On a Fine June Day . . .

. . . he wouldn't leave the house without his hat and mitten (I guess the other hand was warm enough).

Isn't he the BEST?!??

Just Another Beautiful Day in SAHM-ville

I just changed Thad’s diaper, in the bathtub, because the contents were everywhere—including down his legs, up his back, in his socks, on the back of his arms(??) and all over me by the time I got him up the stairs.

Depositing him in the tub, I took off all his clothing, showered him down (while all the time he is reaching for me for a hug), then scrubbed him with soap. I got him out, held him, toweled him off, fresh diapered and clothed him and sent him on his way. I then rinsed out and wrapped up his clothing and threw it in the wash.

The diaper and the onesie???? I threw them away. I couldn’t bear to try and separate the onesie from the diaper so I could rinse it out and put it in the washer. So Thad has one less onesie. I think it’s recyclable, so it shouldn’t disturb the earth-lovers too much.

Clean baby? Check.
Disinfected bathtub? Check.
Biohazard contained? Check.

Sanity? Ch—?

Oh well.

Totally worth it.

Indescribable

he said his first sentence. we were tickling each other and i said, "thaddeus, i love you."

then he said, "ii--uuf--oooo," and took my face in his hands and nuzzled me.

i am undone.

How Am I Supposed to Discipline This???!!!

How, I ask????

It Isn't Pretty, but It Counts!

Look who's feeding himself!

and coloring!

and Preppy (Let me introduce you to Mini-Pete!)!!

and CUTE!!

CUTER!

CUTEST!!!!!

If You Can Get Your Changing Pad Out . . .

. . . and bring me a diaper because you are too wet, I think you are old enough (16 months) and smart enough to get yourself to the bathroom and use the commode.

Just a thought.

16 Months Ago Today . . .

Dearest Smoochie-Face:

As I write this, you are drooling like a madman. I feel so badly for you as you chew anything that looks remotely promising . . . including the roof of your new F-P Little People Barn.


You have burst onto the Toddler Scene this month! You walk as fast as you can everywhere you can. You enjoy your daily constitutional, and those tennis shoes that you used to find abhorrent are now the signal that you are going OUTSIDE! Where there are CARS! TRUCKS! BUSES! And also, you get to play with the Shettler Kids' SLIDE! CAR! PLAYHOUSE!

Your favorite toys (aside from the Shettler Kids' toys) are your drum sticks (still), your books, your farm/barn, your multitude of electronics (old cell phones, toy PDA, real family phone), your music (especially The Philadelphia Chicken and anything with your sweetheart, Julie Andrews), anything that will stack--and your dad.

The two of you can't get enough of each other! Every morning when Daddy leaves, you stand in the window and watch him pull away, big tears often rolling down your cheeks! You now just hear the key go into the deadbolt and you drop whatever you are doing (kissing mommy, even) and dash for the back door. It's heartwarming.

You two also are a lot of trouble together. You enjoy finding mischief and delight in making Mama roll her eyes. Mischief includes going outside without your shoes (just socks. when it's rained. and it's cold. c'mon.), playing with MegaBlocks when you should be getting rocked to sleep by He-Who-Shall-Remain-Namless-But-Hint!-DADDY and blowing zerberts on my belly and making each other laugh! You also love to work on projects together, whether it is unshelving and reshelving CDs or putting together your first basketball hoop.

You are repeating words after us now. You shake your head NO a lot, but it doubles for YES (handy, that!). You do say No now ("O!" while shaking head). Yes is "Ace," said in a very approving way. You are able to point to nose, ears, eyes, mouth, teeth and belly button (your personal favorite body part). You do the hand motions to "I'm a Little Pile of Tin" and "Pat-A-Cake." You understand almost everything we say, which is terrifying and awesome! You are attempting to dress yourself and practice putting your shoes on a lot. You also practice putting on Daddy's shoes, too.

Favorite game? You get real quiet and of course, I am happy. Then, you start calling for me. I go look for you and find you HALFWAY UP THE STAIRS. You are watching for me and grinning as big as you please when I come into your view. You LOVE this game! I pretend-scold you, you laugh (and SNORT!), I grab you and put you in the living room and tell you that you are supposed to stay safely in the living room! You wait a few seconds, head down the hall as fast as you can, quietly climb the stairs and then call for me . . . and so it goes! One time, Mama wasn't on the ball and you called and called and I wasn't aware we were playing the game so I kept telling you to come in the living room, Silly! Then you started to cry !! I ran to the back of the house. You were AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS and SO! VERY! SAD! that I had not played the game right. Mama felt very, very, very, very, very bad. Now, sometimes I play the game even when you aren't, just to make sure.

The Shettlers passed on (so joyfully!) an item they no longer need: a potty chair! So I decided to see what you did with it, see if you would make friends with it and WANT TO USE IT--Don't you want to be a Potty Prodigy??? You did have a lot of fun with it, but no interest in using it for its intended--ahem--function.

