Deezus!

Despite the fact that Brendan is still super picky with what he'll eat, he's somehow managing to grow like a weed. We haven't had him measured since his 18-month appointment and it's damn near impossible to get him to stand still long enough to measure him but I think he's grown at least 1.5" since then.

His vocabulary is also growing by leaps and bounds. His newest thing is saying Jesus all the time. I know I should hang my head in shame over the fact that my child uses the Lord's name in vain and whatnot, but I find it kind of funny that even though his Daddy says lots of fun 4-letter words (the kind that rhyme with truck and pit) he picks up the word Jesus.

I have a habit of saying it as a replacement for other, less toddler-friendly words (like the kind that rhymes with grassbowl). For instance, when I'm driving in the middle lane of a three-lane highway and some driver merges onto the highway and immediately MUST move into the middle lane. Even though THERE IS NO ONE IN FRONT OF THEM FOR MILES and they have to CUT ME OFF to perform this manuever. So out comes, "JESUS!!!" instead of... well, other things that wouldn't be very nice. I never realized just how much I say this until he started repeating me. Thankfully he says it "Deezus" so I doubt most other people know what he's saying.

Brendan is still delightful as a daisy when he wakes up in the morning (and he still wakes up by 6am most days, waaahhh!). On one recent morning when it happened to be my morning to sleep in, I heard him saying "Mommy, Moooommmmmy, up peas (please)." So I opened one eye and said "Tell Daddy to get up." And he whispered, "Daddy's beeping (sleeping)." Why he recognizes that Daddy is sleeping but it doesn't matter that Mommy's eyes are closed is beyond me.

I say this about every age, but this age is sooooo much fun. I'm going to miss this baby talk stuff when he's speaking in full sentences with perfect pronunciation while giving his valedictorian speech at Harvard. At the tender age of five. Because my kid is a genius. Move over Doogie Howser.

Blowing bubbles with Nana (sometimes known as "Nina" although I'm not sure why)








In an attempt to get him to eat more, I thought I'd use fancy food presentation. In a fancy ice cube tray. Left to right: red grapes, cucumbers, swiss cheese, cheddar cheese and pizza, all cut up into bite size pieces. He ate the pizza and grapes. It was a valiant, if not particularly successful effort.


Walking around one of Mima's gardens (Mima is G'ma Annie's new name that B just came up with)






Taking a sip of "wattuz" (waters)










Trying on Daddy's work "shyooz" (shoes)





Brendan is 23 months and 3 days old today!

A (sort of) relaxing vacation

We just got back from a week in FL visiting family. It had been a year since Grandpa Billy, Grandma Sharon and Aunt Nicole got to see B; he's changed a bit since then. Grandmama Annie and Grandpapa Charlie came down too, to see my brother Keith graduate college with his mechanical engineering degree. Such a proud moment to see that, especially since he graduated with the highest honors. Go Keith!!

On our first morning I woke up all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at the thought of being on vacation (vacation!!) and relaxing in the sun. B, on the other hand, wasn't feeling quite as chipper. He popped up in his crib and asked for his shoes. I asked why he needed his shoes and he answered "home." Awwww.

Two important and mind-blowing things I learned on this trip: 1. My son doesn't like the beach; 2. My son doesn't like the pool. ::bursts into tears:: Inconceivable! He has 50% of my genetic makeup for goodness sake. Papa Charlie got B in the pool on one of the days for a few minutes but that's about the extent of it. The rest of the time I was chasing him around the perimiter of the pool. He kept wanting to sit on the top step of the pool and would run around screaming "I sit, I sit!" Only it sounded more like "I sh_t, I sh_t!"

We had some touch and go moments, but Gabba got us through. I brought several DVDs for Brendan, along with a portable DVD player that Nana Darlene bought for him last year. Sir only wanted to watch Yo Gabba Gabba and we only had one YGG DVD so we watched the same 4 episodes over and over and over and over. Jack Black you're a funnny dude, but I can only watch you prance around in orange spandex so many times.

We had dinner with Grandpa Billy and Grandma Sharon most nights. Grandpa entertained B with his Donald Duck impression and cooked him some delicious homemade pizza, one of the very few foods B will eat (beetza). B also got to play the piano for the first time, which he absolutely loved. He's a virtuoso, people!

We flew home today and of course the airline lost our luggage and car seat, which is totally awesome. Kenny called and found out that it's arrived at the local airport so he's on his way to pick it up. Thanks be to Jesus because we're talking about B's favorite blankie and stuffed puppy, the baby monitor that I still can't live without and my makeup bag (gah!!). Oh, and a $300 car seat. Apparently Delta has some newb's working at the Atlanta airport who skipped the chapter about how to handle luggage during a layover because about 1/3 of the people that landed with us left the airport sans luggage.

Anywho, it was a much-needed vacation and it was wonderful to see everyone again. Now it's back to reality. Oy.

Watching YGG


Collecting shells with Grandmama


Starting to grow weary of the whole beach thing


...and we're back in the stroller. Papa's behind the wheel.


I'll miss you, beach.


Suspicious-looking fin. Just popped up to say allo! No swimming in the ocean for Momby.


Sunrise


Please, help me! They want me to go in the pool!


Even the swanky choo choo bathing suit couldn't get him in the water.


Oh look, YGG!



Brendan is 22 months and 1 day old today!

His future's so bright...

I realized it's been a while since I've bragged about my child's geniusness. (Is that even a word?) So let me tell you about all the fun things he does.

What he can say...
Single words:
Belly, ear, nose, eyes, mouth, socks (shocks), shoes, open, no, yes, cookie, momby, daddy, papa, scotch (uncle Scott), bye

Phrases:
I want a cookie, I have poopy, night night, I love you too, I wanna brush teeth, uh oh, oh no

Other amazing feats:
He can sing happy birthday, old MacDonald (sort of), Noggin theme songs and itsy bitsy spider, count to 10, flash people, close doors (and drawers and anything else you leave open), follow commands

Aaaand, that's all I can remember. Because it's late and I'm brain-dead.

Now for some pictures...

Daddy is mean




Farmer Ted is talking to the bunny


Farmer Ted is flashing the bunny


Trying on sunglasses


And a hat the firemen gave us on our walk that day


Sporting a mouthful of cookies on Easter


Posing for the camera


Taking a break from all the activity to watch TV


Playing peek-a-boo



Brendan is 21 months and 8 days old today!

Picture Time

Here are some recent pictures. Enjoy!

Trying to wear Mr. Potato Head's glasses


Yes, I'm still wearing my Christmas pj's, but I'm cute so it's okay


B reads this magazine for the insightful commentary


Helping Papa clean the branches out of the backyard after the big storm


Putting the "big" branch in the wheelbarrow


Put the branches in the dumpster, riding back to get more


Have to go for a ride in Grandmama's cart too


Tickle, tickle


I wanna go back outside!







Brendan is 10 days away from 20 months old today!