Daddy's Bodyguard Gets Embarrassed.
A few times Wally Ben has shown it upsets him when any aggression happens—usually by wrinkling up his forehead and yelling. If the dogs start to wrestle, he tries to get between them, puts on his best scowl, and does his little low-voiced froggy yell. Last week Wally IV tried tickling my knee, which I HATE like any ticklish person does, and Wally demonstrated his anger again when I screamed and…
Baby Workout Video—WV's 6 Week 6 Pack
Wally IV and I were doing Jillian Michael's 6 Week Six Pack workout, so several times a week Wally Ben watched us each work out for a half an hour. He loved to watch, especially while eating lunch, since he has a clear view of the living room from his high chair. Food and the entertainment of a parent flailing around—what's not to like? If he was running free, he sometimes liked to join whoever…
Wally Ben speaks full sentences?
Wally Ben, at 16 months old, has just started speaking. Sort of. But we caught some of it on video, and I think I've interpreted what he's saying correctly. He may disagree...
Saturday Night Fever, Wally Ben Style
Yesterday when I was out, Wally and his parents knew something was wrong with Wally Ben when he sat on his grandpa's lap for about 10 minutes and fell asleep out of the blue. He is normally so busy that lap sitting is limited to one minute max. So when they looked over and saw him snoring, it was clear he wasn't feeling so hot. Sure enough, temp 102.3. Tylenol brought the temp down enough that he…
A Visit with Grandpa and Mama May
Every few weeks, Wally V and I have a lunch date with my Mama May and Grandpa, his great grandparents on my side. They live in a retirement community of condos about 10 minutes from our house. The community has a dining hall where they enjoy a 3 course meal once a day, and they are allowed to bring guests. Since Wally Ben doesn't yet appreciate the delicacies of Caesar Wraps and Cod Filets and…
Ways We Know He's More of a Toddler Than a Baby
Sometimes when I look at Wally Ben, I see a little boy, rather than a little baby—more and more lately, especially since he's running around like a maniac most of the time. So here are a few of the clues that my baby is not as much of a baby anymore: Today he is wearing Levi's Relaxed Fit Jeans. Like he has a choice already—boot cut, loose, skinny jeans. His best fit is relaxed. I was talking to…
Wally Ben and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Yesterday ended, and I sighed with relief. We didn't end up in the ER (although we were close several times). I'll let Wally Ben tell the rest: Yesterday started off normal. I woke up at around 7:15 and yelled out a little. And then yelled a little more. I guess my mom's ears weren't working because it took her a little too long to come into my room, so I was crying when she came in. I could…
Wally Ben's Favorite Things
If Oprah gets her favorite things, Wally Ben decided he'd like to have his own list—a list of a random assortment of things he discovered in his first year of life. So here's his expert opinion on the best things for one year olds (and he is an expert, since he's very good at being one): Exit signs. If one's in his sightline, he lets you know. It reminds me of Elf, when Buddy runs around looking…
He is a one year old teenager.
I was at my hair appointment, and Wally Ben came with. My sister-in-law LizE's friend Stephanie (there are really only two people involved in that phrase, but it sounds like a lot more, doesn't it?)—anyway, she cuts my hair. Wally Ben was playing on the ground and found a hand broom Stephanie uses to scoop up the hair. Stephanie nicely took it away and set it on the counter. And here's where it…
A baby's first year
Last Halloween, we woke up after Wally Ben's first night at home. (Well, I woke up again, after waking up around 3 or 4 times before morning with the little bugger.) We didn't have a costume for our tiny lump of a thing because we hadn't known if he'd be born before Halloween, and he was just a lump, so putting anything on him, including onesies, was a feat for us newbies. We snuggled him all…