Daniel: buckled his own seatbelt all by himself today - twice.
Josh: rode two rollercoasters today (details to follow)
Andrew: is now able to sit on the floor by himself and play with his blocks
Sniff. My boys are growing up.
Friday, August 25
Reflection
Daniel was sitting on the floor looking Andrew in the eyes. He recognized something and said, (quoting Larry-Boy from Leggo My Ego) "He's just a cheap copy of me!" I laughed so hard. It's not nice, and Andrew's not cheap but he is indeed a near perfect copy of Daniel.
Thursday, August 24
More!
Who needs official sign language programs? Andrew is coming up with signs on his own.
Amber noticed him doing "bottle" yesterday. He puts his hands together like praying and brings them up to his mouth.
This morning I was feeding him applesauce at breakfast and before and after every bite he was signing either, "This stuff is really good Daddy. I love it. I am so excited. Can I have another bite" or maybe it was just "more". He was flapping both his arms down from the shoulders like he was trying to fly. He did it every bite until he had enough.
I was saying, "More?" and he'd flap again and smile so big because I understood what he wanted. So cute.
Amber noticed him doing "bottle" yesterday. He puts his hands together like praying and brings them up to his mouth.
This morning I was feeding him applesauce at breakfast and before and after every bite he was signing either, "This stuff is really good Daddy. I love it. I am so excited. Can I have another bite" or maybe it was just "more". He was flapping both his arms down from the shoulders like he was trying to fly. He did it every bite until he had enough.
I was saying, "More?" and he'd flap again and smile so big because I understood what he wanted. So cute.
Tuesday, August 22
Treasure Hunters
I just needed to write a quick update on last night's finale of Treasure Hunters.
I stuck with this show from the beginning. Even when the critics panned it. Even when the host of the "Longest running reality TV podcast on the internet" refused to cover the show saying it should be canceled and the remaining episodes would be aired on NBC's website. Even when Global TV aired episode 4 before episode 3. However the finale was just painful.
The most ironically named team in reality TV, the "Geniuses", somehow pulled out a win. After sitting in a crypt for 8 hours with the other two teams, Genius Francis figured out the code, winning himself and his two goober friends 3 million dollars. So much of the game depended on luck and dumb luck at that. It would have been just as good for the teams to play a game of Rock, Paper, Scissors on the first episode and get it over with.
The live reunion show was the most painful part to watch. Host Laird "Motorola" Macintosh proved he has a body and isn't just an animatronic bust by walking out onto the stage. After spending the season trying to act like Phil Keoghan from The Amazing Race, he tried to channel Jeff Probst from Survivor for this reunion. He asked all the contestants questions about what they learned and how they enjoyed the game. Except he was reading from cards in his hand and randomly skipping from one group to another, completely ignoring everything they were saying.
The funniest part was when his programmers snuck in the Julie Chenbot "But first..." algorithms from Big Brother. The first time he did it, I smiled at Amber, but by the 6th time or so it was just sad.
I don't think I've ever looked forward to Survivor and Amazing Race more.
I stuck with this show from the beginning. Even when the critics panned it. Even when the host of the "Longest running reality TV podcast on the internet" refused to cover the show saying it should be canceled and the remaining episodes would be aired on NBC's website. Even when Global TV aired episode 4 before episode 3. However the finale was just painful.
The most ironically named team in reality TV, the "Geniuses", somehow pulled out a win. After sitting in a crypt for 8 hours with the other two teams, Genius Francis figured out the code, winning himself and his two goober friends 3 million dollars. So much of the game depended on luck and dumb luck at that. It would have been just as good for the teams to play a game of Rock, Paper, Scissors on the first episode and get it over with.
The live reunion show was the most painful part to watch. Host Laird "Motorola" Macintosh proved he has a body and isn't just an animatronic bust by walking out onto the stage. After spending the season trying to act like Phil Keoghan from The Amazing Race, he tried to channel Jeff Probst from Survivor for this reunion. He asked all the contestants questions about what they learned and how they enjoyed the game. Except he was reading from cards in his hand and randomly skipping from one group to another, completely ignoring everything they were saying.
The funniest part was when his programmers snuck in the Julie Chenbot "But first..." algorithms from Big Brother. The first time he did it, I smiled at Amber, but by the 6th time or so it was just sad.
I don't think I've ever looked forward to Survivor and Amazing Race more.
Monday, August 21
Good Eaters
Our boys were always such good eaters as babies - as toddlers, they don't do so well. I've noticed it again with Andrew. He has always been excited to try new things, from bottles to cereals to vegetables. He doesn't spit it out and throw it all over the dining room the way you see in the movies. He sits quietly and opens his mouth when he sees food coming. The only thing is that he gets a little worked up and excited when we take too long.
