Identity

We have been paying closer attention over the last few days, and we are now certain that Wiley knows Daddy (Dada) and Aden and calls them by name. Mommy, however, has been waiting for recognition, so we have been working harder on that recently. Wiley has been able to repeat and recognize her, but today was a very special moment in the process. As Mommy worked to get dinner ready, Wiley was crawling at her feet moaning for her to pick him up. Finally, he pulled on her skirt and cried out very clearly, "Mama!" Immediately he had her attention and was wrapped up in her arms!


We did have Wiley's 9-month check-up last week, and most everything looked good. He was happy through the whole appointment and didn't cry once. Of course, it helped that he didn't have to have any shots! We've realized that Wiley is a small baby, but this was confirmed by his weight. At 7040 grams and 26 7/8 inches long, he actually has only gained a couple of ounces and about a quarter inch in length since his last check-up at 6 months . . . despite the fact that he has an amazing appetite and out-eats his older brother. We're making a few changes in how we feed him, and will weigh in again in a few weeks to see how he is progressing. We are not too worried at this point, since he is meeting all his milestones and seems to be developing well otherwise.

Wiley's First Movie

Yes, this blog is about both Aden AND Wiley. We haven't said much about him lately, but in honor of Wiley's nine-month birthday today we decided to try something new: our first video post.



Since we only have a semi-fast connection, we've kept it pretty short. You can't see them in the video, but he actually has two new teeth coming in on top! We've heard him say things like "Dada" and "Aden", though we aren't convinced they are intentional or in context. Wiley will have his nine-month check-up tomorrow, and we'll be able to post all his current statistics. Until then, we'll let his smiles show how healthy he is.

Dessert

As dinner was coming to an end, we were discussing what the rest of the evening would hold. Mommy spelled out "D-E-S-S-E-R-T" and suggested it as an option after a bath. Don't all parents use that trick? Aden immediately agreed by saying, "Yeah, dessert after bath!" We have tested him a few times since and are convinced that it must have been a fluke, but impressive nonetheless.

Cool Dude

What's 'cool' to one is not always 'cool' to another. When you are two years old, lots of things seem cool if simply for the fact that they are new. Some things stay cool and some things become ordinary. Backhoes and tractors are still as cool today to Aden as they were the first time he saw one. Mommy and Daddy are still cool, but for how long we don't know. One thing that became cool this week and that we hope will stay cool for a long time can be seen in the pictures below, and this is how we found him when we walked in. Even Wiley can't wait until it is his turn. How can it not be cool when you get a star sticker on your shirt for doing it...

Public Service Announcement

At breakfast this morning (after he'd been up for a half hour) Aden announced,

"I'm awake! I came back."

"From where?"

"From my room."

Imagination Airlines

After the recent adventure to Australia, and then watching so many people come and go to and from PNG, Aden is ready for another ride on the airplane (he likes to use the Pidgin word of 'balus'). At first he just used his toy airplane and flew it around the room. Now, he has taken the bed rail off of his bed and imagines it as his 'balus'. When asked where he is going, he will give all sorts of answers. One day it was to see A-Bu and Baka (Uncle Bill and Aunt Marsha) who left three months ago on an airplane and Aden thinks that is still where they are--on an airplane. When he claimed he was not feeling well one day and said he was sick, he was going to go to the 'haus sik' (hospital) to see 'Bubu Jim.' Tonight, he was going to go to "Papa New Ginni" to see "Karen-Dan", which would be 'Gam-ma Karen and Gam-pa Dan' in Ohio. He will often invite "Wiwey Boo" (his new nickname for Wiley that he came up with all by himself) along for the flight. It's a long flight, you know. In the picture you can see that he has all of his essentials. The red plates are for their pizza. The lotion is for 'Wiwey Boo' and Thomas the Tank Engine is just along for the ride because he is one of Aden's good friends. We will see where his imagination takes him next. Get your tickets here. We promise the cost of tickets will not go up because of the cost of fuel.

He's At It Again...

Aden hadn't been building too many towers lately. He has recently revived the art though, perhaps to steal some of the attention back. It's hard to build a tall tower when there is a little brother crawling around and always wanting to be in the middle of whatever big brother is doing. He found a way though to keep Wiley out of the process, and it was actually quite impressive. The towers are now being constructed from on top of the coffee table, which little brother has not learned to pull up on quite yet. To make things more impressive, he has been building them in the back of one of his toy dump trucks. The towers get so tall, since they are on top of the table, that Aden has to get the kitchen stool to stand on so that he can reach the top. His record has been fifteen blocks so far. He gets quite excited with each block, as he runs over to get Daddy high fives. This one is for you, Abu!

Gas, Please . . . Pssshhhhh!

As has been well established in this blog, Aden loves playing with his cars. He is very careful with them as he drives them around the coffee table (his favorite place to play cars). Unlike most two-year-olds, he doesn't often let them crash and likes to keep them in neat order. Uncle Bill and Aunt Marsha taught Aden how to take care of cars by filling them up with gas, and they taught him to ask nicely when he pulls into a "station": "Gas, please," and then, of course, the sound of filling up - psshhhh! The phrase and sound effect have carried over to all vehicles and things that move, like toy lawnmowers or the tractors we saw on the farm. A few days ago we were having breakfast with the Radcliffe children and Daddy asked Lydia if she wanted a cinnamon roll. "Yes, please," Lydia politely responded, and Aden immediately repeated what he'd heard - "Gas, please...pssshhhh!"

A MAN-icure and Pedicure

As the only female in a house of boys, Mommy sometimes looks for moments to do "feminine" things. Today she decided it was time for a manicure and pedicure. She pulled out all her supplies - clippers, a foot file, emery boards, scrub and lotion, and nail polish - and then filled a bowl with warm water. Aden, of course, was immediately interested. With a bowl of water set on a towel on the floor, and Mommy soaking her feet in it, what 2-year-old wouldn't be curious? He wanted the experience, too, so Mommy washed Aden's feet and put lotion on. Then Aden wanted to know what all the colored bottles were for. And he wanted to try some on his nails, too. That was where Mommy drew the line. She told him he'd have to wait for Daddy. Mommy did get her nails done, just before Wiley woke up hungry, and Aden found his own use for the nail polish - hauling it around in his dump truck!

Eitpela Mun Nau

Wiley is eight months old today! He encouraged us to celebrate by sleeping through the night last night for almost eight hours (the first time since we rerturned from our trip). Wiley wanted us to share with you eight of his favorite tricks and accomplishments at eight months of age:

1. Crawling
   
2. Moving to a sitting position
   
3. Pulling up (most of the time to his knees, though he has made it to his feet)
   
4. Waving (sometimes on command, most often in his high chair)
   
5. Discovering new sounds to make (Mommy's favorite is a very soft "t" sound)
   
6. Eating solid food (and shoes, and toys, and paper, and . . .)
   
7. Touching his nose with his toes

    eight.  Laughing and giggling