The U.S.S. Fussy Britches

The Little Slugger

2011-05-21T21:12:00.000-07:00

This is serious business, baseball. Got to have the right equipment, affixed just so.

As you can see here, the good Cap'n Quinn is meticulous in his dress. Though he typically doesn't care to wear his ball cap, he's particular about his batting gloves. Exactly why, I'm not sure. Perhaps, like his father, he's becoming keen to the ritual of it all.

After all, if they were available in his size at a reasonable cost, Quinn would be decked out Old School style in high stirrups. Alas, all the sporting goods stores had were white socks with faux-stripes colored on. We're not fakers here. We strive for authenticity.

Speaking of authenticity, check out the kid's swing, eh? Thing of beauty. Joe Mauer, he of big paycheck and crippled body, could take a few lessons.

For a clinic of your own, check out the progression of the Siemers family's latest gifted slugger. As you can see in his first few games, he struggled to find his way to first. But by his latest game today, several weeks into the season, he's no longer hitting off the tee.

Now all we have to do is get him more interested in fielding the ball than digging for worms.

A Lesson in Manners

2011-04-14T10:23:00.001-07:00

Recently heard in the front seat from the rear seat of the car.

Quinn: Keaton what do you say when I toot?

Keaton: Toot

Quinn: Nooooo! What do you say when I toot?

Keaton: Toot

Quinn: (laughing) Noooo bud, what do you say when I toot?

Keaton: Toot

Obviously you get the idea of where this line of questioning went, no where! And I was busting a gut in the front seat. Because Quinn was trying to get "Excuse me" out of his little brother and it just wasn't happening. If nothing else, Quinn has taught his brother one thing, all the wrong things to say.

On any given day during a car ride we may hear Quinn in the back seat instructing his brother to say "poop" "pee" and "toot" and his little parrot has learned to mimic him perfectly. Thank goodness the only time we hear any of the words repeated is when Keaton has a "toot."

We Have a Rooster

2011-04-14T07:55:00.001-07:00

Unfortunately for us he lives down the hall and not outside. It seems this sweet little rooster has decided instead of going back to sleep like he used to much to my happiness at 6 whatever in the morning, that now when he rouses he chooses to shout out...."MA! MA!...MAMA! MA!" You pretty much get the idea.

He might stop for a few brief seconds to see if anyone is going to respond before starting up again because he knows this tactic so far has worked to his advantage. Sometimes it has gotten sleepy mommy to come in and tell him to go back to sleep, sometimes it has gotten daddy to come get him out of bed, but it always gets someone to come in and see him.

I'm is just wondering if this is the moniker (MA) that Keaton will choose to call me. It seems that is what he has chosen to get my attention for the moment, like when he's done with his yogurt and he wants the cup taken. Ma, Ma, MA MA! Only as the years go on will it graduate to "Hey Ma, can you wash my basketball, baseball, football gear?"

I think I like the ring of that.

Batting leadoff, and playing first base ....

2011-04-09T16:27:00.000-07:00

Before you ask, no, that isn't a young Kent Hrbek.

Kent Hrbek was a lefty.

What you see here, this young phenomenon, is a kid by the name of Quinn Siemers. Bats right (from a tee), throws right (and left, and straight, and over your head, and sometimes nowhere near you), and knows how to use a glove (to catch with, of course, except when he doesn't).

He wears the No. 1 and bats lead-off on an up-and-coming outfit called the Mariners. With their first game just a week away, they have ambitious plans to bring home the hardware this t-ball season, so long as it means getting ice cream afterward.

Quinn's first organized sports experience has been enjoyable so far. He's easily the youngest on his team, and his attention span is often lacking, but he seems to be enjoying playing with new friends.

He's not bad with a glove or a bat and seems to enjoy figuring things out. He was so enthralled by catching the ball with one hand that he wouldn't stop throwing the ball in the air and trying to catch it. The other kid waiting for him to throw it back, however, wasn't so excited.

Keaton sees all the kids playing ball and wants to join in, too. They unfortunately don't have organized baseball for kids under 2, so he'll have to wait his turn. In the mean time, he enjoys playing "bakkatball" in the front yard and, as you can see below, rocking out on the guitar.

Mom's Obsession

2011-01-21T20:06:00.000-08:00

Hel-lo Gorgeous

Ever have one of those moments where you are in a store and you hear the angels on high sing Hallelujah? It doesn't happen often here for me. Sure I see alot of things I like, but not alot of things I'm ready to drop everything and run to the register and pay anything for and not wait for a sale, you get me here? Today was one of those moments. I saw this here ginormous, and I mean, larger than life diaper bag and I was hooked. I don't even need a diaper bag anymore! But what I do need is a bag that I can still carry the occasional diaper, snack, drink, distractional item, AND all my junk too.

