Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

This morning it started snowing at our house. It's pretty fun! It would be even more fun if Dad had a snow plow tractor like Grandpa Jere. This is a picture of what the snow looks like out our front door. If you look really close, I think you might be able to see a flake or two.

You can see what our backyard looks like in this picture. Norah likes snow, too. She's asked to go out a couple of times this afternoon. Mostly Norah likes to eat the snow. What I want to know is why puppies can eat snow and babies can't? Perhaps there are some things I'll never have answers to.

Since it's so snowy and cold, we have to stay inside. That's okay, though, cause Dad is reading books to me. As long as Dad keeps reading, it can keep right on snowing. If I can't go outside, then reading is the next best thing.

By the way, most people would wear long pants when it's snowing. But not my Dad! He wants to make sure he doesn't get hot.

Today

Today I took my cars for a drive under the Eiffel Tower...

I snuggled my puppy...

I found a convenient place to put my cup while I'm riding my trike...

And, this afternoon, I pulled my high chair over to where Mommy was sitting and said, "Waffle please."

A very busy Monday

Yesterday Mommy and I had a very busy day! We had lots and lots of things to do. First, we played blocks. After the block basket was empty, I climbed right in. Mommy put all of my blocks in the basket around me. It was a fun, new game. We played it about six times. That's when Mommy got bored and said we had to do something else.

The something else turned out to be getting dressed. We dressed comfy cause we were going on a walk. I really thought I needed to take Dad's water bottle on our walk. I was a little bit frustrated the bottle didn't have any water in it. When Dad uses the water bottle, it always has water in it. Dad even lets me drink from the bottle! Mommy didn't get what I was trying to say. She put the bottle away and filled up my sippy cup. We were off for our walk!

After the walk, lunch, and my nap, I dusted. Mommy has a special duster-brush, and I have my bottle brush. It's a great duster. I really like dusting. In fact, I dust all the time! Dusting takes a lot of concentration. It's hard work--but then again, that's probably why dusting is so satisfying.

Our day was coming to an end, so I had to brush my teeth. Sometimes Dad helps me brush while standing in front of the mirror. I like to smile and make faces while we're brushing my teeth clean.

What a fun day! I wonder what we're doing today?

Ouch!

After waffles, Dad and I went to the store to look at the tractors. It was even better than Mommy's and my trip, cause the store got in MORE tractors! Now they have tractors inside and outside. Such an exciting thing. (Note: Since I was going with Dad, I got to wear my jammies to the store. Dads are such fun.)

We finished our looking and headed home. At home I decided to play with my toys. While playing, I fell and crashed my head on the bedside table. It was quite painful and I cried pretty hard. Dad put ice on my head. Can you see the mark? It's above my eye. Mommy says I'll probably have a really good bruise tomorrow. Ouch!

Sunday Waffles

Just like every other Sunday morning, Dad made breakfast. Yum!!! Usually we have pancakes, but today we had waffles. I really like them a lot. Dad tears them up in small pieces and then I stuff away!


The more waffles I stuff in my mouth the better. So good!!!

Turning circles

I figured out how to turn circles this morning. I really like turning circles...
...until I get dizzy!

A fifteen minute mess

Yesterday evening, Mommy and I played in my room before bathtime. It was lots of fun! Mommy let me pull out anything and everything I wanted. We stacked blocks. We played with my farm and ark animals. We drove my cars and made car noises. And then we read books.

After only 15 minutes of play, this is what my room looked like. "What a mess!," said Mommy. I thought it was perfectly wonderful. All of my toys were out and easy to play with. I'm kind of like my Dad in that way--we like everything out and easy to get to.

All that playing made me very tired. I went to my crib and got Big Blue (my blankie), and settled in on the floor while Mommy cleaned up. Mommy says someday soon, I'll have to help with clean-up. I figured I'd better snuggle with Big Blue while I still have the chance. Wanna make a mess again tonight, Mommy?

Bubbles and molars

Mommy, Norah, and I blew bubbles at bathtime tonight. Bubbles are great fun!

I like to smash the bubbles, and Norah likes to lick them. Either way the bubbles pop!

And, I have two top molars now. That brings my teeth to a grand total of 12! I think I might need a bigger toothbrush.

I'm going to be a big brother!

This morning I went to play with my friend Emma Claire while Mommy and Dad had an appointment. When Mommy and Dad came back to get me, they had pictures of our new baby!

Yep, I'm going to be a big brother early in August. I'm quite curious about this baby, cause it doesn't really look like a baby. It looks more like a fuzzy, black spot. But Mommy and Dad assured me it is a baby and it's eleven weeks old and that it's in Mommy's tummy.

Which, quite frankly, that's weird, too. I saw Mommy "toss her cookies" not too long ago, and I'm pretty sure there's nothing left in her tummy! Although, Mommy did eat a baked potato for dinner tonight. But, still, I don't think potatoes are the same thing as babies.

