No! (week 235)

He sure is cute, but Christopher might just be the naughtiest little brother that you ever met. Up until now Christopher has utilized very few words. There is dadda, hot, doggy, juice, and shoes. But a new word has arrived on the scene over the past two weeks that has taken-on a life of its own: no! Christopher employs the word 'no' like a pirate employs the profane: at every opportunity. He uses it when he wakes-up, when he brushes his teeth, when he watches a movie, and when he comes-out of the tub.

He uses the word 'no' so much now that he is saying it in his sleep. He also has a unique way of delivering it. He puts a lot of emphasis on the consonant...drawing it out a little bit; and his voice is usually soft--not offensive but almost cute--when he delivers it. You want to laugh when he says it, but he clearly means it.

Christopher has also mastered the art of pouting. While I have never been known to do much pouting--usually straight from happy, to explosive shouting or crying. Christopher will stick-out his lower lip and make a dramatic pout when he doesn't get his way. He will walk around to make sure that everyone knows that he is upset with the current state of affairs. He is very conscious about who is watching and will often crack a smile between pouts when some laughs at him. While he is stubborn, his sense of humor does not allow him to be mad for very long. Christopher continues to be the most social dude in the family...probably only a few notches below his cousin Eli.

This week we also got to go to Angels Stadium to see our friends Devin and Mio, and to see the Angels play the first-place Rangers. Jared Weaver (from Long Beach State), was pitching...and although he didn't get the win, the Angels won the game in the bottom of the 9th with a walk-off two run home run. We didn't get to see that either because we left in the 8th inning to rescue Aunt Kelly from babysitting Christopher at home. It was very fun to see the Angels and to see Devin and Mio (who are now having a baby)! They came all the way from Japan with their friends, the Narutaki family who brought us a bullet train, Japanese flags, and a head-bandana like the Karate Kid!

One of the coolest things was that I got to meet a kid probably 12-years-old, who built an entire replication of Angels Stadium out of cardboard and other materials--my dream come true. Although I have spent most of my time drawing them, his stadium takes it to a whole new level!