On Your Phone

In December, any spare moment I can find, I turn on Christmas music. Most of the time I use Pandora on our laptop and hook it up through the TV so it can be nice and loud. But this means an interruption to Brock's cartoons and sometimes he doesn't feel like listening at full blast. When that is the case, I usually offer to listen to Pandora on my phone so he can do his own thing in peace. We've starting having this back-and-forth conversation several times a day.  Me: "Ooooh, let's listen to Christmas music!"    Brock: "On your phone". 

Nativity Set

Sometimes it's hard to tell whether he's saying "Nativity Set" or "TV Set", but I know what he means. He's getting better and better at telling the story. This video was taken after we had already done it a few times so he was starting to run around a little, but you get the idea.

Goopy Goo

This was about a month ago at a festival with some fun kids' stuff. This was oooey gooey gloppy stuff that the kids could put their hands in. Fun!

Ta Dah!

He loves playing with Daddy's books. He doesn't so much love cleaning up after he takes them all off the bookshelf, but he does it when we ask him :) Even does it with a smile :)

Glo-ri-a

Oh my heart. I love it when he sings and plays guitar :)

Zebra Hat

This little number made it's debut last winter and it's still going strong. I am so glad my little boy is totally into wearing a zebra on his head. Cutest thing I've ever seen.

Tower of Babel

Some moments are just so funny. Oh, I love my son :)

Drum Set Bliss

Here is one of the perks of having a grandpa that runs sound and a mom that sings with the band...access to the drum set. It's a special treat every Sunday :)

Hump Day

Okay, you know that Geico commercial with the camel? It's a particular favorite of ours. If you haven't seen it, it would be worth taking a look so you can fully appreciate this next video.

Lavender's Blue

Brock shows lots of interest in all things musical. He's really into trumpets and drums, keyboards, recorders, and xylophones. He found a song in one of his musical books the other day that he played over and over. Then he got out his xylophone and started playing along with it!

Decorating the Tree

It was so fun decorating the tree this year. Brock really gets what is going on, and he's such a good helper. Building memories...

Hugging a Snowman

At this time of year, Walmart has lots of plush Santas and Snowmen throughout the store. They are the perfect height for Brock to give them great big hugs. Our shopping trips have been taking quite a bit longer of late :)

My Little Tree Hugger

Here he is helping me take out the recycling. Such a big boy! And doing his part to help the environment :) Makes me proud.

Good News of Great Joy

We have been telling Brock the Christmas story every day this month with our nativity set. We did the same thing last year and he loves it so much. It was time for him to have his own. It is so fun to watch him play. He is definitely learning the story :)

Taking the Car for a Walk

Sometimes you just have to get out and push it for yourself...

Playing Piano

He's definitely a music lover. He has lots of fun with whatever instrument he can get his hands on, and one of his new favorites is the piano at Grams' house. My favorite thing is when he makes up songs as he plays.

Brock and Bray

Here's Brock with one of his baby cousins. We had a yummy lunch at an Asian restaurant and Brock had his first sushi :)

Motorcycle Rider

This is the best part of getting the oil changed in our car...getting to play with the toys at the auto parts store :)

First Starbucks Hot Chocolate

Here he is drinking his first Starbucks drink...hot chocolate :)

Brock the Tool Man

I loved watching him figure out how to solve this problem...

The Broken One

Here we are taking our weekly visit to the fish tanks at Walmart. There was a sick fishy today...poor thing.

Balloon Painting

Thankful that Brock has fun places to go and so many people who love and take care of him. He has a great art teacher that always has new projects for him to do. Don't you love the smock?

Duck Goes Potty

Here he is reading a very timely and important piece of literature...

Basketball Hoop

He's starting to play basketball!

Touchdown

He's learning to cheer like a real football fan. I think all the yelling and screaming used to freak him out a little but I think he's learned there's no stopping it in our family, so he might as well join in. He's a good little Noles fan.

Waking in High Cotton

This was one of his favorite parts of the fair.It was a huge sandbox type thing full of fresh picked cotton for the kids to play in. We went back a few times before the night was over!

Deep Fried Cookie Dough

Oh, Fair Food. An American tradition. We all indulged a little!

First Pony Ride

I wish the camera was closer so you could see the sheer joy on his face. He absolutely loved this. It's so fun to watch him experience new things!

Feeding the Goats

So much to do at the fair. Daddy helped him feed the goats :)

First Face Painting

Hooray for the fair! Here he is getting his face painted for the first time. I asked for something simple because I wasn't sure if he would sit still. The sweet old lady said they had a heart. I asked if they had anything more boy-ish, and we settled on a puppy print. He did great :)

Playing Catch

This is a glove and ball that his Pa gave him in the hospital when he was born. I didn't get a great shot of him catching the ball, but it's fun that he's starting to play with this special toy :)

Shaking the Rugs Out

Ooops, there goes my rug. He likes to shake 'em out!