This bag is a Petunia Pickle Bottom Weekender bag, and weekender bag it is. I can actually carry Keaton IN this bag I think if I wanted too, you know ala, small doggy style. Although I don't think I will. If you must know I do have a tiny obsession with diaper bags. I never really owned that many, like some with diaper bag obsessions, but I was always on the search for a good one, and it always seemed like I found one when I didn't need one, kinda like now. But today I saw it, and I didn't care, this bag was going home with me no.matter.what!

So I will stuff stuff stuff away and see just how full I can pack this thing, it's got pockets and hiding places galore, hopefully I won't lose Keaton in it. I'm in love! Thank you PPB for making gorgeous bags, you can stop now, because I can't afford my obsession with these bags.

A New Love (ie)

2011-01-06T16:09:00.000-08:00

Meet Puppy

He's here to be a pal to Beh as Keaton calls him or Bear as we all know him, until such a time as bear falls apart (which, from the looks of it, may happen pretty soon with all the loving going on).

Bear was never meant to be the long lasting lovie. I was sure this time around I was going to do it right and have two of the same lovie, so when one had had it's day in the sun and needed to be retired, we would have a brand new back up! But nevertheless, somehow this blue bear became his favorite and I still don't know how it happened. But every night he tucks Beh under his arm and drifts off to sleep. Now every morning he wants to bring him downstairs for breakfast too, and lunch and dinner. So Beh is going through the ringer and showing signs of his masters love of pizza and waffles with syrup.

So Beh is going to have to show Puppy the ropes around here and maybe these two can be pals and one won't have to go away and they both can hang about, just like Quinn has his two favorite blankies. But if Beh should happen to just become too rough around the edges, hopefully Puppy will be there to pick up the pieces and fill in as the new blue love.

_

Christmas fever!

2010-12-15T21:11:00.000-08:00

Here we sat on Monday, ready to go bowling at Daddy's company Christmas party, when the Grinch came in and stole our fun.

He arrived just after Quinn's nap in the form of a 103.8-degree fever, causing one miserable and slightly nauseous little boy.

But this truly is a tale of Seuss-ian proportions.

That 'ol Grinch was vanquished not long after Quinn hit the sack. He woke the next morning a brand new boy, ready not only for school but his first-ever Christmas concert.

It was a virtuoso performance by the Happy Hearts preschool of Aloha, Ore., with Quinn singing loud, ringing his bell, and stroking his faux Santa beard on command in front of a standing-room-only crowd.

Their reward was a visit from the big man himself, all the way from the North Pole -- a cameo appearance we've captured here for you on videotape.

Enjoy it, along with the marvelous singing.

Even the Grinch cracked a smile.

Dear Santa

2010-12-09T11:16:00.000-08:00

Dear Santa,

I've been a very good boy. And so has my brother Keaton.

Here are the toys I would really like for Christmas.

I would like alot of toy animals in a big box. The animals I would like are: an eel, a hammerhead shark, a buffalo, an Orca, a dolphin, a black and white eared tapir, a deer, a lizard and a crocodile, and an elephant. And a red fox and a red panda and a black and white panda.

And may I please have a dog and a pillow pet and may I please have an owl because I lost the other one. And may I please have a meerkat and a hyena.

I would like a black bear and a red dragon with black on it. And I would please like a pelican and a toucan.

And I would like a pillow pet for my brother Keaton. I'm going to choose a animal toy for Keaton too, a snake. And a stingray for Keaton and a stingray for me. A pufferfish for Keaton, and a pufferfish for me. And a jellyfish for Keaton and a jellyfish for me.

We're going to put some cookies out so you can have them with some milk. I hope you enjoy them and have a nice Christmas.

Love,

Quinn and Keaton Siemers

Keaton Reads at OneTrueMedia.com

2010-11-09T08:04:00.001-08:00

Keaton has come a long way in just a short month when we visited the Dr. at 15 months and he asked was he saying many words. And at the time he wasn't. He had maybe 3 to 4 words in his repertoire. Those being: Dexie, for the dog, Go go go, for going up the stairs or anywhere where you want to go! Duck duck, for the obvious and hmmm, drawing a blank on one I think. But not long after that visit, it seemed his little vocabulary just exploded! Here you will see him reading me a book, because really that is the only way it happens now. He is much too busy to sit and be read to and you can hear a few of the words he says. His list of words right now are as follows:

Whaz zat? (or something similar)
Gop gop = book
nigh nigh = night night
no
nana (sometimes I think he also means "snack" with this one)
by = butterfly (also one that Quinn said)
bye
hi
says "moo" when asked what a cow says, but also for any other animal
ball
bubbles (not very clearly)

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Quinn's New Daily TV Routine

2010-11-02T07:56:00.001-07:00

Just thought you'd all like a glimpse into our daily life now that Quinn has decided that this is how he MUST watch TV, on OUR TV. With his large blanket and EVERY stuffed toy, animal toy, and whatever other toy strikes his fancy that day. Yeah makes for interesting sitting when you want to also try and sit on the couch.

