Wyatt Turns One

Yesterday, the numbers 44 and 1 dominated the day. We celebrated the inauguration of our 44th president in the morning, marveling at the smooth transfer of power, especially poignant as our first black president lay his hands on the The Great Emancipator. Yes, change can happen through single individuals who have the will to make it happen. Speaking of single, we also celebrated yesterday Wyatt's FIRST BIRTHDAY! Bruce and Paula, Heather and Trent, Rachael and Brian, and Keely and Ken were all in town to celebrate with us. While we enjoyed a kid-filled craziness, chaotic dinner of delicious home-cooked lasagna (thanks Paula), Wyatt crawled around whining for bed. But we forced him to stay up with us until we threw him in his highchair, over-stimulated him with a late-night happy birthday, and thrust a candle in his face. I think he may have managed one smile for the cameras, but was soon ready for bed. It was finally there, alone in his bedroom with him, that he calmed down, and I was able to sing Happy Birthday to him again, my little Wyatt. Wyatt, we await your year of being ONE with great anticipation. It was a great first year, eh? In just one year, you've learned your name, you've weened from breast milk, you walk, you know where your nose is, you've seen a bald eagle, you know the blend of torment and love your older brother can bring upon you, you love coffee (grinds), you know how to climb stairs, you know how to pretend to talk a telephone (elow?), and you know you were born into a family that loves you dearly. Happy Birthday Wyatt! -Ryan

Bushisms

Before we welcome the new dawn, let's enjoy the material one more time. "Fool me once, shame on you, if you fool me you can't get fooled again."

How Bout Those Rams, I mean Cardinals

What can I say, I still love the guy:

Dramatigascar

This blog, above all else, is supposed to be a place where Gayle and I can track things that Austin and Wyatt say or do. Like yesterday, when Gayle left to go next door to talk to Rachael about something, Austin was on the couch watching TV. When she came back, Austin had, ON HIS OWN, put a DVD into the DVD player, and turned the TV to the correct mode that would enable him to watch the DVD. The only thing he didn't do was find the remote control and hit "Play." What DVD did he put in? Madagascar. Or as he sometimes calls it, "Dramatigascar." Yes, Austin has incorporated the word "dramatic" into his everyday vocabulary. I think he picked it up from us telling Wyatt not to be so "dramatic." Indeed, Wyatt has mastered the art of launching into a full blown falcon-screach of terror if Austin so much as blows on him. Given that Austin usually does much more than just blow on him, I can't say I blame him. It's Wyatt's way of pleaing for help, "Come get me quickly, my older brother is about to cream me." Austin is basically potty trained now. He gets 2 jelly bellies for each time he goes poop, and he obviously tries to poop at times just to get the jelly bellies. Can't say I blame him. The only hurdle left to clear is getting rid of the diaper at night. Wyatt has learned where his nose is, and is inclined to stick his finger up it when asked where it is. -Ryan

Happy New Year

Wow, I can't believe that it has been since November that either Gayle or I have written. It's not for lack of material, but rather so much material that we simply have not found the time to share any of it. But now that material -- trip to Indiana, cutting down Christmas tree with friends, decorating the house, Lessmanns in town for Christmas, Wyatt's baptism, hiking in Boulder -- seems stale.

And so I will start again with how we started our blog, namely, by speaking of the everyday moments that, in and of themselves are routine and humdrum, but in a few years we will long for and wish we could have back.

Like this picture of Wyatt. Wyatt takes after me - he LOVES coffee. Most mornings that I make coffee, I grind it in my Rancilio grinder that I got off e-bay (it's the bomb). The grinder is somewhat large, and resides in a pantry, which is at ground level - Wyatt's level. I do not always catch the grounds with my filter, and therefore there is a small sandbox of old grinds surrounding the grinder. When Wyatt is up with me in the morning as I make my coffee, I barely so much as open the pantry door before Wyatt, wherever he is and whatever he is doing, makes a b-line for the coffee grinder. He either watches me, tries to play with the coffee beans, scoops, shot glasses, and whatever else in there. Or, he simply eats the grounds, as pictured here. Soooooo cute.

Here's a picture of Gayle and Wyatt taken from when we looked for our Christmas tree in the woods. I feel Gayle and Wyatt need some better representation on the blog, so here they are. Here's a picture of Austin one day as he drank a smoothie. This was completely unintentional on his part, which makes it even more classic. He didn't even know it was there in fact.

Here are a few shots of Austin painting on his new easel that Marty made for him for Christmas. Speaking of like father like son, I have a tendency to stick my tongue out like that too when I'm concentrating. Hey, we're in good company- think Michael Jordan.

Fianlly, I note that Gayle has been doing lots of professional photography and has been getting rave reviews. I certainly think she's terrific. She's even terrific when we're just out in the woods and she's messing around. Here's a picture I like that she took of our friend Johnny McMonagle. Those eyes are real folks.