Lime Juice

"It's good to me"...that's what he said at least...crazy kid :)

Cowboy Costume

I know this is posting late, but I'm catching up on my blog. Here he is in a special cowboy costume that was mine and then was passed down to all my cousins. They sent it back to Brock when he was born. I put him in a a few times when he was super little, but it actually fit this year. So cute!

Pedicure

I was treating myself to a little foot soaking the other day, and Brock decided he didn't want to miss out. Can't say I blame him :)

Happy Veteran's Day

Thank you to all the men and women who have served our country in the Armed Forces. We love and appreciate you!

Pumpkin Patch

His favorite part of the pumpkin patch was a tent with nothing in it that he and a bunch of other little kids kept running in and out of...he called it a cave. But the pumpkins were great, too. This was a fun family afternoon :)

Baby Calvin

Some of our very best friends had their first baby!!!! Congrats Josh and Krystle! Can't wait to meet Baby Calvin!

Making Calzones

I checked out a kids' cookbook at the library the other day and it actually had some great recipes in it! We made pepperoni pineapple calzones, and they were fabulous. Brock had lots of fun rolling out the dough. He really knows how to wield a rolling pin!

Reading to Daddy

Daddy was doing story time with Brock the other day, and Brock "read" him one of our favorite books. Jason said he read a lot more than what is on the video (of course!) but this is a pretty good sample :)

Carving Our Pumpkin

The funniest thing about this was that my little boy, who has no problem sloshing around in mud, picking up bugs, and catching frogs, did NOT want to put his hands inside a pumpkin. Instead, he removed one seed at a time with a big kitchen spoon. Ha!

Giving my Pirate a Bath

His new favorite spot is standing on a chair at the kitchen counter. He loves to wash dishes (or toys), push buttons on the microwave, eat bites of whatever I'm cooking...it's an all-around good time. Here he is giving his pirates a bath and giving the counter tops a little scrubbing :)

Tiropita

This is hands down my favorite Greek food...yummy feta cheese wrapped in flaky, buttery filo dough. It was so fun to watch him enjoy his first taste of it. One was definitely not enough. We got a second one and shared, although once I handed it to him, it was a little tough to get another bite :) 

Opa!!

Here we are at the Greek Food Festival. Good times!!

Cross Eyed

Oh boy...how did he figure out how to do this already? 

Squirt Bottle

Keeping himself entertained during another hair cut :)

Calling Granny on the Telephone

Here was a visit to Grams' office. He decided he needed to talk to Granny, too :)

Flying High

He had so much fun in the pool with Daddy!!! I don't know if you can hear it on the video, but Brock just kept saying, "Do it again!!!!" after every toss :)

Aloha

Here's our little cutie enjoying a luau at our friend's pool last weekend. So fun!

Head-Butt

When Daddy gets home, we have been having family wrestling time :) Brock started head butting his Daddy's tummy the other day and he got the biggest kick out of our laughing at him. Love to see him happy :)

Hammer Time

Here's a little more fun working on the car. I was really impressed with my little man's muscles. This was a legitimate hammer. Really heavy for a two-year-old :) Strong boy!

Fixing Uncle Mikey's Car

Here's my little auto mechanic! Thanks, Uncle Mikey!

Double Threat

Look out, folks. He can play AND sing :)

Say "Pick-Up Truck"

I'm not sure if this video captures how funny this is to me. He knows  a million types of trucks...construction trucks, emergency trucks, big rigs...but the way he says "pick-up truck" cracks me up. It usually sounds something like "Kippa Cuck". Here is my attempt to capture it on video :)

Taking Billy Bob for a Walk

Brock loves dogs. My Mimi and Pop-Pop's dog Billy Bob is a champ. She is so patient with our boy, even when all he wants to do is take her for endless walks (i.e. make her run a hundred laps up and down the hallway on her leash).

Genesis 1:1

I have made up so many kids' songs in the last two years. My favorite thing to do is set Bible verses to music so Brocky can hide God's Word in his little two-year-old heart. Love.

What Does a Rabbit Say?

Happy Birthday to my sweet sweet Lulu :) We miss you so much....

Look at your great great grandson's cute little scrunchy nose :)  

Miss Rosa Show

I don't know who was more excited, Brock or me and my other mom friends. Miss Rosa is a TV personality on our PBS station and she does great little segments for the kids. She visited the studio last weekend and did a great live show for the kids. Brock even got her autograph and a picture with her afterwards. Fun!

Meeting Curious George

The next few posts are from a kids event at our PBS station. Notice the cute "Man in the Yellow Hat" hat Brock is sporting for the occasion.  This was his first introduction to a "celebrity"!

