Grandma Johnnie Would be So Proud!

My Grandma Johnnie, who passed away nine years ago, was a birder extraordinaire. Several times a week, if not once a day, during the summer, she would round up stragglers into the car and we would drive all over the farm and beyond looking at birds. It is a passion she has handed down to her daughters, granddaughters . . . and now her great-grandson.

For my birthday (43!) Pete and Thad got me a birdhouse and the birds--including my Grandma's favorite, the red cardinal--have FLOCKED to our backyard! It has been a joy!

Thad has really gotten into the birds and will go outside and, standing under the tree, talk to the "birdies": "Thank you for coming to our yard, boidies! Come eat, boidies! We have more food for you!"

So it was clear he needed a pair of binoculars, which he has put to good use!

I delight in watching Thad watch the birds with me, and I grieve I cannot share this with Grandma Johnnie.

Cowboy Thad

Thad has a new ride. The "cowboy hat" is my gardening hat. It suits the purpose.

He rides well!

From Whence Did This Enter the Lexicon?

Currently, everything is "Yucky and Doity, Mom." Whatever he doesn't want to do or touch.

"No, Mom. That is Yucky and Doity."

Ooooooooooo. Kay.

Look Who is Sleeping in His Big Boy Bed!!!

Last week Thad and I talked about his lonely Big Boy Bed. I told him that Friday night he was going to get to sleep in it finally! On Thursday, I told him we would go and pick out two buddies for him to take to his new Big Boy Bed. Much excitement was built!

Friday afternoon we went to Toys R Us and after a lot of careful consideration, Thad came home with Puppy Dog, a border collie, and Sleepy Pablo, one of the Backyardigans.

We went home and got ready for bed. (I slept on a mattress on his floor for the first week; tonight I am next door!) He climbed up into bed, cuddling Puppy Dog (his official name), and with nary a tear or complaint, 20 minutes later he was asleep.

And it's been smooth sailing ever since. He has made a couple half-hearted attempts of telling me he is going to sleep with me, but no problem getting into bed. He also told Pete that he was going to sleep with him, but again, once Pete talked up the Big Boy Bed, he was fine.

We are VERY, VERY PROUD of our Big Boy!

Where's Thad?

This is a game we play often. He puts a hat or a blanket or a shirt over his face and we say, "Where's Thad? Daddy, have you seen Thad? Where did he go?" All the time, he is giggling, gigglinb, giggling. Then he throws off the cover and says, "Here I am!" And rolls around laughing!

But my favorite is when he puts on the lion mask and chases us around growling while we scream for Thad to come save us!

He will chase us around for about 30 seconds, then lift off the mask and say, reassuringly, "It's just me, Mom. It's just me."

Oh, thank God it is you, Thad. Truly, thank God.

His Photography Skills are Coming Along . . .

You just have to make sure that you are in the general area

at which he is pointing the camera lens . . . which may require some gymnastics.

Our personal favorite: the self-taken photo . . . of his feet!

Thad's New Job!

Babysitting!!

a Word Picture

I am not allowed to take a picture, but close your eyes and see if you can picture it yourself . . .

Thad has a swim mask on, upside down, along with his superhero cape. (Black, which doesn't exactly go with his red, white, and blue striped shirt and blue shorts.)

He just walked up to me:

"How do I look, Mom?

"Do I look cool?"

Why yes, Thad. Yes you do!