move over swiffer...

we've got a new way to shine our floors!

Time to Skuut

This Christmas Santa brought Jack a Skuut bike.  These are the coolest looking little bikes and they are designed to make it easier for kids to learn to ride a two-wheeler on their own without training wheels.  To ride it, you kick off the ground as if running, thus pushing or "skuut-ing" yourself and the bike forward.  It helps learn balance, steering and coordination.

Enjoying the lovely weather this weekend, we decided to take it for a spin.  Jack is still very much in the beginner phase - he sort of waddles along with the bike between his legs.  But he doesn't mind - he thinks he's flying!  To give him a little motivation and show him what he was working towards, I showed Jack some videos of kids speeding around on their Skuut bikes.  When Jack saw the video, he asked, "Is that Jack?"

tidbits

*A wild and crazy guy - Jack is trying on all sorts of occupations these days and when he does, he takes on a new title.  In the past few days he has been haircut guy, grocery guy, crane guy, and singing guy.  We love the little guy.

*Henry has two new skills to celebrate.  First, he has learned how to wave!  He waves at us when we enter a room, at the kids outside the screen door and even at photos.  We had a large photo of our friend Drew and his daughter, Mira, that we were holding onto for Michelle.  Every time  Henry saw it he would smile and wave.   At my parent's house he waved at a photo of the girlies.

The second exciting thing is that Henry is saying "mama" (or mamamamamama.)  He says it when he sees me, as he crawls towards me or loudly from his crib.   It's the next level of wrapping me around his little finger (i.e. ordering me around.)

peekaboo

                    

Blowing Bubbles

Inch by Inch...

..row by row...we're gonna see our garden grow. The seeds are in! This year Stephen and Jack planted carrots (like Curious George) , radishes, green beans, snap peas, chives and pumpkins. (Tomatoes coming soon...)  Henry tried to get in on the action too but was banished back to the sandbox when he tried to eat the compost.

all done

I have been signing to Henry whenever I remember - mostly the signs for "more", "all done", "milk" and "sleep".  Yesterday and today he actually used the "all done" when he wanted to get out of the highchair!  He did it one-handed and gave me a giant smile when I recognized what he was doing.   Go Henry!

Spoon? I don't need no stinkin' spoon!

I don't need no stinkin' spoon! from joelle harrison on Vimeo.

I'm gonna get you!

Henry is turning into such a little character.  He is a big smiler and laugher.  One of his favorite games right now is "I'm gonna get you!"  He will look at us with a goofy grin and then take off crawling at high speed until we start after him.

 It's not hard to catch him though - as soon as he hears us behind him he stops and turns around to laugh in anticipation of the tickle attack!

figuring out the world

I am having such fun watching Jack figure out how things work.  He is so observant and we are often so surprised and tickled by how he interprets the things that we do and say.  A few examples:

*We were having chili for dinner.  After taking a little play break, Jack came back for seconds saying, "I'd like some more 'cool' please."  I am always saying I am chilly when it's cold outside.

*On our way home from the park, Jack was asking if he could do a little playing when we got home.  I said we would see what time it was.  Fifteen minutes later, as I opened his door to help him out, Jack says to me - all business - "I looked at my hand.  It's seven o'clock."   Watch/hand  - close enough!

*This morning Jack was looking at the video monitor.  The camera is posted just above the changing table.  Jack could see Stephen as he was changing Henry's diaper:

"Daddy!  I see you Daddy! He's in the 'monter'! I miss you Daddy!"
"Jack, I'm in your room - come see me."
Gleefully, he ran off to see Daddy.

*When one of us is being too loud Jack will ask us to please "turn it down a little bit."

Oh!

Puff the Magic Dragon from joelle harrison on Vimeo.

A few weeks ago, Jack's music teacher Lucinda read and sang the book Puff the Magic Dragon.  That was all it took.  Since then, we have listened to it in my car 432 times, read the book 112 times and sang the song countless times.  This is the first time he had instrumental accompaniment.  He sings the chorus and the first verse over and over.  When I read the book or sing with him, he can also sing the other verses.  Currently, he sings "frolics in Miss Autumn" instead of "frolics in the autumn mist" but he is working on it as you can see in the video.  My favorite part is the enthusiastic and decisive "OH!" before the chorus.

Big ears

It is clear that Jack is really listening to what we are saying these days.  He will pick up on words or phrases in conversations and use them in his play or use them himself in conversations.  Clearly we need to pay as much attention to what we are saying as he does.  When I was living in Switzerland, a dear Australian friend of mine used to use the phrase "bloody hell!" when frustrated.  With her lovely accent it was really quite charming and not at all offensive.  I have been known to use this phrase myself on occasion although I am sure it does not sound nearly as charming (but it is quite satisfying!).  Today I discovered that it's even less (more?) charming coming from a two year old.  Jack was frustrated with something and belted it out.  I know it's not at all appropriate language but I had a really hard time keeping a straight face!

Hoppin' Down The Bunny Trail...

Did the Easter Bunny come to your house?  He came to ours and do you know what he did?  He hid our eggs! AND left us treats!  

In Jack's words, "That funny bunny!" 

The boys came downstairs to find Easter buckets filled with treats.  Henry's included puffs, a new ball, and a little rolling turtle.  Of course, he had the most fun playing with the paper Easter grass!

Jack's bucket had a tiny chocolate bunny (which got eaten immediately) and an egg full of bunny crackers (which Henry really wanted!). 

There was plenty of room left in the bucket to hold the eggs and treats hidden by the Easter Bunny.  


Let the egg hunting begin!

  Finally, Uncle Tim joined us to celebrate with yummy omelettes.
  

A very happy Easter!