Daniel is back to eating normally again but Josh is still in his hibernation stage. I'm not sure if he's more like a bear or a camel, but he'll eat straight for about 12 hours. Always asking for more food. Then he won't touch his food for 3 or 4 days. It seems to work for him, so we're letting it go. Daniel grew out of it and I'm sure Andrew will grow into it.
Daniel is back to eating normally again but Josh is still in his hibernation stage. I'm not sure if he's more like a bear or a camel, but he'll eat straight for about 12 hours. Always asking for more food. Then he won't touch his food for 3 or 4 days. It seems to work for him, so we're letting it go. Daniel grew out of it and I'm sure Andrew will grow into it.
Sunday, August 20
Just brothers
The boys are starting to look so much alike. Andrew looks almost identical to Daniel when he was 6 months old, so I have a feeling they'll be triplet teenagers.
We've mentioned it a few times before. Here, here, and here, but people often ask if the boys are twins. It's gotten to a new level now though.
I was out shopping with Daniel and Josh the other day. We were standing at the till and an older lady in line behind us looked at them and said, "Cute boys."
"Thank you."
"Are they twins?"
Trying to pay and talk to the cashier at the same time, I just said, "No".
Daniel helped out by sighing and saying with a bit of impatience, "We're four and two".
We've mentioned it a few times before. Here, here, and here, but people often ask if the boys are twins. It's gotten to a new level now though.
I was out shopping with Daniel and Josh the other day. We were standing at the till and an older lady in line behind us looked at them and said, "Cute boys."
"Thank you."
"Are they twins?"
Trying to pay and talk to the cashier at the same time, I just said, "No".
Daniel helped out by sighing and saying with a bit of impatience, "We're four and two".
Thursday, August 17
A thought?
The "problem" with today's society, is that; (no one) knows how, to punctuate correctly, anymore?
Sunday, August 13
Rough night, nice morning
So, we're out camping this weekend. We came out to a little campground in Southern Alberta to hang out with Amber's family. Our 5 plus Amber's parents slept in a camper that "sleeps" 5 or 6.
Andrew was up all night. He was "sleeping" between his parents and seemed to cry every 5 minutes all night. We were trapped on a shelf and couldn't get out without stomping on the older ones. We finally got him a diaper and something from a dropper and he started to doze off, then Joshie woke up.
It's amazing how well D and J did though. They can tune out a crying baby as well as they tune out nagging parents. Daniel didn't move all night, but once Josh was up, he couldn't get back to sleep and I knew it was only a matter of time before he said those magic words, "I have to go pee!"
So, we got up and got our shoes and coats on and found our way to the "stinky room" outhouse. When we got back, we were both wide awake. I checked the time: 5:50. It felt like it was about 10•C so we started a fire and just hung out together for a while. We talked and ate some snacks and built up the fire. After a while he got a little chilly and I sent him back to bed. I brought out my book and read for a bit until Daniel woke up - maybe 15 minutes.
D came out and we had our time together. We read bible stories, did fire experiments and talked about the moon. Once the sun came out, Daniel went to go play in the sandbox. I was sitting in front of the fire with the sun starting to warm everything up. I had my own little worship time in God's beautiful creation and thought, "I could do this kind of camping."
Then other people woke up. :)
Andrew was up all night. He was "sleeping" between his parents and seemed to cry every 5 minutes all night. We were trapped on a shelf and couldn't get out without stomping on the older ones. We finally got him a diaper and something from a dropper and he started to doze off, then Joshie woke up.
It's amazing how well D and J did though. They can tune out a crying baby as well as they tune out nagging parents. Daniel didn't move all night, but once Josh was up, he couldn't get back to sleep and I knew it was only a matter of time before he said those magic words, "I have to go pee!"
So, we got up and got our shoes and coats on and found our way to the "stinky room" outhouse. When we got back, we were both wide awake. I checked the time: 5:50. It felt like it was about 10•C so we started a fire and just hung out together for a while. We talked and ate some snacks and built up the fire. After a while he got a little chilly and I sent him back to bed. I brought out my book and read for a bit until Daniel woke up - maybe 15 minutes.
D came out and we had our time together. We read bible stories, did fire experiments and talked about the moon. Once the sun came out, Daniel went to go play in the sandbox. I was sitting in front of the fire with the sun starting to warm everything up. I had my own little worship time in God's beautiful creation and thought, "I could do this kind of camping."
