He found the plug!

The other day it was nice enough outside to teach Matt about the blue side of his new table. He discovered the water table and had a blast! Tonight, he knocked on the back door and kept saying, "OUTSIDE, OUTSIDE" to me when we were done with dinner. So, I got the camera and we went out to play! He just loves this table!

He has a couple of boats in the water side and is learning how to use the current (although I think he's holding that piece in his left hand in this pic).

Here, Matt discovers what happens when you pull the plug out of the water table! OOOH, puddles!!!

He was so proud of himself, he kept pulling and pushing the plug to let water out. Notice the puddle growing in size.

2 gallons of water, now on our patio instead of in the table!

Now, Matt had a puddle to stomp through. All is not lost on the waterless water table! I guess it was worth it for him!

Trip to Dallas with Mommy

Matt & I took off for Dallas to visit with family and friends over the weekend. Nick has been in Canada, working an extended time this trip, so Matt and I took the opportunity to take a road trip. First we headed to my best friend Lisa's house to visit with her and Todd, and their 6 1/2 month old baby, Joshua. He's such a cutie! Unfortunately with the rain and not so wise packing, my camera was in the car! Lisa tried to take a few photos, but we didn't get any of the boys together.

Here Matt is hiding from the camera. I know what you're saying, "he's a ham, why is he hiding?" Well, turns out he wasn't feeling well the whole trip and had fleeting moments of no runny nose and all smiles.

Matt decided to explore all of Joshua's toys while Joshua took a nap in his room.

Then, we headed to my dad's house to stay the weekend. Matt had an emotional weekend. He's been sick this past week and is on antibiotics right now. It was a roller coaster weekend for sure. He was a trooper once again and a wonderful companion in the car, especially from Lisa's to my dad's. He blew me kisses in the rear view mirror all the way there.

Here Matt is with his Granny, getting to know one of their cats.

Now the cat is spying on Matt while he plays.

My brother's birthday is today, so last night his family came over and Matt got to play with his cousins. Here he is watching Grace, while Ethan and Chase play in the background.

While the boys played (Blake, Ethan and Chase), Gracie was helping Matt play all evening. She even helped out with bathtime and storytime. I think she enjoyed playing with him. I know he enjoyed his time with her.

Here we are posing for the camera (me, Matt, & Gracie)!

Matt started to play with the boys later. Here he is watching Chase and Blake play with his toys.

Matt was making us laugh everytime Chase built him something to look at, he chuckled with a little, "ha, ha, ha!" It sounded like a pity laugh a few times, but we were all amused. It made Matt laugh more.

Here's Matt's Uncle Steve and his birthday cake Aunt Kim made for the evening. Granny and Grandpa made a wonderful dinner and we capped off the evening with cake! Ethan makes faces while we sing Happy Birthday and the bunny ears were supplied by his brother Blake.

Matt & I stayed with Granny & Grandpa again last night and headed off to see long time family friends, Pat & Bill this morning. Once again my camera was in the car, but Bill took some pictures, so I'll post them when I get them from him. Matt was entertained by their two dogs, and loved all of the attention. He also got a taste of playing the piano. He sat on Bill's lap and played for a while with him. It was no Mozart, but he smiled the entire time! Pics to come!

Sand Table!

Matt got a BIG surprise the other day in the mail. He got a sand and water table from his Grandpa Marcus and Grandma Karen. Nick and I put it together for him the other day.

Matt has been staring out the door for 2 days wondering why we keep telling him the brightly colored table with an umbrella is his, but we haven't played with it yet. Well, it's been a bit cold and rainy, so we have admired it from afar, until today!

He figured out that it is a lot of fun to pour the sand onto the patio instead of keeping it in the crab.

His daddy shows him how to use the sifter AND keep it in the crab.

Matt had lots of fun out there today! Can't wait until it warms up and we can show him what the other side of the table is for!

Help around the house

Video of Matt sweeping up!

Matt is beginning to imitate all kinds of things that we do and say. It's starting to worry both of us! But, one really helpful thing Matt has picked up is sweeping. I shortened the broom handle so it's not such a cumbersome tool for him, and he went to town this morning! Actually, right now, he may be better at mopping, but he's getting the hang of it!

Hiding out

Playing in Mommy & Daddy's Room

Matt often plays in our room with one of us whether we need to get ready to go somewhere or just need to fold some laundry. He loves the armoire and has lots of toys inside to keep him busy.


