Bubbles

It's a short term activity, but we do use bubbles at home when we're outside.  My 19 month old son is becoming very independant and is trying to do as much on his own as possible.  Including blowing bubbles from a wand. 

He hasn't quite mastered how to sniff through his nose to smell flowers.  Instead he blows air out from his mouth.  So you'd think he'd get the concept of blowing bubbles on his own.

I didn't mind that he would put the wand on his nose and blow air out his mouth.  But after seeing his Daddy blow bubbles the right way, J wanted to try it again...

Yes, he thought it was like a popsicle, but he didn't eat the bubbles.  Licking them was enough to make him realize something wasn't right.

After giving the yucky face we reminded him that we don't eat the bubbles.  He knew he was being silly...

Bumpa

Bumpa is my father.  Bumpa is what my son calls my father.  It took my son a while to warm up to my dad.  Although my dad never gets goofy around babies, so it was hard to get a warm and fuzzy feeling from him.  When J was a baby, he would cry, sob, while sitting on Bumpa's lap.  Today, things have gotten better, although J is still a little weary about seeing Bumpa at first.  But he gets SO excited and will yell BUMPA every time he sees him.  And when we don't see Bumpa, J is trying to call him on the phone.

So when we had the opportunity to spend some vacation time with Bumpa, J was more than happy.

Bumpa & J waiting for a train ride up north.

This is how Bumpa smiles.  I guess J is learning from him too.

Another example of Bumpa having fun with J. 

There really is nothing like having a Bumpa.  For some reason my son cannot stop talking about him.  They have an unspeakable bond that nobody can figure out.  But I guess that's okay. 

Bert

Sometimes I think my 19 month old son is weird, but I guess he gets that from me.  I love every weirdness too.  He's my silly putty of course!

Kids develop a relationship with certain toys or dolls.  J knows and adores all the characters from Sesame Street, Mickey, and Pooh & Friends.  Lately, my son has particularly grown fond of Bert.  I don't know what it is about Bert, but he adores him.

So when we were on vacation and my husband spotted this Bert, he immediately knew J would fall in love.  Of course, he was right.  He giggled and squirmed and squeezed Bert with big hugs and showed him so much love.