Jim looked at Brennan in the video monitor yesterday morning to see what he was doing. We could hear that he was reading to himself, but we didn’t expect that he’d be doing it with a blanket on his head! He’d created his own little reading cave. Jim raced to find the camera and headed upstairs, snapping a few pictures. He asked B what he was doing, and Brennan replied, “Hiding blanket!!” He stood up with the blanket on his head and a smile on his face, ready to start the day. He brings us such joy.

Brennan was very excited to help me make whipped cream for strawberry shortcake. He doesn’t differentiate whipped cream much from “ice cream,” at least in the way he says it. He helped me whip that cream for several minutes, and he was very patient, so he was rewarded by being allowed to lick the spatula and beaters. It was a delicious treat.

Brennan and I have been reading books since 6:30 this morning, and it is now twenty to nine. (I know, I know… It’s a good thing. But sometimes I like to eat or go to the bathroom!) Anyway, the last story we read is one about all of the things different Sesame Street characters love. At the end, it asks, “What are some things that you love?” His response was so cute. He said, “Nennan love Annie… love… Claudeo… love… Chloe… love… Gramma… love… Jenny… love… Nana… love… Mommy… love… Daddy… love… mans… love… books… love… dogs… love…

Mommy and I made breakfast in bed today for Daddy. But then I felt left out, so Mommy made me some toast with peanut butter and I began Father’s Day alongside Daddy watching “Clifford.” I got a little peanut butter on the sheets, but not much. Overall I did well and thought I was pretty cool. What a special day!

Brennan painted his first ever masterpieces for Father’s Day. He gave one to Daddy and one to Grandpa, and he loved every minute of the experience. He didn’t hesitate to stick his fingers and hands in the paint and get started. This morning he was quite proud to give his picture to Daddy. I have been dying to post this photo for four days, but I didn’t want Jim to see it.

This is a cuter zoo picture from today, but Mommy felt like she needed to use the giraffe photo for her other post, given what she was writing about. I really enjoyed this turtle, and I think the turtle was curious about me, too. He popped his head and legs in and out to check me out, and I thought it was really cool. I talked to him a lot.

We went to the Nashville Zoo today, and it was HOT! I don’t care what the weather channel said; when I got home I checked the temperature outside my house and it was 111 degrees in the sun. Yes, you read that right: one hundred and eleven degrees. I believe it, too. The last time I sweated like that was in a hot box yoga class.

This morning when Brennan was eating toast he discarded the crusts on his plate while searching for fresh pieces. I don’t like to encourage the fact that he doesn’t eat crusts, but I did want him to keep eating, so I said, “Here, let’s move the crusts over to this side so you can see what’s left.” Brennan’s response? He said, “Perfect.” It made me laugh out loud. I didn’t even know he knew that word!

After a slow, lonely afternoon today, I was feeling sorry for myself. I emailed Jim that Brennan and I would meet him at the park after work for a picnic supper and some playground time. Brennan was beside himself with delight. He got to eat a big boy sandwich (not ripped up or cut for him), he played “kick the ball” with Daddy, and he tested all of the playground slides many, many times. I just love watching Jim and Brennan run and play together. It brings me such joy. I forget everything else and I think about how blessed I am to have a beautiful son and a loving husband who is also a fantastic father. I love being a family. My favorite part of the night was when I was pushing Brennan on the swing and I told him I needed a kiss. He kissed me and then said, “Hug?” He gave me a hug and said, “Awww…” I didn’t say much, but in my heart I was saying, “Perfect.”

When I was young my grandfather used to give me wheelbarrow rides in his backyard. He did the same for my mom when she was just a little girl. Now Jim is giving rides to Brennan. It’s the little things that mean a lot.

On Saturday Daddy worked outside replacing the several-year-old mulch in front of our house. He had to dig up quite a bit of dirt while he worked, and he created a mound in the backyard. It didn’t take me a whole minute to spot the mound and dive right in. I was covered from head to toe. I couldn’t tell if Mommy was more amused or horrified. She still has a few things to learn about raising a boy.