Summer 2009

EEEK! Shame on us! Its been a long time... Let me see if I can do a quick catch-up...

Sorry it has been so long! But my days are not like they used to be. I have found myself spending less and less time doing anything. Except playing outside. Don't get me wrong, Oregon summers are beautiful. The weather is perfect, the sun is shining, there are lots of things to do. But since Eamon started walking in July, we have done NOTHING but play outside. And coincidentally, "outside" is one of the clearest words Eamon can say. He's had a lot of practice.

In mid-June, Eamon was still crawling. Well, kind of. He would literally run as fast as he could while still holding on to our hands (even 1 of our fingers), but as soon as we let go, he would sit down. He was 100% capable of walking. Just didn't want to. He would pull himself to standing, then sit back down and continue to crawl. (Also about this time, Eamon became interested in playing with the dog's slimy ball. Now he and Addy are the best of friends.)



Eamon would be comfortable enough to push his hippo up and down the bumpy driveway, walk around it to see what was inside, walk back, and continue pushing. But he just would not let go and walk on his own!

We actually caught some of his first steps on tape. (Yes, it was definitely staged. The chairs were precisely measured. The toys were placed in the perfect spot on each chair. But finally!! Our fifteen month old takes a step.)

In a short time, he was running. But he still enjoys crawling on the ground to play with the bugs, dig in the dirt, roll in the grass. And just after he starting running, he began carrying things and climbing in and out of his wagon (thank goodness for wagons!!!).

Both Addy AND Eamon love the tennis balls now. Sometimes Addy takes them from Eamon and he cries "Addddyyyyyyy." Sometimes he throws them to her and they are the best of friends. And sometimes he teases her. Poor girl. Since Eamon came in the world, things have just gone downhill for her! (The upside is that she spends most of her days outside with us. At the park, in the yard, taking walks. And we move slower, which allows her to sniff more and eat more grass. Ah, to be a dog!)

Eamon loves to play Ring Around the Rosy. He'll point to you and dance as his way of telling you that he wants you to sing it with him. He always tries to recruit Addy mid-song. Often times, he'll want to do it all by himself. When he does, though, he never waits until the "fall down" verse to drop down. What a goof!

Eamon is getting to be so smart. He knows at least 25 words and at least that many signs. He can tell you 20 animal sounds and can point most of them out. He knows his name and how old he is (and likes to show me on his fingers). He can point out his body parts and say what they are. He knows what trucks, cars, tractors, and trains say. And he is ALL boy. He loves sand and dirt, bugs and boogers, spitting and snorting. And, without us harping on or favoring anything in particular, he loves cars and fire trucks and balls. And he absolutely adores football. (He KNOWS football, including "throw the ball," "catch the ball," "run run run," and "fall down." He shouts "touchdown" all the time. He wants to watch football on TV, he wants to walk to the school to watch the kids' football practice, he wants to see pictures of football every morning in the newspaper when we eat breakfast, he wants to play with his football with anyone and everyone, and he always wants to wear his dinosaur pajamas that have footballs on them.)

And he loves stickers.

Eamon has become the greatest helper. He's very good at watching what Bren and I do and copying us. He likes to stir (and taste) his alphabet (letter) soup. He likes to wear our shoes. He "cleans" his hands and tray with a washcloth after he is done eating. He "combs" his hair and brushes his teeth with us. He blows his nose. And lately, he has been taking bags and bending down in the grass to "pick-up" Addy poop. (No, I don't actually let him near the stuff. But everytime he gets a bag in his hands, he has to go to the grass and pick up some "poop.") What a helper!

We've been having a lot of fun! Both Brendan and I are doing well and keeping busy. Brendan has had a lot of big cases and trials, and he is really enjoying his work. I've been working part-time at home doing research and article posting for a fire service. And we are up to our ears in the home-buying process. Hopefully I'll do a better job keeping up with these posts. Eek! :)