I can get Maggie outside (if the back door is unlocked), wait for her to potty, and then get her back in the house... all by myself.  I am pretty proud when I do little tasks all by myself.
I helped water our herb garden.
I enjoyed the day with Barbara, but I asked to go see PaPa at the lake many times.  I like doing the things he does, like fishing, boating, and working outside.  I think he likes having me around also.

 It seems that every day with Barbara we go through a routine of activities.  we start by playing outside, then head upstairs with a snack and sippie cup.  We read, play with blocks, Play Dough, play in my kitchen, and with my trucks.  And we read some more.  We watch a couple of television shows.  My favorites are Caillou, Yo Gabba Gabba, Bubble Gubbies, and Clifford the Big Red Dog.  Oh, and I like Fireman Sam at Mimz home.  We can't get it at Mommy's home.  We don't understand why.  Daddy tried and he can't get it for us either.

Today we built a fire station for all some of my emergency vehicles.  After lunch we start over doing the same activities, until I take a nap... if I take a nap.  And we draw and play chase and throw balls, and play with some big letters and lots of other little things.  We get on the web cam with Grandma and with GGM Avis and GGF John.  We look out the windows often to see what is happening on our street.  If I did not get a bath the night before, I take a bath.  And I help cook and do laundry.  And I am working on potty training.   That is what we do at Mommy's house when Barbara is babysitting me. 
Time-outs happen once, maybe twice a day, but most of the time I am reasonable and quit unruly behavior with one warning of "time-out" if I do something again.
More and more I get to help in the kitchen.  If I wake up early, I get to sit on the kitchen cabinet while our breakfasts and lunches are made.  I want to help with every step and if it does not involve a knife or the stove, most of the time I get my hands in the mix.  Mommy and Barbara are glad I like to "cook."
I say "My fine." when I want to do something by myself.
I put my new pajamas and new socks in the washing machine and dryer and put them in my dresser drawers. 
I used a couple baby wipes to wash my truck.
I successfully used the potty two times today.
I am 31 months old and am 37 1/2 inches long.
Barbara fixed a white fish for our dinner using the method Pops liked with onion, lemon, olive oil and garlic salt.  I ate almost half of a fish fillet. 

This past weekend, I stepped on my favorite blue pickup truck and caused this injury on my foot.  It looks worse that it was.  It did not bleed, just came close.

By 8am I was ready to go on a boat ride...

...with Mommy, Grandma, and Papa. 

I got to steer the entire trip.

My life jacket was the perfect size.
Mommy fixed some Blueberry Morning and eggs and toast for our breakfast.
All four of us went back to Kole's and then to Academy.  We bought me a t-ball stand, bat, and foam balls, and plastic bases. 
A funny thing:  Academy had hundreds of helmets all neatly arranged... except for one that was turned the wrong way.  I noticed that error and I went over and fixed it.
PaPa said that during the five weeks that he was at work in Nigeria, my language had really improved.
 Mommy and I took a two hour nap.  Then we headed back home to Barbara.  She said she sure has missed hearing my sweet little voice.  But I think she enjoyed the peace and quiet also.
We showed Barbara my new pajamas, sandals, and socks.
Before bedtime we started watching the first DVD movie I have ever watched at Mommy's home: Benji.  I was tired of it before it was over.  I wanted us to switch to Caillou, so of course we did.
The last thing I did before going to bed was use my potty...successfully.

First thing I did this morning was run to the bathroom, where I successfully used the potty... all by myself.  I seem to be more successful if I go by myself.  I think Barbara and Mommy are maybe right outside the bathroom door so they can keep an eye on what I am doing.  They did remove the toilet paper because I like to play with it.
I again had a piece of raisin bread right out of the freezer and some grits and a part of a banana out on the patio.  We had to dry off my swing so I could use it.  PaPa said I might be needing a bigger swing, since I am getting bigger every day.
Barbara has been trying to teach me to say, "My turn" instead of "Me turn."  I am willing to try to say almost any word. 
At HEB I rode in one of their new smaller car shopping carts.  I sampled several pieces of strong smelling cheese.  I liked it.  Mommy likes cheese but she didn't care for that particular one.
As soon as we got home from the grocery store, we packed up some toys and other little boy necessities and headed to the lake so PaPa and I could play together.
PaPa had just finished washing his truck when we arrived, so he was ready for me to help him wash Mommy's car.

 I practiced fishing in PaPa's swimming pool.

 I played with my tractor in the flowerbeds.

 I retrieved my big rubber duckie from the swimming pool.

