My buddy

Big brothers are usually good at many things. In our house, Mase is usually the fight instigator and bully most of the time. I know he really does love his brother but he likes to put Griffin in his little-brother-place. I bought the boys slippers for this winter, as I usually get "My feet are cold!" in the mornings getting ready for school. They love wearing them and have donned the phrase "Little Red Riding Boots". At the library last week, Maysen picked "Splat the Cat" and has been reciting the book over and over. On this night, sitting by the fire, Bubba asked Griffin to sit by him as he recited, word-for-word, Splat the Cat Goes to CatSchool. They really are good pals ...

Brotherly trouble

Oh my little Doogs,

I always knew that because mommy and daddy were so ornery growing up that someday you and your brother would be, too. (Did I really say that?). I have just a few recent stories for you that are just great (at the time, not so great).

Floating Boats
Last Friday I came home from work and Bubba said he wanted to play Legos. You and him built boats and all sorts of different objects, mainly just fighting over the legos. Just as soon as I thought about it, Maysen came around the corner - buck naked and wet. I asked him why he was wet and he informed me that it was because "I'm floating my Legos, mom". ... "Why?" ... "Because! Because I built a boat". Ah! I thought I'd better check up on this situation and when I turned the corner into my bathroom, I saw the soaker tub, filled to the brim and water still pouring. You were on the tiled ledge surrounding the tub and as I came in, you cannon-balled it off the tile and into the tub, the biggest smile on your face and laugh that said it all! I soon noticed my iPod was missing off it's "home" and when I asked Mase where it was, I got, "You mean Griffin's phone?" ... "No, not a phone" ... "Well, its in the toilet".

Hi Doog,

Its been a long time since I've updated! Mom has been a tad busy. You've grown leaps and bounds, almost so fast I can't keep up. Just yesterday we were driving to Grandma and Poppi's and I had Jack Johnson playing in the stereo and you said clear as day, "Momma? I like this song!" It was great.

We are back to naps because I didn't last long with you having no nap. We have a routine that we do and after lunch you and I go lay down and sing songs in my bed. You will shortly drift off to sleep, begrudgingly, and sleep for at least an hour or two, giving Bubba and I some time to do our thing. It's good you are taking naps because lately you have been getting up at 6:45, walking in bright eyed and saying "Hi!". If you crawl up into daddy's warm cozy spot you usually will fall back asleep for another hour.

Maysen can do no wrong in your eyes and as you can see in the photo above, whatever it is he is doing, you wish to be just like him. Right now it seems to be the backtalking, getting into things. I think it's Maysen that has taught you to find out where I am before you get into trouble. The other day Daddy caught you in our bathroom saying "Mommmmmma? Where are you!?" when I didn't answer or come walking in there, you started getting in the cabinets and make up. The newest "oh great" moment was just the other day. You asked Daddy to watch a show in the playroom and when he turned it on, out the garage you went - broom stick in had to use the handle to open the garage door. I found you riding your trike down 1st street.

We are almost done building our house and I can't wait to make new memories watching you grow there ...

Mr No Nap

So, when I get to the point I'm fighting you for 2hrs to nap, it's time to NOT nap. And that's where we're at. It's an adjustment but if you finally DO nap, you're up until 10:00pm and that is not an option for mommy and daddy time! So, by about 4:00pm you're absolutely exhausted but you catch a second wind from somewhere and make it until about 7:30. Total Catch 22. Nap and stay up until 10:00 and I'm frustrated and TIRED ... or push through until bedtime. And that seems to be winning right now.

But you're not so happy ... Love you.

First Broken Bone

Last night you broke your right collar bone. We were at the model house showing Papa and Grandma Sherrill the house and you and Bubba were upstairs and BOOM. You and Bubba ran into each other with Bubba landing on top of you. After your nap yesterday you woke up intolerant to using your right arm. We saw Dr Kordesch this morning and sure enough! You had xrays and it’s broken. Poor baby. Luckily your bones are growing so fast it’ll fuse within the next few weeks and “all” I have to do is try and keep you from being too rough with it. Should be easy … right? Right!

Happy 2nd Birthday, Roo.

The last few months have been a wild ride. Over the last few months, you have turned 2 and had your second Christmas. But when it was here, it was a great time. On 12/24/09 while daddy worked until noon we all 3 stayed in our “cozies” and made Christmas cookies for Santa. You liked eating most of the frosting.

