Sebastian Thomas Hamilton

Sleep Travel

2010-12-28T05:39:00.000-08:00

Last night I went to sleep at home in Anderson, South Carolina and woke up several hundred miles away at Grandpa David's house in Holden Beach, North Carolina. Since I can remember, the same mysterious night time travel has happened my whole life - becoming more frequent around the holidays. I can even recall falling asleep in Atlanta, Georgia only to be woken up disembarking a plane on a small island in the Caribbean.

I don't know how this is possible, or if it happens to everyone, but it is both exciting and scary. Suppose that I overslept, would I wake up on Europa? Or if I woke too soon, could I end up stuck in between two places that didn't quite exist yet?

So far, all of my travel has been interesting, to say the least. It's quite nice to have involuntary vacations thrust upon me. Maybe it's my subconscious’s way of telling me that I need a break. Or maybe it is a mutation or deformity that will become uncontrollable with age. Either way, I enjoy my sleep travel and hope that it keeps sending me places that are fun and new.

Super Toddler

2010-11-28T06:05:00.000-08:00

I am the Destroyer of Breakfast, the Marauder of Mealtime, the Conqueror of Inappropriate Subjects and the Ruiner of all that is New, Treasured or Expensive. If there is a book being read, a nap being attempted or a headache that will not subside, I will be there, and I will be loud. Because I am Purveyor of Noise, Instigator of Trouble and Destructor of the Quiet Time Alone. So peaceful moments beware, there is a new Superhero in town and I am cramming spaghetti into your new Blu-ray player.

I am Baby T-Rex

2010-11-12T03:43:00.000-08:00

No more am I just Sebastian Thomas Hamilton, I am now Baby T-Rex. I roar, stomp around and am fifty hundred feet tall. I eat millions of bananas of yogurts. Baby T-Rex does not have to clean his room. Baby T-Rex does not need to put on shoes to go outside. Baby T-Rex does not need clean up his puzzles. Baby T-Rex does what he wants. And right now baby T-Rex wants a hug and a kiss.

Someday

2010-11-09T03:14:00.001-08:00

Someday I will be able to touch the ceiling while jumping on the bed. Someday I will be able to lift my train table all by myself. Someday I will run so fast that the wind can’t catch me and I’ll move the world where I want it. Someday I will be big, strong and powerful. Someday.

My First Original Joke

2010-10-03T17:30:00.001-07:00

Mom: And who else did we run into at the grocery store?
Me: Doctor Jones!
Mom: That’s right.
Me: I have another doctor.
Mom: That’s right. Do you remember her name?
Me: Doctor Liddle!
Mom: Very good. Your doctors are Doctor Jones and Doctor Liddle.
Me: And Doctor Big!

Why?

2010-10-02T05:17:00.000-07:00

Why do I ask so many questions? Why am I always asking why? Why do you want to know?

Suppose you spent two long years immersed in a world in which you couldn’t understand anyone around you. Now suppose that you are fully reliant on those same people for your most basic of needs. Learning to communicate would be your top priority. And once you had developed the rudimentary means to do that, those two years of repressed questions would erupt like a long dormant volcano. So yes, I ask a lot of questions. But the world is a very complicated place, with many levels of nuance and distinct social norms. To which, please expect me to continue to bombard everyone with answering distance within everything that I could possibly want to know. Because hey, why shouldn’t I?

Sleeping Habits of a Young Hamilton

2010-07-16T19:55:00.001-07:00

I am a great sleeper. Not to brag, but I lay down for my nap and bedtime by myself and go to sleep on my own. I am able to do this no matter what else is going on around me. Take last weekend as an example, Mommy put me in bed while Daddy and Papi where hammering, sawing, drilling and making all kinds of noise right outside my window. I just ignored it all and promptly passed out. No matter the atmosphere I tend to move around a great deal in my sleep. Here are so pictures mommy took today during nap time.

Lub oo

2010-01-29T05:01:00.001-08:00

A day doesn’t go by where I am not amused by the shocked faces of my parents and grandparents when I utter a new word. It is funny to watch them when I call their names when they walk in the room or shout bye and lub-oo when it is time for jammas. I can now say the names of many of the things in my room, around the house and out in the world. It is much easier to make them understand what I want, now that I can tell them. I let them know that I prefer to have the yogurt drink Keepur with my breakfast rather than juss, that I want to have a beam or a cookay rather than dinner, how much I would like to go see the copie take off and land, and particularly to stob it when they are trying to rearrange my lines of cars or steal bites of my dinner.

As my vocabulary increases I can also share with them what I see, hear and feel. I can tell Daddy when he gets home from work that I saw the copie land and fly, that I told them bye and that it was lello even though it was really red and blue. I can tell Papi that I want him to get the car with the mote or Bam-ma to get out the paints. Soon I will be talking in complete sentences and they will never get me to be quiet.

Family

2010-01-08T19:27:00.000-08:00

Other things may change us, but we start and end with family. This is a good thing, because I have a lot of family. They stretch to both coasts of the United States, down into the Caribbean and all the over to parts of Europe. Some are within driving distance and some would require two or three plane flights just to hug hello. All of this is a benefit as home is where you are always welcome. And with my family spread out over half of the Northern Hemisphere, I have a lot of places that I can feel loved. The only downside is that I do not get to see some people in my family as often as I would like. To them, all I can offer is my distant love and a open invitation to come and visit. Because, after all, my home is where you are always welcome too.

No

2009-12-24T06:02:00.001-08:00

No I do not want to say yes. No I do not want to say no. No I do not want to give you my opinion, no I do not want to not give you my opinion and no I do not want to be negative. I just want to say no. No to you, no to everything and no to me. No. No. No.

Unless you want to give me a cookie.

I Have the Power!

2009-10-22T18:02:00.000-07:00

Last night I had trouble staying asleep. So after a while of trying, we decided to start over and turned the light on. I was still pretty worked up, so I decided to play with my toys for a bit until I calmed down. During that time Mom went for ice cream and Dad stayed to play with me. I did everything that I could to calm down. I rode my zebra, played with blocks, jumped into my ball pit and finally settled in on rolling one of my push toys back and forth across the floor.

