Calling Mama & Pop-pop

Miles has gotten very into the phone lately. Sometimes he plays shy at the end, but he has been known to insist on calling Dado, Beebles & Bynnie (the dog) or Mama and Pop-pop. Last weekend, he picked up his toy phone and was determined to call his grand parents. We're so lucky to have all of the grandparents in our children's lives - and that they know how loved they are by the preceding generations.

Fifi

There is a new little girl at Mama Sue's who is in love with Miles. Apparently she won't do anything without him. The other day, he was sitting down to eat and she made a huge fuss about sitting next to him. He didn't realize what she wanted, and thought she wanted to sit where he was sitting, so graciously, he got up to move and switched his seat.... at which point she followed him and continued her fuss until the adults moved who was sitting next to Miles so she could sit there.

Just this morning on drop off, she was playing in the playroom waiting for Miles to come and eat. As soon as we arrived, she ran to the kitchen to eat her breakfast. Apparently she just can't bare to eat without him.

However, Miles doesn't much like her back - I am sure it is the first of many unrequited crushes. :(

I have never heard him say anything bad about anyone, but the other day he announced that "Miles no like Fifi". I haven't quite figured out the full story (apart from her obvious clinginess) but apparently, she also pronounces his name wrong and calls him something closer to Milo instead of Miles. As soon as she says his name, all the little kids who can speak say "No! MIYOS!". While none of them can really pronounce his name, they are all fiercely defending him.

Tiguh Tumin'!

A while ago, Miles invented a tiger that follows us home from Mamma Sues. About 1/2 way home, he'll announce that the tiger is coming and that we need to go faster - super fast in fact. We then get to an intersection where he decides which way the tiger is going to go and which way we will go home. We then make the turn, say goodbye to the tiger and go along on our merry way.

I love that his little imagination has just exploded. You can see it in his playing at home, or with things like the tiger. He also has a game where he turns one of us into a tiger - who then has to chase him. As soon as you get too close, he turns you into a giraffe. No idea - but great fun for all!

Boing!

It seems like the bouncy chair has been the only milestone Amelia hasn't hit earlier than Miles, but she finally has it. She loves being upright, in the center of everything, and bouncing away. As often as Miles amuses her, she amuses herself with this - and certainly entertains the whole family with it, too!

Party Tricks

Last weekend, we went to Half Moon Bay to celebrate Natalie's 3rd birthday. Natalie was a little girl at Miles' daycare who just graduated. He always had a thing for her even though she was the one who bit him. Miles had a blast on the ponies and went nuts in the bouncy house. More interestingly, however, was all the little girls who went nuts on him in the bouncy house - they were literally tackling our little Bubs who mostly took it in stride.

As we left, each of the kids were given a party bag. We didn't do much with the party bags until this past weekend when Miles figured out the little horn blowy thing... much to Amelia's amusement.

Some vids from Soda Springs

I was just clearing out the video camera and uncovered these. For whatever reason, closing weekend was a super magical time, and I still feel that when looking at these videos. I just love how much my kids love one another and how much they love Soda Springs. (Ok, Amelia may not know that she loves Soda Springs yet, but she'll figure it out soon enough!)

2 1/2 years!!!

I can't believe it, but Miles is 2 and a 1/2 years old. Sometimes I look at him, and he is still my little baby, but mostly I see a little boy. His language is exploding and we now talk all the time - real conversations. I am totally surprised by his little memory, and he is picking up concepts really quickly. Some snippets:

• "Look Miles, a school." "Yeah, people going Kindergarten there." "Yeah, kindergarten." "But Mamma and Pop-pop are too big for Kindergarten." "yes, that's true, Mamma and Pop-pop already went to kindergarten. Where are mamma and Pop-pop now?" "On a boat!" (Cruising in Alaska.)
• "Miles, are you done with your blueberries?" (he, looks) "No, just have a little bit left".

He is amazing with his little sister and is constantly jumping out of bed to say goodnight or good morning to her. He is a wonderfully polite little boy and says please, thank you and your welcome all the time. He has even started to say "bless you" when someone sneezes, including himself.

When I count my blessings, I count Miles twice.

Miles wearing his hair like Amelia

And one more guitar one because they ROCK