a late 22 months

Last night we took the Monkey to HSM. No, not that musical but a real one - put on by real high school kids. My cousin was Gad, one of the brothers in Joseph and he did a great job. Good job Travis!

Both my boys struggled until the showed started but seemed to do well. Good thing there was a camel! Afterwards, my dear mama reminded me that I'd forgotten to do my monthly post about said Monkey. *Gasp* Oh no!

Here it is, a couple of days late.

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A couple of weeks ago I sat my little family down on the couch to do our family Christmas picture. It was a bit more painful that I'd thought it would be but thank goodness I know how to photoshop heads and bodies to put everyone's best face forward. While we were waiting for Ross to get ready (isn't it funny that we're always waiting for our dad, not me, the mom) Elliott and I engaged in an impromptu shoot. He loves the camera remote control and I love him.

See.

Can't you see the love in our faces!

This boy of mine seems to bounce lately between sheer ecstasy at being alive to absolute terror at the realization he is my son. We have good days and bad, like any other crime fighting duo, but I'll definitely take the good over the bad because the bad are usually full of boogers and sobbing because I won't let him stand inside the refrigerator ALL DAY LONG!



I have decided that my boy is the smartest almost 2 year old in the world. Yesterday at "the red bullseye" he was so precocious and cute with the check out clerk that she asked him, "How old are you? Are you four?" Um, no. Not four. Just brazilliant.

My boys vocabulary is skyrocketing - I cannot even tell you how many words he's saying right now, or letters he's spelling, or numbers he's reciting. His new favorite letter is G - I think for SUPER GROVER, but it could be for something else.

He finally says Haley, much to the delight of his favorite auntie and can I just tell you nothing sounds as sweet as please, thank you, and help mama when it comes from this little boy.

We're starting to outgrow Blues Clues and move into full length movie obsession. Finding Nemo or A Bugs Life are viewed daily, sometimes more than once in our house. It's okay though - he loves them! And it's so fun to watch him watch his shows.

Right now Elliott is in super helper phase - he drags his little red IKEA chairs all over the kitchen so he can be right in on the action. He toasts his own bread, washes his own dishes and when the cub scouts come over to make cookies - he gets up to the counter and sneaks cookie dough when no one is watching.



Even if he doesn't sit in a shopping cart anymore and has to touch every single item in the grocery store at least once before he can leave - i love him. Christmas will be so fun this year. The meltdown while leaving toys r us last week - and the following 30 minutes of sobbing are a testament to how dedicated he is to his toys.