For Keeps

This is just for me to remember all the things that I love about Arden currently...don't read if you're not into cheese.....

- He constantly says "mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy" whenever he wants anything or for no reason at all

- All books are "Bibles" to him...at least he's getting something out of devotion time, right?

- He "prays" with us - folds his hands and "talks" to God

- He has done this since birth, but he kicks his right leg up whenever he's lying down and drinking his milk

- He loves "Bah-yee" and chases her around to give her hugs

- He has to pick up any "rah" (rocks) that he sees whenever we're out walking

- When you're holding him and he wants down he always says "ah wah, ah wah, ah wah" aka walk, walk, walk

- He loves to give hugs to his friends

- He says hi to anyone who is near him - strangers or not

- He loves playing in the car

- After his bath he screams "Baby" ready for mommy to come get the "naked baby" and save him from the evil daddy with a diaper and pajamas

- He can say juice, peekaboo, uh oh, doggie, moo(cow), mow (cat), dat (cat) ff ff (what a dog says), mommy, daddy, car, truck, wall, walk, night night, bye bye, Pop, Bah-yee (Molly), pees (please), shss (shoes), socks, eyes, no, tee tee, poo poo (which he says whenever Molly goes outside), bear, baa (sheep), blue, two, water, bus, choo choo, box, tractor, bath, moon, ball, God (he answers "who made you?"), LOUD and quiet, deer, beep beep (aka excuse me or get out of the way), and I'm sure many others that I can't think of

- He blows kisses, gives high fives, can pound it, nods his head yes and shakes his head no, signs all done, bye bye, bird, airplane, eat, hot, cold and more, and he blows on dandelions (or all flowers for that matter).

- He can show you where his eyes, ears, nose, teeth, mouth, chin, face, hair, head, tongue, shoulders, arms, tummy, legs, knees, feet, toes, hands, fingers, and booty are

- He understands what you tell him to do and will do it (usually)

- He makes an airplane noise and waves his hand like it's flying whenever he sees an airplane

- He says wee oo wee oo wee oo whenever he hears a siren or sees an ambulance or fire truck (toy or real thing)

- He loves bath time and is always ready to play in any sort of water that is available

- He loves to sleep and sleeps well...still takes a really good nap and sleeps 12 hours at night with his 2 pacis (which he switches back and forth), his airplane blanket, his monkey (oo oo ahh ahh), his dog, his bunny, and his baa (sheep)

- He loves being tickled, playing "tumble weed" (rolling around the floor), going for walks, playing hide n seek, playing with my cookie sheets, pouring out the box of dominoes/blocks, pushing his trucks around, throwing balls, climbing stairs or anything that can be climbed, and reading stories

- He asks for Daddy every morning and is excited on the weekends when he is home

- He loves helping Daddy do things around the house

- He helps Mommy do chores around the house - dusting, unloading the dishwasher, mopping, and vacuuming

- He is a sweet boy and will hug you whenever you tell him to be a sweet boy or to be gentle - a hug consists of a normal hug plus him laying his head on you in some way

I could go on I'm sure, but these were just a few things that I wanted to remember about this age. He is turning into a little boy more and more each day and I don't want to forget any of the process of him growing up.