All of this Dad seemed to approve of. So much so that he had gone to just lying on his back in the middle of the room. And it was from there that I heard his say, "NO!" as I ran my push toy across the wall and not the floor. Sure it's wood and heavy so it probably would have made marks, but I wasn't thinking about that at 11:30pm. Sometime during the end of his "NO!" I decided to spin around to show him that I was stopping, except I slipped. I must have hit the edge of the carpet, a wind must have caught me, or we could have had a small earthquake - I can't be too sure.

What happened next was both hilarious and sad. As I spun I took the push toy with me and as I fell with the toy, the weight of all of that wood and metal came full force around over my head and directly down on Dad. Now here is the funny part: Dad made a sound that I can only explain as the sound you would hear from a sick Yak getting kicked in the butt. I would say that he screamed like a girl, but I don't know of any female, outside of pregnant rhinoceroses, that could sound like that. So as he curled into a ball trying to repress words that he said he would teach me when I turn five, I realized that this whole incident had a down side: I didn't get it on film.

The Power of No

2009-09-14T17:04:00.001-07:00

Not being able to fully articulate the exact verbiage that I would like to express during any particular situation, I’ve had to resort to allowing others to guess the exact desire in which I am having a trouble conveying. Thus I have found that the word "no", said ad nauseam, is my new modus operandi. It is not that I wish to be this obstinate; I just don’t have choice in the matter.

Goofy Individual

2009-08-26T18:11:00.000-07:00

I am the very model of a goofy individual,
My movements are quite comical, while still very whimsical,
I’m quite adept at funny faces; many books I have read.
From reading to swimming classes, play is what I do instead.

I am the symbol of the proper childhood etiquette
Those who know me often praise me, I will happily admit
But I’m still humble because I have yet to learn arrogance
Even singing this to me increases my intelligence.

My learning process is still challenged chronologically
So puzzles to my Rock-a-Stack, all problems handled logically;
My learning is a daily thing, new memories I do obtain
If I had a fault it would be that my parents are clearly insane.

Everyone:
He beats on nearly everything because he’s awfully musical
He excels at mostly everything as long as it’s quite lyrical.

Off-Broadway Obstinance

2009-08-21T09:23:00.001-07:00

The drama is real, the action is intense and tantrums will blow your mind. My full developed opinion is now showing at multiple locations. Don’t hesitate; run don’t walk, to your nearest patient expression - because you’re going to need it. Remember: this is a limited time offer that is only available for the next couple of years and will decrease in intensity as I learn to communicate and cope with my surroundings. So get your tolerance in check, compose that coolness and find your happy place, because this battle is going to be awesome!!!

Milestones

2009-07-26T04:07:00.000-07:00

This last weekend I attended my second Bele Chere Festival Asheville, NC while staying at the Pines Cottages with Mom, Dad, Uncle Jahred, Aunt Erica and my cousin Kaiden. Last year, at five months old, I was not able to do much. During my first visit I was unable to walk or communicate; so I just took in what I could and left the rest for a future date.

It’s been a year now and things have changed. I can now walk, run and communicate, mostly through sign-language, and, most importantly, experience much more than I could a year ago. This year I ate everything that I could, walked around in heavy crowds, danced to music, saw all sorts of people and tried to grok as much of the art as I could. On Saturday we hiked the Craggy Gardens Trail (I only had to be carried a couple of times) and I hiked the last half a mile up Mount Mitchell, the highest point east of the Mississippi, all by myself. On Sunday we visited Chimney Rock Park and played in the Rocky Broad River.

Mom said that she is not sure if we are coming back next year because a lot of things could change between now and then. Either way, I will always look forward to crossing milestones, especially when I get to do it in familiar places with lots of family around me.

Experiences & Adventure

2009-07-17T10:28:00.000-07:00

There is a specific difference between experiences and adventure. With an experience you build on previous knowledge. It is finding something slightly different, realizing it as different and allowing it affect your choices later in life. An adventure goes beyond a simple experience. An adventure expands your knowledge in ways you might never have imagined. Or to put it to an analogy, if your mind were a house, experiences would be upgrades, repairs and general maintenance (fresh paint, a new deck…) whereas an adventure could add something like a new floor, expanded garage or even a guest house.

While both are important, your experiences will always greatly outweigh adventures, for the simple fact one cannot continuously expand horizons without stopping, or at least slowing, to comprehend where you are. You must keep the house up or the new additions won’t be worth as much as they should.

Being that I am only 17 months old, I have a steady stream of both experiences and adventures. A simple trip to the grocery store, a weekend away or a new toy/book adds to my understanding of the world around me. And the more I understand now, the more I have to expand throughout the rest of my life. You see, knowledge is one of the wonderful things in life that works exponentially. The more you learn, the more it teaches and inspires you to learn more. In other words, you must continuously build on what you know to know what you don’t know.

Haiku Debut

2009-05-23T19:39:00.000-07:00

A note on whining
My voice is getting louder
And not declining

Please Shop Through My Upromise Account

2009-05-12T19:27:00.000-07:00

Have you been to the drugstore recently? How about a grocery store? Shopped online? Wouldn't you feel better if you knew that some of that money was going to help the world become a better place. Well now it can! Upromise is a free service that helps members save for college by earning 1-25% on qualified every-day spending with America's leading companies nationwide. There are over 8,000 restaurants, more than 21,000 grocery stores, online shopping with more than 600 retailers, travel, moving and much more. To date, over $19 billion through some 530 different college savings plans.

So all of your purchases from Target, to Barnes & Noble and even eBay can help me save for college if you purchase them using my Upromise link. That's right, at no extra cost to you, on just about all of your online purchases, you can help me save money for my 529 College Savings Fun by just clicking on this link and selecting the company you wish to shop through. It's the same stores that you would normally buy through, but if you use the link they match anywhere from 1% to as high as 25% of the total. So no matter what you buy using this link, it helps me save for college. I'll put the link at the bottom left of my web page and hope that when you need to purchase something online, you will remember my link and help me build for a solid future.

Announcing My 529 College Savings Plan

2009-05-02T09:13:00.000-07:00

A 529 Plan is an education savings plan operated by a state or educational institution designed to help families set aside funds for future college costs. In most plans, your choice of school is not affected by the state your 529 savings plan is from. Savings from these Plans can be used for tuition, books or housing both nationally and internationally.

