Mr. Fussy Britches ~By Shepard

Every day the world is making more sense. I'm starting to use some words and the teachers and mommy and daddy can understand. They still don't really understand when I just open my mouth and see how loud I can be. I wish they did. I'm very good at using my lungs and making high-pitched noises. I have been practicing it a lot but it's really because my mouth hurts a lot because I am getting giant teeth all over the place. Sometimes I find myself making my loud noises and crying and they don't know what I want at all. It will be nice when I learn some words for ouch and thirsty. Sometimes Mommy calls me "Mr. Fussy Britches." I just want to do what I want to do. What's so wrong about that?
I am really good at sleeping all night though. I have been sleeping between 11-14 hours a night lately with barely a wake-up. I am growing a lot lately, so I have to sleep a lot. Plus I run around all day at school, and we go outside twice a day and I get to swing and slide and play. I nap at school, too, on my monkey mat. It's soft and nice to sleep on.
I went to the doctor today for my check-up. Guess what? I have grown TWO WHOLE INCHES in the last three months! I am 34" tall and offically off the percentile chart. The computer told mommy I was 98.8th percentile and the doctor said 100th. I am already getting too big for some of my 18 month stuff and wearing 2T. The doctor also said I had long feet, but they go with my height. I like my feet. They carry me all kinds of places. I am starting to climb on things like the ottoman, hearth, sofa and pretty much anything I can. Mommy is always right behind me in case I don't make it. I weighed 23 lbs. and 14 oz. so I'm in the 41st percentile for weight. I will probably look a lot like my dad. Tall and handsome. They told us how big my head is, but I can't remember it right now. I'll have Mommy look it up and write it on here soon. She is good at recording that stuff so we can make sure I'm growing right.
I still really love pizza and lasagna, and love to eat my broccoli, cauliflower and carrots with a little cheese sauce. I also love PB-banana sandwiches and yogurt and cheesesticks. I eat fruit every day. Lately, I like to see my food hit the floor or see if I can drop it on the dog as he hovers below the high chair. It I'm a good shot, I can get a cheerio right on his head! Mommy keeps telling me, "NO THROW!" but she must not know how much fun it is for me to hold up the food and drop it. It always falls the same way. But bananas look different on the floor, and noodles are fun too.
That's all for now. My Grandma's coming over tonight, so I will be happy to see her. We will have fun this weekend...and remember my Papa. It's been a year since he went to heaven. We miss him a lot. I wish I could have known him and he could see how big I'm getting. I will have Mommy send a note to heaven and make sure he knows we love him.
I have to go nap now. Writing makes me sleepy.

Mom's Musings

The more I talk to mommies, the more I realize...it's never really going to get easier. I might get better at something, but there are always new challenges because every day you basically wake up to a NEW kid. They are learning and growing at such rapid rates. This morning, I was groggily lifted from bed by the cries of my little guy. I stumbled to the bathroom, washed hands and made some milk for him, changed his diaper, grabbed his blankie and sat with him in the rocker for a solid 20 minutes. So cute in his little Buzz Lightyear pj's...I was hoping perhaps he would want to drift off to sleep again as he so often does if his soggy diaper wakes him early. I smelled his sweet head under my chin and kissed him  at least five times on the hairline. He is sitting in my lap, but I know he will not fit there forever. I can still hold him and wrap him up in my arms. Wonderful moments of stillness and quiet before his little legs realize that they have places to go today. He very often greets me with a wave from his crib when I enter in the mornings. And I think he's trying to say "Hey there." I love moments like this morning. Half-awake hugs and cuddles are the best.
I often feel overwhelmed by how much there is to teach him. Saying "please" and "thank you." Not throwing his food off the table, how to open the door for people and look them in the eye and smile, how to share and hug and stay still long enough to get clothes on. These days, I'm in a full-blown sweat by the time I get my hair fixed, make-up on, coffee drunk, clothes on me, clothes on wiggly him, find the shoes, pack the lunch, did I remember to eat?, chase him down the hall, feed the dog, clean the tray, find my phone, find my brush (he likes to steal my stuff), keep him from eating the jewelry as I accessorize, marvel at how he approaches the computer and can get a song going before I can turn around--hopping on one foot as I strap on my sandals.
I think he can't hear me yet, or doesn't recognize his name when spoken sharply. It truly doesn't seem to phase him. I try to use it when he's climbing on a chair or about to trip over something in the floor. One of my friends said that since men aren't multi-taskers like women are, they truly can't hear while they're walking/playing/climbing. :)
How I wanted to have a lazy day with him today and just hang out. Sigh.
Somehow, every day he is fed and wearing cute clean clothes. He is hugged and kissed and made to laugh. He stares in wonder as I whistle. He flops about like a trapped crocodile when I change him. He wipes his tired eyes with lasagna-covered hands, and we splash (and SPLASH!!) and lotion up and get the "jammers" on and do it all over again.
This is a great job.

Hard at Play

Thanks to our awesome neighbors, Becky, Brigette and L.J., we have a great new mower. We like to start 'em young...

This morning

I'm just posting like a wild woman. My little guy looked so much like a BOY this morning in his high chair, covered in blueberry yogurt and bananas. I had to snap a few pictures before we left for school. His little smile melts me like butter. I often sing songs to him while he's eating breakfast...and recently he started clapping for me. Or clapping. Because he knows how. I'm going to pretend it's because he likes it when I sing to him.

Rocket Man!

We took a random Saturday trip to Concord Mills recently...but we didn't think about the fact that it was back-to-school mania there. Not being a crowd-people, we quickly decided we weren't staying long. Just long enough to change a diaper, feed the "fishbowl," and take a trip on a rocket ship.

Here's ROCKET MAN.(in his robot shirt)

Making Meowsic

I admit it. I bought a toy for Shepard because I knew I would enjoy it. I mean, I think he does too...but this thing is seriously fun. Technically, it was a gift from my sweet co-workers for Shepard's first birthday, but I was able to pick it out in a return situation.  :) I had been eyeing it for some time. It's a cat-keyboard that has five key sounds, techno/samba/disco beats, pre-loaded sing-along songs and some instrumental tunes. Not only will I be able to teach him basic piano/keyboard skills...it has a....MICROPHONE TOO! He really gets a kick out of hearing his voice amplified.

(you can get the cat at Target, 'cause now I know you're as interested as I was)

Without further ado, here's Shepard recently hanging with the cat. I think Cat needs a name. I'll be working on that. And, I'll be learning to play the ever-popular "Smelly Cat" on this for sure.

I scream. You scream!

Our church small groups had a get-together for the southside groups. There was an ice cream truck and big horses and miniature horses! And lots of my favorite people. Here's a sampling of the day's events...(remember, you can always click on a photo to see it full-sized)

Lots o' kiddos here...

Oooh. Ice cream. and Gigi!

Gigi and Pops are spoiling me.

No really, this is the life!

Miniature horses too!

Robots and horses

The gang's all here.