Keeping Mom on her Toes

Terrible Twos

Mom: What do you want for lunch?

Booker: Cereal... with water.

Mom: No, that's gross. What do you want?

Booker: Cereal with water. 

Mom: You can't have cereal with water. 

Booker: CEREAL. WITH. WATER.

Mom: Ew. No.

Meltdown of the century ensues. Yelling, crying, rolling around on the ground, gnashing of teeth, tearing of hair. Much pleading for the cereal... with water. 

Mom: Fine. But you have to stop crying right now.

Booker: sob Mom, I lub you sob

I guess you gotta try everything at least once. 

Waiting for the Train

Silly Brothers

To My Second Child

Dear Teichert Blaine, 

Sometimes I worry that I don't love you as much as your older brother. You see, I've known Booker a little bit longer than you. I've changed more of his diapers, cleaned up more of his vomit, held him through countless fevers. You've never even had a fever. You're easy. When I really think about it, I don't love you less, just a little differently. 

And since its so easy for you to go unnoticed, to become just another prop in Booker's one-man-show, here are some of my favorites things to "love on you" for:

- You make the greatest baby Chewbacca noises. No one can come close to emulating you. 

- You take eating so seriously. You're a man after my own heart. No one gets between you and your breast. 

- Your eyes are slightly greener than Booker's, which is about the only difference between you two. Maybe they will be hazel and my heart will be full. 

- You're so happy when you have someone to talk to. We love hearing your stories. 

- You're quick to forgive. In one day, you rolled off the bed, fell out of your swing and dove out of your Bumbo seat. You didn't hold a grudge or judge me for not watching you more closely. 

- Your face lights up each morning when I fetch you from your crib. Even on the mornings when I have to wake you up, you're thrilled to see me. 

- Oh, and I love the goofy smile you always give Booker and the noises you make for him only. You don't make them for me or your dad. 

So as the weekend starts and your dad and I think of fun things for Booker to do, I promise that you're not just along for the ride. I promise that when Booker is having quiet time, I'll let you talk to me. You can tell me how loud and crazy he is and I will agree. I promise to stop constantly comparing you to your older brother. You two may look like twins, but I'm hoping that you'll be as different as your namesakes. I promise that you will be my favorite second child because second children are the best. I love you. 

Your mom

Teichert for President

'Tis the gift to be simple...

'tis the gift to be free.

Booker's First Set of Gouaches

He takes his painting very seriously. Mom is quite proud. 

Vietnamese Flag

Dear Petra, 

I'm finally big enough to wear this shirt you gave me! Thanks for going all the way to Vietnam to get it. I'm learning my shapes and now I know my stars inside and out. Once I've mastered my shapes, we'll move on to world flags and once again, this shirt will come in handy. Maybe your next trip could be to Bhutan because I'm really into dragons. Can't wait to see you in March. Much love, 

Booker

A Sunday Morning in Photos

A Few of Booker's Favorite Things

Favorite Snacks: Goldfish crackers, clementines, pickles and fruit snacks

Favorite Breakfast: Cinnamon life cereal

Favorite Lunch: PB & J sandwich, as long as he gets to help make it

Favorite Dinner: Mac & Cheese or as he likes to call it, "Monsteroni and Cheese"

Favorite Drink: Milk in a Lightening McQueen sippy cup, Elmo doesn't make the cut anymore

Favorite TV Show: Super Why

Favorite Books: This week, the Little Critter series

Favorite Movies: Monsters, Inc and Cars

Favorite Outfit: Mr. Walrus shirt with some athletic shorts, sneakers with no socks

Favorite PJs: Puppy dog PJs

Favorite Shape: Triangle

Favorite Letter: O

Favorite Friend: Sarah Matson

Favorite Cousin: Addie because she called him on the phone

Favorite Aunt: Callie because she feeds him at family dinner

Favorite Songs: Popcorn Popping, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Itsy Bitsy Spider

Favorite Nighttime activity: Dance parties on mom & dad's bed. Thanks for the Bose sound system, Baba!

Favorite Stuffed Animals: Bolt (previously named Monty) the dog and Brody the dog

Favorite Wii game: Cow racing on Wii Play

Favorite game: Anything that involves a ball

Favorite "nap" time activity: Playing with cars on his bed

Favorite made-up word: "Don-don" (it means bad)

Favorite bath time activity: Jumping out of the tub, evading the towel (using mom and dad's sheets instead) and running around the house "nakey-jakey" style

Favorite bath time toy: Teichert

Favorite driving activity: Spotting tractors

Favorite park: Jacob's Memorial park

Favorite thing to draw: Dolphins

Favorite game of pretend: Climbing the mountain, going to school and checking the mail for letters from Baba

Favorite thing to yell out in the middle of the night: "I WANT A PICKLE"

Favorite thing to yell out in the middle of Sacrament Meeting: "WHERE'S BISHOP?"

Favorite day of the week: Sunday, because he gets to go to nursery

Favorite activity to do with dad: Jogging at night in the jogging stroller

Favorite activity to do with mom: Read books on her bed

Butterfly Exhibit

Earlier this week we went to the Tucson Botanical Gardens to see the Butterfly Exhibit. Its a basically a very humid greenhouse (hence the foggy photos) with tons of butterflies from all over the world. We walked around the gardens first, looking at compost piles and various herbs and plants, saving the butterflies for last. Booker was a little scared at first but quickly warmed up once he had a magnifying glass to spot the butterflies with (he refused to look at them without it). He nearly crunched several butterflies who were hanging out near the ground with his feet and even managed to knock a couple off their branches with his big noggin. Teichert slept in his car seat the whole time but woke up as we left the greenhouse because both he and his car seat had to be thoroughly examined for any "hitchhikers." None found. It was so much fun we're going again tomorrow with the Matsons. 

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Keys are funny