With contributions from several family members, my Great Grandmother Virginia especially, I now have my own 529 Plan. If you would ever like to donate any amount to it, you can do so by clicking on the link in this post or at the bottom left of my website. The link will always be there and the contributions are directly deposited into my 529 Plan. Contributions are always deeply appreciated and have the wonderful benefit of being both a perfect gift for any occasion and an investment in my future.

That

2009-04-24T09:28:00.000-07:00

Please allow me to apologize for what some people may see as an overtly rude gesture on my behalf. You see, ever since I have learned to communicate, albeit in a most substratal way, I feel the need to inquire as to what it is that I am seeing. What is the proper name, how it is used and why is paramount to my own communicative development. So if you see me coming your way, lacking all etiquette, pointing at an object and saying the word “that?,” please understand that I am simply caught up in a moment of educational fervor and in no way mean any disrespect.

Californiacation

2009-04-08T06:01:00.001-07:00

Over the last couple of weeks my parent have drug me all over Southern California. We’ve been to Hollywood for a movie opening, fancy restaurants to meet celebrities, China Town, Olvera Street, the Los Angeles Arboretum, Alhambra’s Farmers Market, Sea World, the Sand Diego Zoo, Wild Animal Park, hiking in the Sierra Madres and to almost every beach and city in-between Los Angeles and San Diego. Yesterday we flew back into Atlanta where we will stay for a day visiting relatives before driving home and packing for next week trip to Holden Beach, NC for Easter.

While I really enjoyed California, I’m not sure that I could live there. The weather is too nice, the beaches are wonderful and there is always something to do. In short, what would I complain about? Traffic – too young to care. Earthquakes – getting shaken about it fun. Politics – I haven’t made up my mind about any of it. Nope, I just didn’t see anything in California that would make me cranky. But maybe, just maybe, if we go back to California this summer, I’ll find something.

Walk This Way

2009-03-12T19:49:00.000-07:00

Anywhere is walking distance, if you have enough time and patience. That is why I am working as hard as I can to master the basics. So far I've been able to get myself up, walk several paces at a frantic pace and then look for somewhere to hold on to until I’m ready to take off again. In time I will learn to walk, run, stumble, drive and fly, but I will never lose sight of the reason for my journey, or miss a chance to see a rainbow on the way.

A Nut Case

2009-03-08T15:36:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) November 7, 2008 - Contrary to widespread recommendations, the consumption of peanuts in infancy is associated with a low prevalence of peanut allergy, the results of a new study suggest.

"Our study findings raise the question of whether early introduction rather than avoidance of peanut in infancy is the better strategy for the prevention of peanut allergy," write researchers in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology… (read more here)

Over the last couple of months my parents have slowly introduced me to all kinds of new types of foods. I’ve had everything from cactus leaves to lobster and even an occasional peanut product. So when my parents gave me a small piece of bread with peanut butter for lunch today, they didn’t think much of it. Personally, I was delighted - so much so that I ended up with my face covered in yummy peanut butter.

About 15 minutes later, after my Dad drove like a madman to drug store to get a bottle of Benadryl, we were headed to the local emergency room. About an hour later, after the hospital staff had run a bunch of test and given me a steroid to suppress immune functions, we heading back home. About a couple hours later, I'm calmed down, feeling better and headed to bed for the night.

My sensitivity doesn’t seem to be too serious and Dad’s promised me that when I’m a little older I can go to an allergist to see if and how I’m allergic to peanuts. Until then, it’s probably best that I don’t eat or wear them.

Sharing Bread

2009-03-06T07:25:00.000-08:00

Man evolved as a pack animal, living together in tight groups, knowing that his strength is greater when those around him are strong. Capuchin monkeys are inclined to share food with almost any individual who helped them obtain the food. Gorillas share food in return for grooming. Wolves share food at carcass locations based on a complex variety of ecological and social factors. Even ants share food, but probably based on quite different urges and motives than those that make chimpanzees or people share food.

It was with this in mind that, as soon as I learned the basics of feeding myself, I have tried to share whatever I am eating with whoever in my extended pack happens to be around me - most of the time they accept, even if just to thank me for my offer. In return, I have learned much about the fine art of sharing and the cultural norms associated with offering food. In order to help those who come behind me, I offer the following list of acceptable vs. not acceptable sharing.

Acceptable	Not Acceptable
Giving someone something off of my own plate	Giving someone something off of someone else's plate
Offering someone the first bite	Offering someone my pre-chewed first bite
Trying to help someone drink from my cup	Trying to help someone drink all of their own cup at one time
Dropping an occasional piece to the dog	Attempting to retrieve that piece from the dog

I hope that my short list helps those of you still trying to understand the proper sharing Do's and Don'ts. Good luck and happy sharing.

Object Falling from Rest

2009-02-28T14:42:00.000-08:00

As an object falls from rest, its gravitational potential energy is converted to kinetic energy. So if an object is dropped from a height of 1 meter (about the height of the bed), then the velocity just before impact is 4.427 meters per second. If the mass is .2 kg (about the weight of Dad’s phone), then the kinetic energy just before impact is equal to 1.96 joules, which is of course equal to its initial potential energy. Of course the accuracy of this calculation depends upon the assumption that air friction is negligible and because the height of drop from the bed is small compared to the radius of the earth.

Thus you can see my never ending fascination with objects, such as Dad’s phone, being dropped off of the bed, table, chair, couch, crib… whatever. So if you see be dropping something from a height, please understand that it is not because I’m an incredible annoying brat who won’t allow his parents to enjoy a single meal without making them fetch and yell at the same time. Instead, try to remember that it’s because I’m fascinated by the complexities of Newton’s First Law.

My First Birthday

2009-02-24T14:57:00.000-08:00

First of all I would like to thank everyone who came or sent a present, my parents for running around like mad people and Tracy and Trevor from The Victoria Tea Room, who went above and beyond in setting up, catering and hosting my birthday. Thank you cards are now mailed out and I hope that all of you had as much fun as I did.

