Baby "B"

Braden has WAY too many nicknames. It’s a wonder he even knows his name is “Braden.”

We’ve called him:
Wiggle Bean, Sweetie-dee, Poopdee, Poopteenie, Boogerdeenie, Bubba, The Boy, The Balls…

And, more often, Baby “B” (or Baby-bee). There are 2 reasons:

1) We call ourselves “Mommymee” and “Daddydee”

2) He’s Baby “B”raden.

So when I was deciding what he would be for Halloween a month ago, and getting totally overwhelmed by all the insanely cute choices, I took a minute to think, “What would be really fitting for HIM?”

And this is what I came up with:

Random Sharing, While in Agony

Kind of random and pointless post today, since my back is acting 159 years old again.

Something I did in the past few days (not sure what, exactly) has paid off by resulting in sciatic pain shooting down my leg yesterday morning, followed by tender, nervy pain in my lower back last night, and climaxing as serious, hobbling-type back pain for me all day today.

It has worsened as the day has worn on, no matter what I have done. Usually I can minimize the pain with a combination of Ibuprofen/Ice Gel Pack/Hydration/Rest. Today, the Back Pain Demon is having none of it.

So, I hobbled down the steep-ass driveway this morning to sweep up the mulch that some Butt Raper’s dog flung out of the flowerbed I’ve been nurturing alongside the driveway. If I see this happening again, I swear I’m going to run out there, bad back or not, and kick that freakin’ dog as hard as I can.

Then John mowed the lawn, since it was starting to look like no-one lived here, and a kid came to my door last week and asked me, “Can I, uh… mow your lawn for some money?”

John has been gone all this afternoon to do work on Chris Cagle‘s next album. He’s at Scott Hendricks’s studio, much to his delight. He’ll probably be there all night. Yay @ the work and the experience for John. Boo @ John being gone while I’m all decrepit.

Braden has been increasingly vocal in the past month, with a sharp upturn in the jabbering activity just this past week.

He’s been making a sound for some time that I SWORE was him asking “What’s this?” It sounds kind of like “Huh-Ish?” He confirmed my suspicions a few days ago when he held up his little, fake cell-phone and CLEARLY asked me, “Whas-tis?” He has said it semi-clearly only once more since then, but has been repeatedly making the “Huh-ish?” and now “Teh-Iss?” sounds while pointing, or staring, at something. It’s wonderful.

For the record, he’s been saying, “Dadada” for awhile. Sometimes it seems discriminate, sometimes it seems random. Today, twice, he’s whined, “Maaaaahh” to me in a needy way.

Also for the record, TEETHING SUCKS. I would like to petition Our Creator for a change in this process, ie: all teeth should arrive overnight, at one time.

Have I mentioned that my back hurts? Right now, it’s feeling like Satan’s Torture Playground Rehearsal Scene, in the movie, “Lotus: The Later Years.”

I need a nap. Where’s MY paci?

*grumble*

At least Braden’s having some fun today.

His Musical Soul

My son clearly enjoys all things musical. His appreciation ranges from making odd, alien-like and sometimes Clingon, or decidedly mechanical, sounds with his own mouth, to digging the actual music that mommy and daddy listen to.Braden is thrilled to beat on pots and pans, and likes to play his own little guitar. When he hears music (of any kind… the crappy little tunes that his push-button toys play as well as anything from Gwen Stefani to Guns N Roses) he sings and dances.

His version of singing is a beautiful art to behold. Sometimes he dreamily tilts his head back and coos and wails mournfully along with a tune. At other times, he emits a shrill screaming rant, rife with emotion. And there are moments that just beg him to perform his rythmic ‘shout and bark’ style of song. You can’t witness any of it without smiling. And, if you can, then you’re a butthole.

Dancing is also something that calls to Braden’s heart and soul. The child will “dance” even when seated, and to anything even remotely musical. A crappy version of “Camptown Races” had him swaying in his highchair this morning. Upon hearing “Wind it Up” by Gwen Stefani yesterday, he held onto the arm of my office chair and bounced up and down, then swayed, stomping his feet.

When John plays his guitar, Braden can’t decide whether he is more interested in slapping the strings along with Daddy, or dancing around in a circle singing, “AH-ahhh, ahhh-ahhh, AH-AH-ahhhhhhhh!” Both are endearing and adorable.

Even the grinding, creaking sound of the cabinet doors in his bathroom enchants his little, musical soul.

He has a love affair with these cabinet doors, btw. He doesn’t even care what’s inside anymore. His greatest desire in that bathroom is to engage in endless exploration of Cabinet Door Audiology. Sometimes he is studious and serious, bordering on being Completely Zoned Out, while he’s in “cabinet mode.” Other times, he is silly and boisterous, giggling and squealing in delight at the wonders his friends (the doors) reveal to him. I wish I could capture some of that wonder in my life at my age. Wait, I have! In him.

My kid – he both ages me and keeps me young. God bless him, the cute little fart.