PS

I forgot to mention that our heater is fixed. We're toasty once again, and we're grateful it was an easy fix.

She's not here

Great-Mom-mom still isn't at our house.

She has to spend the night in Minneapolis cause there is too much snow in the sky. Hopefully, the flight she's booked on tomorrow morning will make it to Arkansas just fine. Until then, Mommy is sad and worried about the fact that Great-Mom-mom hasn't had much sleep and is stuck without anyone she knows. What a frustrating end to our day...

Morning Adventures

Well, our morning adventures started early this morning--at three am, to be exact! Our heater broke, and since it was freezing cold outside, Dad guarded our gas fire place so I could be warm and still sleep. I think my Dad and Mommy are kind of tired.

Then, when Mommy came in to get me this morning, I was soaked all the way through to my mattress pad! Perhaps I drank a little bit too much water before bed last night... Hum... That's why I'm not dressed. I thought Dad's slippers might add to my lack of outfit; so, all by myself, I tried them on. I think maybe someday, maybe I'd like a pair of slippers.

After the slippers, I decided I should look around to see if there was anything new to climb. I gave my crib a try. It was easy getting up, but it was hard getting down.

Finally, it was time to hop in the shower so I would be clean and fresh for my morning nap. Whew! I was tired and ready for that nap.

Now we're still waiting for Great-Mom-mom. Her planes keep getting delayed cause of the snow. The snow is pretty, but I'm sad it's making Great-Mom-mom's trip so much longer. I'll let you know when she finally arrives.

Quiche and a Fat Lip

Here I am having quiche for lunch. More on that later...

Do you see my fat, black-and-blue lip? I fell onto the cupboard this morning. There was lots of blood and crying. Mommy comforted me and let me hold a wet washcloth.

Then I went to play with Mommy's Bible study ladies and their babies. I got a little bit of sympathy for my lip from all of the ladies. That was kind of nice.

After playing, I came home and had quiche for lunch. Mommy says "real men eat quiche", and Dad says that "real men don't eat quiche". Dad also says I can only eat quiche until I'm 13, cause after that I'll be a real man. Mommy says I have to take what Dad says with a grain of salt. Hum...All I know about salt is that it is yummy on pretzels!

Snackin' with My Christmas Tree

This afternoon, I got to eat my snack (of pretzels and bunny crackers) right up next to my Christmas tree. The lights were on and everything! It was such fun!

I had been a little bit sad earlier in the day, cause Norah had to go to the groomers. When Mommy and I dropped my puppy off, I cried just a little bit. Spending a day without Norah would be enough to make any kid cry. Good thing I had my Christmas-tree-snack to look forward to.

Oh--and I have two exciting things to tell you: Great-Mom-mom flies in on Thursday, and, guess what else? We might be getting snow on that very same Thursday! Mommy and I made sure all of our mittens and scarves are washed and ready! What fun it will be to show Great-Mom-mom some snow! I hope Great-Mom-mom packs warm clothes...

Reading

This morning Mommy found me reading all by myself! I was turning pages (in the right direction) and talking while reading my book about Vincent VanGoat. Mommy was so proud, cause she is what you call a "book person".

Mommy decided to further my reading skills, we should perhaps take a trip to the library. But the library is closed for the week to have some new carpeting installed. We peeked in the windows, and the library is a mess!

Since the library was closed, we visited with the ducks and then took a walk. Then it was back home for naptime.

Cleaning My Room--Part Two

One of the things Mommy had to do in my room was put my clothes away. When the laundry basket was empty, I flipped it over and climbed up on top!

See? Here I am! (By this time, Mommy had taken off the handle of my harness. That makes the harness a backpack complete with a pocket for a special toy.)

Sitting on top of the basket was fun, but I knew things could be even more fun! So, I pushed the basket over to the bookshelf and climbed on up...

...but then I had a different idea, so I climbed back down...

...and scooted the laundry basket over to my crib!

And then something terrible happened. I fell. Mommy put the basket away. I was sad. Then, Mommy said it was bathtime, and I was happy once again!

(Oh--and Mommy says to be sure to tell you that at one point during the day I did have pants on.)

Cleaning My Room--Part One

This evening, Mommy decided we needed to do a little picking-up in my room. Sometimes my room gets a little bit too cluttery for Mommy. I didn't really feel like helping, so...

I asked Mommy to put on my new harness. My friend Layna sent to me. I think Layna wanted me to match Norah, and since Norah has a harness, Layna thought I needed one, too. Mommy put it on me...

...and I was off!

But then I decided I needed my hat. My Dad wears hats, and I sure do like to be like my Dad!

Of course, once the hat was on, it was time for a peek in the mirror! How cute am I!?!

Mommy thought the fun was over, so she started in with the picking-up. However, I had different ideas. Keep reading; the next post will show you what I thought of next!

"Hold me, Mommy!"

I just remembered that I forgot to show you the carrier/sling that Mommy found a while back.

Here we are--just Mommy and me looking at my last year's Santa picture. I'm not so sure I'm gonna like Santa.

