The Sunday Post ~ Evenflo Jungle Exersaucer Review

Buy the Evenflo Jungle Exersaucer

We tried our little one in multiple exersaucers, but this was by far the best. It was a gift to us from and came recommended to us by a grandmother of 8, with pre-existing knowledge of how awesome this particular product is.

At the crawling stage, the better the baby-containment device (BCD), the happier the parents will be. This particular item excelled as a BCD. It could keep him happy and playing for up to an hour, giving me a much needed break to eat, clean, sit down. Just remember to never leave them alone in the exersaucer.

I found the perfect spot in my house between the kitchen and den where I could see him from both rooms at all times and with a clear view from the bathroom. This gave me the flexibility to keep him happy while I moved between the three rooms. He could always see me too, so I could provide encouragement and support.

It sings a variety of songs, none of which I got too bored with. However, the singing chameleon is too sensitive, and goes off with the slightest vibration, even from a passing truck outside, so we often kept that piece of it turned off.

I also found that, while nice that it converts for a small baby with a mat and to a toddler with a play table, that my child wasn't a fan of either the mat or table. He loved it in saucer form, and will still play in it at times as a saucer, but wasn't a huge fan of the other set-ups.

All in all, I would definitely recommend this over other saucers.

July 26, 2012 ~ Wipeout!

Grandma was watching TV and decided to pick Wipeout! as the show to watch. (If you don't know it, the show is about people of varying athletic ability and intelligence running extreme obstacle courses). I have to admit that I enjoy watching people faceplant, and in the void of TV options in the summer, my mindless entertainment is often this show.

So, Daddy and I sat down with Grandma to watch with her. Billy, of course, wandered in to find some toys to play with after dinner and on his way to bed.

Then, some guy wiped out on the big balls and we all laughed. Billy looked at the TV. And then, as if frozen by a sci-fi tractor beam, he stood there entranced for over ten minutes. When the commercial came up he pulled up a stool to the front of the TV and sat down, riveted, waiting for the next idiot contestant to wipe out.

He didn't move a muscle. He didn't make a sound except to laugh. It held his attention better than a Disney movie, any cartoon and any activity he has so far participated in. So, it's official. Wipeout! appeals to the mentality of a one-year-old.

I'll still watch it.

Drawn In Thursdays: Things Kids Do #9

Click to Enlarge

July 25, 2012 ~ Sorry BudBud

Billy finally got it. No, he really got it. That growling sound means stop. Who knew? He suddenly realized that when Buddy growls after Billy sits down on top of Buddy, that Buddy really doesn't like it. Not one bit.

And this time I didn't have to break out the band-aids. He's still wearing one from last week. He got it and left Buddy alone and then went to apologize to Buddy with gentle pats.

Hopefully, this is the end of warning nips.

July 23, 2012 ~ Pillow Thief!

On his way to bed Billy wanted to cuddle in our big bed first. Okay, I figure. I don't mind. We did storytime but he wanted cuddles. Billy never wants to cuddle, so this is a bonus for me. Woohoo!

So we cuddle and he insists on using the pillow I have designated as "his". It's not his. It's mine. But it's the flattest pillow on the bed, pretty much flattened to a pulp, and so best suited for a tiny person to use. I always put it in a bright green pillow case, which doesn't remotely match our sheets, but it identifies the ancient squished pillow from the nicer ones.

 Well, when he was done cuddling, he wanted "his" pillow to go to bed with him. He insisted. He refused to sleep without. He went into tantrum mode. Okay, okay... you can have the pillow.

So, I went in to check on him an hour after he went to bed (to steal the pillow back) and he was sound asleep on the pillow. I checked back in later. Still using the pillow. There was no hope.

This morning my pillow was still hanging out in the crib.

~

On another note, Billy would like to wish his favorite Godparents a very happy anniversary.

Billy, 2011, on his way to his Godparents wedding.

July 22, 2012 ~ Pictures and Scary Swings

I had to write a short note on the computer and Billy joined me in the office to help. Normally, Daddy is on the computer and has his desktop open. But my desktop has rotating pictures of little Billy on it. Not Billy now. Little Billy.

"Look, Mommy. Girl!" He says girl like "gah-urrrrrl."

"Nope. That's you. That's baby Billy."

He didn't believe me. So I pointed out some of his toys in the background. Oh wait, now it's sinking in.

"More?"

So I flipped through pictures of last year, pointing out pictures with the people he knows best and his favorite fuzzy friend. This was a real big thrill. "Mommy!" "Daddy!" "Budbud!" "Poppop!" "Gmama!"

