Too Cute Not to Write Down

Since this blog has become my place to document all of Holden's milestones and cuteness, I have to write about two totally adorable things he said yesterday.

I had just unloaded groceries and they were on our dining room table. Holden climbed up on a chair to look, and he found the Otter Pop type popsicles that were in their liquid form in the tubes. He looked at me and said, "We have to cold 'em up, Mom!"

Rocking Holden before bed is my favorite time of the day because he always says something that makes me smile. Last night, he was rubbing his cheeks and saying, "I have smoothie." I couldn't figure out what he was talking about, I thought maybe he was remembering a time when he had yogurt on his face. Then he touched and rubbed my cheek, he said, "You have a smoothie, Mom?"

I said, "No, I don't have a smoothie."

Rubbing his cheek and then mine, "You have a smoothie? I have a smoothie.........Daddy has a rough!"

A shot of Holden's smoothie!

Swim Lesson - Tuesday, May 20th

We look forward to swim lessons every Tuesday! Holden's swim partner, Emily, was not there so Holden got a private lesson from Miss Sarah. He had tons of fun like usual. He tried to direct the lesson - "I want to do (rings, kicks, go get fish)" - but Miss Sarah kept him in line. Although he's done it with us at our pool, he jumped off the side for the first time in swim class. Way to go Holden!

Swimming to Miss Sarah

Swimming under to get rings

Kicking Practice

Jumping in

A Day at the Pool

Last weekend (Saturday, 5/17) during out heatwave, Holden and I were at our community pool by 10:00. He played in the water park area, swam in the little pool (1 foot deep), then we swam in the big pool together. He had snacks and we did it all over again. We were home by noon for lunch and a nap. He slept for 4 hours. It was a perfect little excursion. I can tell this is going to be a great summer!

Long Overdue Updates

Everyday is a new adventure with Holden. He's the same ol' Holden in many respects - high energy, funny, and always testing the limits. But he's growing up. He comes up with the cutest two year old stuff to say. Like this morning after Trey put him in bed with me, he said, "I'm all done." I asked with what. "You're all done, Mommy." With what? "With Night-Night." Then it turned into, "Get up, Mommy. Get up!", until I pulled myself out of bed. Then tonight at dinner, he asked, "You all done pizza, Mommy." When I said yes, I was finished, he replied, "Go play then! Go play, Mommy." He's so cute.

Holden's also got quite an active imagination. For months, I think since around December, he's talked about being "scared the horsey." It would usually happen when he would be on the stairs by himself. He would look up at one of our high windows and say, "Scared the horsey!", and run back to wherever I was. Then it started happening when he was in any room by himself with windows - the bathroom, his bedroom, etc. Finally, about a month ago, I started asking him questions about the horsey. I figured he must have had a bad dream about a horse or something (still not sure). I've since learned that the horse comes in through the window and he's scared of it. I used to try to tell him that there was no horsey in the house. Horses live outside. Then I decided to go the other direction. I said, "Hey invite the horsey in. Let's have a party with the horsey. The horsey's nice!" So in the last month, we've had the horsey over for dinner, placemat and all. He had peas. Holden could not for the life of him figure out why the peas weren't disappearing from his placemat. He still gets scared of the horsey sometimes, but now he'll say, "Scared the hors- (then he'll remember how nice he is) want fruit snacks, Horsey?"

He still loves riding his bike and scooter, and playing outside; but his newest interest is swimming. He has taken to swimming like a little fish. He loves going to the bottom to get rings, and jumping off the side of the pool. He's started a new session of swim classes where he gets in with one other child and the teacher. Trey and I no longer have to get in with him. We also try to take him at least once or twice a week to our community pool.

In the last month, when I've gotten his sheet that tells about his day from school, there have been a few times where it will say "Potty" instead of telling about his diaper. I guess he's started asking to use the potty. He asks at home occasionally too. So far it's been easy. He doesn't really like the small potty chair I got him. He would rather stand, and use the real deal. Flushing is his favorite part. I'm not in a big rush to potty train - it's kind of nice having him lead the way. I don't know if it will soon become more difficult but I'm happy with where we are in the potty department.

He likes to put on his shoes all by himself. He calls them his "Croc shoes". "I put on my Croc shoes all by self!" he'll say. The funny thing is they often end up on the wrong foot. I'll tell him to switch feet and he'll say, "Oh OK!" with such enthusiasm that it melts my heart every time. He's so eager to learn. Other times I'll let him walk around with his shoes on the wrong foot. Doesn't seem to make a bit of difference to him.

Mothering a toddler is not an easy thing, but it's one of the most rewarding. I love watching Holden's personality develop more everyday. He's a happy little soul to be around.