Harrison's World

Tissues

2012-01-27T16:03:00.000-08:00

Harrison got a little cold this week (most likely from me) so his nose has been running like a sieve. He had some runs coming down the other day and Pete asked him if he needed a tissue. He replied, "My tongue is my tissue." Of course Pete had him repeat it for me - it was hysterical. Of course, your tongue is your tissue. It is only logical.

Blondey

2012-01-17T18:23:00.000-08:00

This kid is a handful. No matter where we are I cannot keep my eyes off of him. I am never sure about where he might be running or if he will ever come back.

Usually at church we tend to lose him and he has gone outside on more than one occasion, so we try to keep our eyes peeled and hand locked on him. It still does not always work.

He has discovered that he can sneak food. His most common activity right now is that when he is real real quiet and we are not sure where he is, he is definitely under the covers on someone's bed or in a dark room by himself, eating something he is not supposed to eat. Some things I have found him eating recently have been: cough drops, marshmallows, cookies, and tootsie rolls.

He loves eating spinach. Fresh, unadulterated spinach. He also enjoys a fresh green bean when he can get his hands on one. Tonight he was eating a cookie in one hand and a green bean in the other. To him, they are of equal value.

Harrison already 'gets' how letters work. If you tell him a sound, he will say the letter. It is probably pretty normal but since his brother was not there at this age, we are pretty happy with his progress. He told me tonight he would like to dream about the Power Puff girls and that they are his favorite. He often chooses Power Rangers and Peter Pan or even Smurfs has been on the list. Power Puff Girls is a new one.

He still has a propensity to all things musical. Catherine and Dave got Calvin a set of electronic drum sticks for his birthday (totally awesome gift) and even though there were 15 other gifts strewn around the floor, Harrison wanted to open that one. He just loves it. He always hears sounds around him and is very aware of that part of his world.

His skin is terrible. Eczema. Eczema. Eczema. We try to curb it, but it gets crazy in the winter. He is okay with his evening lotion application, but he said tonight through some tears, "I want my skin clean." He also had a pretty bad spill today - he was trying to get out of his chair at the dinner table and he literally landed right on his head. I am not sure if that size of his head was a factor, but he definitely had some trouble. He has never fallen off of any playground apparatus, but a chair at the table - absolutely.

Swimming Time

2011-07-10T20:45:00.000-07:00

So today we went to grandma's neighbor's pool and had a blast. Calvin was swimming all over the place and Harrison was kicking and kicking.

Harrison had a tube, but at one point he got out of the pool and did not have the tube and re-entered with it. I heard grandma say, "Watch Harrison....Watch HarriSON!" As I turned and looked, Harrison had the tube at head level and his head was going under. Grandma said he put the tube on his head and walked down the steps and right out of the tube and under the water. I scooped him up and he did not even cough a splash of water out of his mouth, but he did look a little scared. The poor boy. I think he will be fine though as not much stops him.

Potty Training - Day 4

2011-06-27T05:50:00.000-07:00

Harrison has started up the training (the peeing all over the place is what I would rather call it). He does well, as long as we keep his undies off and don't ask him about it. The minute we ask if he has to go potty, he says, "No" and then pees on the ground nearby.

If we don't ask, he eventually runs in the bathroom on his own and goes and then announces that he went. I think we should stick to the ignoring him and maybe we will actually be successful in this training.

Harrison is playing more and more with Calvin. Some days they get along and other days they fight along. No matter what they love each other to pieces. If Harrison cries, Calvin can't help but hug him and tell him it's okay.

playing at the water wall

playing in an area not made for sitting in

Hare's latest phrase is: "Cool.Cool." Sometimes he says, "Oh. Cool."

in action

all done!

We just cut the boys' hair and they look so adorable. I love their soft cheeks in contrast to the scruffy, bald heads. They love the bonding and head rubbing that goes on now. Harrison was gently rubbing Calvin's head last night before bed.

We went to the Liberty Science Center a few weeks ago with grandma and the boys loved it. They especially loved the room that has been made for them. Harrison loved the balls.

He talks a mile a minute, repeats everything anyone says. He also will spontaneously start saying the alphabet and counting to himself. He still loves music. He prefers to play by himself, but is not against having other people in the room. He just prefers to be the only one.

We are heading to Sesame on the 29th! I can't wait to enjoy the day with the boys.

Here is Harrison consuming his first s'more...maybe it was his 6th...

Sing-a-Long

2011-05-17T20:21:00.000-07:00

Harrison is totally into sounds an music and languages. He is always repeating "sube" on Diego and may know more Spanish than I do at this point.

The thing I find the funniest about this proclivity to music though is that names/labels of things are oten remembered in song form. For instance, he remembers Mickey Mouse as "Hot Dog" which is the song from the cartoon: Mickey Mouse Club House. He also says, "ants go marching" when he sees ants, and "swing high" when he sees a swing (grandpa sings "Swing High, Swing Low" to him), and there is one more I am not remembering right now, but Dad and Aunt Mary have observed it too, so I will try to check back in with them.

Animal

2011-04-02T18:22:00.000-07:00

I don't know what else to call this boy. He really is an animal. I think he has more cuts and scrapes on his body right now than I can count on both hands. Harrison never stops and he has no boundaries.

