Lefty?

Brecken is starting to experiment more with utensils (he has his own little plastic ones, but this morning he insisted on my big metal spoon!) and he keeps grabbing them and feeding himself with his left hand.  He has two uncles that are lefties...I wonder if he will be too!

Community Lunch

My neighbor, Julie, kept Brecken yesterday while I went to the eye doctor. Julie and I walk in the mornings a couple times a week so Brecken loves her daughter, Sophia, who is just a few months younger than he. Julie texted me this picture of them eating lunch and he dots patiently waiting for the leftovers!! Looks a lot like our house, just our dogs aren't allowed in the kitchen while B eats (too tempting for him to feed them!) but they sure love being on clean up patrol! They come running in the kitchen as soon as I say, "Brecken, are you all done?". So funny!

Sharing the Love

Brecken loves everyone...even the mannequin at The Gap. :)

Wordless Wednesday

Dying Cow Toy

B has this cheap little jack in the box type toy that he got for his birthday that he LOVES. When the top opens, a cow pops out, B laughs and then he presses the cow back down. It also plays music when he turns the knob.  Musical toys usually don't bother me, but this one drives me crazy because all the notes are a little flat!  It hurts my ears every time. Thankfully, because it's so cheap, the battery is dying already and we soon will be music free. In the meantime, the cow in the jack in the box sounds like he's dying a slow, painful death. Poor cow. 

We just bought some end tables for our living room but Brecken thinks they are just another toy to add to his collection! This morning, he kept opening the drawer and putting his dump truck in it. He's very into taking things out and putting things in right now. Unfortunately, he likes the taking out part more than the putting in so he leaves a little trail if destruction wherever he goes!

Dog Food vs. People Food

Since we have two dogs, we normally buy the big 40lb bag of food at Costco which is so big that Brecken can't reach the top. Well, this time I had a Petsmart gift card so I bought a smaller bag there. My curious little boy of course discovers the bag and starts rooting inside. H watches us reach in and pull out a cup of food everyday so I guess he thought he would try!  He kept trying to eat the food himself (not the first time and I'm sure won't be the last!) so I showed how to feed the dogs. So piece by piece he feed Sadie and Keely a little food. We taught my niece, Salem, how to do that a few months ago and it kept her from eating their food. She would, however, chase the dogs around the house with a piece of food in her hands trying to get them to eat it! Hopefully, B will learn the dog food vs. people food concept soon too!

So I guess it's time to buy Brecken some toddler forks and spoons. Last night when we were eating dinner, he kept grabbing the fork out of my hand and trying to feed himself. He's been fairly unhappy with us feeding him most foods (unless it's ice cream!) for awhile, but has been generally content with using his fingers. He also wants to drink from our cups. The other night, he kept fussing and reach toward the table. He only calmed down once I gave him a sip from my glass. So I put some water in a smaller glass for him, and even though he spilled it everywhere, he was happy! He figured out how to use a straw right around his birthday and has been fascinated with them since.  So I have to be careful now that if I'm drinking anything from a straw (like a Frappacino!) that I get a cup of water with a straw for him too!  Such a big boy...

Mr. Giraffe

Brecken's Uncle Patrick bought this giraffe for him before he was even born. We just put it together at his birthday and he loves it! We showed him how to sit and ride on it and today he figured out how to climb on and off of it by himself. A pretty talented feat considering he doesn't even walk or really stand by himself. He gets mad at it and pushes it away when he falls off though - which is really kind of cute because he immediately pulls it back and climbs on again. We've spent a good amount of time pushing Brecken and the giraffe around the house today. And the poor little guy's shirt is soaked from making the "bbbrrrrrrrrr" noise the whole time he's riding!

Learning to Flush

Of course Brecken is nowhere near potty training, but he's definitely interested in the toilet. He likes to play the drum on the closed lid and today he figured out how to flush. He succeeded in flushing three times in the time it took me to take a picture! There goes our water bill!