Trick or Treat

2010-11-02T07:47:00.000-07:00

Thankfully we had a small reprieve from the rain Sunday evening for trick or treating. Quinn had a blast running from house to house gathering his loot. Random phrases to be heard coming from him at points throughout our excursion were, "I LOVE trick or treating!" "Dad (Mom), look, I got some (more) candy!" "This is so much fun!"

It was plain to see that Quinn was having the time of his life. Keaton too, was having fun, although he had to sit back in his car and point out the sights. Most houses had steps up to them and we couldn't get him close enough to get his treats, so we pushed him along to see the ghosts and goblins. Next year he'll be able to run and shout "Trick or Treat" with the best of them.

Pumpkin Carving With a Superhero and a Dragon

2010-10-30T08:46:00.001-07:00

Bet you didn't think it was possible did you? Well it darn near wasn't. The dragon was wandering around aimlessly dragging out utensils and balls and random toys. The superhero was jumping around fighting imaginary foes tearing up the newspaper daddy had painstakingly put down to keep the floor somewhat clean.

Finally pumpkin carving commenced and it couldn't begin fast enough for Quinn. His job was going to be scooper of pumpkin guts. "Can I scoop now Dad? Can I scoop now?" Dad hadn't even gotten the top cut off yet. Patience is not a virtue of our oldest son. It was then that I realized this was probably the reason why I had never carved a pumpkin with my parents until I was probably in my 20's. They probably felt the same way.

In the end all was well and uneventful, Quinn did a great job at chief guts scooper and Dad did a good job carving the spooky pumpkins. The dragon, he was the supervisor.

MacGyver I am Not

2010-10-28T10:32:00.000-07:00

Resourceful Mommy I am even not! About 2 seconds into our car ride to pre-school this morning, Quinn decked out in his Halloween costume, he was messing around with the mask portion of his Robin costume, Robin being from Batman and Robin, so this mask is quite important at keeping his identity secret you know. When all of the sudden--zing--and well there goes the elastic on one side of the mask. Well apparently THESE super hero costumes were not made all that well. So I tell our super hero that mommy can't fix it right now in the car to pre-school. He is wailing,sobbing, as all good super heros will you know. How will he fight bad guys when they know who he is?

I try to explain that mommy does not have a fix it all kit in the car and that I will be able to fix it for trick or treating, just not for pre-school in 30 seconds. He calms down sort of and goes to class where he proceeds to tell everyone he broke his mask and I leave. I immediately call daddy to tell him the terrible news. Daddy, ever resourceful daddy says "How about stapling it?" Mommy says: "Stapling? Nah, no, you can't staple it. It would never work, I'll just sew it later." Meanwhile in the back of her mind she thinks, why on earth didn't I think of that! Men just think like MacGyver I guess.

Changes, like autumn leaves

2010-10-02T22:36:00.000-07:00

Ok, first the crawling. It's over. Old news. Done. Finite.

Walking is in. WAAAAY in. Might as well call it running. The kid's completely over with the knee thing and into the feet.

It's fun watching Keaton figure out the whole walking thing all of a sudden. It's like watching the evolution of man in fast forward. One day he takes two steps, then it's six, and finally today we've got to keep him from a running sprint to the highway.

I'm not sure, but I think he asked for a motorcycle today.

When that happens, I'll post pictures, just like the ones below from the past few days and our week-long trip to see Grandma and Grandpa Smith in Pennsylvania.

And in case you need evidence of our walker, there's plenty of video below.

It's show time

2010-08-29T19:26:00.000-07:00

It's been too long since we've posted. We know this. Apparently chasing after two boys really cuts into our blogging time.

Some day, we'll get our priorities straight.

To satiate your need for Quinn and Keaton news, here is a whole highlight reel from the past three months, starting with our trip to Minnesota in June.

Enjoy.

Talent show

2010-05-23T15:55:00.000-07:00

At this point, I'm wondering if there's anything these boys can't do.

First Keaton: Crawl? Check. Climb? Check. Squawk like a bird? Youbetcha. Cute? Of course.

Now Quinn: Dance? Naturally. Sing? Like no other. Hunt for Easter eggs? Gleefully. Play trombone? Are you kidding? Better than his Dad.

In case you don't take our word for it, here's the video evidence.

Sunday Drive

2010-05-18T19:50:00.001-07:00

Keaton has been spotted out & about lately in his sporty new red plastic car with the snazzy dad handle. He likes it, dad likes it, what's not to like about it? He's been seen getting the mail in it, spotting ducks and touring the neighborhood. We got word it needs to go back to the shop for some work, so we'll have to get it in soon.