Also, I would thank those of you who came to The Georgia Aquarium for my second birthday party. Pictures of both events are now online and our group photo should be in the mail soon. For those of you who have not gone, the Georgia Aquarium is the world’s largest aquarium and current houses 100,000 animals of 500 different species, three whale sharks and five beluga whales. I highly recommend it!

Lastly, I would like to thank my Mom who was gracious enough to be almost completely overlooked as my birthday buddy.

The Symphony

2009-02-03T05:49:00.000-08:00

Music is omnipresent in our house and I’ve learned to bop and sway in time. Outside of the house I’ve been to a few music performances, a large drum jam in Asheville, NC, and a one open air rock concert. This last Friday night Mom, Dad, Grandma Joan and Grandpa Edgar took me to the 17th Annual Celebration of Youth Concert at Anderson College. There was a full orchestra, made up of people of all ages, three different choirs from different schools and grades, and a variety of music ranging from Edward Elgar to the Beatles. Between the diverse types of music, to the people clapping in the crowd, the whole thing was an experience that I greatly enjoyed. My only complaint was that it started at 8pm, my usual bedtime. Still, I made it until a little after intermission before I just couldn’t hold out any more. I hope to go to more of these, at an earlier time, as soon as my schedule allows.

Early to Rise

2009-01-13T05:38:00.000-08:00

5am
Wide awake
New day
Ready
Mom asleep
Pull her hair
Grunt
Dad asleep
Squeeze nose
Rolls over
Play with blinds
Raised by mom
Morning traffic
School busses
Cars
Trucks
Pressed face
Funny cold
Parents rise
Grumbling
Good morning

Star Dust

2009-01-12T10:41:00.001-08:00

For Christmas my Grandmother Karen bought me a Shining Star Cream Bear, which allowed me to choose the name of a star.

So I now have a star, specifically Ursa Major 8h 50m 12.18s 58 7' 59.10", named after me. And although my Dad is a bit skeptical about the validity of an International Star Registry, Mom says that we can visit it if we are ever in the neighborhood.

Magic Fingers

2009-01-06T12:14:00.000-08:00

I believe that I have found how to work everything in the universe. The trick was simple and right in front of me the whole time. It was so obvious that I missed it for the last 10 months of my life. But finally, I have reached an understanding and now know how to use the available tool whenever I need something accomplished.

In the spirit of advancing intellectual ability, I will now share with you the exact way to operate any piece of machinery, how to identify any form of matter, or summon any food stuff known to man. The, dare I say, trick is to simply grab someone else’s finger and have them do the work. For instance, to get the piano to play or the water in the sink to turn on, just grab a nearby finger and touch that finger to the said item. Immediately, stuff starts to happen. It is as if the finger knows through decades of experience exactly how to operate whatever it is that it is touched to.

So if you find yourself confronted with an obstacle that is unbeknownst to you, just reach for the nearest available finger and have it work its magic for you.

Some Kids

2008-12-24T08:34:00.001-08:00

Some kids don’t like baths
Some kids don’t like maths
Some kids don’t like clothes
It’s something they oppose

Some kids don’t like peas
Some kids don’t like bees
Some kids don’t like fruit
It’s not something they refute

Some kids don’t like sneezing
Some kids don’t like teasing
Some kids don’t like veggies
It makes them very edgy

But I am a different kind of kid
One who rarely flips my lid
Worthy of the tallest tales
Unless you try to cut my nails

My Current Library

2008-12-18T09:59:00.000-08:00

Over the last several weeks I’ve received a bunch of inquiries as to what I would like for Christmas. When this happens, I point people to the Link list on the lower left hand side of SebastianHamilton.com where My Toy and Book Wish List! resides.

Once there, you’ll notice that most of what I want is books. While looking through my pictures over the last several months, you may also have noticed that I am pictured with a lot of different books. True, I grab for a book to chew on before any of my other toys and true, I have a good library of books already, but I live with a group of veracious readers and am expected to keep up. Not a day goes by where I’m not read several books off of my bookshelf. With that in mind, I’ve decided to put up a list of what books I already have. I’m hoping that this will help those of you who see a book that you think that it would be perfect for me, but aren’t sure if I already own it. So without further adieu, here is My Library. That link is also now at the bottom of my Link section (lower left hand side) on this very page and links directly to my profile at LibraryThing.com. I will keep the list updated as much as possible and extend my warmest thanks to everyone who has already contributed.

I Think I'm Quite Ready for Another Adventure

2008-12-17T10:38:00.000-08:00

My parents continuously remind me to experience as much of the world as I can. With that thought in mind, I touched down in Puerto Rico today and will be here through Sunday. It is my second trip to the Caribbean and my sixth plane ride of my life thus far. Last week I was in Atlanta, GA and the week before that I was in Holden Beach, NC. I find traveling to be enjoyable, both the trip and the destination itself, and hope to keep up this frequency for years to come.

Dada

2008-12-04T18:37:00.000-08:00

Over the last several weeks I’ve been trying out new sounds. One of my first was “dada,” which, to my surprise, excited my father a great deal. When I first said it, standing in my crib and making direct eye contact with him so to show him that I was indeed expanding my vocal prowess, he returned a great big smile and immediately called for my mother. When she entered the room, I gathered up my voice once again, looked her square in the face, and said “dada.” She smiled, in what I can only assume is approval, and looked at my father. Then, probably being a bit brash, I looked at my giraffe Nelson and said “dada.” As he is a stuffed animal, this elicited no response. My mother thought this was hilarious while my father just rolled his eyes.

Now I’m not quite sure what this meant to all of them, but to me it’s my first steps to being able to speak directly the people around me in a way in which everyone can understand and take pride in.

Hippopotamus the Not But

2008-11-22T08:50:00.000-08:00

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Sebastianasaurus

2008-11-14T19:56:00.000-08:00

I roar a warning to all the land: Beware! I am now invincible! Fruit fidgets at my feet. Bananas blanch before me. Cucumbers crumble at my cry. All hear this! I am now unstoppable! Plums are putty in my palm. Grapes groan in my grip. Cheerios crack in my claws. All hear this! Start running now! For now I, the great Sebastianasarus, will demolish you with my first terrifyingly tyrannical tooth!

As soon as it stops hurting.

