Bryce's Birthday!

Nothing snappy this week, just fun pictures from Bryce's 1st Birthday! The year has gone too fast, but we were delighted to celebrate Bryce's 1st birthday with our family. A few highlights to note: Bryce was not at all interested in opening presents or even tearing the paper. He wasn't interested in getting his hands dirty in the cake. But he was very interested in the kiddie pool and all the cousins! He loves his cousins!! Here are some highlights.

He's a Genius!

Is it me or is my kid brilliant? Just today we sat at a little bag of toys and I asked him, one by one, to find a toy for me. 

"Bryce, where is the basketball?"

"Seriously mom. Too easy. It's right here." He starts pounding his little basketball. I take it out and try again.

"Where is the shoe?" I don't think he'll get it, but it's worth a try. One second later, he has reached out and grabbed his tennis shoe (that sadly was only a toy because we could never get his fat feet into them). I'm impressed.

"Where is the telephone?" It's a trick question. He has a toy phone, but it doesn't really look like a phone and I've certainly never called it a phone. I don't know if I've ever called anything a phone yet.

And he goes right for it. "Mom, give me something hard. You're boring me," his look says. It also says a little bit of "I'm seriously good."

"Where is the book?"

"Right here. Don't insult me."

"Where is Mr. Piggly Wiggly?"

"Done. What else you got?"

"Where is the rooster."

"Had it ten minutes ago."

"Mr. Moo Cow?"

"If that's all you've got, I'm outtie...."

The child is a genius! (And cheeky.)

Of course I know all kids are geniuses. It's just amazing to see how much they learn at the tender age of 11 months and three weeks. He is giving us signs left and right. He spontaneously waves at strangers and takes up peek-a-boo games with anyone who will join. He pulls himself to standing and can cruise a room in five minutes flat. He puts his own arms in the sleeves of his shirts with just a simple "Arm, please" command. He can even do "Itsy Bitsy Spider"!

I realize I'm having the experience all parents have had, are having, and will have. But it's the first time this parent is having these experiences. So you'll forgive me if I think my child is too smart for words and you'll forgive me if I savor every moment of my child's progress and brilliance. It has been delightful at the least and soul-changing at the most.

Our Daily Routine

I am sitting in the office. Bryce is crawling around the floor. He first goes to the old keyboard we have left for him to "type" with. But it's not the keyboard he loves. It's the cord. And more specifically, it's the plug on the end of the cord. First he shakes the cord as hard as he can, flipping the plug every which way -- including a near miss on his eye. I take it away and point out that the keys are more fun. He doesn't bite. He instead moves along to the next thing that catches his eye. The trash can.

Before I can grab him he has pulled out a bunch of dried flowers. My bridal bouquet, actually, that I have just today decided I can part with. Bryce grabs the all-to-easy-to-reach stems and now I have a pile of crumbled pink roses on my floor.

While I take care of that mess he finds the open door and makes a B-line. He is now in the dining room heading for another dried flower arrangement. I pick him up and redirect his attention again, this time to a pile of his books on a bookshelf in the office. He is happy now, reading an activity book called "I Am a Child of God."

He just ripped a page. I guess my post is finished.