He's 7 months old now. He needs moral and emotional guidance. It's about damn time he was introduced to the Muppets.
Monday, November 30, 2009
He outweighed the turkey by 2 pounds
Happy Thanksgiving!
Grandma and Grandpa Grimm drove up from south Florida for Spud's first Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving is an easy holiday for a baby. The required skills, which he has already mastered, include 1) hanging out with family, 2) eating a bit too much, and 3) possibly regurgitating a little. He seemed to enjoy the sights and smells and cooking activities of the holiday, even if he did wear a completely inappropriate bib for the occasion.
The turkey, green beans, asparagus, can-shaped cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, and enormous blob of mashed potatoes were all delicious! And the leftovers lasted until Sunday! Food heaven!
I imagine that it will be a couple of years before any photo of Claire or myself will not include some sort of moist baby-related mystery stain somewhere on our clothes.
Grandma is the most fun, especially when she plays peek-a-boo. Listen for the great bubbly baby giggles in this video.
Grandma and Grandpa Grimm drove up from south Florida for Spud's first Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving is an easy holiday for a baby. The required skills, which he has already mastered, include 1) hanging out with family, 2) eating a bit too much, and 3) possibly regurgitating a little. He seemed to enjoy the sights and smells and cooking activities of the holiday, even if he did wear a completely inappropriate bib for the occasion.
The turkey, green beans, asparagus, can-shaped cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, and enormous blob of mashed potatoes were all delicious! And the leftovers lasted until Sunday! Food heaven!
I imagine that it will be a couple of years before any photo of Claire or myself will not include some sort of moist baby-related mystery stain somewhere on our clothes.
Grandma is the most fun, especially when she plays peek-a-boo. Listen for the great bubbly baby giggles in this video.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
If he can sit, he can do chores
We have been training Spud to sit. I managed to train my dog to sit when I was a kid, but training a human is apparently a little bit different. For one thing, there is no leash to yank on when he gets it wrong. It has been a process of trial and error for both the baby and for us. The objective is to prop him up in a gravitationally stable sitting position and then....let go! At first he would just comically flop over almost immediately. I almost always caught him. In the past week, he's shown remarkable improvement, and managed to hold the position for up to several seconds before going down. The problem, as I see it, is that he doesn't see the point. Why sit up? What's the payoff? Food and toys are easily accessible from a supine position.
He has put much more effort into crawling but has achieved even fewer positive results. He can get into the correct crawling position, but then doesn't know what to do next. If he lifts a hand, he rolls over and tumbles face-first into the carpet. If he lifts a leg, the result is a complex roll-pitch-yaw maneuver and another ugly face-first landing. The mechanics are quite complicated when you stop and think about it. He gets pissed, but he perseveres.
But today he nailed sitting. The photo:
And the video (featuring Claire sounding far too business-like and me using my "fun Daddy" voice which sounds like a cross between Barney the lovable TV dinosaur and Barney Frank the not-as-lovable senator from Massachusetts):
He has put much more effort into crawling but has achieved even fewer positive results. He can get into the correct crawling position, but then doesn't know what to do next. If he lifts a hand, he rolls over and tumbles face-first into the carpet. If he lifts a leg, the result is a complex roll-pitch-yaw maneuver and another ugly face-first landing. The mechanics are quite complicated when you stop and think about it. He gets pissed, but he perseveres.
But today he nailed sitting. The photo:
And the video (featuring Claire sounding far too business-like and me using my "fun Daddy" voice which sounds like a cross between Barney the lovable TV dinosaur and Barney Frank the not-as-lovable senator from Massachusetts):
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Ye Olde Renaissance Baby
The weather was so nice on Sunday that we decided to go out among the other humans and go to the Renaissance Festival. Claire and I went three times in Gainesville, including the first time we ever spent a whole day together, in 2000. In Charlotte, the festival is a strange juxtaposition of the usual fun nerdy renaissance fair folks...
...and folks who are here 'cause what the hell, there ain't no race on today.
Spud took his first-ever ride on a scary ride...a swing that was hand-propelled by an ancient woman. He held his hands high over his head and yelled "Wooohoooo!" Ok, not really. But still, a first step toward riding the really scary roller coasters someday with Daddy!
...and folks who are here 'cause what the hell, there ain't no race on today.