Toys

Who needs toys when you can play with cleaning tools? B can occupy himself for at least 15 minutes with the vacuum cleaner and about 10 with the Swiffer (not as many parts you know, so he gets bored a little faster). :)

Toaster

Brecken is allowed to play in certain cabinets in the kitchen (i.e. those that don't have cleaning supplies). He's played with the toaster before, but today he found the knob on the toaster and kept turning it back and forth. And he is such a cheese! When I took the first picture, he heard the click of the camera and immediately turned around to flash a big smile! Hopefully, I'll remember to check the "brown" setting on the toaster next time I use it or I may end up with some burnt toast!

Good morning world!

Preds Game

We were given tickets to the Nashville Predators game on Thursday night. The seats were great and we had lots of fun! Brecken watched the whole first period, slept through the second period, and woke up again to watch the end of the game. He really was watching everything that was going on. Especially the zambonis! He LOVED watching them go around and around the ice. He kept craning his neck around to see them. I'm pretty sure it was just because they have wheels. :) Such a boy!

Painting Pottery

Six years ago, Michael and I went to Brushfire Pottery Studio for the first time and painted a plate for our wedding. The day we went was Brushfire's birthday and they had free pizza and Maggie Moo's ice cream (which was how I convinced Michael to go). :)  Well, it was a hit and we've been back almost every year since.  Last year, we went while I was pregnant and painted baby plates for Brecken and Salem. This year, we had so much going on today, we didn't make it for the pizza and Maggie Moo's, but we did stop by tonight and quickly make a coaster to add to our collection. B did great while his hand was painted and then pressed onto the tile. It's going to be so cute!!

Booty Sleeper

This picture doesn't do it justice, but this is how B sleeps...with his little booty up in the air and his feet tucked under him. He is the cutest thing ever (in my humble opinion).

Pancakes and PJs

Last weekend when my parents were in town, our class at church did a "Pancakes and PJs" get together in the gym. It's a good excuse for the adults to socialize and the kids to play (i.e. run around like crazy). B had fun riding someone else's ladybug and bicycle. He looks like such a big boy in the bicycle pictures! He had fun riding around with Poppy!

Hiking

Yesterday afternoon we went to Beaman Park down the road and did the 2 mile loop. We love this park because its so close, pretty, and shaded. B fell asleep and was OUT while we hiked the last mile. 

Watching football with Daddy and drinking from a straw (a new skill he just mastered)!

The Dishwasher

B is fascinated by the dishwasher. This morning I had it open while he was running around the kitchen in his walker. I heard him playing and when I turned around, he had pulled the bottom rack out and was dragging it around the kitchen!

Change of Scenery

Inside was getting boring and stuffy, so now we are sitting on the porch, playing with toys, listening to the rain, and getting (just a little!) damp. 

Making A Splash

Michael caught this picture of B playing in the water bowls this morning! 

Mmmm....lasagna!

Big Wheels!

I've mentioned more than once that Brecken LOVES wheels. Tonight, we went to Arrington Vineyards with my parents and B crawled over to someone else's stroller to play with the wheels. After about 10 times of retrieving him, he decided to find another wheel. So this is the wheel he found! He was pretty excited about finding one so big!

Zoo

I forgot the pictures!

This afternoon, Brecken and I went to pick up the new stroller we bought on eBay (brand new and a steal!!). Afterwards, we were so close to the zoo, we decided to stop in to meet the new flamingos and try out the stroller. Let's just say that they are both (stroller and flamingos) amazing! I never knew that flamingos are so cool! They are much taller than I thought with very long necks. Welcome to Nashville, flamingos!

So Proud of Himself!

Rollin' rollin' rollin'

B has been eyeing the toilet paper roll for quite a while and I knew it was only a matter of time before he discovered how much fun it could be! He's quick too - had the whole thing unrolled by the time I got the camera out, took a quick video, and set it back down!  Just like all his little mischievous conquests so far - he was very proud of himself!!  Oh, and he's evidently ambidextrous too! 

