Trivia: He made several films early in his career as a "singing" cowboy. His singing voice was supplied by a singer hidden off camera.

July 17th: Duke like Katy Perry

"When people say a John Wayne picture got bad reviews, I always wonder if they know it's a redundant sentence, but hell, I don't care. People like my pictures and that's all that counts." -John Wayne

July 14th: Duke's first time at the beach, long story short Duke's new rolling trend means we had to watch him from rolling in the deep......sand (Duke's an Adele fan now too he claps to her).

"You're going to think I'm being corny, but this is how I really feel: I hope my family and my friends will be able to say that I was an honest, kind and fairly decent man." John Wayne

July 8th: Duke had his 9 month physical this week. He is 15 lbs 8 oz and 26" in length. Keeping him on the examination table is a challenge because all he wants to do is flip and roll and explore his surroundings. To show you how much little man has grown I give exhibit A. Here is his holding his teddy bear from the hospital, note that he is now bigger than the bear.

      After the appointment we were told to start trying him on solid foods or table foods. He is to be socialized in his high chair at dinning times and should be given something to eat such as puffs, cheerios or a bagel. I'm not sure about the bagel yet but we will see. Dukes first attempt were puffs and spaghetti strands. He did a good job pinching the puffs, but when in his mouth he tongued them out. The Spaghetti was funny because it would go in his mouth then come right back out.

      Duke had a very full weekend and week. We went to a party at my friend Laura's parents house and Duke was, as usual, a gem. He would laugh and smile when people were around and was so fascinated being outside.

     
      At the party there was a teenage boy hanging out, mostly people there were in their late 20's and up. He came over to look at Duke and talk with him, then he took his shoes off and got on the blanket and played with Duke. He's talking to him, shaking the rattle and getting him to roll; which was difficult in the grass. Duke is laughing so hard at the boy he can't catch his breathe at time, and I am laughing too. I found the whole scenario to be mezmorizing because he's a teenage boy, who didn't have the "I don't care" mentality and brushes things off. He was geniune and caring with this little baby. Duke...learn something from your buddy Marcus.

"You can't whine and bellyache because somebody else got a good break and you didn't."- John Wayne

June 23rd: Sometimes I don't know how to respond when someone asks me how Duke is doing. There are fine lines between closing people out about information about your child (i.e. poop, spit up, and other things that are TMI) and overly sharing (i.e. hourly updates on your child). I tell people Duke is awesome when they ask because....he is. He is always happy, he doesn't cry, he doesn't whine and every time I see him I can't believe he is mine. He sleeps through the night, he cracks up consistently and doesn't mind having other people hold them. It's funny when he plays with his bat and makes him fly, though he doesn't know how to fly yet. Just an awesome awesome kid. That's the best adjective for him.

"Westerns are closer to art than anything else in the motion picture business."- John Wayne

June 22nd: Come on....how cute is this kid! Uncle Charlie said the cutest thing today. I told Duke I love him, he said "Who doesn't love the Duke"

"Don't ever for a minute make the mistake of looking down your nose at westerns. They're art--the good ones, I mean. They deal in life and sudden death and primitive struggle, and with the basic emotions--love, hate, and anger--thrown in."- John Wayne

June 8th: When I go to Target there are rows and rows and rows of dresses, pink sleepers, ruffly bathing suits. What does my son have 3 racks (one of sleepers with animals, one of plaid shorts and polo sets and one of lame jumpers). I have to scope the internet and other options to pastels....Duke is not a pastels and winnie the pooh kind of kid. My son is a comic book/ rocker/ skull and cross bone punk kid.... this is expected from a child with a natural Mohawk. I think the lack of selection for boys is sad, but I am sure I will appreciate it when he is older. I am so proud of Duke in this picture because it took forever for me to get him to smile for a picture of him smiling.

Duke is the best sleeper. When 8 hits he starts talking to himself in his hungry voice and we have to get his bottle on. He falls asleep while drinking all but an ounce and stays asleep until 5 or 5:30 am. He is adorable when he falls asleep too. He was cuddling with his ugly doll dog tonight in his Nemo Pajamas and I am not sure I could love him more than I did at that moment.

"I was overwhelmed by the feeling of friendship, comradeship, and brotherhood"- John Wayne

June 1st: Babies first day at the pool was this weekend. Duke took it the same way he took his first bath, with consistent looks of "what is this about?" The funny things is he was so interesting to the little girls at the pool, they came over asked his name and why he was in a raft. Duke just looked at them like why are you bothering me. He and I will work on our social skills.

Duke is up to 14 lbs and has cute baby arm rolls. He's a fan of bananas and applesauce, he hates peas with a vengeance. He is rolling in the deep and knows how to get his butt u,p but he has to work on his abs to get him to scoot  more to crawling. He talks to himself, but mostly to his bee that is on the edge of his pack and play, the bee doesn't respond, but Duke keeps talking.

When fast music is on, he will kick his legs in a furry, in this little video you can see his "Paws Up" at the end. Notice, he only dances on the chorus.