Climbing up the Spider Web

Staring to climb up the giant spider web at the playground. Just adventurous enough for Mommy :) Love watching him try new things.

Laying Down in the Water

Experiencing a new sensation...fun to watch. 

Stick Horse

This has been in the lost and found at church for a few months. He had fun riding it all around the lobby. At some point there was a cowboy hat involved. So cute...I could eat him up.

Mom's Makeup

You know the feeling you get when your toddler is too quiet and you know they must be getting into something they shouldn't?

M and M's

Here he is helping Dad make some dessert...but really just eating M and M's :) Yum.

Hop Off Pop

Lately we've been doing story time on our bed, which commences with a fun game of jumping on and off of Daddy :)

Lost my Shoe in a Tunnel Slide

Just a little fun at the playground!

Peanut Butter and Jelly

He's learning how to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches..or at least how to eat peanut butter and jelly out of the jar.

Shopping Cart Fun

He's getting too active to really enjoy just riding in the shopping cart nowadays. Grocery shopping has turned into a fun adventure!

Hide 'N Seek with Granny

Learning a classic childhood game and getting really good at hiding in the couch. I love this one!

Sliding Practice

Dad says this was good practice for sliding into home...

Chocolate Face Boy

Our Mimi sure knows how to put together a delicious afternoon snack, huh Brock? Fun to watch him indulge :)

Salt Water Cowboy

Here's Brock swimming at Matanzas Inlet with Granny. We saw dolphins on this day not too far from where we were. So fun!

Paddle Boarding

Two for one today :) Here's our little sit-down paddle boarder :)

Stampede

This was a favorite game of Brock and Sarah's when Sarah was with us this summer. Just found this and I don't think I have posted it yet. These kids played some variation of Lion King EVERY day...

Chick-fil-A Ice Cream Cone

This was a fun afternoon. It's great watching your 2 year old enjoying one of life's simple pleasures :)

You're the Best

I love this game :)

Where Granny Go?

Spraying Coke Bottles

A little fun with cousin Eleni...

Hot Sauce

My oh my. I walked around the corner out of our bedroom and the smell of vinegar assaulted me. I knew he must have gotten into something, but I had no idea what I was about to find. He was having fun "cooking" with all my pots and pans...and our entire bottle of hot sauce.

Driving Daddy's Big Truck

A boy's dream come true!!

Jack in the Box Hamper

Here's Brock playing with his big cousins Zoe and Eleni. 

Choo Choo Train Table

I love Craig's List!! This was such a fun present from Granny and we got such a good deal on it. Now we have the perfect place to play with all our trains that we inherited from our big cousin Matthew. LOVE!!!

Giant Slide

Not sure who was having more fun here, mom or big boy Brock :)

Riding a Tonka Truck

Bouncy Castle

Hide 'N Seek

His new favorite game :)

Getting High

He climbed up the slide and discovered the whole new world of tunnels and pods at Chick-fil-A's play land. This was an exciting day!

Clap My Crazies Out

We love singing time at the library! He's come a long way from the days when it was all I could do to keep him from crawling up on stage and running back and forth like a crazy child :)

Teaching Granny to Chop

And the student becomes the teacher....

More Mac N Cheese

Four helpings for dinner....

Drumming on Stage

This is just one of the many perks you get when your Pa is the sound man :) One of the best parts of Sunday mornings!

Daddy's Puppy Sniffing my Arm

Drumming Again

Lots of drumming is happening of late...

Parle Vous Frances

Pardon my French...really, I don't know how to spell it and I didn't take the time to look it up. Cute moment with Granny.

First Water Slide

Oh this was such a fun day. Amazing pool and first time on a water slide!! 

Library Play Room

Fun watching him play. Getting ready for story time at the library.

Book Drop

Here's a normal part of our week. Love the library :)

Legit Haircut

Thanks, Aunt Christy, for an awesome real-live hair cut!

How you doin', Butterfly?

This was so super cute. Oh man.

Alligator in the Springs

Fun times playing with Granny on a hot summer day!

Recorder

Daddy is super excited about this new toy, I'm sure :)

Go Home Doggy

Our neighbor's dog wanted to join in our pool fun...

Licensed to Drive

He's out for his first solo drive. And he does NOT want to be pushed anymore. Any attempt to help is met with a resounding "No, feet!!" 

Pirate Ship Pool

He has re-purposed his pirate ship water table into a swimming pool. Fun!

Playing at the Lake

Perfect way to cool off on  summer day :) He got in an inner tube and floated around in his cute little life jacket, and he let me pull him around on his back and tummy and kicked, kicked, kicked. Swimming lessons next summer :)