EJ

I can't imagine who was being too loud.

Empty bottle + pom poms, pipecleaners, and popsicle sticks = a happy toddler

Concentrating.

Selfies

Family selfie!

If EJ Had Long Hair...

...then he would look like this. 

Aaron & Daddy

Blocks

Aaron smiling...

...and EJ smiling. 

Because they can't both smile in the same picture! (Except that one time.)

Silly Boy

This is his father's influence.

Smoothies

Before EJ became a toddler baker extraordinaire, he was a smoothie making pro! We've been making smoothies together for almost a year now. It's the only way EJ will eat greens!  

Such a sweet big brother! 

...And just for fun, some older shots of EJ drinking his smoothies. 

Faker!

I don't think I believe you, EJ.

Knuckles

EJ thought Aaron wanted to fist bump, so EJ blew it up!

Playing Around

Aaron in Action

Baking with EJ - Blondies

He's getting pretty good at stirring.

Always trying to sneak his fingers into the bowl!

Stealing chocolate chips.

 Yummy!

Friday Night Hikes

Last Friday I was feeling a bit under the weather, so Pete and the boys hiked without me. They explored the trail behind our house and spotted a giant coyote. 

Brotherly Advice

Blue!

Symphony in the Park

There's a trail from our house to the park where Symphony in the Park is held, so this time we loaded up the boys and walked. Not a bad place to be walking!

Taking a nap during the concert.

Heading home!

EJ - 22 Months

Age: 
22 months! Two months from today our baby will be TWO!

Stats:
Waiting for his 2 year appointment for updated ones.

Wears:
18 month clothes fit best. He still wears some 12 month shorts, and some 24 month and 2T stuff, but they're still a little big. He's been in size 4 diapers for a while, and looks to be in them for a while longer.

Says:
EJ's been having a word explosion! He babbles constantly, and with great enthusiasm. He knows exactly what he's saying, even if we don't. He seems to say a new word every day, but then doesn't repeat some of them again for a long time. He's recently said bubble, cereal, gentle, Eugene James, Aaron (it sounds like Ann), help, poop, all right, cheese, baby, and a few more that I can't think of right now. Out of nowhere, he'll mimic a word I say to him all the time, say it perfectly, and then not say it again for days or weeks. If we ask him to say something, he completely shuts down. He only speaks on his own terms, and doesn't seem to like to say things until he's really confident in his ability to say it.

Sleeps:
He's been sleeping like a pro lately! I'm so glad he's back to sleeping through the night consistently. We've been making a big effort to get his naps and bedtime earlier and consistent, and it's been going really well. He's getting up a little earlier, usually around 7-7:30am, going down for his nap by noon every day (around 11 on non Stroller Strides days), napping about 3 hours, and in bed at 8-9pm. Hopefully the good sleeping continues, and EJ teaches his little brother how to do it, too!

Eats:
No big changes from last month. He loved the zucchini cookies we made, so I think we'll try putting more veggies into our baking projects.

Loves:
Bubbles! Every since he said bubble (a word he's actually consistently repeated since first saying it), I can't say no when he requests them! Lots of bubbles around here lately. He loves, loves, loves baking right now, so we've been doing a lot of it. Still loves being outside and dress up costumes. He also loves Daddy's Padres hat! He's always putting it on and it's completely adorable. Unfortunately, he also loves spitting, burping, and farting. Yay. He's quite an accomplished burper, and can do it at will for hours.

Dislikes:
Not getting his way. We're seeing some toddler tantrums right now, but luckily he's very easily distracted. As long as I'm not feeding or changing Aaron, I'm usually able to cut the tantrums off fairly quickly.

Plays:
EJ's friend got him a magnet set, and he's been having lots of fun playing with it on the freezer door. He likes anything with lights, sounds, and buttons. He likes buckling and unbuckling, zipping and unzipping, and snapping and unsnapping. Grandma Karen got him this puzzle before he was even born, and it's a big hit right now.

EJ & Aaron:
He's still very interested in Aaron. He often wants to hold him, until he's actually holding him, and then he pushes Aaron away immediately. He gives Aaron a few more kisses these days, which is super cute.

Baking with EJ - Zucchini Applesauce Oatmeal Cookies

 

Aaron's Baptism

Aaron was baptized on Sunday, August 9th at Saint Gregory the Great Catholic Church. Pete managed to subtly snap a few quick pictures during the baptism. He thought Grandma Karen would want to see it!

With Deacon Ron, who also baptized EJ.

With our friends Loralie and James, who stood in for Aaron's godparents (Uncle Adam and Aunt Kristin) at the baptism, and their son Andrew.