Today marks the first day Robert moves on to his new day care. Last week was my last as Robert's day mommy, but I say...once a day mommy, always a day mommy. In moving to Utah sixteen months ago, I gained the privilege of being Robert’s day mommy, as Cortney named me. It definitely was never easy, having two boys only 13 months apart, but the memories are priceless, and both Max and I feel we got the better deal. From the days of swaddling and diaper changes as a 2 month old, to now days of chasing and preventing bruises as an 18 month old, it has been a joy watching this sweet, curious, strong, talkative, busy little boy. Anyone who comes into his life will truly be lucky to learn from Robert’s nature. Here are some fun times we had on our last day…after a hearty breakfast, supplied from Allan's bowl, we visited Costco, and then played outside, revisiting the favorite spots - the closet, the lion statue, the water drains, the utility flags, and the fans. Following a good nap from so much play, Robert entertained himself in the pack and play, which he now does often - from undressing to dismantling his bed, he finds things to do. We will MISS our Bubbies. We love you!

Poor Robert has been sick enough this week to warrant being at home with his mommy. We missed him a lot! We've had a good time today...

First, we had a yummy breakfast - eggs, sausage, and applesauce. Robert ate a LOT!

Afterwards, we played Duplos and musical instruments, and swept the patio (the boys' choice - I'm not putting them to work or anything!). They each proudly worked with their own broom.











We had our nursery lesson on how the Book of Mormon teaches us about Jesus, and afterwards sang some Primary songs (Search, Ponder, Pray, Articles of Faith 1-3, and Jesus Once Was a Little Child), as well as others (Where is Thumkin?, Monkeys Swinging in the Trees)

Before naptime, we read some books. Robert fell asleep around 1:15, and woke up at 3:30. Good boy Robert. I heard him stir a couple times beforehand, but he went back to sleep.

Time for some food...!

Robert went down around 1:30 for a nap, and was quiet here and there...turns out he was dismantling the inside of the pack and play (even the floor board was folded up under him, the sheets and blankets strewn around outside the pack and play). At near 3:00 I heard him still babbling. He'd done his poopy diaper trick, and therefore was not ready for napping quite yet. After changing his diaper and giving him a small milk refill, he was out in less than 5 minutes. Cute and SILLY boy! He did look pretty proud of himself when I walked in and he was sitting on the folded up floor of the pack and play!

Another fun day! We're capitalizing on the fact that the three of us are healthy! We went about 3 months where one of us was contagious with something. This morning we went to the mall...rode on the train, played in the kiddie area, rode the carousel, and played on the cars. Robert also excitedly splashed in the fountain wishing well pool.
























The sippy picture shouts, "Assume the position," and the four wheeling picture says, "Whose son am I?!" These little boys LOVE each other. They had a grand time. Max likes to give random hugs to Robert. Very sweet.

























We came back, had some lunch of cheese, turkey, oranges, and pineapples, and then down for naps around 1:30, though Robert is still chatting, now at two.

Today was a busy day. On our way home, we got gas from Costco and washed the car. Once home, the boys had a 2nd breakfast, and then we left for story time at the Bean Museum. Robert loved all the animals there. Afterwards we got ice cream at the Creamery. They REALLY have good ice cream.

After we got home, we had a snack: cheese and granola bar, and put the boys down, though Robert didn't fall asleep until around 2:00.

He's up now at 4:40.

We've now spent the last week and a half recovering from the Children's Museum...literally...it is a reservoir of germs. Max caught a nasty cold, and Robert had a cough. We've spent a lot of time indoors, unfortunately, but we've had some fun, too. We played balls in the racquetball court in our condo clubhouse. Robert accomplished some work, and his version of play, by vacuuming. The boys enjoyed some time at Grammy's, which distracted her from her work altogether too much! Robert sat like a BIG BOY in a chair to eat at Grammy's table. We also set up a little snack station with one of the many boxes they've used to meet whatever purpose is needed at the time. Their favorite activity this week was watching Papa doing some yard work, cutting down branches from the trees outside.

























