Can you believe that the little squirt is six months old?  Can you also believe that:

• I am four times older than Mason.
• Mommy is 60 times older than Mason
• Daddy is 72 times older than Mason.

Craziness I tell you!  Time is sure flying by!

If you haven't heard, I really love my brother.  I help daddy push him around school in the stroller.  I pat his tummy and back when he cries.  I even help put his bottles away.  Mommy and daddy sure hope that I keep loving him like this.  I think they're worried that he and I are going to fight like daddy and Uncle Jeff did.  Can you believe that those two fought until daddy went away to college!  I heard that daddy used to beat up Uncle Jeff.  Now that Uncle Jeff is a police officer, I don't think daddy stands a chance.  Sorry daddy.  At least you can still beat up the punk at school.

So...to carry on the tradition:

Things that Mason likes:

• Baby Sienna.  Much to Kyden's dismay, he likes sucking on her fingers.
• Hair product.  I don't know what that kid puts in his hair, but it's freaky!
• Chewing on things.  He cut his first tooth a few days ago and chews on everything!
• Action.  He doesn't like missing out on the action.  It took me a little while to get used to napping at daycare.  Mason's been there forever and he still doesn't nap for more than half an hour.
• Hanging out with me and my friends.  He hangs out with the moms during my gym class.
• Doing yoga.  Happy baby is his favorite pose.
• Sucking his toes.  Yuck!  (He does suck his thumb too...but toes?!)
• Grabbing things.  He threw daddy's rice bowl off of the table at Gombei.  Strange...no one yelled at him either.  Any time I throw food on the floor, I get a time out.  DOUBLE STANDARD!
• Playing steam roller.  He steam rolls around the house.  I don't think he's ever going to crawl.  He just rolls around like a steam roller. 

Things that Mason doesn't like:

• Staying up late.  As soon as it gets near 8:00 at night, that kid gets grumpy.
• Being hungry.  When he's hungry...he cries and whines (loud!)  He gets that from mommy.
• Being rocked to sleep at school.  I think this kid has a split personality or something because he sleeps fine at home.

The punk

There's a kid in my daycare class that's mean to me. We'll call him "the punk."  Mama doesn't like him at all. Once she saw him hit me behind a bookshelf that was blocking the teacher's view.  She intervened and told him to stop. When she picks me up, he always gets in Mason's face and play with the toys hanging on his stroller.  Mama says he has no concept of personal space and seems aggressive.

Earlier this week while I was getting ready for bed, mama noticed what looked like teeth marks on my back.  She asked me if someone tried to bite me today (cuz it's happened before when I was a baby).  I told her no one bit me, but the punk hit me. She asked me if I told him to stop and if I told my teachers.  I said yes. The teachers told him to leave me alone.  Mama reminded me that when someone does something that I don't like, I should say, "Stop! I don't like that." very loudly.  If s/he doesn't stop, I should walk away and tell my teachers.

Dada mentioned it to Ms. Darlene the next day.  Turns out mama's instincts were right!  Apparently, the punk has a history, and Ms. Darlene says that they've talked to the parents many times. She said they'd talk about hitting/biting and how it's bad during circle time. Well, that didn't work because the punk pushed me and took my hat when we were playing in the play yard! My teachers got involved and put a stop to it.

Ms. Marin told mama and dada during the progress check that they're watch the punk like a hawk and will intervene if they see anything.  Apparently the punk will be "graduating" to pre-school soon.  She also says it's good that I use my conflict resolving words (e.g. Stop. I don't like that. Walk away.) and tell the teachers if something happens, just in case they miss something.

Mama's really not thrilled about the situation and is concerned that the punk will continue to be mean to me.  I guess her protective mama bear instincts are coming out.  Auntie Christi says that when you bring your dog to daycare, they do a socialization test.  If your dog exhibits aggressive behavior and doesn't pass, then s/he can't go to the daycare.  How come they don't require a similar test for kiddie daycare?

Selective hearing

Mama and dada had a meeting with Ms. Marin, my primary teacher at daycare, for a development progress check today.  She said I'm doing great, and she's really not worried about me.  I'm super smart, socialize well with the other kids, love helping and am easy going.  The only thing I don't do really well is listen (duh, I'm two).  For example, when it's circle time and the teachers are calling us, I prefer to stay and play with the cars. Apparently I do the same thing at home with mama and dada. Mama said that I have selective hearing.  That's a good thing, right?

Happy Dada's Day!

Happy Dada's Day to all the dada's out there!  My gift to dada was waking him up and saying, "Dada I'm all done sleeping" at 5 AM.  That's right, it was still dark out!  I think he loved it. I mean, what better way to say I love and appreciate you than spending every waking moment with him, right? 

We spent the night at Ethan's house - even grandma and grandpa! It was like a big slumber party. Dada set up a tent inside Ethan's house so I could experience camping. Not only did I sleep in the tent at night, but also for my monster 4 hour nap.  Someone needs to tell dada that camping happens outside, not inside. Doesn't matter though. I had a blast sleeping inside the tent! Hmm...I wonder if I can get dada to set up the tent in my room.