Signifying Something

2008-10-31T18:48:00.000-07:00

We all have times in our lives where we feel small, insufficient, and ignored. Where no matter how much we fight to be heard, we are left wanting. Being a child is that feeling all of the time. Your presence is known, but not given much respect. We learn to lash out, yell, scream, and make as much noise as possible to announce to the world that we will be heard. So unlike he who would be King hereafter, my sound is fury because it is new. And as I grow my voice will become as I intend it now - signifying my presence and determination.

Today's Readers Are Tomorrow's Leaders

2008-10-12T08:25:00.000-07:00

In the loveliest town of all, where the houses were white and high and the elm trees were green and higher than the houses, where the front yards were wide and pleasant and the back yards were bushy and worth finding out about, where the streets sloped down to the stream and the stream flowed quietly under the bridge, where the lawns ended in the orchards and the orchards ended in fields and the fields ended in pastures and the pastures climbed the hill and disappeared over the top toward the wonderful wide sky, in this loveliest of all towns Stuart stopped to get a drink of sarsaparilla. - Stuart Little, EB White.

I love it when friends and family take the time to read to me. And while most of it is of the ABC and 123 variety, they also read older kids’ books and occasionally books meant for adults. Dad tells me that the more I like being read to now, the more I will like to read when I finally learn. I keep trying to beg him to teach me now, but like many things, he doesn’t understand me. I cope by chewing on as many books as possible.

I am happy for now just listening, even though sometimes I surrender to sleep before they are through. But know that if you are reading to me and I doze off, I am not commenting on your inability to grasp Seuss’ intricate rhyming schemes. It just means I want to better imagine the worlds and characters in the books until I can read about them myself. So until someone finally relents to my pleas for reading lessons, I’ll listen as much as I can, and am happy with just about anyone who wants to take the time to read to me.

My Morning at the Botanical Gardens

2008-10-01T18:35:00.000-07:00

This morning my Mom and Grandma Joan took me to meet some of my friends at the South Carolina Botanical Gardens that are at Clemson University. We met at the big red caboose that was donated to the park by the alumni. The older boys we climbing all over it and I can't wait till I am big enough to do the same. Once everyone arrived, I got in my stroller and we started walking. We walked under an arbor with a huge patch of gourds growing on one side. We also walked past many different kinds of trees like pine, maple and oak, as well as other plants like pansies, hostas, monkey grass and many others I don't know the names of. After we had walked for about an hour I got sick of being in the stroller and started to complain, loudly. Mom finally got the message and decided to carry me. She put me up on her shoulders for a little while and it seemed like I could see forever. After walking for a little longer we came to a pond that had ducks, turtles and fish. My friend's mom had packed some seed and bread so we could feed the animals and it was fun watching them all swarm around as we tossed the food to them. It had been two hours since we began our walk and I was tired and hungry. Mom fed me when we got back to the car and I slept all the way home.

Humongous Homunculus

2008-09-09T18:35:00.001-07:00

I am now wearing six to nine month clothing and outgrowing things daily. Recently my Grandma Joan and Grandpa Edgar were gone for a week and, upon their return, all they could talk about was how much I’ve grown. A week ago it was my Grandma Sherry and Grandpa David who couldn’t stop raving about my size. I’m a baby; growing is what we do; so let me be and I promise to keep letting you people buy me adorable clothing every couple of weeks.

I am a Savage Beast

2008-09-05T20:35:00.001-07:00

Lately I haven’t been sleeping so well. I wake up screaming and I’m not sure why. For hours following my awakening, I’m a loud, arrogant, savage beast. That is, until my parents realized how to tame me. It all started when my Dad played Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue during a screaming fit at 1am. Immediately, I couldn’t cry - and all I could do was listen.

This morning as Dad and I were playing on the floor, he turned on something called Henryk Górecki and his Symphony No. 3. Mom usually puts on something like Barenaked Ladies or Queen. But no matter what is on, I love to listen. Music is what feelings sound like, and I want to feel everything!

Firsts

2008-09-04T13:01:00.001-07:00

Every day seems to be loaded with new things. Today we took a trip to the park and I got to go down a slide and ride on a swing for the first time ever. It got me thinking, I do a lot of firsts. In the last six months I’ve been to another country, driven across the US twice, and flow in four airplanes. There have been ponies, kitties, doggies (lots of them), and fish that I’ve met. A couple of weeks ago I moved from one side of the country to another. I’ve been to concerts, restaurants, the ocean, lakes, rivers, museums, pools, picnics, a wedding, parties, flea markets, the mountains, and a Greek festival.

Not to bad for a six-month-old. I wonder what firsts are coming in the next six months?

Learning Curve

2008-09-01T19:23:00.001-07:00

My parents tell me that I’m learning at a tremendous rate. Starting to stand, responding to some simple commands, recognizing situations and people, but all of that seems normal to me and it’s very frustrating.

Here I am not able to fully communicate, working to comprehend everything, still losing my fight with gravity and balance, and they think that I’m “coming along nicely”. Who in the name of Mordor do they think that they are kidding?!?! I want to run, I want to climb trees, I want to read books to myself, and I want to explore everything now.

“Coming along nicely”

Humph.

On My 6 Month Birthday

2008-08-19T05:15:00.000-07:00

Large organisms such as human beings have an average of about one mutation per ten gametes - that is, there is a 10% chance that any given sperm or egg cell produced will have an inherent change in the genetic instructions that determine the makeup of the next generation. These mutations occur at random and are almost uniformly non-harmful - it is rare that a precision machine is improved by random change in the instructions for making it. So as I look back and try to take stock of my last six-month journey to discover who I am in relation to the world around me, I’m struck by how much different I am from everyone else.

Yesterday I was diagnosed with SGS by my Grandma Joan - she is an expert on these things. The random 10% chance that I had in getting a mutation must have brought on my disease. My only hope at “normality” is to attempt to hide said disease from the world. It is either that or I buckle down and show the world that someone with SGS can be a productive member of society. I hope that over the next six months I can work to decrease how obvious my disease is and work to increase understanding of just how deadly living with Silly Goose Syndrome can be.

My Teeth Are Coming, Run For Your Lives!!!

