It's Beginning to Look

A lot like Christmas. Matthew has really been getting into the Christmas Spirit, enjoying the lights, trees, and decorations. So far he has only tried to open one present under the tree and did not understand that it was for someone else.

Climbing the ladder to put up wreaths with bows.

He really thought Daddy needed help on the ladder.

Saturday was Breakfast with Santa, he was more cooperative with the former than the latter.

There is a Christmas cup and saucer near the fireplace for Milk and Cookies. Matthew likes both.

Matthew also went to the Watkinsville Christmas Parade and had an excellent time.

Finally Matthew loves the Christmas tree in his room and insists that it be lit up all the time. The tree has a lot of western themed ornaments, and he argues with his Mama that one ornament is a "violin" not a "fiddle".

Happy Halloween

Matthew was very excited for Halloween this year. He has been getting ready for several weeks. First he picked out his own pumpkin. Which pumpkin did he pick?

That one!

Next Matthew picked out his own costume this year.

It's your friendly neighborhood Spider-man

But Matthew Spider-man did not stand still long
There were crimes to be fought...

And Candy to be gotten!

It doesn't have to be Halloween, for Matthew to dress-up. 

Every once in a while he tries out Pajama Cowboy.

This picture may not look great, but he is mid "yee-haw"

Over a month ago, Matthew turned two years old and dressed up like a birthday boy for his party

Joined by his friends Will and Cooper and Mickey!

Happy Halloween!

Pre-Birthday Fun

Matthew is preparing for his 2nd birthday. To prevent a birthday excitement overload, his parents have been slowly building the excitement levels to increase his tolerance. In some ways it has been akin to a popular circuit training regiment; instead of 90 days, Matthew's exercise plan only needs 5 days, p-5-fun!

Stage 1 is Cupcake curls. Matthew will be enjoying cupcakes with his preschool friends this week as well, but he had to begin training at home.

 The biggest excitement so far came at the Cole Brothers Circus. It is one of your smaller traveling circuses, which was perfect. In this phase of his training, Matthew worked up quite a sweat watching the show. He especially loved the animals.

"Woo. Elephants"

Matthew really wanted to increase his level of involvement at the circus. He didn't understand why he couldn't get in the caged arena with 9 tigers (it didn't look too dangerous for beast-master-tiger-tamer-guy and his assistant). And his first thought when he saw the human canon ball prepare for his launch......

I wanna go down the big slide

He is fearless and ready for his 2nd birthday.

Pre-School

This week Matthew started his first week of pre-school. He is in class with 11 other youngsters his age two mornings a week. He can already sing the Alphabet song, over, and over, and over.

On the way to learn and play

The bookbag is almost as large as the student

Matthew also got to see a lot of his friends at Will Lawson's 3rd birthday party last weekend.

He loves to swing and there was a bar just his size....

So many ways to bounce...

And roll with the birthday boy

All weekend long Matthew and the youngsters had a great time playing while the adults discussed the plans for the upcoming Georgia football season!

What Doin'?

Matthew is full of questions. He asks where things , people, and even pets are located (juice go? Mama go? Lily go?). Lately, his favorite question is to ask what you are doing, or "what doin?" Since it has been more than a month since Matthew last blog, below is a quick update of what Matthew has been doing.

Matthew has started to enjoy exercise. While he is not a fan of yoga stretching, he is a fan of stretching the yoga mat. He also loves picking up weights and then throwing them on the floor.

Matthew also got to meet Jack Lawson. He still thinks Will is more fun, but "baby Jack" doesn't mind when Matthew steps in front of the camera to show off his cheese.

Matthew spent the month of July taking swimming lessons at the YMCA.

By far his favorite thing was jumping off the side of the pool. Sometimes at the count of three, and sometimes sooner. Can't Wait!

Puzzling

Matthew has been spending a lot of time with his puzzles lately. Pulling the puzzles off of the shelf, dumping the pieces on the floor, and then putting each piece back in place. He wants someone to "help", but that usually just means he wants someone he can talk to, or do animal or machine noises for as he handles each piece.

His cheese has improved as well

"more puzzle, more puzzle"

Unfortunately, shortly after returning from the beach, Matthew's new found puzzle solving ability led to him solving the puzzle of his crib. As a result he had no problems climbing out, leaving his room, and meeting his parents at the gate at the top of the steps. So after a few nights of Matthew climbing out in less than 60 seconds, he was upgraded to a toddler "big boy" bed. He has gotten better at staying in his bed, but he still runs to the top of the steps to holler for Mama when he wakes up in the middle of the night. Watching Matthew climb out of crib on the video monitor was similar to The Great Escape.....

"I'm going.....out"

Toes in the Water

Matthew just returned from a week-long vacation in Destin, Florida. It was his first trip to the Gulf Coast. Last year Matthew loved the beach, but this year he was hesitant at first.

The crashing waves and cool saltwater were not initially as alluring as expected. The sand was deep and difficult to walk on. But after a while, he really got the hang of it and liked the waves and the sand.

He enjoyed playing with all his beach toys and he even made a few new friends with some of the other kids on the beach.

 The vacation wasn't restricted to the beach, there was also a trip to Big Kahuna water park where Matthew enjoyed splashing, sliding, and relaxing on the lazy river. He also enjoyed seeing all the fish in Destin (even the fake ones).

Thursday evening Matthew went on a Dolphin Cruise.

He got to see Dolphins and they even let him steer the boat.

A Great Vacation!

May O.K.

Matthew's new favorite word is "OK". He started using it mostly after a tumble to indicate that he wasn't hurt. Now, he has learned to use OK excitedly in response to a question or, what appears to be sarcastically, in response to a scolding. After several weeks on the road, Matthew stayed home this weekend and got to enjoy splashing in the pool for the first time this year.

A couple of weeks ago, Matthew was making waves in a lake in Alabama. Matthew learned to use his own Spider-man fishing pole, but he also had to make sure Daddy was using his correctly.

Reel slower Matthew.OK

Great grand daddy Cowboy got a workout pulling Matthew in the wagon

Of course he had to see the cows

Falling asleep during lunch is becoming a Sunday tradition

April's Dusty Trail

Last weekend between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, Matthew attended Horse Show Saturday. His two favorite words at the horse show were "Aunt D", usually followed closely by Ride!

Sitting Pretty

Every time the horse stopped, even if it was just to take a picture, Matthew would rock in the saddle and say ride, or go. Just about the only way to get Matthew out of the saddle was to bribe him with another favorite activity, Bubbles!

Papa helping Matthew pop the bubbles in the wind.

The water bucket doubles as a wash basin

Easter morning Matthew inspected his clothes, books, and treats

After church, he was ready to go see the horses again, and didn't even slow down to change clothes.
Today his parents took him to the Washington Farms Strawberry Festival in Oconee County. Once again, his first stop was the animals, goats, chickens, pig, rabbits, and

Baby Cows, which he said at least 30 times

But then, Matthew found the playgrounds, slides, and finally the inflatable, bouncy castle and he had a blast. His parents have to catch their breath when ever they can, because when Matthew wakes up from his nap, he will hit the ground running.

Spring Outside

The weather has been good enough that Matthew has been able to spend time outside almost every day. The warm weather also means lots of yard work....

Working on the tractor

Re-locating the sand in the box

And moving the rocks around the patio

The base of the big tree has lots of sticks that require Matthew's attention. Finally, there is time to play with the ever popular bubbles!

Matthew's favorite part is to pop the bubbles and say "POP" each time! Pop, pop, pop