Jack of all trades

Here I am playing organ for church. Chicks dig musicians I've heard?

17 months!

  Mom's trying to influence my musical tastes from an early age! I'm 17 months old today!    Here are some of my updates for this month:

1.  I'm a month away from going to nursery at church.   Mom is counting the days, and not because she doesn't like to hang with me.   She says my schenanigans at church will be much more welcome in a class with other wee people like myself.    Adult Sunday School, not so much.

2.  I'm all boy.   I love anything resembling a vehicle, and will drive it appropriately.   I've discovered the joy of Hot Wheels, and like to lay on the floor and drive them- sound effects and all.

3. In case you didn't think it was possible, I've become even more particular about my diet.   I like all fruit, but beyond that, you're going to struggle to get anything healthy into me.  Mom's been lacing my milk with Special K shakes just to get some protein on board.  I don't see what the big deal is, I have energy to spare!

4. I'm getting ready to vay-cay at Grandma Barnes' house next week for a few days.   Mom and Dad have something called a "10 year" anniversary coming up, which is sort of a big deal for grownups.   All I know is that I get to hang with Grandma and Grandpa on the farm, and do farm boy things.   All the fresh peaches and watermelon I can eat!

5. I had an accident the other day, and cut my foot and finger.   I pulled a mirror down on top of myself at the sitter's house, and cut myself.   I didn't understand the bleeding, and kept trying to rub the hurting places.   Mom bandaged me several times, but I kept pulling the bandages off 'cause they felt weird.   I wasn't hurt badly, but it did make sleeping that night uncomfortable.   Tylenol and lots of Mom love got me through.

6.  I'm a little imp!  I like to play peek a boo games, and try naughty things to see if you're watching me.   I don't usually follow through, but I do like to test my limits.   I'm the funniest guy I know, with the dog being the second funniest.   Nobody can make me laugh like the dog can!

7. I still only need two words to get attention (mom and dad-dad), but I've learned how to shake my head "No."   I'm not really interested in talking beyond this for now.

8.  The pantry is my personal play-ground.   If the door is cracked even a little bit, I'm in there rustling up a snack for myself.  Most of my snacks are eye-level, and I'm not shy about showing you what I'm hungry for.  I'll take all the guess work out of it by pointing to exactly what I want.

9. I'm signed up for swim lessons!   I might be a little young, but the new aquatic center is opening up next to my neighborhood, and I want in on that action!   I love the water, but its getting hard to swim in my wading pool.   The mosquitos treat me like a grand buffet every time I'm out there.  I think I actually heard them laughing the other day when Mom broke out the bug spray bottle.

10.  I'm going to DisneyWorld!!!    One month from today, I'll be hanging with Mickey and the gang, and watching Mom lose her lunch on the TeaCups.   My life is hectic, and a week in sunny Florida is just what the doctor ordered. 

Burlington City Park

Last Saturday, Mom and Dad took me to a Bryant Family reunion in Burlington, NC.   We met at a fabulous park that had awesome rides for little guys like me!


Here I am enjoying the airplane ride all by myself!  I didn't even need any grownups to go with me!





Tickets were 10 for $6.00, so I got to ride as many times as I wanted to!   Can't you just see me oozing happiness?


I especially like the John Deere tractor ride, and went on that particular one several times.





I call the following pics "cousin drama," because that's what it was.   My cousin Kyle was supposed to graciously escort me on the boat ride, but suddenly decided it was "for babies."   See what a gracious (*cough, cough*) sport he was to take me?  





In the end, Mom and Dad decided to pardon poor Kyle, who didn't enjoy being pressed into service.  I was able to manage this boat on my own, and I'm really thinking I might be Deadliest Catch captain material.   Mom says not on my life.

Thanks Mom and Dad for taking me to play with my relatives, and thanks to my relatives for having the foresight to book a stellar location for this reunion.   Potato salad and Grandma's famous lemonade are nice, but the entertainment was out of sight!

Cheerios Win!

Ok, so they are Honey Nut Cheerios, but they are Cheerios nonetheless!



For those that it might have slipped their mind, I have refused all Cheerios up to this point. Mom said it was un-American for a kid not to eat Cheerios, so I decided to give the honey nut variety a try. Score!

Beach Weekend!

My dad suffered some sort of indignity this weekend called a "40th Birthday."   I guess it was a big deal, because my entire NC family went down to the beach to help him celebrate!   We started with a stop at the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher. 




Looking at the fish was interesting, but I had a surprise in store for me:   Alligators and Snakes!   Mom didn't think they were as cool as we did, so she hung back and let us study them.   Notice there are no pictures of me and the snakes.   I think mom was busy breathing into a paper bag somewhere.




Wow!  Look at this albino alligator!!!  I haven't seen anything that white since Mom broke out her shorts for the summer!




