Roar

G-ma & Pops came to visit, mostly to play with Little Boy. We took a trip to the zoo and our first stop was the lion exhibit. Two male lions were pacing and LB immediately recognized what they were, pointing and saying, "Lion!" over and over again. One lion was up against the viewing glass so we took him there to see a big lion up close and personal.

Little Boy and the lion were eye to eye. LB's response? Loads of laughter while he shouted, "ROAR!" at the lion. All the while LB roared, G-ma, Pops, and I roared too - with laughter. I'm pretty certain the lion shout LB was pretty funny too.

Up! Up!

Little Boy, like all little kids, asks to be picked up about an average 1,956.2 times a day. It makes me laugh every time because he says, "Up! Up!" with his arms in the air and his hands motioning simultaneously.

LB and I were playing around on the bed yesterday when I pretended to fall back. This time it was Little Boy who was pulling me up - by the arms of my shirt. He pulled me up and followed up with a hug around my neck. I may just start falling back a lot more!

Mmm, Mmm Good!

Little Boy loves food and as his mommy, I love that he loves ALL food - most especially healthy food! I have some great memories of LB learning to eat watermelon and corn on the cob this summer.

This week, the newest addition to his regular diet was a whole apple. It started when LB was helping me pack my lunch one morning and he tried to take a bite out of my apple.  Later in the week, I was snacking on an apple when Little Boy leaned in with his mouth opened, in his little way of begging for food. (Yes, LB is one tail short of being classified a puppy.) Little Boy bit right on in, just like a grown person.  He was happy and I had to grab a new apple from the fridge.

Back it Up

Little Boy copies what Husband and I say - and we really do have to be careful what comes out of our mouths. We also laugh constantly at what he chooses to repeat or what it sounds like when his little mouth says it. Sheep sounds sounds a lot like a word we don't want LB to repeat, but he follows it up with "Baa" so we know he really is talking about the animal.
Not too long ago, Husband and I felt like we were constantly telling LB to back away from the TV. In an effort to nag less (already, my little man has managed to tune me out), I said, "Back up. Beep! Beep! Beep!"Not only did it work, now any time LB decides to back up, he says, "Beep! Beep! Beep." He beeps when cars back up, when the shopping cart backs up, when he backs away from the stove, when he backs into my lap, and when he crawls backwards down the stairs.  He just has the sweetest little voice, especially when he's beeping!

As long as he doesn't beep when I back up, it'll remain pretty darn cute!

Time to Clean

Little Boy was happily playing with his cars on the familyroom floor, so I decided to take advantage of his ability to play solo and take the opportuntiy to sweep the kitchen floor. When LB saw the broom, it was as if those cars didn't exist. What I thought would be just a quick chance to sweep up crumbs turned into a mad dash around the kitchen with me trying to pile crumbs before Little Boy could chase down the broom. He got hold of the broom (what kind of mother would I be if I didn't let him clearn?) and gave his undevided attention to the sweeping.  That's when I found an opportuntiy to clean up his cars!

Smooch!

Little Boy kissed his gal pal today! Her mommy and I were holding both kids and we were all saying goodbye. The little tykes were waving and blowing kisses. When the mommies prompted the little kids to kiss each other, they leaned in, puckered, and planted baby wet kisses on each other's lips. LB had a bashful smile on his face or his pretty little crush giggled!

Telephone

Little Boy has become quite a mimicker. He sweeps when I sweep  - with his golf club of course. He reaches between the cabinet and the refrigerator for the broom and dust pan. He helps with laundry and pretends to put lotion on my leg when I put lotion on his legs. LB also likes to talk on the phone. Certainly, Husband's phone and mine are preferable to the Fisher Price version, but even a block will do. If only I knew who LB was talking to, but it makes no difference. During the course of every conversation, he says, "Hello," talks and talks, and then, out of the blue cracks up, before saying, "Bye Bye!"

I'm not even going to ask what this "pretend play" means...but I'd guess he's practicing for his teenage years!

Uh Oh, Spaghetti-Os!

In an attempt to eat dinner as a family, I made some yummy spaghetti. Little Boy got penne with sauce for easier feeding and I made linguine noodles for Husband and me. As tends to be natural for all LBs and a nightly occurrence for my Little Boy, he wanted to partake in the grub on the adult plates at the table, so I gave him a noodle. He grabbed the noodle, one hand on either end, and tried to shove the entire noodle into his mouth, end over end. When plan A failed, LB changed course and slurped. At the end of the meal, I'm not sure what was more impressive, the marinara mess or the fact that my little 17 month old knows how to slurp a noodle.

Oh, the questions!

Little Boy has started to ask questions. With hands and eyebrows properly raised he asks, "Where's the plane/ball/car/toes?" It's really quite funny because he asks the questions at the right time and really is looking around. LB's always so thrilled when Husband or I hand him what he's been looking for.

