What happens when friendship is not reciprocated?

As adults we have all come across situations where either we want to be friends with or someone wants to be friends with us more than we do. The friendship is not equal, we try and try and then finally just give up chalking it up to a lesson learned and move on. Sometimes it is just too much work and figure efforts are better spent elsewhere.

The last couple of days I have been watching this with Brady. He so badly wants to be Dexter's best friend. For those who do not know Dexter, he is our 95 pound lab mix dog. Dexter is a very goofy dog and for the most part has learned to deal with Brady. When Brady was first crawling I would watch him start to crawl toward Dexter and Dexter would slowly get up and move to lay somewhere else, Brady would lose attention and move onto something else.

Well that has now changed. Brady wants his best friend and cannot understand why the feelings are not mutual. I will watch Brady run (not walk) over to Dexter and do his version of petting Dexter, which Dexter and the rest of us see as slapping or grabbing hair. I try to intervene, but sometimes Brady is just too clever. I watched him slowly walk up to Dexter yesterday, pat him nicely on the nose with his left hand then do a swift blow to the nose with the truck in his right hand. Dexter just looks back at him wondering what he did to deserve the treatment. We take Dexter's collars off at night to keep it a bit quieter around the house, he loves to shake his head jingling the collars. It is very cute, but now in the mornings Brady will get the collars and walk over to "detter" and try and put them on, Brady follows him around the house with the collars until I put them on. I then have to deal with a dog who thinks it is walk time - do I ever win?

The only time that Dexter is Brady's best friend is when it comes to eating. Not a meal goes by that Dexter is not either beside or under Brady's highchair. He catches every crumb that slips off the tray. Brady has figured out how to slip his hand over the side and feed Dexter, which he thinks is a great time for both. Come to think of it, I do not think I have ever had to clean up the floor after a meal, so I guess it is a bit of a bonus for me too.

Some day I truly think Brady and Dexter will be great friends. I remember growing up with my dog Kel-lee and how special she was to us and hope that Brady has that with Dexter. Until then, I guess I will have to deal with the little growls coming out of Dexter when he has had enough and try and play peacekeeper between the two of them to have the proper balance to keep each of them happy.

Oh yes, Happy Thanksgiving - be safe.

Happy 1st Birthday

This past week we celebrated Brady's first birthday. I am not sure if he really understood what was going on, but he sure enjoyed the celebration. As with most little kids, Brady really liked the wrapping paper and boxes. Although once we got the toys all put together, he really seemed to like them as well. It was fun to watch him go from toy to toy and back again.

He also had his first experience with dessert - birthday cake. Jamie insisted on the cake being chocolate, so I made him a bear cake (we will start with sports themes next year I guess). At first, Brady was a bit tentative with the cake, but then he dug right in. I am not sure if he ate more or had more on him by the time he was done, but he enjoyed it so that is all that truly matters.

It is so hard for me to believe that a year has already gone by. Brady is busy all of the time and keeps us on our toes. He is usually a very good little guy, but lately has started to throw a few tantrums - great. He has also figured out to give kisses, all open mouth kisses. He has not figured out though if he should suck in or blow out while giving the kiss. He really enjoys giving me kisses (which I love too), however I usually end up with quite a bit of slobber on my cheek or chin. Oh well, what a mother does for her child. I figure some day he will not want to give me a kiss, so I might as well get as many as I can now.

Until next time....

Look - a Turtle!

I am sure some day Brady will hate me for his first Halloween costume, a turtle. I could not help it though, it is just so darn cute. Every time I would put it on him I could not help but laugh and he seemed to really get a kick out of wearing it too, even the hat and mittens. And how could you not love the shell on his back.

We did not do the typical trick or treating although his Dad would have liked all of the candy I am sure. We had two different parties we went to with him and then he went to Jamie's work on Halloween to show off his turtleness. I am sure this is the only year we will get by without trick or treating though.

Jamie helped Brady carve his first pumpkin. It was actually just playing in the guts of the pumpkin while Jamie emptied it out and left me to carve the face. Brady loved it though and had to try and give it a taste. Everything now goes straight to his mouth.

If you did not get enough Halloween candy feel free to stop by for some more. For some reason I figured we would get more trick or treaters than we did. I bought 150 pieces of candy and we had 36 trick or treaters (yes, I counted). So we have plenty of candy to go around - maybe I will save it for next year (kidding).

Brady and I made a quick trip home to Utah to visit my family a bit ago. He played in his first snow and decided he would opt for the faceplant while on the sled, but he loved it. Of course, he had to try out the kid snowmobiles, he is still a bit young but in our family we start them young. He can almost reach the brake, so maybe next year. We enjoyed seeing everyone and spending time with them.

On another note, Brady is getting 3 molars. So that makes a total of 11 teeth. He tried to get rid of one by knocking it loose, but it seems to be hanging in there. How many 11 month olds have been to the dentist twice already?

Finally, I have a little tear in my eye. My little guy will by 1 in one week. It hardly seems possible. He is growing so fast, but is truly the light of my life and his Dad's as well. He brings so much joy to both of us and we are constantly amazed by what he can do. Look for pictures on my next post of his birthday.

Until next time....