 I spent a long time removing debris from the pool with a net on a long pole. I helped empty the filter buckets. 

 I was closely watched.  PaPa, Grandma, and Mommy are all very good swimmers.

 PaPa and I played in and cleaned up the boat.

Bye, Mommy.  We will be back soon.  (Really we didn't go anywhere.  A boat ride is planned for in the morning.)
Mommy and Grandma went shopping and bought me some 3T pajama's, sandals, and socks.
PaPa fixed us some grilled pork chops for dinner.  Both of my grandparents and I walked to the marina to check on PaPa's fishing boat and trailer. 
I stepped on one of my trucks and have a long red mark on the bottom of my foot.  It did not bleed.
No nap again today.  At 8:30 I watched Caillou and I was asleep before 9pm.

At 6:30 I was the first person awake this morning, which means both Mommy and Barbara were awaken around that same time.  I helped fix Mommy's lunch and snacks and watched her drive off to work. 
Barbara and I played outside for a couple of hours because the sky was overcast and the temperature was just right, not too hot, not too cold.  We played chase and I drove my truck on the sidewalk.

 I dug in the flowerbed dirt....

 ... and moved the dirt around.

This picture shows that my face is a little less swollen that it had been.

I enjoyed watching workman trim trees that were too close to the power lines and then throw the branches into a loud chipper.  After it got started I moved back to the patio to still see but be away from the noise.

 We also filled the waterfall with fresh water.

We had already cleaned the waterfall because we knew PaPa would be home and he would have to do it if we did not get it done first.
Grandma picked PaPa up from the airport.  He will be home for a month and as usual he got right to his list of chores. 

The first thing was to remove the debris in the backyard from the three pine trees that had been cut down because they had died after being infested with pine tree beetles (or some name like that).

We filled two pickup truck beds and a trailer.

 Barbara and I tried to help, but mostly we stayed out of the way.

Job well done by all of us.

In this picture I am standing on one of the three tree stumps.  See all the rings?  I wonder if this tree is as old as the number of rings on the stump.
After PaPa and Grandma left to go empty PaPa's truck Barbara and I went inside and played Hide and Seek.  Barbara hides Monk Monk or some object or sometimes I do the hiding and she is the hunter.
I did not use the potty today.  Just too much activity around for us to even think about potty training. 
No nap again today.  Mommy and I were playing in my toy room and we fell asleep around 8:30 and we slept there all night.

I sat on the kitchen counter and helped Mommy and Barbara fix out breakfasts and lunches. I was waving celery like I was leading a big band.  If you look closely you can see that my forehead and bridge of my nose are swollen.  We can not decide if it was from my fall in the park or if it is an insect bite.  I waved to the big kid school bus.  I went to school happily.
A couple of firsts:
At Wal-Mart with Grandma and Barbara I fastened the grocery cart seat belt all by myself.  I said, "No, No.  I can do it."  Then I proceeded to show that I could.  Maybe Mimz had already taught me how to do that.
Also... Barbara always, always, always held my hand when I would go down the staircase at home.  Well, today I keep insisting that I was "fine" and I proceeded to come down the stairs with no assistance.  I have done it many times before for Mommy, but this was a first for Barbara.  She is a scared-y cat.
I love to use Barbara's phone and also her computer, even though she generally discourages me from bothering either of them.  I know how to find music on her computer and how to turn the speaker volume up and down.  I like us to dance to country music.
I used the potty two times today 100 percent by myself.  I got upset when Barbara or Mommy tried to come with me.  I raised the lid, put my seat in place, put my step in place, took off my diaper, got on the seat, did my thing, flushed, and ran to tell everyone of my success. There was evidence that I really did go.  I would be led back to the bathroom to wash my hands.  And boy do I love that, because I play in the water for several minutes and often get upset when I am made to quit wasting water.
I fell asleep in the car for ten minutes and woke up when we got home.  I did not take a nap and boy was Barbara tired.  She missed her afternoon nap.  I only had a couple episodes of being cranky even though I did not go to sleep until 9pm.

I was surprised when school was over and Mimz and Barbara both were there to pick me up.

They decided it would be fun to take me to the park.  When we were leaving the parking lot they asked me which way to turn to go to the park.  I told them to turn right, which was the correct answer.

At the park I enjoyed running ahead of Mimz and Barbara.  When I would get close to the edge of a pond, Mimz would move up close to me.

I had fun climbing some stairs.

 Climbing up.....

 on top of monkey bars.....

climbing down, all by myself.

