It's A Race

They say "a picture is worth a thousand words", and I think it's especially true for this one. This really captures life for us these days.

Calvin is racing forward, head first and wide-eyed, while Dad (it could just as easily be Mom) is trying to get out of the starting block.

Our little daredevil has no (apparent) fear. He'll barrel down a slide, come up with a mouth full or rocks, get up and do it again. It's a full-time job to keep him safe, but it's pretty fun, too.

Yard Work AKA The Day Calvin Tried to Kill Himself

With spring weather peaking through the clouds, we just had to get ourselves outside.

First things first, we put up the tree swing. Calvin enjoyed the breeze for a while, but he really wanted to use his legs.

So while Dad picked up fallen branches and Mom raked around trees and flower beds, Calvin ran wild.

He loves the stairs. And although he has started trying to walk up and down them, he generally pauses at the edge to take a hand for assistance. Not today.

No, with the concrete sidewalk tempting his fate, the boy climbed the front steps, ran around the platform for a while, then tumbled down, head over foot. Laughing, he mounted the steps again, played on the platform and -- boom! -- down he went. Unfazed, he made a break for it before Mom's suggestions for alternative play shifted to commands.

We continued to steer him away from the steps with distractions like tree and flower trivia (useless) and silly songs (short lived). But it was John Deere that eventually came to the rescue. Cal happily pushed his tractor around the yard ... and down the hill!

Honestly, this kid.

I Want To Hold Your Hand

We have been teaching Calvin to hold our hand while walking, and it's starting to become second nature for him. He still toddles around on his own, but when he heads for a hill or a street, he reaches up and takes hold.

Our intention is to keep him safe as he learns to navigate his world, but it's an amazing feeling, his little hand in ours.

It's For You

Calvin found a plastic cucumber and assigned it a new job: telephone. Now I know he's not the first kid to do this, but this was the first time he has shown us that he knows how to use the phone.

Cal is growing up in a home without a land line; Eric and I just use cell phones. So naturally, he took his cucumber with him while driving around the house.

Can't you just hear him? "Uh yeah, I'm just getting out of the car now ... I'll be there in a minute."

Bath Time Buddies

A family weekend to celebrate both Grammy and Papa's birthdays gave Calvin lots of play time with Cousin Ava. Each time they're together is better than the last; they continue to know and appreciate each other more and more.

Play time ran into bath time and the two tykes were tossed in together. Calvin's love of water rubbed off on his usually calm and collected cousin, and the two splashed and giggled their way clean.

Low Riders

ha.

Park Play

We've always loved the school park next door, but it's even better now that Calvin is able to romp some on his own.

He climbs up slide ladders on his own and is working to find his way down on his own, too. It's a great place to run and explore; we spend some time there between his nap and dinner every day, and Eric usually joins us when he gets home from work.

Check back for a video of Cal at the park. It's three minutes long and proving to be troublesome to load. But it's worth checking back.

Missing In Action

Calvin got some hard-soled shoes just before our trip to Florida in preparation for all the outdoor walking he'd be doing. Since he started walking in December, his leather-soled Robeez shoes were fine for indoor use, but he needs more support for the outdoors.

As the weather improved he put some miles on them in a few short weeks. But the relationship came to an abrupt end far too soon. Returning from a series of stops at local stores, Dad noticed one of Cal's shoes missing in action.

So if any of you are in the area and find a cute and lonely little brown shoe, we have a friend who would be happy to keep it company.

A New Trick

Dads are great. As a mom, I find myself enjoying and encouraging whatever Calvin is experiencing, at whatever stage. But I don't really push him to take the next step; that's where Dad comes in.

For example, a dinner at Chili's provided a glass of milk with a straw. Now I would pour the milk into Cal's sippy cup, but Eric gave him a shot with the straw. And what do you know -- he got it!

He sipped and swallowed some milk the first time, sipped and spit after that, and proceeded to chew on the straw from there. But hey, Calvin can now use a straw. Thanks Dad.

Little Climber

I blame Grandma Caldwell for this behavior. She's the one who puts little children in the kitchen sink, so it's from her that Calvin would have learned to climb into the first one he sees down at his level.

