Da Plane, Da Plane!

Troy is enamored with the jets that fly over our house on the way to DFW Airport. No matter what he's doing, if he sees or even hears one, he goes running to the window, pointing to the sky, and saying, "Dah!" His favorite time is when we're in the pool, and one will fly over, because he can watch it go completely across the sky before it disappears behind the trees or into a cloud. And we get plenty of them, being directly in the flight path, so we could see a dozen or more in the short time we're in the pool. I don't know what this portends, but maybe he will only feel free in the sky.

Father's Day Remix

Today is my second (or third) Father’s Day. And for the second year in a row, it’s raining. So, I spent my morning, watching the lightning flash in the dark clouds outside and the rain do a tip-toe dance on the surface of the pool.

Troy has decided it’s the perfect sort of day to be lazy, so he was in no hurry to get out of bed. Personally, I think he’s seen too many nature documentaries, where the sloths, lions, and seals are sleeping all of the time! He seems to think that’s a good sort of life. But when my wife tempted him with chocolate-chip pancakes, he seemed to feel differently about the advantages of being a lion.

I think we're just going to hang out today and enjoy being together. It's not like we can go anywhere anyway, so might as well enjoy our lazy day!

Cabinet Surfing

We can’t keep Troy out of the kitchen cabinets. I tried wrapping rubber bands around the handles, which deterred him to some degree, until he discovered that the single cabinet doors were still fair game. There is one particular cabinet under the coffee pot that he loves to invade. It’s where my wife used to keep the travel coffee mugs. Troy would open the cabinet, grab a mug, lick the lid, and then drop it on the tile floor in a loud clang! I'm not sure if he was trying to be gross, stake his territory, or if he was trying to take a drink out of an empty cup. But he would do this to each mug, one by one.

My wife got annoyed by this, because whenever she needed a mug for her coffee, they were always dirty! So, she decided to move the mugs and put the plastic funnels there instead. This hasn’t bothered Troy in the least. He now takes the funnels out, talks into them like a megaphone, and then drops them on the floor in a much quieter clatter.

Splashing Babies

I attempted to clean the pool out today, using my new net to get the grass and dirt floating around the edges. I took Troy outside with me, thinking that he'd enjoy running around in the yard in the sunshine. He was not interested in running around. All he wanted to do was be with me, involved with what I was doing, and be in the pool. He tried to stand up on his tip-toes and reach over the edge, but his little fingers couldn't quite make it to the water. Then, he determined that he could climb up the stone stairs that I built and easily reach the water, which he did, splashing and sending water everywhere. I looked over to see him laughing in utter joy, water dripping down his wet and matted hair, onesie soaked completely through. He truly is a fish!

Covered

Lately, when Troy has been going to sleep, he’ll pull one of the pillows off the bed and over top of him like a blanket. I’m not sure if he’s cold or if it’s just comforting, but he often gets in the strangest positions. Sometimes, he’ll hold it between his arms and legs while he’s on his back. Sometimes it’s just laying on top of him while he’s on his face. The funniest one is when he’ll pull two or three pillows together and completely hide beneath them.

We have a camera in the guest room so we can watch him while he’s taking his nap. We put him in there because it’s darker in the middle of the day. Those times when he buries himself under a pillow is fun, because we have to play “Where’s Troy” on the monitor. And even then, we might have to wait until he actually moves to know exactly which pillow he might be under. Sometimes, we think we’re looking at a pillow, and he’ll move, and we realize it was his little diapered butt sticking in the air!

That?!

Troy is so curious. He wants to know about everything. And his way of asking about something is to point at it and say, “That?!” in a very loud almost ear-piercing screech. Often, he will point at the same thing over and over and ask about it. We assume that he’s trying to learn by hearing us repeat the word again and again, so we try to go slow and enunciate so he can memorize the sounds. It’s pretty cool to see him trying to absorb so much knowledge.

