These Days

 These days are blissful.  Have I said that lately?  Anders is so much that I swear not a day goes by when I don't have at least one moment in which I feel deeply happy about this life with Anders.  That doesn't mean he isn't difficult and trying at times.  But, there is something about this particular age that is simply incredible.  He is so alive, so happy, so interested in everything YES.

He's funny, has a great vocabulary, and has a real knack for manipulating words into funny rhymes and weird sentences. For example, if you read the sentence, "I want more milk." he would say out loud, "Ia wanta moa milka." followed by "Iada wantada morada milkada."  He would keep going like that changing the suffix o all the words in a sentence until it morphed into a completely different linguistic experience.  All the while he s completely amused with himself.  I think one of his dominant intelligences is auditory.  There are so many experiences like this that are so interesting and funny.  The other day he was sitting and blinking his eyes like mad, and said to me, "Mommy, my eyes are clapping!" 

So you see, it's so easy to be happy.  Even his moments of terrible two's are short lived and so far, easy to handle as a parent.  Today while we were outside playing, I thought to myself, "WOW!  I can not believe that after more than two years we are still completely smitten with this little fella!  Luck, Lucky, happy me! 

Swimming Lessons

Anders is taking swimming lessons at the YMCA.  He particularly likes jumping off the side, shaking his wet head "like a dog" and paddling his arms.  He DOES NOT like going under the water, yet....!  

Happy Mother's day!

Our Mother's Day was so much fun!  We took a long canoe ride with Aunt Sandy and Rob, and saw turtles, frogs, ducks and tadpoles.  Here is Anders looking right at a baby turtle, which I have correctly identified as a painted turtle.  We scooped it up with a net, and of course returned it to the water when we were done looking at it...but not until after Anders held it and surprisingly dropped it into the bottom of the boat. (I don't think the turtle liked that very much!)  All of the turtles we saw were these yellow and red painted turtles, but we also got to see a large snapping turtle all tucked into the mud. It was so cool!

There were lots of trillium bursting out all over so we decided to take photographs amidst the enthusiastic blossoms.  This purple one was a real beauty - properly called Wake-Robin Trillium, because its color, like a Robin's, also heralds Spring.  

Cute Diaper

One of the drawbacks of overalls is that they can unsnap and let in a bit too much cold air.  Here is Anders squatting down on his new rock "jump station," oblivious to the big gap in his overalls...he's just happy to have a place to jump from.  

Rolling a Big Red Ball

Things have been busy as usual around here.  Winter has finally gone away after our last and most recent storm one week ago.  The weather, seven days later, was in the 80's, so go figure that?!  Still, our gardens are awakening and tons of tulips, daffodils, and other perenials are making their way up and through the soil.  Celebration time!  Thank god for the return of sun and green!  

Anders is taller, smarter, and more two than ever.  He is so eager and so happy - still.  Mix that up with a big dose of the 2 year old need to do things by himself and a frustration level that often spikes when he is unable to do things without help, and there you have it....life with Anders.  Here is a recent photograph of him, rolling a big red ball - which he can do well, all by himself. 

A Recent Visual Delight

We recently visited an art museum (Dia Beacon) and had more fun than we can even explain in words.  The space was awesome, the exhibits magnificent, and all of us were filled with absolute joy.  Here is a shot of Anna running away from me when I pulled out the camera (no photos were allowed and I was taking a risk!) This captures just one moment in the day.  The second photo we got permission to take, and it really shows the scale of the space in relationship to the size of Anders.  

The Beginning of the Quote List

Here is the beginning of a list of common Anders phrases.  I know it will get longer and funnier as time goes by, and I am going to leave it posted and continue to just update it by adding to the bottom of the list.  Most of these statements come with certain facial gestures, tones, and postures, and without those you'd never get the whole picture, but at least you'll get a sense of just how he is communicating these days as a toddler.  

1. Where I going? (said when his coat is being put on)
2. Anders do it. (said whenever he wants to do something)
3. (Do it) Like this! (said whenever giving an instruction to one of us to imitate him)
4. Eat dinner! (said when hungry, even if it's 7 am)
5. What this? (asked when looking at something unfamiliar)
6. Run! (said whenever out walking)
7. That too tunny (sunny) (said when a bright light is turned on)
8. That good.  (said after tasting or drinking something yummy)
9. That funny! (said with a straight face in response to something funny)
10.