What's Your Name?

A while ago someone asked Robert what his name is. He looked confused. Andy and I both realized hadn't been teaching him his name. Last Sunday we were at my Mom's for dinner.....let me back up a little. Robert thinks his Uncle Jason is so funny cuz Jason will come in the room and say in a funny low voice, "Hi Bob." Robert has started calling Jason, Bob. When Jason walks in Robert will yell out, "Baaaahb" (I was going to type a lot of "o's" to emphasize the word, but it didn't look right so it's Bob, but making the "o" part longer, ANYWAY).

So, last Sunday we were at my Mom's for dinner and started pointing to people and asking, "Who's this?" He's such a social child, my son. "Mama," "Papa," "Jaycee," "Jesse," "Maya," "G'ma," "Annie," "Bad" (that's Brad), and the last one "BOB." This is Jason I told him trying not to laugh. So Jason started pointing back and forth to Robert and saying, "Bob" and then to himself and saying, "My name's Jason." By the end of the night Jason was still named Bob. He got everyone else right though! That's awesome, right?

Every once in a while Robert has attempted his name. During the week I was working with him on his name and I point to me and say Mama and point to him and say Robert. He tries to say his name after me, "Ro oot" Then I'd ask, what's my name? and point to myself...."Mama" he says. Then I pointed to him and say, "what's your name?" He giggles and points to himself and says, "Naaaame! Ah-my name."

He's such a hoot! Ah, what a laugh. We need to catch in on camera, it's sooo cute!

Squealer

My boy is a squealer. I know that could mean a couple of things, and actually both would apply to Robert. Probably since he's been able to recognize things he's squealed with delight when he sees something he likes. These days the things that are most likely to get him all excited are balloons, trucks, and dogs.

The Boy has also started to develop a habit of tattling on me, his own dad. He's not really squealing on something bad that I did, but he does it when he gets in trouble with me for something he did. A typical scenario would run something like this: I find Robert playing with the phone that he knows he shouldn't be playing with, and I tell him "no" and take it away from him. Then he gets all upset and goes running off in tears to find Lacey. When he finds her he says, "Momma, papa (incoherent baby talk) buttons!" Depending on what the situation was will determine what the final word of his sentence is, but other than that he pretty much says the same thing every time.

I think it's kind of funny for a few reasons. The first of which is that Lacey doesn't ever show him any sympathy, and more often than not she scolds him too. Robert also never squeals on his mother. I wonder if it's because he figures she's the ultimate authority figure and there's no one higher up to tattle on, or if it's for some other reason. At any rate we both think it's pretty funny.

Notice the lip and the "real" tears. It's quite a production

Life's Too Short

This week hasn't been the best of weeks for my attitude. I know, I know (sigh) I'm the only one who can change it. The week hasn't been awful and I've taken each day in stride. I've stayed pleasant and in good spirits and even kept a genuine smile on my face and a chuckle in my conversation. But do you ever feel like you're on the verge.....? That's why I'm blogging about it because I'm reminding myself Life's Too Short!

Life's Too Short to:
complain all the time. I'm not saying you can't vent every now and then, but life's filled with too many blessings to focus on the negative. When I feel like venting ALL THE TIME I know it's time to remember Life's Too Short to complain all the time.

have every minute of my day packed with something to do. I'm not saying you shouldn't stay busy--idleness is no treat either (see my next point)--but I hate when I, yes I, pack my own schedule so full I don't even have time to think straight. When I leave the house at 8:00 a.m. and don't come home until 9:30 p.m. I know it's time to remember Life's Too Short to have every minute of my day packed with something to do.

have nothing to do. I enjoy a nice afternoon of leisure, let's face it. We all need down time, but when the down time never stops remember the dishes and laundry and stories and blocks and vacuuming and dirty toilets and grocery shopping and exercising and playing with cars and preparing dinner, etc. never stop either. It's time to remember Life's Too Short to have nothing to do.

hold a grudge. Yeah, I get angry, I struggle to let go of a grudge. Who doesn't? I tell ya who doesn't....Jesus. When I want to have my feelings hurt, yeah you read it right, (I'm the one who decides to let my feelings get hurt or to turn the other cheek) and I invite myself to a pity-party I know it's time to remember Life's Too Short to hold a grudge.

Afterall, the Primary songs are "I'm trying to be like Jesus, I'm following in His ways...." "Jesus said love everyone, treat them kindly too" (even if you don't think they deserve your kindness).

So go out and have a great day! Smile!
Anyone have anything to add to my Life's Too Short list?

Spring Break

Big Boy Undies! During Spring Break I decided I'd introduce Robert to the potty. He loves cars so we bought a potty with Lightning McQueen on the back rest. He loves to look at it and talk about it. He shakes his fist like he's signing "potty" (the sign is the letter "t"--hand in a fist, your thumb inbetween your index finger and middle finger then shake it side to side for those who want to know) and most of the time he tells me "poopy mommy. a potty" but he only went in the potty a couple times. Pretty good for 1 week I think. We're still working on it. More blogging on that to come.

