Lilypie 1st Birthday Ticker

Mad Skills

Scaling... (and climbing down): The couch, the chairs, the changing table, the oven door, the dishwasher door, bookshelves, the other bookshelves, my kitchen island, the dining table, the stove top, the bathtub fixtures, the toilet, his treasure box, the driver's seat, his high chair (he actually got inside it by himself. I'm so proud. And horrified! He also did this with his stroller months ago.)

Bringing me my shoes. He has been doing this for some time now, but recently we have seen the addition of bringing matching shoes!

Unlocking the car: Okay, not quite. But he gets the key in the lock all by himself. He just doesn't have the turning part down yet. He adores doing this and knows exactly how it works. I usually give him my keys at our apartment door and he takes them the 20 feet to the car and puts them in the lock and waits for me!

Lower the blinds, turn off the lights, close the door, shut the cupboards, drain the bathtub, put the toilet seat down (oh, and flush the toilet!) He has an unusual sense of project completion for a toddler! :)

Make toast: one day I saw him faithfully open the door, put his bread on the rack, close the door carefully, push some buttons, open the door, remove his toast, and then blow on the toast to cool it off! Guess who does exactly that routine every morning? The best was the blowing though. I was laughing all day about that.

Rinse his own hair in the bath: Well, this has only happened two or three times, but it sure was a funny surprise for me. he picked up the water bottle and dumped the contents on his head. It startled him a little, but he just laughed!

Put himself to sleep: The little dear gets a hold of a corner on that worn blue blanket, and sucks his thumb right out of consciousness.

Walk down (and up) stairs: He'll climb on his knees in a pinch, but if there's a railing, he makes good use of it. Or, if I'm available, he'll hold my hand (which melts my heart!)

Dance, baby, dance! A partial list of the sounds he dances to: Recorded music, mom's singing, the cheesy electronic baby piano, the kazoo, the blender, the kitchen aid, the oven timer, the wheat grinder (we like kitchen appliances), the dishwasher, the clock (Michael just told me that one now!), clapping, tapping, or in response to the word dance. In the words of my mother, the music's in him!

Clapping, peek-a-boo, give high-five, clasp his hands (which he finds hilarious), point (especially to airplanes overhead), point to his toes, sign bath, milk, more, banana, thanks you, diaper, and pray. We're currently working on please. So far, all I've gotten is 'bath' :)

Leading the music: even when I mention a song, his little arm (so chubby!) goes heaven-ward in preparation. It's a bit of a dance/leading combo.

Give sweet pats: This started B.R.E. (before rested era) when I would rock, swaddle, and pat him to encourage (nay, bribe) sleeping. (I was desperate!) One day I was holding him upright and he started patting my back! After that I requested and encouraged and reinforced it daily--how could I resist? Now I no longer pat--I hug. But he, my loving little man, does both.

What a treat! We love him so dearly.

Yarn

This yarn is divine.

And of course, by divine I mean that
if I were in the Celestial Kingdom, and
if I were knitting a baby hat out of sage green alpaca/cotton yarn
this is the yarn I would be using.

only, my stitches would be more even.

A Rose by Any Other Name...?

This is just goofy, but I'm in the mood!

Your real name: Bethany

Your Gangsta name (1st three or four letters of your real name plus izzle, favorite ice cream & Fav type of shoe): Bethizzle Cookie Dough Dansko

Your Native American name (fav color, fav animal): Brown Humpback

Your NASCAR name (1st names of grandfathers): James Lorence

Stripper Name (Fav perfume/scent, fav candy): Lemon Red Vine

Soap Opera name (middle name, street you live on): Ann Plymouth

Star Wars name (1st 3 letters of last name, 1st 2 letters of first name): Deabe

TV Weather/Anchor name (5th grade teacher's last name, major city that starts with same letter): Whaley Warwick

Spy name (fav season, fav flower): Spring Hyacinth

Cartoon name (Fav fruit, article of clothing you are wearing now): Peach Flannel

Hippie name (what you ate for breakfast, fav tree): Bagel Maple (Maple Bagel - sounds better to me!)

Super Hero name (2nd fav color, fav drink: Orange Juice (ha!)

Goth name (black, name of one of your pets): Black Gwendolyn

Movie Star name (1st pet's name, 1st street name): Jill Barrett

Iraqi name (2nd letter of first name, 3rd letter of mom's maiden name, 3rd letter of dad's name, 1st letter of a sibling's first name, last letter of mom's first name): Elakn

Rock Star name (first pet, current car): Finch Hyundai