Did you know...

...that a female Panda can freeze a pregnancy for up to 135 days?

Bradshaw and I went to the National Zoo today. I love it there. Bradshaw's favorite part was the petting zoo. As soon as we got near the Jersey cows, he pointed his little finger at them and yelled, "cowuh!" I could've burst with pride.
Then I took him to the goats and he repeated right after me "got!"

Then we saw the monkeys and he squealed "cowuh!" At the cheetahs he screamed "cowuh!" Oh well. At least he has one down.

The i-will-not-leave-without-a-fight Face

Classic.

Sound included.

12 Months: "It's the Grand Shawshi's Birthday!"

It's true! Mr. Shaw is one year old.

Dustinn & I are so grateful for his sweet little personality.
He fills our apartment with happy noises. He talks while playing with his toys and if he sees either Dustinn or me watching him, he'll stop and smile up at us. He'll sit attentively and listen to books and laugh at certain pages (I can't figure out what he is finding funny!)
He makes us very happy.

Also, at 12 months old:

• He plays destructively! (Maybe that's all little boys?) He'll grab an object, swing it around his head several times, proceed to the hardest surface he can find and smash it repeatedly, then chuck it in the corner. And, of course, he does this all with a big grin.
• He is also really into "un-doing." This is fine when it comes to unpacking boxes but less pleasant when I am carrying armfuls of wet clothing from the washers to the driers. (He stands like a sentinel at the drier door to pull the clothes out onto the floor.)
• He'll meet eyes with me, hold the stare, and slowly bring something he is not supposed to eat (quarter, rubber band, etc.) to his mouth.
• He lifts the toilet lid and sucks on Daddy's discarded nose-blown tissue. Gross! (Note: I do not freely permit him to do this. It only occurs in the door is left open and he makes a dash for it.)
• He can turn on our gas stove.
• He takes wobbly steps.
• He is a sturdy stander. He pushes himself to standing and free-stands for long periods of time (while examining a particular toy, being dressed, etc.)
• And, when being dressed, he gets his arms through the sleeves by himself.
• He has begun to mimic. When he says Mama, my reply is always "Yes?" Sometimes he echoes "Yiis" in his high teeny little voice. It is so cute.
• He can say cow, dog, up, coo (cookie...we think), hot & car.
• He will address Dustinn or I (Dada/Mama) and then directly demand BABA (bottle.)
• He loves to point at things...like the squirrels in our complex.
• He can find a beat anywhere. He does the baby bop to the Mexican Polka downstairs, the phone's dial tone & the tick of a hospital CAT scan. In addition to the up-&-down bop, he began swinging his diaper side-to-side. (It's super cute.)

Thank you for celebrating his birthday with us. Here are the cake pictures:

#1. He started out pretty clean

#2. Then he rubbed frosting into his eyes

#3. Daddy came to the rescue and wiped the frosting out of his eyes

#4. Then into the bathtub

Thank you Val and Bradshaw

Can I take this time on the eve of Bradshaw's birthday to say how thankful I am for Bradshaw and for Val? Thank you Val for being the quintessential mother for Bradshaw. Bradshaw's been a very lucky kid this year to have such a loving, dedicated mother. I'm thankful for every day that I get to spend with Bradshaw (he can cheer up any day) and Val (she's the love of my life). Thank you Val and Bradshaw

The two most important people in my life:

El Salvador: La Playa

Isn't it beautiful?

Glad I caught this moment.
And this one. Nelson is so tender with him.
There was a shallow part of the pool for sun-bathing. Bradshaw loved it.
Family Picture
The wind was so strong that Lindy & Nelson were leaning on it.

VIDEO: Sorry, I recorded it sideways! (How annoying.)

However, you can still tell:
A. how much Bradshaw loved it
B. how strong the current was

This is my last El Salvador post. Hasta la vista El Salvador!

El Salvador: Dustinn befriends a hippo

Since we've been home from El Salvador, there is one thing Dustinn keeps talking about: Chato, Chato, Chato.

