Feb 17, 2010 | Baby Photos
It’s been a while since I’ve given an update on how the Bear’s doing and shared a few shots. Most of you probably don’t mind, but he has four grandparents who do! Â So here’s the latest.
The Bear
…is almost 18 months old, and is still not has just started walking! (Yes, while I was putting together this post the walking began!) He was walking behind his little car holding the handle, traversing along furniture, and going the distance as long as he had someone’s finger to hold. Finally on Saturday he stood up like a tiny sumo wrestler, steady and cautious! One small step for the Bear…one giant leap for bearkind. Well it was actually two steps. Anyway.
At one day away from 18 months the Bear…
…can stand up holding onto his big bag of puzzle pieces, and then pick the whole bag up like a heavyweight champ! Clean and jerk, Bear!!
…now gives high fives, baby fives, and pounds. He also LOVES clinging his juice cup against our glasses to say cheers before meals.
…has never met a grape he didn’t like.
…is taking one big nap in the middle of the day (10:30 am to as late as 1:30 pm — can you say AWESOME?!?) and hits the crib for nighty nights at 7:30 pm, sleeping till 6:30 or 7 the next morning.
…has mastered the art of saying the following important words: car, star, light, nana (banana) and neanh (for no). It’s hard to figure out how to spell that, but it sounds like that goat on that commercial a while back. Ahem.
…is artfully signing thirsty, please, thank you, more, juice, milk, what??? and “round and round.” Grandma Collie taught him that one for a fan, and it has become the universal symbol for anything and everything that ought to start moving…now!
…still hasn’t had his first hair cut. You can blame the parents who love the goldilocks.
…now has seven pearly whites which he puts to good use! And his blue eyes look more hazely green these days.
…still loves riding his little car in the neighbourhood, and has recently increased his pace to create some invigorating exercise for Mommy.
…and has especially adorable goldilocks when he has just woken up from a warm nap!
All in all, we can definitely say he’s a good wee Bear. We’re so thankful for him!
Happy almost-Birthday Bear!
Jan 30, 2010 | Baby Photos
When life causes you to take a tumble…
It’s a darn good thing if you’re brave enough to get right back up again.
It sure does make your parents proud, and I think it probably makes the Lord smile too. 🙂
Jan 29, 2010 | Baby Photos
Start by simply stuffing toys in the washing machine.
If necessary, get up and push to fit the whole load in.
Take a look around to make sure no one is saying “Nooooooo.”
Carefully read the instructions to make sure you’re selecting the right cycle. Teddy is most certainly a delicate.
Push buttons and push buttons and push buttons while your Mom thanks the Lord you haven’t thought of closing the door.
Look for approval for a job well done. It’s good to be pleased with your work.
The cycle must take a few minutes at least. Settle down to read a book while you wait for your laundry to be done.
My thoughts: If he’s entertained, and he hasn’t figured out how to close the door properly so that the machine actually starts, I’m happy. At least I know where to find just about everything that’s gone missing around the flat.
Jan 19, 2010 | Baby Photos, South Africa, Travel..ling Tuesdays
Happy Tuesday! I hope your week is going great, dear ones! We went for a walk on the beach Saturday morning. The sun was high and shiny, the water cool and inviting, and the Bear more than willing to be a superstar photo subject. The pictures were too cute not to share. My apologies if you feel like you’ve seen too much Bear so far this week. We’ll move on tomorrow! 🙂
Enter said beach, stage left. And the Bear, desperately hoping a beach walk is on the agenda. Somebody preez open dis gate!! he seemed to say.
Here’s a good shot of a bit of the area where we live. A lot of the houses nearby are amazing, huge beach houses that people only live in one month out of the year. It’s kinda sad!
See the rounded windows with balconies in the background? Our apartment is in the complex through the entrance underneath. We would love to take care of one of those houses while the people are away, though! 🙂
The Bear decided that even if it’s chilly, walking in the water ain’t so bad! Yes, I can see his hair is scruffy and a cut is in order! Leave me alone about it, I’m not ready!
See the “GB” with an anchor spelled out of white rocks in the background of this next shot? (It’s rather faint). It’s in honour of General Louis Botha, a steady fighter of the Brits in the Second Boer War. (You might remember me telling you before that the Boer Wars were similar to the American War for Independence aka the American Revolution, except the British won. There’s a little more SA history for you in some other posts here and here if you’re interested.) Anyway, years later, Botha visited London seeking assistance for the rebuilding of South Africa after the wars and Winston Churchill remembered him as the man who captured him in a Boer ambush of a British armoured train! He eventually became the first Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa, the forerunner to the modern state we know as the Republic of South Africa. He was seen as the leader of the Boers for many years after the wars, so it was a good thing he had a mind to make peace. The Naval Station in Gordon’s Bay was originally named for General Botha, thus the letters on the hillside. How’s that for a history lesson from a blurry mountainside in the back of a photo?
And this is the excitement of seeing an airplane go by!!
Hope you’re having a great Travelling Tuesday, and the road rises to meet you wherever your journey takes you next!
Jan 18, 2010 | Baby Photos
Today is the Bear’s 17 month birthday. I am happy to say I don’t really feel like time has flown by, although it is amazing that he is so far along the road of life already. I’ve been able to spend so much time with him thanks to our work situation and, at the urging of so many others, I have been working on savouring and treasuring this special time. Although I think I am occasionally missing something while buried in my laptop, I still feel like I’m doing a pretty good job of getting on the floor and playing with him, savouring the moments of giggling and reading together, stacking cups and blocks and taking apart puzzles (since we don’t have the putting them together part down yet). It does feel like it’s happening quickly, but I don’t feel filled with sorrow or regret that I’ve missed something. And, to conclude this long digression, that’s a nice feeling.
Here’s a glimpse of the life of the Bear at Sweet 17.
These days the Bear is thoroughly enjoying the dishwasher box house.
We are still in the throes of discussing the imminent necessity of a first hair cut. But having fun with his long locks in the meantime.
After listening to an economy lesson on Baby Einstein, this clever 17-month-old has begun implementing the important principle of not enjoying things all at once, but instead carefully saving things for later…
That’s a piece of biscuit by the way. As previously mentioned, he is also a budding geologist, and a connoisseur of fine rocks and other specimens.
Yes, I see that the hat folds his ears over. But isn’t it cute? He has become Mommy’s little helper, aiding me in stuffing clothing into the washing machine, closing the soap drawer and even pushing the start button when directed. He however occasionally struggles with an impulsive desire to push the button again, when not directed…
Unfortunately, he has confused 17 months with 17 years, and is considering leaving home soon.
He’s all-around being a cutie-pie bear who brightens up our every day.
Happy Birthday to the Bear! We are VERY thankful for you, and our lives are so much brighter with your little face in them!
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