We also got new carpet over Spring Break, hence the plywood floors in the picutres. Robert held on to the pliers to "help" me pull out the staples left behind from the old carpet. He is a great helper.

We Don't Drink

"If You See a Kitten" is a FABULOUS book...great picutres, simple text, holds attention.

LOVE IT!

Imagine you had a balloon so big it came up to your waist. That's right, a balloon that's half your size. Pretty awesome, right? Robert thinks so. He'll hold on to the rubberband and fling it around then finally let go and watch it float to the ceiling. "'loon, a 'loon" he says pointing one stubby finger. But as he's looking straight up he starts to get disoriented and starts weaving around the room like he's drunk, but I'm pretty sure he's not though cause....we don't drink alcohol.

Easter

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As you can see, we died Easter eggs this weekend. Once Robert figured out that the egg changed color, he put it in one color and then the next and then the next and then next and then would say, "All done Mama. Mo' eggs" And he'd do it all over again. Even two at a time, although Uncle Jason wanted to give him a whole dozen at once. "Mama" wasn't up for that clean up. And yes, the bath water had a bluish greenish tint to it.

New Format

So I'm trying a few things out.....changing our format a little.....bare with me......

Birthdays

How can you not just love that face? Robert loves his "setti"

I love my birthdays! And here comes the big 3-0. People ask me is I'm sad, depressed, ready for a breakdown, etc. Although I've changed my party plans several times and that may translate to some has a midlife crisis, I am excited to be 30. My Mom always says, "you either die young or get old" I prefer the later.

Like Father Like Son

It's true. Robert looks a lot like his Dad. He must be a good mix though because people that don't know Andy comment Robert looks just like me. I hope he grows up just like his Papa, maybe a little less argumentative though (smile). Just having fun Andy-I love you and your arguments!

So here are some great photo comparisons to show just how much Robert is his Papa's son.....


Andy at ~15 months (plaid on of course, he started at an early age)

Andy at 28 years old (still in plaid) and Robert following suit at ~10 months. This was a camping trip to the Little Lost June 2009.


When they aren't in plaid, they wear camo. Robert's ~13 months old here. This is a hunting trip in September of 2009.


If they don't wear plaid and we're not on a hunting trip (camo), then they at least sport the colors of camo. Afterall, green is the primary outdoors' color and if you can't blend in with a tree you might as well dress the approporiate color, just in case. This is our annual Yellowstone trip October 2009. Robert is ~14 months old.


Andrew at ~18 months old sporting the sunglasses.

Andy with his Top Gun sunglasses and Robert following along with Uncle Brent's Mission Impossible sunglasses.

They both even LOVE cleaning up. Well, maybe they don't love it, but everything has a place and should be there when not in use. Robert will already sing the clean-up song to me, without any prompting, when he sees a mess or before it's time to leave the house or time for bed. Everything must be put away, it's so cute. When we're eating dinner his cup has to sit in the little circle cutout on his tray--just like his Papa!

Each Moment

Now don't get me wrong in this post. I love my life, love my family. I have so much happiness around me, but I've been reflecting on what makes happiness tick. So, here goes.

Robert is growing so fast. I was thinking the other day about that quote something about Life isn't about Breath-taking Moments, but about the Moments that Take Your Breath Away. We start filling our schedules with STUFF that should be important and self-fullfilling and then wonder why our "happiness meter" is low. The things that get my happiness meter going are the small things that don't actually make it on the OFFICIAL schedule like

• playing cars with Robert
• sitting and reading books until Robert is bored
• putting on music and dancing around the house
• running around the house with Robert in the backpack carrier
• baking cookies for Andy
• going on walks jsut because I want to not because I want to exercise

My favorite quote of all time is "Happiness is wanting what you have." I've given that quote to at least a dozen people on a plaque of some sort--I don't have one for myself yet though. It puts into perspective our accountability in regards to our attitude. I could have all the THINGS in the world, but if I didn't want them I'd be miserable. No one can change our attitude for us. If the happiness meter is struggling to launch, then I need to make an attitude adjustment and SCHEDULE in some time to be happy.


Robert loves the backpack. I was running from the front door, through the living room and kitchen, down into the family, and then turning back to do it again. He thought it was the best! Luckily Andy snapped this picture to capture his face (and my lovely hair in my eyes).


There are a couple things Robert LOVES--more than a couple, but a few illustrated in this photo are 1) being "nakee" 2) shoes and 3) hats. I believe he was telling me he wanted to go "bye bye" and was trying to persuade me to put some shoes on him so he could leave. Little did he know it was bath time and then bed time, not time to go "bye bye."


On the list of things he loves is definately the bath. He figured out a couple weeks ago how to really start splashing and bath time has now accelerated to a whole new level. I know, what a mess, right? Well, I tell myself "it's just water." It soaks up in a towel really well. If little boys can't have some fun splashing in the tub every now and then, what has this world come to?