Thanksgiving Recap

I'd been talking up the parade with Cody for several weeks and he was actually interested in it on Thursday morning. We DVR'd it, so as to be able to fast-forward through the commercials and he was actually really engaged for a good 30 minutes, which translates into nearly a third of the actual parade. Sample:

Then he found the turkey roasting pan, and lost interest.

Among the other things to mark that it was a special occasion, I picked up a little keg of root beer. After we tapped it together on the deck, Cody got the first glass. He was pretty into it.

Cordelia had a great day, too. She wore a familiar-looking turkey outfit and, per the norm, ate everything in sight.

Everyone else was a little tired the morning after, but not her. She has finally decided to crawl (a little bit), but most of her time is still spent trying to walk.

Loving the Leaves

Mommy took me outside today to do something amazing -- sit in a leaf pile! I was a little suspicious at first -- but anyone who knows me knows that's just my default position. But then I started to tap the leaves a little bit...gingerly, of course...and I just loved the way they shooshed and crackled when I touched them!

I love the fall! It is so much better than summer, with all that sun and sweat and sand. And, my hair matches the leaves!

My Little Tree Hugger

We spent the morning raking leaves. Well, we spent the morning with our rakes, and with some leaves. And some golf clubs and hoses and tents and stuff. We got a little off track.

Cordelia joined us after her "nap," and as usual, was just so beamy to be around her big brother.

He loves pushing her on the swing, which sends her into paroxysms of joy (I've always wanted to use that phrase, but never had occasion). And when he decided to nibble her toes? Well, really, there's no way to capture the sound of her delighted squeals. It almost made up for the other loud noises she was making during "naptime."



Kind of hard to see her eyes under all those cheeks. She has doubled in size this past week. And yesterday, learned (in one try) how to get herself from her crawling position to a sitting position, which pleased her to no end. She's been practicing in her crib but was finally ready to show her stuff yesterday. She looks like she's made of butter.

Firefighter Cody

As Long as He's Near Me

Fall-ing in love with Cody all over again!

Is he gorgeous or what?

First Things First

We consider it our highest responsibility and privilege to mold our sweet son, to shape his character, to teach him all that is truly important in life, to help him form strong values and solid priorities. Behold.

Is he awesome or what?

"Yes, brother, yes!"

So Cody has started having a real imagination. It's so much fun to listen to his describe his "dreams" and to find him in his crib in the morning in the midst of a fort he's built, calling it his "minivan" (he made rows of stuffed animals in "seats"), his "swing," his "chimney" (this from Mary Poppins, I think), and so on. He's also started doing voices for everyone. For instance, he'll say to Patches, "Oh Patches, I love you so much! Do you want to sit with me for lunch?" and then a second later, in a high-pitched voice, "Yes Cody, I do! And I love you too!"

He's also started speaking for Cordelia (something I suspect will happen for years; I doubt she'll ever talk, as she'll have no need to). This is hilarious, because Cordelia always happens to give him the exact answer he's hoping for. Example: "Cordelia, may I please have one of your crackers? Of course you can, brother! Here is a cracker! [taking it off of her tray]" or "Cordelia, may I please have that toy you are holding? Yes, brother, yes! I would be happy to share my toy with you! Thank you Cordelia [taking it out of her hand, beaming. She, of course, beams back, basking in his smile.]" She's endlessly accommodating.

Backwards

Cordy's crawling!

Backwards. Always backwards.

When Cody was learning, I put my cell phone on the floor in front of him, and he would tenaciously sea-lion himself toward it. Knowing my daughter as I do, I put Cheerios on the floor. Her eyes lit up with determined focus, and she went for it -- and then wailed two minutes later, finding herself across the room, ever farther from her quarry.

She's also having fun practicing different mouth shapes (and she is getting used to the feel of her first little tooth, which came in a couple weeks ago!). As usual, all her test-faces end up in a big smile. : )

Halloween After-Action Report

First some pictures. Superman and Clark Kent, enjoying a rare moment together:

(Trivia: Clark Kent and Superman appeared side-by-side in just one issue of the comic. Superman, fearing that his secret identity was about to be compromised, asked President John F. Kennedy to don the red-and-blue tights and appear next to Clark Kent to dispel the rumors. This issue reached news stands the week Kennedy was assassinated. Oops.)

Superman, seemingly unfazed by a stick of kryptonite:

Superman and a pretty little witch waiting for the night to get spooky enough for trick-or-treating:

Other Cody misc.:

CJP: [about to do something bad]
SLL [sternly]: Don't even think about it.
CJP: I think I am going to think about it.

***

CJP: Dad, when we go trick-or-treating, I will see two witches.
JVL: You probably will.
CJP: And a ghostie.
JVL: I bet you will see a ghostie.
CJP: Does the ghostie have a penis?
JVL: I really couldn't say.

***

CJP: When Cor-Cor gets a little bigger, I will walk to Bert's surf shop and I will buy her her very own tiny surfboard. The man will help me and I will bring it home for her.

***

And so he will. Except we'll probably drive.

Pumpkins at Play

A blast from the past: December 2008...

And he now TOWERS over it.

That was awesome, Dad, but I think I'd have MORE fun if my brother came with me!

YES!

WHEEEEE!

Her hair matches her shirt!