The Entertainer

Bryce was dancing and singing with the blanket this evening, much to Audrey's enjoyment! The blanket also was a rug, a horse, a coat and many other items during Bryce's pretend time.

Please note the tongue sticking out... this is a very visible genetic connection to his Daddy!

Smiles

Bryce was full of giggles tonight, particularly when I told him that I didn't like kisses. As any of you who have been around toddlers know, if you say you don't like it, they want to do it! So, I received lots of kisses and smiles for the camera.

Quote of the Day:
An ice cream truck pulled up in front of our house. Bryce noticed it as it was starting to pull away. He gasped and exclaimed, "Look! Oh, that's neat!". Then he ran over to the window and saw the pictures of the ice cream and said, "I want to eat that!"

Garden Day

Keeping an eye out for Jackie and Julien... the gardens were VERY crowded, so Bryce had to look very carefully.

Yippee! Julien is here! Time to run!

A reluctant picture with Mommy in front of the Cherry Esplanade.

Bryce and Julien listening to a violin concert as part of the Cherry Tree Festival.

Apparently, photography skills do not occur naturally in toddlers. I put the camera on automatic timer, but asked Bryce to hold it. Jackie and I didn't know whether to dive to the ground or stand on our tiptoes... You will just have to imagine our beautiful smiling faces!

This evening, Bryce's new jacket arrived via UPS along with a pair of rain boots for Mimi. Bryce put them all on and I pretended to be a rain storm. He thought it was pretty funny, but not as funny as we thought he looked in his get-up!

Made in the Shade

The weather was so nice today that Bryce and I took his fort and vehicles outside to play. Later, we had a picnic lunch on the steps. (And thankfully, Audrey cooperated by taking a nap, so Bryce and I could play by ourselves!)

This evening, Mimi picked up Audrey and Bryce jumped up on the sofa next to them and said, "Mommy, take a picture!" Audrey was not too keen on the idea, so Bryce decided to try to make her laugh by playing with her feet.

It did make her stop crying, but I don't know if you can call that look a happy one!

Painting Help

We painted our front door today. It is now a vibrant shade of purple! Bryce was very interested in helping us. Thankfully, he was entertained with real tools, but pretend paint!

Quote of the Day:
Bryce was "hiding" under a blanket on Audrey's play mat and said, "Mommy, where are me?"

A Pro

I'm ready, coach! Put me in!

Part of the warm-up is to jump up like a frog. Bryce takes this very seriously!

Running like an airplane - though it does appear that Bryce's wings are bent!

Check out his balance! He is tipping the cones up without any help...

What confidence! Playing the game with one hand in his pocket!

Bryce seems to really be enjoying Super Soccer Stars now. He really likes the coaches and is one of the first to participate in every activity. It is really terrific to watch him having so much fun!

Park Explorer

We headed in the meadow at Prospect Park today to enjoy the beautiful weather. Bryce enjoyed playing with a soccer ball and running around for a bit, but his favorite part was climbing up the big hill and exploring all of the rocks and sticks.

I was a little concerned when Bryce came walking down the hill chewing on something - especially since I had not given him something to eat. He announced, "I eating something, Mommy." I asked what. He said, "I don't know." I asked where he found it. He said, "On the ground." Ummm....Delicious!

As we were walking home, Bryce turned to me and said, "We are okay, Mommy." I agreed. He went on to add, "I happy, Mommy. I not sad." That is what I like to hear!

Fun Times!

Bryce listening to story time. He was so grown up about it, too... I was nursing Audrey and couldn't go in, but Bryce just marched right in, sat down and enjoyed the book. Another mother came out and gave me a compliment about how great he was during the story.

The boys made bookmarks after listening to story time.

At the sand table. Bryce was not enthusiastic about sharing any of the toys or tools!

Bryce and Julien couldn't be much cuter! They emptied out all of the blocks so that they could play in the bins - pretending the bins were train cars going over bumps.

Oh, Romeo...

Bryce and Jeremy cut some tulips from our backyard this evening for me. Jeremy gave Bryce one of the tulips and he carried it into me and told me that he loved me. It was so sweet! We then re-enacted the scene for the camera...except this time, Bryce didn't want to let me have the flower!

Reading with Daddy!

Bryce loves to be read to...and it was extra special since he was getting to snuggle with Audrey and his daddy!

Disappearing Trick!

Bryce loves this game! As soon as Jeremy walked in the door tonight, Bryce asked to be "wrapped in a blanket".

Ocean of Pillows

Bryce pulled all the cushions, blankets and pillows off the sofas onto the floor this morning and then Jeremy grabbed a bunch of stuff off of the beds with the idea that if you can't beat them, join them for a pretend game of ocean! Ocean involves a lot of swimming and climbing in and out of boats to avoid "pointy teeth" and "belly bubble" fish. At some point, Bryce decided that he needed to "go somewhere." He announced to Jeremy, "I be right back." So Jeremy responded, "Okay, see you later!" Bryce stopped and said, "No, Daddy! You not say, 'See you later.' I be right back!" Apparently, Bryce understands the subtle distinctions in saying good-bye!

Quote of the Day: After Bryce woke up from his nap, he and I cuddled while we looked out the window at Jeremy, who is laying a brick patio. Bryce told me, "I growing up." He then asked if I was growing up. I told him that I am already grown up. He then said, "You grow up to be a woman and Daddy grow up to be a man." I said that was right. I then added that he will grow up to be a man, too. He said, "No, I grow up to be Bryce!"
You can't argue with that!

Director Bryce

I decided to run/walk to the park today in honor of the beautiful weather. When we arrived in the park, our friends Jackie and Julien were heading to the zoo, so we joined them. Bryce knows the zoo very well and was more than willing to act as our director!

Snuggles and Hugs

Bryce enjoyed a long post-nap snuggle with Mimi! Jeremy brought Bryce over and tucked him in with Mimi. None of us expected it to last for more than a few moments, but he stayed still under the blanket for almost a half an hour!Jeremy came over to give me a hug and Bryce ran to join in. He apparently thought we were making a choo-choo train!

Smooth Operator...

Here's Bryce looking so smooth before heading to the library with his Daddy this evening.

And speaking of smooth... Bryce very aptly demonstrated how he feels about Audrey today. As Jeremy was getting a bath ready for Bryce, he gave him the opportunity to use his potty. Bryce was not interested, but Jeremy let him hang out in the bathroom without a diaper while the water was running in the hopes that it would spur him on. It did... just not the way he intended. I walked in to see Bryce peeing on Audrey's bath chair! Who knew toddlers were so literally territorial?

Potty Practice

Jeremy and Bryce spent the evening in the bathroom while Bryce practiced going potty like a big boy. Nothing actually happened, but Bryce insisted on wearing his big boy underpants (training pants) when it was time to come out for dinner. We think that Bryce's desire to use the potty is because we just switched back to using cloth diapers and he can actually feel that he is wet, now. Whatever the reason, it is exciting to think that we won't have to change so many diapers in the near future!