Riding the Alligator

Landis had a check up yesterday, and when we got to the doctor's office, he recognized the building. He got really excited, and told me, "Monni, alligator is here. We can ride alligator!"

I had no idea what he meant - there are no alligators at the doctor's office. We walked into the door and he ran up to the elevator and pushed the button to go up to the office on the 2nd floor. We got in and he said, "We are riding alligator!"

George Washington

Meet Landis' comfort object, George Washington. This Fievel (from An American Tail) stuffed animal was mine when I was a child, and recently Landis has taken to carrying him wherever he goes. Because he has a long tail, Landis decided that he is a monkey. Thus, Fievel became (Curious) George.

Landis has been learning to differentiate between pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters, and I've been teaching him about the presidents whose faces appear on our coins. After we learned about the quarter, George gained a last name.

George Washington is nearly as tall as Landis, but that doesn't stop Landis from dragging him to and fro by his tail wherever he goes. George sleeps next to Landis at night, and has a prominent role in Landis' play during the day.

I didn't think Landis would ever pick a comfort object - for the first 2 years of his life, he didn't latch on to any of his toys or blankets. Apparently he was waiting for a little monkey/mouse named after our first president.

My boy is so strange.

Landis just found one of my hairs on the floor. He brought it over and told me, "Some people have hair. Monni has hair. This hair is for you. It goes on yours head." He then proceeded to try to stick it back on.

Landis is playing some strange game that involves him pretending to splash water on his face. I asked him what he was doing, and he responded, "I need to put more water in mine eyeball."

OK, baby boy, whatever you say!

Landis is beginning to realize that Monni and Daddy have names other than Monni and Daddy. He is totally fascinated and trying to figure it all out. A conversation these days goes something like this: "Banana, please, Monni. Thank you, Erin Joy. This is good banana, Erin-Joy-Monni."

I'm sure he'll sort it out eventually. It's funny and cute, but also a reminder that my sweet little baby boy is growing up.

Sleeping Baby

Type-Woke Walking Update

Here is a video of Landis enjoying his new balance beam. :)

Future Engineer?

Landis' new favorite question is "How it works?"

Fortunately for me, there's one simple answer to that question - "Go ask your Daddy!"

We let the engineers and future engineers sort these sort of questions out amongst themselves.

Snuggle Love

Adorable Landis quote of the day ahead. As context, I tend to call Landis my however-he-is-acting love. E.g. my trouble love, goofy love, playful love, etc.

"I want to be Monni's snuggle love. You want to be Monni."

How could I ever hope to resist snuggling my sweet little snuggle love?

Landis is feeling sick. He's managed to come down with a cough, runny nose, pink eye, ear infection, etc, etc all at once. We are heading to the doctor's office tomorrow morning.

This afternoon, he seemed to be doing a little bit better. I asked him how he was feeling. He shrugged and said, "Not feeling very well."

Poor little guy - but great job on the adverb/adjective distinction!

Nick-uh-rawg-uh-cuh

My brother Paul is headed to Nicaragua (I've tried to replicate Landis' pronunciation above) for a mission trip with Love, Light and Melody. Please keep him in your prayers over the next week. :) We are looking forward to meeting him for lunch Sunday when he returns and hearing all about his amazing adventures!

Elbow Clock

Landis is fascinated by his Daddy's wristwatch. Yesterday, he found a roll of tape and slipped it onto his arm. It was too loose around his wrist, so he moved it further up his arm and ran to tell us, "Monni, Daddy, this my elbow clock!"

Landis was really excited about taking a trip to his Grandma and Papa's house with his Daddy one evening this week. That afternoon, excited and grinning, he told me all about his plans for the trip.

"Landi goes to Grandma and Papa's house. Play with toys. Play with Grandma. Play with Papa. Look at Papa's boat. Eat a cookie." Then his face fell, and he told me about the end of the trip in his saddest voice. "Have to say goodbye to Grandma and Papa. Give Grandma a kiss. Give Papa a kiss. Get in car, buckle seat. Go bye bye."

Don't be too sad, Landis. We will go to see your Grandma and Papa again soon.

Spring is Coming!

My lime tree has little buds! They smell so good. I wonder if we will get some limes this year? I wasn't expecting the tree to produce for another year or two, but it would be a very welcome surprise! The lemon tree, on the other hand, is not doing well. I think the week of cold weather we had may have done it in.

Pictures to follow once I locate the camera...