Alexander rides into his second birthday

Alexander's birthday was Thursday. We spent the day making age jokes and reminiscing about his youth.

His birthday this year is really more of a collection of days related to his birthday. Darrick is building a swing set this week, so we're planning to celebrate once that's up, next Saturday. It's a little late, February and all, but we have to take advantage of Alexander being calendrically challenged while we still can. (He's still stuck on the switch from Julian to Gregorian. Phht. Babies.)

I'm even going to bake a cake.

Just thought I'd give you time to let that sink in.

And Alexander's birthday celebration began a couple of weeks before his birthday. He got a sweet Yo Gabba Gabba coloring book with crayons from the Bearse family. He LOVES it. And this was his expression when he first saw Nana and Papa's gift for him.



He approached it cautiously, as he should approach any horse. Especially one on skis.



But once he was on, he couldn't stop smiling:




And for those of you who were thinking our boy might be retarded because he hadn't talked yet (you know who you are--I found the online pool), well, he has started talking up a storm.

Witness his new favorite phrase:

December Shenanigans

A lot happened in December. We went to Minnesota, where Darrick's sister, Dawn, and her husband, Joe, took us in off the cold, cold streets. We were there for two storms, one that closed down 94 from Alexandria to Fargo, as well as some record-breaking cold days. On the way to Christine and Jim's wedding, we did a 180 in the rental car, actually ending up in the same lane, just facing the car behind us. (Yes, I was driving.)

Grandpa and Grandma Mallon came down to visit, and later in the week, we braved the trip up to Alexandria, where Alexander got his first pair of snowpants and went out to play in the snow. We forgot our camera on that trip, so we'll have to wait to post the photos they send us from one of those antique cameras that hold film.









We visited with all kinds of Bearses: Grandpa and Grandma, and Alexander's Uncle Eric and Aunt Jené, and his cousins Charlotte and Andrew. Plus, we saw Uncle Greg and Aunt Jeannie and cousin Randi among many others when we celebrated Christmas. Grandpa took the kids for a sleigh ride around the backyard. (Yes, that's a plastic storage lid with a rope tied to it.)





We met up with various friends throughout our stay, for pizza, beer, wild animal rides. The usual.







Near the end of our stay, after not napping for most of the trip, Alexander experienced the effects of sleep deprivation on his mood.



But he had a good time at the rehearsal dinner, entertaining folks with his beat boxing and general hamming.




He cried throughout Jim and Christine's wedding, which was beautiful, so I don't blame him. I got a little weepy myself. Look at my beautiful sister. Just look at her. Go on.



Too bad Darrick missed most of it. He spent the entire ceremony holding Alexander out in the foyer. But the boy got a second wind at the reception and danced the night away. Yes, that's a twenty-dollar bill he's holding. My brother Joe lent it to him to play with. Uncle Joe's sense of age-appropriate toys is uncanny.





After we got home to 70-degree Tucson, we had yet another Christmas. Alexander opened gifts from us (Jeep Big Wheel and Spiderman punching bag) and from Nana and Papa.

Thanksgiving

Don't act surprised. You know we are on a delayed posting schedule. Busy getting ready for Christine's wedding and Christmas, so once again, the photo blog extravaganza! Alexander had fun with Brenna (and Brenna's awesome toys). And we all had a great time catching up with Tom and Emily, Uncle Ronnie and Aunt Linda, and Nana and Papa.

 

 

 

 

Alexander's First Time Trick-or-Treating

The evening began at the Brokaws, where Alexander played with Elmo,



and Lauren.



Then the kids got into their costumes and scared the candy out of the neighbors. No one wanted to make the Hulk angry or get stung by the menacing bee.

Well, I don't have much for you today, just a video of interest only to grandparents, probably. The artist at work.



We've been busy with work, being sick (again), backs going out, etc. I've also discovered Facebook, and guess what, it's not just for 14-year-old girls and the middle-aged men who love them. Who knew? So I'm spending a little too much time on that site lately, neglecting the old blog.

We've managed to take some photos. He's putting on some sunscreen, then fretting over his tattoo, thinking maybe if he'd gone with the "I heart Mom" tat I would have dressed him for once. (In my defense, we have no A/C.)

On Saturday mornings, Darrick and I take Alexander to a Parks and Rec class called Little Movers and Shakers. It's in a gymnastics room with lots of different kinds of mats (including tunnel mats), balance beams, springboards, and so on. We do some group activities, stretching, pretending to be bears, hopping, playing with the parachute, and singing songs, but much of the time, he just bounces around like a pinball, there's so much to see and do, especially during toy-and-ball free-for-all. Last Saturday, this was pretty much his demeanor the whole time.



He sampled the stuffed fish:




Demonstrated his gymnastics skills for the ladies:



Showed random people his tongue:



Commanded bubbles to pop:



And exhausted himself.



It was a good time.

Tunnel Vision

A series of quick movies (our camera doesn't take more than 30 seconds at a time) of Alexander dancing to his little drum set's beats and scratching, then playing in his tunnel. Sorry these are so dark.

In at least one, I'm clearly pressuring the boy to dance, but only because I started taking the photos when Alexander was dancing his fool head off. Once I started filming, of course, he pretty much lost interest in dancing.









And yet another attempt to catch him in the act dancing. Yes, a tornado did hit the room.



And Darrick taught him to blow a kiss:



We also have some photos from the Parks and Rec class we take him to, so I'll have those up tomorrow, maybe.