Recently, he discovered he could climb inside it! He frequently asks me to shut the doors and then pushes one open dramatically and sits inside laughing and smiling at me!

Easter Egg Hunt!

Matt's first egg hunt!

Our neighborhood Mom's Club had an Easter Egg Hunt on Friday for all the neighborhood children . We ran to Target to find a basket for him Friday morning, since we didn't have the forethought to get one beforehand. We found his little monkey basket and whisked him away to the egg hunt in the park.

Matt's first encounter with the eggs was prior to the hunt beginning. He wasn't exactly stealing anyone's eggs though. He grabbed these two pink eggs and threw them as far as he could, at the same time!
Then, a Coast Guard helicopter was searching for about 15 minutes right around the water near the park. Matt was really scared at first and wanted one of us to hold him when it flew by. Gradually, he became fascinated by it rather than scared. It took a lot to get him back to searching for eggs.

A bit of a frightened look as the helicopter comes back by.

Matt decided to get back in the game after taking a break in the grass! Oh, an egg, right in front of him!

Matt shared his eggs with me, telling me all about them. He got two rather small eggs as a donation from a little girl who had already met her quota and figured Matt was in need with his 4 eggs in his basket. Each child was allowed 12.

There was Hubba Bubba in one of the little eggs. He tells his daddy all about it!

Matt is amazed not only that the eggs open, but that there is stuff inside!

He dumped his whole basket out in front of him to check out his loot! Can't wait to see what he does at Halloween!

One of the mom's was nice enough to take a family picture for us.

Water play!

Matt has so much fun in the bathtub. He is learning the concept of blowing bubbles in the water, but at this point has more fun watching and laughing at me doing it than trying himself.

Matt had bath time with his daddy one night, and the next night with me he was driving around his speedboat in the bath with sound effects and everything!

Our little ham, again! He just makes the cheesiest grins for the camera these days!

Matt's old standby is an Oscar the Grouch toy I have had for years from work. He comes with water sensitive spots on him in the shape of garbage (like banana peels and spots of dirt). They wash off with exposure to the water. Matt doesn't try to bathe him yet, but he sure loves to put him in and pull him out of the container and play with the "trash can" as well.

Where's Oscar?

I bet he's inside!

There he is!

Oscar and Matt get all lathered up!

One of Matt's favorite parts of his day is story time in the rocking chair! When Nick's at home, I sit and watch them read their story together. Only these days, Matt is requesting more than one reading, or more than one book. This is one of my favorite parts of the day too!

Picasso in the making

Matt plays with markers at daycare, so we figured we'd try a bit of artistry with markers at home. Good thing we used washable markers! He had lots of fun decorating himself. Surprisingly, he got lots on the paper too!

Playing outside!

Tonight may have signaled the end of outside evening playtime for now because of the beginning of mosquito season! We have had a blast outside with Matt so far this season and can't wait until it's time to swim our afternoons away out back. Here are some pics and videos from the last few days.

Matt goes to get the big bin of bubbles I keep for such occasions. But the bubbles were no match for his mommy's straw cup. He had a little fun feeding himself applesauce before we came outside. We tried on a new hairdo as well! He was plenty wet and sticky by bathtime!

Matt loves to play in the puddles and boy does our yard have some spots where he can play! He stomps through the water, listening to the splashing sounds he can make. He just loves it.

Matt and his daddy walk through the yard, examining the grass along the way!

Matt runs by the camera for a quick photo!

He's on to bigger and better things!

Beans, beans, they're good for your heart!

Matt really loves beans, especially black beans. I ran a few errands after work yesterday and he was a bit late eating dinner. He was cranky and a little upset with me until I put the beans on his tray. Needless to say, I think he cheered up!

Here he is "saying" cheese! It's really just a cheesy grin in response to the camera being in his face AGAIN. He's such a good participant in our Mommy & Matt photo sessions.

Reaching out for the camera while covered in beans of any kind is not cool! The photo session was over at this point. I stripped him down and started the bath right away!

Playing a little b-ball!

Target got us a few times this shopping trip. Although this was really bought for Daddy, Matt and I figured out a place where Matt could practice some basketball at his own level.

The problem with that was, Matt got a bit confused on which ball he was supposed to use for his new basketball game!

Matt claps and cheers for himself when he stuffs his football into the hoop! Is that 2 points?

After that basket, he had a bit of attitude about the whole game, and wouldn't get the basketball no matter how much I asked! What a rascal!