"I can't hear, Ma!!"

**Enjoying freeze-pops together...
**He actually SAT for this picture!! I told him to say "CHEEEEEESE!" These were taken at the Bird Haven Greenhouse in Joliet.

**WEEEE, a BRIDGE!!!

**Happy 2nd Birthday, Jason!!** (dig Jake's Christmas jammies!! He loves those things!)

**Here is Jason, helping Dad put his toddler bed together. Has he slept in it yet? HECK NO!!! Still sleeping with his brother! So much for that! :)**

*******************
Today was a really fun day for me and Jason. For starters, we went to the Pilcher Park Nature Center, where I have him signed up for the Nature Babies session. This was our first class (we only just visited the Center last week) and was it FUN!! The Nature Center is located waaaay back in the woods. You drive thru the woods, on this one-way paved road. It was just beautiful, with all the wonderful colors of the leaves!!

Anyway, I was a little nervous about the 'class,' because Jason is not one to SIT! But wow, he did great!! We all gathered round, on a colorful rug, and the 'teacher' asked for volunteers to help her hold the 'friends song' sign. Jason hopped right up, stood there and held up one corner. When the song was over, he came over to me and plopped right back in my lap. WOW. I was shocked! Wanted to ask him if he was feeling ok - he NEVER SITS!! :) Today we learned about Nemo, their resident red-tailed hawk. The teacher passed around different feathers, eggs, etc., and talked a bit about the bird, and then a handler brought him out. Jason kept waving to it and saying 'Baaaaa...'

Then we did a craft - rather, *I* did the craft while Jason played with another boy. Then it was outside, for a quick walk around the bldg (which is like a big ol' log cabin), along a little trail in the woods, to look for leaves and acorns. While everyone else was looking for colorful leaves, Jason high-tailed it outta there - not interested, I guess.

We went back in for a snack and listened to a story. Sang a goodbye song, and that was that. FUN!! I really enjoyed it, and was SOOO happy that Jason had a great time, too!!

We came home, had lunch and played with Play-doh (his latest interest) for the longest time. Then he said, "Bear..." (by which he means "The Jungle Book" dvd). I popped that in for him, and started picking up his playroom, which is right off the family room where he was. He started calling me, "Mom. MOM." I looked over at him and he was pointing at his ear. Took me a second but I realized he was trying to tell me to turn the volume up!! I asked, "Do you want me to turn it up, so you can hear?" He shook his little head and said "yeah..."

THEN, we were playing later (I was a horsey and he'd climb on my back!), and he scratched my lip/cheek on accident. I said, "OW!" and he just stared at my lip. He leaned over and...kissed my boo-boo!! He's NEVER done that before! He did it twice, in fact!! Awwww...