You still are an incredibly cuddly child. At least once a day you take my face in your hands, lean your forehead to mine, slide so that we are cheek-to-cheek (something we have done since you were born) and make "Aaaahhhhhhh....." sounds. You love you some bare skin, too. If you happen to catch me without my pants on, you race to my legs and start petting them!

You still surround yourself with pretty women and you don't have to do any real coaxing!

On our trip to Vermont you made some new friends: Kyla and Alaina and you had a mutual love fest. Kyla and their cousin Carolyn took care of you while we watched Alaina play basketball, the highlight of which was her three-pointer at the game buzzer THAT WENT IN!!! We all cheered like crazy!

You have added to your caregiver harem as well! Emily is a love and she makes you laugh more than anyone else! The two of you together are music to my ears as I am getting things done around the house. Emily is pre-med and so we are grateful she takes time off from her studies to hang with you!

Speaking of our trip to Vermont, you are the best traveler--I cannot sing your praises enough! Every time we get off a plane, at least one person tells me that they would travel anywhere with you! You watch people and planes until we push back from the gate, at which time you snuggle down for your nap. You wake up just as the plane is landing and then entertain. You're even a sport on those pesky layovers!

While in Vermont you were aware for the first time of the cold weather and snow (you don't really remember Minnesota). We were prepared for it!

You also LOVE PUPPIES! I am so happy because now Daddy has to get us one :) You got to meet Joey (a few years old) and Chloe (a couple months old--about your age!). They belong to Mike, Kathy, Kyla and Alaina and you enjoyed all four of them so much. AND they had this great car that you could take shelter in from the dogs.

You also met some dear, dear friends of mine, the Milhouses. They have prayed for us for a very long time and have loved us well. I was so grateful to introduce you to them and vice versa. They are saints. Real saints, not the plastic kind.

You and Kyla, Horsewoman of Elegance

You and Alaina, Basketball Queen

On the plane trip home, you found a girlfriend. Her name is Mimi and you are the same age. However, I think we need to go over the guidelines for sexual harrassment and what is appropriate girl/boy behavior . . . Methinks you have too much Daddy in you . . . Sigh.

All in all, it has been a busy, wonderful month with you, Thaddeus. You continue to amaze us and we still look at each other and ask, "Isn't he the best? He can't get any cuter!" And although I don't think you can, you do.

You just do.

With all my heart, I do love you, Thaddeus. Happy Monthday, Son!

xoxo Mama

Dear Thaddeus @ Fifteen Months!

Dear Thaddeus:

Happy 15-Month Day! I cannot believe you are 15 months . . . I honestly feel like just yesterday you were snuggled into my neck and your feet reached just to the bottom of my ribcage. Now, they are hanging down mid-thigh. At the same time it seems like you have always been with us. You have made yourself an integral and irreplaceable member of the family. Your daddy and I delight in you every day. You ease my life, Sweet Boy.

Right now you are changing before our eyes. You had your first haircut a few days ago. Nana took just a little off the back—you were looking like a redneck Christopher Lloyd J So now you look even more like your daddy. Put you in the uniform—a pair of khakis, button-down shirt and loafers—and Daddy has his own Mini-Me!

You are solidly walking now, too. When Daddy walks in the door you run to him! It’s been several days since I’ve seen you drop to a crawl and so I know you are well and truly an ambulatory convert. I got you a pair of tennis shoes and you weren’t sure about them at first. They are stiff, heavy and more confining than the Robees, but you beg for them now so we can walk up and down the block.

Nana took you for your first non-stroller walk and it was hard to get you back into the house. The following days you would pound on the door and call “Nananana! Nana! Nananana!” So she would tell you to get your shoes and off you would go. You couldn’t get out that door fast enough! When we come upon uneven pavement, you stop, explore the uneven bit with your toe and then “climb” the piece of pavement. All of this with a lot of cheerleading from us!

Speaking of Nana, she visited for a week and after a few days you were glad to have your partner in crime back in residence. Daddy and I had to watch her or she would give you sugar and spoil you! When she went down to her room you would walk over to the door and pound on it while calling for her. She didn’t get as much down (smoking) time as she tried! You watched the first NASCAR race of the season together (sigh . . . ). She helped us get you sleeping in your own crib for your naps AND at night.

Sleep. Oh how I love sleep. Oh how I wish you would love it, too! You are doing better and better. As a matter of fact, this last week you would lie down and go back to sleep if I just said to you, “NightNight, Thad. Love the Piggy.” (Piggy, a life-size floor pillow that Daddy got you on your first birthday, now resides in the crib and has made nighttime soooo much better!) Three times I didn’t have to get up; I just had to reassure you verbally and back to sleep you went. Bless you, Son. Bless you, bless you, bless you.

