Papa Henry and Nana Pam

I received a most enjoyable visit from my maternal granparents this Thursday, a visit for which I had made exceedingly careful preparations. At my behest, Father and Mother indulged me by launching into a veritable frenzy of house-cleaning. I simply felt that when entertaining it is of paramount concern that one present a clean and tidy appearance, both of house and of person.

As to the second point, i.e. my person, I insisted on a thorough washing of my entire body. This, of course, required the assistance of Mother, as I have yet to convert the unlimited depths of energy contained in my flailing of arms and stomping of legs into any semblance of useful motor skills, such that I might wash myself without the aid of others.

Father was tasked with the assiduous cleansing of surfaces permeating our abode, as regards floors, counters, and walkways. Rugs were also left within his purview, and he dealt with them accordingly, which is to say with much shaking and pounding out of doors. Father acquitted himself with great aplomb, leaving the household free of the detritus of our animal companions that often plagues our living spaces and collects in the interstices of our lives. “Bunnies of the dust” I believe you call them.

And then the visitors arrived. How we laughed and gambolled about, lost in the joys of common pleasures, talking of times and places past and future. My maternal granparents are a most frolicsome pair, and I found myself most entertained by their frequent drolleries. Papa Henry was most jocular, as is demonstrated in the daguerreotype below.

Papa Henry and I

Papa Henry and I

After so much give and take, jib and jibe, we settled into a warmly familliar calm that included a most satisfying meal provided by Nana Pam by way of a bottle.

Nana Pam and I

Nana Pam and I

Such were the idylls of our buccholic autumn repast. Much was achieved, much was accomplished, all were satisfied.

Two months old and I have seen it all.

Well I think I have certainly seen it all at this point. How much more could there be? I have seen a dog, two cats, mom & dad, a number of people who are not mom or dad (very confusing!), and the fantastic talking box of colors and lights that mom and dad keep turning off when I start to stare at it. That seems like plenty.

I think I must have experienced everything by now, getting a cold, sneezing, getting a shot, being born, being too cold or too warm, having a bath, having a diaper changed, crying, laughing, sleeping .. . Could there be anything else?

And then there is visiting the doctor, which I did yesterday. Here are the results:

14 pounds, 8 ounces
24 inches (2 ft exactly!)
15.5 inch head

Which puts me above the 95th percentile for weight by age. But did they have to poke me with a needle? I fail to see how that was necessary.

So there it is, two months old and I have seen it all. Could this be that 100 years that Grandma Pat was talking about?

Whoa – hold on a minute. . . I see something shiny and kind of wobbly! OK, I guess there might be more to see and experience out there after all. I’m going to flail my arms about and see if I can figure out what this new shiny thing is.

Bathtime Giggles

I do enjoy my bathtime. The feeling of the warm water running across my skin is a sensation I cannot describe, so I will have to communicate my joy through smiles and giggles.

Looking Good is the Best Revenge

When dressing, a gentleman should always pay careful attention to the cut and style of his apparel. I chose this outfit based on the understated colors and the subdued pattern. The hat really brings the ensemble together, I dare say.

Looking Good

Looking Good

After a good soaking in the spa it is most important to dress in comfortable clothing that prevents one from catching a chill. This terry cloth confection works as both a towel for drying off and as a futuristic robe for space battles.

100 Year Old Baby

Grandma Pat says that babies born this year are going to live to be 100 years old!

100 years old!

100 years old!

That is great. Is 100 years a long time? What happens after that? I have so many questions . . .

River Beach Visit

It does a body good to take of the fresh air on occasion. On a recent Saturday I suggested to my fellows that fresh air was in order, to which they replied that mine was a capital idea. With a brief frenzy of preparation and packing, our vehicle was readied for what turned out to be a most refreshing excursion into the local wilds.

Baby on the beach

Baby on the beach

We flew through what I assume are the giant tubes of the universe to a windswept vista of water and sand. What lay before me was called a “river”, which, if I have this right, is like a really long bathtub with the faucet always running. This seemed like a wonderful idea to me, but this visit was not to be a bath time, much to my lasting disappointment.

Mother Dear

Mother Dear

This river of the Cowlitz was populated by funny little people in noisy little boats scurrying about. The four-legged creature who is always sniffing me, Maisy I think her name is, was also there, and seemed to enjoy herself immensely as she ran back and forth barking at the little boats.

Father and Maisy

Father and Maisy

After a short circumambulation about the grassy areas of the park, past the boat launch and the playground filled with screaming children, we returned to our vehicle. Once home again it was time for a light meal of milk and a nap. It was agreed by all that such outings are to be a regular fixture of our routine in future. Capital idea indeed!

Awake the sleeping giant

Let not my peaceful countenance be confused by any man for sign of weakness or invitation to noisome meddling, for if any should dare to disturb my slumber woe be unto him when the sleeping giant doth awake!

Sleeping giant

Sleeping giant

And when the trumpets sound the heavens will shake with the echoes of my awakening! And lo, kingdoms shall crumble and fall in the aftermath of my terrible cries.

So please, please be careful and do not wake the sleeping giant.

I’m so happy when I’m not sad

In my long life I have learned many things, one of which is to focus on the now and not to waste time worrying about the past. And as for the future, I say let it take care of itself! The here and now is all that matters, and right now I am here in this vibrating chair. And now is the time to smile.

Good Vibrations

Good Vibrations

Such great wisdom has come to me slowly with the passage of time. With great age comes great wisdom, and I am old, so very old now. More than a month on this fair earth have I lived and loved, cried for joy and cried out in anguish, and experienced the heights and depths of this wide world.

It is hard for me to imagine being even older than I am now, but both Father and Mother must be older than I, of this much I am certain. Is it possible? Could Mother be two months old? Older!? These are mysteries for me to plumb the depths of. In another month of life I should be able to find the answer to all of life’s questions, for a month is a very, very long time.

Caught in the act of posting

The paparazzi got me again.

Posting to the blog

Posting to the blog

Here I am with father dictating a new entry for my online web log. This particular session occured just previous to my epic outdoor adventure described in the posting just prior to this one. The work of the creative soul is never finished.

The only way to travel

For those of you who have yet to try it, I highly recommend travel by Mother. The service en route is excellent, and the level of care taken in attending to the traveller’s every need is quite remarkable. If you can afford it, I would suggest that you make use of this means of travel at your earliest convenience.

Traveller

Traveller

With my Mother providing the means of locomotion I recently embarked on an extensive journey into the wilds of rural Oregon. Let no man tell you that the days of intrepid exploration are over, for I have returned from places where none have dared venture before to tell you that true wilderness yet exists!

I saw creatures of such fantastic description that you would scarce believe me, and vistas of such color and beauty that I am still amazed as I dictate these words to my father (who acts as my trusted emanuensis). Sir Richard Burton never had such journeys as the one that I recently returned from, a journey that must rival even the first landing on the moon!

But please, you must excuse me, I am exhausted from my travels and must tend to my comfort. A drop of nourishment and a nap should do me a world of good. And then I shall scale Mount Everest. . .