DDD August 25

How he set up his play area today...

Two Things You Say That Melt Our Hearts...

Daddy... home.... daddy, home!  
   You say this when you wake for the day and are so excited if he is in fact home because its a weekend. You also say this when its afternoon and you have woke early from a nap and are HOPING its after 3 and he is home from work.

Mama Bes-shag-e!
      Boy, this is the key to my heart.  When you say these words I probably would do anything for you.  You say my name like this when you want to show me something and when you are being very kind to me.

DDD August 24

If it has wheels, this boy loves it!

DDD August 23

Daniel and his dad made a ramp for his cars last night.

DDD August 21

Watching a truck scoop rocks with fascination.

DDD August 20

He loves lawn mowers!

Evidence He Is Watching and Learning

Today we were watching the movie UP.  It has an older man who uses a cane to walk.  We shut the movie off after the first fifteen minutes to break for lunch.  He got down off the couch, picked up the vacuum pipe, and said, "Oh, mang, oh mang!" and hobbled over to the table.

What a goof ball! He hasn't ever noticed people using walkers or canes before, but one short movie segment, and he transferred what he saw into action!

More Daniel Talk

Show-du = soda
Dee Dee showdu straw cup, peez.


peesawooduh = piece of wood.
Dee Dee peesawooduh owside, hammie.

Terrible Two Tantrum

Dear Daniel,

Last night you showed us that being 24.5 months old is very difficult for you, especially at 8 PM.  I've never seen a child have as big of a meltdown as you, but I am not around many children other than you to compare this too.  I think you've had a dozen temper fits that last more than five minutes, but this one tops them all.  It lasted every bit of half an hour.  You just screamed and screamed and screamed.  It was stressful for everyone involved.  We still love you, and we know you love us, too.

Let's make a big effort to be cooperative at bedtime, okay?  And I'll do my part by spending time teaching you emotion words and helping you work on language skills to communication how you are feeling better.

Love you.
Your mama

DDD Aug 19

DDD for August 18

So happy at the St. James park.

DDD for August 17

Two years, three weeks old.

DDD and EE for August 16

Brother and sister reunited after a long weekend apart. He was so
delighted to see her!

Photo Flashback

I found this photo on my mother's computer and it brought back so many
sweet memories. What a great day! April 18, 2011

Yes, You Can Use The Vacuum Pipes For a Horn.

Why not?

This is one of his favorite "toys", and has been for the last 6 months!
He calls it a back-boom pike.

DDD August 15

He's worn this shirt more than any other this summer - which is neat,
because its a SPF 50 shirt and it means he's played in the sun all
summer!

DDD for August 14

Growing up and growing older looking each day!

Report From Grandma Nanny

Dear Daniel,
   You've stayed for extended weekends with your Douglas grandparents now several times, and I wanted you to know that we miss you during this time, but we also know you are having a good time.  We have a good time doing non-toddler things like eating in quiet restaurants or watching movies with kissing and explosions (instead of cartoon mice and puppets!).


Here is an excerpt from and email your grandma sent to me:

Daniel just went down for his nap.  He ate a good lunch today.

Hotdog, pretzels, applesauce and 2 cookies

He likes

Bob the builder.  He watched about 20 minutes before he went down for his nap.

We went to play with his trucks at the school playground this morning.  Nancy Hall was there and invited us in

To see her new pre- school set up and Daniel got to play with some of the pre-school toys.  He had a fun time.

She invited him again to play.

We went to the grocery store and then came home.  He played a while then ate lunch and watched a little TV then went down for a nap

He did want to go outside last night when we were talking to you but I just talked to him about it being dark and we had to wait for the sunshine to come out and he was ok with that

He wanted me to rock him for a few minutes then went right to sleep and slept until about 7:30 or closer to 8:00.   He may have slept longer but Grandpa heard him and went up to get him.

He was pretty groggy and may have slept a little longer if left alone.

We use the computer to chat with you, and you really seem to enjoy the face to face interaction.  Its so good to see your face and hear your giggles, and its fun to play with you through the screen.  Last night you and I joked around about sharing a drink with a straw through the webcam.  You were so happy to see your sister's face too, and tried to kiss her.  It was great.

I wish I had the same opportunity as you did to spend time with your grandparents like this, but when I was your age, my grandparents were very old or very busy or sick, so I didn't get to.  Your grandparents are younger, less busy, and healthy, so I think you and EK can do this more often!  You'll get to know them well.

Love ya, little 24 month old!

DDD August 13

Waiting patiently for the pool

DDD for August 12

He still loves bath time, and he still uses the small tub he's used
for two years! I wonder when he will realize he has the option of the
large bath tub? He even doesn't mind sharing the small tub with his
sister!