Today, we played with musical instruments to music. Robert covered himself in yogurt, but at least one container made it into his mouth! For the first time in all too long, the weather cooperated for a bit and we made it outside to play for a while, and then to a playgroup, where Max and Robert entertained themselves at the drinking fountain. Robert's favorite new word is "teeter totter." We made sure to point out the different flagpoles we could see from the park. Max and Robert play so well together, now. They love to wrestle and tickle each other. Max offers toys to Robert, and Robert is willing to take turns. With all the activities, naptime came later today, with Robert going down at around 1:30. Still chatting now at two!

It's been too long since the last post! Here are some pictures from our adventures last week. We went to the Children's Museum, which Robert loved. He climbed up and down and all over in the kid's tree house, and couldn't get enough of the plastic food in the grocery store, especially the plastic fish! The boys are doing well at playing side by side, an impressive feat sitting squished in a laundry basket reading books!
























Today's been fairly laid back since Max has a cold and Robert's been coughing some
10:00 Music instruments
10:30 Nursery lesson: Jesus Created the World for Me
Songtime: My Heavenly Father Loves Me, I Will, Give Said the Little Stream, 1st-3rd Articles of Faith, Alligator song

11:30 Lunch: berry jam toast, bananas, and cheese
12:00 Reading time
12:30 Down for a nap, went to sleep around 1 or so, but was chatting happily until then.

2:45 Up from nap.
3:00 Preschool - how to take care of our bodies - eating, sleeping, playing, exercising.
3:30 Snack: broccoli and crackers
4:30 off to play outside

One photo is an "elmo" photo - Max has an elmo bucket he's eating treats from and Robert is playing with the Elmo camera. Funny!

Just an FYI, the photo of the two in the playpen was requested by BOTH boys :-) That's not my idea of "watching Robert" ;-)

9:00 Grocery shopping and back to the house
10:30 Nursery Lesson: Prophets
Songtime: Follow the Prophet, Search, Ponder, and Pray, Do as I'm Doing, Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes

Snack: cheese & Kix
11:00 Storytime - we read the Baby Happy, Baby Sad book and it was adorable because once I said "Baby happy" he'd get a big smile,and when I'd say, "Baby sad," he'd get a furrowed brow sad face.








11:30 Played with balls. The bin with balls also has paintbrushes in it. Robert was thrilled with these tiny "brooms"



12:00 Learning fire safety - read Fire engine book, talked about smoke detectors and fire extinguishers, and identified both. Discussed what to do in case of a fire (basics, basics, basics of course :-)

12:30 March, day, date, shape, letters. Naptime soon.

10:00 Musical instruments - played to 70s music. Robert loved dancing more than playing the instruments.

10:30 Reviewed March/Date/Day, Letter G, Trapezoid
11:00 Colored with purple crayons on purple paper

11:30 Lunch: cheese, corn, multigrain bar

12:00 It was an effort to get everyone ready and out the door today. Robert's working on undressing himself :-) These photos are from FOUR different occasions!













Outside - played at park.










12:30 Nursery Lesson: Jesus in Gethsemane
Songtime: I Will, Repentance, Help Me Dear Father, 1st, 2nd, 3rd Articles of Faith

Up at 3:30 Snack - yogurt

4:00 Playtime
4:30 Africa book and puppet show
Robert tumbled over today and said, "Up Daisy" Pretty fun!

Up at 2:45
Lunch: LASAGNA - I think it's Robert's new favorite. He asked "MO" lots. You know you're doing something right if an almost 18 month old will eat gluten free lasagna :-)

9:30 Puzzles
10:00 Played with balls & flashlights in the closet
10:30 Snack: cheese, pears, jello
11:00 Outside - park & sidewalk chalk
12:15 GRUMPY boys. Skipped nursery lesson & songtime this a.m. right to bed :-) for a nap about 12:30

9:30 2nd breakfast. Cheese and pears
10:00 Nursery Lesson: Baptism
Songtime: I Will, When I am Baptized, Do as I'm Doing, Hinges, 1st & 2nd Articles of Faith, We Are Different

10:45 Duplos
11:00 Played outside in the beautiful seemingly spring weather. We played at the park, with rocks, with sticks, and with dirt. We looked at trucks, at statues, and the temple. Robert particularly enjoyed affixing sticks into the holes of the street signs in our complex :-)

12:15 Lunch: Ham and peas
12:45 Down for a nap

3:00 Duplos - building towers, matching colors, and going over sounds the duplo animals make. Robert got cow, horse, and cat. Working on lamb.