Spud took his first-ever ride on a scary ride...a swing that was hand-propelled by an ancient woman. He held his hands high over his head and yelled "Wooohoooo!" Ok, not really. But still, a first step toward riding the really scary roller coasters someday with Daddy!
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Sweet Potatoes and Yogurt
We are fairly certain that some of the food actually goes into the baby. But not 100% certain.
As bad as this looks, it's still easier to watch Spud eating than to watch an undergraduate eating.
As bad as this looks, it's still easier to watch Spud eating than to watch an undergraduate eating.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Defying Gravity
I think he's ready for Cirque du Soleil!
He pilots the thing a lot better now than he did a couple of months ago.
He pilots the thing a lot better now than he did a couple of months ago.
Monday, November 9, 2009
First Day of Daycare
We left him in the capable hands of the nice folks at Goddard School. He did fine. The good news is, he didn't seem to notice that we were gone, and he didn't get the least bit upset when he was left alone with complete strangers. The bad news is, he didn't seem to notice that we were gone, and he didn't get the least bit upset when he was left alone with complete strangers. Actually, this is probably a good thing. If we waited until he was older and more aware of who we are and who strangers are, he would probably have a much harder time adjusting to being abandoned for several hours a day.
The folks at the school run a pretty tight ship. There is a front gate that locks would-be kidnappers out, and requires a password and fingerprint to get in. When I arrive in the morning, I wash Benjamin's hands and my own. I deliver a fresh sheet for his crib and his food for the day (labelled with his name). He has a cubby of his very own to keep his pacifier and other personal property in. Actually, I think he just has a pacifier in there now. I mean, it's not like he has a wallet and keys or anything.
The folks at the school run a pretty tight ship. There is a front gate that locks would-be kidnappers out, and requires a password and fingerprint to get in. When I arrive in the morning, I wash Benjamin's hands and my own. I deliver a fresh sheet for his crib and his food for the day (labelled with his name). He has a cubby of his very own to keep his pacifier and other personal property in. Actually, I think he just has a pacifier in there now. I mean, it's not like he has a wallet and keys or anything.
Baby's First Murder, Part II
Murder suspect eludes police
Man accused of killing girlfriend has Army training that may be helping him stay free.
By Cleve R. Wootson Jr.
The Charlotte Observer
Posted: Sunday, Nov. 08, 2009
A murder suspect with military training eluded police Saturday after, they said, he shot his girlfriend to death at his parent's northern Charlotte home.
The Police Department used search dogs, a helicopter and dozens of officers to search for 27-year-old Davon Landell Thomas on Saturday night, but homicide investigators said his Army National Guard training may be helping him avoid the dragnet.
"He's a very resourceful person, and he's had military training, so he may be aware of police tactics," said homicide Sgt. Lisa Mangum. "We've searched all the public areas around here. We haven't had any sightings."
Police said Thomas, who is charged with murder, shot his girlfriend several times shortly before 5 a.m. at the two-story brick home on Willowglen Trail, just north of the city limits near W.T. Harris Boulevard, then disappeared into the woods behind the house.
Police haven't released the woman's name, pending family notification.
Thomas' parents and other family members live at the home and were there when the woman was shot, said Mangum, who called the crime a domestic-violence-related homicide. Police said Thomas has other addresses and don't believe he lives there, though he lists his parents' address on police and court records and he "keeps a room there," Mangum said.
Investigators were still trying to piece together what led to the shooting and could be seen going in and out of the house, which was still surrounded by police tape Saturday afternoon.
On Saturday morning, John Chadwick, who lives down the street, thought he was dreaming about helicopters.
"I heard the helicopter circle for about the 10th time, and I got up to see what was going on," he said. "I opened the front door, and I saw a lot of activity, a lot of (police) cars."
Chadwick said he and his neighbors had been comparing notes about the early morning shooting since then.
Chadwick, who has a wife and a small child, said he and other neighbors weren't overly worried for their own safety, since it appeared the shooting was a domestic situation.
"I think we understand the situation. It's not just a gunman on a random rampage. I think random occurrences are what really worry us," he said.
Still, he said, "stray dogs have been the biggest issue in this neighborhood. Things like this don't happen in this neighborhood."
As he talked, crime-scene technicians collected evidence at the home and found the gun believe to have been used in the shooting at the scene, though officers said Thomas may have another weapon and should be considered armed and dangerous. They also planned to search his battered red Ford truck, which was parked haphazardly near the curb of the house.
