The Zoo

This weekend we took Brock to the zoo. I thought he would like to see real elephants. We took his wagon and he had a great time riding around the zoo and seeing all of the animals. He really didn't pay much attention to any of them except the elephants and the leopards.



Later that day Brock stayed with a babysitter while Jared and I went to his office event at the ice skating rink. This was the first time the babysitter did not come to our house. I was worried Brock might be scared when we left him in a strange place but he didn't cry at all or miss us.

Since We've Been Home

Brock has been doing a lot of fun things since we've been home from Christmas vacation. He has started to want to ride his rocking horse and he thinks it's hilarious when we say "yee-haw".

He's obsessed with the salt and pepper shakers on his table. When he moves them it says, "Achoo, excuse me!" and then Jared and I will repeat it. We do this over and over and over again, multiple times a day.

He also discovered a new door to open and close - the dryer. This is great for me too. I can get at least 15 minutes to clean up or make a phone call or anything else that is hard to do when he is awake. He also likes to help me load and unload the dryer.

Brock's been helping me put away my Christmas socks for a long time. He just can't seem to get them folded exactly how he wants them so he keeps on trying.

I bought him some crayons so he and Jared could do some coloring together.

A few days ago we walked to the park to swing and afterward walked in the neighborhood next to ours. We stayed out way past nap time and Brock fell asleep in his wagon. I was sure he would wake up once we got home but he continued sleeping in his wagon in the living room for another 30 minutes.

Other interesting news....Brock was in his first car accident last Friday. The air conditioner repair man rear-ended the plumber who then ran into me. Since the plumber and I were stopped at the light and the other guy was slowing down we weren't hit hard and I didn't have any damage to my car. Unfortunately the only place to pull over was the discount liquor store that also has a "lounge" attached to it. I was so irritated and we had to wait over an hour for the highway patrol to show up. While we waited we got to see all the local WT bums ride their bicycles to the liquor store and pick up their booze. If you are picturing skinny, ungroomed men in gross khaki coats who looked like they haven't bathed in months and could be pushing shopping carts in downtown, then you've got the right idea. Brock was so good the entire time and only fussed towards the very end because he was late for supper.

He took a record 12 steps by himself yesterday. He is getting better at walking every day but still wants to hold my hand. We walk all over the house and it's lots of fun.

Crying at nap and bedtime has almost stopped completely. I always hug and kiss him once I've put him in the bed because he usually has hurt feelings and then when we leave the room he will stop crying. Last week, though, he didn't cry and when I tried to hug him he pushed me away and looked at me like, "Fine, leave me in here. See if I care!" He does this almost every time now, and then gives us a stare down until we leave the room.

And finally, here is a cute video I made of Brock playing with a Christmas toy.

Sign Update

Brock has been signing elephant a lot the last couple of days. He will do the sign if he sees a picture of an elephant or if we say the word. He also did the sign several times at dinner last night for no reason, but after he made the sign we said the word and he gave us a big smile.

We think he might be making the flower sign too. He's been making a face lately like he is sniffing but we just thought he was making weird faces and sounds. However, yesterday I showed him the flower pictures on my 2009 calendar and he kept making the face. I'm still not sure if he's making the sign because at other times he won't do it.

It's a Sign!

Brock is 14th months old today and I believe he has finally done a baby sign. The last couple of days I noticed him raising one arm up in the air. It was really weird but sometimes he does weird things for no reason so I didn't pay much attention to it except to tell Jared that Brock had a new activity. Today we went shopping and while we were waiting in line I showed Brock the pictures in a Dr. Suess book. I showed him a picture of an elephant and told him it was an elephant and he immediately raised up his arm. (That is the elephant sign). I then said, "Yes, elephant!", and he gave me a huge smile. I wasn't quite convinced that he was doing the sign so when we got home I got out another book with an elephant picture and showed it to him and asked him what it was. At first he just stared at it but a few moments later he raised up his arm. Needless to say, we are very excited.

New Year's (or Second Christmas)

We traveled to Mimi and Boompa's to celebrate the New Year, aka Second Christmas. Mimi was ready with all of the Little People Christmas toys set out for Brock to play with. However, Brock had something else he wanted to do. New doors!!!

Brock and Mimi read "The Night Before Christmas".

Brock discovered this musical snow globe and had fun playing it over and over again.

More presents!

The weather was great so we spent a lot of time outside. We went to the park several times, played in the back yard, and went on wagon rides around the neighborhood.

Brock and Caleb love to ride in the wagon.

The most exciting news is that Brock walked by himself! He took a couple of steps to Mimi and then we got him to do it a few more times. One time he took six steps to Daddy. He also got one more tooth on the top.

Christmas

We had a very exciting Christmas. We traveled to Grammy and Papa's house and stayed for almost a week. There were lots of new and fun things to do and some interesting people to play with. Brock had a great time opening new doors and drawers and playing with his cousins.

"I wonder what's in here....."

Grammy helps Brock look in a high-up cabinet.

"Wow, a laptop!"

Brock had lots of fun playing with Megan and Bethany. Unfortunately, I was not able to get any pictures where everyone is looking at the camera, so here is a great picture of the girls and Brock's head.

Brock met Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. He stopped by Grammy's house to see if the kids had any last requests before he delivered presents. Brock went right up to him and sat in his lap. He wasn't scared at all.

Brock loves his cousin, Hannah.

Brock's favorite Christmas present is his laptop from Grammy. We love it too because it kept him occupied in the airport and on the plane.