Then I showed him a picture from way back when, tiny little thing all swaddled and sleeping with a binky in his mouth.

"Hey! My meme!"

Then he looked up at me and said, "more meme?"

So we flipped through the photos looking for pictures of binkies. Yep. Of all of the photos, the ones he really wanted to see were the ones with the memes. (pronounced me-me. his name, not mine).

~

After pictures we went outside to play. He decided he wanted to try out his swing again. I've been trying to get him in that swing since May. But it's either "dirty" or "spider" and he refuses to get in, thinking it's either really dirty or full of spiders. Today, though, he didn't care about the dirt on the seat and wanted in. Okay, here we go!

I gave him a few pushes. "More?" he asked.

So, I pulled the swing up way high and released it. He got this sudden look of terror on his face as the swing swung away from me.

"Is it scary?" I asked, concerned.

He nodded. Then he said, "More? More scary?" (he pronounces 'scary' as 'gary').

So he got another big push. He started laughing.

"Scary, Mommy! More!"

That's right. It was scary. It was fun. He wanted more. He swung until I was too tired to push the swing any more. (About an hour).

"Scary, Mommy. Again!"

The Sunday Post ~ Tommee Tippee Review

Better late than never to review my favorite bottle system.

Tommee Tippee

We tried out a number of bottle systems and this was the one we liked the best. At first I was against it. But my hubster was insistent that he had read good reviews about the product and wanted to try them out. So, we purchased a number of their Closer To Nature products.

The newborn bottles we purchased were the Sensitive Tummies bottles. They worked fine and Little Man had no trouble transitioning from breast to bottle (due to breast issues). My biggest complaint were all of the internal pieces that made cleaning difficult. Even running them through the dishwasher, often clumps of formula would cling to the small internal pieces of the bottles. (It has a tube with a wheel on the bottom that must be inserted into the bottle.) I tried to use the bottles sans the internal components, but the tops will not lock in place without the internal pieces. Which was a real shame for my time, since I don't think that my son required anti-colic.

When Little Man got older we moved up to the larger bottles. We were big fans of these. They still required handwashing to get the formula out of the ergonomic bottle- the dishwasher didn't always get it, but it wasn't a major issue.

One of the best things we loved about Tommee Tippee were the to-go containers for formula. I can't find the specific item but they sell it at Babies'R'Us. It's in the picture this link takes you to:

http://www.target.com/p/tommee-tippee-closer-to-nature-newborn-starter-set-clear/-/A-13930438

We used the to-go containers for more than just to-go. Every morning I filled up our collection of to-gos with the correct amount of formula per bottle and filled the bottles with water. And then I sealed them and sat them on the counter. That way, when it was bottle time, the formula was already pre-measured and all I had to do was add it to a bottle with water in it and I was ready to go.

These containers also made traveling super easy, especially on airplanes and camping trips. The to-gos drop right into the bottle so you can take formula and a bottle of water anywhere you go and mix when you get there.

We're also huge fans of their bibs.

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=12410345

These didn't work out so well for tiny eater, but after about 8 months old these were our definite favorite amongst our huge collection of bibs. They are dishwasher safe. And the open pocket catches really messy food, like applesauce, better than traditional pocket bibs. We've found that two is all we need, since that is what will fit on the top rack in the dishwasher. Otherwise, we rinse them off between meals.

And finally, the binkies.

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11005545

Having tried multiple types of binkies, our Little Man prefers the Tommee Tippee brand. He will always pick these over other brands. Now, as far as weaning him off of binkies, maybe that's not a good thing...

The fact is that we have been very happy with our Tommee Tippee products and would recommend them to everyone.

July 20, 2012 ~ Our Big July Camping Adventure!

Last weekend we packed up Billy and headed down into the Virginian mountains for another camping trip. This is a different camping group than the one we went with in June. Here's what happened on our adventure:

Here's Billy enjoying breakfast at the campsite, including donuts (thanks Jim!). It was chilly in the morning, so Billy was in PJs and a sweater for breakfast.

After we ate we packed up most of the kids and headed down to the lake for some swimming. Billy and Daddy decided to hike to the lake. I drove with all of our beach stuff.