Our little climber mounts just about everything in sight these days. Stairs? No problem. Tricycle? Let me at it. So he wasted no time finding his way into a display sink at Lowes.

He got himself up, in, and back down by himself while the rest of us just sat back and smiled. (And took pictures.)

Tooth #8

For those concerned that Calvin's unevenly distributed teeth have been throwing him off balance, rest easy; he is symmetrical, once again. His bottom right lateral incisor popped through unannounced. As it rises he will stand up straight with four teeth on top and four on the bottom.

Uh-Oh

Aside from an occasional and somewhat randomly placed "mama" and "dada", and a fleeting "duck", Calvin isn't too verbal yet. He jabbers a lot, but hasn't said anything familiar ... until now.

Returning from Universal Studios during our Florida trip, Calvin overheard our friend say, "uh-oh", and replied with a melodic echo. We were all amazed, and I think he, too, was pleased to hear his successful mimic because he kept at it, repeating again and again ... uh-oh ... uh-oh ... uh-oh .....

We heard it throughout the trip and each day he found more appropriate times to say it ... when he dropped his cup, for example. In fact, it seemed like he would sometimes create a situation calling for said exclamation ... at times the "dropped" cup's trajectory was a giveaway.

As with all of Calvin's sound effects, he nearly sings this phrase. Listen for yourself: http://www.vsocial.com/video/?d=74731

Note: he is prompted for the sake of capturing it on video, but this isn't necessary if you wait for the right moment.

EPCOT

After much deliberation, we opted for a day at Epcot over a third day at the pool. The adults were wishy-washy on the decision and perhaps we should have consulted further with the kids.

At one and two years of age, Calvin and Eva were wonderful travelers. They were adaptable, joyful, and terrific companions for each other. If they were at all out of sorts, it's because we pushed them too far. So let's just say that we pushed them too far.

Through the other parks Calvin was glad to ride in his stroller, but this did not hold true at Epcot. No, at Epcot, Calvin was ready to run. He was only content when he was walking on his own -- mainly away from the rest of the group. It was definitely a glimpse of the big kid in our little guy.

So we slowed down and let him run. The adults took turns on rides and let the kids play on grassy knolls until it started to rain. Already the temperature had dropped twenty degrees from the eighty-degree day prior and with a couple of "pushed" kids, the rain was the last straw. We had a full day -- a full week -- it was time to go home.

Back just in time for dinner and bedtime, our kids had a week of fun and adventure to dream about until we met the plane in the morning. So long sunshine ... back to sweet home, Chicago.

Animal Kingdom

My Advice: If you're anywhere near Orlando, Florida, take your kids to Animal Kingdom; it's a great experience. Between an African safari and a petting area with goats is a dinosaur playground and some incredible shows (currently Lion King and Finding Nemo).

We weren't sure how Calvin would handle a thirty minute show, but he squealed from the start. Aside from laughing when Nemo's mom died (the whole place was silent except for my cheering child) he seemed to understand what was happening and love the music, movement, and colorful costumes -- who wouldn't.

Cal has seen lions, hippos, alligators, giraffes, and elephants in books and puzzles, but to see them in person was incredible -- and not just for him! He stood in awe of a wall of fish and remained that way all day.

And we finally met Mickey. Calvin was intrigued but not nearly as enthralled as he was with Pooh Bear, naturally. Nevertheless, it's only polite to thank your host for a lovely day.

Day Off #2

After a long day at the Magic Kingdom we were all ready for a day by the pool. But a cloudy and windy morning sent us back inside. Fortunately, the Grande Vista plans for just such a day; they have an incredible indoor playground -- the best I've ever seen. The kids romped with their dads while the moms relaxed with lattes. And when Cal tired of the tiered nets and slides, he found the little kids section with wall puzzles and trucks. So fun.


The skies cleared after lunch and naps, and the kids found the pool with their dads (this was Moms Day Off -- we were at a different pool). But it's not necessary to have scripted plans for Cal to have fun. Back in the condo, he found a pot and mom's shoe and made some great shoe stew. Yum!