Daddy Sang Bass

Becky is constantly singing tuneful, warm, and fun songs to Henry. He loves it and responds with smiles, giggles, and cooing. Aside from having an excellent voice, Becky is consistently able to remember the words correctly to a given song. I am not so fortunate, though I never let my forgetfulness slow me down. If I don't remember the words precisely, I just make up something close that rhymes with a previous line and also incorporate "Henry" into the lyrics. It makes for some very silly songs, but everyone seems to be having fun.

At times I do need to actually sing a song correctly, which makes for some truly random selections. "Ragtime Cowboy Joe" gets sung a great deal, albeit with "Henry" replacing "Joe" and Wyoming or Alaska replacing Arizona. Henry loves this song because I bounce him on my knee to capture the beat and horse riding mood.

The home run of songs I sing is becoming the camp song from my Boy Scout summer camp in MI -- The Owasippe Hymn. I like the beat to it and it's very easy to remember so I gave it a whirl yesterday and Henry just went over the moon. I sang it in a deep bass voice and he cooed along with the entire way. I assume his response was because he could feel the deep bass as I held him close. If bass is what he likes, Johnny Cash and the Owasippe songs are what he will get.

It was a clear and crisp 35 degree Saturday when off we headed to Randy and Kelly's in Chugiak for a fire and some delicious chili. Henry was geared up with a warm hat, a fleece sweatshirt, and his Halloween outfit. We'll need to pick up some gloves soon, but for now he seems plenty comfortable without them (as long as he is held closely ). As is the case for most lights in our home, Henry loves staring at the fire. He does seem to get a touch ornery when he's in a highly stimulating foreign environment -- the young man needs to retreat to his boppy on our couch every few hours -- though he did great on Saturday once he caught a few z's in the car seat.  He has an endless appetite for gazing out into the wide open world, so we'll need to schedule as many walks as the weather will allow.





Yes, that is his (damp) pumpkin bib!

Henry and his entourage (Becky and I are merely handlers for Henry's bags and needs) rolled through through Indiana, Chicago, and Wisconsin for a 3 week period last month. It was a wonderful trip and we thoroughly enjoyed being able to visit with numerous family and friends. Also, the warm midwestern weather was a welcome delay from the Alaskan winter that is setting in quicker every day (I predict snow within a week). My flickr page has more than a few pictures capturing the trip.

As we settle back into our daily routine, we are left with the undeniable fact from the trip that the women love Henry.

Aside from hanging around the house due to life slowing down and spending time with Henry, fall is nipping in the wind and mornings are poking below 32 degrees. There are more than a few reasons to enjoy lounging around the home on a rainy 40 degree weekend.

Scrabble and other board games are scattered about the kitchen table, Henry is sung and read to for as long as he is able to tolerate it, and I've decided to finally get to some of the all day recipes that have been festering in my mind. Sunday I opted for crock pot granola and the results were promising. I did not burn it, though it was slightly over done. A few minor adjustments should make this a frequent zip locked bag inhabitant of our pantry.

I've become more of a hockey fan as the years have trickled by, though it is hard to deny the itch for Bears football that creeps back every fall. Coupling that itch with the fact that Bears football is not always shown here in Anchorage, it becomes an event when the Bears are on, as they were this past Sunday night. Henry was dressed appropriately thanks to some generous Bear fans back in Indiana, and I did my best to accompany him. I watched the game, Henry dozed through much of it, and together we enjoyed hanging around a warm home while waiting for the snow to fly.