This is your last month of being two! We had a fun and busy month!
Auntie Catherine came to visit. We played at the water park and the pool. You came down with something, so we had to entertain ourselves at home on the beautiful summer days. What did you want to do? Make Christmas cookies! So, we did.
You have been helping out with the gardening--you helped to pick peas, steak the tomatoes, pick some carrots, and pick lots and lots of lettuce and herbs. You have quite the green thumb.
One Saturday morning, you and Daddy went to Lowes to build a monster truck. They have a great program there called Build 'n' Grow--they gave you an apron and some work goggles and everything is free. It's a fun time for you and Daddy to share.
You are becoming more independent and not afraid to tell everyone what you want and don't want. You are adamant that you are not going to wear sunblock--but you end up with it on anyway. When asked if you want to go somewhere fun you say no that you want to stay here. I usually wrestle you into the car/stroller and we go anyway and you always always ALWAYS have fun once we get there, but man, are you stubborn!! ;)
You went camping with Daddy in the backyard in a tent from Nana and Poppa. We made s'mores, played the guitar and sang camp songs, read books together and sat out under the stars. It was a hot, humid night and the tent was not very air conditioned. ;) There were also people setting off fireworks every few minutes that you could see out of the vent in the roof of the tent, so it was too exciting to sleep. You and Daddy lasted outside until 10:30 pm when you came in and got tucked into your nice cozy bed in your air conditioned house. Daddy had to have a shower since he had sweat so much. Mommy found the whole experience very funny--and fun! Did we ever have fun!!
You are progressing in your abilities to draw and write. Your latest thing is to draw happy faces and write your name. Well done, buddy!
For Canada Day, we went to the zoo with Noelle, Ryan and Gavin Ehler. We saw animals like the lions (who were "fighting"), penguins (with whom you wanted to jump in the water), and cheetahs (who were just lying there--they weren't as fast as they said they were). We stayed longer than the Ehlers and played at the waterpark at the zoo-- you ran around happily jumping into the water without a care in the world.
We celebrated the 4th of July and Mommy woke you up to watch the fireworks. You loved the colours and the sparkles. It was a special treat that we both enjoyed.
We made a giant 'city' with your train tracks in the piano room. We incorporated Jude's airport, the racetrack, the farms, the police and fire station, the road mat with the ice cream parlour and even a construction zone with all of the construction vehicles. Your imagination runs wild while you play--your favourite thing is to crash the cars and get the police officer to come help and the tow truck will take the cars to the garage for the mechanics to fix.
We had a grand trip to Ottawa on a plane--you and Jude both did wonderfully. Mommy took you home on her own and she was very impressed with how well you did on the plane. You pulled your rolly suitcase through the airport the whole way except for the part from the plane to customs when we landed in ottawa at 10 o'clock at night--you were just too tired. You were proud to have your own suitcase to take care of.
You, Jude, Daddy and Grandma went to the Museum of Nature to see the dinosaurs. You all had a good time. We also had Jude's christening. You were happy to run and play before and after the ceremony. A church must look pretty inviting to an almost 3 year old--big aisles to run up and down and pew benches to hide under and crawl over.
Sometimes I look at you--your chubby hands, your round little tummy and I'm reminded of how you are still kind of a baby, but other times you seem so much older. You don't seem *almost* 3 years old and you do seem *almost* 3 years old (or older!) all at once. The first year of your life was such a blur--you weren't a very good sleeper, so Mommy and Daddy naturally weren't able to sleep much either. I try to tell you stories of when you were younger and sometimes my mind is blank! Thank goodness I documented your life in photos (and on this blog) so I can look back and tell you the stories that my tired little mind has forgotten.
You make us laugh all of the time. When we were in the kitchen, you were sitting on the wood floor in one of your naked moments and you tooted. It created a loud squeak which made you laugh. You jumped up and noticed a speck of dirt on the floor where you were sitting and picked it up and said, "Look, it's my toot!"
Happy 35-monthiversary, Liam!
We love you.
Love,
Mommy, Daddy and Baby Jude
