Amateur (Photography) Hour

Grandma and Grandpa got us a very nice new lens and a fancy flash for our digital SLR camera. I think this is a subtle hint to M & D that the photographs they've taken of me thus far are not exactly up to snuff. (Grandma and Grandpa - I wholeheartedly agree with you). M & D are still trying to figure out just how to use the new apparatus and haven't quite mastered them yet (typical), but here are some recent shots taken with the new gear.

Love,
WFT

State of the Weston Address

Mommy requested that I write a blog post describing the current state of my life, as far as milestones, achievements, and other similar matters are concerned.

I must forewarn you, my faithful readers, so as not to turn you off from future visits to my blog. This particular blog post won't be replete the wit and humor that I normally deliver. It won't necessarily appeal to the masses, like all my other posts do. It will be a dry, presidential-like digest of the current status quo in my life. I call this my "State of the Weston Address."

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, my fellow Americans:

- The economy of my household is pretty stable. The GDP is on the rise (since mommy went back to work). Congress (mommy) is trying to cut back spending in order to reduce the national deficit. And unemployment is currently at an all time low in my household.

- My grandparents in New Hampshire like to call me Wes. My mommy calls me Westy. My daddy calls me Westo or Weston. And Buni and Papa John call me Westonel.

- Over the past week, I've begun sitting up for extended periods of time all my myself. 

- I've begun eating meals in my high chair.

- When I am hungry, I slap the table and open and close my mouth over and over again.

- I eat like an champ. Sometimes, I worry those who feed me that I don't know when to stop opening my mouth for more. I've been known to take down two whole (mashed) potatoes in one sitting.

- When I am tired, I experience mixed emotions and begin to laugh/cry (laughter mixed with crying at the same time).

- I often sit on daddy's lap while he's working at his computer, and I like to suck on the computer cord (daddy lets me do this much to mommy's dismay).

- I enjoy rhyming books (a la Dr. Seuss and Mother Goose).

- I love girls around mommy's age. I love it when they pay attention to me. And I usually crack up when they speak to me.

- I love my feet. Love looking at them. Love holding them. Love putting them in my mouth.

- I have a new facial expression that I've incorporated into my repertoire: I purse my lips and squint my eyes and scrunch of my face. It's an expression of happiness. And it delights my mommy and daddy.

- I am very serious at times. I like to sit by myself in quiet contemplation (like daddy). And when I am focused on a task at hand (i.e., inspecting a new toy), I do it very intently with all my concentration.

- When I find something funny (like when mommy says "boo!" or when Papa John makes the funny noises only he can make), I launch into a fit of giggles and squeals that last for very long periods of time.

- My favorite toy is currently the little soccer ball that Grandpa and Grandma gave me.

- Here is a list of things I've eaten thus far: Cantaloupe, pineapple, honeydew melon, apples, fresh orange juice, pears, bananas, avocado, sweet corn, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, carrots, zucchini, beets (which I will not eat again; I ate them happily but then threw up 3 times afterwards), butternut squash, chickpeas (not a fan; they gave me gas), peas, and green beans. And I'm sure there are others I'm forgetting.

- I am making strides toward crawling. I am currently able to get myself onto my hands and knees. From there, I can hinge my body forward and back several times (usually panting audibly while I do this because it's such hard work), but eventually I plop back down on my stomach once my body has reached exhaustion (which happens after about half a minute). Sometimes I get very angry during the process because mommy usually places an object of my desire several inches outside of my reach in hopes that I will propel myself forward to attain it. (It's cruel and unusual punishment.) I'm on the cusp of crawling. I just have to build up the physical and mental wherewithal for it.

But if I summon what's best in me, with my hands and knees planted firmly in today but my eyes cast towards tomorrow - I know it's within my reach.

Believe it.

God bless you, and God bless the United States of America.

Love,

WFT

Much Ado About Nothing

My life these days is best summed up by the title of a famous Shakespearean play: Much Ado About Nothing.

For example: A little over two weeks ago today marked the sixth month anniversary of the day I was born. Note, I am not calling said day my birthday because birthdays are traditionally observed annually, and not monthly or bi-annually. Of course, mommy didn't get the memo on this. She organized not one, but two, half birthday celebrations for me. And these weren't just regular, old gatherings. There was a theme: construction. There were decorations. There were toy CAT construction vehicles integrated into the food spread. There was champagne for the parents. There were construction hats for the babies to wear. And there was half a cake. And the (metaphorical) icing on the cake? All this happened two days in a row. (The literal icing on the cake was cream cheese).

I must say, it was a little embarrassing. So much pomp and circumstance over such a trivial milestone in my life. And as I type this with mommy monitoring my content (as always), she is advising me to "suck it up and just get used to it." Her words, not mine (my vocabulary is much more refined).

But, if I am to be completely honest with myself, I must confess I loved every bit of it. I got to see all my friends, whom I haven't seen in quite a while: Brady, Aidan, Jack, Mason, Eve and Alina on Saturday, and Violet, Clara, Teddy, Riley and Henry on Sunday. The parties were a blast. Everyone sang happy birthday to me. And - the best part - M & D let me eat cake (red velvet with cream cheese frosting), two days in a row. It doesn't get any better than that.

Six months and counting,
WFT

P.S. - I don't really care much for Shakespeare. Iambic pentameter doesn't impress me. But I am not afraid to name-drop to draw attention to the fact that I am familiar with his work.