His language skills are improving like crazy. He is speaking in full sentences at times when I wouldn't even choose to and repeating pretty much everything that is said. He is very good at communicating his needs. I don't know why - I have no stories in me right now, but he does speak a lot.

He also asked grandpa to bring him to the potty today, so we are making some progress on the potty front. He does like sitting on it, but he doesn't always like going on it. Hopefully as summer comes we can get him on it all the time.

Harrison loves to hug. He hugs legs, arms, heads, eyes. He will hug anything. He is also king of the long, awkward kiss. Maybe I have written about it before, but he will just kiss and then stare at you with his lips on yours and start to laugh. He is too much.

He likes playing 20 questions, but isn't very good at it yet. He also knows his numbers and can recite the ABCs pretty well. I was counting today and realized he can probably count to 10 by himself already. I(t gives Calvin something to keep up with since he is still working on getting 16 into the order. Calv knows them, but he sometimes skips or misses.)

They really love each other. They love playing together, causing mischief together, eating together, they would even sleep together if we let them. I can't wait to see how their relationship grows.

Winter Beach Visits

2011-03-15T21:19:00.000-07:00

one,two,three - throw!

tasting the salty air

sandy shoe

T. Cal and T-y on the background wrestling

2011-02-17T17:41:00.000-08:00

Harrison laughing. I hope my reaction to this sound doesn't ever change.

Angry Bird

2011-01-17T14:22:00.000-08:00

I imagine almost every 2-8 yr old's mom could write a post about this addiction. Harrison loves angry bird. He doesn't always fling the birds in the right direction, but he holds it in his hand and flips through the screen like a pro. It is so cute to watch, and I just imagine him as a techie who can hack into anyone's main frame. (Not that that is my dream for him necessarily, but it is when he is playing this game).

slipping and sliding everything across the screen

like it's a regular Saturday afternoon

I love it as much as he does. And I don't like video games one bit.

Snow Park

2011-01-12T13:28:00.000-08:00

second time at the snowy park this season

Snowed Out

2011-01-01T20:06:00.000-08:00

what? no snow tissue?

big snow

sincerely stuck

bros

scrumptious

The boys loved playing in the snow this week. I would invite snow to my holiday vacation with the boys anytime. We go outside as much as we would in the summer, just with a few more articles of clothing.

Harrison was a trooper during sledding. He not only went down on his own a few times, but he also climbed back up the hill on his own and even carried the "sled" himself. Aunt Aimee and Ross came with us to go sleigh riding which made it that much better.

Pajama Bandit: Proof

2011-01-01T18:53:00.001-08:00

When we put Harrison to sleep he is clothed. We zip up the zipper on his footsie pajamas and we even button the button that crosses the top of the zipper, like a padlock on a front door.

note the pajamas in the top right corner

He has figured his way out time and time again. I think we must resort to putting the things on him backward or inside out. This is what we find minutes after we put him in the crib.

Shower, get into jammies, watch TV, read a book, brush teeth, go potty, get into bed, get out of jammies, go to sleep. It's part of the routine now.

Press the Button

2011-01-01T11:51:00.000-08:00

The lighting is dim and the sound is not loud, but this is Harrison asking if he can press the button on his bubble maker. Listen closely.

Surprise!

2010-12-29T05:04:00.000-08:00

Every night we check Harrison in his crib to make sure all is kosher, and every night for the past 7 we have found a white, creamy naked bum sticking out of the sheets.

He has been disrobing himself and then falling asleep. I guess it's his new found skill of zipping and unzipping or perhaps he has developed a sense of confinement when in his footsie pajamas. (I recall asking for my footsies to be cut off so they could "breathe").

In any case, it makes us laugh. I love the "bah!" feeling I get when my husband comes out of the room and says, "He took off his pajamas again." So simple, but so funny.

Lullabye...

2010-12-19T11:36:00.000-08:00

Now, the sleeper with slightly less crazy hair...

Thanks for the Ornaments

2010-12-19T11:32:00.000-08:00

Grandma gave us some ornaments way back that are "kid friendly" since they are not made of glass. Our supply is dwindling because of moments like this:

Highland Park Meadows

2010-12-11T17:54:00.000-08:00

"i like mud."

45F in Dec. = good for a swim

We found a new place to go when we have nothing to do. It is a little walk in the woods on the edge of our favorite park. It leads through some trees and bushes, down to the river's edge. The boys love to throw things into water, so it is a perfect destination.

Bath Time

2010-12-11T17:49:00.000-08:00

Have I said it enough? I love towel time.

Gingerbread House

2010-12-07T18:37:00.000-08:00

We made a Trader Joe's Gingerbread House and it was delicious. Pete bought it, we made it, and we ate it all on the same day. In the Hagan house, that box would have sat on the counter for a week before we would get around to making it. We definitely did it on Clark time.

Sleeping Beauty

2010-12-07T18:06:00.000-08:00

Bananas and Apples

2010-11-23T14:27:00.000-08:00

A few things are the same for Harrison. When he sees a banana, he calls it an apple. When he sees an apple, he calls it an apple.

The same is true for soccer. Football, soccer. Baseball, soccer. He does not accept input from anyone else, because of course he is already the king of the world. His own maybe.

Lingualness

2010-11-19T20:05:00.000-08:00

Harrison requested McDonalds when we were driving in the car alone together the other day. Not sure how I feel about that.