After having Christmas at Poppi and Grandma’s we went home and you helped Bubba get the Christmas cookies out for Santa. You slept really good that night and by the time to open presents at our house, you didn’t want to! That’s OK because I told dad, “We can just open the rest for his party on Sunday.” Then I realized that I hadn’t set any gifts aside for your birthday, so it all turned out good!!

You turned 2 on 12/27 and we held your party the same day! Mary, my hairdresser, was to come at 3:30 and cut your hair for the party. 4:00pm came and she still wasn’t there so we moved ahead and Grandma Bobbi did the honors and cut your hair. She used to be a hairdresser years ago, so she knew what she was doing. MAN, how you changed with that one haircut!!

 The next day we headed out for our Winter Wonderland vacation. Daddy took the week off and we rented “the mountain house” and left for 4 days. Before we left town, we did stop off at where Bubba gets his hair cut and Cindy cut it “right” for you.

 You loved Eagle Crest and the 2nd day we were there, we got snow! You played with Bubba in it and had a ball. Last winter you went out but had no gloves and you HATED that. This year you had snow and all the stuff to keep you warm and you loved it.

Dad, Bubba, and you built a snowman but you were scared to touch it or even pose for a picture with it. No thank you! We played games and played toys, watched movies, and snacked and you had a lot of fun. One of the best parts for you, I think, was going swimming at the indoor pool. We put arm floaties on you and just kicked and flapped your arms, stuck your head under water and blew bubbles. Natural swimmer!!

 You jibber all the time and are starting to make sense now! Instead of “ooce” for drink, you say “ink” now. You can repeat just about any word that we say. “Why?” is a frequent question around here followed by 4 million “Momma, mmmmmmmommmmm”. You are my constant shadow these days. Naps are fading I fear. It’s a struggle every day, and you will go probably 2 days a week with no nap. Bubba can do no wrong in your eyes! You constantly have the “Monkey See, Monkey Do” thing going on, despite the injuries it might bring.

I can’t believe you’re TWO already and it’s been so fun to watch you grow. Can’t wait for many many more. We love you, Roo/Doog/Doogles/Rooble.

23 months, Crib Freedom!

The most recent happenings around here is that you have now graduated to not being in a crib! Last weekend (11-7-09) we took the front off your crib. You didn't like it one bit! I think it was the losing-the-security-wall feeling behind. You cried and didn't want left. You'd get out of your crib and get books, try to take your PJs off. Finally since we have a video monitor I just laid you down, turned it on and sat outside your room. When you'd get out of your bed, I'd go right in and when I'd leave I could see you on the monitor looking around like "What in the world?!...." But that was a week ago and you're sleeping like a champ now. We have to sing songs (I lay my head down) and you always con me into one more (holding your little number 1 finger up). Naps are only going to happen when Bubba's home. You won't nap if he's not around. So your naps now are from about 2:30 - 4:00.

This was your 2nd Halloween. Last year you were a dragon, but you didn't understand what was going on. This year you totally got it.

We put the suit on and you weren't happy about that. But we went to Soren and Lindsey's first and by the 3rd house you were right up there saying "Tank Too" and falling off their top step because you couldn't turn your suit around quick enough. You, just like your brother when he was 3, were the talk of the neighborhood.

Today Bubba had his 5th birthday party and I can't believe that next month you will be having yours because you are TWO! You loved watching all the kids and playing around. Wendy brought you a present too along with Maysens. A pack of 3 trucks, which Maysen HAD to have, so he gave you some of his others, which you were just as happy with. However, I learned today that you wrote all over the playroom's walls earlier with marker. Dad had to replaint part of that wall. Way to go, slick.

You are really starting to open up with words. You say: (the new ones) Oh man, up, down, yuice (= drink), Scooby Doo Be Doo, *shoulder shrug*, Bubba this and Bubba that, Dots, Daiey. Cute things you do now is squint your eyes up in a smile and say "NOooooooo" (like, "no, silly .. "), shrug your shoulders if you say something like "Where's Dots?". Also, you want to pee so bad on the toilet. But, everything is "poop". So you will grab your diaper and say "poop" and that means you want to sit on the toilet. You wish so bad you'll pee, but not yet! So we just keep trying ....

I think that's it for now! I love you, Roooby-Doo.