Favorite Words

Phoenix has become much more vocal over the past few weeks. He seems to discover new words on a daily basis. Here are his favorites:

"Uh oh." He says this a lot. He even says it when someone changes the channel on a show that he was interested in. He also says it when something isn't in its rightful place.

"No." To date, this isn't a defiant, disobedient "no." he says it to let us know when he doesn't like something, like a particular song from one of his CDs.

"Ball," or more specifically "Baw."

"Ma-ma." Of course, when he's trying to get Wendys attention, he simply yells, "Maaaa!"

"Da-da" or "Da-dee."

"I do." This one sounds more like "Ah do." he seems to use this one to let us know that he is about to do something. For example, if he is running over to grab one of his cars in order to play with it, he might say, "I do, I do, I do," over and over.

"Water." He said this one for the first time today while watching one of his Clifford the Big Red Dig videos.


-- Posted from my iPhone

Games We Play

One of the great things about being a dad is inventing little games that are unique to you and your child. Ever since Phoenix started crawling, I have created little games that he and I can play together. Don't ask me how I came up with them. Call it parent ingenuity. Here are a few of the games Phoenix and I enjoy playing.

1. The Bridge - Phoenix likes it when I stand on all fours, pretending to be a bridge. He then crawls under me. While under "the bridge" I start swaying back and forth before I suddenly "collapse" on him and tickle him.

2. Steam Roller - Phoenix has a plush chair that sits on one end of his playroom. That's the "safe zone." While he's in his chair I lay on the floor and roll away from him. When he gets out of his chair and walks toward me, I suddenly roll back toward him, chasing him back to the chair. If he makes it to the chair, he's safe and I can't get him.

3. Baby Bench Press - this one is pretty self-explanatory. I lay on my back and hold him over my head. Then I bench press him and count as I do it.

4. Baby Toss - Phoenix likes for me to pick him up and gently toss him into the air. Of course, I won't be able to do this one for much longer, because he's getting so heavy.

5. Tackle - I've already started to teach Phoenix the basics of football. When I hold his little football, I run in place and he comes running over to tackle me.

Every day brings something new and wonderful about parenting. These little games really help to build the bond between us. I want Phoenix to know that his dad always has time for him.




-- Posted from my iPhone

Obey Your Thirst

Phoenix is improving his communication skills every day. It's remarkable to watch as he responds to your questions and directions.

Recently he has been letting us know when he's thirsty. He used to simply point and grunt, but now he actually does the "gulp, gulp" sound, followed by a refreshing "ahhhh." That's our cue to get him some juice.


-- Posted from my iPhone

Storytime

Phoenix loves looking at flap books. An so, when Wendy and I went to Kids Market, we ha to get him some flap books to add to his collection. These books are great because they really keep him busy. And that comes in handy - especially at church.

Although we are saving most of the Kids Market items for Christmas, we just had to give him a couple of the books. He and I enjoyed some story time together with his new flap books (sorry that the picture is sideways).

-- Posted from my iPhone

Photos From Kids Market

Here's Wendy after knocking another mom down to get a toy for Phoenix. She's proud of herself.









-- Posted from my iPhone

Rabid Bargain Shopping With Wendy

For the past couple of years Wendy has volunteered to work 20 hours at the Kids' Market consignment sale so that she can be a part of the first group that shops when the sale opens. Since we are of modest means, Kids' Market provides us an opportunity to get the things Phoenix needs at LOW-LOW PRICES! (Insert best radio deejay voice here). The clothes purchased at Kids' Market will last Phoenix for the next six months.

Before Sunday, September 12 I had never shopped Kids' Market, but Wendy told me all about it. She loves the people, the atmosphere, the items, the bargains - everything. She has always wanted me to shop with her and I have always wanted to be involved with selecting Phoenix's things. So, for the fall sale, I decided to attend and help out.

We all have our stereotypical visions of consignment sales and the kind of violence that might ensue when two or three mothers lunge for the same object at once. I remember an episode of The Simpsons when the town of Springfield was bracing for Hurricane Wilma. On the evening news, Kent Brockman editorialized, "...and if you think it's sexist to name a deadly storm after a woman, well then, you've obviously never seen the gals grabbing for items at a clearance sale." This encapsulated my expectations of Kids' Market.

However, I was pleasantly surprised at the cordial atmosphere and overwhelmed by the sheer volume of items available. When the doors opened, everyone filed into the store and waited for some announcements. Women were already positioning themselves in key areas, eager to receive the green light. Watching those ladies at the starting line made me think of the great American land rush in the 1800s - everyone itching to stake their claim.

When the gun sounded, Wendy and I rushed over to the large kiddy slides and reserved one for Phoenix. We then spent time in the toys section, selecting items and reserving those items that were too big to carry around in the store. It wasn't long before I really started to enjoy the entire experience. We were there from 1:40pm-11:30pm and we came in on budget. After the total was tallied, we averaged about $5 per item. Not bad. And I didn't even have to punch anyone in the face. I should be back next year.

Bye Bye Paci!!!!

WOO-HOO, Phoenix is off the pacifier!!!! We are on week 3 and he has been doing so good. He had been biting into his paci's and we were afraid that he would bite the nipple of it off and choke on it in his sleep, so I cut the end of the pacifier off and left the pacifier on the floor, he picked it up, put it in his mouth and took it out and looked at it and said "Uh-Oh". He brought it to me and showed me that it had a hole in it. Then we threw it away. The first night there were a few tears, but after that, he has done great!

Phoenix is talking more & more now without his pacifier. He just said "No Mommy" yesterday and he has been talking up a storm and doing animal sounds like crazy. It's so great to hear him talk so much. I have tried to keep a list of all of the words he has been saying and the list is getting pretty long. His favorite word is "NO"!!

I am so proud of my baby boy for accepting change so well. He has done fantastic in his toddler bed and now without his pacifier!!! Let's hope he does good when baby brother gets here!!!