Raining Dogs and Dogs

Yesterday evening on our way home, it started pouring. It's been awhile since we've had some good rain, so it was a welcome sight. We pulled in our garage, and I was so thankful we didn't have to get out in that mess. Then I went to get Harvey out, and realized how much fun he would have in the pouring rain. The sun was out, no threat of lightening, so we went out in our driveway to play. Man, he loved it! He's a big fan of water, and he'll take it however he can get it. Even if it means he's weirdo mom makes him play outside when the sky is clearly falling. Our neighbors probably thought we were a little weird, but all they had to do was look at the big smile on his face to get it.

When I finally took him inside, I stripped him down to his diaper, he climbed up in his chair with his Dog Dog, I wrapped them both up in a blanket and turned on one of his Baby Einstein videos. Sweet boy sat there with the biggest grin on his face throughout the entire movie. Pretty sure that was his idea of the best day ever. Then we took him out to dinner where he screamed for my Diet Coke, threw food all around, and threw his sippy cup across the restaurant. But that's another story for another time. Kids are just bipolar. They can't help it.

There aren't too many monumental Harvey updates. He's currently cutting 4 molars (really helps with the bipolar activity), we're working on dropping the morning nap, he loves to play in his carboard box, he has a rather intense obsession with dogs. Really, it's beginning to interfere with everyday life. I'll explain in a minute. First, some words he knows: "Uh-oh" (repeated often throughout the day), ball, dog, shoes, gilk (milk---said while signing milk), mo (more--while signing more), tees (trees), "hey-o" (hello---used when answering anything (puzzle piece, block, lego) like a phone). He's turning into quite a character!

Ok, back to his dog obsession. We have Dog Dog, his bff dog stuffed animal. Dog Dog now goes everywhere and does everything with us. He rides next to Harv in shopping carts, sit in his car seat while we're driving somewhere---you get the picture. Then, we have a dog book that Natalie and Nick gave him for his birthday. He has requested it at bedtime every night since he got it. He knows it backwards and forwards. He even says "Tat!" (cat) at the end, just like I say it----but before I can even get the page turned all the way. No problem, it's good to have a routine. It's even good to have a favorite story. But now, anytime we even come close to his room, "Dog, dog, dog, dog, dog........." while reaching for the chair where we read. Obviously, we don't read it everytime we go in there. Sometimes we're simply on a mission to get his diaper changed and move on. Everytime he wakes up from nap, "Dog, dog, dog", and we'll usually read it to him then. We can't even go in there to play anymore---it's pretty much the only thing he can think about when we're in his bedroom.

So the other night,John and I were going to bed, it's about 10:45. He starts crying, I wait to see if he can work it out. A few minutes later, he's getting pretty worked up so I go in to check on him. Usually at night he's pretty out of it. I walk in, he rolls over and starts with "Dog Dog, Dog Dog, Dog Dog". Holy cow, seriously? Did you really just wake up and start crying for your Dog Dog? So I went to the living room, got Dog Dog out of the cardboard box where they had last been playing and brough him in to Harv. He snuggled up with him, stuck his thumb in his mouth, and that was that. Obsession. I think we're going to get him the Cat book soon. Blow his little baby mind.