Anna Banana

This is Ridge and his best buddy Anna at the lunch party on their last day of "summer camp" at White Rock North. (Not a great picture, but such is photography in a class of nine three-year-old kids! I was trying not to show too much favortism.)

Anna and Ridge went to their first Mother's Day Out program together 2008-2009, starting just before they turned two. That spring they each had little brothers; Drew and Sawyer were born about 18 hours apart - Drew on March 9 and Sawyer on March 10. We stayed in touch with Anna and her family here and there over the year in between Mother's Day Out and White Rock North.

We have been richly blessed by their friendship. Anna was instrumental in a mostly smooth transition for Ridge. And her mom, Emily, was tremendously helpful and supportive to me. She got it, having been there herself just a few months before. Sawyer and Drew were in the same class too. They shared a dining table. While they don't say much about it, I know they were digging on eachother too.

Band Aids - another inevitable era of boddler (boy + toddler) hood

Ridge bumped his head the other day and, of course, wanted a "shot" from Tere, a kiss from mama, and a band aid. Tere took it to the next level and wrapped him up in an Ace bandage. It was comical to all. Injuries, like bedtime, have become such a production around here.

Mr. Independent

Ridge is getting into dressing himself. I've tried to dodge this bullet for a long time...to just not let him know that he has that option. He figured it out. He selected this fine T-shirt himself (needless to say) from a gift shop in Maine. He wants to wear it every day. Again, love and hate the independence thing. He does not take the pink feather duster out, but the rest of this ensemble is non-negotiable.

Words...so many great words

So, I am babysitting a friend's newborn babe...it's mom and dad's first outting. I forgot how sweet and innocent these little critters are! And I can't believe mine, at least the first, gave me so much grief. One newborn is downright relaxing, compared to Sawyer.

Speaking of my dear Sawyer, who is just 11 days shy of being 1 1/2, he is off to the races with the words! It's so crazy to us since Ridge didn't speak a lick until he was 2. Sawyer's words are super cute. There are many more, but the ones that come to mind are:

• Grammy! Her picture popped up on our PC screen saver and he called it. We couldn't believe it.
• "Hep" (help),
• Cheese (for a camera, or anything that looks vaguely like a camera, and sometimes for the food too),
• mommy (he says this A LOT, sometimes for my amusement with an exclamation mark on it - MaMi!, and sometimes when he is feeling pitiful and then it's a much longer word - MaaaaaMeeeeeee)
• He'll "sush" you, with his finger over his pursed lips and usually right on up his nose.

I know there are many more that just escape me at the moment. Shoes and dog are still his big, favorite words.

He gave some big love to Grammy today. She popped in for a visit, after weeks of not seeing the little guys. Sawyer lunged for her. He really rarely does that for anyone but mama. It was AWESOME! So stinking sweet. These boys have awesome grandmothers and they know it! (He gets all a flutter when we mention Nana too.)

Big excitement at our house today...water leakage behind the boys' bathroom wall. GREAT! What is it with us and water issues? So, we're now being forced into finishing what we've started with this bathroom.

Anyway, Ridge was mystified and, I think, a little scared about the wall being torn down and seeing the plumbing, insulation and, of course, water. He got really into it though and wanted to discuss (with Daddy) and explain (to me, in the most interesting terms) the issue. Ultimately, we had the pleasure of a Saturday visit from a plumber who Ridge referred to as "the fixer." He jumped right into "man of the house" character, following Daddy and the plumber around and helping out by holding the flashlight.

Both boys started the new, official school year at their preschool this week. We are super pleased with their new teachers. Sawyer's class is a little smaller, which makes me feel good, and his teachers are lovely. They too have been wowed by his vocabulary explosion. We're also all laughing at how he likes to gasp at everything...totally for effect. He's making jokes!

Ridge's teacher is Mrs. Burt. She told me on the first day that she was so excited to have Ridge in her class because he's just such a sweet boy. Awe! Couldn't agree more. It means everything to me to know that their 8:30-4:30, Mon-Thurs caretakers appreciate them and celebrate their milestones.

Can't add photos right now, on account of being at Nate's place, but will soon post pics from our wonderful week in Maine last week.

Nate's stirring. Better run!

Attack of the Unmentionable

My strapless hooked itself to Sawyer's Lamby the other day. After working furiously to fling it off...he just got pissed. Melt down city! I mean, really, what could be worse? Poor poor baby.

How did that get there?!

Which of these things does not look like the other?

It's a little embarassing to let anyone look inside the ol' storage container drawer these days. It used to be quite orderly. (Shocker, right?) But this day, I opened it up to find the random Hot Wheels car. Nothing unusual anymore about finding unusual things in unusual places 'round here. This one just really struck me. And the camera was right by me.

This is a test to see if Tere will ever seek out and read this blog. But one day, when he was traveling, I found his toothbrush in the toilet. Little hands. I swear. Anyway, I thoroughly sterilized before putting it back. Sorry, Honey! But I think we'd all agree, those Sonic Care toothbrush heads are too expensive to set free over one pesky run in with the commode.