Into a new year...

Hours are spend with the play kitchen I made for you for Christmas.  We spend a lot of time in there everyday 'cracking eggs' and 'making ice cream cones' and 'washing your hands'.  I've learned lately that you have quite an active imagination and it's so fun watching you and listening to you.  

 Mimi (Grandma Greenhalgh) was here for a week after Christmas and you two are best buds.  You had a really hard time saying good-bye this time.  I've had to let you cry yourself to sleep, calling out for her several times.  (She's been gone for two weeks tomorrow and there's only been 2 nights that you didn't cry.)  You still ask for her throughout the day and we call her about once a day.  It kind of worries me, but I'm also really glad you love her and remember her.  You and are are taking a Mother/Son trip to St. George on Friday for the weekend and Mimi will be there.  I'm a little worried about saying good-bye again and starting the sad process over.  But now you know we're going so we can't back out. When I say, "Where are we going on Friday?"  You say, "Mimi!!!"  This is a picture after one of our phone calls.  I can't get you to say good-bye because you don't want it to end, so I finally just hang up and this time you weren't ok with it.

You got a new suit for Christmas, and here you are showing it off.

The weather is perfect right now and we love being back outside at the park and going on walks.  You discover new things everyday and I love watching you learn and interact with other kids, you're quite social.

 Bapa and Gaga got a new puppy.  You call him Baby Woof, his real name is Zeek.  And now you call the older dog, Big Woof, her name is Dina.

This was Mimi's last night in California... I had no idea all the rough days ahead we had coming!

I'm pretty sure you love Lulu, but she drives you crazy a lot too.  When she's walking behind you, she catches up and pushes your back so you'll go faster.  She pulls on your shirt a lot ad always takes whatever you're playing with.  But you have a lot of fun laughing and playing together, too.  And a couple of nights ago at Costco, I saw you lean over and kiss her, just out of the blue.

 You're turning into a little jokester.  At Ruby's a few days ago, you turned towards the window so I couldn't see you, and you were shoving something in your mouth.  Then you turned to me laughing, with a big cucumber smile.  You crack yourself up...

And you're good at making me laugh and smile everyday, too.

busy, busy, busy...

I don't feel like we're that busy, but when I see how quickly I fall behind, it makes me realize we fill our days quite a bit.

We took a quick, uneventful weekend trip to Utah.  You ended up staying a few extra days because Grammy and Grandpa had plans to come out here later in the week.  You loved every second of it, and even when you got here I ran out to greet you and you ran around the truck to Grammy's side to get her out to play with you.

Uncle's Dave and Scott bought you a basketball hoop.  You are quite a shot!  Dad made grilled watermelon.  It looked better than it tasted.  Think hot pumpkin... Everyone pretended to like it, but you made sure he knew it was yucky.

Auntie Annie went to Ireland and Scotland and brought you and Addie the cutest outfits!

We took Grammy and met friends at the beach.  Ashleigh is my closest friend here in California and she has boys who are almost 5 and 7.  Although they are a lot older than you, they are the sweetest friends.  So patient when you don't understand what they are trying to do with the toys.  And they include you in everything.  And you always give hugs good-bye.  It's been hard for us to find friends here your age, but I'm so happy to have the Rose family close by, and they all just love you and Addie.

A walk through uptown Whittier.

Swimming at Grandma and Dude-pa's.  You are in love with the water.

Helping Grammy with a puzzle.  You are her constant little shadow.  And even though I pretend to be sad when you don't want me, it's nice to just have Addie to feed, change diapers, and put to bed.

So sad to say good-bye.  This really was the hardest good-bye.  You DID NOT want Grammy to leave.  You were sobbing and clinging to her.  I don't know if it was harder on you or her.  You followed them down the stairs in tears.

A pool party with dad's friends.  With some strong encouraging, you jumped fell off the diving board.  But later you jumped off the side over and over.

Now that Addie is mobile and crawling all over the place, I see her bugging you a lot.  Climbing all over you.  Tugging on your snuggle buggle when you're laying on it.  Grabbing at your sippy cup.  And taking your toys, often right out of your hands.  I'm actually surprised at how patient you are with her, so when you do get frustrated, I step in and save you from the baby attack.  Once in a while you play nice together, and sometimes even laugh together.  It warms my heart to peak in at you playing together.