3:30 Played with BIG blue yoga ball. They love that thing
4:00 Preschool

5:00 Leaving to meet Bryce

Rough wake up. Both boys slept less than an hour :-(

2:00 Quiet time: watched Sesame Street Favorite Songs
2:30 Late lunch: PB & J (have to go to the store, sorry!) and pineapple

We've missed Robert this last week. I was sick, Max was sick, and Robert, poor guy, had croup. Reunited this week, it is so fun to see how even a week makes a difference. Robert is pointing out everything with a word attached. Some favorites are: boonz (balloons), fapo (flagpole), boom (broom), a new one today gosh (garage), cup (snack cup), peesee (sippee), cat, oof (dog), don (down or done, which can also be relayed through his throwing food on the floor :-)), and see (that's an obvious one, but what he LOVES to see is inside the bread maker, so I scoop him up and drop his face right to the window so he can see the stirring). Robert is ADORABLE. He's grown up a month in a week. I love, love, love this little guy!

9:30 2nd breakfast cocoa crispies and cheese
10:00 Reading time, and Robert helped empty the dishwasher (in a good way :-) and helped put things away)

10:30 Play with BOONZ!
11:00 Outside at the park - Robert spotted a flagpole I'd never noticed!

11:45 Nursery lesson: Adam & Eve & Commandments.
Songtime: I Will, Keep the Commandments, Follow the Prophet, 1st & 2nd Articles of Faith, Search, Ponder, & Pray, I Love to See the Temple, and We Are Different

12:30 Snack and down for a nap

3:00 Up from nap - chatted for a while.
The boys played for a while, both in the pack and play by Max's request. Pretty impressive. No fights in those tight quarters, just play.

4:00 Preschool & Nursery Lesson - all together since nursery lesson/songtime was missed this morning.

Nursery lesson: Sacrament
Songtime: I Will, I'll Walk with You, Hello, Friend, Our Door Is Always Open, A Song Is a Wonderful Kind of Thing, Sing, Sing, Singing a Song is Fun to Do, If You're Happy

11:30 Played outside at the park
12:30 Lunch: potato and bean chowder
1:00 Down for a nap

9:30 2nd breakfast - sausage and cheese
10:00 Story time
10:30 Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes; Ring Around the Rosies; London Bridge
11:00 ABCs - In the ABC book, Robert knew and identified apple, cat, dog, fish

This last week was so fun, there was little time to post...
Highlights by pictures...

LOTS OF PLAY OUTSIDE


















FUN TIMES AT THE AQUARIUM

A sleepover! Baths first, then jammies...













Robert went down for the night around 8. He woke up at about midnight, crying pretty hard. I went in and held him for a little bit, and then put him back down. He cried a little longer, and then fell asleep until about 7:30

Breakfast: eggs, toast, and blueberries










On to the optometrist at Costco, where we had a special treat afterwards for how good both Robert and Max were through the appointment.










With shoes and jackets already on, we played outside for a while. Again, we had to see the balloons, too :-)
























At around 12:00 we came in and had lunch (tuna and peas). Nursery lesson: sharing. Songs: I will, Once I was a Snowman, Falling Down, Fun to Do, 1st & 2nd Articles of Faith. After our nursery lesson, Robert and Max were running around, and Robert somehow crashed into the hope chest, bearing the brunt just left of his left eye (whew, that was a close one). He cried pretty hard for about 20 seconds, tough, tough boy. I gave him some Tylenol, knowing it was going to hurt, as I saw it redden and puff out. He wasn't crying, but needing to be snuggled. We grabbed his blankies and read some books, and then he went down for his nap around 1:00...and now at 3:00, it sounds like he's stirring. Here's his war wound...I love how he's putting on a tough face in this picture, too. Robert really is the toughest kid I know.