Listening ears

I have been contemplating when it will be time to censor the music and words coming from my radio when PB and I make our daily commute to daycare and work. Our 40 minutes each way is filled with a mix of Minnesota Public Radio, music radio, and mama's CD's. It seems that Peanut Butter is on the verge of language and I would be mortified if his first words were "I like big butts and I can not lie," or "Keep on using me, till you use me up." Now of course he will not start with full sentences, but still at what point is this being absorbed. For that matter, MPR's news is filled with stories of more and more soldiers dying, war, political discord, serious public health issues, and many more things that leave me wanting to shouting "ear muffs!" Am I going to be reduced to a world of Baby Bach and TMBG doing the alphabet? Now, I like a good kids tune as much as the next person, but 40 minutes twice a day might make me batty. If he isn't talking, does that mean it is OK? He can't possible understand what is being said, right?

As I am wandering this land of first child parenting, I have learned that I want PB to keep his innocence as long as possible. I don't want him worrying about death, or AIDS in Africa, or why people go missing. I want him to be sheltered from that. I want him to keep the magic of childhood, the belief in the impossible, the certainty of good, the pureness of heart. So where is that line, and when is it drawn?

A Day at the Aboretum

We spent the afternoon at the landscape arboretum close by. It was such a great day of winding through the paths, chasing the geese, and fastening a strip of fabric to the tibetian prayer dome. The end of the art path led to a giant maze made out of large shrubs. Abraham loved running free and getting dirty!

School playgrounds sure have come a long way!

Swinging is so much fun!



Getting ready to go with Mama.

Bye bye bottle, bye bye.

Today was a big day. In all honesty it was a much bigger day for PB's dad and I than for PB. We said goodbye to the bottle. Granted we were down to only giving a bottle before bed, but wow, we (and again I mean the adults) were hanging on to that bottle. I think we were scared of the repercussions of putting PB to bed without that last little stomach filler. Plus the bottle time is really the only time we can sneak in a snuggle as he moves from waking to sleeping. So far there has not been a peep for the monitor, so keep your fingers crossed for us as we continue to journey through this unknown territory.

CHASE!

Peanut Butter loves to play chase with his daddy. He runs away and when caught gives us a dose of his biggest smile. Afterward, he tries to chase us, as we "run" away. Many times during the chase a toy or in this case babywash is picked up as an unwitting accomplice to the great escape.

A house needs a grandma in it. - Louise May Alcott

PB's grandma is babysitting for nine days over two weeks as the regular daycare is on vacation. He LOVES spending time with Grandma, who never runs out of new songs or fun games. It has been exciting to watch him become so attached to Grandma. This morning he saw her, smiled, and walked over for the first of many hugs for the day. How lucky we feel to have not just ourselves, but a large family to raise our son.

Loving the Lake!

Peanut Butter went in the lake at Grandma and Grandpa's for the first time. He loved it. Who knew a one year old would sit and throw rocks for over an hour!

How it is.

Recently I was lying with Peanut Butter asleep on my belly. His warm baby breath was hitting my face with repeated warm blasts, punctuated by sounds of his occasional sucking of his pacifier. I love that he continues to suck long after his pacifier has fallen. He smelled like summer and the bananas he chowed down with greedy little fists at dinner. He was, as usual, all sweaty, but my desire to feel his skin overruled my natural desire to avoid the sweat. At times my face was so close to his, electricity could have jumped the gap. I crave that smell and to feel him so close. I can't hold him tight enough. I never tire of this little being. He now gives high fives and laughs at appropriate times. He makes faces to get a reaction, and doesn't know the concept of volume control. He has started running and no one knows when he is going to slow down. He loves playing in water or dirt, or paint, or laundry. We are the luckiest humans in the world to have this little person so full of life and joy to enjoy every day. There is nothing better than the squeal I hear when I get the daycare each day. That is the best. The absolute best there is in this life.

Our year in review!

Many of you make a point of asking about Peanut Butter, and what his current adventures have been. After some thought we decided to do what all the cool kids are doing and blog it out. So, to start with, here is the year in review via pictures. We don't promise anything too amazing here, but you can see what PB does and how he is growing right before our eyes.

The first thing we noticed were the enormous feet.

This is at one week.

Peanut Butter goes gangsta.

Oh my!

Peanut butter's first halloween

Costume number two!

You can never be too prepared for Minnesota weather.

Hey baby!

PB loved his jumparoo.

Peanut butter loves Nana

Happy New Year!

Mama and Dada have put out an embargo on new toys.

PB loves playing in the water.

He sure looks like a toddler here.

He already has learned the art of posing for the camera.

This is the "super happy scrunchy face."

Man, this cake is fantastic!

Eat some green, paint with some orange....eat some orange paint with some green....eat some....