Here's Daddy getting Billy ready for a swim. He loved the lake. He could walk in up to chin level with no fear. And he wanted to swim out with the big kids too. I helped with that! The sand was a big hit, much better than the muddy stuff by the river. No, this was real sand and I brought sand toys to play with. He had a blast. Mommy had a blast too. I swam out to the island in the middle of the lake. No problem. And the trout in the lake thought I was the person with the food. They swarmed around me hoping for some nibbles. I didn't have any, of course. And they scattered any time the kids were around splashing, so Billy didn't get to see many.

After the lake we headed back to the camp for food and sleeping.

Billy wasn't a fan of the sleeping. But he was a fan of bubbles, the big ball and playing tag with the older kids. Who can blame him?

After lunch we heard that storms were moving through and that there was a flash flood warning for our campsite. Some of the other groups near us packed up and headed out at that. We were the fearless ones, staring down the storms as they rumbled over the mountains. All we got were a few drizzles and some rain showers late in the evening. It was not a big deal.

What was a big deal was the forest fire. Yep. We had one of those too. Just on the other side of the ridge from our camp. The campground has two lakes, but the one closer to our camp was closed so they could use it to fight the fire. All day long a helicopter used a giant bucket to carry water from the lake over the ridge to the fire. Billy thought it was one of the coolest things he's ever seen and was quick to point out the helicopter every time it passed over. Actually, I've got a lot of years on him and it was one of the coolest things to witness in my life.

And the funniest part of the trip? The buses!

Well, they weren't really buses. They were the campers that the camp hosts lived in and were parked next to our campsite. But Billy thought they were buses and they were certainly the size of buses.

So, what do you do when you see a bus? I bet you're going to say "keep on walking" or "give it the right-of-way."

Wrong!

Sing to it!

Yes. Several times we had to go over to the buses to sing to them. And what do you sing to a bus? "The wheels on the bus go round and round..." over and over. Don't forget the hand motions. Yep. This singing comes with dancing too.

And so, our camping adventure was a big success and Billy enjoyed himself immensely. Who wouldn't love spending a weekend outside, especially when outside is your favorite place to be?

July 19, 2012 ~ Sickuns

Sorry for the late post, but well, I've caught the Daycare Plague again. Billy had it first and is still getting over it. Daddy and I both have it. I'm in a fog and can't string together any cohesive thoughts, so let's leave it at that.

The hardest part of being sick is not the sickness, it's the stuff that needs doing that simply can't be done while sick. I have no energy to do anything. So when I am better, all of the chores will have compounded to make a misery of housework to be done.

And when you're a parent there's no such thing as sleeping in, so there is no way to truly rest. All you can do is push through and pray for sunnier days.

Here's to that.

Drawn In Thursdays: Potty Time #1

Click to Enlarge

July 17, 2012 ~ The Potty

Forgive me for keeping this short, but I'm working on 3 hours sleep...

Yesterday Billy came up to me and he said, "Mommy, poop! No Elmo!" and pulled at his diaper. Elmo might be a cute and cuddly monster, but because his face is all over Billy's diapers, Elmo also means diaper.

"Do you need a new diaper?" I ask. I'm going to get him one anyway, but I like confirmation from him. At this point I'm expecting a smelly present.

"No, potty!" and does the "pee dance" for me.

Okay, let's head off to the potty. We've been practicing the whole potty ritual. He thinks it's fascinating- for other people to use the potty. He'll hold it until I stick a diaper on his bum. So, I take him into his little potty chair in the bathroom and strip him from the waist down.

He commences sitting on the potty chair and scrunches up his face, turning red. Is he going to do it? Is he?

And then he lets out a loud FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRT!

He got so excited that he popped up to check out the damage in the little plastic duck potty. But it was empty. So he hopped back on and scrunched up his face again. Nothing. Hopped up to check. Yep, nothing. Maybe it's the chair, he decides.

"Big potty?" He points and wants to sit on the real toilet.

"Okay."

Scrunched face. No results. It's not the potty.

But he still got two M&Ms as a reward. Listen, a fart counts. It came out the back end. It counts. So, I am officially calling this the first potty success.

July 16, 2012 ~ Eating Aunt Sally

Today Mommy gave me Aunt Sally for dinner. Mommy said she ate most of Aunt Sally for lunch, but saved the best for me to have for dinner. Boy was it yummy. I had two forks going trying to each as much of Aunt Sally as I could. But I got full, so Mommy saved the rest of Aunt Sally for me to have for lunch tomorrow. Yum! I can't wait.

Or...

