18 Months!

A little run down on what everyone's favorite 18 month old  is up to these days (ok, so maybe he's just MY favorite 18 month old). 

Likes: 

Anything his brother has, wants, is doing, is going to do, says he wants to do, dreamt of doing, having, etc. 

His blankie.  It's funny because this trend started fairly recently, but man oh man, does he love his blankie. 

Lean proteins.  You laugh, but I've seen this kid turn away cake for a turkey dog.  He's bulking up now.  He really wants to start Pre K ahead of the game. 

Singing his ABCs.  He actually gets to about "D" before he mumbles the rest of the tune.  Beau is, of course, trying to help him out with this. 

Practicing new words like, "Please," "yellow," "elephant," and one of the most heard words at our house, "Stuck!" 

Football and baseball.  And, yes, he knows the difference between the two. 

Dislikes: 

His left shoe.  Give him the means and opportunity and that left shoe is off his foot faster than the blink of an eye.  Given the right circumstances, the left sock is soon to follow. 

Being told no.  Or, not getting his way in general.  Charlie will give you the stink eye - a look he has truly perfected, scowl your way and maybe even take a whack at you if you dare to come close enough to him in this truly hostile state. 

A,B,C...

Mommy it's a "wooster"!

It's that time of year again.  The first cold front has made it's way through; football season is in full gear; pumpkins are popping up everywhere; and the St. Tammany Parish Fair has arrived. 

In complete awe.

We took the boys to the fair on Friday evening with Maw Maw and Paw Paw.  The animals were, once again, a big hit.  But, this year it seems the rides took centerstage.  I'm so glad that both boys loved riding all the carnival rides. And, as luck would have it, the faster, the better.  (Anyone else suprised that the carnies let Charlie ride everything?  I mean, he's not 18 months yet...) 

  

Wooden animal cutouts are almost as cool as the real deal. 

Still in awe.



In awe and oblivious to the fact that he has wondered away from the group...



Mmmm...Blue Cotton Candy. 
(We'll send you the dental bill, Paw Paw.) 

 

If you can't tell from the straining in my neck and arms, this ride went WAY faster than any toddler ride should have.  Charlie would have flown off but for my HeMan grip. 



Joy. 

Again, way too small to ride, but loving every moment of it!

Again!  Again!

A plastic ducky?  Don't mind if I do. 

Say what?!

Beau's been really talkative lately.  In fact, we can't really shut him up.  Here are a few gems as of late. 

Beau:  "Mommy, Alex hit me.  It's ok though, he got in trouble." 

Beau:  (While watching Bambi for the twentieth time in two weeks...) "Mommy,  Thumper got in trouble." 

Beau:  "Mommy, Charlie pulled my hair.  Now, go get him in trouble." 

**Are we noticing a pre-occupation with others getting punished?**

Beau:  "This is awesome!"  (Describing a smoothie I made for the boys.) 

***

Mommy:  "Beau, why did you hit your brother/spill your drink/throw your toy/scream like that?"

Beau:  "Mommy, because I got to." 

Well, I guess that answers my question. 

Beau:  "Mommy, do I have to wear underwear with my suit?" 

Well, we were only told to make sure he wears his boots with his suit.  Maybe underwear are optional? 

But Beau's not the only one talking...

Charlie:  "Look at that!  Look at that!  Look at that!" 

Say what?!

Beau:  "Mommy, go get a haircut." 

Apparently I've really let myself go.  It's so bad my almost three year old is getting involved. 

Say what?!

Daddy:  "Beau, who's your girlfriend?" 

Beau: "Grace...and Mommy." 

That's right.  And that's the way it should always be...

Here we go!

This morning Beau and Charlie both woke up at 5:30 a.m. and proceeded to "talk" to each other from their rooms.  Finally Beau yelled over the monitor, "Mommy!  Charlie and I is awake!"

When I got to the top of the stairs, Beau was already waiting there for me.  He greeted me not with a "good morning" or a hug or a kiss.  Instead he said, "I go see Miss Tiffany now?!"  I think both kiddos were excited about starting the day in their new classrooms.  Hope the teachers were ready! 

Say what?!

"Mommy, go give Daddy a kiss, say your prayers and go to sleep." 

Beau saw me pick up his blanket to take him upstairs to go to bed.  I guess he figured I couldn't put him to sleep if he put me to sleep first.  Way to strike first Beau! 

What a difference a year makes!

A little token of affection from the boys to their teachers.

Today was Beau's last day in his "young threes" classroom.  Tomorrow he moves up to the "old threes" class with Miss Tiffany.  (Yes, I know what you're thinking, "Old threes?  He's not even three yet!"  I don't ask questions...) 

Beau is really happy and so am I, but we're both going to miss Miss TT and Miss Sheri.  I thought I'd look back at how much he has changed in the last year. 

Then:  Size 5 shoe  

Now:  Size 7 or 8 shoe

Then:  Just starting to work on forming sentences  

Now:  Holding random conversations with the cashier at the grocery check out

 Then:  Still a little curious and cautious about Charlie Boy

Now:  Charlie Boy's best friend

Then:  Easily bribed with stickers

Now:  Easily bribed with pencils

Then:  Refused to poop at school

Now:  Potty trained and can't get enough of the toilet...any toilet for that matter

Then:  Loved being naked

Now:  Loves being naked - I guess some things never change

Oh how time has flown...how did this little boy go from this to THIS...

