Letter to Cub 2...

Wow! Another year! Another year has flown by and I'm in awe how fast that went! I still remember the day you were born like it was yesterday! You have learned so much in this past year and are talking up a storm! You are still giving us hugs and kisses but you're telling us "no" more often. Sometimes it's a game and sometimes it's a genuine protest for not wanting to brush your teeth, take a bath, or have your diaper changed.

You give both me and your Pappa grief over EVERYTHING (terrible two's perhaps?) but you still manage to get in some snuggle time and hugs and kisses to both of us every day.

You've flown to Omaha this year to meet your long distance pal, C. 

We've had changes this year. Teresa & T3 had been a major part of your life until they moved in May. It was heartbreaking for me, as T3 was your "brother" and you absolutely LOVED Teresa.

You went to your first LIVE show - Sesame Street Live! You seemed to have enjoyed it although you didn't openly clap or get excited.

You had an AWESOME summer of swimming. You purposely put your face under the water, holding your breath and pick your head up on your own. You've jumped in unassisted into the pool for me or Pappa to catch you. You were thrilled to do it and not scared at all.

You've been to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom more times this year than I have ever been in my life so far thanks to the season passes we bought. 

You had your first sleepover/overnight away from Mamma & Pappa. I missed you so much the whole time you were away.

You went to your first concert - Rascal Flatts with Sara Evans at Sleep Train Amphitheatre. You had a GREAT time and even wound up with an inflatable guitar to go home with. Not a tear/complaint about the loud music or the late night. When you fell asleep in my arms at 9:30 p.m., I could've just melted. ♥

Your personality is really showing and you're just a silly Cub! You love things that make noise, have wheels, and you love to "color". You make tiny circles on the paper with a pen or pencil. Every day, you're growing more into a little boy and wanting to do more "big boy" things. Some days I just want to hold/squeeze you tight because I know these times only last a short while.

Every day I love you more and more and am so proud of the little boy you're becoming. I hope you know that I will always love you. ♥

Missing!

Yep, that's right. We've been MIA. Or at least I have been in updating and posting on Cubby's blog here for you folks.

I'm working on getting some pics together to show what we've been up to - but for now, a little summary:

Talking: Cubby is talking up a STORM! He is a little parrot so Mamma Bear now has to watch her potty mouth. He knows many words (too many to list) but the ones he does regularly is "hep!" (help), "tank you" (thank you), "elcom" (you're welcome), "pease" (please), "no", "dada", "mama", "mom", "goke" (milk), "cul" (popsicle), "ont" (want), "go". He can put words together for short sentences like "Mom, ont goke", "hep pease", "Dada go?"

Swimming: I think enrolling him into swim at 8/9 months has paid off. This summer we took swim lessons up the kazoo. Too many for Mamma & Pappa Bear, but by the end of it all - Cubby was putting his face in the water on his own and holding his breath under the water! He was also jumping into the water with assistance and just loved hand-walking on his belly in the shallow side of the water (pics to come later). Then, while swimming at a friend's house and watching their four year old jump into the pool, Cubby thought he'd give it a try! UNASSISTED! He did a GREAT job but Mamma Bear's heart was pounding a kajillion miles a minute. Oh boy. Now we HAVE to keep a real close eye on him near water.

Family: We visit grandma once a week for dinner and he just LOVES her! It's so nice that he sees and recognizes her and the rest of my family as well. He is definitely the spoiled munchkin of the family (for now) and he's enjoying every minute of it!

I can't wait to show you all the things he's been doing! 

Independence Day!

This year it was a very small celebration. Pappa Bear, Cubby, Uncle D, his girlfriend S, Grandma and of course myself. Grandma made homemade french fries, burgers, dogs, ribs and a salad. Let's just say we were overstuffed.

My brother, mother and I are very much closet pyromaniacs (I use that term very loosely). We love to light up things and watch 'em burn! ♪ Burn, baby burn... disco inferno... ♫ Wait, where was I... ? Oh yes, back to the Fourth of July... Between my mother and I we spent about $200 on fireworks. This year, I really wanted Cubby to try his first sparkler. Now, I don't recommend this at all to other parents but because I know how overly cautious Cubby is AND the fact I was going to be right there, I didn't worry too much.

At first, he held onto the sparkler and as I was holding his wrist waving it around for him, he decided he wanted no part of it... and I was disappointed. How can MY Cubby NOT want to light up something? Oh well. The show MUST GO ON!!!

Before we start lighting off fireworks, we organize our goods. We start off with smaller things like Ground Blooms, Piccolo Pete's, interspersed with smaller fountains and then work our way up to Mad Dogs, American Spirit and what not. This year's finale was The Molten Pot. I was impressed! New this year and a $20 show piece, I think it was worth every penny. Again, here I am distracted - this isn't what this post is about!

During our spectacular show, Grandma continued to try and give Cubby a sparkler. FINALLY, he caught on! Yay! Only a Mamma Bear can be so proud! Here's a clip:



Can't wait for next year, when we show him how to properly light a firework himself... he he he...

Wordless Wednesday: Like Father, Like Son Part II

I couldn't resist...

Proof!

Yep! Here's proof we have a bear cub on our hands! He was so hungry, he refused to let me help open the bag to get to the biscuit... so the end result....

 

He said... WHAT???

The other day I was so exhausted and seriously needed a rest. Cubby may have gone down, but he had a bit of energy and Pappa Bear was headed out the door. So I asked him to put the gate in the hallway & close most of the doors so if Cubby wanted to get up, he could only be in my room or walk over to his room.

I closed my eyes to try and nap but woke up every few minutes hearing Cubby getting into things, making sure he was ok and back to closing my eyes. All of a sudden I feel a push against the mattress and I hear Cubby... "mooo mooo" in this kind of sing songy tone (which is what it sounded like to me) and holding out his arms to me. Keep in mind, I'm half asleep and I think he wants to be picked up to come into the bed with me.

Then he says it again, this time shoving his hands in my face and I shoot straight up out of my grogginess as I realize he said "Pooo Pooo" because I also smell it. On his hands. Ewww! He then proceeds to put his hand in the side of his diaper and I grab him and haul ass to his changing table.

This time I ask "Did you go poo poo?" He nods yes. Smiles. Lays right down to let me change him. *sigh*

Thinking it's time to maybe start potty training?

Wordless Wednesday: Little Boy!

Where did my baby go?