He frequently requests Ch-o-co-late Mi-lk at home, and I love watching him repeat it over and over again. When I ask him, "What is it?" even though I totally know what he is saying, I don't see it as mean, I see it as him developing his vocabulary.

He is a 5-7 sentence maker. Not always intelligible, but he speaks the words the best he can right now and there are a lot of them in each sentence.

Harrison's 2cnd!

2010-11-14T11:22:00.000-08:00

After a doctor's appointment on his birthday, we stopped at an Asian bakery in town and picked up 2 cupcakes for the boys and a taro pastry for me, and the owner threw in a honey bun for free. We also got some chocolate mousse for dad.

For Harrison's birthday, we had a few friends over to out tiny apartment and then went to the park to play. It was beautiful and almost HOT out. (Almost).

Harrison was typically 2 and kept taking other people's toys and trying to destroy everything in sight.

Sentences

2010-11-10T17:51:00.000-08:00

My favorite request yesterday was, "I want a lollipop," and then today with, "I want a cupcake." I don't even think he had said cupcake until today.

Sentences are spewing all over the place and sometimes they have 5 words in them and sometimes 7. It is insane. His most favorite request is usually, "I want a chrink."

Tonight we celebrated Harebear's birthday as a family with some cupcakes from the Taiwanese bakery and him opening some dragon-themed toys. Pete thought that if we got Harrison some toys that T. Cal would like that maybe they would play together. It worked a little bit, but eventually Calv got lost in his world and Harrison was closed out of the bedroom.

Hare is 29 lbs and 35 inches long. Just average right now. Bring on the potty time.

Happy Halloweens

2010-11-01T17:42:00.000-07:00

Peek a BOO!

Halloween was fun for Harrison this year. He followed Calvin around and really got in to the whole routine. By the 3rd house at Grandma's he decided he should give the person at the door his candy. She didn't have a treat right away, so he put his bag down and proceeded to remove a package of Oreos and then handed them to her. Luckily, we reclaimed the Oreos (which are already in my tummy), and had a good laugh at the sweetness of his understanding of this great holiday. I love any chance we get to meet and talk with our neighbors. The weather was great.


Shark on a Dinosaur


Brothers Forever

and ever...

Right before we were supposed to be prepping to head out for Trick or Treating, I asked Pete if he had seen Harrison's costume and as the answer, "no" came, I realized: I left the costume at school on Friday!!! And it was Sunday...and it was Halloween!

I quickly jumped in the car and drove over to the school. I walked all around the outside of the school looking to see if someone was inside and I couldn't see anyone. As I entered the play yard in the back, another parent was entering, bringing their child to play and I explained why I was looking in all the windows. Right after speaking with him, I found an open door and walked right in the school. After searching the whole school and yelling, "Helllloooo!" throughout the school, searching and searching for someone with a key, or even just the key, I stopped. And I thought.

I went to the boiler room - there had to be something or someone there. So I went, and I found 2 keys that did not work for the classroom. So I looked around again. I found punch cards, none that had 10/31/10 stamped on them. Then I spotted, a phone number. I called, the man's daughter translated my needs, and the man came in 5 minutes - opened the classroom and I got the costume! Success! It was a magical moment, but in 30 minutes time I had in my hand what I thought I would never be able to get.

Halloween was excellent. We saw all the grandparents, the Ritchings, and we even made it to aunt Mary's and went treating with O.

Turtle

2010-10-24T16:49:00.001-07:00

Harrison was pulling the salad toward his plate AFTER dinner tonight. He was scooping the salad onto his plate and then shoving it into his mouth with his bare hands.

I love a good eater.

as i was posting: how is it that i do not already have a "food" tag for this child?

Bed Time Routine

2010-10-20T17:54:00.000-07:00

Every night when I bring Harrison into bed, I start singing "Rock a Bye Baby" just to hear him say, "No."

He follows the no with - "Popcorn"

And then I being and his hands turn into binoculars. I might have mentioned it before in a post, but I love it. It is so funny that he goes through every single motion, and tonight he even asked me to sit down on the rocking chair by telling me, "-it -here."

His little cheeks (on his butt and his face) are so hard to resist from pinching.

Knock Knock

2010-09-09T17:12:00.000-07:00

Harrison has started to tell knock knock jokes. Tonight at dinner, we could barely understand him, but he was saying, "Knock-Knock" and we would ask who's there and he would say, "Orange." I taught this one to Calvin a long time ago, and I think that Harrison has picked up on Calvin telling it. I wonder when Harebear will get the punch line.

He is speaking more and more and it is amazing how much he understands. You could give him 2 or 3 commands and he totally gets it and follows through. He is pretty much a normal, functioning human being.

Two mornings this week we went out to the D&R Canal, better known as an escape from feeling like you are in NJ. Here are some shots from today's visit.

Here are some shots from the End of the Summer visit to the Spray Park as well.

More Words

2010-09-06T11:22:00.000-07:00

Harrison loves saying "Ook" and "thSee" to get our attention to look for things. He was also reminding Calvin and I to "Wait" today when we were going ahead to look at animals at Johnson Park.

The other day we were pointing out water monsters in the car with Calvin and Calv was zapping them with his finger. When we got to my parents' house, I picked up Harrison to bring him inside and he said, "Ook Mommy. A Monster. Ook." with feigned terror in his eyes.

