Gardner Wilson

Hot Fun in the Summertime Peyton "stopped" the sprinkler for a while, causing Gardner to cautiously ease closer. When the water once again went flying, Gardner did, too! Gardner....what that expression means, I have no idea. Looks like his daddy in this picture. Ken showing Gardner the ropes in his brand new sandbox. This kid loves sand. (Mommy enjoyed digging her feet into the cool sand, too.)

....So now I have a bathroom story. Every mom has them. Most start around this age. Here's mine. We bought Gardner his first potty chair a couple of weeks back. We mainly wanted to get him used to the fact that it's a "piece of furniture" now, to get him used to seeing it. We taught him how to sit on it, clothed. Well, yesterday, while prepping him for a bath, I taught him how to sit on it....unclothed. I told him that "this is where you tee-tee" (that's what we call it 'round here). He giggled, and stood up. I turned my attention back to the bathtub water level, and glanced back just in time to see a stream shooting forth and hitting the potty seat, potty lid, and the shower curtain. He looked incredibly proud of his feat. I really believe he thought he'd just tee-teed in his potty. I laughed till my sides hurt. I figured that wouldn't happen again, at least for a while. I was wrong. I just had the same incident occur minutes ago, wh

Another molar? Perhaps. Gardner's been chewing incessantly on his fingers lately....pushing them far back into his mouth. I wonder if his 2nd molars, supposedly due anywhere from 20 months to 30 months, are coming in on the early side? (He's 20 months today.) He's been mimicking every single word or phrase....wanting to know what every object is that he comes across. We love telling him the new words and listening intently as he tries his hardest to pronounce them. Sometimes they sound exactly perfect....sometimes just a semblance....sometimes all that's correct is the number of syllables. Nevertheless, he's learning, and his vocabulary is expanding by leaps and bounds.

We bought Gardner his first potty this weekend, per advice from Dr. Treash. He's almost 20 months old, time to start thinking about it....but not necessarily rush into it. We just wanted him to see it, get familiar with it, and learn to take ownership of it. This photo shows him approaching it for the first time after watching me assemble it. He is pointing to it, saying, "Chair??" Finally, he sits down. He has learned to pose for pictures lately, too....can ya tell? Why do I get the certain feeling that I'm going to be seeing this exact scene many times over the next few years?? Hm....can anybody tell me who's been teaching Gardner to "cheese for the camera?" (Answer: Daddy.)

Gardner's friend, Peyton, turned three this weekend. He invited Gardner to his birthday party at Kid'z Depot, a local Thomas the Tank Engine spot. Tonight, Gardner had a lot of firsts......First time eating pizza (he's never liked it before this....honest), as you see here..... First time meeting a deer up close and personal (oh, wow).... First time riding a "train." Thank you, Peyton, for such a fun party!! (Gardner was also partaking in a birthday brownie cupcake, when he spotted something over on the other side of the room that beckoned his attention. He flew over there, and I took just a few seconds to set down my food to go find him. When I reached him, seconds later, cupcake was gone. We searched on the train tables, under the tables, on the floor, even in the bathroom nearby. No cupcake remnant to be found. The depot owners will find a nice, molded surprise later, I guess.)

Gardner and his Great-Grandpa at the annual Cooper family reunion, 5/6/06. Gardner thought that the gravel was one big sandbox. He was covered head to toe with grey grit. Gardner at Pendleton Beach....a cute little speck amid all of that sand.

Dear Papa Gravely, Mommy told me today that you passed away. I don't understand what that means at my age, and I know Mommy really wishes that I did. I came to see you several times, even though I won't remember them when I'm grown. Mommy and Daddy did take lots of pictures and videos of my visits with you, though, and I am sure I'll see them over the years over and over. I also know that Mommy will tell me stories about you so that it will be as if I knew you longer than the 19 months that I truly did. I am honored to carry on your namesake (Preston), and I will grow up to make you proud. Your great-grandson, Gardner Preston Wilson Gardner and Papa Gravely, Nov. 2005

Sometimes simple things are best.... No thrill-laden theme park needed for this lad to have fun (at least not yet). Just give him a springy, sunny day, a swingset, and a sandbox and he's all set.