One of my dad's El Salvadorean friends, owns a zoo. Or he has a lot of big exotic pets in his yard. He has a pygmy hippo (or baby hippo, we weren't sure which) named Chato. Now, I know from my mission that hippos are considered the most dangerous animal in Africa. They can easily outrun a human and are very aggressive.

Chato has been raised from birth as a pet. You could get him to roll over in the water and spin his ears 36o degrees. Dustinn patted him on the nose and got him to open up his mouth.

Dustinn also managed to make Mama Lion very angry. (He was standing on top of her cage.)

El Salvador:The Miracle Baby

Our favorite part of visiting El Salvador is Agape.

Agape started as a soup kitchen and in the process recognized many other community needs. Then it grew and grew. There is a medical center, a home for the Elderly, skills training just to name a few.

...The people involved in Agape are truly saints.

Agape also includes a children's home. Many of the children have families but they are brought to Agape because they are sick or malnourished.

This little girl was so stoic. I was trying every trick to get her to smile and right as the corners of her mouth would start to pull back--BAM--her eyebrows would be furrowed, her lips pouted and brown little angry eyes would be staring at me. I couldn't help but laugh. She was SOOO serious.

I was asking the care takers about her and they said when she arrived 2 months ago she weighed 3 kilos. That's crazy! She was two years old and under 7 pounds! (Don't worry, she's healthy now.)

Here are some of the other beautiful babies at Agape:

El Salvador:

In mid-August; Dustinn, Bradshaw and I went with my family to El Salvador. We were fortunate enough to be hosted by some very magnanimous family friends. This trip was monumental for 3 reasons:

1. We got to see Nelson for the first time in TWO YEARS! He returned from his mission to Long Beach, CA just days before the trip. What a happy reunion!

2. The entire family (all 13 of us) were able to be there! Coordinating all the demanding work schedules was quite an accomplishment.

3. While we were there, we celebrated my parents 30th wedding anniversary. Way to go Mom & Dad!

The house where we stayed was right on the edge of a volcanic lake. The water was very clear, smooth and warm.




They have a dock out on the lake and we spent most of our time there: talking, reading, eating, diving off and watching family members get towed behind the boat. One of our favorite activities is tubing wars: 2 tubes are pulled (and thrown around) behind the boat. The goal is to have your opponent fall off while you remain strong.

At one point, all 8 of my dad's children were on the boat and we decided to see if we could get everyone on the tubes. Lorin, Nelson and Colton were on one tube; while the five girls (me, Katy, Genny, Lindy & Polly) were piled on the other. We didn't last long.

Later on, we watched the video of "the spills" and laughed until our eyes were watery (especially Nelson's superhero move: his 6'5" body flying straight up into the air and then flipping and bouncing across the water.)

(I really love this beautiful little face)

While we were in El Salvador, Bradshaw began standing up on his own. (Since this video, he has mastered standing and has begun taking steps.)

Do I have a positive, encouraging family or what?

Next posts: Dustinn Befriends a Hippo and The Miracle Baby

Tropical Storm Hanna

The storm took down 2 trees in front of our building. This one is propped up by the powerline; and the second is leaning on our roof.

And the river normally is much calmer & clearer.


BONUS PICTURE:

On a lighter note... there are miles of beautiful jogging trails behind our complex. Doesn't it look beautiful? Any takers? Dad? Cami?

Next Post: El Salvador

More Blaine

My father-in-law took such adorable pictures of Bradshaw & cousin Jack that I just have to post them. These are also from our week at Lake Blaine in Montana in early August.
(I know, I know...I'm really behind on posts.)

Gramps (Bradshaw's Great Grandpa) slalom-ing

and, the

Blue-eyed Beauties

I think this is my favorite picture from the trip.

This is Grams who is Bradshaw's namesake (along with Gramps.)

She is holding Bradshaw 10 months, Elliott 2 years 2 months & Jack 1 year 3 months.

Following the fine family tradition...

...Bradshaw is out on the water before he is walking.