Exclusive Interview with Russell Mark

I=Interviewer

R=Russ Russ

I: Let me start off by saying happy birthday, and congratulations on a successful first year of life.

R: Thank you. Well actually my birthday is Monday, but I am pretty booked that day, so this is the best I could do.

I: What have you learned in the last year?

R: Where to begin. Hmmm. I learned to digest without screaming, one of my favorite accomplishments. I learned to smile, then laugh. At the beginning of the year my mother's distinct laugh shocked me every time, but now I just laugh along with her. Laughing's my favorite.

I learned how to put myself to sleep. This was also a milestone considering my silly parents used to bounce in me in a dark closet for half an hour four times a day.

I learned how to roll over, sit up, eat food without spitting it all over the myself. I learned to scoot, backwards then forwards, crawl, climb, and shake it to the music!

I have also recently taken up singing. I have the sweetest little voice.

I learned how to hug, kiss and speak. My first words came in this order; dad, mama, ball, book, bunga aka water, yeah, and crack for cracker. When I am not interviewing these are all the words I say.

I think it is safe to say I have learned a lot more than you in the last year.

I: Easy now Russell. You will get slower as you get older too.

How about walking? Do you see any of that in your near future?

R: Hey, I'm not crazy! No way. I crawl fast, efficiently and safely. I am a crawler for life.

I: What foods do you most enjoy?

R: Funny you should ask. I tried spaghetti and meatballs last night for the first time and thought it was rather delicious. But, yogurt is my favorite.

I: If you could be any animal what would you be?

R: A pig. I have that sound down the best.

I: What recreational activities do you enjoy?

R: I love to swing at the park. That really cracks me up. I laugh my head off, as loud as I can.

I love to read books on mom's or dad's lap. I love to dance. I love to tell my parents how big I am with my arms.

I also love watching Sesame Street when my parents allow it, usually only during diaper changing these days. Oh yeah, I have always loved when my parents throw me all around and tickle me on their bed.

At the end of each day I get a bath. I really like this. The bath is always set up for me with tons of shampoo bottles along the edge. As soon as I get in I knock them all in, one by one.

I: Any favorite toys?

R: My parents have this rad printing copying contraption device thingy. I like to crawl to it, push all the buttons and make copies. I made a copy of my hand the other day. Mom said it was cute.

And, Elmo. I love Elmo with all my heart and give him kisses.

I: If there were any words of wisdom you could pass on to the adults of the world what would it be?

R: Us babies don't care what anybody thinks of us. We have perfect confidence. If we want to crawl over to the kid next to us and feed him a cracker, we do. We are not scared to smile, talk to and make friends with any person or animal we encounter. We don't care if you are rich or poor, or homeless as long as you smile.

We always dance like no one is watching, and always laugh as loud as we want, whenever we want wherever we want. If we feel it, we do it. If we eat a big meal we walk around with our bellies so full they hang out of our shirts, and never think twice. I have never been embarrassed, and I have never been offended. This is the way to live.

I: What a great message. Thank you again for your time, and have an awesome time eating cake and ice cream.