I have chores already!

Braden is a little helper these days. He likes to put his toys away, and help with chores. He helped me put clothes in the dryer this weekend when I was doing laundry. Nevermind that they were the clothes I just took OUT of the dryer! He helps us keep doors closed - the dryer door, the refrigerator door, the dishwasher door, etc. He almost closed my whole arm in the refrigerator today!

The video below shows him helping me dust yesterday evening. I had to go find another duster because he was not going to let me have his! I think he did more dusting of the floor than anything, but he'll get it eventually. Oh - and there's a little glimpse of the temper tantrums I was talking about in the earlier blog.

Play, Eat, & Love Chloe

On Monday, Lily asked me to bring a swimsuit for Braden to use at daycare. Zack and I both thought she was crazy and the next morning when I gave her his suite, I warned her that she didn't know what she was getting herself into. When we picked up Braden Tuesday afternoon, Lily just looked at us a said: He's Crazy! Yep, the boy has no fear of water and she couldn't get him out of the pool! We did try to tell her...

Here is a pic of him getting ready to go to the pool at home...

I think we've entered another phase. It's the "scream at the top of my lungs until I get what I want" phase. I don't know why, but it sure seems like he is testing mom more than dad. And mom is the tougher parent to begin with. I don't know what he's thinking, nor do I know how to correct his behavior. The attachment phase passed pretty quickly, so hopefully this one will to.

Here are a few pictures from recent meals...it seems like I typically grab the camera when we're in the kitchen. I guess that's when it is handy.

Braden loves Chloe. He calls her "Sissy," and he has started trying to pick her up - of course, she doesn't like that very much. Sometimes he pats her a little too hard, but when we remind him to be gentle he pets instead. Here's a short video:

Sweet Boy

Braden wore this little outfit to church today, and I thought it was so sweet that I had to try and take a few pictures. It won't be long before he's too big to wear these sweet baby clothes.

I'm a fish

Braden loves to swim. I'm sure he and Zack will make good use of the pool all summer long!

He loves it when Zack throws him up in the air - float and all.

We have to teach the boy not to drink the water. He kept plunging head first into the pool. 

And we can't figure out how to teach him NOT to open his mouth when he goes under water. Hopefully he'll catch on before he drowns!

Red Cedar Playgroup

So I am obviously not very good at blogging...someone said you're supposed to do it more frequently. Oops...I'll try to do better. Here are some pictures of Braden from last month. He loves to golf and even holds the club correctly sometimes. We hosted playgroup at our house this month, so here are some pics of him playing with the neighborhood kids.