Anyway, I'm quite confused about the whole thing. Still I smiled when Mommy said, "Baby, there's going to be another baby! You're going to be the big brother! Won't that be fun?" All of this was said in the same voice Mommy uses when she talks about sharing which leaves me wondering...

But then Mommy went on to say something really wonderful! Mommy said that when the baby is born, Grandma Carolyn will come for two whole weeks. And then Grandma Lou will come for one whole week. Hey, if having a baby will get me that much grandma time...well, I'm all for having a baby!

The tractor brochure

Mommy and I had some errands to run this morning. We finished a little bit early, so we decided to check out the new home improvement store.

It was at the home improvement store where I saw the tractor (a.k.a. riding lawn mower). Actually I saw about eight tractors. It was great! Until Mommy started pushing the cart towards the shower curtains. I got more and more upset as the tractors got further and further away. Mommy said we could go back to the tractors after we checked out the shower curtains.

Finally, it was time to go back to the tractors. This time Mommy stopped the cart at each tractor. There were red tractors. There were green tractors. And there were dark green tractors. Oh how I love tractors! And then, Mommy, well she did it again--she started walking away. I made more noise. That's when Mommy got her most brilliant idea yet.

Next to the tractors was a tractor brochure. Mommy grabbed that piece of paper full of tractor information, she opened it up, and she handed it to me. I read about tractors while Mommy finished up her shopping. I read about tractors the whole way home. And, this evening, I read about tractors while Mommy made dinner. Dad even looked at the tractor paper with me. It was quite a day!

And to top it all off, I got to play with Charlotte this afternoon. Tractors and Charlotte--what a fun day!

Happy Birthday Grandma Lou!

Well...I'm ready to tell you about the rest of my day now. First, Happy Birthday to Grandma Lou! I hope you're having a good day so far!

In honor of Grandma Lou's birthday, I decided to skip my nap today. Mommy and Dad feel this was a bad choice on my part. According to my parents, I have a much better attitude when I nap. They can be quite bossy, if you ask me.

The other thing I've had fun doing today has been turning my activity walker upside down. Today the walker is just more fun upside down. So, that's what I'm doing.

I think later this evening I'm going to watch the football game with some friends. Then a bath and off to bed.

Oh, and Happy Birthday to Uncle John! Mommy thinks we may have missed his birthday. I hope you had a fun day!

Yesterday

Yesterday I went to play at Oliver's house. Oliver really likes me! He smiles really big when he shares his toys with me. He's a pretty fun cousin. Then we had pizza and went to church. It was a pretty fun day.

So far this morning, we've had pancakes and coffee (no coffee for me--I guess I'm not old enough). I don't know what we're doing next... Stay tuned...

Friday's mail

When Mommy went to check the mail on Friday, there was a package for ME! After my nap, I opened up the box to find...

...some very cute clothes from Grandma Lou and Grandpa Jere. The clothes had tags on them--that was the most fun part.
After opening the package, I helped Mommy by folding one of the shirts. The shirt was ready to put away.
Thank you for my fun package, Grandma Lou and Grandpa Jere!

Playing and Practicing

Mommy and I played with my ark this afternoon. I liked to put the two elephants next to each other, the two tigers next to each other, the two giraffes next to each other, and so on.

After the animals were all paired off, I decided to put them inside the ark. I put a few up on deck, and then put the rest down under. As you'll notice in the picture, it takes a lot of concentration to put the animals in their places. Finally the job was finished, and it was time for...

PANCAKES!!! Yep, Mommy and I had pancakes for dinner. They were yummy!

Lately I've been practicing eating with my fork and spoon. Since Mommy was eating her pancakes with a fork, I wanted to use my fork. Just like playing with my ark, eating with a fork takes a lot of concentration. I'm pretty good at sticking the pancake with the fork. But getting the fork and pancake up to my mouth? Well, that's a different story. I'd better keep practicing.

Let the games begin!

Every evening when Dad gets home, we play really, really hard! Sometimes we shoot hoops, sometimes we ride my trike, sometimes we play with my cars...but my most favorite game of all? Chase!

I run towards Dad, and then I run away from Dad. Pretty soon Dad gets a clue about which game we're playing and he comes running after me!

I squeal and shriek (sp?). Oh, it is the most exciting thing!

And, finally, after what seems like forever (really just a couple of seconds), Dad gets me and tickles me. I laugh and laugh and laugh!!!

And then it's time for another game of chase.

Fifteen months

Today I am fifteen-months-old! I'm getting to be an old baby! Actually, according to Mommy's books, I'm not a baby anymore. I'm a toddler!

Around town

At lunchtime Dad took Mommy and me for a drive around town to see the icy trees.

Here's a big tree with broken limbs.

