Happy Fourth of July!

As previously mentioned, we are with the Nelson clan this 4th of July, and it couldn't have been a better day. Here are some of the highlights:

Dog Chasing

Lots of time in the incredible new pool. It's heated!

Snappers (the officially approved firework of forest HOA's) BubblesWe ended the day at a small party thrown by one of Annette's friends with food, drinks, fun, and fireworks. Calvin saw his first fireworks ever, and really seemed to enjoy them. The excitement included some really big ones, several scary duds, and three trees and one little girl that almost caught on fire. We took a tired little boy home at 11pm, and watched part of a movie with Danny. We had a lot of fun and are glad we were able to celebrate with family.

It's not a perfect country, but I'm still convinced the principles on which it was founded are the very best. I am always grateful for this holiday and the chance to reflect upon the freedoms we enjoy, and the men and women, past and present, who make them possible. Happy Independence Day!

Walking

For the weekend of the fourth, we came to visit Andy's family at his brother Danny's house in north-eastern PA. Everyone has been run ragged by Calvin as he squirms, talks, climbs, and tries to run around the house. He thinks he is in heaven with so much attention. As soon as one person is worn out, he just moves onto the next.

He especially loves the dogs. If they are in the room, he can't focus on anything but chasing them. At first the dogs let him touch them, but after he has pulled on their fur, their ears, their tails, and anything else he can catch (he even grabbed an ear and a nose and stuck it in his mouth on two separate occasions. I know. Ewww.), they have become smart enough to avoid him at all costs (except for when he's eating Gerber chicken at the table. Then they will come and lick his fingers off. Fair-weather friends and another ewww). He has already spent countless hours holding onto fingers of whomever is supporting him at the moment as he runs after the three dogs. So after much discussion, we all decided that this boy needs to learn to chase things on his own.

First thing this morning, Andy and I took Calvin and went out to buy him a walker. Selection was limited, so after making a quick choice of Winnie-the-Pooh over Disney princesses, much questionable language as his dad worked to set it up, and a generous donation from the Dick Nelson loves to spoil his grandson fund, we were in business. Calvin could barely touch the floor with his toes, and so far he can only vaguely grasp the concept of moving backward instead of forward, but we all have faith that in no time this kid will be zipping around the house.

He Has a Tooth!

We have been waiting expectantly for Calvin to cut some teeth, and today our dreams finally came true. It happened when I was changing him on the couch and I looked away for two seconds to throw away his diaper, leaving him to topple head first onto the floor between the air mattress and couch. A bare bottom up in the air was all that we could see amidst his screams of distress, so I quickly picked him up and apologized profusely. As he screamed at me for being so careless, I spotted a little sliver of white in his wide open mouth. We ran upstairs to tell his grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, and then spent the next 45 minutes trying to force, trick, cajole, or bribe him to open his mouth so we could get a good shot. We never got a great one, but here are some funny ones of us trying. The dark little fingers seen poking sugar water into his mouth, holding his tongue, and squeezing his checks belong to his aunt Annette. She was as relentless as I was in trying to get the moment on film.

Congratulations Calvin on cutting your first tooth!

Rash from Hell

Me today...

Super Mutant

Remember last summer when I looked like this for a couple of weeks?


It's taking over my face again. AAAAAHHHHH! I think I need to see an allergy specialist.

(Richard Nelson, if you download this picture to your slide show, I swear you'll never see your grandson again.)