2008-07-22T19:01:00.000-07:00

My soon-to-be teeth
Are causing me grief,
They make me cry and whine.
But soon they'll be in,
The start of a grin,
And then I’ll be feeling just fine.

I Have Found My Voice and it is Loud

2008-07-12T09:52:00.000-07:00

Sure I can’t speak in words that you people can understand, but my linguistic prowess is finally coming of age. This last week I have learned to conquer at least two octave ranges, while coming close to a third. With any luck, I’ll be able to break glass with my voice sometime over the next month.

The upside to this (and it’s all upside for me) is that my parents finally are beginning to understand what it is that I want. They were previously horrible at comprehending my simplest vocal commands, but have since flowered in their ability to grasp my needs. I will have them completely trained in no time. Hopefully, before I have to learn any words or sign language.

Take the video below as an example. I clearly am expressing some displeasure about something. To an intelligent linguistically-able human being, it should be quite clear. What I am saying is so simple that even a baby can understand. But here, for those of you who can somehow read, but lack the ability to get my fully functional vocal prowess, this is what I am saying:

"To whoever is working that camera, I have soiled myself and have not yet developed the manual dexterity to properly replace my diaper with the grace and dignity that I deserve. So please put down the camera and change me, at once. If you fail to do so, I will reiterate my complaint at an increased decibel until your small mind is able to grasp my dilemma. Thank you."

Goodbye

2008-07-06T11:17:00.000-07:00

This last week I left my first home in Saginaw, MI. With it I left my friends, who have become my family. Tom, Kate, Elizabeth, Amy, and all of the people who came in and out of my life during the first 20 weeks are now thousand miles away. It may be that I don’t remember each and every face or smile, but I will always remember the love and kindness directed at me. At any age, every positive thing adds to the richness of life. And friends - good friends - provide a depth that is unobtainable alone. To this end, I say goodbye to certain individuals who have been there since my beginning and have had a heavy influence on me.

Tom, thank you for letting me fall asleep on you. You are extraordinarily comfy and I will miss your funny faces. Even when I was forced upon you by schedules and opportunity, you handled it gallantly. Kate, you were always there to entertain me and tried to get me to be happy as much as possible. If I ever have the honor of having you put me to bed again, Then come kiss me, sweet and twenty. Elizabeth and Amy, without you, my parents would have left me alone in the house in a cardboard box, with only Lucy to look after me. You kept me safe, comfortable, and contented. I will hold on to your blankets and smiles for my whole life. And will forever be in your debt.

Are You Going to Eat That?

2008-06-23T05:44:00.000-07:00

Food envy can be a nasty thing. Fortunately, I’m only just now starting to get it. Take yesterday for example. My parents made pancakes for breakfast and ate them in front of me. There was real maple syrup, fresh squeezed orange juice, blueberries and strawberries. At lunchtime they held me there in front of the roasted pig at the neighborhood BBQ, picked out choice parts, sides, and then sat me on the table to watch them eat once again. Dinner was at the Greek Festival. They had gyros, stuffed grape leaves, spanikopita, saganaki, paximadia, and baklava. They ate all of this over the course of a couple hours in front of me! Is there any wonder why I drool so much?

We have talked it over and we’ve decided that I am to occasionally get to try some solid foods. They see no reason to put my food in a blender, as I don’t quite have the coordination to move solid food from the front of my mouth to the back for swallowing. They told me that that I should make the transition to solid foods gradually and that I’m to try to stay on breast milk for as long as possible. I was also “informed” that I had to meet four criteria before they would do more then hold a piece of watermelon in my mouth for me to gum on. So before I get any solid foods I have be able to hold my head in a steady, and upright position, and sit without support. The other two things, eating at regular intervals and being interested in what they are eating, I soooo have down.

Arrested Development

2008-06-17T08:52:00.000-07:00

I’m now 17 weeks old and I’ve finally started to roll over. Within hours I plan on running, climbing, and, maybe, flying. We’ll see.

While developing as fast as I can to spite the enjoyment of my parents, I’ve noticed that most of you people have no idea what happens when as a baby such as myself develops. So as a refresher, here are a couple things that are happening to me now and will happen to me in the near future:

I can now distinguish several hundred different spoken words; many more than are in my parents native language. My brain has organized itself around the words heard most frequently and is beginning to create an auditory map to process the languages efficiently. And even though there is no research to indicate that one kind of music or another promotes early brain development, I do respond positively to music. Mostly, to my parents chagrin, opera.

While I am now living in a predictable world that has some order to it, I am also able to sleep for longer periods of time, can go longer between feedings, and am establishing a new schedule for eating, sleeping, and experiencing the world. My blossoming mental abilities are helping me organize what I see, hear, smell, touch, and taste. When I am in comfortable and secure surroundings, I am especially responsive to people, objects, and new experiences.

My parents help by holding me so that the world has a sense of predictability. They talk back to by coos, bubbles, and random attempts at conversation, but have yet to fully grasp the complexity in which I can communicate. Hopefully, in time, their brains will evolve enough to be able to communicate with me.

Over the coming months I expect to keep moving up in the world. At six months I’ll be able to switch a toy from one hand to another, my speech should become clearer to my slow parents, and I should be able to sit up on my own. I’m not rushing any of these, and if I don’t meet some and happen to do others early, that’s all right too.

By nine months I should be turning pages in board books, looking at familiar objects and people when named, imitating others, sort-of crawling, and my vocabulary will expand a bit. At twelve months I will finally be able to meaningfully use certain simple words, pulling myself to stand up and cruising along furniture. I might even stand alone and take several independent steps, but I’ll wait and see how I feel about it.

A Time to Play

2008-06-12T16:09:00.000-07:00

Since my mom and dad found out I was on my way they began preparing for me. In some ways they were like many new parents researching all the latest equipment and buying cribs, car seats, strollers and the like. Where they are a little different is that they went way overboard on buying books (I have a better library than some elementary schools) but neglected to buy me any toys. Thanks to Tom and Kate I at least had a few stuffed animals when I came home from the hospital.