In other news our little big man has been pulling himself up to things and standing for short periods of time. He likes his big brother's train table and I caught him standing up next to it this evening tearing it all apart to get to another piece of the track that was out of his reach. He's a wily little fella who seems to be a bit mischievous and jumps with a start if you catch him doing something he probably shouldn't be doing.

Quinn is becoming the big helper around the house, whether it's gardening, or sweeping the back porch. He may not be perfect yet, but at least he tries.

We visited a pre-school last week where we hope he can go in the fall. He watched as the kids sang songs and did their daily jobs. He joined in on the fun when it was free-play time and it was hard to tear him away. He was a little wary about going to "school" but I think he'll fit right in come September.

Bugs and Teeth

2010-04-29T21:36:00.000-07:00

Our littlest member has been a fussbudget recently. Don't dare put him down to play or you will receive his wrath, usually just crying and crawling as fast as his arm will drag him to get to you, making you feel just guilty enough to pick him back up.

After another unsuccessful day of trying to get him to nap, a light bulb went on in my head. Hmmm, maybe he's getting teeth. Maybe is an understatement. I can say that literally overnight -- OK, could have been a few nights -- Keaton has 3 new teeth. Three! He's growing them like beans in there.

Meanwhile Quinn has a new found love for all things relating to bugs. Mostly he likes to try and find them and then stomp on them for all he's worth. Last Saturday we all spent the morning outside doing yard work, dad doing the heaving lifting of mossy brick, mom digging up weeds and tulips and Quinn digging for worms which he would study for about 5 seconds before bringing down his foot several times on it making it fertilizer. Today he was hanging out behind the blinds, Handy Manny flashlight in hand looking at a "mysterious bug" he told me later. Well he is definitely a boy!

Keaton, other than sprouting teeth, is "talking" more these days, although he is pretty quiet about it. He's formed an attachment to a bear that has been in his crib since he was newborn and hangs onto it when he's trying to get comfortable. Mom wants to replace it with a bear that will stand the test of time. But I'm getting opposition from Dad and probably would from Keaton too. So we'll see.

2010-04-10T21:28:00.000-07:00

As a sports-loving dad, it's hard not to push your kids into being athletes.

Sure, Quinn's got a great throwing arm (righty, though I'm encouraging lefty), can hit a baseball (to all fields, no less), and is a natural soccer player (uses both feet, with power and control).

But there's more to life than athletic prowess, right?

That's why we're encouraging the boys' artistic side. As you can see above, Quinn is becoming an accomplished painter. He even describes himself as an artist. Just the other day, his smattering of paint on paper was deemed good enough to hang in a gallery (and by gallery, I mean my cubicle at the office), where it received rave reviews.

Keaton may be too young for sports (built like a linebacker; early signs of a killer pitching arm), he has his own artistic talent: stand-up comedy. He loves to sit on the floor, stare up at you with a goofy grin and make a stacatto-like sound: "ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ahhhhh."

He'll be here all week, folks. Try the veal.

A pair of lions

2010-03-14T21:56:00.001-07:00

Keaton can't talk and barely moves. Quinn never stops talking and can't sit still.

Yet somehow, the Cap'n and Skipper have developed a mutual form of communication. Call it guttural. Call it primal. Call it a growl, because that's what it is.

These brothers are enjoying playing the role of dinosaurs, roaming treacherous landscape within Keaton's 6-foot-wide radius of movement. Or they're pirates, traversing the ocean in search of burying treasure at the bottom of the toy box.

Decide for yourself. Here's some photographic evidence.

Natural evolution

2010-02-13T20:44:00.001-08:00

Keaton is leaving his turtle stage, where he lays on his back and occasionally rolls over. He sits up now, although with Mommy and Daddy or his baby chair as a prop. But it's still sitting up, which is more than we could claim last week.

This is where it starts to get fun, not that it wasn't fun before.

He's still a baby, and will be for a long time, but he's advancing to a stage where he feels more like a little boy. Keaton will sit in his little Bumbo chair, fully supported, and dig into a box full of baby toys. Across the house, his big brother is doing the same thing, though rooting through a bucket of Hot Wheels cars.

They're really not all that different anymore. I'm discounting, of course, Quinn's stage of evolution, which involves him saying things like, "Get out of my face, Dad!" and "I'm so, so, so, so, sorry, Dad!" and "Let me tell you a story ... "

But today, the day before Valentine's Day, Quinn really warmed Daddy's heart.

We were at Costco and Daddy was stuffing a case of beer into the bottom of the shopping cart. Quinn, looking at the case, said, "When I get big, I'm going to drink beer just like my Dad."

I know I shouldn't be proud, but let a Dad have his moments, even if they're mildly inappropriate.

My boys are getting bigger.

Hey, watch this!