The other day caught us by surprise. LB walked into the family room from playing outside and said clear as day, "Where's the remote?" Just to be sure I responded, "What are you looking for, LB?" "Where's the remote?" he repeated while turned over the couch pillow where Husband and I usually hide the remote from him. It was there, so he grabbed it, pointed it at the TV, and turned it on and said, "Where's Toodles?"

What do LB's questions reveal about his parents? Oh brother!

Oh No!

"Oh No" is a phrase Husband and I hear from Little Boy at least seven times a day. Generally it's in his soft spoken voice, other times we hear it with great urgency. Last night LB was having fun climbing on and off the couch. (Aside: Kids don't need toys. Couches, wooden spoons, and the springy door stops attached to the baseboard are really all LB needs.) In the midst of climbing, LB somehow ended up with his knees on the couch and feet on the ottoman creating a sort of human bridge between the two. I was about to lift him out of his odd situation when Husband stopped me. "See if he can figure it out," he said. (Aside #2: Husband reminds me this constantly: Little Boys need lots of chances to figure things out!) And so I watched - sort of hovered - and waited. And figured it out, he did. LB managed out of his predicament with a simply and mildly noted, "Oh no."

Plane!

Little Boy has discovered airplanes much to Husband’s delight! In the mornings, LB and I head out for a run and he is an airplane spotting machine. Remember Radar from M.A.S.H.? That’s LB. He hears the planes before I do and points to them with a bent pointer finger. While huffing and puffing up hills, I’m desperately trying to get out, “Yes, a plane, a plane. I see the plane, LB” without falling over. (I’m trying to name things as much as I can…I can’t help but think that will help LB use more words soon.) Husband now has a place to take LB so I have some time on the weekends to clean or grocery shop.  My two boys head to the regional airport and watch the planes together. Husband got a big LB hug out of the deal last week – a bear hug from behind. LB must love planes. And I know he loves his daddy!

Mama!

There are a few parts of my day with Little Boy that I love. One of those times is around 4:40 when I pick him up from daycare. He is generally waiting behind the safety gate, wildly impatient, anxious for a hug from Mommy. Today was no different except that he shouted, "Mama!" when I walked in. Sure, he's been saying mama for a while now and he knows that is my name, but he's never said it at pick up time and after a crazy first week back with students, LB's word was the most beautiful thing I've heard all week!

Kitchen Helper

This morning, as with every morning, LB was under foot in the kitchen. I love the obstacle courses he creates with his toys, the Tupperware (not name brand, so I won’t put a trademark here), and the random Cheerios (those are name brand!) that wind up all over my floor. The best part of LB’s morning is helping me with my shake. I add the ingredients while he looks on, perched (safety) on the counter. When the ingredients have been added, LB reaches up for me (a joy that I will treasure my entire life), and laughs when I turn on the blender. We do this every morning. Even if I’ve put LB in his highchair to eat his breakfast, he takes a break and joins me for the morning GGGGGGZZZZZZZ of the blender.

Hikes

LB went out for his first official mountain hike. Husband and I initially thought we'd trade off pushing the off-road stroller up the path, but the path narrowed and LB got a little antsy. LB dismounted and that's when he grabbed our fingers and started to plug his way on up the mountain. I don't know what was better - the fact that Little Boy insisted on hiking for most of our 40 minute family hike or that he crashed out in the car on the way home. Both were pretty darn cute!

Toes and Nose

Little Boy thinks toes and noses  are hysterical (probably because they rhyme and he can say both). Toes are a great time because they tickle and noses are neat because I make a loud “HONK!” sound whenever he squeezes mine. Last night LB could not stop tickling my toes. My ten toes fought back and tickled his belly and his keister! A baby’s laugh is the most amazing sound on this earth – and quite infectious too!

Baby Mine

Little Boy still takes a bottle before going down for a nap and at bedtime. Judge if you want; I don’t care. He loves his bottle and I love these moments with LB. Time is precious and babyhood is exceedingly finite. This is one of the few times during the course of a day when LB is my baby. He curls up in my arms just like he did when he was 6 weeks old (his right arm tucked behind my back, left hand rubbing his eyes, head against my shoulder). I give him his bottle while I sing “Baby Mine” and we rock. Oh how I love this time. I’m secretly jealous when Husband gets to do this (minus the singing) but the reality is, he should. We all should get to rock babies to sleep. We might just get to do that in heaven someday. The funny part is that when I don’t start singing right away, LB does. He sings the first 3 notes of our song. Really. (I know this because he sings different notes for another song we sing when we’re playing.) Wouldn’t it be wonderful if he suddenly started singing “Baby Mine” to his baby one day, because that’s just the song that jumps into his head when he holds his little bundle in his arms? This quiet time doesn’t really make me laugh, it makes my heart sing!