Snuggleberry

2010-09-03T11:47:00.000-07:00

Harrison loves to be wrapped. After bath and in the morning are the two specific times he requests the wrapping.

In the morning I usually wake up to, "Mommy!" and then a blanket held out to me from the crib. After I take the blanket, he turns his back to me so I can commence wrapping.

After a shower, he comes out and looks or points at the towels and says, "Baby?" since we always call him our little baby after we wrap him like a burrito. I want to start to have him say "burrito" so last night I said, "You want to be a burrito?" and then had him repeat burrito. I hope it catches on.

He did say "blanket" today before nap. And he has said (and maybe I reported on this already because it excites me so), "Apricot Tree" which is part of the song "Popcorn Popping." I love it, but he will not say it on command. I have tried. It just doesn't work.

Hair Cut Numero Dos

2010-08-31T19:55:00.000-07:00

So,

After a summer long of long hair, I brought you to a stylist and here we are with a "boy" cut instead of a baby cut. The top stayed longish and I will take what I can get for 10 dollars.

I love having easier, undisturbed access to those little cheeks. Kiss.kiss.kiss.

Nights,
Mom

Puppetry 101

2010-08-25T17:17:00.000-07:00

Tub

2010-08-25T17:10:00.000-07:00

So we only have a shower in the apartment we are in right now. (We are in our own home, but we are in an apartment within our home). So - dad was very creative and he went out and got a big, orange tub. Every once in a while he puts them in the tub and lets them have the experience of the bath which they oh-so miss.

So here is Harrison in the pseudo-bath that his dad created.

Loving It

2010-08-25T12:16:00.000-07:00

Harrison LOVED the water.

More than any Hagan grandchild has so far at his age. Most of the kids are frightened by the water because us parents bring them in to show them how we love it so much and then they never want to go back in.

Harrison did a good job of getting his feet wet, but not always trying to drown himself. His favorite activity is to have me bring him in the water and to splash people right away. He had some strangers in love with him splashing him, but mostly any relative who came in with us got the splashing treatment.

He also loved running into the waves and then back up the beach to grandpa's "pool" on the edge of the water.

I am proud of myself for doing a pretty good job of keeping his whiter than white skin as white as possible. Lots of sunblock and grandma's help with getting him a rash guard early in the season.

He also loved walking around trying to feed the seagulls and sometimes growling at them. I think aunt Chantal's favorite was when Harebear would say "seagull, seagull" and call to them as if they would ever come near. It was sweet.

Morning Routine: Part 2 (I didn't know one was coming)

2010-08-18T04:12:00.000-07:00

Now that Pete has renovated our apartment a bit, we are doing the "No eating in the living room.
thing and boy do I love it. It makes cleaning so much easier. Who knew.

Now in the mornings, we do get up with the kids more because they are hungry and need to be monitored now, so we are picking up the parenting. However, the breakfasts are still quite simple and sometimes a bit more mobile but not messy.

Harrison has been choosing pretzels as his mode of nutrition. I think it fills the belly and helps his one, last tooth that is pushing through.

As I sit in the kitchen at the laptop, he comes in and grabs 1 or 2 pretzels at about 2-3 minute intervals. It is so cute. He just walks around the corner shoves his hand in the bag, grabs a few, and walks back to watch Ni Hao, Kai Lan (a TV Show that teaches children Chinese and how to be nice to one another).

I love this kid.

Defiance

2010-08-09T05:19:00.000-07:00

Harrison's defiance has been coming out...usually followed by tears and guilt.

This morning he was eating gum that he found on the counter and he devoured at least 3 pieces before I discovered it. I removed the package and the gum from his hands and went to throw it in the trash. He followed me into the kitchen and when I sat back down at the table he stomped his foot and "spit" at me.

I told him he needed to go to time out and he proceeded to put his head in his hands and cry and then came over and bury his face in my leg. I then asked him to say sorry and he did and then he walked away.

Another favorite way for him to show defiance is when he says "SOP!" in other words, "Stop!" Whenever he is angry or doesn't like something that is happening, he just belts it out. We think he gets it from his brother since Calvin will sometimes be heard shouting this word to get something to stop.

We will see how his defiance develops, but this is just the start. We have not really gotten anything until now, so we will see.

Counting and ABCs

2010-08-07T11:06:00.000-07:00

Harrison randomly sang A-G the other day and he also has had a habit of counting to 5. It is still in his slurred, baby speech, but he knows what he is saying and you can understand at least the A and G and the 1 and 5.

He can almost make it up the climbing things all by himself without stopping. Usually I would let him do it on his own up until the thing curves so he had to climb evenly and then I would lift him up onto the edge of the jungle gym. Now, he can get all the way up there himself.

He always dances. Last night we were at the beach and Violet was sleeping in grandma and grandpa's bedroom and the radio was on to soothe her to sleep. Harrison ekept busting in and would dance around in circles, shrug his shoulders in dancing form, wiggle his wrists or whatever else he thought showed he could hear and really loved the music.

Monkey Do

2010-07-26T18:36:00.000-07:00

Harrison was at soccer practice with Calvin tonight and just wanted to be part of the practice. He kept following everyone when they dribbled and when they went to kick against the wall of the school. And then at the very end he sat down with the coach for the end of practice talk. He walked up and sat behind Calvin and just looked up at Spencer and listened. Two more years...