2010-01-01T17:52:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! Any other holidays we missed?

Pardon us if we seem forgetful. It's been a long time since we updated this blog. So, in the spirit of giving, we've given the blog a new look and present you with a handful of holiday videos of the good Cap'n Quinn and the Skipper Keaton.

Happy Christ-Giving-Day-Mas

2009-12-05T15:56:00.001-08:00

You know that song about the kid who only wants his two front teeth for Christmas? First of all, that's a ridiculous Christmas gift. Unless you're a beaver, what's the advantage of just the two front teeth? Why not a whole mouthful? At least then you could enjoy a steak, or at least a chicken wing.

Anyway, Keaton got his Christmas present in late November, while celebrating Thanksgiving at Grandma and Grandpa Siemers' house in Minnesota.

And believe us, it was FAR from a gift.

It's hard enough to get acclimated to unfamiliar surroundings, then these two little tusks poke through, causing enough pain to make three people lose sleep. And those three people were: Keaton, Mommy and Daddy.

On the upside, the early arrival of these chompers is yet another sign that Keaton is developing rapidly. He's already rolling over and trying to sit up. He's also writing this blog post. (He's not, really, but he probably could if he applied himself. The kid just sits around all the time.)

Despite the teeth, we had a nice time visiting family in Minnesota. Other than Turkey Day, the visit included Keaton's baptism (with Uncle Ken, Uncle Hal G. and Auntie Toni as godparents). We also took in the self-proclaimed "world famous" fish house parade in Daddy's home town of Aitkin.

Quinn spent good part of his trip learning about Paul Bunyan, he of wood-chopping fame. So it was only appropriate that we flew back to Oregon and the very next day chopped down a tree.

It should be of no surprise that Daddy would have never been able to chop that tree down were it not for Quinn and his plastic handsaw. We toppled that great fir tree, then celebrated with beer and cider. (Daddy had the beer, in case you're taking notes.)

The tree is now decorated, much of it by Quinn. Of course, that means the majority of the ornaments occupy the lower quarter of the tree, no higher than three-feet high, but he did a mighty fine job for a first-timer.

That's how the holidays started, and so far they are commencing with enough adventure to fuel these stories, so enjoy. That's your Christmas present.

Beats a pair of teeth. That song must have been about an orthodontist's kid.

The big 3, a night of ghouls, and a week of the icks

2009-11-14T21:43:00.000-08:00

We've been remiss in updating you about all the activity aboard the U.S.S. Fussy Britches.

And there's been a lot to report.

First, there was Halloween. For his first year of trick-or-treating, Cap'n Quinn did what comes natural -- gave a hearty "aaarrgghh" and donned his pirate garb. With Mommy at work, the Skipper Keaton came along for the ride, dressed as a more-cute-than-scary skeleton.

Quinn knew the drill: Knock on the door, stand back a few steps, and when the door opens holler "trick or treat!" He had so much fun, Daddy thought he'd have to take him out every Saturday night.

Halloween was followed by something far scarier -- a week of the yucks.

First Mommy got it -- the fever, aches sinus headaches. Then it hit Quinn and then Keaton and, finally, Daddy. Luckily, Keaton's powerful young immune system dispatched the yucks in just a day. For Daddy, it lasted just two days. Unfortunately, it lasted a bit longer for Mommy and Quinn. But they're on the mend, and just in time to head to Minnesota next week for Thanksgiving.

But before we get to that, there was Quinn's big day.

A third birthday may not be as momentous the first two, but you'd have a hard time convincing Quinn.

First, he and Daddy made a special trip to the theater to watch "Astroboy" and eat popcorn. Then on Saturday, after we dropped Dexie off for a haircut, he picked out some purple balloons for his birthday party. Just after we got home, our party guests arrived, and Quinn had lots of fun playing with his friends Evelyn, Jonah and Lenore.

Mommy made some great food. And while most everybody left before we cut the dessert, the rest of us enjoyed some pretty tasty ice cream cake.

It was a fun day and Quinn was wore out when bed time came.

Let's hope he and his brother are just as tired when we step on a plane next week. Minnesota, here we come!

Quinn and his first round of birthday presents:

Quinn and Keaton show off their Halloween costumes:

Keaton cooing to his Mommy:

Dancing with the Star:

Action in October

2009-10-25T12:34:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy month.

Grandma and Grandpa Siemers, Auntie Tara, Uncle Hal and Cousin Abby all came out to visit from Minnesota. It was nice to have so much company at once, even if the house was nuttier than usual -- and that's saying something.

The kids went to the zoo. Grandpa and Hal did some handiwork around the house. And Daddy and Grandpa helped build a sandbox for the U.S.S. Fussy Britches. All it needs is a little fine-tuning and a coat of paint and the sandbox will be complete.

