Sunday, January 14, 2007

Benjamin John Spillman



Our two family home just got a little more exciting. Benjamin John Spillman - our Godson and newest neighbor - was born on Friday, January 12th! Check out Ben acting like a burrito.

We got a good laugh when Jim and Katie shared his name with us. Little Turner (little now very relative) has been exploring all kinds of words lately. We play the normal 21 questions with him when he says something new and wait until he confirms that yes - the adults in the house have finally figured it out. He lets us know by repeating the word in question accompanied by nodding his head as if he is saying, "Yes, put the ottoman there." We're about 95% within the first hour of the first use of said word, but there are some that we struggle with. For example, "Thomas the Train" actually sounded a lot like "Saddam Hussein" for the first few days. We'd also been struggling to discern one of his latest, "Ben." Over that last two weeks he's used it in a variety of situations and really had us stumped. We'd finally decided that it was his first imaginary friend. Weren't we suprised when we learned Benjamin John's name! Turner and Ben seem to be old buddies already. We look forward to many happy times with these two little guys.

Last thing, in honor of MLK day tomorrow, here's a link his "Letter from Birmingham Jail." May we all be as impatient with injustice: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letter_from_Birmingham_Jail

Friday, January 5, 2007

The Bloggin Begins


2007 promises to be full of new experiences so why not start with bloggin? I'm reading a book right now entitled "Toddler - real life stories of those fickle, irrational, urgent, tiny people we love." I am struck by how I can find the same wonder, mania and pure JOY in Turner as is discribed in these other little people. Apparently, his little antics could make us back the small fortune that we lost in the light cigarette case. For example, today - rather last night at midnight - he tricked me. He'd been crying for a little while so I went to soothe him. He says "Potty." I take the bait and question "Turner Potty?" He nods and does his chin drop thing- his sign for yes. As soon as he's out of the crib he runs out of the room (I know I heard him laugh) and goes straight to the tickle-me-elmo doll (TMX) that Tammy conviently left at our house. Tickle-me-elmo is a talented little toy - he rolls over, slaps the floor, stands back up again & even says context appropriate phrases when being tickled but he does not infact use the potty and neither does Turner. Lesson #5,789 in parenting a toddler. Much Love, Caty