Mud Monster

2010-07-25T20:31:00.000-07:00

We went outside today to play with paper boats and it turned into a mudfest. Harrison started it by shooting some water at his brother (who had open arms). He just became strong enough to push the handle on the hose to make it squirt and he loved it.

He then went for the mud mound and that's when I threw up my hands and let the mudslinging commence.

The tongue. Oh the tongue. I can't get enough of that tongue.

Harrison sang "Rock-a-Bye" to me when I was putting him to sleep tonight. It sounds a lot like, "Ah a ee, ah ee...ah ee." It was wonderful. He also adds a little rock in the rocking chair as he sings. I heard dancing and singing is hard, but apparently my son is a muddy musical genius.

Morning Routine

2010-07-23T06:14:00.001-07:00

I wouldn't say we have one routine going at any one time, but recently during renovations on the house when Mom and Dad were a little too tired to get up with Harrison at 5:30a, our mornings would start like this:

From his crib we would hear, "BaBa!...BaBa!...BaBa!" (Harrison's word for "adult")

Slowly we would take him out of his crib and put him on the couch and turn on Nick Jr. and go back to bed.

Then we would feel a nudge on our shoulder and Harrison would be standing there with a cup.

"Chrink peas?"

We would slowly rise and fill his cup with milk, return him to his couch and return ourselves to the bedroom.

Minutes later. He would come in with a bag of cereal from the kitchen or a bowl, and we knew what was next. A little breakfast I guess.

He is one smart boy to bring us the things he wants. And we are 2 tired parents to wait for his cues as to what to do next and not just do it every morning.

I think with the house being almost finished now, we might be able to remember a drink and cereal for him without the request.

Sleeping Fireworks

2010-07-05T04:39:00.001-07:00

Harrison did it again. He slept during the fireworks.

His body says sleep and it just does it.

On Friday night he slept in Uncle Jeff's arms and loved every second of it, and Saturday night he passed out in grandma's arms for most of the display.

He loved playing and smiling at every passing stranger or family member (as always). But mostly we loved that he was a little scared of the fireworks and that he just laid in people's arms and slept.

Snuggle Berry.

Sesa Place (as named by Owie)

2010-06-26T17:40:00.000-07:00

Harrison was all about the kiddie pools this year. He loved splashing and walking around in the small pools. We also took him on the Rubber Duckie ride, which he was super interested in while we were on line, but after the spinning around down the slide and into the first pool, he wasn't so sure anymore. He forced a cry-filled "weeee" a few times, and definitely did a good job of pretending to like it.

Mostly, his thing is Ernie's waterworks and playing with all of the spouting water (and sometimes running a lap around the thing).

Knees Down

2010-06-12T10:09:00.000-07:00

Harrison has been into puddles lately. Aunt Chant was watching the kiddies the other day and Hare took a puddle by storm and before we knew it (and before I even got my key into the keyhole on my door) he plopped right on his bum and was soaked.

Today we had a similar occurrence, but it was under my watch and a slightly bigger "puddle." We were at Rutgers Gardens and the boys were playing all over when Calv had to go to the bathroom. I discretely took him to the side and let him go and when I turned around Harrison was up to his knees in the small stream we were next to. I threw in the towel (wish it was literally) and his was on his bum minutes later. He loved being soaking wet, so what choice did I have but to let him do it.

Just have to get the car seat outside to let it dry now.

Language Update:

I heard a "That is a baby," out of him the other morning when he was looking at an Anne Geddes photo on the wall. He also was saying, "Ready, Set, Go" before running down the slip and slide and grandma and grandpa's the other day.

Hats Off

2010-05-27T19:15:00.000-07:00

Harrison does not like hats, but his skin and therefore the part in his hair, does not like sun. So we have a dilemma. It is nice that his head is so big - it makes it so that he fits in the hat I bought for Calvin in Madrid last Spring when I met Aunt Aimee there. Calvin was almost 3 and a half and wore the hat, but of course at one and half, it fits you Harebear.

Today he was saying, "Ready, set, go," at the park. he also likes saying "Weee" on the swings. Climbing down the small rock wall at Donaldson Park is his latest challenge that he loves.

Verbiage

2010-05-25T16:38:00.000-07:00

Harrison is speaking all the time. I think his brother forcing him to repeat things has something to do with it:

C: "Harrison say 'Stop.'"
H: "Sop"
C: "Good job Harrison! Good job!"

These daily conversations combined with watching Diego every night and repeating everything he tells him to, Harry is pretty well versed (I just heard him say, "Sube" when Diego prompted for it).

He can say and identify the following:

Shoes
Mom
Dad
Fish (usually with "Hi fishy."
Hi
Bye
What's That?
What's This?
No

For doggies and cats he says the sound they make ("oof off" and "eow" respectively).

He also enjoys going into the bathroom and standing in front of the toilet while making a pretend peeing sound like, "pssssshh." I sit him on there and nothing comes usually, but at least he is not against standing in front of the toilet and peeing. He is afraid to flush and will have me flush the toilet nearly every time he pretend pees.

He also points to his body parts now - nose, eye, ear, mouth. That is always cute.

FOOD!

2010-05-13T16:05:00.000-07:00

This boy loves food. He eats it all the time and is a wiz when it comes to utensil use and dipping. He has already learned that it is rude to double dip.

