Storytelling

There's a British book that we read to Xander a lot - it's called "Run Run, It's Scary Poo" all about a little shrew whose mother tries to teach him how to smell scary Panther poo in the jungle so that he will be safe. Turns out the poor guy can't smell well enough to tell that a bird/toad/butterfly aren't panther poo - and his parents despair that he will never be safe. However, one day, he is in his den and hears a panther approaching his brothers and sisters and he rushes out of the den and bites the panther on the tail, scaring him away - and saves them all.

X loves the book. Last night (and again tonight) after we finished reading it, it's time for 'snuggle Mommy' when he curls up in my arms to go to sleep. And the lights are off. But instead of curling up and falling asleep right away, he sits up and looks at me with a gleam in his eye and whispers "what's that...? I hear sounds... I don't see him.... IT'S A PANTHER!! Chomp! He lashes his tail! Goes through the air and plop! In the stinky poop!"

Essentially telling the story back to me, complete with secret squirrel moves of his head back and forth, like he's listening for the panther...

Amazing.

Trip to the zoo

Xander and Mommy went to York's Wild Animal Park today - and he was a champ (even when we had to wait in ridiculously slow lines) - kissed a snake, saw 3 new goats being born, fed the ducks and the deer, said "hi there elephant, how you doing today?", showed passing interest in the zebras, tiger, lions, alligators... mostly wanted to drive his "Mater" truck on the fence rails and benches ;-)

X making wishes

Shaun took Xander to Portsmouth on Friday to enjoy the nice weather - they spent some time in Prescott Park, walking around, looking at the boats, playing on the stone whale... They checked out the fountains and Shaun found some pennies and told Xander to make a wish and throw the penny into the fountain. X promptly took the penny, blew on it, then threw it in (you blow at candles when you make a wish, why not pennies too?) - cutest thing ever!

Xander and I played in the driveway today with the hose because we were running on the driveway and our feet were getting hot. It quickly evolved into me holding the hose so the water made a waterfall and Xander had the best time playing in it. The water was colder than, well, you know, but this little guy was cracking himself up running right into the water coming down and getting soaking wet. We did this for about a 1/2 hour, trying out different ways to get the water to fall - arc of water, shaking the hose back and forth so drops fall in circles and curves, adjusting the flow so it's more like a rainshower, turning it down so it's just a dribble - regardless, he wanted to be right in the thick of it throughout - crazy kid!

Happy 2nd B-day Xander and Molly!

Celebrated Xander and his cousin Molly's second birthday today and had a great time. The kids were adorable and brilliant as usual and were appropriately enthralled with the 'Cars' and 'Dora' decorations. They both got piles of gifts and there were no major meltdowns (so when does THAT happen at toddler birthdays?). Check out our pictures homepage for pix of the fest!

Who IS this child?

At dinner tonight, Xander is having cereal, and takes a bite of cereal with milk - finishes eating it --- smacks his lips and says, "aahhhh, scrumptious!"...

Who IS THIS CHILD?? I accused Shaun of teaching him that, but he denied it... must have been those dang Backyardigans or Little Einsteins... ;-)