Bode

It is true what they say, the second child gets half as many photos and half as many blog posts. The third and beyond are lucky to perhaps get 5. When looking back at our blog books from 2008 and 2009, they are like an ode to Tessa. That being said, you would be hard pressed to find  a boy in the world I like as much as this one. Or think is as cute. Or as awesome.

Wade tells me often that Bode is my favorite person in the family. I reply that Bode is the only one in the family that loves me ALL the time and thinks I’m awesome ALL the time. He loves his mama and the feeling is mutual. He is my little buddy these days, I love hanging out with him while T is at school. I’m glad I get to have a little one on one with him.

Here’s an update on what he’s up too:

-He is a boy. Busy, busy, busy.

-He loves all things transportation. He is often seen double fisting Matchbox cars or choo choo’s and can put his train track together all by himself, granted it’s not in the proper figure 8 shape, but he can put together a solid track.

(I dare say Santa will be bringing a train table…)

-Lego’s are his latest obsession. He discovered them at Gram and Grandpa’s this summer and the love affair has continued. For a kid who doesn’t sit still for very long, these can keep him occupied for a solid 20 minutes.

-His vocabulary is increasing everyday. His regulars are: Mama, daddy, choo choo, cuck (truck), cooko (cookie), nack (snack), hello, bye bye, mine, mess, rrrroarrrr (when ever he see’s a dog or picture of a bear…), peas (please), no, inki (binki), stinky, toes, night night, back back (back pack, which he dons whenever his sister dons hers)

-The boy loves to eat. He’s not picky and loves a good treat.

-His taken to walking with his hands in his pockets from time to time. It just kills me. It’s all I can do to not bend down and kiss him 40-11 times.

-He’s very proficient at the park. He loves the slide and just tonight figured out how to walk up it.

-Like his sister, he prefers to be out of doors. He loves the beach, the park or just perusing the sidewalk. You heard that right, the kid peruses. (see hands in pockets photo)

-He is dirty it seems all the time. I haven’t quite figured out how it happens everyday, but his clothes and often times his hands and face are a mess.

-When he wants something he comes and grabs my hand, says, “mama” and pulls where ever he needs to go. I oblige 99% of the time.

-He is sensitive. His bottom lip quivers when I give him a firm “NO” and I put him in time out for the first time yesterday as a result of his latest hobby, throwing. It BROKE HIS HEART and therefore mine and now I’ll probably never be able to discipline him again.

-He adores his sister. He mimics virtually everything she does, follows her around and laughs at her constantly. When she wakes up in the morning, or when he see’s her crying, he walks over to her with his arms open wide and gives her a big hug. It seems to help her when nothing I say or do can.

-He smiles with his whole face.

-The binki attachment that developed when Wade left has remained. He just uses it at naps and bedtime, and throws it in his crib by himself in the mornings, but he definitely wants it in bed.

-He loves a good book.

-He also loves to stack. Cars, pots and pans, books. And re-arrange. I find things like this all over the house.

-He seems totally unaffected or unaware of all the attention he garners. People LOVE him. He often times smiles, babbles something to them, blows them a kiss and waves bye bye and that just tickles his admirers to death. The other night at dinner our waiter was obsessed with Bubs. He even fed Bode a few bites of food. After the waiter walked away Wade says, “You know, in the US that would be creepy.” I laughed out loud. It’s so true and here, it’s somehow endearing.

-One of his largest admirers is Abu, the security guard at Tessa’s school. He lights up when he see’s Bode in the mornings and exclaims in his accent, “Ahhh, ello big boy! You give me high five. Ok, you stay and play with Abu.” Meaning, Bode stays and plays with Abu outside while I take Tessa in to school and sign her in for the day. On the rare morning that Bode won’t give Abu high five, or doesn’t want to stay with him, I worry about poor Abu’s heart. “Oh wow, what happen? Oh wow big boy.”

-Every time we pass the monorail on the highway, Bode points and says, “Choo choo!”

-He also says, “hello” to virtually every truck we pass as well.

-He loves to shake his groove thing and busts a move and bounce when he hears a beat he likes.

-I can’t remember the last time he didn’t have a goose egg on his head.

-His presence lights up the whole room and to say I adore him would be a gross understatement.