BOINNNNGG like a Boy

Calder's dad is your blog author for the day. It's been a while since my last blog post (over a month!). My wife has stepped in like a pro, keeping you all up to date on Calder's milestones and changes in appearance. I have no idea what our photo collection would be like with a digital camera. They are so convenient and allow things like this blog and her scrapbooks to really take form. Speaking of taking form, our Calder is certainly getting bigger, stronger and brighter. I am in awe of him most days. I don't get to spend the amount of time that I want to with my son or my wife, work gets in the way. Lately, it has really gotten in the way. I recently got a promotion at work; and our dept is short-staffed, and with so many projects and so little time to do them, time at home has suffered a bit. I try to do what I can at the office and on the train rides to and from work, but I am still taking work home or taking the tension home. Not stuff that I want to continue doing for long stretches of time, and thankfully things have turned a good corner and will be getting back to normal soon.

During these tense times, Calder has been able to put a nice big grin on my face with some of his antics. Some of his other antics have caused stress (like his predictably unpredictable sleeping patterns) and his absolute “I want my momma!” shrills of protest when I try to console him. Things are changing though, and changing in a hurry, like my learning curve. I have learned that my kid is a quick student and that I should not teach him things that I do not want him to do all the time. Like playing with the springed door stoppers in our house. In a moment of weakness, during his shrills of protest of not having his mom around (she went to the drugstore), I panicked and tried to distract him with the BOING sound of the door stoppers. That was about a week ago. Since then, he has discovered almost all the doorstoppers in the house and has playing a long tune on each of them. His favourite spot is on the main floor by the laundry room. Two stoppers within to legs crawls of each other. On Friday night, after spending hours on the phone and computer doing work, Calder serenaded me with his musical talents. Two strokes on the laundry room stopper, crawl to the bathroom door, two strokes on that stopper, crawl to the laundry room door, two strokes there, a giggle and back to the bathroom. Four minutes was all I can take. Apparently, he has been doing this all week. I only notice the times at night when he patrols the floors on his hands and knees searching out for more stoppers.

I discovered other talents too. On Wednesday, I had the pleasure of having Calder all to myself for many hours. It was a boys' night in. Calder, Finn and myself. I had pizza, Finn had crust, Calder had plenty of food. We took a nice walk (slow, my knee still won't let me do much), and watched some cartoons on TV. Calder then surprised his Dad twice. First off, I was holding Calder and wiping his hands and mouth after his dinner and jokingly lifted up my hand and said, “Good job Calder, gimme five!”. And he did. I was shocked and asked again, he laughed and slapped my hand. This went on for 30 minutes. Silly as it seems, I am so proud that he could do that. (Even as I type, I can hear Calder crawling around the house, playing with the door stoppers. I think he is in his favourite spot as I hear the occasional pause and clunking sound of him crawling on tile).

The second surprise of the night happened while I was trying to distract him away from the coffee table. I stuck out my arm to block him from going a particular direction, and he grabbed onto it with one hand and used it like a handrail. He started walking with it (and thus, me) around the room. He will be walking unassisted soon. He is trying so hard right now. His mom was certainly impressed with his skills when she got back in. Of course, Calder refused to go to bed without his mom kissing him good night. Maybe one day.

Calder was watching the hockey game with me a bit last night. He stood at the coffee table, hands flat on the table, his eyebrows furrowed, eyes fixated on the TV. As the Leafs opened up on Crosby and the Penguins, Calder stared in concentration at the noises from the TV and especially when there was a roar from the crowd from a play or from a goal. It was adorable to see. I hope he grows in his liking for hockey. It'll be fun watching games with him, and playing hockey with him too. I can't wait!

We went to a car seat clinic today. Elizabeth was worried about a few things, she's always wanting the best for him, and we thankfully did well on the inspection. We adjusted some straps and learned a few new things and hints from the volunteers there. It was a three-hour wait in line with the car, but Calder was still in a great mood at the end, smiling at the volunteers. My little trooper.

Well, I should get back to spending time with him. Thanks for reading and take care.

Goodnight Calder, Daddy loves you!