It All Comes Out In The End

So Calvin swallowed a nickel yesterday.

He was flat on his back while I changed his diaper, playing with a nickel. This scenario sounds dangerous now, after the fact, but I haven't considered him to be in jeopardy of inadvertently swallowing an object for some time now. He hasn't put things other than food and his fingers in his mouth for quite a while.

I can't tell you exactly how it happened. I turned to get the cream and heard Calvin cough. Instantly I had turned him on his side and had slapped his back. He coughed again and started jabbering.

Really. He coughed twice. I wondered if he had spit it out, or if I had smacked my kid for nothing. I did a finger sweep and checked the floor, but I couldn't find the nickel anywhere. Then the answer was upon us. "kick el", Calvin said, and put his finger in his mouth.

"Can you cough?", I asked him. He coughed. Nothing. So off to the bathroom we went. I, let's see, how can I put this delicately? I ... tried to induce vomiting, but nothing came up; we went downstairs to tell Dad.

Calvin seemed find throughout the past 26 hours. I've watch him closely and made sure that he was fully lubricated, not exactly sure how he'd pass a nickle!!

Well, as you might expect, the magical moment happened. And, as luck would have it, it happened with both Dad and I present. This evening, before bed, Calvin was running around as Eric and I sat on the porch. His diaper was clean one moment and full the next. No apparent discomfort, nothing apparent at all. But a quick scan revealed what I've been looking for ... a kick el.



Naturally, I had to (clean it and) take a picture. Can you believe the color change? Ha! This thing's been through the wringer, alright!!

Yard Work = Play Time

Do you recall the last time I attempted yard work with Calvin? It's been memorialized in a blog entitled something like, "The Day Calvin Tried to Kill Himself". While Eric and I worked, Calvin triumphantly climbed the front steps and toppled back down them time and time again. But since he can now manage the stairs like a pro, I thought it safe to return to the great outdoors without me always at his side.

And I was (more or less) right, though he was still drawn to the front steps. This time, after chasing Jake (the cat) around the yard, Jake escaped under the steps; Cal saw no reason to call off the hunt, he followed right behind crawling under the steps.

They went in on one side and came out the other. And not just once. In typical one-year-old style, they went 'round and 'round.

He did stop running around long enough to help me pile my tree trimmings. And I took a break from working long enough to push the little guy on his swing. Then Calvin took a break from swinging to lie on top of Jake.

See how well we work together? http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AYtHDlu4btmHf&emid=sharshar&linkid=link2

Summer Fairs

Summertime is fair time in Wisconsin. On seemingly any given weekend, whether you're looking for one or not, one can find a fair.

We stumbled on one while antiquing in a nearby town. The festivities occupied just one city block, but the band was singing at the top of their lungs anyway.

There wasn't much to Richmond Days, but there was a petting zoo and a bounce castle! Calvin went in by himself and had a ball! I was quite impressed at his Michael Jordan impression -- this kid got air!

The following weekend was the big one -- the county fair at the (where?) fair grounds. We were scheduled to be out of town for Labor Day, so we went for lunch on the opening day.

Starting with the cattle, we went through all the animals, including rabbits and geese, sheep and goats, before moving on to the food. I love fair food. It's everything I would never eat anywhere else, but boy it's good for one day only! Naturally, Calvin enjoyed the corn.

Just how many pictures can I take of my son eating corn, you ask? Time will tell ....

Fur Coat?

Last October, Calvin introduced a few neighbors to the cutest little lion ever! In fact he was so cute that I couldn't bring myself to give -- or even put the costume away. It has just been sitting in his closet waiting to be worn again.

Apparently Calvin shares my devotion. "On?" he asked, when we stumbled across it. "Sure!", I said.

I didn't try to wiggle him into the legs, just put his arms through and pulled up the hood. "Roar!" he growled, and ran down the hall to show dad.

Can you believe how short it is? It hasn't even been a year, but the legs don't go past his knees!

I think this costume has run it's course, unless I can think of something else to do with it. Maybe a fur coat!?

Let me know if you're in the market for a 9-12 mo. lion costume.

Active Duty

It was bound to happen. When one's profession is to plan educational programs in Door County, before long, said person will be called into active duty, required to step up and work!

I have fabulous Group Leaders who, imagine this, lead the group through the week-long programs I've planned. They're fully capable, entirely reliable, and exactly the kind of people you would fully trust as if your job depended on them. But even perfect people get sick. So when my Group Leader took ill at the last minute, it only made sense for me to take the reins.

With neither Grandma available to join Calvin and me for the week in Door County, Calvin's (fully capable, entirely reliable, and exactly the person you'd trust as if your child's life depended on it) father eagerly stepped up. He took some time off work and the two of them set off for Galena. (Two handsome Anderson guys would have distracted me from 12-hour days.)

