Saturday, May 31, 2008

Purple, purple, purple

As the weather has warmed (finally!) we are once again finding ourselves stocking up on age-appropriate outdoor toys. Tonight Brooke was in purple heaven - we stopped at Menards to get a sandbox, but of course forgot the sand to go with it. We then went to Walmart to pick up a plastic pool - they of course had a purple one right on top...and as we were standing there noticed that Crayola makes sand that is...you guessed it...PURPLE! Oh if you could have seen the excitement in Brooke. The man that checked us out even made a comment about how he'd love to be 3 again and SO excited about plastic pools that hold 2 feet of water and purple sand. He's right - it's a lot of fun to watch the world through our children's eyes. Our backyard looks like a plastic playard, not a garden oasis as I'm sure Mike would prefer, but he'd agree that it's worth all of the smiles and memories for a time that passes so quickly.

Friday, May 23, 2008

Clayton at 18 months

It's hard to believe that Clayton is 18 months old! We went in for his check-up and he weighs 24 lbs (25%ile), height was 33.5" (80%ile) and his head...you guessed it...just above the 97%ile.

And here's my current list of "Oh, the things I love about you, Clayton!"

  • I love that you love to laugh. If you see anyone laugh, you'll join right in. You are so ticklish and have an infectious laugh.

  • I love that you could eat pretzels all day long and still ask for more. As soon as you are buckled into your carseat you start chanting for pretzels...or if you forget to do that - you start chanting as soon as you hear the bucket of pretzels roll in the car.

  • I love your obsession with balls - and that you're starting to identify the difference between basketball, football, baseball, etc.
  • I love that when I change your diaper you pick up the dirty one and make a mad dash for the kitchen to throw it away.
  • I love that you laugh hysterically when you are washing your hands and I turn the bathroom sink on and off.
  • I love that you can finally lay still for a diaper change!
  • I love that when I sing to you at night you "sing" along with me.
  • I love that you try to sing Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star but only sing "Up above the world so high" over and over and over and over - getting louder each time.
  • I love that you get excited to hold my hand. Or to hold Brooke's hand when you're sitting next to her in the car or stroller.
  • I love that you request a spoon at every meal - even though you don't really know how to use it yet and usually have food that doesn't require it.
  • I love your own little language you've developed; "abba da ba da baba" and you'll say it while pointing at something in complete confidence that I know what you've just said.
  • I love your curly, curly hair and blue eyes.


Thursday, May 15, 2008

Little Girls and Boys DO play differently

Anyone who claims that boys and girls don't play differently than each other has either never had kids or never had one of each! Clayton has the car "garage" toy that has a place to race the cars, wash them, fill up the gas tank, etc. And Clayton will play with his cars on it with sound effects and all. The other day I found Brooke playing with it, but she had a very different idea...it was her Barbie's water park. The car ramps became water slides and the tower became the high dive. Here's a dated picture of the toy (October '07)...

I am just amazed at how different boy vs girl is! Brooke plays with dolls, likes to pick flowers, etc. and Clayton enjoys balls, throwing anything he can and eating the occasional rock on the playground.

And of course...a Brooke story. We (just Brooke & I) went to Sendik's grocery store on the way home from BSF yesterday. As we are checking out (by the way I'm standing by the checker and Brooke is down at the end of the aisle on the other side of the cart) Brooke says, "Mommy, is that a boy or a girl?" She was referring to the checker. So I did what any mother would...I pretended I didn't hear her and she got louder..."MOMMY, is that a BOY or a GIRL?!" I shot her a look and gave her a shhhh....and she got louder..."Mommy I want to know if it's a boy or a girl!" To which I replied, "Brooke, this is a nice lady that is helping us today." In the parking lot I explained to her that people don't like being asked if they are a boy or a girl. "Why?" she asks. "Because it's just not nice" I told her, "But why mom?" "I don't know, Brooke, some people just don't like being asked if they are a boy or a girl." I'm sure this is just a taste of what's to come...and remind me again why I was so eager for her to speak clearly!!!