Before I only had my play mat and my vibrating seat to keep me occupied but over the last several weeks my parents have finally gotten their act together and bought me some toys. It took them this long because they have to research everything. They wouldn’t dare to purchase something for me to play with on a whim because apparently it could kill me. These toys (among others) will help me learn, explore the world and understand new concepts as I find them. My favorite toy now is “Sophie” the giraffe. I like her because she squeaks, has great contrasting colors and tastes so good. I also have two new rattles that I like. One is made of cherry wood that has a matching teething ring made of maple and the other is a soft green frog. With any luck my parents will do a little less research and a little more buying of toys.

Communication Breakdown

2008-05-29T17:26:00.000-07:00

I do not understand what is wrong with the people around me. I speak in a language that should be both universal and easily comprehended by all. My body movements match my speech and clearly exemplify the point that I am trying to get across. There is no excuse whatsoever for anyone who cannot easily and intrinsically understand what I am saying. And yet, no one seems to. All they do is coo, smile, make funny sounds, and stand there looking at me as if they themselves have never once attempted to communicate with another living creature and therefore could not be expected to even chance a guess as to what it is that I am saying. It is extraordinarily frustrating.

I Have Chosen Wisely

2008-05-15T03:29:00.000-07:00

I have come to a conclusion involving some of my early likes and dislikes: Dad is not as interesting as the ceiling fan. In order to explain how this is so, I’ve created the following comparison chart:

Dad	The Ceiling Fan
Reads to me in three different languages	Provides endless hours of entertainment
Makes funny faces and voices	Reflects the light from the room
Changes my diapers and feeds me	Constantly spins above my head
Works to provide me the essentials	Is my friend

So as you can see, there is a reason that I constantly ignore dad and stare at the ceiling fan - it’s just more interesting!

My First Vacation

2008-05-07T05:08:00.000-07:00

This last week I went to Grand Cayman with my Mom and Dad, Aunt Marian, Uncle Justin, Grandma Joan, and Grandpa Edgar, along with Mr. Tom’s and Ms. Kate's friends and family. The purpose of the trip was so that Mom and Tom could attend their MD graduation from St. Matthew’s University at the Ritz-Carlton on the island.

Truth be told, I really needed this vacation. You have no idea how hard it is being a baby. Honestly, people just look at you and think that all you do is sleep, poop, and eat -- but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Just imagine trying to learn to do everything from scratch. I have to mentally learn a new language (or a couple if my dad has anything to say about it), verbalize said language, and then be able to comprehend what I am saying at real-time speed. There’s that, plus still trying to understand everything else that is coming at me high speed. I’m building a personality, finding emotions, exploring the world, working on my coordination... It’s really, really hard. So as I was saying, I needed this vacation.

Over the course of the week we went to a bunch of different beaches, toured Grand Cayman’s capital of Georgetown, visited the Turtle Farm, Hell (an actual place in West Bay), a bunch of restaurants, East End, the National Reserve, and a wonderful private beach where everyone stayed. It was amazing. There were lots of people who did a good job of making sure that I barely got any sleep at all. And it was an experience that I will take a lot from. I am now back at home trying to recover from the last week. I posted the vacation pictures in the Week 11 Pictures section.

What's in a Name?

2008-04-18T08:41:00.000-07:00

The boy's name Sebastian \s(e)-bas-tian, seb(a)-stian\ is pronounced se-BASS-tian and is of Greek origin, meaning "venerable ". The original form of this name referred to those from a particular city or region of Asia Minor, whose Greek name was from the Latin imperial title "Augustus". Shakespeare gave the name to the twin brother of Viola in "Twelfth Night". British use since the 1940s may have been influenced by a character in Evelyn Waugh's popular "Brideshead Revisited". My parents choose it because it wasn’t overly common, wasn’t religious, and had strong literary credentials. They are weird.

The boy's name Thomas \th(o)-mas\ is pronounced TAH-mas. It is of Aramaic origin, and its meaning is "twin". My parents choose it because it was my great grandfathers (my father’s mother’s dad) name. He only had girls and wasn’t able to pass his name on, so it came to me.

The name Hamilton \ha-mil-ton, ham(i)-lton\ is pronounced HAM-ul-tun. It is of Old English origin, originally Hambleton, and its meaning is "flat-topped hill". It is the place name and surname of one of the great noble families in Scotland.

My family tree on both sides is well documented. On both the Hamilton Thomas side and the Tirado (my mother’s maiden name) Eubanks side, are known for over ten generations. Although they both assure me that there is nothing for me to live up to -- only that I am content in what I choose to be.

What does all this mean? Well, if you take all of the definitions, lump them together, you quickly find out that I am an old hill with two bumps. Nice, eh?

Baby Dreams

2008-04-06T07:39:00.000-07:00

We are such stuff
As dreams are made on; and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep.

The Tempest Act 4, scene 1, 157–158

My dreams are my own, but powerful. They consist of shapes, colors, faces, and movement; elegance in simplicity to understand the complexity of my world. Soon they will become more elaborate, with plots and subtext. For now, I’m happy to dream peacefully while people gently kiss my forehead and tell me I’m adorable.

Growing and Developing

2008-03-28T13:52:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had my one month check-up at the doctor. I had to take off all my clothes but my diaper and they they weighed me, measured me, took my temperature, looked in my ears, eyes and throat, and then they felt my belly and my back. I didn't mind most of it, but when the doctor stuck the stick in my mouth I got really mad. I have grown a lot since my last visit. I now weigh 10lbs 9oz and 24in long. The doctor says that I am doing great and to keep up the good work.

There are so many new things that I am learning too. I have started smiling at Mom and Dad. I think they like it when I smile because it makes them smile more too. It is also kinda fun because when I do it they crowd around me and do make some really strange faces trying to get me to do it again. I have also figured out that I can uses my hands to reach for things that I want. I can make the toys on my vibrating chair move and rattle and one day soon I am going to be able to make the dog shaped one play its music.

Happy Easter!

2008-03-23T10:07:00.000-07:00

This morning, I woke up to the news that it was Easter. Naturally, my first question was "What does it mean for me?" I soon found out that first, it means getting dressed up in a 'cute' outfit and made to pose for pictures. Here are the results of that part:

Next, it means that everyone gets presents, mostly candy and other sweets. Unfortunately for me, I am too young for chocolate and cake so I got a great set of books called "Boynton's Greatest Hits: Volume I."