Anyway, sometimes a guy just wants to be held...constantly...even though his Mommy has things she needs/wants to do...sometimes a Daddy won't do...only a Mommy is wanted...only a Mommy...so, Mommy ties me to her hip, and off we go!

And, yes, Mommy looks tired, cause Mommy WAS tired at the end of yesterday!

Sorting Shapes

Today Dad helped me figure out my shape sorter. It's a pretty fun toy. You put the shape in the right hole, and then everyone yells, "YEAH!!!"

Here I am putting in the red square...

Next comes the blue circle...

Then the purple triangle...

Still one more shape to go, but I needed a break! My shape sorter also makes a good stool to help with climbing...

Last, but not least, the yellow star!

Happy Birthday Uncle Rob!

Happy Birthday to Uncle Rob! I hope you had a great day chopping Christmas trees.

Here I am eating cranberry-orange bread. Mommy says it "tastes like Christmas". It's one of Grandma Carolyn's specialties. Yummy!!!

The fun continues...

Since all our decorating and baking was finished up, Dad and I decided to wrestle by the Christmas tree. Norah even joined the fun.

We like to make lots of growling noises when we wrestle.

But, then, the wrestling got a bit out-of-hand, and I fell. I was okay; but since Mommy and Dad had made "nervous sounds", I decided to cry just a little bit. I didn't want them to be disappointed. Then, Dad and I snuggled, and everything was okay.

Now it's bathtime and bedtime. Sleep well!

After my nap

After my nap, I awoke to find a lighted Christmas tree! I wasn't too sure what to think of the tree. Most new things make me a bit nervous; I usually need a little time to get used to things.
Mommy held me for a minute while we talked about "looking with our eyes and not with our hands". I was fine while Mommy was holding me, but I was not-so-fine when she put me down!

Then Dad picked me up. Dad helped me learn that the tree was pretty fun to look at. Still, I didn't feel like smiling about the tree until much later, but at least I was getting more used to things.

Mommy and Dad said besides looking with my eyes, I can touch the tree with just one finger. I'm not ready to to that by myself just yet. Maybe tomorrow. I might be more brave after a good night's sleep.

These are our stockings. Our friend Janet made them for us. One for Dad, one for Mommy, one for Norah, and one for me! Aren't they pretty? I really liked to point at them, so Mommy or Dad would pick me up and let me look up close.

I also noticed that our house was smelling pretty yummy! To help with the decorating, Mommy made cranberry-orange bread and pumpkin bread. Our house is pretty and smells so good! I'm starting to think Christmas will be lots of fun!!!

PS: We had a stay-home-jammy day today. We were too busy to get dressed, cause we had holiday stuff to do!

Before my nap

Right after I woke up this morning, Mommy said we were decorating for Christmas today. Sounded like fun to me! However, shortly after breakfast, Norah and I found ourselves imprisoned in my pack-n'-play!

I guess word has gotten out that I can't be trusted around ladders (what can I say? I like to climb!). Anyway, Norah and I were banished to the pack-n'-play while Mommy and Dad were in the garage and attic finding our decorations.

Mostly Norah and I were patient. But a few times we did make a few sad noises. We just wanted to make sure we weren't forgotten.

Finally, we were free to once again roam the house. I was sure I was going to get to be a part of the decorating process. I was wrong. Very, very wrong. Next on the agenda for my day was naptime. And I had a suspicion that the decorating would be taking place without me...

Happy Thanksgiving (yesterday)!

I hope each of you had a nice Thanksgiving. I celebrated with my friends Jonathan and Caleb. The mommies and daddies were there, too. None of us had any grandparents in town, so it was important for us to be together. That way we weren't lonely! It sure was a fun day!

Wrestling with Norah

Just like my Dad, I wrestled with Norah...
We growled, we swatted, and we laughed...
We had lots and lots of fun...

A not-so-great gift

Yep, the not-so-great-birthday-gift is a gate. A gate to keep me contained in my room, or, at least, that's what Mommy was hoping for. Here's what happened.

Lately, I've been having to stay in my pack-n'-play while Mommy runs to the bathroom, cause if I'm in there with her, I climb in the bathtub and turn the water on. Well, the other day, when Mommy was back after a quick trip to the restroom, she caught me standing on top of my barn in the pack-n'-play. This made Mommy nervous--something about falling on my head--so yesterday we went out to spend the rest of my birthday money.

I must say, I got my hopes up. Usually when words like "store" and "birthday money" are used in the same sentence, it's a good thing. Needless to say, I was expecting toys! But I got a gate instead. Really, Mommy a gate is more of a present for you. Why didn't we use your birthday money?

Anyway, we purchased the gate and came home to install it. Yesterday evening, it wasn't too bad. Mommy was in my room behind the gate with me the whole time we were playing. We read, we played, we laughed--it was fun!

But then this morning, Mommy left me in the room (for what she claims was only one minute) while she ran to get the basket of clean clothes to put away in my room. This is what Mommy saw as she came around the corner. Yep, I climbed up the gate! It turns out the gate isn't such a bad gift after all; it's great fun to climb.

