My Goonie

We gave him money to throw in. He made his wish and asked for more. When we didn't deliver on handing out more money he made himself an honorary Goonie. The only difference was he was taking other peoples wishes but instead of putting them in his pockets he was throwing them back in for another wish. A refined modern day Goonie. 

Bryson's Lady

If Bryson had to pick his leading lady, he would pick Grandma Ellen. These two are buds, and adorable buds at that. He really enjoys his time with Grandma Ellen, my theory is that he has figured out she won't tell him no like his mom! She is defiantly doing what grandma's do best, spoiling grandkids and giving them things she wouldn't have given her own kids, but giving them to ours because she can!!!

Bryson 21 Months......

Since I am catching up the blog and didn't put my notes in like I usually do I have nothing special to say about Bryson except he continues to be a sweet little man. Doesn't have much to say yet, but you can tell he is taking it all in. He still loves to tap your leg to get your attention and it seems to work for him at this point so no worries on our end on our silent little man.

Loves to Cook

Mason wasn't the role play child, Bryson will play any roll you put him in. He currently loves to bake cupcakes. He even pretends they are hot and wears his hot pad as he serves you! He spends hours playing in the toy kitchen! 

Bryson's new tote

Bryson really likes to mimic Ellery. She is very impressionable for him as Mason is for her. She tends to be more into what Mason likes when he is around, but when it is just Bryson and Ellery her girly girl side really comes out which brings out Bryson's girly side. Grandma Debbie probably had no idea that the barn yard animals in this cute barn carrier would get a lot of playtime. Bryson likes to carry it around and will put anything he finds in it along with the animals. Sometimes he chooses to find another home for the animals so he can put more into the barn. Today he decided that Rob's shoe would be a perfect new home for the animals. Sometimes he tucked it under his arm like a football and other times the shoe strings proved to be a great handle for him!

How are you doing

Bryson is doesn't understand what "monkey sees monkey can't do." He is a firm believer in the concept of monkey see/monkey do! Our newest cry for being older is sitting in a big boy chair. I literally have to bend him to get him to sit in his chair. It isn't a pleasant scene or experience for anyone around. Some days I just don't have the fight in me and Easter was one of them. I decided to let him be the big boy that he thinks he is. The problem is that while I was multitasking on getting everyone else their requests and needs I didn't tend to Bryson's table manners. I found him happy as can be enjoying his meal, just not like how I would prefer he sit at the table!

Donuts at Church

I usually pick him a white frosted donut, but they were out today. If you have to ask why, look closer at this sweet boy. He had chocolate everywhere and he now eats donuts like his sister. Eat all the frosting off the top and then decide if you want to eat the bottom half. Most of the time the answer is no, but sometimes they eat a little of the bottom or pawn it off to Mason. Mason is opposite, he would take most everything plain before condiments and frosting. Mason and Rob eat the middle pieces of cake while Ellery, Bryson, and I eat the frosted edges. Thank goodness we have 4 corners on a cake and I only have to share two of those corners! 

Jump and Sit

Bryson is fearless and loves to jump on the trampoline with the big kids. Who am I kidding, this kid loves to do anything a bigger kid does. He is his newest trick on the trampoline! He can jump and sit!

Bryson-20 Months

This little man is growing up. Our new favorite things to do is closing doors and light switches.  He is getting tall enough to stand on tippy toes to switch things on and off, or he will stand on whatever structure is available.

I found sunglasses

Oh, Bryson has found sunglasses and not just any pair. Only pink will work for him!

Bryson 18 month check up

Height: 33.25 inches (65%)

Weight: 24 lb 13 oz (29%)

Head Circumference: 19.09 inches (64%)
Everything checked out for Bryson. We are concerned about his lack of speaking or talking, but he has a lot of people who do the talking for him. We also reward him for his tapping and crying. We have no doubt he is absorbing it all in, he just doesn't have the desire to show us verbally. 

Rainy Day

It got quiet and I went looking for my pal and found him looking out the window reflecting on the rainy day!
They are right when they say the little things warm your heart! These are the memories I never want to forget or let fade away in my always buzzing mommy brain!

Bryson 19 Months

Not much has changed in the past month with Bryson other than the frequency he pats my leg to show me something or to lead me to what he wants. Not much of a talker, but I am sure that will change. He loves the cat and is usually nice to her, he does attempt to pick her up. Sometimes he is successful at carrying her around and other times not so much. I should get a picture, but poor DC is so old I feel sorry for her so I rescue her. He is easy with the cat, but mean to the dog. Which isn't good because Hudson is getting old and not doing so good in health. Thankgoodness his a gentle dog to the kids because Bryson isn't so gentle with him. All my other kids never took to using utensils. I am not sure they have taken to using utensils rather than fingers, but Bryson prefers utensils. Sure he isn't very good at using them, but he loves to try and we let him. He also LOVES bubbles. This man loves to play with bubbles, chase bubbles, blow bubbles, and pop bubbles. Anything with bubbles and he is captivated. I am sure I am forgetting to write something about him, but still a great kid. We get compliments all the time from MDO, church nursery, baby sitters, and the list could go on commenting on how sweet he is. All these places he is on his own without his sister. He worships what she does, but Ellery doesn't view it that way so they battle for everything. She is getting smart and learning that Bryson wants what she wants so she will give it to him and then go get something else so he will want that and then she gives him that and gets what she originally had from the start! I should start giving away tickets to the Chaplin household shows, they are a hoot!

