Admittedly, the title of this blog entry is a little misleading. We didn't exactly spend the "day" at the park. I would say it was more like 3 minutes. But I just wanted to get him out to the park to see how he would like the swings. I'm sure we'll be spending a lot more time in parks this summer.
I couldn't decide between these 2 videos. They are very similar, but the 2nd one is a little longer and I was tickling his feet as he swung to me.
I haven't said it before, but Owen has 6 teeth now. He has his 2 front, top teeth, his 2 top incisors, and his 2 front, bottom teeth.
The other day that little guy was using those teeth to make feeding dinner to him very challenging. Every time I got that spoon in his mouth, he bit down and would not let go of the spoon. I would tug on it a little bit.....to no avail. When he did let go....eventually, the exact same thing would happen again at the very next bite.
The other day I had an opportunity to catch on video a couple of ways that Owen moves around. He still hasn't crawled....but I think he could if he wanted to. He is just mobile in several other ways...it almost isn't necessary.
1) The Circle:
Around and around he goes...where he stops only he knows
2) The Military Crawl:
Crawling is just too easy for this guy. He's up for a bigger challenge.
Can't you just envision him under a net doing drills for the Marine Corp?
And as with all military drills, as soon as the drill is complete....find the nearest stuffed animal and give it a full, open-mouthed french kiss.
A few months ago Grandma Nancy took this picture of The Dude:
There was something about this picture that I just couldn't put my finger on. The smile reminded me of a picture I hadn't seen in probably over 20 years.
So I enlisted my sister (who has been working on my family's geneology for the last few years) to send me a copy of it. It wasn't easy....but I received it.
(I realize that Owen is only a few months old....compared to me being around 3 years old, but just compare the smiles.) What are your thoughts?
Yesterday we got a UPS package in the mail. Someone had sent us a toddler bike for Owen. It is pretty cool and I've never seen something like it. It is a bike with no pedals. It is advertised for kids between the ages of 18 months to 5 years. The slogan for the bike is "If your child can walk....your child can ride."
I'm kind of excited to see The Dude check it out....once he starts walking.
There's only 1 problem.
We have no idea who sent it to us.
It didn't come with a note and there was no information on the address label to tell us who sent it.
If you sent it to us (or know who did) please let Emily or I know. We would like to properly thank them for such a thoughtful gift.
(There is one other possibility. There was another address label on the box for a different person. Maybe it should've gone to that person? We have no idea. Help!)
Every parent inevitably finds the things that will get their baby to stop crying. They might range from a funny face, to rocking him/her, to any number of crazy things.
I have no memory of how I found this out, and I have no idea why this popped in my head....but the song "Barbara Ann" by the Beach Boys is an absolutely, 100%, sure-fire way to get The Dude to stop crying......no matter what.
He could be too tired.....hungry.....or leg caught in a bear trap (that last one is just a guess), if I start singing that stupid song....he stops crying and starts smiling almost immediately.
I've tried other Beach Boys songs too, but Surfin' Safari just doesn't work quite the same.
To prove it, I swallowed my pride (knowing this would be going on the internet forever) and filmed him getting a little growly....and then allowing my soothing vocals to calm the savage (albeit tiny) beast.
Sorry the singing is a little soft (it was done on purpose because I knew there was a camera rolling).
Things to look for in the video:
1) Dude crying / whining at the start
2) Singing starts and whining stops
3) Big Smile from The Dude
4) Singing stops......whining starts.
I really love this picture that Aunt Ang took of The Dude while she was here last weekend. I can't put my finger on why, but I just do.
I like how he is looking up from his busy work of pounding on his toy and flashing his perma-grin. I also really like seeing his feet popping out underneath.
Maybe I'm just a proud dad......yeah, that's probably it.
After seeing The Dude in his hoodie I started thinking that he might be the cutest person to ever wear a hoodie. Don't believe me? Well check out some of the more famous people wearing hoodies and you be the judge. Who's cuter than The Dude?
Muhammad Ali
Bieber (Nobody better say that Bieber is cuter than The Dude!)
Lindsay Lohan
LL Cool J
Adam Sandler singing his famous "Red Hooded Sweatshirt" song