Don't Bump the Glump

2008-03-20T18:16:00.000-07:00

Last night Dad finished Coraline by Neil Gaiman and we needed a new book to read, as I think that both Mom and Dad have read me everything on my bookcase. Luckily, we picked up the newly released Shel Silverstein book, Don't Bump the Glump and Other Fantasies. It was kinda dark and weird, but I liked it.

My Daddy's favorite poem is In Waukesha Wisc. I think he liked it because it was really, really hard to read and he kept messing it up. He made me a promise to reread it a million times until he could get it right every time. Mom doesn't think he'll ever be able to read that poem without messing it up. See if you can read it out loud:

In Waukesha Wisc.

In Waukesha Wisc.
You take quite a risk
Whenever you go to the movies,
For there in the dark lurks the Double-Toed Vaark
And the man-eating Scale-Faced Scoovies.

There are Gobble-Eyed Gohrks
And Slimy-Tailed Borks
And Hunchlings, and Broggy-Beaked Byzes
And Gumboons and Grobs and Globamabobs
And Creelzies of various sizes.

There are Bony-Backed Bleaks
And Razor-Toothed Kleeks
And Wailees and Glumpaching Gorkle,
And the shivery shrieks from the Gaiterings Geeks
Are worse than the snort of the Snorkle.

There are Glumgurds and Speem,
And the Grizimy's scream
May awaken the Foul-Tempered Fisk
And the Scale-Faced Scoovies that dwell in the movies
Right here in Waukesha Wisc.

Squeaky Clean

2008-03-14T09:36:00.000-07:00

This morning I took my first 'real' bath! Sure, mom and dad have given me plenty of sponge baths and spit shines but today I was submerged. My bathtub is really awesome. It is a cool blue color and has a really comfortable hammock. When it is time, they fill the tub and then put me in. With the hammock in the tub I can just lay back, relax and enjoy the warm water while they rub me down. I could get used to this kind of service! (Wonder how long it will last?)

I like to be read to

2008-03-08T14:33:00.000-08:00

Today I had a bit of an upset stomach (I think it was because Dad gave me a piece of meatlovers pizza and a couple shots of bourbon) and I didn't want to sleep. So Mom held me and Dad read When We Were Very Young by A. A. Milne. My favorite poem, or at least the one that I stopped squirming during, was "Lines and Squares".

Whenever I walk in a London street,
I'm ever so careful to watch my feet;
And I keep in the squares,
And the masses of bears,
Who wait at the corners all ready to eat
The sillies who tread on the lines of the street
Go back to their lairs,
And I say to them, "Bears,
Just look how I'm walking in all the squares!"

And the little bears growl to each other, "He's mine,
As soon as he's silly and steps on a line."
And some of the bigger bears try to pretend
That they came round the corner to look for a friend;
And they try to pretend that nobody cares
Whether you walk on the lines or squares.
But only the sillies believe their talk;
It's ever so portant how you walk.
And it's ever so jolly to call out, "Bears,
Just watch me walking in all the squares!"

PS Daddy says that my old copy of A. A. Milne is falling apart and would like to see me get the one in the link above. If I do, he promises to read them to me whenever I ask. Unless it’s too late, then only one. And I have to be in bed first. And already tucked in.

I'm too nice to Mom & Dad

2008-03-06T07:48:00.000-08:00

I've gotten into the habit of eating throughout the day, napping when I can, and sleeping most of the night. This has baffled Mom & Dad. I occasionally wake up and see them staring at me wondering if I need anything. If I was smart, I would cry and demand things more often. That way, when I DO feel like needing more during the night (toys, nachos, or a bourbon) they would be happy to give whatever to me just because I rarely ask. But as it is now, they just stare and wonder if I’m okay. Oh well. Maybe next week...

2008-03-01T15:12:00.000-08:00

Grandma Joan and Grandpa Edgar were here for the first week of my life, Miss Kate and Mr. Tom have been with us ever since I was born, and Uncle Jahred, Aunt Erica, Grandma Karen, and Great-Grandma Fran arrived today. They will be here for about a week and then Grandpa David and Grandma Sherry are coming (I think). Wow, all this before I fly to Grand Cayman Island in May to watch Mom graduate from Medical School. There I will meet my Uncle Justin and Aunt Marian along with Miss Kate and Mr. Tom's family. With all of this attention, I may never need to learn to walk.

Do Not Tap on the Glass

2008-02-23T13:47:00.000-08:00

After my mom's water broke, I had a bowel movement. That stuff, we'll call it “fluid”, got into my lungs. It wasn’t until several hours after I was born before the doctors realized that there were some problems. I started coughing and breathing funny and they took me away from mom and dad. I spent the next four days in a little plastic box with tubes and stuff hooked up to me. During that time I was receiving oxygen and antibiotics while we waited for everything to clear and to make sure that there weren't any other problems. Gradually I was weaned off of them and did fine on my own. I am now clear of all tubes, drugs, and such and ready to come home. So in a couple of hours, a very short period of time, soon.. ..I'll be "home".

Look, it's me!

2008-02-19T17:45:00.000-08:00

Taken at 10:40AM EST on my first day.

I was born today!!!

2008-02-19T09:19:00.000-08:00

I weighed 8 pounds 4 ounces, was 19 inches long, and was born at 9:57AM EST.

Baby Registry

2008-02-07T06:48:00.000-08:00

There is a Baby Registry at both Babies R Us and Target.

Nursery Tour

2008-02-07T06:08:00.001-08:00

A quick tour of the nursery with our good friend Kate.

Sebastian's 17 Weeks Ultrasound

2008-02-07T06:06:00.000-08:00

This is Sebastian's heartbeat at 17 weeks overlayed with picture of the 11 week ultrasound.

Your Source for Sebastian Thomas Hamilton News

2008-02-07T05:58:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the first post on Sebastian's blog. Sure this isn't actually Sebastian since he isn't born yet, but the information should still be the same. The current date is February 7th of 2008 -- one day before his due-date. On here I plan on posting everything Sebastian related until he decides to take it over, or is so embarrassed by how uncool I am that he hides in his room wishing that he was adopted. Either way, enjoy.