Bryson Position

It isn't that uncommon to now find Bryson sitting in chairs and getting into things that he really shouldn't be getting into. He loves digging through the desk drawer and finding items I didn't know we had. He still loves carrying around tiny objects, the tinier the better! He also likes to find the right size pencils and pens and drop them through the cane seat of the chair. Ellery then comes running trying to find her papers and pencils that Bryson isn't allowed to have, which then turns into our everyday situation. Bryson wants what Ellery has or anything that is hers! She loves pink therefore Bryson loves pink. He is biased to anything she shows a preference for. She is starting to figure the system out. Give Bryson what she has, go find something else so he will want that, he then drops what she originally had, and goes for the second object, she then gives it to him willingly. He now has something that she just had, but she got back what she originally wanted.

Bryson 18 Months

Oh this little man is my true snuggler. He would snuggle with me all day long and somedays I find myself not getting anything done, but holding this sweet boy in my arms. He is my constant companion and the greatest acessory. He will just snuggle up into my shoulder, it is a feeling I hope to never forget! He is becoming a bit possessive. It is a competition on who gets to sit in my lap between him and Ellery. He cries and throws a fit when she wins. Which brings us to his unpleasant side. He isn't the best communicator so he either taps for what he wants or cries. He is starting to say mama and dada more, but he now has an annoying habit I have somehow rewarded because he will come up and tap me on the leg rather than talk to me to get my attention. He will keep tapping until I acknowledge him or give him my hand so he can point or take me to what he wants. I guess having a house full of people who are talkers isn't helping his situation. He does say a few words like cat, ball, mama, dada, sister and has I want that down pat (love the play on words wit the pat), but he prefers his morris code method of tapping me on the leg.

He loves trying to keep up with the other kids and is starting to run after them to keep up. Sometimes he is graceful, but he finds himself on the floor a lot picking himself up and also running into things. He will keep walking and walk right into items because he is flashing his sweet smile or giggle. He just finds whatever he comes in contact with isn't as sweet. He is also into climbing up onto chairs, tables, and sofas. It isn't uncommon to find him sitting on a chair playing with legos at the lego table, or sitting in the chair in the kitchen going through the drawer looking for a piece of paper and a writing utensil to write on. It also isn't that uncommon to find him ontop of the table if what he prefers is just a bit out of reach. I will just call this resourceful, but it does make my heart skip a few beats.

He remains a great eater and sleeper, a resilient 3rd born.

Hair

I think we broke this wig out almost a year ago. I think we got Bryson wearing it last year, but he wanted nothing to do with it this year! Ellery is our dress up queen! She doesn't want to cut her hair, she wants to grow it out like Tangled aka Rapunzel.

Helpful Sister

Bryson no longer needs his sisters help while getting up into a chair. After you watch the video from the helpful sister on our holiday break, you can see why his motivation to do it on his own was moved up on his to do list. I am not sure anyone would enjoy being squeezed like an orange being juiced on attempting to get into a chair?

Painting

We are really into making calendars and crossing the days off as they go by. I should clarify, I have the kids make calendars every month so we practice writing letters and numbers along with filling it in with highlights that happen that month. The kids enjoy it and have no idea that they are practicing or working! We then had the idea to make writing utensil holders because I kept finding pencils and markers all over the upstairs. The down side of having calendars upstairs. Usually no writing utensils are allowed out of the the kitchen area. We made fun holders out of toilet paper rolls with what I call tongue depressors (wooden sticks?) hot glued on. The new rule of the house is if I find a writing utensil upstairs that isn't in the hold it goes away for 2 big sleeps. This method has worked well! We had a few days that no one had a writing utensil to use to cross off the day, tears were shed, but when they got them back they keep them put up!

We then got out the paint and everyone was thrilled. Even Bryson was excited to paint.
I did make the mistake and left the painting area to switch over the laundry while everyone was into their project. I could hear the chatter going on so I got greedy and started a load as well. I came back to a painted blue faced baby! Bryson will carry around small barbie pieces and legos and never eat them or put them close to his mouth, but leave him alone with paint and he eats it? This is one I will never understand, and thank goodness is states it is non toxic, but really what is this kid thinking?

Bryson's First Hair Cut

I think the picture says it all on how our first hair cut was taken. He screamed through the whole process, but we managed to get it trimmed up a little bit, but now he has an awful comb over comparable to Donald Trumps.

I deny it often, but soon I will have to come to grips that I don't have a baby anymore! Rob and I tease that we should start therapy funds for our kids rather than college funds due to the damage we might do in our parenting skills or lack of sometimes. We might have to start me a therapy fund as well or I just might become a hoarder with all the baby and kids items!

Brotherly Love

If this picture doesn't warm your heart I don't know what would! Sweet sweet boys.

Rob is convinced that Mason is a match on him by personality, but I am going to win on mini Mandi personalities. Ellery is a mini me up down, all around, in and out, Bryson is showing signs for Team M as well!