Happy

During Aunt Cait and Uncle Nick's visit over the weekend Gus pulled out of his hat a couple new tricks! His ever-growing vocab now includes "happy!" and when we ask him, "What do you say when you're frustrated?" he says, "Beeeee!" (That was something I came up with one day while he lost his patience trying to unscrew a lid, and we all seem to like it so there it is.) Another trick, despite his mother's protest, is to ride his blue "motor" bike down the driveway... Ahhh, I thought I had a few more years before Evil Knievel made an appearance!

Yesterday Aunt Cait and Uncle Nick, Gus and I went out to a farm to pick out the perfect pumpkins - A little early, I know, but as Cait pointed out, 'Once you become a mom you really get into all that holiday stuff.' A hay pyramid, barnyard full of animals and pumpkins the size of Montana made for a lovely morning at the farm with lots to take-in. Gus loved every minute of it, thanks to Aunt Cait and Uncle Nick!!! We'll miss you guys!

Oh yeah, Gus also takes out the trash!

Looks like Papa will be relieved of his beloved sanitation disposal duties pretty soon here - there's a new kid in town!

He doesn't do windows, but the kid can dust!!!

word to your mother (and father)

Gus' ever-growing vocabulary is surprising us daily. For a while now, his standards have been "Mama" and "Papa" and "Dadda" (yes, Papa gets two names apparently) and "Puh-Puh" (ALWAYS spoken in a whisper and meaning any animal, especially a puppy) and "that" (as in, "what's that?").

His new and improved repertoire now includes "Baby," (meaning exactly that) and "Po-Po" (the name of a favorite teddy bear) and "Bike." He's also dabbling in more sophisticated words, such as "Nana" (banana) and "Turtle" (he's actually very good at that one!) and "Supercalafragalisticexpealidosious" - Oh wait, how did that last one get in there?!

As an objective bystander I must admit Gussy is the cutest little chatterbox both sides of the Mississippi (now, if only I could get him to say that!)

fun with milk

Well, thanks Grandma D. for teaching Gus to use a straw. He's now an expert and uses one every chance he gets. He recently discovered the joys of blowing bubbles with a straw - how could we possibly discourage this kind of fun?!

P.S. More posts to come soon! So, Aunt Cait and Uncle Nick: Hold your shirts on :)

peek-a-boo!

Gussy Magoo is walking more confidently (and more often) than ever. He now prefers upright mobility to his previous need to be close to the ground, with one exception: Nothing gets him laughing more raucously than a big chase ending with a "Peek-A-Boo!" from under or around the couch. He lays his little belly on the floor and ducks his head to get a glimpse of us from the other side of the couch. Too, too cute!

In other news, it could've gone either way, really. Gus could have turned out a semi-shy, low-talker or a not-so-low-talking Talker (with a capital T). It's no surprise then, that he's settled on the latter. Our sweet boy has a lot to say - and ask. From the moment he wakes up in the mornings to the moment he drops off to sleep at night he wants to know what all of these objects around him are called. He'll point and say, "That?" and we'll reply, "That's the light." or "That's my ear." etc. etc. All day, my friends. All day.