my son is sneaky! he knows that he is not supposed to be getting on his grama's computer and if i call his name and start walking down the hall, low-and-behold, her comes mikhai burning rubber around the corner trying to look innocent. i'll say "you better not be on grama's computer" and the look on his face is translated into "what! me? i wasn't on grama's computer!" yet when he sees me, he turns around to push the keyboard back in and close the drawers. (little shit)

Friday night Mikhai and I went out to dinner with my mom and dad to Ton’s and of course my son got spoiled. As soon as we walked in and Bill recognized us he was all over my son. Then of course Nancy came over and played with him. Towards the end of the meal, Mikhai was getting kinda fussy and didn’t want to eat anymore so Bill came over and gave my son a whole lemon. He got a kick out of that lemon. We had given him some chopsticks earlier and I showed him how to poke a hole in the lemon… That kept him occupied for a good fifteen minutes until we left. He would put the stick in and pick it up like a hammer and try and beat on me, then he would take it out or he would wave it and the lemon would go flying and I would have to chase it down…lol. Then we would repeat the whole thing over. But he had fun with it and we had fun laughing at him. :o)

Saturday Mikhai got to go to his first rock concert at the Ridglea. We got to see DownLo, Sidekick Mafia and Frolic. Mikhai was a hit with everyone. Christian’s (lead singer of Frolic) mom and dad were there and were just amazed by my monster and the fact that he was jamming to the music. I had him sitting on my lap most of the time and I would bounce my legs then stop and he would still be going, but it was him moving. That boy has got pretty good rhythm too. About halfway through the set for Frolic, Mikhai passed out and seeing as how I was sitting on a stool and my back was starting to complain I went to sit on the bench and a guy sitting there said, “now THAT’S impressive”. Mikhai was passed out in his “I give” position and was not fazed one bit by the loud music and the cheering and screaming that was going on. Christian (lead singer) and Tull (drums) both said that they rocked him hard...yup.

Sunday the state of Texas FINALLY got some much-needed rain. Actually, Texas has had rain, but what little it has gotten has just gone completely around our house. Yesterday the rain actually touch our lawn. It was so strange...lol. But the whole point of mentioning that Texas got rain was to say that Mikhai went outside to play in it. He didn’t play very much though. He had his normal scowl on his face cuz he was trying to figure out where that water was coming from. He could not find the faucet...lol. I took him down to the end of the driveway to play in the little “river” but he slapped the water a time or two and then had enough of it. When I told him he could go inside he took off like a bolt of lightning. When he runs, he still kinda has the penguin waddle going on, but he pumps his little arms so he is just too darn cute and I have to laugh at him. (I know, mean mommy, but I can’t help it.)

Also yesterday Mikhai threw up twice, but I really don’t think he is sick. Both times that he threw up he was in the midst of a temper tantrum and coughing and gagging himself. (I could really do without the temper tantrums...really, I could.) I told ms. Tee this morning just so she would be prepared. I hope this is not going to be a normal thing for him...

Yeah, yeah….i know I’m slacking in the update department…..(we had a few firsts)

Mikhai stayed overnight at someone else’s house for the first time a few weeks ago. He stayed with his aunt jojo while mommy when out to dallas with some friends. (mommy had a blast and I think that Mikhai had a good time too…lol)

August 11th: Mikhai went to his first Texas Rangers game. He was a very good boy. I am so glad that the gentleman sitting next to us was someone that I worked with and he liked kids cuz my son was all over him! Hank was so sweet and got a friend for life by sharing his French fries (with ketchup) and his water bottle and his cotton candy….lol. He kinda got this quizzical, trying to figure it out, look on his face when everyone screamed when we scored or when we hit a home run. He danced a few times when they had the music really loud. All in all, he had a good time and was such a good boy considering…..

*Oh, we found out that my son is a head-banger! I don’t remember if I have posted this or not (it’s been so long), but on the way to the ballpark, we were listening to one of my cd’s by Korn (twisted transistor) and Mikhai was in his car seat just banging his head to the beat, trying to shake his booty, kicking his feet and waving his arms. Let me tell you that boy has rhythm! (that’sa my boy!)

August 13th: Mikhai went to the zoo for the first time. We went with my girlfriend and her parents (they have season passes) and she said that any time that we want to go, just call her…even if she didn’t have the girls, she would go with me and my son. Hell she says that Mikhai is her son vicariously through me since she has two girls so she really doesn’t mind spending time with him and he’s so much fun to just watch. Anyway……He spent a lot of time with that quizzical look on his face. He especially had that look on his face when we visited the elephants! These big monstrosities were MOVING! I got a picture of the both of us by this bronze statue of an elephant and I also got some pictures of him in the reptile house trying to grab the turtles through the glass…lol. We only stayed for about three hours or so, but he had a good time, I think….lol. oh!, oh!, oh!!! I almost forgot about the parrot paradise! They have this cage that you can go into with parakeets and cockatiels and I’m sure some other birds, but you buy these popsicle sticks with bird seed on the end and the birds will literally land on your hands and eat the seeds. I have some GREAT pictures of my girlfriend and her daughter and then one of Mikhai scowling at the birds on my hand….lol. he is so expressive, especially if he can’t figure something out yet.