You are becoming more verbal. I would say you understand a high percentage of what we say to you. When asked, you will point to eyes, ears, nose and mouth (though you haven’t spoken them yet). You will tell us what sound a cow, a kitty, a piggy, a chicken and a tiger make. You say “yea,” “Dad” or “Dada,” “Mom” or “Mama” (although you love to tease me by calling me Dada while looking right at me! I smile at you and say “Mama! I’m MAMA!” and you just grin at me! Turkey!).

You also understand no and yes—in that order! I guess I have been shaking my head negatively when telling you “Off limits,” because now you will start shaking your head no when reaching for something off limits—with a smile on your face, of course! Last week you started toward the CD shelves, got about two feet from them, started shaking your head no, did a U-turn and smiled at me. You let us know if you don’t want something or respond to an offer with a shake of your head. I’m grateful you are not shouting it at me . . . yet. You do shake your head yes occasionally, but more often you just grab what is offered or launch yourself at what you want.

You also understand the phone. You will go over to it, bend very close and call “Dada! Dada!” So we will call Dada and you will click! And ork! And Mmph! at him on the phone while walking around with the phone in your hand.

You have some fun new toys since your birthday. You love your activity cube and enjoy trying to figure out what all the sides can do. You also love your Little People Farm and have literally spent hours playing with the animals and the farmer and working all the sounds. Joy! You continue to love music and our new favorite CD is Sandra Boynton’s “Philadelphia Chickens” which includes performances by Meryl Street, Kevin Bacon & the Bacon Brothers and Laura Linney. Your favorite songs right now are “Cows,” “The Belly Button Song” and “Please Can I Keep Him?”

You also sing and dance! Just three opening notes and your feet start moving and hips start going a bit. You will sing or hum along. You often will pat your hand to the beat or wave your arms in time. You definitely have your groove going! And your drumming continues to get better and better!

You are an affectionate little boy. You freely hug those you know and love. You often pat my back when I am holding you. We also have several “cheek-to-cheek” moments throughout the day. You hold the side of my face to yours and we just stay there for 10 seconds or so. I had no idea heaven could be experienced in just 10 seconds, but it can.

In short, Thaddeus, you just keep getting more delightful, fun, loving and lovable, cuter and dearer with each passing month. I could write 1000 more words on all the wonders of you. Your daddy and I rejoice in your every developmental milestone and new discovery and we look forward to watching you grow, God willing.

At Least Someone! Is Getting Some Sleep In This House.

Delicious!

I was talking with someone about Thad and found myself unable to find words to describe his addition to my life. Last night--or this morning--at 3a, it came to me: DELICIOUS!! He is just delicious!

Elmo, Super Grover & Dad!

13.5 Months & Walking!

Thaddeus-Love:

Since your first birthday, you have decided to take off! You are walking!!! Not all the time; you still find crawling a safer and quicker way to get to your daddy FAST! when he walks through the door in the evening! You are not cautious; rather, you seem to want to do things perfectly before committing yourself to them.

You are babbling with inflections and saying a few more words: "quack", "bawk" and of course, your favorite "hat!" Tasks are still performed with various hats on your head:

You are a charmer, Sir Thaddeus! Everywhere we go you have a smile and an eye-twinkle for people. You are genuinely interested in people's faces and suffer very little stranger-danger or separation-anxiety. You have mastered your Uncle Christian's wrinkled-nose smile and bestow that on people you especially love. It cracks them up!

You also are very facile with your hands. You can stack five small blocks and you can turn small knobs. You LOVE to play the drum--which Daddy and I are THRILLED about as we are both frustrated percussionists! You like to push your rocking chair or your pushcart down the hall at breakneck speed. You also will ride your "bike" for a time. And when Uncle John rocks you on it, you can hardly stay awake!!

You will sit for 10 minutes thumbing through books on your own, telling yourself the stories in your own language. Even better is when Mom or Daddy will read to you--oh, books AND attention!!

You also are getting better with the spoon! Yea!!!! You can get stickier foods to your mouth by turning the spoon upside down and into your mouth.

You also met more of your cousins this last week: John and Megan were very excited to meet you, too! And you have REAL THING for your Aunt Bryn, too! You flirted shamelessly, right in front of your mother!!

For a few hours, the whole Christianson/Rose Family was together and Kid Kaos reigned! You loved watching your older cousins and they loved to make you laugh. Megan would literally do anything to hear your famous belly laugh!

You had sweet time with your Grandparents Christianson. They adore you!

Whenever I go out with you, I feel like I am making the world a better place . . . spreading a little joy . . . because you are so smiley and good. Daddy and I are grateful for your easygoing spirit and your lovely countenance. You are, truly, a joy!

Much, much love,

Your mommy ("Mom")