This father and son week lent itself to a morning at the water park, walks along the river, and lots of playtime with Dad's old childhood toys. (for which there is no proof, as I had the camera with me!) They did great.

I had a terrific week, too, but was happy for our daily phone check-ins and even happier to return home to my guys.

Vocabulary

I've been trying to figure out how to capture Calvin's growing vocabulary in written form; it seems impossible.

These days, Cal repeats just about everything, and jabbers like the best of them. He probably has 50 to 60 words that he can say freely, but here are a few of his favorites:

mommy = mommy

daddy = daddy

grammy = mammy

papa = papa

grandma = manma

grandpa = manpa

shane = seen

chris = kiss

jenifer = knee fir

chloe = wee wee

storey = wee wee

ryan = nyan

kurt = dirt

denee = knee (he touches his own)

ava = oova

jake = jeek

liz = zee zee

melinda = dee dee dah

and, finally, calvin = nal nin

~~~~~

grapes = bapes

banana = nanna

pear = pay-uwr

blueberry = bee bee bee

eggs = geeks

oatmeal = mow mee

yogurt = googert

cheese = cheess

cracker - kackur

~~~~~

lawnmower = mon mow

tractor = twrack ter

truck = twruck

train = twreen

bus = buss

stroller = lola

bicycle = kai cul

vacuum = boom boom

broom = boom

and, of course, pooh bear. It started as "pooh", but now it's "pee-boo".

Mid-Night Adventures

Around midnight, the tornado siren at the school next door let us know that trouble was afoot. Eric and I discussed our options and decided to heed the warning and head for the cellar. I grabbed Calvin, Pooh Bear, and a blanket and went downstairs. Eric followed with the pack 'n' play, a cell phone, and the laptop.

In our 1860's home, the lowest level is truly a dug-out cellar; good for laundry, storage, and a half-bath, but not much else. Even the stairs are tricky. It has been the only area off-limits for Calvin.

So while there's a freezer with food, pantry items to share, and a toilet, it's still not a desirable place to spend a lot of time. However, when a tornado heads our way, we're glad to have it.

Calvin loved it. I think it was the combination of being awake in the middle of the night and the chance to explore new, forbidden, territory. He was content to stay in my arms until we had his make-shift bed set up, we kept the lights down low and whispered "night-timingly" until he fell asleep again.

The excitement ended within a half-hour and we returned to our regularly scheduled programming. Strong storms hit a town not far away, but we were safe and sound.

Playtime with Ava

Uncle Kurt, Aunt Denee, and Cousin Ava joined us at camp on Sunday. It was the camp's 60th anniversary celebration and groundbreaking ceremony for the new Activity Center.

I'm honored to work at camp during this memorable season. Eric and I have grown up at Covenant Harbor, and I love the idea of Calvin doing the same. Having memories (and pictures) of Calvin at this event held meaning for me. I wanted it to be a day to dress up a little, smile for the camera, and be a sociable family while Dad and Papa turned over the first ground with the ceremonial golden shovel.

This was so not that day. This was a typical day in the life of a one and a half year old's mother.

Instead of sitting quietly in the tent service, Calvin wandered around outside, picking up rocks and climbing on benches in the mud, after a torrential downpour. Fine, that's expected.

Instead of standing calmly at the groundbreaking ceremony or even letting me hold him (an attempt at which resulted in a muddy dress), Calvin whined about wanting a ride in the golf cart. Okay, that's understandable.

And instead of eating his lunch, he dumped a bottle of water all over himself. Alright, so that's ... childishly endearing?

Thank God for the lake -- and cousin Ava. And Uncle Kurt, for that matter! The four of us suited up and washed off the sweat, mud, and proverbial tears. We splashed and kicked, jumped off the pier (of course), and slid down the slide (with the help of Uncle Ryan).

By the way, Calvin's interest in Ava

was at an all-time peak. Earlier this week he took interest in the pictures on our fridge, pointing to each and saying versions of their names. Though they're all pathetically outdated, he would ask for (then 9-month old) "Oova" and run to the fridge. It was fun to see her in person so soon.

Gotta Love Family

Grammy, Papa, and Uncle Ryan spent the weekend with us up this way.

It was a tame weekend, complete with a
little volunteer work at camp, of course.
Calvin helped Uncle Ryan and Papa put together some rocking chairs and then took a break with Grammy and grapes (bapes).

Without much on the agenda, our family had the chance to experience real life with Calvin. They played and read with him, and walked into town. They heard his vocabulary as he repeated everything they said!

He played joyfully, hiding in the shower and mowing everything in sight, but most importantly, he had time with people who love him.

Adequately smothered in love, he's been asking for Mammy and Papa since their departure.