Oo Oo Ooo oOO oOOo Ah AH AHHH

Today we shop for “Curious George” books. Cael makes monkey noises and arm gestures. After just a few short weeks of requests for the impish primate, I am beginning to think that Bandaid may not have been joking when he claimed to be sick of reading these books over and over and over again. And all this time I thought he really liked Curious George, beets and cats.

the hogans unplugged

Cael and I rock out to Rusted Root while Isabel sucks her fingers and practices rolling over. Cael enthusiastically pats his chest and belly with peanut butter and jelly. Isabel cries. Cael- concerned- points at her and makes the sign for ‘crying’. I pick up my daughter and we dance cheek to cheek watching Cael crouch down, jump up, run in circles, and do something with his chin that may be the prelude to the white man’s overbite. Isabel lets out a giggle. I’ve been practicing all my life for dancing goofily and singing the wrong words at the top of my lungs to an appreciative audience.

juxtapositions

Cael and Paige summer '06 and '07.

things you can count on

Isabel has yet to refuse: a boob; a smile; attention from her brother.

Cael is pretty much always up for: a peanutbutter&jellysandwich; a hotdog; a new car; a trip to the barn.

Jen very rarely turns down: an alcoholic beverage; a caffeinated beverage; a visit from a friend; a game of cards.

Judd can hardly resist: a movie; a nap; a game of cards; a post-game discussion regarding said game of cards; a kiss from his wife; a hug from his son; a smile from his daughter.

future member of 'Lambda Lambda Lambda'

Cael sorts through the recycling, picking out all the beer bottles and lining them up on the floor. I know this is their ‘sorting and stacking’ stage, but I wonder if his choice is an indication of things to come.

bragging rights

I am pretty dang proud of this little outfit! Of course Isabel poops all over it the first chance she gets, but what did I expect? I have been knitting instead of reading lately. My dad keeps asking if I have finished the book he recommended. This is my answer;

the last supper

This is the last day with a husband. As usual, by the time he gets ready to leave I have forgotten what I ever did without him. It is nice though- that the time doesn’t fly by. I feel like we really are able to appreciate him when he is here.

Cael’s baby is becoming very useful. I can use her as a proxy for talking about things with Cael. If he is inconsolable about something I can say, “Cael is your baby sad too? Can you give her a hug to make her feel better? Does she feel better now, Cael?” Taking the attention off his problem and onto helping his baby brings him down from his tantrum like a charm! If he doesn’t want to go eat; “Cael, I think your baby is hungry. Let’s go feed her!” And so on… I am sure I could have found this out eons ago in a baby book, but who reads? No one in this house!

Happy Birthday Dad!

the third hogan baby

After stealing baby dolls from every friend we meet, Cael finally has one of his own. He sits with her in his lap, feeds her a bottle, cuddles with her, hugs her and kisses her, and is absolutely distraught if we can’t find her. In the two days since the baby arrived, we have turned the house over twice looking for her while Cael cries, “Baby, Baby!” Don’t these things come with microchip implants and a GPS location system?

ready to travel

After numerous issues with getting passport photos for the kids, Judd decides this is something we should be able to do on our own.

First attempt (notice the diaper background)…

the language of Cael

Cael has made up a sign for “follow me”. He turns to go, reaching around to pat his butt like you would for a dog.

He also has a ‘sneak’. When he wants to go somewhere without us noticing, he walks sideways very slowly, crouched down a little and dragging his foot.