This was the first time our Minnesota family has seen the Lil' Skipper Keaton. Understandably, they fell in love with him. The little guy is getting bigger and smarter by the day.

In just the past week Keaton discovered how to use his hands. He seems to favor a toy dinosaur named Spike. The dinosaur is almost as big as him. He grapples it like he's on the losing end of a wrestling match. Finally, he just gives up and chews on its nose.

We got back into our normal routine this weekend.

Each Saturday we have some sort of family outing. Normally, it's just a trip to the farmer's market or out shopping. But this week we visited the Roloff Farm pumpkin patch. The Roloff's are our famous neighbors, the stars of "Little People, Big World" on the TLC network.

The film crews were busy Saturday following the Roloff family. Meanwhile, Quinn's hand was nearly eaten while trying to feed a baby cow. Unfortunately, the film crew didn't get that on camera. Once Quinn settled, we had a good time climbing a haystack pyramid, checking out the ponies and running through a maze of hay bales.

We picked out two pumpkins -- one Daddy carved, and a little one Quinn chose and painted with his finger paints.

They're outside the house and all lit up.

Hopefully, they'll manage to scare away any stray cats.

Girls not allowed

2009-09-23T21:40:00.000-07:00

Mommy is back to work now, leaving Daddy and the boys to man the U.S. S. Fussy Britches on the weekends.

In just three weeks of duty, Daddy has managed to keep the ship on course. The boys get fed. Nobody gets hurt. We even sneak in a trip to the park.

Daddy will be the first to admit, he doesn't run as efficient an operation as Mommy, but he does alright, which is about all you can ask.

With Mommy back in the swing of things, that means daycare comes back into the picture. Despite a few hiccups in the process -- which included Keaton going a day at one daycare with almost nothing to eat -- we're back to where we started, taking the boys to the same place Quinn has been going to since we moved to Oregon.

This wasn't an option to us before. Quinn's caregiver didn't watch newborns. But seeing that we were desperate, she gladly took on both boys, and so far it's working perfectly.

We've been trying to find alternative to the TV as an entertainment choice for Quinn. Lately, Mommy decided to turn him into an artist, making pictures out of macaroni glued and painted on paper plates. He's quite a talent. The kid also has some improv skills. He enjoys modifying nursery rhymes. To wit: "Jack and Jill Went up the Hill to fetch a pail of ... sandwiches! ... poop! ... blocks! ... basketballs!"

Keaton is also becoming more animated. If well rested, he enjoys sitting up in his bouncy chair and looking around at the world with his big round eyes. He likes it when Daddy stares back and asks him to talk. It usually elicits an approving coo or gurgle. Come to think of it, that could be gas.

We've grown concerned about the shape of Keaton's head, which is significantly flatter on one side thanks to two months of holding him in the same position.

We're working on evening it out a bit.

But that's what weekends with the boys are all about. A little bit of rough-housing is the perfect cure for an unbalanced head.

Skipper TV

2009-09-06T11:02:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since we posted any video of the little Skipper and Cap'n Quinn. So here's a little something to satiate your demand.

Mommy is back to work now, leaving Daddy to take care of the boys on the weekends. We're doing alright so far, though it's only been one day.

Daddy has had his own excitement. That is, if "excitement" is an appropriate description for stupidly stepping on non-reinforced sheetrock in the attic and nearly falling through the ceiling. Luckily, just one leg dangled from the sky before Daddy pulled himself back up to safety.

He still feels stupid because of the gaping hole in the ceiling, but he'll get over it.

Anyway, on with the show.

Small talk

2009-08-27T20:30:00.000-07:00

Keaton, the Skipper, our cute little ball of flesh, has googly eyeballs.

He likes to sit in our arms and stare at us, as if there's something hanging from our noses and he's too polite to say anything, but not polite enough not to stare.

This is the sign of a curious young mind; an observer of the world, taking it all in through wide-eyed stares.

Just a week shy of being two months old, he's not expected to say much. He's not expected to say anything, really, which explains my surprise when one day, out from his pursed little mouth, came this noise:

"Coo."

So he cooed, in an ever-so faint way that made you think twice before you realized he wasn't passing gas.

A "coo" is baby talk, so technically we can't consider that his first word. But it was certainly his first noise other than crying, so it's worth documenting in the annals of time.

Cap'n Quinn, by contrast, is a verbal jukebox filled with coins.

What did you do today Quinn?

"Went to the park and saw the kid... then the purple guy and the shark ... and, and .... the pirate and the pirate and the blue guy ... and chicken and fries and then ... (spinning in circles) whoa! whoa!"

As bright and articulate as a nearly three-year-old can be, he still has more in his brain than his little mouth can handle at once.

The doctors say Quinn has mono, a virus which typically makes you lethargic and miserable. Quinn is ebullient and generally cheerful. I wish everybody had his kind of mono.