This is a close-up shot of the pretty icicles. This is why my Mommy likes ice storms. She says ice makes everything so pretty! Sure Mommy...and ice breaks trees and knocks out the electricity and makes the roads very dangerous. But whatever makes you happy, Mommy.

Dad thought the pine trees looked neat all heavy with ice. This tree lost a few branches, too.

Pine needles up close. I sort of agree with Mommy; they really are quite pretty.

A few flakes

After icing for a couple of days, yesterday afternoon the ice turned to snow! There wasn't as much snow as we had in Colorado, but still it was fun to see the flakes falling.

Cleaning in our jammies

Before we got dressed this morning, Mommy and I cleaned the house. I used the electric broom while Mommy cleaned the bathrooms. Mommy says, "Teamwork helps the job get done a whole lot faster." Then Mommy throws up her hands and says, "Jamey how did I ever clean the house before you were born?" I don't know, Mommy, I just don't know... Good thing you now have me to help!

A thin layer of ice

As I'm sure you've heard on the news, we're having ice storms at our house. It's pretty dark and dreary outside, so Mommy's picture didn't turn out all that well. Maybe you can use your imagination to see how pretty the icicles are on the tree. Mommy says ice is pretty, and Dad says it's dangerous cause it gets on the electrical wires and makes the electricity go away. I sure hope that doesn't happen to us! I hope the ice just stays pretty.

Happy Birthday Aunt Samantha!

Today is Mommy's sister Sam's birthday. Happy Birthday! I hope you have a fun weekend, Aunt Samantha, and I hope you have fun snowboarding on Monday with Aunt Tammy, Aunt Jacey, and Aunt Dyana!

Looking out the windows

Today there were lots of things to see out of the windows. I really wanted to go outside, but Dad said today wasn't an outside kind of day.

Even though we live in town, we still have a field of cows across the street from us. This morning when Mommy came to say good morning, the cows were making lots of noise. Mommy pulled up the blinds, and I spent some time looking at the cows. "Moo," I said. "Moo," said the cow back to me. (It wasn't dark outside, but this picture sure makes it look like it was dark.)

A little bit later in the day the rain turned to freezing rain. I ran over to the window to see the ice. I think perhaps the ice may have been the reason today wasn't an outside kind of day. I really liked watching the rain. I even tried saying "rain". I think I'd better keep practicing.

Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to work he goes!

Dad needed some help getting ready for work this morning. Good thing I was around to provide the very help he needed!

I flushed the toilet for Dad. That's one of my new tricks--just did it this morning for the first time! And then, I made the exact mouth motions as Dad while he brushed his teeth.

Quite frankly, I'm not sure Dad could have made it out the door this morning without my help.

My visit to the doctor's

Today Mommy took me to the doctor for my 15th-month-appointment. I got raving reviews! The doctor confirmed that I really am a talented baby! The doctor was impressed that I can put the star shape into my shape sorter, she was impressed I know more than ten words, and she was impressed that I can climb ladders. I guess those are all 18th-month-talents. Of course, Mommy was impressed that I was ahead in three areas! There is one area where I'm perfectly normal. That's the stacking area. I can only stack two blocks high--that's right on target for a baby my age. We rushed right home to tell Dad about my skills.

The doctor also told us some boring stuff. Like my iron is great. I weigh 21.6 pounds (10%). I measure 32 inches (75%--I just finished a growth spurt, the doctor doesn't think I'll grow any taller for a few months and I'll match my weight percentile once again before too long--Mommy had noticed she hadn't had to roll my pants as much since Christmas).

And then the doctor said something really wonderful...

She said that I could have ice cream (high-quality vanilla) once or twice a week! I don't have much extra "fluff" weight-wise. It's absolutely nothing to worry about, but I can consume a few extra calories if I want to. Since the doctor said I "have" to have ice cream, Dad is going to eat ice cream with me a night or two a week. Yum! I sure do love my doctor!!!

Norah's special treat

While on vacation, our friends Mark and Joy found some fancy-schmancy dog treats. They purchased some for my puppy Norah. Here's Dad giving Norah one of the special treats.

Of course, Norah took it to her cave (underneath the coffee table) right away. That's where she takes all of her treats. Norah thinks treats taste better when eaten in a cave.

Norah really seemed to be enjoying the special treat. Since it looked like a cracker and since Norah said it was so tasty, I decided to take the treat from Norah and take a bite.

I don't really like dog treats. I quickly gave the treat back to Norah.

Thanks to Mark and Joy for thinking of my puppy!

Cup holders

This is me having a snack. I had some kiwi and crackers with my cup of water. See how my high chair tray has a cup holder? I don't like my water to be anywhere else on the tray but in the cup holder. Mommy puts my cup in the cup holder, I pick up the cup when I'm taking a drink, and then I put the cup right back into the holder when I'm done! Thank goodness for cup holders.