And, we can't leave Charlie out.  Charlie will be entering the "old ones" classroom tomorrow.  He's going to miss Miss  Terri and Miss Brayley, but luckily Miss Lauren will be moving up with him.

No, I don't have any pictures of his first day at school...but these were taken around the same time. 

 Then:  Trying to sit up unassisted

Now:  Never sits still

Then:  Rolling from front to back and back to front

Now:  Running, running, running

Then:  Smiling at music

Now:  Dancing to the rhythm

He's such a big boy!  They both are. 

Say what?!

Last night Beau took the initiative to say his prayers all by himself. It went a little something like this:

"Now I way me, down to sleep,

I pway the Ward my soul to takes.

If I should dies, before I wake,

mommy I'm gonna spank you on your heiney!"

(Followed by uncontrollable laughter...)

Is it just me?

So I was flipping through some photos on my phone the other day, and I couldn't help but notice a trend at the Brian Residence. 

What do you think? 

 Notice a common thread in these photos?

 Seriously?  When did PANTS become optional?  Is this a boy thing?  A summer thing? 

 Que cera.  I suppose this is just another one of those "Joys of Being the Mother of Boys." 

Sew....what have you been up to?

That title was for you, Rebecca. 

Every Tuesday at school is Water Day for Beau. You bring a swim suit and towel and the kiddos get to play in sprinklers, the water slide, and a kiddie pool for half the day. (Provided of course, the heat index doesn't get past 101 degrees...which has happened WAY TOO OFTEN this summer.) 

We've been instructed to bring the suit and towel in a plastic bag for storage afterwards.  After a few days of using an old Target bag, I thought, "Surely, we can do something cuter than this."  Then, I thought about Rebecca again.  (Didn't think you'd be mentioned in this blog post twice, now did you?)  A little while back she made these precious zippered bags...with waterproof lining!  How perfect?! 

But, Rebecca's were monogrammed.  I don't have a machine to do that.  But I couldn't possibly send Beau to school with a plain bag, right?  Then I figured, this is going to be my first attempt at a zipper, might as well be my first attempt at applique!  So, armed with a few fat squares of fabric, some vinyl, a couple zippers and a package of heat n bond, I gave it my best shot...

Pardon the wrinkled fabric...you can't exactly iron vinyl...

Nice and water proof.  Perfect for wet swimsuits!

Not too shabby...

And I had so much fun with the bags I made one for Marc and Henry! 

Dancing machine

We call this the "Charlie Stomp."  No, he does not have much rhythm; but man, he loves to dance.  That's right. I said dance.  Don't laugh...this is Charlie dancing. 

Say what?!

Beau:  "Daddy, I go watch Toy Story now."

Daddy:  "No, Beau. You didn't eat your dinner so you don't get to watch Toy Story."

Beau:  "Daddy, I go watch Toy Story now."

Daddy:  "Beau, I said, 'no.'"

Beau:  "Daddy, I said, 'yes.'  Now let's watch Toy Story." 

Say what?!

"He must just be really dense."

Dr. Richard, Charlie's pediatrician, reacting to the news that his weight actually puts him UNDER the 50th percentile. 

Say what?!

Beau:  "Mommy, I just want to be naked." 

And so it begins...

Later that night...

Beau:  "Mommy, I have a penis."

Mommy:  "Yes, Beau you have a penis."

Beau:  "And Charlie has a penis."

Mommy:  "Yes, Charlie has a penis."

Beau:  "And Daddy has a penis."

Mommy:  "Yes, Daddy has a penis."

Beau:  "Mommy, you have a penis?"

Mommy:  "No, Beau.  Mommy does not have a penis."

Beau then looked at me befuddled - actually scratching his head in confusion...

Beau:  "Silly Mommy, sure you have a penis!"

I just smiled.  I really didn't want to get into an anatomy lesson with a two and a half year old at 7:30 p.m.  We'll save that for later.  Or, for Daddy time. 

Blame it on the rain

I couldn't write that title without Milli Vanilli popping into my head.  What could have been...*sigh*

Anyway, Sunday it rained all day.  Scratch that.  The heavens opened and the bottomed dropped out.  Unfortunately we were not able to go to the pool as planned.  Quite a bummer since Beau was stoked about practicing what he had learned in his swimming lesson the day before.  Man, I almost wrote that with a straight face.  More on that memorable lesson to follow. 

There are few things tougher as a mother of two very young and very active little boys than finding something to do with them.inside.all.day.long.  I was not very successful.  Below is a sampling of our day. 

Come on sunshine!  I can't do more weekends like this!!

Summertime, summertime, sum...sum...summertime...

Enjoying some (baby) pool time. 

Say what?!

Charlie:  "Kick it!"

Charlie has always loved to throw balls, but now he loves kicking them. And he wants you to know it. 

Beau:  "And I'm gonna look like a penguin." 

Now that we have Beau on board with a plane trip in September for Agustin's wedding, I'm trying to get him excited about his role as ringbearer.  I tried to describe his attire, a tux, and might have, maybe, sort of mentioned that he will look like a penguin.  I did this once...three weeks ago.  Now when you ask him about the trip he exclaims how he will look like a penguin.  Que cera. 

Say what?!

Beau:  "No, you first." 

This morning Beau rushed to the door as we were about to leave, opened it for Billy and I and ushered us out the house like a little gentleman.  We are obviously doing something right.