Certainly, he's worth staring at with googly eyes.

A spot of mono

2009-08-15T21:08:00.001-07:00

Nobody likes to be sick.

And nobody likes to be sick with lymph glands swollen to the size of grapes, a 100-plus degree fever, massive flaming tonsils, chapped lips and a faceful of spots.

Quinn, however, doesn't seem to mind. It's 9:15 p.m. on Saturday -- way past bed time -- and the Cap'n is spinning in circles, looking to play with his bubbles and finishing a movie. I'd enforce some kind of curfew if I wasn't so pleased that he isn't miserable.

Because yesterday afternoon, I was worried.

Constant complaints about a sore mouth and a sore belly, coupled with the high fever, precipitated our second visit to the doctor in a week. Initially, the doctor was visibly worried -- the massive size of his lymph nodes led her to fear the worst. But a favorable blood test showed he is more likely fighting off a virus, and he has the symptoms of mononucleosis.

Our hope, naturally, is that this mono (or whatever it is) runs its course quickly, rather than the months-long lethargy that can come with the illness. So far, our fears are subsiding. Despite difficulty sleeping and periodic fevers, the good Cap'n Quinn has been his normal ebullient self, albeit spotted and bored from being stuck indoors.

Perhaps the most challenging part has been keeping him away from his little brother.

Keaton continues to fill out nicely. The little Skipper loves to look around at the world, his big eyes wandering at whatever moves, no matter the hour.

Naturally, we'd prefer he stick to eating, sleeping and pooping in regular intervals, but a little human curiosity isn't something to discourage.

Makin' progress

2009-08-02T21:46:00.001-07:00

We're past the three week mark in the young Skipper's life and, not surprisingly, he's getting cuter by the day.

With every bottle of milk our wee little man fills out even more. What was once a tiny little sprite with scrawny little frog legs is already showing signs of becoming a big strong boy. Along with that comes a growing curiosity to see the world, to look around a bit. Unfortunately for us, he seems to like the time around 2 a.m. best.

The adventures continued this weekend, as Keaton and his big brother, Cap'n Quinn, ventured to the Washinton County Fair. After visiting the regular collection of farm animals, and after a few nibbles of a corn dog, Quinn took his first crack at carnival rides. Depite Daddy's initial apprehension, he proved yet again that he's no longer a baby boy. He rode a helicopter ride with his Grandma Smith, and motorcycle, alligator, space ship, and construction truck rides all by himself.

Seeing that, Daddy realized his little guy is growing up -- even if he still tries to fit in Keaton's infant carrier.

The little gentleman

2009-07-22T20:14:00.000-07:00

That handsome devil you see there is the Skipper, posing like the young gentleman he is for Mommy's talented photographer friend Jessica.

We made a big trip up to the Seattle area this week to have some professional shots of our wee little Keaton, and he performed admirably.

You can check the rest of Jessica's work, including the complete Keaton photo shoot, on her Web site here.

In just two weeks, Keaton has grown to 7 pounds and stretched a whole two inches to 20 1/2 inches long. The doctor gave him a clean bill of health this week and told him to keep up the good work.

Cap'n Quinn, meanwhile, is well on his way to mastering the potty. We've got a ways to go before we can completely abandon the diapers, but we're working our way there.

He's been busy trying to help Daddy out around the house. He's used his toy screwdriver, wrench and hammer to help build a table and a desk. He helped with some landscaping and, as you can see in the pictures below, he mowed the lawn. He's a busy two-year-old.

Natural evolution

2009-07-16T21:46:00.000-07:00

There are lessons being learned daily here on the U.S.S. Fussy Britches.

Consider, for example, the Good Cap'n Quinn. Just a few weeks ago, he went on a slapping rampage, smacking other kids across the face unprovoked just to see the reaction. Later, he would constantly repeat to Mommy and Daddy: "I smacked that baby."

Today we took the whole family to the zoo. Quinn was standing next to a pretty little girl about his age. He started to stare right in her eyes, a familiar preface to a slap, based on his three previous infractions. But instead, he moved in for a kiss, a delightful and innocent moment we hope is a sign that he's moved on to more peaceful forms of expression.

That urge to kiss and nuzzle has no doubt been borne from his love for his new little buddy, the Skipper Keaton. As you can see from the pictures below, the boys have become pretty comfortable with each other, though, admittedly, Keaton doesn't say much to confirm this.

Still, they're good boys and they're learning every day. Today, for example, Keaton and I learned that cute babies are far more interesting than any zoo animals.

We were a popular exhibit.

Night and day

2009-07-14T21:59:00.001-07:00

The Skipper has found his way home.

Nearly a week old, Keaton has settled nicely into a routine: sleep all day, up all night. But compared to his big brother the Good Cap'n Quinn, Keaton is a piece of cake.

You could say it's the difference between night and day.

