Happy Nine-Month Birthday!

(A day early, but I won't have time to post tomorrow.) Prelude: Tor at the Lawrence Hall of Science, Sept. 2.

Three quarters of the way through his first year on earth, Tor is encountering my favorite season: autumn. It's fortunate that thanks to the multitude of friends he's gathered in his short life, he has an abundance of sweaters.

Smuggest guy at the farmer's market? Not a chance

"So, come here often?"

Future speed dater

Ready for the Bierkebeiner Cross Country Ski Race

Put gloves on. Grab camera. Put gloves on.
Grab camera. Give up.

Tor attended his first birthday party last Sunday: that of the famous Madeline, who has gotten even cuter and even zanier in her second year. No one knew either was possible, but the girl is a force of nature.


Tor was the youngest child there, so he mostly observed, but he managed to snag a toy here and there.

His doe eyes had yet to light on the doll

"What a non-gender conformist I'm raising," I thought

Then his true little-boy colors emerged

 The lad is now pointing at everything he sees. The semiotic value of this pointing remains indeterminate: sometimes it seems to invite us to share his attention to a certain object (e.g., a light), sometimes it's directed at us, sometimes it indicates his general displeasure with his situation. Hopefully it'll quickly become a more handy communication device. ("Handy!" I kill me.)

Daycare is going really well. They've been getting out to the park often while the weather remains good, which you all know Tor enjoys. And he's been drinking between 4 and 6 oz. of milk while there--not as much as we'd like, but a damn sight better than none.

"Gimme whatever you got in your cheeks and we'll call it even."

Honing his enviable spatial skills

Now he'll have to figure out something else he wants for Christmas

His nine-month doctor's appointment is scheduled for Friday, 9/30. It's easy to see he's grown, but will it be enough to keep him on his curve? Tune in next week and find out! I'll also try to get some pictures of him in a standing position--he's pulling himself up like a pro these days, but he does still require a spotter. Now that Daddy's home from a conference, though, we can team up to bring you the best of Tor.