He points at things on the TV, things in his books, animals on his sheets, objects on his onesies, things in the sky, bugs on the window...you name it. He is so eager to learn them all, and we are happy to oblige. Even if we have to repeat to him that that's an elephant on his sheets seven or eight times.

Self-Preserved

I was supposed to be watching Troy today on my own while my wife was at work. Unfortunately, I had back-to-back meetings, so I couldn’t stop to play with or feed him. I knew he was getting hungry, so I grabbed one of his food pouches, took the top off, and handed it to him. Surprisingly, he sat right there on the couch and ate it himself while I was on my video calls. No fuss, no mess. Just lounging and eating, as content as could be.

Wondering if it was a fluke, I tried it again during his snack time after his nap, and he happily grabbed the pouch and sucked away. We definitely have to have him strapped down, though. Because if he's mobile, then he'll squeeze the pouch while he's walking and pureed fruit will go everywhere!

This is the next step in the evolution of feeding himself after using his fingers. Next up...the spoon!

Skinny Obese

We took Troy in for his 15-month checkup today. All in all, he’s doing well. But while we were there, my wife asked about Troy’s calorie intake. She’d been reading online that toddlers need 1100 calories a day, and on his best day, Troy only gets around 800. The doctor told us that Troy is heavy for his height. Which makes no sense to me. Heavy for his age maybe, but height? He’s a toothpick. He’s long and lean, but he looks perfectly proportionate for his height. The doctor was trying to say that Troy was getting plenty to eat, and that we shouldn’t increase his calories. But it was still an unusual way to express that.

Just for reference, Troy tipped the scales at 30 pounds 7 oz and was 33.75” tall. Both are in the 99+ percentile for his age, which he has pretty much lived in since we brought him home from the hospital. This of course led to sarcastic joking between my wife and I all day, about how our baby is overweight and obese. Which nobody in their right mind would say if they saw him. So, I guess he’s skinny obese! Also as a reference, CC’s son, Declan, is 33 pounds and 33” tall. So, what category would that put him in exactly?!

So, a little annoyed by this assessment, I took Troy out to the car and fed him some cheese and turkey. That'll teach them to call my son "heavy"!

Fish

Well, after an entire day of filling it with water, the new swimming pool is finally operational. This apparently meant we had to try it immediately, despite the fact that it was 96 degrees and blisteringly hot. So, slathered up in sunscreen, we all ventured into the cool water to escape the summer heat.

Troy did better this year than last with the swimming. He splashed around and kicked his legs, he drank the water (hopefully he didn't pee in it first), he enjoyed the warm sun on his face, and generally seemed to have a good time. My wife is always telling me that he loves water so much because he's a fish (Pisces in the zodiac), and it seemed to come to life when his little legs touched the water. The only problem we really had was trying to get him out of the pool. I guess he's hooked now!

The Irish Jig

We broke down and hired a couple of guys to help us finish the leveling. The heat and effort was proving too much for me alone. While expensive, it was a good call because they finished it in a manner of hours, which made my several weekend effort look ridiculous in comparison.

When they were done, the dirt was level but loose. So, I went out to stomp and compact it down. In order not to miss anything, I was taking very small steps with my feet very close together. I was making my way back and forth, back and forth, when I suddenly looked up and found my wife and son watching me through the window and laughing. I asked what was so funny, and my wife said it looked like I was doing an Irish jig or something. I suppose I did have a rhythmic cadence going.

Tokyo Drift

I was chasing Troy around the house today when he suddenly attempted to make a quick turn to evade my pursuit. Unfortunately, he didn't compensate for the Laws of Physics, and his momentum kept moving his body forward even as his legs were turning sideways. The conflicting motions made him look like he was drifting in a race car, skittering in a circular motion and struggling to maintain his balance. He did manage to eventually complete the turn, albeit ungracefully. I guess he learned first hand about centripetal force!

