Bleeding Gums Keegan

I'm not even going to pretend to catch up from the last several months. Needless to say Keegan has changed quite a bit. His word count grows daily and he makes attempts to repeat pretty much everything we do. At least the last couple words. Sometimes it is spot on and sometimes you think maybe he was listening to an invisible friend, but he tries all the same. I think what boggles my mind most is what he actually understands. What he can say is a a fraction of what he knows.

He is all boy and therefore has a bump or a scrape at any given moment. His muscle control keeps improving, but this only encourages him to try things that might be a little beyond his abilities. So far we have managed to keep him from flinging himself with reckless abandon over the arms of the couch.

So Keegan has always liked banging away at the piano keys and still enjoys a good kazoo every now and again, but he has another instrument which he rather enjoys. Just see for yourselves!

Do you get happier than this?

Daddy gets relegated to the kazoo
Okay, maybe you can get happier

I recently got out my harmonica to start playing again and Keegan immediately decided it was much better if he was playing (and that might not be too far from the truth). Now I can't get it out with him around without him taking it. He actually plays pretty well considering he really doesn't know what he is doing. He also still likes the piano, both his mini one and the real one.

Piano with mommy!

Keegan rocks his new chair and his piano

Winter snow finally arrived and Keegan got to play in some snow. He went sled riding with Grandma Shary and Mommy and also helped shovel snow. The fun part of the story though is getting Keegan ready to go out in the snow. He doesn't really like the snow pants, but he abhors his snow boots. The second they go on his feet and you put him down you would have thought there were pins in the bottom. He just bawls. It is one of the saddest sights I ever did see. I believe part of the problem is that he is an extra wide and his feet just don't fit that well. Extra wide boots aren't made for whatever reason. He had the same problem with shoes in general when we started them so hopefully he will get over his reservations with the boots.

Why are we doing this again?

Anyone need some snow?

Along for the ride with Grandma!

You better drop the camera, here I come!

This might go quicker if I had a bigger shovel

I know this is similar to the rest, but he is so adorable helping out!

And I will finish up with some random pictures from the last few months. Some are from the thanksgiving trip over to Delaware and Christmas. Oh, and bonus points to anyone who gets the reference of the title. No, he does not have gingivitis!

I make it!

Don't worry, most of it made it in his mouth

Family at Christmas time!

Hanging (or throwing) ornaments on the tree

Playing Joe's drumset

Keegan and Tiki are ready for a walk

Halloween in Canton

We spent this past weekend visiting Sean, Laura and Peggy in Canton and it was a wonderful time! Keegan and Peggy are really starting to play together, not just near each other. The most amusement for us as well as the toddlers came from the chases around and around through the dining room, kitchen and living room. One would take off giggling and yelling and the other would follow suit. If one fell, the other would usually go down with them, sometimes ending in a crawling chase. Every so often we would catch them sitting down together. And it's funny how you take so many pictures and not all are good, but sometimes you just get lucky. Here's a series of Sean playing with the little ones that I feel came out great.

Uncle Sean makes Peggy giggle

Uncle Sean makes Keegan Giggle

Funny Faces all around

Keegan and Peggy read together

In the afternoon, after naps, we all loaded up and went to the Akron Zoo for "Boo at the Zoo." We dressed them up, Peggy a frog and Keegan a skeleton, and ran around the zoo. It was a little chilly, but the kids were bundled in their costumes and were more concerned with the animals. We saw lots of animals, fed some waterfowl, and managed to all get tired out. A nice warm dinner had us all ready for bed. What a weekend; thanks Sean, Laura and Peggy!

End of the day and there are two tired kiddies

Cameras are not as interesting as Llamas

Cutest skeleton ever

Keegan's New Room and the Pumpkin Farm

This past week we moved Keegan into his new room. It took a lot of work from Mommy and Daddy, but we finished and he is moved in. Now we just have to refinish the rest of the upstairs! I think he will like his new room, but since he is very go with the flow he doesn't really show either way. There is a lot more room for him to play and especially as moves up in bed size, he will need the room. It's not decorated or anything yet, but below is a short video panning the room. I'm not sure how many of you remember, but the floors were green carpet when we moved in. Then we tore up the carpet to find red-painted and dark-stained (yes, both) hardwood floors. The original 85+ year old floors. Pretty awesome. As you can tell, I'm excited about them. He is still in his crib for now, but usually plays with his bear if he wakes up before we do. We are looking for a toddler bed, but aren't really in a hurry since he doesn't seem interested in climbing out of his crib (*knock* *knock*).

The new room

Keegan helps clean the new digs with his popper

Keegan reads his book before his first night in his new room.

Enough with that and on to the real reason you are here. We took a visit to Rouster's orchard and Shaw farm today to get some pumpkins, take a hayride, and, most importantly, run around and be silly. I believe we accomplished all three quite well. In addition to Keegan, Suzanne and me, Grandma and Grandpa Shary, Uncle Steve, Nana Boyle, and Aunt Krista came along for the pumpkin picking fun. We were also joined for the hayride by Uncle Brent, Aunt Sara, Caleb, Alex and Elly.