It looks like I'm floating in this tank, but it's really a concave viewing window.  I felt like I was swimming with the fishes!


I call this one "solitude."  I like to ponder the mysteries of the universe, and this shot captures the moment nicely.




MEGADON!    I've never seen this creature on "Octonauts", and I sure hope I never have to.


Off to the beach!   Here I am playing in the comfort of Uncle Bryan's 12x12, while Aunt Sherri dotes from behind.  It was a realllllllly windy day at the beach, but on the bright side, we are all properly exfoliated now. I swam in the ocean, and laughed when a wave rolled me over!   I looked for shells with mom, and petted some nice dogs that were camped next to us.   I fell asleep on the beach, just in time for us to pack up and head out.   I have the best timing you know....


What happens at the beach stays at the beach!?   I was allowed to eat french fries and ice cream sundae, both of which might have been the best things I've ever tasted.  EVER.




With the gluttony of the normally forbidden McDonalds under my belt, the only thing left to do was pass out in a calorie induced coma.   I must pay more attention to these "McDonalds" establishments, and make lots of fuss when we pass one again.   I would give my chubby right arm for more of that sundae....

Rollin' with my homies

Meet Winks the elephant and Blackie the bear. These two have become new favorite friends of mine!








When it's time for bed, you better have them ready for me!

A note from management...

Re: incident last night between 12am and 3am

Dear Jack Barnes,

Last night's unfortunate episode has management concerned. In recent months, we've been very pleased with your sleeping habits. However, in the last several nights you've demonstrated an unwillingness to be soothed by common methods. Your parents are understanding and accommodating when it comes to the occasional bad dream or teething episode. Last night's schenanigans defied all parental logic. You've never required such exhaustive measures before, which has management wondering if some additional sleep training might be helpful? To babysit a previously well adjusted toddler for several hours in the middle of the night is simply not good use of management's time, and the need to do so in he future will likely reflect poorly in your trainee file. Parental bragging rights about having a "good sleeper" are in danger of being rescinded if a return to normal sleeping behavior is not noted promptly.

Sincerely,
The Management

Hollywood

Feel free to provide your own caption, as long as it addresses how adorable I am!

Who's cool?

My mom is cooler than your mom.   Want to know why?  Because MY mom will cough up plenty of quarters for an unemployed guy like me to ride the rides at the mall.   (When I'm 30 and unemployed, and she's coughing up cash to pay my car payment, it won't be so cute.   I better enjoy it now!)

16 Months!

So today, I'm 16 months old!  I think I'm pretty big stuff, and am enjoying the independence that has come with my increased mobility.  Here are some things I'm doing right now:

1.   Turning in a picky eater.  Even more so than before.  I have an opinion, and will not be persuaded to eat anything I'm not really feeling.   Pancakes used to be a hit, and now they are hit or miss.    Fruit is always welcome, and meat or vegetables have to be handled very sneakily.  I have serious texture issues, and pasta is the worst offender.   Why can't everything taste like chocolate goldfish?  (see above pic)
2.  I'm still a great sleeper!  Mom was worried that all the fireworks would wake me up last week, but I slept right through them.   When it's time for me to go to sleep at night, I'm really good about snuggling right in, and conking out.  No crying or fuss.   See you in the morning!
3.  I'm going to be a great swimmer.   I love my little pool, and you can find me out there most afternoons or evenings if it's not too hot.   The dog thinks my pool is big water dish, and when he stops by for a drink, I think its hysterical.
4. I love to wrestle!  Mom, Dad, or cousins- it doesn't matter with who.   I still don't have a concept of how large my head really is, so watch out!  I'll probably head-butt you by accident.
5.  I love to throw things.   Fun for when I'm playing with balls, but not fun when I throw my sippy cup across two pews at church.  People tend to frown on that.
6.  I'm a big helper.   I will follow your simple directions, and expect a round of applause when I perform my task.  I'm good at taking things to the trash (especially diapers) and will even throw my toys away when I'm done with them!  The concept of what is and isn't trash still confuses me...
7.  I like q-tips and napkins.   When given a q-tip, I'll clean my ear.   When given a napkin I will wipe my ears.   Ears must be really dirty!
8.  I have sort of a problem with the sippy cup.  I'm what they call an addict, and Mom is making me face my 'addiction' by limiting my access.   I don't have a problem, and I can quit any time I want to! There's nothing wrong with being properly hydrated.
9.  I'm still a people person, and don't really have an issue making new friends.  Stores, restaurants-  I like to meet people everywhere we go.  Mom says we need to have a talk later about stranger-danger, whatever that is.
10. I'm not really interested in talking much yet, but know exactly how to get ahold of a parent:  I just yell "Mah!"  or "Dad-Dad" and they come!   Pointing at what I want seems to help too.

Well, that's all for now.  Stay tuned for more of my adventures! 

Love,
Jack