Spurt

So, I measured Troy on May 20th and he was 33 inches tall and weighed 30 lbs 2 oz. Today, I decided to measure him again. I don't know what possessed me to do it. He's just been looking taller and leaner to me lately. I know it's only been 10 days, but I feel like might have gone through a growth spurt.

And I was right! He is now 33.75 inches tall and still weighs in at 30 lbs 2 oz. So, in a week and a half, he grew 3/4 of an inch! He didn't put on any weight, which is probably why he looks so lean to me. Unbelievable change in a short time.

Balloon Fencing

I don't know what came over Troy today, but he was in the office with my wife, and when I popped my head around the corner to check on them, he suddenly came at me with a balloon. He was brandishing it like a sword, waving it around viciously, screaming at the top of his lungs, and charging at full tilt! I had no choice, but to grab a balloon of my own to fend him off. I backed away, using my own wildly waving balloon to stave off his deathly blows as he relentlessly pressed forward.

All at once, my fencing lessons from college came back to me, and I slowly started to become less erratic and more smooth and purposeful. I went through the progressions of my defensive moves, continually pushing his balloon aside and away from my exposed torso. And then, just as he was getting frustrated that the battle was turning in my favor, I surprised him by completely leaping over top of him, and lunging for his back. Struck and "wounded," he turned in a rage and came at me again, which is when I skillfully whipped my wrist in a arc and sent his balloon flying across the room. Disarmed but still in a bloodlust, he came out me with his bare fists, as I plunged stroke after stroke of my balloon into his advancing chest, eventually dropping the balloon and tackling him in a heap. He finally gave up as I covered every inch of him in ticklish kisses.

Legacy Diary

A few months ago, my mom brought me a box of stuff related to my life. Some of it was toys or piggy banks, things like that. Down at the very bottom was a little cigar box. I opened it to find some things from the hospital on the day I was born; information about raising a baby, my mom's ID bracelet, etc. But underneath all of this was a couple of sheets of folded paper...a short diary that my mom had started right after I was born. Unfortunately, life became too demanding for her to continue, but these few pages are priceless to me.

Thursday Jan. 25, 1979 (One Month Old)

Today DK went to doctor for first check-up. Weighed 10 lbs. 21 1/4 in. long. Checked out okay.

Troy by comparison: At one month old, he weighed 12 lbs 12 oz and was 22.75 inches long.

We went to lodge for a covered dish supper. Was fussy so came home early.

Friday Jan. 26, 1979

Went out to eat at Henry's Steak House. Had first bottle when got home. DK met BG for first time.

February 18, 1979 9:00 a.m.

Baptism

April 9, 1979 (Three 1/2 Months Old)

DK is getting prettier every day. He has the biggest eyes! His head is rounding out now. He can turn from his stomach to his back and almost from his back to his stomach. He pushes a lot with his feet and is all over his bed, and when I lay him on the floor he is all over the place. He is getting his first tooth. His gum is swollen and he chews on his hands a lot. He sucks on his finger just like KK. He weighs fifteen pounds now and is 25 inches long. His favorite word is "gully" and he says it constantly. He is in the stage when he loves to blow bubbles and because of it, he is constantly wet. He spits up a lot more now. He loves being with people and cries when he is left alone.

Troy by comparison: At three 1/2 months old, he weighed about 19 lbs 9 oz and was 27 inches long.

Fri. Sept. 14, 1979 (Eight 1/2 Months Old)

DK is 8 1/2 months old now. He still doesn't have any teeth, but he is drooling a lot and chewing on everything. His hair is really getting thick and his eyes are still blue. He weighs 17 lbs. He is weaning himself to solids. I haven't found anything he doesn't like to eat.

He is crawling now. Has been for over a month. He likes to pull up and stand and will even let go for a couple of seconds at a time. He hasn't taken any steps as of yet.

He loves to play with KK, and so far KK has been pretty good about playing with him. He loves music boxes.

Troy by comparison: Started crawling when he was nine months old and started pulling himself up and standing a few weeks later. At eight 1/2 months, he weighed 26 lbs 14 oz and was 29.5 inches long.