Happy Labor Day!

Mommy's Helper

B wants so badly to help me unload the dishwasher. I turned around to put the plates away and my little monkey took that opportunity to climb into the dishwasher! Yesterday, he did the same thing, except he was standing up! Evidently, he's more like me than we originally thought!

This morning, my neighbor, Julie, and I went to Beaman Park to hike with the babies in the backpacks. Beaman is great because its just a couple miles down the road, but it feels like I'm in the mountains! There's a 2 mile loop hike that follows a creek part of the way and is just really pretty. Evidently, riding in a pack is fairly relaxing, because both babies fell asleep about halfway through!  So sweet...

Movin' On Up...Or Down

After Brecken woke up from his nap this afternoon, he somehow fell and bumped his head pretty hard on the crib. Poor guy has a nice little blue bruise on his forehead. Anyway, I thought he might be trying to climb out, so we decided to lower his crib mattress again.  The first two pictures are of B helping Michael with the wrenches. He loved that they made lots of noise when he banged them together. The third picture was a lucky shot of B standing up by himself!! He kept pulling up on Michael and this time he let go and just stood there for a few seconds!  Oh my goodness...what a big boy we have. 

Cruisin'

Brecken is getting closer and closer to cruising around the house. He's taken a couple steps with his hippo (but of course stopped as soon as I tried to get video!) and when he stands while holding on to something, he keeps getting up on his tiptoes, which makes me think he's about to start taking steps and cruising any day now!

My First Toothbrush!

Hey everyone! I finally got my first tooth a few weeks ago (and my second and third just a few days after!) so when my fourth tooth popped through yesterday, mommy decided it was time to get me my very own toothbrush! I sure to love to chew on it...which then makes me drool everywhere! It has a hippo on it and matches the hooded towel mommy just got me at the Otter Creek consignment sale. :)

Oops...

Meant to post a video if Brecken playing with the leash and dogs but posted the picture again instead. And I just deleted the video...oh well...next time. 

Outside! (part 2)

The Produce Place

Yesterday we stopped by The Produce Place in West Meade. What a cool little store! They had lots of local and organic produce, meats, cheeses, and other goodies. Michael was holding Brecken who swiped a tomato and had it in his mouth before Michael even realized it!  Our little shoplifter. ;)

Outside!

It has been soooo hot here in Nashville this summer that we really haven't been outside a lot except for our morning walks and some in the evening when we would sometimes get a little heat relief. The past couple days it has been less than 90 degrees so me and B are enjoying some time in the backyard in the shade! He is sporting one of his favorite toys - the dog leash!

Midnight Moo

There is a cabinet in my kitchen where I keep overflow items from my pantry and such. Brecken knows he's allowed to play in that cabinet, and since it's the first one when you enter the kitchen, its usually his cabinet of choice. The funny thing is, no matter what I put in front, B always pulls out the same thing - Midnight Moo Organic Chocolate Syrup from Trader Joes. He loves to play with it! I'll have to say, he has good taste!

This kid LOVES wheels. We've been to two different baby showers where this stroller was a gift and he amused himself by playing with the wheels the whole time. If there is a wheel on anything (stroller, cart, ottoman, walker, toy) in a 50 ft vicinity, B will find it and play with it!

Bathtime!

Brecken and I go for walks two or three times a week with my neighbor, Julie and her baby, Sophia. This morning, since the weather was a little cooler, I put B in the backpack and brought the dogs along, too. When we got home, B had a poopy diaper so I decided to let him go diaperless for a few minutes to cool him off after sitting in the backpack for an hour. He crawled into the kitchen and I gave him his sippy cup. He took one drink from that cup and immediately peed ALL over the floor!  I think he surprised himself because he just sat on the flood staring at it in awe (such a boy!). There was nothing I could do so I just sat there with him and laughed. And now it's bathtime!