We have Poop Off!

2010-05-10T20:11:00.001-07:00

Harrison voluntarily walked himself into the bathroom today and proceeded to stand at the toilet (with diaper on and nothing else) and pretended to pee. I asked if he wanted to sit on the toilet and I told him to hold on to my shoulders, which he is oh so good at, and then, like he had done it all his life, HE POOPED!

That is right, he pooped right in the toilet. This kid is a winner and so is his poop.

Huggie Bear

2010-05-07T11:12:00.000-07:00

Harrison is such a good hugger. I guess he got my good hugging genes. Everyone always says that I am a "good" hugger (which I interpret as me holding on a little longer than others which could be construed as uncomfortable), and I think Harebear has the same tendency.

He is great. All you have to say is, "Give me a hug Hare," and he wraps his arms around and often will lay the head down on a shoulder. It is so sweet and makes him so lovable.

He gives T. Cal a hugaroo every night and I eat it up. Calvin expects it now.

The dancing has not ended and Boom Boom Pow continues at least weekly when Calvin brings it out.

Hobbes loves to kick the soccer ball. He is all about the dribbling whenever he sees a ball. When Calvin was at swim class at the Rutgers Gym, he would always run up and down the side area of the pool and kick the ball up and down.

Rockin' Out

2010-03-01T18:23:00.000-08:00

Tonight, while playing with Harrison, the washer was going in the kitchen. Harrison was running circles around me while I lay on the ground (literally) as the washer went into the spinning cycle. (It was filled with a few articles of clothing, but mostly the bath mat from the poop that spilled over the back edge of Harri's diaper).

As the spinning began, so did a beat to match and thus ensued Harrison's interpretive dance moves. He danced and danced until the spinning cycle stopped and then he asked for more (literally, he signed "more" with his hands). I just laughed and apologized profusely for not being able to recreate the laundry song for him.

Bootprints

2010-02-27T16:48:00.001-08:00

Harrison's face is just so crisp in the cold winter air. Yummy.

Afterbath

2010-02-27T16:45:00.000-08:00

My favorite time of night - you know it and I know it.

Already Imagining

2010-02-20T16:30:00.000-08:00

Harrison is already pretending to be a doggy by crawling around on all 4s and barking "oof, off."

He also enjoys throwing magic occasionally (which involves putting a hand out and making a whooshing noise).

He also has the dancing gene. If there is a song around Harri immediately starts rocking out, usually with a little squat-like bounce.

Snow Time

2010-02-10T18:14:00.001-08:00

We made some chairs for the boys to sit in while we shoveled. It lasted for about 2 minutes.

Daddy Time

2010-02-10T18:10:00.001-08:00

Bubbles

Attacked by Silly String

Whiner

2010-02-05T17:46:00.000-08:00

Harrison is quite a whiner...I guess there are a few teeth coming in, but really? He always is wanting to be held and really really is having trouble with his teeth coming in. It has been like one after the other after the other...

I think we see the light. I think he is done with the whining today. He slept all the way through last night, so we are hoping that the worst of it has passed.

Cookie Caper

2010-01-16T13:12:00.000-08:00

Harrison made his film debut this week. The Cookie Caper found on youtube nearest you. Pete took this shot during filming. What a talented Daddy -- videographer/photographer. Where did we find him?

All Teeth

2010-01-07T17:59:00.000-08:00

Love this set.

The Center

2010-01-07T17:54:00.000-08:00

We took a trip to NYC to see the tree. Oh the great tree that traveled from Connecticut all the way down to NYC. It was nice, but crowded, but nice, but crowded. The boys were tired, we ate and Mc D's and drove home. Yay - back on the East Coast.

"Help"

2009-12-27T07:37:00.001-08:00

Harrison loves to help with the dishes, but I am not sure he quite understands the process.

Christmas Nakie

2009-12-27T07:16:00.000-08:00

Nothing like a poopy child on Christmas morning to bring out the nakie. We opened gifts (camera battery was not charged) and played with toys before heading to grandma's for food and more festivities.

Harrison had a particular distaste for this toy pictured in the center here. It makes a crashing, crunching sound when used and he flinches at it. He tends to be very sound sensitive and he is usually attracted to sound, but not this one. He even went so far as to climb onto Pete's back to get away from it.

Brotherly Love

2009-12-27T07:14:00.000-08:00

This is how we wake up Calvin from his afternoon naps.

A Nod and a Shake

2009-12-24T03:24:00.000-08:00

Harrison has been using the nod and a shake to communicate a lot lately, but this morning was great. He has chosen to only sign more when not prompted and other than that he pretty much ignore signing entirely and uses a short whiny sound "eh, eh ,eh" to get what he wants. Today he was using those sounds when I signed and asked "are you hungry?" and he stopped whining and nodded his head yes.

He has a lot of opinions. Whenever you try to feed him something and he is done eating, he shakes "nooo." It is so cute.

Chompers

2009-12-20T17:54:00.000-08:00

Our bottom teeth make us go from this...

to this in a matter of seconds.

Snowed Out

2009-12-20T17:37:00.000-08:00

sleigh riding

snow angels

everything that makes snow fun

Just Outside

2009-11-14T19:57:00.000-08:00

I love this little hoody on my boy from the hood. Love love love it.

