Tales from California

It's been a few months since I reported on the adventures of Super Tagman.  That's because it's been summertime and we have been playing playing playing.  Tag just turned 22 months old and I am right in the sweet spot of the most fun age of all.  During my single years (which were many), I always enjoyed little ones when they were between 18-24 months and now that my own son is there, I have been taking full advantage.  And Tag does not disappoint!  I can't even begin to give it justice to describe all the games and laughs we have shared with Tag the last few months, but here's a few:

Airplanes.
No matter where we are, or what is happening around us, Tag always notices every airplane that flies over our heads.  Last week, we took Tag to the airport and flew to Carmel, California to stay with our dear friends, Matt and Kieri Coombs for a week.  Tag was in hog heaven with all the airplanes at the airport.  And the way he yells Airplane is just so awesome. He yells, "Ah-Taaayn!" with kind of a southern drawl.  He loved watching out the window as we took off and he yelled, "Ah-taaayn high!"

Matt, Kieri and Toryn Coombs

While in Carmel he immediately took to the Coombs' teenage kids and he loved going to the beach.

Tire Swing.
The Coombs have a huge tire swing hanging from a large tree in their backyard and every time Tag saw it, he said, "Swinging High, Daddy!".. I must have pushed him fifty times on that swing.  I mean big kid-style pushes!  He is so little, that I had to put a pillow in the middle of the tire so he wouldn't fall through the hole and he couldn't get enough.  One time I pushed him high and put a twist on the tire so he would spin.  After this experiment, Tag would say, "More swinging HIGH!" and then shimmy his shoulders back and forth to communicate that he also wanted more twisting. 

Monterey Aquarium.
One the best aquariums in the USA.  Tag loved it.  Although, for Tag it was only half about the sea creatures.  The other half was all the open space with which to RUN.  Tag has been practicing his running and jumping and he loves to run almost more than anything else right now.  For his little size, he is very skilled, and always garners looks, smiles and attention.  Carmel has many hills and as we walked to many of the quaint restaurants, Tag was wanting to run down the forgotten driveways and cobblestone paths.  He finds so much joy exploring, that I just can't say no to his requests to "Daddy, watch... RUN!"

Kite Fly.
While on the beach in Carmel, a nice Aussie man started flying a kite.  Tag dropped his shovel and pail and was completely drawn to the kite.  I took him over and the man immediately connected with Tag's smile and handed him the string.  I was afraid Tag might let go, but he impressed us all by holding tightly and smiling so big.  The best part was that 5 or 6 other little kids came over and said to the man, "Can I have a turn?" -- to which he kindly replied, "NO" and he went right back to playing with Tagman.  I have to buy Tag a kite.

Tag with his Aussie friend

Diaper Rash.
For about 2 months, Tag had a terrible rash on his bum and crotch areas.  We felt so bad for him.  Each time he would run or jump, he would stop in his tracks, spread his legs gingerly and say softly, "Owie, bum bum".  It was funny, but sad.  There have been a few times when he has fallen or gotten hurt where I realize how fragile his little body is and I just want to protect him.  The other day, he was running upstairs and fell on the tile and chipped little pieces off three of his front teeth.  Surprisingly, he didn't bleed or cry very long.

Games We Play
Tag and I invent many games and we laugh a lot. A few that I like:
Superman.
I lift him in the air like he's Superman and fly him around, then run to the bed and launch him into the pillows while I land right next to him. 
Godfather. 
While in the car driving, Tag will attempt to talk in a guttural, low froggy voice.  When I mimic him, he laughs and we all laugh.
"Mo Get 'Im". 
I chase Tag around the house chanting, "I'm gonna get him...".  Whenever I stop to rest (I'm getting old...), he comes up to me and says, "Mo Get "im!" -- which means, Come on Dad, get him (me) some more.  It makes me laugh.
Ball Kick. 
You just have to see the video of Tag kicking any ball.  He's good at it, don't get me wrong, but before each kick he does this 4-5 stutter step warm up that is my favorite thing he does.  I've gotten it on video, so I'll have to place it on youtube.
Boots.
It snowed here a week ago and Joann pulled out some hand-me-down snow boots and put them on Tag.  About every 30 minutes, he comes to the top of the stairs and yells down to me, "Daddy!"
Yeah, buddy?
"Boots!"
Then I run over the base of the stairs and say, "You have your boots on?"
And he yells with utter joy, "Yeah!"
Butterfly Blow
Before bed, Tag always says, "Sto-wee" -- which means he wants a story.  He's not yet interested in the words to the story, but he loves to go page by page and try and point out the animals or images.  I'm always amazed how much he already knows.  Camel, Tow (cow), eagle, owel (owl), snake, dog, cat, bee, woof (wolf), ah-gater (alligator), fish, boy, and more.  Two of his stories have a page with a big butterfly on them.  I made up this game when we reach the butterfly page where I flap the pages and lift the book into the air and land the corner of the book on the tip of my nose like the butterfly has landed on my nose.  Tag then leans close to my nose and give two hard blows as if to shoo the butterfly off my nose.  Then I do the same thing and land the book corner on his nose and he blows the book.  He loves this game and always asks for "Mo' Nose".  It is so cute and one of our favorite storytelling games.
Scawy Witch
It's nearing Halloween and Joann hung a pretty frightening witch in the entryway.  This witch has a motion sensor that when you walk by, the eyes flash red and she cackles quite scary-like.  Initially, Tag wasn't sure he liked her, but I got him to think scary is funny by acting scared then laughing.  Now he always asks me, "Daddy, mo' scawy witch!" -- and we get her cackling.

