I can walk!

It's been a while since the last entry but since not many people ever read this my tardiness won't have much of an impact. Since Mom's birthday in February Hadden has continued to...eat. A lot. New skills or at least things he does now that he didn't do 1.5 months ago:

• Walk. That's a big one. I guess he started towards the beginning of March taking a few unsupported steps but he's up to walking around the house now. Pretty much this is Hadden's favorite activity anywhere. He still lerches around like a "drunken sailor" (as Yvonne says) but he get's from here to there. Importantly, he's pretty good at always falling on his butt when he does lose his balance.
• Babble and possibly talk. He babbles much more now and we are debating whether to call at least some of it actual "talk". Our criteria is that he recognizes something (without our prompting) and then calls it by name. The word actually has to be an English word (Spanish is OK too) and not some cute "baby-ese" for something. He seems to have said "Da-da" and "Dad-dy" to me a few times so perhaps this counts? He definitely recognizes words and attempts to say some of them. I'd say "Titita" (dimunitive Spanish for "bottle") is a definite. He just has trouble pronouncing "titita".
• Point and ask "da-da?" I guess he's asking something like "what's that?" or at least that's what we theorize. He likes to point at trees right now.
• Giving. He likes to give you whatever he's holding. I suppose it's thrilling to decode at least a bit of human social behavior ("if I offer it, you take it"). However, I'm told later in his life he will not want to give anyone anything. So we'll enjoy it now.
• Stacking. Given the chance and proper motivation Hadden will stack 2 or 3 blocks on top of one another. He still vasty prefers to knock things over (and bang things together).
• Stair climbing. He has climbed our stairs from the living room to upstairs. Twice supervised and once unsupervised (oops). He does not wish to decend yet, just ascend.

Hadden also tends to eat or at least want to eat just about everything. Just in the last few days he's tried pulled pork sandwich, coleslaw, a peanut butter shake, waffles, hot dog bun, a short stack (he ate all 3 pancakes), his own shoes, cat food, cat hair lint, tangerines, newspaper, snap peas, blueberries (about 30 at one sitting) and anything else you leave within arms reach (which is now a much longer reach since he can walk).

Over my spring break (last week) we went to Scottsdale, AZ to visit Uncle Ron (my brother). We stayed at the resort he works at and got a great deal - loads of fun. They had two pools including one that had a faux beach and water slide. Hadden enjoyed playing in the sand and pool every day. He's quite fair-skinned so lots of sunscreen and a shorty sun suit were in order. Conveniently, he got up each day at 7am (ugh) so he was out at the pool by 8am meaning he could get some quality time in before the prime burning hours of 10-2. Hadden also saw 2 spring training games (Dodgers vs. KC in Surprise and Dodgers vs. Brewers in Maryvale). Not sure he know there was a game going on but he seems to have enjoyed it. Next year we will have to make it a greater family event (perhaps Grandparents, etc. and even cousin Cole).

Ron, Hadden and Steve at the Dodgers-Brewers game

Hadden in vacation garb "walking" with Yvonne.

Until next time...Steve.