Treasure Chest. Literally.

One night I was getting Joe ready for bed and when I went to put on his jammies, he started pawing at the footie part. So I felt around, and there was one of Frank's dad's rings in there. Weird, I thought. But Joe hangs out in the bathroom with me in the mornings when I get ready, and Frank has kept his rings on the bathroom shelf for ages. I just figured that while Joe was standing on the toilet seat (as he does, usually wanting to imitate me putting on make-up or making hairdryer sound effects) he tucked it in his jammies. No big deal.

The next night: a different ring of Frank's dad's. Alllllriiiight. 

Not long after that, I was looking for my wedding & engagement rings after I got out of the shower. Naturally. I patted Joe down, but didn't feel them. He kept wanting to play in the toilet (or so I thought) going over to lift the lid, and I kept telling him no. Finally, I looked in there myself, and there they were at the bottom (he had slid them under the closed lid while he was standing on it).

One day at the children's museum, he walked around happily with a plastic banana sticking out of the top of his shirt. 

Now we are never shocked with what we find in his shirt. Just one of his things, yanno? Whatever it is, usually gets lodged in the waistband of his diaper, so it might not be the most comfortable thing, but it's not like he's putting stuff in his mouth, ears or nose. (I know, give it time). 

If you are on facebook, you may recall that this happened the other night at dinner. 

Joe says no.

It's kinda cute. He actually thinks we will listen to him when he says it.

Also, this is an oldie (from a month or so ago) but a goodie. Note the belt. He has matching white loafers now too.

Toddlers are helpful & hilarious!

Joe is learning some more important skills these days. He has toast making mastered (RUN to the fridge to get the bread, frantically saying "Want tooooast!" Have your parent open the fridge, look inside while saying "Ummmmm" and looking for the bread. Take it out, and bring it to the area of the counter where the toaster oven is. Have your parent pick you up & place you on the counter, and remove TWO pieces of bread, one for each of you. Put them in the toaster oven (have your parent plug the thing in), and close the door ("CloooooseIT!") and push the button. Place your hand on the still-cool door and say "HOT!" and "Wait! Inna minute!" Then push the button back up, and try to eat still cold bread. Toasting only takes place if he is distracted. 

He's REALLY interested in helping me make tea every morning. 

He is also very specific about dancing. There are songs that he likes, and songs that he doesn't. And holding a ball (basket, soccer, bouncy) is also required at all times. He also has ideas of where we have to stand when we dance. Right now, he's pretty into this REM song. (We had a pretty sweet whole-house running game to "Born to Run" right before bed. Took forever to wind him down from that one. Understandably.)