We crossed bridges, walked on paths, said "Hi" to people passing by. 

Mimz and me on a bridge.

Mimz brought me snacks and drinks.

 Look at me!

Of course, Mimz was close by and she helped me down.   I chased some ducks and saw two turtles.
.  I tripped over Mimz foot, only cried a few seconds, and only had a little scrape on one knee.  An hour later my forehead had a little red area, then it started to swell.  (Pictures of that on the blog in a day or two.)

(Add picture of Barbara and Mason)
 The last thing we did was swing.  I really did not want to leave but it was time for us to go home. 

We went to Mimz home for a few minutes.  Barbara got to read my book Bravest of All about an old fireman and his old fire truck.
It is a thirty minute drive home and I talked the entire time about fire trucks.  We pass two fire stations on the trip and we always look to see the fire engines.  I did not fall asleep until we were almost home.
Barbara carried me to the sofa and I slept until Mommy got home from work. My forehead had a small red area on it and before long it had started to swell a bit from the fall I took in the park.
We played outside for a short time, then we played in my big toy room until I was ready for bed.

Barbara enjoyed her short visit with GGM Avis and GGF John, but she was glad to drive back today so she could be one of my babysitters. 
I enjoyed my week with Daddy and Mimz.  I tried Mimz patience a few times, but all in all I was GREAT to have around.  Right, Mimz?

Marisa Sotelo is a college student majoring in Photography.  She is the daughter of one of Mommy's co-workers.  She took these pictures of me at Wimbledon Falls Park, the park near my home. There are more pictures but these are the only ones we have seen so far.

I was reluctant to have my picture taken at first, but I warmed up to the picture taking....

Mimz came to pick me up around noon and I spent the rest of the day with her and Daddy.

I heard this motorcycle outside Mimz' home.  It stopped at a neighbor's home, so Mimz and I went over to get a closer look.  I was too shy to get on it until Mimz went to get Monk Monk.  Then I was willing to sit on it so Mimz could take my picture.  Oh, seventh heaven!  I want one!

Daddy is teaching me to make the Hook'em Horns sign.Mimz was busy getting ready for her dinner club so Daddy and I came over to Mommy's house to play.  We played outside and in my toy room.  Mommy and Grandma needed to go shopping so Daddy and I went our own way and came back later in the day.

Ready for bed, watching Caillou, drinking from my sippie cup, and rubbing Monk Monk's hair, which I find very soothing before I go to sleep.
Daddy left me with Mommy for the night so I would be here for our early morning session with a photographer.

This was a rainy day with lots of thunder and lightening so Mimz and I had to play inside. 
A couple of times I was a little pill and had to sit in timeout.  My biggest problem is throwing things.  Sometimes I just can't help myself.  Mimz sets her timer for two minutes (since I am two years old) and I have to stay put for those two minutes.  If I fail to stay put, the time starts all over again.  I really am pretty good about staying there, for Mimz, Daddy, Mommy, and Barbara. 
My sea creature is fully grown, so we took it out of the water and it will shrink back to its small size.  They we can do the experiment all over again.
Mimz fixed us some cornbread and soup.  I found I like cornbread crumbled into my soup.
We played with Play Dough.  I took a two hour nap. 
Almost every day this week I called Barbara to tell her what Mimz and I had been doing.  Barbara told me three of her cousins from Oklahoma drove over to visit GGM Avis and GGF John.  They had a nice lunch and nice visit remembering some old times.

Mimz' friends Vrigil and Janet from St. Louis, sent her some flowers thanking her for her hospitality.  They sent purple flowers since they knew purple is my favorite color.

Video of me mowing Mimz' yard.

I liked having Daddy take me to school this morning.  At school we went for a long walk with all of us children in a big wagon.  We all had on seatbelts.
Normally after school Mimz takes me to the park, but we ran some errands today instead.  We will probably go to the park tomorrow.
Mimz said I a perfect boy for her today.  She noticed that I am talking in longer sentences.
I understand concepts like  "over the bus, below the bus, behind, in front, in and out of the bus."  Pretty good for a 2 1/2 year old.

 My little sea creature takes three days to grow to full size.  This picture shows day one.

 This was day 2.....

 and this picture shows him on day 3.

I watched him grow every day.
GGM Lil fell and Mimz wanted to go be with her, so as as soon as Daddy got off work she left and I spent the evening with Daddy.  We watched some motorcycle races.  Hope GGM LIl feels better soon.
I have been running with my dad after work and I run a very good distance for my age.