One more month before he turns TWO! My little baby is turning into a toddler. Here is the latest on what Rocco's been doing along with the monthly photo in his blue chair.
1) BBQ Pringles are his favorite food. When given the chips on his high chair, he turns them all over so that the curves are facing the same way. He's also very particular about lining his toy cars and animals a certain way. I hope this meticulous habit he has is the precursor to an organized leadership lifestyle and not one of obsessing over tiny details.
2) When I tell him it is time to get out of the bathtub, he immediately begins to clean up his toys. He'll put his balls in the bucket and all the other toys in their proper place. Before he gets out, he thinks he has to splash with his hands.
3) He's started learning his colors.
4) When we have several items, we'll tell him, "Let's count." He'll use his index finger to point to each of the items while we count.
5) In the bathtub, he often does not want to sit down. He prefers to stand up and make wet splashes with his feet as he stomps.
6) He can finally step down the one step into Nana and Granddaddy's living room without holding on to the wall, someone's hand, or sitting down.
7) His basic phone conversation is always the same. He greets the person with a high pitched, "Hey!" He normally ends with three "Bye, bye, bye."
8) Playing with his matchbox cars is one of his favorite things to do. He makes the "Bbbb," sound to go along with it so much I'm surprised his lips aren't tired.
9) He can construct a tower 10 blocks high.
10) On 3-1-08, he called me "Mommy," for the first time instead of "Mama."
11) It won't be much longer until he can pedal himself on the tricycle. Just recently he grew tall enough to barely touch them!
12) The simplest things bring him joy. . . seeing a box of Cheerios, getting a glimpse of me when I pick him up in the afternoon, or just lining up his toys. He'll do a quick dance, sort of like jogging in place, while he exclaims, "Yeah!" When he gets really excited, he'll run around the room and sling his right arm back and forth.
13) He holds a pen like an adult. He'll look really close at the paper and intently scribble on paper.
14) On our way to church we pass a power plant. Rocco loves to point to the tall smoke stacks. We have to acknowledge them every time. You can see them from a far distance, so for about 5 or minutes we'll talk about them, count the smoke stacks, and when we pass them he'll shrug his arms like, "Where'd they go?" He answers his own question by pointing back behind himself when they're out of sight.
15) Rocco is a little mess. As soon as I take off his diaper and clothes for his bath, he takes off running. I'll chase him calling, "Come here you nudy boy. I'll get you nudy bootie!" He laughs, rolls around on the carpet, and runs away from me some more.
16) He'll work at the calculator pushing buttons and say, "Two, two. two. . . " He still loves to brush his teeth. I guess we eith have a dentist or future accountant on our hands.
Just when I thought I'd let it go unnoticed, he became a little more brave. Now this is a little bit too far. Check out the intent concentration on his face. 
Yeah, he knows he's a stinker and not supposed to be doing that.
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The two structures that once were a landmark on our farm are now gone due to a lightning strike. 
So is our nephew's four wheeler, the lawnmower, countless tools, and part of my father-in-law's tractor. 
One of the worst losses was our hay. Every bit of it. . . 35 bales. . . is now in a blaze of smoke. 
Jason had just finished moving it all over there the other day. In these days of drought, hay is like gold. Poor cows. We'll have to trust and pray for some other way to feed them.
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They're more than first cousins; they are buddies. Rocco doesn't give this kind of sugar to just anybody!
Both of them enjoyed the new big toy on the farm. . . the John Deere tractor. 
While Rocco was taking his four hour nap earlier, Drew was putting in a hard day's work. He spent six hours outside helping his Uncle Jason put up a fence for the cattle. Rocco was in a great mood after all that snoozing and was ready for some fun on the farm! 
Rocco is ready to go in his farmer outfit. He is a Liberty Overhaul and Carthart kind of guy. . . but he's handsome in anything! 
Years of praying, dreaming, and hoping finally became a reality today as the John Deere tractor was delivered to the farm. And one little boy was very happy about it (of course I'm talking about Jason). 
Rocco was afraid at first to play in the inflatables. Clinging tightly to me, he fussed and cried while the kids around him were having a great time. Slowly he began to warm up to the whole idea of jumping and sliding down the inflatables. 
After I had played with little man for an hour, it was Uncle Ty's turn to enjoy the inflatables with him a while. They climbed, jumped, and slid. When they got through Rocco wanted to go again. 
I love this picture of my dad with Rocco. 
I'm glad that my parents came to the party. Today was their 34th anniversary. After eating dinner, this was their "date." Their lives have changed, too, since Rocco came along!
I can't believe he wanted to sit in this car. Up until now he's been scared of things like this. He enjoyed sitting next to Garfield and turning the steering wheel. . . that is until my dad put a token in it for him and he wanted OUT!