Story Time

"Book! Read!"
"Okay, Alex, let's read this book."
"I don't like this book. I'll just cover my ears."
"Are you sure, Jonathan? You used to like Curious George."
"No, I don't like it. After the story, can we play the Legos game?"
"BLUE!"
"Okay, I'll read the story to Alex and"
"BLUE!"
"Yes, Alex, that's a blue scarf. After we read the story, we'll all go play the Legos game. Let's go sit on the sofa."

"ORANGE!"
"Yes, Alex, I changed into an orange shirt. I like your hat."
"He really likes snowman hats every day."
"Let's sit down. 'Curious George takes a job.'"
"Paint!"
"That's George's window washing works. Let's read the story. 'This is George. He lived in the Zoo. He was a good little monkey and always very curious. He wanted to find out what was going on outside the Zoo. One day, when the keeper was not paying attention, George got hold of the key for the cage."
"Why did he take the key?"
"Because he wanted to. . . "
"Find out what was going on!"
"Good!"
"Unh! Uhn!"
"Yes, Alex, he took the key. 'When the keeper discovered what had happened, it was too late - George was gone!'"
"Uh-oh!"
"Yes, Alex, the keeper dropped his pipe. 'Where was George? They looked for him everywhere, but they could not find him."
"Why are the keepers looking for him?"
"Because they want to put him back in his cage."
"But he wants to get out."
"Uhfant. Uhfant."
"Yes, he wants to go outside."
"UHFANT!"
"Yes, Alex, an elephant! Good job."

"'George was hiding in the hay of his friend, the elephant.'"
"Nap."
"Why is he hiding in the hay?"
"Because. . . "
"Uhfant NAP!"
"The keepers are looking for him!"
"That's right"
"All done! (snatch)"
"Oh, no more story?"
"I have a great idea. We can read this story from the box! It's Goodnight Moon."
"Okay. 'Goodnight Moon,' by Margaret Wise Brown. Pictures by Clement Hurd."
"Clement Hurt."
"'In the great green room, there was a telephone, and a red balloon, and a picture of'"
"Moush!"
"There's the balloon!"
"Meow! MEOW!"
"Alex, you silly goose! I called him a silly goose."
"Naaaoow."
"A mouse says 'squeak'."
"SQUEAK, Alex!"
"Moush."
"'The cow jumping over the moon.' What noise does a cow make, Alex?"
"Meow, meow! Naaaoow!"
"Silly goose! MOOOOO!"
"MOOOOOO!"
"Look, bears!"

Two over two.

Well, we've got no babies around here any more. Alex turned two years old this week. Chris was away on business, so our celebrations were pretty subdued. Jonathan stayed up late one evening to help me bake a birthday cake. Since Alex still doesn't like chocolate very much, we made a pineapple upside-down cake. Jonathan arranged the rings in the pan and put maraschino cherries in the centers. He was so excited that he crept downstairs after bedtime to look at the cake as it cooled.

On the day of his birthday, I got to take him to his Toddle Time class at the local gym. It's very unstructured and Alex loves it. We bounced on the trampoline and jumped into the foam-filled pit again and again. After that, I had to take a quick shower to wash blue foam bits out of my hair and head off to work. He had a nice day with Miss Becky and Jonathan, and was asleep when I got home.

We presented him with the cake the next day after lunch. He let an an "Ooooooh!" and was super excited to see "Teh-mets" on the cake - he mistook the cherries for his beloved tomatoes. We opened presents from Grandma and Auntie Liz. He was especially pleased with his sporty new pajamas. He pointed out the "Hot!" flames down the arms, and the "Tars," or cars, which were the main motif. He insisted on sleeping in them that night.

So now we have a full-fledged two year old. His molars must be coming in, as he walks around with a finger tucked into the back corners of his mouth. He's been kind of fussy the last few days, even now that Chris is back home, and takes special delight in grabbing whatever toy Jonathan currently has. Other favorite games include running and hiding from us, and climbing up on my back to play "Ba-whump." He fell off yesterday and started laughing - he told me gleefully that was "Funny!"

We've cut way back on the little TV the boys were watching, but that doesn't stop him from grabbing the DVD case and commanding "George NOW!" He is enjoying books a lot more these days, and Jonathan went through his own collection to pass down a whole boxful of baby books. Spot and Biscuit are in heavy rotation, although he also loves the lullaby books that I sing to him. And for bedtime, he has an entire menagerie to keep him company. Tonight, I said "Goodnight, Alex! Goodnight Lion and Chicken and Bear. Goodnight Mickey and Lambie and other Lambie." He said "banket!" and I pulled it up to his chin. Then he sent me off with a "Shhhhh. . . night night."