Chasing ATVs

2009-11-14T13:08:00.001-08:00

The only way to get Calvin to stay on his Power Wheels ATV is to have Harrison chase after it. It makes taking walks with the ATV a lot more enjoyable - we don't have to keep telling Calvin to stay on it and ride it. It is so funny watching Harrison make a go at it though.

Birthday Dinners

2009-11-14T13:07:00.001-08:00

Harrison had the pleasure of 2 birthday dinners. One was very quiet and quick at home with Calvin and the parents and the other was not so quiet at a restaurant with just close family, 18 adults and 6 children. Not everyone could make it.

The cake made by a dear friend and neighbor from my childhood - Jamie Barrett is what really made the night.

Guests: Grandma and Grandpa Hagan, Therese and Gene with Violet, Jen, Dave with JohNny and James, Chantal and Keith, Aimee and Logan, Lindsey, Ron and Jaclyn, Mike and Annemarie, Yi, and Great Grandpa Clark.

Cake at Home:

Robes

2009-11-14T13:02:00.000-08:00

There is nothing better than dressing up someone who is so-so tiny and who doesn't even look like he should be walking yet in a robe, something only those adults who are sophisticated enough can really pull of wearing for more than the 5 minutes we would use a towel to dry ourselves off with anyway.

This one will not stop walking anymore. Any nighttime shots will now be a bit blurry.

Too Hot Halloween

2009-11-01T19:03:00.000-08:00

Halloween was too hot for the Vader costume, so we stuck with the 1980s spidey T-shirt. I love the blue hue. (Thanks for the pic Aunt Chantal).

Fall Festival

2009-10-31T19:05:00.000-07:00

Thank goodness for the Fall Festival - you got to wear your costume! Harrison loved roaming around the tables all on his own and stopping when people noticed him to dance.

Great Pumpkin Train Ride

2009-10-25T08:05:00.000-07:00

We took a train to get some pumpkins this year, and although the trip was not super-adventurous, it was a good rainy day pumpkin extracting activity. Five point five minutes was spent outside and 40 minutes were spent on the train.

The boys are accustomed to that sort of traveling, so they loved it. Harrison, walking around on the seats and Calvin running up and down aisles. What a team!

Pre-halloween Glimpse

2009-10-25T08:01:00.000-07:00

The paleness was just begging for a Vader costume this year. His brother as Obe Wan will just fit the bill. I am thinking double sided tape will keep the hat on.

Paparazzid

2009-10-18T18:52:00.000-07:00

Harrison Hobbes had enough and started attacking the woman with the camera. Luckily, no one was injured during the attack.

Bubbles

2009-10-18T18:50:00.001-07:00

Tonight's bath consisted of a nice sized bubble hat and some blue eyes.

Lope 'a Lope

2009-10-18T18:11:00.000-07:00

(Photo from Great Grandma's in White Haven, PA)

So I cannot spell the Flemish/Dutch language, but Harrison is doing it! He got up on all 2 and started making his way toward things he desires -- the kitchen for its openable cabinets and the bathroom for its warm bath tub to name a few.

He started really going after the walking about a week ago. Calvin tries to deter him, but he forges on. I keep reminding T. Cal that the more he pushes him, the stronger he will get. I think he'll understand what I mean some day.

Standing in July...

2009-09-24T19:50:00.000-07:00

...got a picture of it in September:

Nebulizer

2009-07-30T22:11:00.000-07:00

What does nebulize even mean? Harrison was on one for a full week. Nothing like a little torture to welcome you back to the States little boy.

Cough in Turkey= cough syrup
Cough in the US = nebulizing treatment -- machine with tubes and medicine and breathing mask that needs to be administered every 4 hours. Fun? -- think again.

Pull-Up

2009-07-30T22:08:00.000-07:00

Harrison has been pulling himself up for weeks now and he is totally gearing up for walking. He has gotten to his little knees and uses them to motor himself everywhere.

He especially loves grandma and grandpa's new front door because it is glass. He stands up on it and peers out at the world.

He is a good cat chaser and loves dancing. A little boogy and an arm bounce to the beat. Maybe we should get this kid an instrument.

Caught Shopping!

2009-06-28T05:09:00.000-07:00

I stepped out to gawk at a snail inching along on a paver outside and when I returned to the living room I discovered this:

Harrison was shopping for Crocs! Owning crocs is an epidemic in lojmanlar. One that I will be happy to have my husband join (with the Athens flip-flop of course).

Note: Yes, Harrison can pull himself up on things and yes, we are in trouble with the basement stairs at grandma's this summer.

The Love

2009-06-25T04:48:00.001-07:00

Pooh Bear

2009-06-25T03:16:00.000-07:00

Before packing it up, I wanted to make sure to get a shot of the little boy on his most current favorite toy. Thanks Aunt Kristin! You know a good toy when you see one. This thing has been around for 3 years and the boys still love it.

Laetitia

2009-06-22T23:19:00.000-07:00

We love you! And will miss you!

The Stepper

2009-06-22T09:25:00.000-07:00

We have a step dweller.

June 22 Update: He got to the top of the landing. We are in trouble.

Last Ladies Lojman Lunch

2009-06-19T03:39:00.000-07:00

Harrison just woke up from a nap and I brought him over to my neighbor Pat's house for some delicious cheddar cheese (imported) on some fresh bread and warm, baked potatoes. Too much with the food...