Keegan did manage to pick out a pumpkin between laps around the piles of pumpkins. There were so many playhouses set up around the pumpkins he had to try to get to them all. His favorite thing, though, was the tractor that was dropping off a load of pumpkins. He always went back to old faithful and had he been able would have driven it off. He also got to run around in the mud a little bit trying to get at the chickens, which never makes little boys sad. We needed some helping getting the pumpkins in the cart and then pulling it around so it is a good thing we had Keegan with us. There is a viseo at the bottom of him helping out! Keegan had such a good time he fell asleep on the ride home, half eaten apple resting on his lap. It was a great day and we are almost ready for Halloween. We just have to decide what Keegan is going to be!

Now these are pumpkins!

If at any time you need to find the tractor, look where Keegan is looking

Brent, Sara, Elly and Caleb's forehead (sorry Caleb, couldn't see the viewfinder)

Grandpa Shary and Keegan enjoy the ride

Keegan helps with the wagon

oops

I seem to have misplaced a blog or two...

Hard to believe Summer is coming to an end, but here we are. Keegan has been back to school/daycare for a week now. A lot has happened this summer but where do I begin?

Keegan spent his days this summer with Grandma Shary and got to spend a lot of time in the pool. He is most definitely a water rat and even started "swimming" in the bathtub which gets mommy or daddy thoroughly wet as well. During his days with Grandma he got to go the zoo, the library, the store and made visits to Mommy's, Daddy's and Grandpa's workplaces. I'm not sure who had more fun during those days, Grandma or Keegan (though we all know who had more work).

We spent a week at Suzanne's family's cottage on Candlewood Lake in Connecticut. We went to the beach every day and Keegan loved the sand and the water, though it was a little chillier than the pool. He discovered that sand is yummy despite mommy and daddy's protests. Keegan got to experience a canoe ride, though he managed to sleep through half of it. He also got to see some family he had not yet met. We had quite a packed house for a few days. We all had a great time, but I think next year he will really be in his prime. Here is a video of Uncle Steve playing in the water with Keegan.

Eatin' on the beach

Attack! Attack!

Soooo tired

Zoo trips, the Children's Museum, swimming pools, and vacations are exciting but can't really hold a candle to how much he has changed this summer. He is walking fine and picking up the pace almost to a run when we play chase now. He is starting to get a vocabulary, though it seems to be a moving target. He'll say a word for a couple days and then you might not hear it again for a bit. He calls Aurora "Aurora", but he also calls the cats and any other dog "Aurora" although he can say cat (actually more like "at", but he gets "cat" out sometimes) and dog. His signing vocabulary is also growing and it's amazing how quickly he picks some of them up. He also knows a few animal sounds/gestures (i.e. beating his chest like a gorilla). He is very curious and points at everything and questions "Dat?"

Keegan has made the transition to the toddler room at daycare. This means sitting at a table to eat, using utensils and napping on a cot. There will also be more structure to his days with group activities, assigned nap time, etc. The head teacher from his infant room moved to the toddler room as well which I believe will help his transition. He likes her a lot, though I think he likes everyone given a little time. I must admit that I was actually a little nervous dropping him off the first day back to daycare though I really had no reason to be. He took right to it excited about the new toys and I think he remembered a couple of his friends. The best part though (for me) is seeing the realization on his face that I am there to pick him up. He smiles and runs over arms open wide and there are few things in the world that can compare to that.

Keegan Versus Boris the Blade

The cats have always been a little indifferent to Keegan. Now that he is completely mobile they are paying more attention especially when he screams and runs after them. I think they are getting used to him though. Keegan found one of their toys, a wand with a feather on the end, and started winging it around like he does with pretty much everything. Boris took the bait and we got a cute little video. Forgive the poor quality; I had to use my cell phone. The camcorder was on the other side of Keegan and I didn't want to disturb him!

Peek a ... Zoo!!

Yesterday, I took the day off for my birthday, and Mom and Keegan and I headed downtown to the Zoo! We had a blast - here are some of the pictures:

We rode the Safari train

The flamingos were making a lot of noise so we stopped by

At the petting zoo we said hello to the goats

And Rosetta, the turtle

We fed the giraffes before Keegan ate the cracker himself

And we saw the elephants get a bath!

Keegan Versus Daddy

Keegan's walking improves every day and he pushes himself a little more. This means that he is: 1. more fun and 2. more likely to get into things he shouldn't. He is also starting to test us. He knows the things he is not supposed to do (or at least the things that get us to come over and stop him). It is cute because he will walk up and make his question sound to see if we react to whatever he is about to do, let's say knock over the lamp or pull plugs out of the wall. He does it whether we react or not. He just wants to see what we do. His alternate ploy is to take a couple steps away and pretend to be playing with something else. Then when he thinks we aren't looking he goes for whatever he isn't supposed to do or have. It's pretty amazing how far he has come in these 15 months. As for the more fun part he loves to be chased around, to get thrown in the air, to climb anything and just about everything else boys do. Much to our lament he has had a handful of bumps and scrapes already, but that is what it is to be a kid. I'm just glad that he is so eager to learn and explore.

So here is what everyone really wants! In this video Keegan is running from me back and forth through the house. This is only a few of the couple dozen laps. He takes some pit stops every so often. Sometimes we have to get inventive with snack time. The high chair is not his favorite place to be.



I'm trying an embedded video because the blogger upload is kinda squirrelly. LEt me know if you have issues seeing it.