Oct. 24, 1979 (Ten Months Old)

DK will be 10 months tomorrow. He still doesn't have any teeth. His hair is blonde and getting full. His eyes are beautiful blue and great big! He has a wonderful disposition and he laughs more than he cries. He hates shoes. He eats everything but peaches and pineapple.

He will hold on and walk around things and he will let go and stand for long periods of time. He lowers himself to the floor also. I let him feed himself when we are eating food such as rice or toast or anything he can eat with his fingers.

He waves by and he can wink (both eyes at once). He says "dada" and "nana" (for mama), "dog," his name, and "thank you." He has started to cry when he thinks I am leaving.

Troy by comparison: Walked around holding onto things when he was ten months old.

November 4, 1979 (Ten Months Old)

DK took his first step without holding on.

Troy by comparison: Took first steps without holding on when he was twelve 1/2 months old.

November 11, 1979 (Ten 1/2 Months Old)

First tooth

Troy by comparison: First tooth when he was eight 1/2-months old.

November 22, 1979 (Eleven Months Old)

DK got second tooth.

Troy by comparison: Second tooth when he was nine months old.

November 25, 1979

Stood up in middle of room by himself and walked into kitchen.

June 5, 1980

DK got 4th tooth.

Emergency Alertness

Today, I decided to test Troy’s level of emergency alertness. I mean we spend a lot of time alone together, and I’m not exactly young, so it’s good that he knows what to do if I get hurt or something. So when he whapped me over the head with his big plastic cone, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to pretend to be unconscious to see what he’d do. He immediately stopped what he was doing, watched me for a few seconds to see if I'd get up, and then he called out “Dada?” a few times to see if I was faking it. Getting no response from me, he quickly ran over to my prostrate form, and then he whapped me over the head with his big plastic cone again for good measure and left me to go play in his ball pit. 

So, either he has no emergency alertness yet, or he was happy that I was finally out of it and would stop tackling him while he tried to run across the room. I laid there for a few more minutes to see if he'd come back, but he was happily standing in his ball pit and throwing the little plastic balls through the railing down onto the stairs. Seeing that I wasn't going to get any sympathy from that quarter, I stood up, walked over to the ball pit, grabbed him out it, and tackled him to the floor. Serves him right!

Bulking Up

Lately, my wife has been manically obsessed that Troy is not getting enough calories. She worries every day that he’s getting too skinny and not putting on weight. I’ve been trying to tell her that he’s growing upward and not outward, but she’s convinced that he’s withering away. She’s gotten to where she's trying to feed him eight or nine times a day, but sometimes he resists. Which only makes her try harder. It’s become a battle of wills, and all I hear most of the day is, “Are you hungry?” I want to cry out, "No!" on his behalf, but he seems to do a pretty good job of frustrating her on that front. 

It’s gotten to the point that I’ve started telling Troy that mama signed him up for a sumo wrestling class. So, he needs to eat to bulk up. He seems to accept this explanation to justify his mother’s craziness.

Punting

I had a frustrating day at work today. I got tasked with an assignment that my boss was supposed to be covering but "delegated" to me instead. In addition, he inquired after additional information from several other people who "punted" the answers to me. So, it fell on me to do EVERYTHING.

I was venting about this to my wife, using visual cues to accurately describe the punting process, when all of a sudden Troy started lifting his leg off the floor. At first, I didn't know what he was doing, sometimes he just "likes to  move it, move it," so I ignored him and went back to my story. As I visually demonstrated the next act of punting by my associates, I noticed that once again Troy lifted his leg off the floor. 

It suddenly dawned on me that he was trying to mimic me lifting my leg in the air. So to test the theory, I lifted my leg again and watched him. Sure enough, he lifted his leg too. Apparently, he thought I was playing a game, and he wanted to play too. So, we both started laughing, and suddenly, I didn't care about work anymore!