Joann is 8 months pregnant and I think we are excited about the new Brinton.  I say "I think" because we are both a bit nervous about the birth after what we went through with Tag.  Joann has decided to have the little guy at home again with the same midwife, Dianne Bjarnson.  While I have complete confidence in Dianne's abilities, we are both nervous about having another crazy experience.  While I know Tag's tumor was very rare, the experience was very real and I'm not sure what a "regular" birth experience is even like.  We've done three ultrasounds, and the growing boy seems to be quite normal, except that he kicks and moves around much more than Tag was.  More energy than Tag?  I need a Red Bull!

Every time Tag and I play or laugh, I am reminded of what a miracle and gift he is to Joann and I and I recommit myself to spending quality time with him.  While my business grows at a slower pace than if I moved to an office, I have decided that it's worth it so I can take advantage of this special time with Tag and Joann.

Tag Hits the Big Top

Friday Sept. 23rd, while Mitch was off at a convention in Florida,  I took Tag up to the Ringling Bros/Barnum & Bailey's Circus.  Car rides are tough with him, even on the hour rides to Salt Lake it's hard to keep him happy.  He started to get excited as we were approaching downtown and he could see lots of kids walking down the sidewalks.  I couldn't get him out of the car fast enough, "want see kids!" he was saying.  What a feast for the senses the circus is! Lights, music, colorful people and animals, toys, smells of popcorn and hot dogs filling the air.  It's not the same as it was under the real big tops that I remember going to once or twice as a child, but was still very fun in Delta Center/Utah Jazz arena.  I thought the animals would be the most captivating to Tag, but it was actually the acrobats flipping and swinging in cirque du soleil style he loved the most.  He watched alternating between smiles, looks of wonder, pointing, laughing and even screaming in delight at the acrobatics.  It was magical for him even if at this age he won't remember it.  Tag enjoyed the tigers, elephants, and horses quite a bit as well.  He seemed mesmerized by an act with lots of guys on bouncing stilts that were dancing, flipping over each other, and doing some cool basketball stunts into hoops- he loves basketball like his dad! The clowns were over his head at this stage and he just wanted food or to roam during their acts.  He was as captivated by the food as well and wanted to eat the whole time-  after finishing the snacks I brought he pestered our neighbors for their kettle corn, drank a full bottle, and finished off most of his first real hot dog- I had to give in for the circus.

Mitch and I have both discovered that Tag can really pack a punch now.  I came to this realization when I was playing airplane on the floor with him.  I had just set him down (not an easy thing 8 mths pregnant) and was still lying on my back when a little board book came flying at my face.  He got me right on the bridge of my nose.  I saw stars, had a couple of cuts, and a swollen nose for several days. We both shed some tears- mine from pain and his from fear at not really understanding what was going on.  Mitch was playing on our bed with him- they love to do a different kind of airplane where Mitch runs with Tag and then launches them both onto a pile of pillows.  He closed his eyes for a second upon landing and got a head butt to his lip.  He got a puffy, bloody lip that turned into a lovely canker to remind him not to close his eyes around our little guy who doesn't know his own strength.  

I've been trying to prepare Tag for the new little brother he'll have soon by talking to him about the baby in my tummy and showing him some pictures from our later ultrasounds (which thank goodness look fine- he even looks like Tag one of the 3D pictures) and on the internet.  After seeing the pictures a few weeks ago, he laid his head on my stomach and hugged it, with his little hand patting my tummy as he talked to the baby.  It was so sweet!  He has done it several times since too as we talk about his brother.