Gammy visits London!

Gammy came from the US to visit me (and only me)! While she was here, we did all the things that I like to do.

We played in the sand.

We rode the Underground.

We played with toys and read the Elmo book.

We visited all sorts of touristy attractions...none of which impressed me much.

We met up with my grandma and grandpa W in St. Albans. Although mom and dad said that it was not far outside London, it was far enough for me to throw up in the car on the way. (Damn those crazy roundabouts!) Here I am with Grandma and Grandpa W soothing my tummy with a gentle swing.

Later, however, I was feeling better and got to ride on a carnival ride. Can someone tell me why a car seat brings on nausea while a painted red fire engine spinning in circles to Disco music brings only shrieks of joy? More importantly, can someone tell me how I can get one of these spinning red fire engines home with me?

The Vagabond Tales of Saxon Begin....

The strangest thing happened to me last week. Three very large men came to our apartment and started to put everything in our house in boxes. My bed, my toys, my clothes, my books all went into boxes. Then, they took all the boxes and carried them out and put them in front of my house.

Then, they put all of the boxes into one very, very big green box. And THEN, the big green box drove off!

How is a baby supposed to make sense of that?

Mom, dad, Kari, Kiki and I got into the car and drove to Gammy and Poppy's house. The next day, Dad left for a strange destination that Uncle Tim calls "blighty." Meanwhile, Mom and I are staying here at Gammy and Poppy's house with all the poodles for a while.

During the last week in Pawling, I have discovered the joys of alphabet soup, systematically opening every kitchen cabinet for Gammy, riding in the grocery store cart, screaming at the Japanese restaurant and, of course, there is always the old standby--tormenting the poodles. I even learned how to scoot (backwards) on the little toy car!

HOWEVER, I continue to refuse to walk. I don't care what they say about 14 month old babies. I am not at all impressed with my so-called walking colleagues. I say that walking is totally overrated...particularly when I can crawl wherever I need to get FASTER than some other looser can toddle. When someone can convince me that walking is so great, maybe I will entertain it as an option.

In the meantime, I remain mixing and mingling at poodle level (except when the poodle jumps into my stroller).

Monkeys in Maine?

Well, Saxontologists, I am back from lovely Maine. My dad took my mom for her birthday and, of course, me, the poodles, grandma G, grandpa F and crazy Lucy tagged along for the fun.

This was my first long drive anywhere so my parents weren't quite sure how I would handle the eight hour drive. We woke up pretty early on the morning of the drive and I had my usual hearty breakfast. We got in the car and I immediately fell asleep. Two hours later, I woke up and started crying (well, actually screaming) until I threw up my hearty breakfast all over the car seat, myself and Kari the poodle.

Then, I was quite happy and agreeable...I felt so much better. The bonus was that mom and dad had to make an unscheduled pit stop at the nearest rest stop (why were they holding their noses?) so everyone could get wiped down with baby wipes. I even got to take a little spritz in the rest stop bathroom...ahhhh, so refreshing!








Two hours after that, the rest of my hearty breakfast (who knew there was more?) came out the other end all over my clothes and the carseat. One more unscheduled pit stop, a change into outfit number three and mom and dad's sad attempt to hermetically seal my carseat with grocery sacks to dampen the smell got us back on the road. This is daddy driving really fast to try and air out the car...can you see how the stink is making his eyes tear?




Three outfits, five hundred miles and two worn out parents later, we got to Bernard, Maine, we set up at a house on the ocean. This is the back meadow behind the house that leads to the shore.






Then, it was time to take care of logistics. Dad and I went to the grocery store and bought food for the week (that Grandma G cooked). Sadly, my arms were just slightly too short to reach that number pad to punch in my secret code...SAXON666!


We also went to a nearby lobster pound and dad ate a crab roll. I just got the crummy roll because Mom says no shellfish for a while.















Here I am with my dad outside of our house in Maine. Don't our matching jackets look cool?













Just beyond the meadow behind our house is the water. Dad took me out in this new backpack contraption out there. I have decided that I really like riding in this carrier because I can: (1) pull my dad's hair; (2) pinch the back of his arms; (3) talk to other people face-to-face; and (my favorite) (4) yell deafeningly in my dad's ear. Dad says that he has mixed feelings this newest baby item.

Here I am with mom, dad and the poodles walking on the shore.















Oh yeah, I forgot reason #5 why I like the backpack carrier. It is totally awesome to sleep in.












Grandma, Grandpa and crazy Lucy also came with us on our walks sometimes.