*I took him to the doctor last week cuz I thought he might be sick (turns out it was only a virus and of course they can’t do anything for that really) but when he got weighed they let him stand on the scale and he thought that was fun and wanted to do it again. Their scale has this little pole attached to it that is the perfect height for Mikhai to hold on to. (he’s so adorable!) oh yeah, and my "little" 15 month old son weighs in at 28 pounds...

*He is just amazing me with the things that he says and the things he is recognizing and the things that he is doing. Ms. Tee gave me a copy of a sheet that she updates every month with observations of Mikhai… The first month that he was with her, this is the observation she made: Mikhai is able to crawl as well as stand up. He is already pulling up on the table and able to walk around the table. He is very confident and aware of the things around him. He is very advanced for his age group. (this was November of last year, he was 6 months.)

Here are the rest:

December: Since the last observation, Mikhai has started to play with the other children and he knows what toys he wants to play with. He is a very happy child. He also displays a lot of confidence, is not scared to try or do anything. Most children at his age are not doing the things that he is doing.

January: Mikhai has started to walk and has truly amazed me. He is not the average baby. He keeps up with the older kids and he is not intimidated by them being older, it seems to push him and motivate him to do what they do.

February: Mikhai is a cuddly baby. He loves to be picked up but them he wants to be a big boy. He wants to play with the big kids. He has now moved from the high chair to the table with the older children. I never underestimate Mikhai.

March: Mikhai can communicate to the other children what he wants and seems to get his way. He knows what he wants and how to get it. He is a happy child, always smiling and laughing.

April: Mikhai can feed himself and uses a sippy cup. He always promotes himself to graduate from things. He wants to be a big kid and honestly I feel he is a big kid inside of a little body. The sky is the limit when it comes to what Mikhai can do.

May: Mikhai can run/speed walk, it is amazing. He still only sleeps about 20 minutes, 30 at the most. I call the power naps. He can use a spoon while eating and he eats with the older children.

June: Mikhai is able to eat cereal by himself and he wants to use a regular cup. If you pour a little juice in the cup he can drink it without spilling it. He can climb up onto a chair by himself. He can pull himself up on the couch by himself.

July: Mikhai is a fast learner and he is always wanting to learn and try new things. Mikhai is very energetic and can hang with the big kids. The latest thing he is doing is standing on everything. (very confident) Reading this makes me so proud to call him my son.

*He’s getting so advanced in the pool. He is kicking his feet and moving his arms, trying to move forward and when he goes under he kicks and tries to get back up. When he comes up, he sputters, but is fine within moments. He was crawling all over a float and playing with some toys and at the same time, working on his confidence and balance in the water.

*His grama finally cut his hair again on Sunday. He was getting really shaggy and when we were out, our waitress asked me if “she” was done with her plate. Uh, yeah, HE is finished. My kid is a BOY, not a girl. I don’t even dress him remotely girly. There are crooked spots on the haircut, but Grama says that she thinks she did a damn good job considering it was a moving target. Lol.

Hmmm, I think that’s all for the moment. Unless I remember something else, then I’ll have to post again……

Mikhai gets to go to his first professional baseball game. I just got tickets from work for the Texas Rangers game for tonight.

I'll try to post later this weekend and tell all about it...

mikhai LOVES the pool. we went swimming last night and he just had a blast! he was basically doing the doggy paddle and all i was doing was holding my hand under his tummy. he was moving his arms and kicking his legs. he is also getting to the point where he doesn't freak out if water gets into his face. he still sputters a little bit, but that's natural and he'll get over even that little bit soon. (he is progressing entirely too fast)

oh, and we saw some more "ooooh!" (planes). if one would come into his line of sight, he would stare at it until he couldn't see it any more all the while saying "oooh! oooh!" no, mikhai, airplane. airplane. "oooh!" (translation: duh, mom, that's what i was saying) lol

he fell asleep in his grama's arms last night and i took him to his bed about 10:00. he woke up once, but all i had to do was pat his back and he went back to sleep and slept the rest of the night. he woke up at five and woke me up by patting my arm and telling me that he wanted in bed with me. i put him up there and he tossed and turned and flipped and jabbed and kicked on top of me until he was comfortable. by the time he was done with that it was time for me to get up. his "comfortable" position included reclining against my pillows and throwing his legs across my stomach.