Harrison was playing with his friend Ian and they are just so cute together. I love how it looks like Harrison pushed Ian over with the strength of his ear when you look at the shots in sequence.

The Tooth that Could

2009-06-15T10:35:00.001-07:00

The sleeping through the night has ended. Two nights with a wake up in the middle. This second tooth is really taking a LONG time. It has been about 2 weeks and I have been saying, "This thing is going to break through tonight!" He doesn't seem too bothered by it - Cheerios and his own toothbrush put to good use. No sign of breakage yet, but it is sooo right there.

Beaching It

2009-06-10T05:06:00.000-07:00

Harrison has been lotioned up and is ready for the beach. Bring it on Manasquan.

(Our last stop in Şile - The Black Sea)

We Made It!

2009-06-09T05:13:00.000-07:00

To the door. We are slithering still -- working on our downward facing dog Yoga move, but no "real" crawling quite yet.

Night Swimming

2009-06-08T01:17:00.000-07:00

Harrison has been swimming in his dreams from 8pm-6am without a whimper for the past 5 nights. Dare I say my child "sleeps through the night" at 6 months? Calvin always boobed his way through the night. Maybe Harrison could use a pep talk to keep him going: Way to go Harrison! Keep it up!

Blessed Baby

2009-06-07T22:18:00.000-07:00

Harrison Hobbes was blessed yesterday. He was a wriggly little guy, but dad used the good ole straw he likes to play with to appease his wiggling desires.

Calvin was sweet watching as his brother was blessed - he kept telling us he didn't want to be blessed. At one point during the blessing, Pete said that Harrison would follow the good example of his brother and Calvin said, "No. Not me mommy." I tried to explain and rephrase, but Calv insisted that he was not a part of it.

Sesame Ready

2009-06-05T13:52:00.000-07:00

Pete purchased some balls and a small pool for Harrison to play in. He loves it - sometimes. Crawling out of it and eating the balls are his current pastimes.

More giggly smiles

2009-05-26T02:53:00.000-07:00

Harrison is full of it. He does not stop cracking up and smiling all the time. I mean, don't get me wrong, it is not like he never cries, but when he is content -- he is freaking content. Soak it up.

The other night we left Harrison in his chair after dinner and he was just looking around at stuff. Calvin had caused his plate of rice to explode, so he was slowly sweeping it into his dust pan and walking it to the garbage can when some spontaneous play arose. Harrison giggled quietly to himself and Calvin realized he was reacting to him. Calv took a step or two backwards and then lunged toward Harrison and Harrison really started laughing. By the 5th or 6th time, Harrison could not contain himself and I am sure he added some pee to that diaper, he was laughing so hard. It was great.

Penultimate Pediatrician's Appointment

2009-05-14T03:22:00.001-07:00

Our pediatrician routine is coming to an end. There is nothing like a 4.5 hour pediatrician trip. 45 minutes on the bus, 20 minutes walking, 30 minute appointment, 45 more minutes walking, 45 minutes to grab dinner, 30 minutes walking, 5 minutes in a dolmus, and then we wait for the bus that drives us another 40 minutes to a shopping center, where we grab a cab for a 10 minute ride home.

I know I have probably written this somewhere before, but every time I do it, I always forget what it is like. Thank goodness I have good friends who do it with me - and the dinner makes it totally worth the run.
Pictured below: Celine, Dr. Gulay Karadeniz, Harrison, Alisha, and Ian

Harrison is eating a balloon with a message telling mothers not to give their babies cow's milk before 1 year.

He was 69cm = 27 inches long and 8.6 kg = 19 lbs heavy.

Harrison also has his first tooth popping threw! His bottom right just poked it's little head up. And he got scratched by his first friend yesterday while battling over a toy (well really just holding the toy and then the older child decided he needed to toughen up). Love the important milestones.

PS - You have to love a pediatrician with red leather couches.

Summer Days

2009-05-14T03:18:00.000-07:00

Harrison was relaxing on the back lawn a few days ago while Calvin decided to walk all the way to the zip line (about a half mile away from the house) by himself. When discovered, Calvin told me, "I want to see my friens mommy." This is what I was busy photographing while Calvin snuck away:

The Giggler

2009-04-30T02:55:00.000-07:00

Harrison had a short nap in the morning and then we went to a friend's house right when he was supposed to take his second nap. After being there for 2 hours, he was quite overtired and this was the result.

Mommy's Sick Day

2009-04-28T05:57:00.000-07:00

Harrison has been reaching for stuff and will do 180s and sometimes even 360s. He's going mobile. He just has to figure out those knees and then we will have to figure out how to bar him from the stairs.

Out the Side

2009-04-28T05:19:00.000-07:00

When things just don't go in the right direction:

Tulip Boy

2009-04-19T22:29:00.003-07:00

Here are some shots of Harrison at the Tulip Festival at Emirgan Park.

Oz

2009-04-19T22:01:00.000-07:00

The wizard will see you now.

Stolen

2009-04-18T05:08:00.000-07:00

Watch as Harrison is taken from grandpa against grandpa's will. What are ya gonna do though...don't want to offend someone whose language you don't speak.

Happy First Easter

2009-04-13T11:19:00.000-07:00