thirteen items for the baby book

I know a lot of mothers (especially the really really good ones) who note each of their children's new words, activities, and developments in cute little baby books. Often these books are decorated with creatively cut and placed pictures, stickers, and really are complete works of art. My boys do not have these books, nor the creative mama that is neccessary to make such keepsakes.

Okay, technically, Obi-1 has a book, and I was decent at filling in blanks for about 1 year. We moved here last summer, and it has not been unpacked. Obi-2 has an adorable book with little animals on the cover. Inside, I think I've inscribed his name and date of birth. There is no record of him doing or saying anything.

There are things I'd like to remember about my children's first years. Without a book, it's unlikely my brain will keep all of theses things around for long. However, as you know - I've started a blog!

So, here are Thirteen Things I Want to Remember about this season:

1. Obi-2 (almost 2) cannot enunciate the sound "tr". He uses an "f" sound instead. He loves trucks. He sees them everywhere, especially "dum trucks." Say it out loud, and laugh with me...

2. Obi-1 has taken to calling me "Babe." (He hears Mr. Kenobi say it, I think.) For example, here's a recent conversation:

Me: "Obi-1, get your shoes on so we can leave."

Obi-1: "Okay, BABE."

3. The boys are do not get candy... it's my rule, but they help enforce it. Obi-1 sees treats and asks me, "Mama, is that yucky for me?"

4. Obi-1 loves combing paint colors to make other colors (i.e. red + yellow = orange).

5. Obi-2 has figured out that play-doh colors mix together to make a "Big Mess."

6. Obi-1 loves to build things, like large lego towers and intricate train tracks.

7. Obi-2 loves to knock things down, especially large lego towers and intricate train tracks.

8. I am the only one in the family afraid of heights. Obi-2 will climb nearly anything and jump off most things.

9. Obi-1 is a bit more cautious when climbing; he checks to make sure I'm not watching.

10. Both boys recently started asking Mama for a baby. (Thanks, Grandma...)

11. Everything is more fun when you call it an Adventure! We have recently gone on "park adventures," "museum adventures,"cookie adventures," "a Seattle adventure," and even "naptime adventures."

12. Three-year-old prayers run together in sweetness: "Thank-you-God-for-this-day-and-the-food-and-Mama-and-Daddy-and-(Obi-2)-and-the-friends-and-Amen." 2-year old prayers are sweet, too, and sound something like this: "psss pssh pssssh pss pssh psshh Amen."

13. I have no idea why, but there is a particular phrase that started with Obi-1 and his best friend a year ago. It remains the most hilarious phrase in our household, and seems to never lose its punch-line effect:

"Jesus loves... PAPER!"