For the rest of today, I have to be with Mommy everywhere and all the time. And, let's just say, that the bar of soap I took a bite out of during our last bathroom trip, well, it didn't taste very good.

PS: I might be allowed back in the pack-n'-play as long as I only have small toys in there with me. And I also might be allowed back in my room behind the gate as long as I have my shoes on. Mommy thinks I won't be able to get my toes in the gate holes to climb if they're covered with shoes. Next on my to-do list: figure out how to get my shoes off!

Happy Birthday Aunt Julia!

Happy Birthday to my Aunt Julia! I hope you're having a great day with Grandma Lou and Grandpa Jere out there in beautiful Seattle. And, I hope you get really great birthday gifts...unlike the one Mommy found for me yesterday (I'll explain in my next post).

While Dad was home for lunch today, he enjoyed one of my leftover Halloween lollipops. Since Mommy won't let me lick the candy end of the lollipop, I helped myself to the other end. Here we are--me and Dad enjoying my lollipop!

Cow

This is my cow. He lives up on the shelf above my changing table. Lately, I've been saying "cow" (it sounds more like "dow" according to Mommy and Dad).

In the morning, when I wake up, I stand up in my crib and, while I'm waiting for someone to come and get me, I say, "Cow, cow, cow." Then when I'm lifted out of my crib, I point to the cow and Mommy or Dad says, "Mooo--the cow says moo."

But even more exciting than cows are puppies! Yesterday Mommy and I were reading a book about animals. When we got to the puppy page, Mommy started woofing. I knew just what Mommy was talking about, so I ran and got my stuffed animal puppy. There was a puppy on the page in the book and I was holding my stuffed puppy.

I'm such a smart baby! And my parents are so happy with my skills. They keep talking about association. Not sure what all that means, but whatever makes them happy.

Puttin' on the rings

You would have thought it was Christmas. I put a ring on my ring toy, and my parents go crazy! "Do it again, baby," they cried. And then the camera appeared.

Sitting on Norah

For one quick minute, Mommy turned around (to wipe up the water I accidentally dumped onto the floor) while I climbed into Norah's basket. However, Norah was already in her basket, and she didn't want to scoot over to make room for me.

"Never mind, Norah, I'll just sit on top of you," I said. Norah didn't seem to mind the arrangement...at least I didn't think she minded.

Mommy, however, says Norah did mind. Mommy says the whimpering coming from Norah's voice box should have been my clue. How was I to know the whimpering was saying "don't sit on me"? I thought Norah was saying "thanks for patting my head". "Really, Mommy, I think I know my own puppy!"

Dinner was yummy!!!

A basket built for two

In the corner down the hall

Sometimes a guy needs to play in a corner. Today was one of those days. I pulled my favorite toys down the hall, where I played all by myself for about ten minutes.

And then...when I was finished...I asked Mommy to read to me, and she did!

Dancing

This afternoon Mommy and I were listening to music and dancing. Typically, whenever there is music playing, I dance. Mommy, well, let's just say my Mommy is better at other things. Yet, she still dances with me.

According to Mommy, some of my aunties (on both sides of the family) like to dance. I guess, in the dancing department, I must be more like my aunties than my Mommy. Anyway, here's a picture of me dancing and being silly with Mommy!

Fantasy Football

My Dad plays Fantasy Football with some of his friends. Every Sunday it's a mad rush to make sure Dad has the right players picked for the games. Often, Dad needs Norah and I to help him with the big decision. This morning I was ready to help. I got my football and ran over to Dad's computer, and we picked the winning players! Yep, Dad won his game!

Oh--and last night at church, something really fun happened. There was this baby in my class who started crying. Hearing the crying made me a little bit sad, so Ms. Susan took me out of my classroom so we could roam the hallways. Then, Ms. Susan let me type on the church computer! It was so wonderful!!! So wonderful, in fact, that I wasn't the least bit interested in my Mommy or Dad when they came to pick me up. I love church and Ms. Susan and the computer. Too bad next Saturday is six whole days away...

Happy Birthday Grandpa Patrick!

Happy Birthday to Grandpa Patrick! I hope you had a fun celebration at Aunt Tammy's house.

The other day Mommy and I went for a walk at the soccer fields. There were all kinds of kids running and kicking soccer balls. I couldn't keep my eyes off of the game, so Mommy and I stopped for a little bit to watch the kids kick the ball.

Ever since, I've been kicking my balls at home. I walk and kick, walk and kick, walk and kick. It's kind of like I'm a big kid playing soccer.

Oh, and, yes, I know...this is a basket ball. I couldn't reach my soccer ball, cause it was in the bottom of the toy bucket.

Just like Dad

Dad has a cell phone, and I have a cell phone. Today I made a few calls on my phone just like Dad does with his phone. Pretty much, these days, I like being like my Dad. Me and Dad--we have cell phones, but, Mommy, well, she doesn't have one. She says Dad and I don't have to feel sorry for her, cause she really doesn't want one. Oh well...Mommy doesn't know what she's missing.