Today I gave Billy tikki masala for dinner. I ate most of it for lunch, but saved some for Billy to have for dinner. He loves it- it's one of his favorites. He was shoveling it into his mouth so fast that he needed two forks. He couldn't eat it all though, so he'll be enjoying tikki masala for lunch tomorrow too.

Yes, that's right. Billy's attempt to pronounce tikki masala came out "Aunt Sally". So, according to Billy, he ate Aunt Sally for dinner. Add that to the "things kids say" list.

July 15, 2012 ~ Thunder and Ah-la-las

Yesterday we were not home and were out with a party cooking outdoors (more on that tomorrow). Big old thunder clouds were rolling around, threatening our dinner fun. But with each low, distant rumble Billy would look up at me expectantly, "dunder more?"

Eventually, we ran out of passing storms and there was no more "dunder". But we did get some rain showers. So, Billy got to eat part of his dinner under an umbrella. He thought that was extra cool. It was just the one I carry in my car, nothing special, although it does have designs on it. He was super impressed with the umbrella and wanted to hold it, but alas, it's bigger than him.

So today at the pool he started pointing. "Mommy, ah-la-las!" What the heck was he talking about? So I started looking around and trying to figure out what he could possibly be pointing to. Oh. Ah-la-la. Umbrella. He was pointing to an awning, but there were other umbrellas around of the same color. The awning just happened to be the closest. Now he wants his own ah-la-la.

And, of course, hanging out at the pool under the ah-la-las I saw storm clouds rolling across the sky. Still aways off, but we headed home anyway. It wasn't too long before the wind kicked up and I knew we were in for it.

What to do?

Pull up a comfy spot on the couch on our deck and watch of course! Billy huddled right next to me, fearlessly asking for more dunder. "Boom?" Then it started raining heavily. And the dunder got really loud.

"Mommy, inshide." He was scared. Really scared.

It was just a lil old thunderstorm but I took him in anyway and we looked out the window. Just then the power flickered and went out. He was SPOOKED. With each loud boom he clung to me tighter. Poor guy. Couldn't even go to bed until it was over because he was so scared. Fearless Billy, cowed by rain and dunder.

Better stay under that ah-la-la.

The Sunday Post ~ Fridge Farm Review

This little toy is a winner in our house. It's a magnetic barn that allows your child to mix and match barnyard animals. Pressing on the animals plays their noises, tell you facts about them and sings silly songs about the animals. Another button plays a variety of classic American folk songs.

This toy is great for just playing with magnets, but also is a great learning tool. All of the pieces are magnetic, so you can play right on your fridge door with the different animal parts, mixing and matching. Each animal is a different bright color and the talking portion of the toy tells you the color of each animal.

"Purple cow, orange horse, yellow duck..."

You don't need a fridge to play with the farm. The magnetic pieces stick to the inside of the barn and it has a handy handle for carrying it around. However, it doesn't have a carrying case and since it has so many pieces, it's not the easiest to move from place to place. But it's great right on the fridge, so there's no need to carry it around.

The pieces are difficult for very young children to stick in the barn, but they are shaped specifically for kids to learn how to properly insert them so that the pieces will talk and sing.

Personally, I love this toy. It keeps my kid entertained while I'm cooking dinner. If he gets bored, I just press the music button and we sing along to the old folk songs. He loves it too. Every time we walk in the kitchen he goes straight for it and dances along to the music and calls out the colors.

It's the perfect combination of play and learn. And since the pieces all stick to the fridge, there's never any clean up!

Check out the product.

How To Camp With A Baby/Toddler

I have done it and you can too! With a little planning and an adventurous spirit, you favorite bundle can go anywhere you go.

Plan Ahead! Where will he sleep? What will he eat? How will he play? How will he bathe?

Sleeping:
~ I can't say enough good stuff about the Go Crib. It's lightweight. It's compact. And it's a breeze to set up (aka inflate). Whatever you choose, make sure to bring a portable crib or pack'n'play with you.
~ Pack more blankets and sheets than you need. You never know when little one may have an accident or the weather may turn cold. I always pack a few extra.
~ Bring a selection of favorite luvies. Just because you're in the woods doesn't mean he can't have his favorite teddy. It will make him feel more at home.
~ Bring battery powered fans and nightlight. REI sells a combo fan and light. We have two. For hot afternoons the tent might be broiling. We sit the two hanging fans on the floor of the tent next to the Go Crib to keep our lil guy cool. Then we hang them from the ceiling for the nightlight when it gets dark.