Then other people woke up. :)
Wednesday, August 9
Just following orders
We went to the mall today and while Amber and Andrew went off on their own, the boys and I were checking out cool stuff at Future Shop. The boys saw some cool flashing LEDs in the car stereo department and were immediately drawn to them. We looked at them for a bit and then we were about to leave. I took Josh's hand and started walking away. I heard a thud, thud, thud. It sounded like Daniel had turned on a subwoofer.
I look back and see him haul back and smack the centre of a 12 inch speaker with his fist. Thud! I was in shock. He hit it again and I ran to him and said, "Daniel! Don't hit that. What are you doing?" He looks up at me and I get a better look at the speaker.
I couldn't help but laugh. He saw a word, read it, and followed directions. I guess he thought it was like a button to push or something.
I look back and see him haul back and smack the centre of a 12 inch speaker with his fist. Thud! I was in shock. He hit it again and I ran to him and said, "Daniel! Don't hit that. What are you doing?" He looks up at me and I get a better look at the speaker.
I couldn't help but laugh. He saw a word, read it, and followed directions. I guess he thought it was like a button to push or something.
Boys Arguing
Daniel and Josh were playing cars in the basement and getting along fine. They have a few Happy Meal toys from the Cars movie they saw with Grandma and Grandpa. All of a sudden Josh starts crying and comes over to me saying, "Daddy! I crying cars queen calling cars Daniel didn't (gasp) calling not right (sob) him cars not the queen (sniff)"
"Ummm... what Joshie?"
Daniel comes over to explain, "Joshie was saying this guy isn't Lighting McQueen. He called him something else."
Josh replied, "Daddy, he is not Lemmy LeQueen. He is Conrad!"
"He's Conrad?"
"No he's Lightning McQueen, Joshie! Don't call him Conrad!" Daniel argued.
Josh looked up at me with a tear streaked face, "Daddy. Him is Conrad."
I then had to have my first (of many I'm sure) conversation with Daniel where I explain to him that even though he's right, it doesn't help to argue about it.
"Ummm... what Joshie?"
Daniel comes over to explain, "Joshie was saying this guy isn't Lighting McQueen. He called him something else."
Josh replied, "Daddy, he is not Lemmy LeQueen. He is Conrad!"
"He's Conrad?"
"No he's Lightning McQueen, Joshie! Don't call him Conrad!" Daniel argued.
Josh looked up at me with a tear streaked face, "Daddy. Him is Conrad."
I then had to have my first (of many I'm sure) conversation with Daniel where I explain to him that even though he's right, it doesn't help to argue about it.
Treasure Hunters vs. Amazing Race
I'm not only a Dad, but I'm a bit of a reality TV geek. I got into The Amazing Race towards the end of season 7, but thanks to GSN and OLN, I've been able to catch many of the older seasons.
This summer I've been watching a show that at first glance seems to be comparable to The Amazing Race, Treasure Hunters. As Treasure Hunters gears up for its season (and most likely, series) finale, I decided to make a few notes of comparison between the two. For those of you who haven't seen either of these, you may not get any of this, but with the internet as big as it is, perhaps someone will appreciate this analysis.
1) Phil Keoghan vs Laird MacIntosh: TAR's host is known for being somewhat stiff when announcing the tasks and when greeting the teams at the end of each leg, but he can communicate so much emotion with just one raised eyebrow. He's even been seen to dance at times. TH's "host" only communicates with the teams via "Motorola messages", video clips on their shamelessly plugged Motorola RAZRs. He is a complete robot who shows absolutely no emotion or charisma. This week he mentioned that if it weren't for historical American shipping magnate, Stephen Girard, "we would have lost the War of 1812 and I would be speaking to you with an... ... English accent". I'm sure it wouldn't take much to adjust his programming to give him an English accent, I think it would suit him better anyway.
2) Competition: On TAR, the teams are in a RACE. They compete against each other to solve clues, find places, complete tasks, and get where they need to be as fast as possible. Occasionally two teams will share information or a cab - but only so far as it benefits them. TH teams seem to be more interested in helping each other than in winning. They complain about the few teams who had been playing to win. I don't understand how you can play a game for a tie.
3. Rules: TH seems to be making up the rules as they go along. In an early episode, one team had to drop out because a member hurt her leg - the producers brought back the team who had previously been eliminated. One week later a member of that resurrected team hurt his leg and the producers allowed the team to continue the race without him. I'm not one to believe in conspiracies, but it really seems like they change the rules to benefit the teams they like. On TAR, the rules seem to be consistent and are explained up front.
