Fred-ism's and an Update!

Obviously, I don't do well with keeping this blog updated.

Quite honestly, I stink at updating any of my blogs. Facebook has become my resource.

But, I am working to get better!

So, with that in mind... here's what our gorgous 22 month old son has been up to and saying...

Fred-isms:

• No!
• No Mama No!
• NOOOO!!!!
• MINE!!!
• We go now, Momma! NOW!
• Want wo!
• Wok! (walk)
• Owwwww-side (when we wants to go out and play)
• Waa Up (Want up!) - Usually said when he wants to see what I'm working on in our kitchen.
• Waa Down (Want Down!)
• MINE!! (Wait... did I already say that one? Well, it's heard more often than anything else!)
• Mik (Milk)
• Jooos (Juice or Water - really... we cut his juice with water, so it doesn't matter!)
• Tank Ewww (Thank you)
• Ess Ewww (Bless you)
• Eckome (Welcome)
• Peas (Please)
• Wassat (Whats that?)
• NighNigh (night night)
• Nap
• No Nap
• Nack (snack)
• Cheese
• Tinky (yep... stinky... otherwise known as... "I have a present in my pants!")

Fred started gymnastics this month at our city rec center, and has a blast. It's really more organized chaos, but his teacher is amazing with the patience of Job! I'm told that it's normal for him to run around like a mad man, and that he'll get used to things. We'll see. He is great though at walking like a bear, jumping off of steps, walking on a balance beam (with me holding his hands), at playing with the ropes, and jumping on a trampoline (it's one of those little trampolines).

Fred is VERY into cars at the moment. We have them strewn all over the house. He loves bicycles, tricycles, and scooters and has been seen trying to "borrow" them from other kids at the park and as we pass their houses when we take walks. I've learned that if I put him down for his nap with a car, he won't sleep a wink. He'll stay there talking and playing with his car for his entire nap time.  He also likes watching airplanes and trains. The lights on police cars, ambulances and fire trucks make his day. It's great (for him) that we live across the street from the fire station!

He's also into puzzles and continues to enjoy interactive books. He surprises me each day with how great he is with his puzzles! He recognizes matching colors and shapes; usually putting the right puzzle piece into the slot at the first try. He also very much enjoys his lego's. We recently moved into the Duplo lego stage (one step smaller). Steve and Fred have a good time building towers.

With the Texas summer heat finally cooling off, we've been trying to spend a few hours outside each day. Fred loves playing at the park, taking walks, and playing with balls of all kinds. He tries to throw them forwards, but they end up going behind him. A former co-worker gave us a set of small soccer goals, and Fred's been learning to get the ball into the goal. Currently, he thinks the goals are more of a fashion accessory than a sporting net. CUTE!

When we go on our walks, I try to mentally check out of what I have going on, and focus on seeing the world as Fred is. Everything is interesting to him, including gum stuck to the road, ant hills (which are VERY dangerous in Texas), frogs, ducks, turtles, ants, dragonflies, dogs, cats, and any other creature we come across. He LOVES to lay and roll around in the grass!

Fred's current favorite foods are hot dogs (don't try and cut it up for him - he'll get quite angry with you!), macaroni and cheese, steak, chicken tenders, roasted broccoli or cauliflower (really! I was surprised too!), apples, scrambled eggs, pork chops, blueberries (his favorite!!), bananas, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, carrot sticks, quesadillas and yogurt. He, most times, has quite the exploring palate!

If I'm ever in a pinch and need him to entertain himself, popcorn is ALWAYS a sure fire bet. He'll sit and eat almost a full bag if I'd let him.

Music remains an important part of our days. Fred will dance his little heart out if I have the right music on (my music, but not Steve's. :)  )  He knows most of the alphabet song and we hear him singing the phrase "Now I know my ABC's" off and on. He's great at songs with actions attached, and I have a lot of fun singing them with him. He LOVES "The Wheels on the Bus" song, especially when it comes to the babies on the buss and their waa, waa, waaa's!

When he's being fussy, or ornery (Hmm I wonder who he got that trait from?), when we're out and about, if I sing one of our silly songs to him, he'll sing with me. I find it quite endearing and love it. Of course, people look at me like I'm strange, but I'm used to it and don't care. Besides, it's not like I'm singing loud enough for the whole store to hear me.  

I try to have some kind of art time with Fred at least once, preferably twice a week. Look for a video (hopefully) later this week with our Thanksigiving craft! He loves coloring with his crayons!

In other news, Steve and I are keeping busy! Fred fills my days, and keeping him on a schedule has made a huge difference in our house! I look forward (as I'm sure ALL mothers do) to nap time at noon, and bed time at 7:30pm. I don't so much look forward to the morning wake-ups as they range from 6am on forward. But, I do look forward to opening Fred's bedroom door and hearing his happy "Hi Momma!" each morning as I go in to get him.

Steve and I both have new phones which allows us to post photos from our phones directly onto Flickr and our video's to our "family" station on YouTube.com. Be sure to check out the updates at http://www.youtube.com/AlesFamily and see what Fred has us up to now!