Time to swim!

Last weekend we went to a fun pool party - and I got to hang out with my buddy Isaac!

Daddy and Nick - just hanging out

Catie was so nice to take me swimming!

Fun times with the noodles!

Brennan had such a great time at the pool party that we signed him up for swim lessons starting in August (which we had planned to do anyway!) - we really think it is important for him to get comfortable in the water and excited about pools so someday he can be a little fish and really swim! We may also be starting soccer for 2 year olds this fall - Brennan already loves to kick his soccer ball around the back yard!

I'm a big brother!

Meet my new sister, Campbell! She is wonderful and I am the best big brother. I love to say, "hi baby" over and over and give her lots and lots of kisses and hugs. My favorite time of the day is when I get to hold her. It is so special!

poor little guy

We were all set - got the baby pool filled up and it was warming in the sun Saturday morning, B-man was getting his swim suit on and lots of sun block when I noticed..... he was BURNING up! And crying over nothing. 101 fever. NOOOOOO!!!!!!

Needless to say, no swimming for us. He had no appetite either. Instead we napped and watched Noggin. Just want to say, THANKS ISAAC!!!!!! (JK Amanda!!!!!). Fever gone by Sunday AM, but B was lethargic. He slept tons on Sunday - so much that I had a hard time getting him to bed last night (we started around 8pm and it was after 10 before he was actually asleep!!!! Slightly frustrated mommy who was so thankful to daddy for stepping in and taking over!).

So much for doing whatever PJ wanted on Father's Day. Though we complied with his one request - that we ask him to do nothing! Easy enough (though one time I asked him to bring me my keys!). We planned to go to dinner, but opted out and instead got Five Guys Burgers take out last night. Yum Yum. Mommy had cravings for a greasy burger and fries!

B is lucky to have the BESTEST DAD in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD! A dad who would do anything for him and is so involved that mommy is thankful too. What would we do without him? Be more stressed out, that's for sure. We are so thankful that he helps 50/50 with everything in day to day life, especially with another one coming any day now! Lucky little B!

Naked bootie

I need to post a pic, but Saturday during nap time, B totally took off his diaper and stuffed it between the bed and the wall! Then slept for a good two hours without wetting the bed - nice. I laughed when I went to get him up and saw him in a t-shirt and nothing else - such a cute little naked bootie. I ran to get the camera - will post that precious shot soon.

So B is really in to the potty lately. So I am taking advantage of it. Saturday he announced POOPY to me, so I said, do you have to go poopy? And he said yes - so I sat him on the potty. Needless to say he did not go until the diaper was back on him but it got me thinking - we need a potty! So Sunday I bought the kind that sits on the regular toilet (we have such a small house I don't need another item taking up room - plus my bff suggested that over the kind you have to clean out for a variety of reasons, all of which I agree with). So B sat on the potty yesterday and peed in it! I couldn't believe it - so exciting! He was so excited too. While I am not quite sure we are ready for "potty training" - I am going to pursue this and encourage this new fascination. We are too close to little sister arriving to really push this for now, but we'll see!

Also got B a little gift for when I am in the hospital with new baby sister. He is getting a new pull suitcase filled with a potty book, a new truck, and these great bristle blocks that I used to have as a child - LOVE THEM! He is going to be SOOOO excited! I am soooo excited!

Beach and Speech

Brennan just enjoyed a very much deserved beach vacation with the McCool clan - Kiawah Island 2009!

Running in the water - fun times!

Mommy and B enjoying the sunrise - mommy is having her baby very soon - about 1 month to go!

Brennan chasing Baz and Quinn in one of the warm sandbars that the high tide leftover every day - so fun!

in his new helmet - taking a ride with daddy. You can never be too safe!

Digging with daddy in the sand - this sandbox is much better than the one we have at home!

Is it time to get our own big wheels? It appears so!

Sand exploration - feels good!

Water time fun!

B loved the warm water the high tide left!

Spaghetti night! We did this last year too, but no pic to compare - darn.

Click here to see pics from last year's Kiawah trip!

And my sister in law also posted some vacation pics on her blog! Her little man Cooper is just precious. He and Brennan are just 1 year apart, so it was like looking in history to last year!


Switching gears here......

This morning we had B evaluated for speech by a Speech Pathologist and Occupational Therapist. Going in to the evaluation, I was feeling like he would not qualify. Yesterday I wrote down all of his words and came up with over 50 - that is quite the improvement over the past 2 months when he didn't even have 10! And I also started reading a book called, the Late Talker, which I returned - Brennan was above and beyond all of the marks. You know how mother's instinct really can tell the truth? Anyway, we had him evaluated anyway - they want us to work on a few things and gave us some tips such as:

• Have him choose between name - meaning, when I ask him if he wants something say, "Does Mommy want a cookie or does Brennan want a cookie" and encourage him to say "Brennan Cookie" instead of just Yes or Cookie.
• Continue to prompt for 2 words (they would like him to increase his 2-3 word phrases in the next 2 months - totally doable!)
• Encourage him to identify himself as Brennan and Me - so sing a little song like, "I see Brennan, I see Brennan, Me Me Me, Me Me Me" (think "Are you Sleeping")
• Leave words out of songs/books - such as Brown Bear Brown _____, what do you see
• Encourage him to take back bites and alternate sides - so having him take a bite on the left and right - helps with tongue development
• Use a vibrating toothbrush to stimulate his gums and encourage him to use his tongue in a side to side motion rather than just thrusting forward
• Encourage him to lick his lips (amazing how something like that affects speech!)

So I think we are in a good place. They encouraged me to call back at 23 1/2 months if he does not increase his 2-3 word phrases - something about how the rules change at 24 months for various things. Will do!

A G Man

So as you will read on my other blog - we made the move from disposables to G-Diapers this weekend - and were successful! Here are some pics of our little g baby. more of mom's thoughts/comments on her other site.

a g bum

I love naked/diaper dance party after bath time!

and here is a pic of me and paw paw from his last visit!

lil b-man with paw paw and gaga

Happy Mother's Day as well to all the mothers out there! We had a great morning - went to breakfast at mom's favorite joint - cafe patachou - then went to the park - and now I am napping and she is getting things done around the house (and blogging obviously!).

Words

So Brennan has quite a few new words since I last posted words, but our dr is going to refer him to First Steps and possibly get him started in Speech Therapy. I am feeling a little emotional about it, but i know it is a good thing.

Some of B's new words that I can think of off the top of my head:
Mommy - yes, yes yes - he is finally calling me Mommy (though sometimes likes to call me Daddy!)
Airplane (sounds like abpl or something strange)
Car
Ball
Shoe
Poopy (and how cute is this - so yesterday he was accidentally given an ice cream cone at day care, which is really not that big of a deal except for the gas and belly ache is gives Mr. B - but anyway, in the middle of the night his belly was hurting and he crawled up next to me in bed and exclaimed, "poopy". I just wanted to laugh, but felt bad for him!)

No two word sentences yet. Dr thinks that it doesn't hurt to start speech, even though he understands a lot and each week has more and more words.........

Recommended a book to me called, The Late Talker. Put it on reserve at the library.