CON-NIP-TION FIT

CON-NIP-TION FIT [kuh-nip-shuhn fit] -noun: the sound you hear the moment your wife looks out the window and sees you doing this with your son.

See also: dog house.



Follow-up: it’s probably important to mention that…

1) No, it's not Photoshop’d. That's real.
2) Yes, my wife approved the post.
3) Yes, my wife made me promise never to do it again.
4) No, even though Daniel loved it, and my brother and I are extremely fit and adept athletes, this ultimately was not the wisest choice of activities with Daniel – so we won't be doing it again:)

Koffee Kid

This morning, like most mornings, I was making my essential cup of coffee. Daniel has become obsessed with smelling the coffee (he's not allowed to drink any, of course) and always asks to take a quick whiff before I grind the beans. Usually, he puts his face close to the beans and says, "mmm...yummy" - I kid you not.

This morning he stuck his face so far in the bowl of coffee beans he came up and had one stuck to his lip--which he promptly licked and swallowed before I could stop him.

Mom doesn't know yet...but I'm guessing in about 30-45 minutes she will.

Milestone

Daniel has been showing interest in the toilet lately. Sometimes he acts on his curiosity in ways we do not agree with (like the 2 times we've caught him standing--or about to stand--in the the toilet). Yesterday he wanted to sit on the toilet, so I took off his pants and diaper and put him on the toilet. He sat there for a minute then said "all done" and I took him off and put his clothes back on. Thanks to some good family friends who donated tons of child-raising equipment, we are ready for this next step in Daniel's fascination with toilets. I brought the potty chair up from the basement, cleaned it up, and put it in the bathroom. Tonight before his bath, Daniel asked to sit on the potty chair. So, we sat a naked Daniel on the chair and he sat there for a couple minutes. Then Chris asked him if he was all done, Daniel said yes, so we took him off--totally expecting to see a dry bowl. But, as usual, Daniel surprised us and we had the ceremonial first emptying of the potty chair bowl into the toilet! Yay, Daniel! Watch out Mommy and Daddy--here comes a new phase of parenthood!

PUMP UP THE JAM!

Daniel loves to dance. Any song with a strong beat he likes, though he's particularly fond of folk rock right now, namely Brandi Carlile. However, if he's in the car it needs to be classical.

And apparently he has an affinity for loud techno music like his father. When this song came on he ran into the kitchen and started dancing. Naturally, we grabbed the camera.

Take note of the attempted break dancing mid-video and the “broken sprinkler” arm moves - he even turns up the volume half way through. And no, we haven't taught him ANY dance moves. He comes up with everything himself:) This one had us laughing for a while.

At least he's honest

We've been working on Daniel's manners for a while now. You know, the usual stuff: "please", "thank you", etc. Normally, Daniel does really well. But I think it's still sinking in. For example, the other day...

Daniel: "Raisins. Raisins! RAISINS!!!"

Michele: "Daniel, do you want some raisins?"

Daniel: "RAISINS!"

Michele: "Ok, Daniel. But what do you say?"

Daniel: "PLEESH!!" (translation: please)

Michele: (hands Daniel a raisin and he eats it)

Michele: "Daniel, now what do you say?"

Daniel: (chews...pauses...looks up quizzically...)

Daniel: "Yummy?"

Dog-sighting!

Daniel's wildest dreams came true recently. At a play-date with Nick and Cora, Daniel looked out the window and instead of being disappointed as usual, there was actually a dog in the yard! However, this has only reinforced Daniel's obsession with searching for dogs out of every window....

Choices

Daniel likes to keep his options open at all times. For a little while now he will not settle for having just one type of fluid to drink with his meals, and he likes to have all of his choices within arm's reach. Here he is at breakfast with every option: water, milk and apple juice.

One more

I turned around in the kitchen this morning and found Daniel sitting in this box...

Tight Spaces

Daniel in a brownie pan.

"Hiding" in the closet.

Daniel gets a kiss from Matteo in the tunnel.

One of Daniel's favorite hiding spots, between the crib and the wall. Here he is hiding with contraband shampoo bottles.

In the laundry basket with lovey and blanket.

Hiding in the hamper.

Hunting Eggs

We experienced our first Easter egg hunt last Saturday at the zoo. And what a zoo it was! Lots of kids, lots of bright plastic eggs, lots of fun! Thanks Caleb and Irene for inviting us to come with you, Audrey and Tyler!

Daniel and Audrey, obviously on the edge of their seats with anticipation...

And he's off!

Examining an egg...

Maybe more exciting than finding eggs, was finding other things...sticks, a camera on the ground, a man's cane....

Taking a break to kiss a ladybug.

Daniel wanted to take the ladybug home with him. We had to pry it out of his fingers and stake it back into the ground.

After egg-hunting, we got to see the sloth-bear eat the goodies in his Easter basket.

Daniel had so much fun with the Easter eggs at the zoo, that Mommy and Daddy hid eggs around the house for him to find the next morning. Here are all the halved eggs (Daniel can't bear to keep them whole--who know's what might be inside?), and Daniel holding his favorite Easter present--a toy Blackberry that looks remarkably like the real thing. Thanks, Easter Bunny! Mommy especially loves it...and the beeping sounds it makes.