Monkeys 'r Us

Dylan is putting on his best for the trip to see his grandparents. Now, if only he could choose which lucky little monkey to take along.

Walking man - The real deal

He's up and looking for the party.

Walking man

OK. Boy. But he's no longer a lil' monkey now that he's bipedal.

It all started with the high chair as a means of keeping himself upright.



Then he got into pushing things around.



Then he turned the wagon into a scooter...



Then there were tentative steps...



A few more with lil' Cornelius and then... (next post)

Vroom

Dylan is up and walking on his own, but he still prefers the rapid acceleration of his rocket chair.

The Roles of Dylan

A couple of the things Dylan likes to do on the weekend: Pretend he's laundry and Scottish.

Basket boy


The little Scotsman

Funny Faces

Could be the teeth coming through or some gas or practicing for the Jim Carey rubber face contest.

Laughing Saturday

After a week of cold and rain the sun broke and everyone was in a happy mood. Dylan gets a good couple of laughs playing peek-a-boo.


A couple more from a game of horsey and hey, we're away for a laughing Saturday.

Eat Camera

That's what's going through his mind.



I froze a frame from another of his attacks on the camera and am convinced that the angel of light lives in my boy. However, that is a sticker on his noggin and not the sign of the beast.

The Chase

Maybe not as exciting as the flying scenes of car chases down the hills of San Francisco, but Dylan like to chase down this yellow buggy just the same, although he's a bit precious about what he does when he catches up with it.

Vegetable or Fruit

Hard to tell if he likes them or not. The pucker seems to suggest that carrots might be an acquired taste.




Now watermelon, that's a different story. If only he had a few more teeth to sink into that rind.

Splishing in Xiamen

Good weather, nice scenery and water. Ah, baths in Xiamen.

Crawl before walk

I should have posted this video before the previous one. Here's Dylan figuring out on his own that he can push the high chair.

Early Steps

These aren't the first, but they are Dylan's own way of saying that he's ready to go bipedal. Unfortunately I missed filming him in Xiamen as he climbed his first set of stairs (crawled up).

National Day

The 60th anniversary of the [in]glorious party has come and gone, and yet the Net remains heavily controlled, so much that it has taken me a while to gather the patience to find the paths that lead to the cracks in the Great Fire Wall that is the Chinese Internet.

I promised that I wouldn't add my own opinions on this and other matters in Dylan's blog, letting him make up his own mind in due course, but perhaps this clarifies why there was a lapse between the last post and this one.

Regardless, Dylan enjoyed the celebrations, particularly the dancing girls. What is a pageant to tyranny without dancing girls!

Green Madness

Dylan and I were so happy that Zixi brought us to a forest that we went a little mad with nature.

Splish Splash

Dylan beating the dog days of summer at his northern retreat.

What Jet Lag Does to Babies

Dylan crashes after a perfect 14-hour flight. Damn, it's hard being cute.

The Factory Line

Here's a behind-the-scenes look at how Dylan gets his food. It's serious work. And when he wants more, mother, you better have more ready.

Looking the part

For his first visit to Canadia, Dylan has chosen to dress accordingly.











Of course, he's playing it very cool.


But he's really excited to see Grandma and Grandpa, and to meet everyone.

Funny Young Cannibal

Tarek and Rahaf visited over the weekend. As usual, Dylan took to friendly strangers with his unique blend of laughter and...



cannibalism. Well, he really only tasted, but if he could've gnawed through bone; Tarek would be without a pinky.

What's his name?

Dylan, which he seems to find hilarious, especially when said in a falsetto.

Silver Spoons

Not only a silver spoon but also a silver bowl, chopsticks, knife, fork and necklace with pendant.


These were gifts from Zixi's brother. The items are all hand made and decorated by the Miao people, known as the H'mong in Vietnam; the Mong in Thailand and the mun lyo-myo in Burma.

Friends

Cornelius and Dylan and No.1 of Los Tres Monos. Just hanging out. And a little wave from the D.

Happiness

Sometimes all it takes is the simplest thing.

Mmm. People.

One of Dylan's latest amusements is people watching. However it appears that his point of view is different from many of us who enjoy le theatre des autres that others perform unbeknownst to us -- different that is save for the cannibals. Dylan seems to think those little people and their candy-coloured vehicles look rather scrumptious. Your napkin sir.

Lil' Kim

In celebation of that crazy woman who keeps firing missiles into the Pacific (Colbert, 2009) I give you Dylan a la dictator.
The sunglasses really conceal the crazy.

