Boy Stuff

My baby is turning into a little boy! *sniff* It all started about two weeks ago when I was brushing my teeth. Reed came into the bathroom and said, "Did you put him up there?" I looked, and Cal was sitting diaper-less on the potty. (Went out and got a training seat the next day--I'm sure I'll have another post about this soon.) Since then, it seems like every day finds Cal doing something more grown-up. I knew he was going to grow up someday, I just didn't think it would get here so fast!

"Put on your helmet, Mommy!"

One of the ways Cal is growing up: he is very interested in letters. While he can't identify any letters yet, he recognizes letters from other shapes. When he sees them in books or on signs, he'll point to each one and say something like, "Ooh....Pay....Tree...Mah....TOO!" There's always a big emphasis on the last letter, like he's letting me know, "I did it! I read you the whole group of letters!"

Here's Cal riding in a wagon with Cara's baby, Luke.

Hooray for a new friend (Luke, not Cara)!

Cal has also been counting up to three. He counts down to an action, like jumping, or falling backwards onto our bed, but he also counts things by touching items one by one, like Mommy and Daddy have shown him. Whenever we get to the page in Goodnight Moon that says "There were three little bears sitting in chairs", Cal counts them, "One...Two... THREE!" Just now, I heard him walking aroung going "One...two...fee.........uh....tay....pee...NIGH!" I think he knows that it's possible to count beyond three, he's just not sure what to say exactly. :)

He loves following me around and doing what Mommy is doing. I'm trying hard to incorporate him into my activities, even though it is so tempting to do things without him (so much more efficient to clean the house without the help of a toddler!).

Here in Southern California, I've spent 24/7 with him. Maybe that's what has made me notice that even his play activities are more grown up. He is a curious, mischievous little bud. Take a look at some of the following pictures.

My parents' house has a water spigot right outside the laundry room door. They use it to fill up Sammy's water bowl, which has proven a painless situation for 7 years. Enter: Cal. He will not leave the dog, or her things, alone. He has probably filled and emptied her water dish 100 times since we've been here.

As you can see, he is SOAKED.

The interest in the water spigot and dog bowl has led naturally into an interest in the garden hose. As I watered a dry spot on the lawn (you're welcome, Dad), Cal kept running right into the stream.

Perfect October activity, right?

Can you say "Indian Summer"?

Then, he found a stick. What is it with boys and sticks???

At some point, he wrestled the hose from my grasp and took charge:

After watering the lawn for 20 minutes, he got curious, and started watering other things:

Then, Sammy decided she wanted a drink, and thought she might get close enough...

...which turned into a new favorite game: squirt Sammy:

Here she is hiding, after too many close calls.

When Cal realized the dog wasn't playing anymore, he turned to his next victim:

A little too close!

(If you notice the two different shirts, we've done this multiple times this week!)

Last night, I gave Cal a flashlight and we went exploring.

Cal exploring the ice dispenser

Sammy had to follow along, of course:

"I found you, Mommy!"

Reed always teases me because I LOVE snuggling Cal when he's asleep. It's hard to explain that, after all the craziness Cal offers me all day long, it makes it even sweeter when he's a sleeping little angel. Just look at this boy:

Better rest up, my growing boy. You have another busy day tomorrow!