We hung out all day at Ethan's house. I helped Grandpa make breakfast. We cracked eggs and made cinnamon french toast. After breakfast, I read books with grandpa and played with all of Ethan's toys.  Mama and dada went to a "meeting."  The strange things is that they were wearing the same kind clothes that mama and auntie Michelle wear when they go bike riding together.  Hmm...

I like it at Ethan's house.  He has lots of toys and a swimming pool! It was so hot outside that the pool water was about the same temperature as the pool where I take swim class. I had fun splashing in the pool with dada.  Mason even got in on the action too.  Good think Ethan had an extra swim diaper for him!

After a full day of playing, we headed to Uncle Mike's house for dinner. I walked around the house for a little bit, looking for toys to play with.  Uncle Mike must've been hiding them.  So, I asked mama, "Can I play with the toys?"  Turns out Uncle Mike doesn't have any toys for us kids. What's up with that?  Good thing dada brought my train set. 

What a fun dada's day for me and Mason.  Sorry for waking you up so early Dada, but I think your sleeping in days are over.

Hangin' with the ladies

I went to a Adrienne's 3rd birthday party this afternoon.  She lives in Sacramento...that's really far!

I was looking forward to hangin' out with her.  We always have lots of fun when we get together.  Last time I saw her, we had a baby rave in my room.  I even practiced singing Happy Birthday before we got to the party.  You know, I had to be in tune so I could impress her (and her friends).

When we arrived at the party, mama noticed that all the kids (who were my age) were girls.  Mason and I were the only boys!  How strange.  Usually, it's the other way around.  Lots of boys and only 1-2 girls.  When mama asked Auntie Joy if any more boys were coming to the party, Auntie Joy paused  and said that she didn't think so.  Hmmm...how cool!  Just me (Mason doesn't really count yet) and the ladies.

Adrienne had an inflatable kiddie water slide in the backyard.  Unlike the 20 ft one at Anders party, this one was actually kiddie sized.  Even though it was kiddie sized and I love slides, I was still scared and didn't want to play on it.  So while the other kids were outside on the water slide, I hung out inside and ate some food.  Secretly, I was hungry and didn't want to be stuffing my face in front of all the ladies.  That's not cool.

I had a great time hang in with the girls.  They loved me.  And I loved them.  Happy Birthday Adrienne!  Thanks for inviting me to your party.

Uncle Eddie's in town!

Uncle Eddie came to town on Thursday night to interview for a job.  Mama and PoPo are really hoping that things work out with this opportunity in Pleasanton because it would mean that he, Auntie Lia and Caylie could move back to the Bay Area, and we could all hang out more often. I'm crossing my fingers and toes that it works out.

Dada and I met up with Uncle Eddie and PoPo for lunch on Saturday. Strange, right? Where were mama and Mason?  They went to a pre-baby lunch for Chloe's mama; Chloe's supposed to get a baby sister in July.  So Mason hung out with all the girls.  I heard that Sienna was flirting with him...putting her hands on his face and letting him suck on her fingers.  Good think Kyden and I weren't there. Kyden probably would've kicked Mason's butt, and then I'd have to get involved to defend Mason and all heck would've broken loose.

After my nap, I played trains and cars with Uncle Eddie.  I also showed him my doctor toys and he showed me how to be a real doctor!  See, here I am listening to his heart.  I'm so good that I only need one ear to hear it. 

Since I napped for most of the afternoon, we met up with Uncle Eddie and PoPo for brunch today.  He wanted to see me (and Mason, mama and dada. Okay, let's be honest, he mainly wanted to see me) before he flew back home to Maryland. When we got home I showed him our new backyard and my water play table.

Mama thinks it's funny that Uncle Eddie likes to hang out with me now that I'm older and more interactive.  She says that when I was a baby like Mason, he didn't know what to do with me. I think he's gotten better at holding babies and playing with toddlers because he and Auntie Lia have a baby of their own.

I like playing with Uncle Eddie.  Let's hope he moves back to the Bay Area so I can hang out with him more and break him in for Caylie.

Lice

My daycare identified two cases of head lice in my classroom today.  Eww...gross!  Mama and dada are really hoping that it doesn't spread to me.  If I have it, I can't go to daycare - and they can't go to work.  

As a precaution, my teachers disinfected the room with bleach, washed all the linens and removed the dress-up clothes and other soft items from the classroom. Dada grabbed my spare clothes and blanket so we can wash it.  And starting tomorrow I have to do a "head check" so I can be cleared to go to my classroom in the morning.  The head check will be in effect until July 15.

Mama's grossed out and feels like there're things crawling around on skin.  Dada thinks it sucks because he doesn't have time to deal with these darn bugs.  Ummm...hello, he should think it sucks because if I have lice, it'll be uncomfortable for me!