The one about copy-cat & Bryce starting MDO

Reed does the funniest things.  Yesterday I took him to the playground down the street (Bryce was asleep in the stroller) and he was just so happy and having so much fun playing.  He has a couple of tasks he must complete while at the playground these days.  The first is the pinecone journey.  I’m not even sure how to spell his word for pinecone. It’s sort of like “by-bow”.

Step 1. Find two pinecones

Step 2.  Climb up the ramp with both pinecones. (Sometimes when he’s getting clumsy, he’ll let me take them and place them at the top so he won’t fall)

Step 3.  Climb the step to the top level and throw both pinecones down the spiral tunnel slide.

Step 4. Turn around and ask, “Go?” (short for “where did they go?”

Step 5.  Slide down the straight slide

Step 6.  Retrieve pinecones.

Step 7.  Start over.

We can get through ten or more rounds of this before he starts adding variations or finds something new to do. Up next? The hill.

There’s a couple of small sloping “hills” surrounding the playground. Reed loves to run down them. There is a thrill in it that is purely adventurous to a toddler. First he trudges up the hill, while I narrate. “Uuuup the hill!” I draw out, while he grins on his way up.  “Stop.  Turn around,” I instruct.  “Down the hill!” I chime as he throws his feet, one in front of the other- his little body bouncing and bumbling down the hill.  His hand flapping in front of his bent arms. He squeals in delight as he turns around to trudge back up the hill and do it again.  If he falls, he hops up and brushes his hands together saying, “dirty” or “oh no!”

He also likes to copy me.  He looked so handsome standing in the grass in his brown shirt and blue jeans with the trees as a back drop, so I got on my knees to take a picture.  He smiled and got on his knees, too.  The look on his face was expectant, like- Okay mom, now that we’re down here, what are we going to do?  I laughed at his imitation of me and then he started fake laughing, too! I guess that completed his impression.  

A couple of days ago, he copied me as I was sneezing- I felt it coming and I bent at the knees and waist in anticipation. He smiled so big, watching me, and copied my posture. Then I sneezed and he said, “CHOO!”  Mike and I were both cracking up!

Bryce had his first day of school a week ago (last Monday, when I went back to work). He was 8 weeks old that day.  I was ready, and I think he was, too. He’s pretty laid back most of the time and it’s not hard to make him happy or comfortable.  I dropped them off at Mother’s Day Out and for the first hour, Reed and Bryce are in the same room, for early care.  They said Reed was pretty happy about Bryce still being there and kept going over to check on him.  However, when Bryce’s teacher came to get him at 9:30 and take him to his own class, Reed lost it! He screamed “BICE! BICE!” for 20 minutes, he cried for his brother! Reed almost had his teachers in tears, they were so sad for him!  They took Reed down the hall to explain to him that Bryce was safe and happy in his own class room.  

Bryce in the Moby carrier at the airport

The next school day, they let Reed “take” Bryce to his class and he seemed to be much happier with that arrangement.  It was only when they were changing Bryce’s diaper (he’s in the adjoining room) and Reed could hear him crying, that Reed started to worry and cry for Bryce again.  They had to lift him up to look through the window and show him that Bryce was okay.  He’s breaking all their hearts with his concern for his brother! Such a sweet little man!