Mangum said officers were still looking into Thomas' military background and said she didn't have specifics beyond saying that he served in the Army National Guard. His military record couldn't be located Saturday.
But court records point to a violent past. In 2008, he pleaded guilty to assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. His sentence was suspended and he was given probation until 2011.
Last month, he pleaded guilty to resisting a public officer and was given probation and ordered to perform community service. The judge also ordered him to not possess any firearms.
Man accused of killing girlfriend has Army training that may be helping him stay free.
By Cleve R. Wootson Jr.
The Charlotte Observer
Posted: Sunday, Nov. 08, 2009
A murder suspect with military training eluded police Saturday after, they said, he shot his girlfriend to death at his parent's northern Charlotte home.
The Police Department used search dogs, a helicopter and dozens of officers to search for 27-year-old Davon Landell Thomas on Saturday night, but homicide investigators said his Army National Guard training may be helping him avoid the dragnet.
"He's a very resourceful person, and he's had military training, so he may be aware of police tactics," said homicide Sgt. Lisa Mangum. "We've searched all the public areas around here. We haven't had any sightings."
Police said Thomas, who is charged with murder, shot his girlfriend several times shortly before 5 a.m. at the two-story brick home on Willowglen Trail, just north of the city limits near W.T. Harris Boulevard, then disappeared into the woods behind the house.
Police haven't released the woman's name, pending family notification.
Thomas' parents and other family members live at the home and were there when the woman was shot, said Mangum, who called the crime a domestic-violence-related homicide. Police said Thomas has other addresses and don't believe he lives there, though he lists his parents' address on police and court records and he "keeps a room there," Mangum said.
Investigators were still trying to piece together what led to the shooting and could be seen going in and out of the house, which was still surrounded by police tape Saturday afternoon.
On Saturday morning, John Chadwick, who lives down the street, thought he was dreaming about helicopters.
"I heard the helicopter circle for about the 10th time, and I got up to see what was going on," he said. "I opened the front door, and I saw a lot of activity, a lot of (police) cars."
Chadwick said he and his neighbors had been comparing notes about the early morning shooting since then.
Chadwick, who has a wife and a small child, said he and other neighbors weren't overly worried for their own safety, since it appeared the shooting was a domestic situation.
"I think we understand the situation. It's not just a gunman on a random rampage. I think random occurrences are what really worry us," he said.
Still, he said, "stray dogs have been the biggest issue in this neighborhood. Things like this don't happen in this neighborhood."
As he talked, crime-scene technicians collected evidence at the home and found the gun believe to have been used in the shooting at the scene, though officers said Thomas may have another weapon and should be considered armed and dangerous. They also planned to search his battered red Ford truck, which was parked haphazardly near the curb of the house.
Mangum said officers were still looking into Thomas' military background and said she didn't have specifics beyond saying that he served in the Army National Guard. His military record couldn't be located Saturday.
But court records point to a violent past. In 2008, he pleaded guilty to assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. His sentence was suspended and he was given probation until 2011.
Last month, he pleaded guilty to resisting a public officer and was given probation and ordered to perform community service. The judge also ordered him to not possess any firearms.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Baby's First Murder
We live in a nice neighborhood. Lots of trees. Nice houses. It's a great neighborhood, except for two things: our neighbor Skeeter (that's another story), and the guy in the orange pickup truck that lives with his parents down at the cul-de-sac. We call him "Orange Pickup Truck Guy". We have been wary of him since January of 2007, when we woke up and there were 7 police cars in front of his parent's house, and the cops were "looking for him". This morning, we woke up to 15 police cars, two news vans, and a helicopter. Orange Pickup Truck Guy (a.k.a. Mr. Davon Londell Thomas) has apparently (I'm supposed to say "allegedly") shot his girlfriend "multiple times" at his parent's house, a mere 500 ft from our own front door.
The good news? We won't be seeing Orange Pickup Truck Guy any more. The bad news? They haven't caught him yet. He made a break for the woods, and now guys with rifles are running around in our neighborhood. Maybe they could arrest Skeeter while they're here?
Anyway, if you see Davon, please notify the authorities.
The good news? We won't be seeing Orange Pickup Truck Guy any more. The bad news? They haven't caught him yet. He made a break for the woods, and now guys with rifles are running around in our neighborhood. Maybe they could arrest Skeeter while they're here?
Anyway, if you see Davon, please notify the authorities.
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