THIS JUST IN

Dylan a la dictator has just invaded Monkey Island, claiming the territory has historically been the dominion of man, albeit it when man was ape.
IR pundits are calling this the first use of evolutionary annexation.

Rasperry Monkeys

When Dylan wakes he's the subject of keen observation to which he gives the only suitable response.

The Return

Nearly seven weeks have gone by since I last appeared to you. This absence is thanks to the glorious leaders of China. However, as this blog is devoted to the glory of me, I'll ask my ghost writer to remain silent about this subject until I have figured things out for myself and can provide my own comment.

Pax,

Dylan Felix Talacko


Seven weeks is a long time in baby terms. Do we back up and go through each week or do we start with today and fill in when necessary?

Let's pick up with this weekend and move forward, filling in the gaps later.

As you've seen, Dylan has had his hair cut. He also now has a seat at the table.

What's Dylan doing?

If this photo disturbs you or intrigues you, then have a look at the video to see what Dylan's been up to aside from lounging on Monkey Island.

Revisiting a theme

Dylan's getting his pantHoots down. Next week we work on grooming.

Dylan's blog, now with video.

Dylan is eight weeks and perhaps smiling. I say perhaps because it could still just be gas. But I like to think it's a smile because he just digs his monkey suite and troupe of simian friends.

Monkey Mania

Dylan will either love or hate monkeys. There will be not gray area on this issue.

Here is a new jumper, and yes... that is a banana in his pocket.


If you've read a certain facebook post, you'll know I have a similar vestment. We're both happy with this.


Dylan is in the midst of forming a barbershop quintet: Dylan and the chimps.


And, after his reaction here, I've given him a new name: Smiles with monkeys.

Surprised by a polar bear

Dylan was just resting in his new clothes one day when...
...he was surprised by a polar bear.

Dylan gave the polar bear a good talking to about sneaking up on a guy.

How to get a baby to sleep

On to week seven now and we've discovered a few ways to get Dylan to sleep.

Put him close to Gorgeous George. Nothing says security like your own gorilla.

Surround him with bobbles and doodahs. Overstimulation works wonders.

Mittens. Enough said.

Tank him up with milk. This puts him into a deep sleep. Must be the tryptophan.

Then there's reading: In this case John McGahern's 'Amongst Women' which...

... also served to put me to sleep despite being a good read. To those who may be wondering (I did): a baby sleeping on your chest is similar to a cat doing the same thing, except it's a baby so a little cuter when he twitches in his sleep.

OK. So this was a pretty lame excuse to post a bunch of photos of Dylan in some of his cuter moments, but... he told me to do it.

First visit to Monkey Island

Through the mist drifted the excited pant-hooting of the inhabitants of the fabled Monkey Island. The small speck of soft land amidst the vast wooden sea of the apartment promised the wriggle of fish, croak of frog, hoot of owl and chirp of bird.

Wary at first, the young adventurer remembered the song sung to him by the winds and waves:

Dylan Dylan
Sailing on the sea
Dylan Dylan
As happy as can be

Dylan Dylan
Came upon a shore
Dylan Dylan
Not been there before

Dylan Dylan
The creatures there were great
Dylan Dylan
What will be your fate

Dylan Dylan
With them he did sing
Dylan Dylan
Back treasures he did bring

Dylan Dylan
If free to be ye wish
Dylan Dylan
Learn the wriggle of the fish

Dylan Dlylan
To see through pea soup fog
Dylan Dylan
Listen for the croak of frog

Dylan Dylan
When you see something foul
Dylan Dylan
Give a hoot like the owl

Dylan Dylan
If you want to be heard
Dylan Dylan
Chirp up early like a bird

Dylan Dylan
If these things you do learn
Dylan Dylan
Humanity you will earn

Dylan Dylan
Sailing on the sea
Dylan Dylan
As happy as can be

Dylan Dylan
Sailing on the sea
Dylan Dylan
To the isle of Monkey

Like father like son

In some families there is a tradition to pass valuable heirlooms - such as a watch or piece of jewelry - from one generation to the next and we in the Talacko family are no exception. We too have our traditional keepsake...

... the monkey jumper.

Seen here, circa 1976, worn by myself at a rather winning - if adult - Christmas. I can see the lightbulb going on in many of yer noggins... 'so that explains the monkey thing.' Partially.

Now, here's Dylan wearing the same jumper in 2009, and yes it is the exact same one. Gotta love family traditions.

Unfortunately Dylan's almost outgrown it, so it's time to put it in the box and wait another few decades before returning it to him to dress up my grandchild.