Lessons I've learned:
~ Tents are bright and hot. Vent your tent well. And expect some trouble getting to bed on time unless little one is used to sleeping in bright light.
~ Cold weather woes. Bring flannels and lots of blankets if it's going to be cold. Let him sleep in his jacket if you have to. I even put my little guy in the sleeping bag with me one night when it got below freezing.
~ Hot weather woes. I always bring shade with me and I check the weather before I go. It's never a good idea to take your little one out into excessive heat. Just be smart.
~ Always be prepared for weather changes. It might be hot hot hot in the afternoon and chilly at night. Pack for both, regardless of the forecast. Better to be prepared than to have a fussy baby.


Eating:
~ Have a way for your little one to sit at a "table" to eat. As a baby I brought a stroller that had an eating tray. It worked great for meals. As a toddler he can sit with relative ease at the picnic table for meals.
~ Buy individual milks and freeze them before you go. This will keep them fresh and cold as the cooler starts to warm up on your trip. Or, if you're using formula, portion out each bottle and bring it with you with bottled water ready to go. Remember to always bring extra in case one spills or you end up out longer than expected. TommeeTippee makes a great bottle system with formula containers that drop into the bottle for on-the-go carrying.
~ Pack lots of non-perishable snacks to bring with you, including fruit.
~ Make sandwiches to take and keep cool so you can eat lunch in a hurry without having to prep the fire and make all of the food. Lunch comes up fast when you're camping.
~ Bring cereal for breakfast. Keep it simple and avoid having to cook for the breakfast meal.


Lessons I've learned:
~ Having lots of healthy snacks on hand is the best way to go. Your little one is going to get off schedule quick, so having food you can give him immediately will keep him happy and you relaxed.
~ Disposable is always better. Having cleaned formula bottles at a campsite, avoid having to do this if possible. Same goes for plates and spoons. And that way you can ensure the item is clean and ready to use.




Playing:
~ Pack a blanket and a bag of toys. Have a variety of toys. The blanket is to lay on the grass so your little one has somewhere to play. This works from sitter to toddler. It keeps them clean and gives the older kids a home base to play.
~ Bring the Go Crib out of the tent and put it in the shade so your little one can play outside but contained.
~ Bring your own shade. Some campgrounds have very little shade. Bring a shade tent, giant tarp, or beach umbrella so little one has shade to play in during the day. We don't want sunburned babies!
~ Make sure to include activities that involve the campground or surrounding sites. You both will love getting out and away from the tent.


Lessons I've learned:
~ Plastic is best. Pick toys that are easy to rinse and clean.
~ Pack a few favorite luvies, but leave the rest at home. And make sure they stay in the crib and don't wander around the campground. You'll both be very unhappy if his favorite luvie gets lost.
~ Don't bring toys with lots of small pieces. They are easy to lose and then the set is no longer complete. Instead, bring variety but keep it simple.
~ Avoid battery-operated. The other campers are out to enjoy nature, not hear "Oh, Susanna!" 500 times. It's a good break for you too from the singing/blinking toys.



Getting there:
~ Pack lots of food and toys for the car.
~ Take breaks to get out, but if you're going 5 hours or less I recommend only 1 break ~ the kid won't want to get back in the car so don't let that become an issue. Just don't stop.



Lessons I've learned:
~ French fries cure lots of car ride ills. It's vacation, splurge a little and let him have some fries to keep him happy.
~ Mountains plus a 6 month old are a bad mix. If your ears pop more than once going up and down the mountain, you're sure to hear lots of screaming the whole way. Pick a campground that doesn't require driving over the mountains.




Most of all, have fun!


Questions?
We camp a lot with our lil guy. If you have a question about camping with small people, feel free to email me or comment here.

July 12, 2012 ~ Goodnight Ship

Grandpop has never seen Billy bedtime ritual (du jour), so I let him follow Billy around the house for the "goodnights".

"Goodnight ship!" "Goodnight girl!" "Goodnight ship!" (a different ship). Goodnight girl! (a different girl). "Goodnight clock!" "Goodnight boat!"

He walks around to every painting and wall hanging, like the wall clock, and says goodnight to each one before bed. He made up this routine and he likes it. This all comes out of his boat obsession. He feels the need to personally say goodnight to every ship/boat painting in the house. There are 5- six if you count a picture with a small boat in the back, and seven if you count the ship model in the living room that he wishes goodnight as well.

I always thought Goodnight Moon was silly. But the book has it right as far as a toddler is concerned.

"Goodnight stars. Goodnight air. Goodnight noises everywhere."