4. Evil Christians: 0n TAR: Family Edition, there was a team who constantly flaunted their Christianity by praying loudly and declaring themselves superior. They mocked other teams, lied and did what they could to win. The other teams couldn't stand them or wait foir them to lose. On TH we have the Fogal family, a pastor, his wife and grown daughter. They stole, lied, sent other teams on a wld goose chase. The other teams were fooled into helping them for a while but daughter Kayte's constant screaming, whining, and overdramatic antics eventually led the other teams to coin the phrase, "We just got Fogaled" to mean that they had been tricked, duped, or just had a really bad bout of bad luck.
5. Dominant teams: Last season's Amazing Race had the same two teams battling for first and second place in almost every leg. No matter how many artificial equalizers the producers inserted, BJ & Tyler and Eric & Jeremy dominated nearly every challenge and every leg and ended up being the top 2 teams at the end. On Treasure Hunters, Team Air Force has led nearly every leg and looks like they can't be beaten. Coincidentally (or not), they are the one team who has consistently avoided these silly alliances and sharing answers to the puzzles. I would count on them to win the grand prize next week.
Well, it's been a nice summer diversion and even though it is a mere shadow of The Amazing Race, I've really enjoyed Treasure Hunters. It has had so many moments of unintentional humour. I'll take it for what it was and look forward to the crown jewels of reality TV, TAR and Survivor, starting up in about a month or so.
Now back to your regularly scheduled cute kid stories.
This summer I've been watching a show that at first glance seems to be comparable to The Amazing Race, Treasure Hunters. As Treasure Hunters gears up for its season (and most likely, series) finale, I decided to make a few notes of comparison between the two. For those of you who haven't seen either of these, you may not get any of this, but with the internet as big as it is, perhaps someone will appreciate this analysis.
1) Phil Keoghan vs Laird MacIntosh: TAR's host is known for being somewhat stiff when announcing the tasks and when greeting the teams at the end of each leg, but he can communicate so much emotion with just one raised eyebrow. He's even been seen to dance at times. TH's "host" only communicates with the teams via "Motorola messages", video clips on their shamelessly plugged Motorola RAZRs. He is a complete robot who shows absolutely no emotion or charisma. This week he mentioned that if it weren't for historical American shipping magnate, Stephen Girard, "we would have lost the War of 1812 and I would be speaking to you with an... ... English accent". I'm sure it wouldn't take much to adjust his programming to give him an English accent, I think it would suit him better anyway.
2) Competition: On TAR, the teams are in a RACE. They compete against each other to solve clues, find places, complete tasks, and get where they need to be as fast as possible. Occasionally two teams will share information or a cab - but only so far as it benefits them. TH teams seem to be more interested in helping each other than in winning. They complain about the few teams who had been playing to win. I don't understand how you can play a game for a tie.
3. Rules: TH seems to be making up the rules as they go along. In an early episode, one team had to drop out because a member hurt her leg - the producers brought back the team who had previously been eliminated. One week later a member of that resurrected team hurt his leg and the producers allowed the team to continue the race without him. I'm not one to believe in conspiracies, but it really seems like they change the rules to benefit the teams they like. On TAR, the rules seem to be consistent and are explained up front.
4. Evil Christians: 0n TAR: Family Edition, there was a team who constantly flaunted their Christianity by praying loudly and declaring themselves superior. They mocked other teams, lied and did what they could to win. The other teams couldn't stand them or wait foir them to lose. On TH we have the Fogal family, a pastor, his wife and grown daughter. They stole, lied, sent other teams on a wld goose chase. The other teams were fooled into helping them for a while but daughter Kayte's constant screaming, whining, and overdramatic antics eventually led the other teams to coin the phrase, "We just got Fogaled" to mean that they had been tricked, duped, or just had a really bad bout of bad luck.
5. Dominant teams: Last season's Amazing Race had the same two teams battling for first and second place in almost every leg. No matter how many artificial equalizers the producers inserted, BJ & Tyler and Eric & Jeremy dominated nearly every challenge and every leg and ended up being the top 2 teams at the end. On Treasure Hunters, Team Air Force has led nearly every leg and looks like they can't be beaten. Coincidentally (or not), they are the one team who has consistently avoided these silly alliances and sharing answers to the puzzles. I would count on them to win the grand prize next week.
Well, it's been a nice summer diversion and even though it is a mere shadow of The Amazing Race, I've really enjoyed Treasure Hunters. It has had so many moments of unintentional humour. I'll take it for what it was and look forward to the crown jewels of reality TV, TAR and Survivor, starting up in about a month or so.
Now back to your regularly scheduled cute kid stories.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)