Grandma did some quilting with the dogs too while on vacation.







On my mom's birthday, my dad went fishing and brought back a very alarming item. They tell me that it is called a lobster. I call it disturbing.

I tried to sample the lobster but found the shell much too difficult to gum. This is clearly a job for a baby with a full set of gnashers...sadly, I am not that baby.


Then we opened my mom's birthday present with some help from Kari. I don't remember what she got but I do know that the wrapping paper was tasty.






Next day, we were hiking. Don't I look bad (as in good, not as in bad) in my super phat (not as in heavy, as in super cool) lobster shirt!

Even on vacation, these annoying gates seem to follow me.

They do not understand, however, that they are not dealing with an ordinary baby willing to accept the artifical limitations of wood and plastic. There is no thwarting the machinations of a criminal mastermind! Ha, Ha, Ha!

Here I am with my mom and a seagull in Acadia National Park.

These are the poodles who co-piloted the backseat on the way back home...we were all pretty tired from the trip. The good news is that no, I did not throw up on the poodle a second time...although she is scheduled to be groomed as a result of the first episode.

And that is it crazy Saxontologists! We got home from Maine in record time. My mom had a very nice birthday and told me that she was very happy that she could spend it with me this year. (I was in Maine last year too but I was still in her belly. )

I am jazzed to be home because life in Brooklyn has already taken off with playgroup and music appreciation class (yes, mom signed me up for it...don't tell He-man, he might think it is a bit fruity.) and Halloween coming up. So many adventures to come!

Just call me baby beefcake...

Friday was HOT! Mom says that it is supposed to cool down and Fall is starting but I don't feel it! So, we met He-man and his mom on Friday in the park to hang out in the sprinklers.

Just a tip from an expert: the key to success at the park sprinklers can be summed up in one word--containers.

You call them "man boobs." I call them "pectorals in training."

Speaking of fleshy fortitude, everywhere I go these days, people seem to call me "big boy" or "ham hocks" or "husky" and my friends refer to me as "the Saxonator." I haven't really given it much thought until now because, well, I just like the attention. But I never really considered the meaning behind such names...until this weekend.

Dad, mom, the poodles and I went up to Grandma and Grandpa's house in Pawling this weekend. I was really excited because my super cool cousin Sarah was there too with Aunt Kate and baby cousin Adam. Sarah is soooooo awesome because she can walk and talk and sing and do whatever she wants. But, this weekend, we found out that I am stronger than her. A few times, I found one of her toys that she didn't want me to play with and try as she might, she had a very HARD time getting it back. She tried to reason with me by telling me "Saxon, that is not nice" while trying to pull it away. Neither approach worked because: 1) I am immune to reason and 2) I am a physical powerhouse who loves to play tug-of-war. As a rule, it takes the collective efforts of Sarah and a nearby adult to release my vice like grip because, I really have no clue how strong I am.

And that might explain how I broke grandma's door decor. You see, now that I can stand up by myself, I use everything that I can get my hands on as a brace. I was looking out the glass door, grabbed hold of the wooden slat to stand up, started to pull and SNAP! This is a re-enactment of what I did when it broke (note the missing wooden slat). By the way, I was smiling when it originally happened as well because, let's face it, it was pretty cool. It was just like when those karate guys chop a piece of wood in half...or at least, it made the same impressive sound.

In my nine months of life, I have developed a little life philosophy that dictates that I live in the moment and feel bad about nothing. That means, I have already identified my next project.....

G Squared Visits Me

I woke up this morning and guess what? Grandma Gwen (G Squared) was in my bedroom! She came to Brooklyn on the train to take care of me while my mom went to an appointment. And, quite frankly, was I happy to see a new face in the mix! I mean, mom is okay but the woman can get a little tedious with her constant chit chat and always pushing the nap agenda. Does she own undisclosed shares in a napping corporation or something? Anyway, G Squared came over and we just hung out at my place...a little jumperoo, some Nickelodeon, a bottle of milk. You know the routine. Very low key. Very baby friendly. Just my style. Chit chat mama shows up just as I have relaxed for a little midday snooze...typical. Of course, then I can't sleep so I suggest that we all go for sandwiches and coffee (none for me of course, my solids are pureed and definitely no caffeine). Afterwards, G Squared hits the G train for home. Once again, its me and mom at home with the geriatric poodle crew. I have some new plastic stacking cups. I really enjoy chucking them all over the apartment and watching my mom pick them up for me. She is such a well trained mommy!