July 11, 2012 ~ Big Bonk

After dinner we were playing outside and I suggested that we go for a walk to burn off some energy before bed. Billy loves walks. This is a winning plan in his mind. So, we sent our guest inside to collect her shoes.

While we were waiting Billy decided to clean up his toys. We have a bunch of pool/tub toys outside that we keep in a yaffa block. You remember those from dorm rooms, right? That's where this one is from- my college dorm room. He was walking around picking up all of his toys and putting them in the box. Without prompting. Woohoo!

He got to the last toy and went to put it in the box and... tripped and fell head first into the box.

Bang! Bonk!

Immediate screaming, and definitely deserved. He has a big old bruise over one eyebrow where he smashed into the plastic corner. Lucky for him, he only fell about a foot and landed on plastic and not something harder. He's definitely going to have quite a shiner, but it could have been a lot worse. No blood even.

But it was definitely a big bonk.

July 10, 2012 ~ First Taco

There comes a time in a man's life when he has to try a taco. Today was that day.

Imagine a bowl full of foody mess. Okay, okay... it was a taco salad. What do you want from a one-year-old? He was presented with his bowl of taco salad and was inquisitive but unsure. I can't blame him. Taco salads are sloppy and messy and oh-so-yummy.

I gave him a fork and a spoon so he could choose his method of attack. He opted to double fist, using one to scrape food onto the other. Didn't matter which.

Immediately he ruled out the lettuce. I didn't think he would eat it, but Daddy insisted. Billy was not a fan. That's ok, he's got plenty of years to eat rabbit food. Onions and tomatoes were iffy too. He'd only eat them concealed under cheesy sour cream goo.

But let's get to the good stuff. He shoveled the meat with cheese and sour cream. His verdict? Yum. His word, not mine.

And so, presented with his challenge, he met that taco face first and came away with a taco-y face to prove it.

July 9, 2012 ~ Boats, Boats & More Boats!

Billy was very lucky that Grandma invited him over this weekend to see all of the boats. And he was even luckier to be treated to his first ever motor boat ride, and the fastest boat ride he's ever been on. (thanks to g. aunt and g. uncle for the ride!)

So, he's got boats on the brain.

After school we went outside. Always outside.

"Mommy, walk?"

"No walk." I'm pooped. It's too hot even with a break in the weather for walking around outside (read pushing him on his trike and then carrying him up a hill).

So, he came over and grabbed my hand.

"Mommy, walk?"

"Where do you want to go?" I asked. He obviously had something in mind.

"Mommy, walk...boats?"

I laughed. There are no boats in our neighborhood. I haven't even seen a boat on a trailer. No boats to look at, besides the multitude of boat pictures decorating our walks.

"No, Billy. There are no boats."

"Mommy, walk...boats?"

"Billy, we left all of the boats at the water. There aren't any."

The thought seriously about this for a minute.

"Mommy, walk...ship?"

July 8, 2012 ~ Cookie, Please?

This morning when I got up Daddy was giving Billy his breakfast. Daddy had just given Billy a cookie for breakfast. Not just any cookie... a Berger's cookie.

(These are Daddy's kryptonite. He can't resist them. It's his weakness. Ok, they are super yummy and summer isn't the same without them. And if you don't know what they are, heaven in cookie form is good description. A shortbread cookie with 2 tablespoons of fudge on top? YUM!)

So, Billy ate his cookie and then said, with his best puppy-dog face:

"More cakey puh-leeeease!"

He calls cookies "cakeys". Surprisingly, not that far off the mark...

Well, it was so cute Daddy couldn't resist and split a cookie with Billy. Billy gobbled it up and repeated:

"More cakey puh-leeeease!"

Well, cuteness doesn't mean ruining your breakfast. Mommy had to step in and say no more cookies. Billy was confused.

"All gone? Where go?"

So Daddy told him that Buddy ate all of the cookies. (Which is not true and never feed chocolate to a dog. Even if I did have a dog long ago that ate an entire box of these cookies by herself and the ran up the wall to the ceiling and bounced for two days.)

Billy was sad for a second and then nommed on his cheerios and melon. But by the end of his actual breakfast he was really hankering for another piece of cookie.

"Cakey? Please?"

"No more cookies," we both chimed in.

Then Billy pointed an incriminating finger at Buddy. "All gone," he accused. "Buddy, no, no. All gone." He wagged his finger and gave Buddy his best serious face.

Poor Buddy, guilty of being innocent.