Is there an echo in here?

I never realized how many silly things I say until my toddler started saying them back to me. Phrases like, "Hi, guys!" and "That's silly" and "Holy cow"(or "Ho-wee tow" in toddlerese) roll off Bennett's tongue with such embarrassing familiarity. Luckily it's a lot more comical coming out of two year-old's mouth. Even all of the annoying mothering phrases sound hilarious when Benito says them. Some of our favorites: "Time out," (his cars get a lot of those) "Stop that, pweeease," "Just a few more minutes," "I'm so proud of you," "No talk grumpy" and adding, "Okay?" (or "Otay" as our little Buckwheat says) to the end of every request.

And while these funny phrases are pretty entertaining albeit sad reminders of how we talk to (and how much we discipline) our toddler, the baby talk he mimics takes it up to a whole new level. IS THAT REALLY WHAT I SOUND LIKE? runs through my head every time he does it. "Hi, buddy!" "Good morning, happy boy!" "Hello, sweet pea" "Good job, big boy!" "What's the matter, Mr. Fussy?" "Eeeeli, just a minute." And do I really get right up in Eli's face with that same goofy grin? Our little monkey boys' mimicry reminds me that he's always watching and always listening!

Date Night Plus One

Friday night? Check. Babysitter? Check. Reservations at favorite restaurant? Check. We had everything ready for last night's date, the first one in quite some time, when the smallest person in the house decided to make the biggest fuss. Apparently Eli wanted to join us. Arrivederci to fine Italian cuisine in the hip part of town. We needed someplace noisy, someplace that wouldn't mind a four month-old, teething baby. So after driving around for 40 minutes of our precious Bennett's-with-a-sitter time, we landed at the location of our very first date, good ole Mexico Lindo (hole-in-the-wall w/ great food). The ceiling fans hypnotized Eli while Stephen and I ate and remembered all the goofy things we said to each other four years ago. The best part of the night, however, was when the mariachi band started up and Eli's eyes almost popped right out of his head--it was like having dinner and two shows.

Daddy's Little Weed

For those of you who know Stephen, you know he has a green thumb. He keeps all the plants in our "yard" thriving, but I'm starting to wonder if his love of gardening and watching things grow hasn't spilled over into his parenting. After Eli's 4 month appointment, Stephen was proud of his son's 96th percentile height (already outgrown his infant carseat...) but disappointed by his 75th percentile weight. Every day since then, in fact, Stephen has told me to "fatten him up" or "work on chunking up the Chunk." So even though you've already sprouted 27 and 1/2 inches tall, Baby Eli, apparently you need more water and sunshine to get you above 15 lbs 13 oz. and up to Daddy's standards.

The Rolling Coach

Bennett has decided that Eli's new skill of rolling over is pretty cool, so cool in fact that he's taken matters into his own hands. If Bennett's in the mood to see his little brother roll over, he doesn't bother waiting for Eli to do it himself anymore. I've caught him several times this week pushing Eli from his back to his tummy or vice versa, and every time I've scolded, "No rolling Eli over! Let him do it himself." So now, as soon as he sees me coming in the room, he lets go of the baby, throws his hands in the air, claps and says,"He did it! Ee-why rolled over himsewf" as poor Eli falls to the floor with a conk.

Easter at "Anpa's House"

Stephen and I hid eggs in the backyard before his parents came home from church. We figured we'd let them be kids this year. I was impressed at their egg-hunting skills-- much more honed than Bennett's (at least there were no toy cars and trucks to distract the 2 yr old this time), although we did hide most of the eggs at eye level, in their fruit trees, so that none would be lost. **Did you ever see the Gilmore Girls where Kirk hides 100 eggs without a map, and the town square smells like rotten eggs for days? That's always my biggest fear now when hiding eggs, that I'll forget where I hid them! Kymber and Eli made a good showing, too. Then Bennett found his "special Easter basket" with some Caillou books, Toot and Puddle pigs, play dishes, and other goodies.

So much for hunting and gathering

A friend hosted a little Easter egg hunt in her backyard, and I was just sure that Bennett was old enough this year to understand the whole "hunting" concept. I thought he remembered from last year, and we'd been hyping up this egg hunt with his friends for days. He even helped me fill the plastic eggs with crackers, chocolates and jelly beans; every time he wanted to eat one, I'd tell him, "Not until the egg hunt tomorrow." So when the big moment arrived for him to gather away, I knew he'd pull through and "bring home the chocolate" so to speak. No such luck. He found one or two eggs in the grass and then noticed some toy cars and trucks in the bark. "Mommy, wook, a tractor!" So while the other kids' baskets spilled over with eggs, Bennett squatted in the bark and played with the backyard toys. Cars over chocolate? He really is a boy.