As a newborn, Quinn's crying never ceased. Want to put him in a basinet? Scream. Hold him? Scream. The only time he didn't scream it seemed was when he was being fed. He learned how to sleep at six months.

Keaton, however, is a mime with a squeaky hinge. He stares and observes his surroundings silently while awake, his hands waving wildly as if conducting an orchestra. Then, when he wants something, he utters this subtle yet steady screech that builds to a crescendo the more you bother him.

One of those moments came today when Mommy and Grandma Smith gave Keaton his first bath. He's a gentleman, you see, and gentleman don't like to show their business off so cavalierly. But there he was, bits exposed, getting sponged by Grandma while Daddy held the camera. Clearly, he was mortified. But he survived, looking even more handsome.

Quinn reached a milestone of his own today when Daddy took him out for a special day at the movies, his first time at the big theater.

Upon entering the theater to see the latest "Ice Age" film, he looked around and, awestruck, said "what is this place?" With his buttered popcorn and fruit punch in hand, he sat through the whole movie like a champ, leaving Daddy to say, "We need to go to a lot more movies."

Quinn agreed. We could even bring Keaton.

He won't make a peep.

Excuse me sir, but do you know the way to Casablanca?

2009-07-10T22:13:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow we depart from this den of cleanliness and nice ladies in scrubs. Off we sail to our White House, as we call it, or "Casablanca," in the parlance of the two worldly adventurers at the helm of the U.S.S. Fussy Britches.

We shall lift anchor by 11 a.m., with The Skipper Keaton buckled in tightly to his hand-me-down car seat.

His third day on this planet was routine by the previous days' standards, but full of its own landmarks. Keaton is eating more, though still on a quest to gain weight. He's discovered the benefits of the pacifier, and has begun opening his eyes and scouting out his surroundings a lot more. With each day, his curiosity grows.

The Good Cap'n Quinn is still fond of his new sidekick. Uninstructed, he likes to lean down and nuzzle his nose against Keaton -- a gentler form of hug. He's driving his Grandma Smith nuts, but that's what 2.5-year-olds do.

Mommy is enjoying the service at the hospital, if not the food. She'll miss being waited on, though it's even odds that Daddy will take over some of those duties. He's probably happiest to return to the White House after three nights sleeping on a pull-out bed that could easily be classified as a mild form of torture.

But mostly, it will be the Skipper's big day. It's his maiden voyage to Casablanca, and Sam's gonna be playing his tune.

Here's lookin' at you kid.

Day 2: Smooth sailing

2009-07-09T21:35:00.001-07:00

And on the second day, he slept. Then slept some more. Still sleeping. Woke up a bit. Ate a little. Back to sleep again.

That's pretty much been the Skipper's routine on Day 2 of his thus far, not-so-exciting life, save for the 10 minutes when a doctor and a sharp knife declared war on Keaton's privates. They won, the pirates, but one day we shall meet again.

Mommy is recovering nicely and was able to get up and shower. She has complaints about the hospital meatloaf, which I contend is not really meat, but is decidedly loafish. It still beats the liquid diet she was on before, which consists of jello, some sorbet, and a variety of broths that I imagine to be comparable in taste to the IV fluids that were pumping through her veins.

The good Cap'n Quinn is still getting used to his new sidekick. He enjoys holding Keaton on his lap -- "Put him on my pants, Daddy?" -- giving him nuzzling little kisses on the nose. It's cute for all of five minutes, when he resorts again to the rambunctiousness that comes with being two-and-a-half years old. It's clear, though, that he really loves his little brother.

As you can see in the picture above, Keaton is just starting to take a look at the world through those big beautiful eyes.

There's a lot to see, buddy, and a lot of time to see it. Take your time.

Go back to sleep.

The journey begins

2009-07-08T20:52:00.000-07:00

He arrived blowing bubbles, as if to tell the world, "hey man, no big deal."

That's our man, Keaton. The Skipper. Actually, a pretty big deal.

He makes a perfect sidekick to our hero, the Good Cap'n Quinn, his big brother and partner in crime. The two met for the first time today, just a few hours after the Skipper breathed his first breath, squeaked his first squeak.

The Cap'n is brave and in control. He approached his new partner tenderly at first, then smiled that knowing smile, right before taking charge.

"Can I hold him please?," he asked Mommy.

Of course you can. Take him under your wing. Show him how we lead this mighty ship of ours, the U.S.S. Fussy Britches, through the rough waters and dirty diapers of life. Show him what it means to take and ball throw it, to race a car, to play with the dog, to beg for ice cream and then get it.

Yes, Keaton, Skipper, you have arrived. Blow your bubbles, young man. Tell the world, "no big deal." Then take it over.

This ship has set sail.

Keaton's first bath

Quinn meets Keaton

Quinn and Daddy hang out with Keaton