March 1 to 9

A Pete-update (Pete-date?) which you might want to skip if you are not interested in the mundane details of Pete's life.

Pete's schedule these days: Mondays and Wednesdays he's at Grace with Mrs. Candice and Mrs. Jennifer and seven other friends. (That's what they call the children there--friends.) We love Grace. Monday afternoons we have a playdate with Charlie and Sam, who live across the street. Wednesdays are open; sometimes we have a playdate, sometimes it's just the three of us. Tuesday and Thursday mornings I'm with Pete until 10. Tuesdays we go to My Gym. Thursdays we play with Beckett and Elodie, or go to breakfast, or hang out at home. Then Ashton, his babysitter, comes and stays until 2:30, when Mat gets home. Then it's My Gym or a playdate. Fridays Sarah, who has been watching Pete since he was four months old, comes for a few hours; then we usually have a playdate with Beckett and Elodie and Everett and Owen. While the weather's nice, and not sweltering, we go to the playground at Grace. Pete's younger than all the kids he plays with, but he likes to run around after them or do his own thing.

He wakes up anywhere from 5 to 5:45 (that's the latest he's up). We give him some nuts or raisins or a Lara bar first thing, when we're too tired to make breakfast, and milk. Then oatmeal for breakfast, or eggs and sausage and fruit. Lunch is usually one or two of Lulu's meatballs, which we keep on hand in the freezer (she makes a big batch when she visits) and cheese and fruit. He loves, LOVES pomegranate seeds, which we have to save for last because the meal's over once he sees those. He also loves avocado (who among us doesn't) and he has a love hate relationship with kiwi. He likes to eat what we're eating, so this week he ate chili and then farro with roasted mushrooms. The only thing we can get him to eat reliably at a restaurant is an order of beans and rice. He inhales burrito bowls from Chipotle. He's recently discovered cashews, and thinks those are great. This week I made him quinoa with edamame and carrots, and I was very proud that he ate it! He so far does not love chicken nuggets and mac and cheese and pizza, kid's menu staples. His favorite veggie, besides avocado, is broccoli that we puree and then freeze into cubes. It is kind of disgusting. He eats hummus by the spoonfuls, and of course anything sweet.

After lunch is nap (or sometimes before lunch). He used to fall asleep after he nursed so now Mat puts him to sleep. Or the car, on the way home from Grace. (He doesn't like the carseat. Never has.)

He likes to play with his trains or cars and build lego creations. He likes to monkey around on the couch, or bed, or me and Mat. He thinks sticking his finger in our noses or licking our cheeks is HYSTERICAL. He's not talking a lot yet, but he has a firm grasp of the word no. He likes to touch our belly buttons, which he used to do while he was nursing. (He also says belly button.) He gets upset when he sees a babysitter but is usually pretty easily soothed. He is much more interested in older kids--six, seven, eight--than other toddlers. He can follow a big kid around for hours. And has.

He would prefer to spend all his time outdoors, if we let him. He likes collecting sticks and acorns and then finding a hole to put them in. He loves Feenie, and Feenie is very tolerant. He also loves the cats, especially Zocalo, who doesn't let Pete get too close.

He eats dinner around five-thirty or six, and then we all hang out until bath time and bed. Bath time starts at 7:15, and ends with bed at 8. Mat gives him his bath now, and puts him to bed, because if I'm there he wants to nurse. He's a real champ about getting his teeth brushed, and he likes the bath a lot. Mat says he's a mama's boy. His teachers say he's very snuggly, which is true--he's very affectionate. He likes to be read to, and to dance, and he sings a lot (though the words are unintelligible). He draws, and blows on things that are hot, and fake laughs at his own antics. He's had a few meltdowns in the past week (I took a lollipop away at a birthday party, and he would not forget; yesterday Mat took a stick away and that triggered a major crying jag).

He's almost two! I can't believe it. I keep a picture of him as a baby by my bed and every time I look at it I wonder where the time has gone.

Eating a Kind bar and watching the school storybook parade, where children dressed up as characters from their favorite books. You can almost see the school from our house.

Swinging at Grace

Skyping with Nana and Papa and eating pomegranate seeds

We painted the master bedroom suite! It took forever!

While we painted his babysitter Courtlyn took him on a field trip. Here he is on campus.

At the softball game, which apparently he watched.

At Chill, a yogurt place

The school picture. Mrs. Candice is holding Pete. Then John Patton is next to him, followed by Simon and Avery. Lily (who loves Pete, and hugs him when he comes into a room) is below Pete; then Emily, Rebecca (who we used to go to Kindermusik with) and JJ.

I told Mat that Lily loves Pete and he said "Pete will have a lot of girls chasing him." And I said, "Don't say that." And he said, "Alright, Pete will have a lot of intelligent young women seeking the opportunity to engage with him."

Every time Mat goes to the mall with Pete he returns with a new pair of sneakers.

My buddy