This was a big month for us! Rocco has really progressed with his potty training. Many days he will stay completely dry at Nana and Granddaddy's house while Jason and I are at work. Often he'll go to the bathroom at their house and use it all by himself. One day Carolyn peeped in to find him standing there with his shorts and pull-ups dropped down to his ankles. He was holding a magazine and "reading" it. He also does well telling us when he needs to go tee tee or poo poo at home or at a restaurant/store. This month he quit wearing diapers; he's completely graduated to pull-ups. On a few occassions, we'll let him wear big boy underwear. Albeit we did not come this far without some cost. On most days he would get a new toy from the Cars movie. Because he's done so well over the last month, he now owns Lightning McQueen, Sally, King, Chick Hicks, three transfer trucks, Guido, Luigi, Greta, . . . you get the idea.
Staying at Nana's is like attending pre-school. She has taught Rocco how to cut with scissors. Keeping his fingers in the holes, he cuts a straight line on paper. He's really good at knowing opposites, too. Every night he lets me know it is night time and the moon is out. And of course during the day, he'll remind me that the sun is out and it is not time to sleep. He's developed a little sense of humor. "S-T-O-P...Go!" he'll say. Perhaps "arguing" with Granddaddy during the day has taught him how to joke around.
Some of his latest phrases are quiet hilarious. For instance, he will sigh really big and say, "Oh brother, I give up." Now where he's heard this I don't know. He said Baby Sydney taught it to him, but she's only 7 months old. I doubt that.
When he gets in trouble and we get on to him, he'll act like he didn't understand us. "What'd you say?" he'll ask over and over. Regardless of how many times we explain what we said he'll ask, "What'd you say?" At least now he doesn't tell us to "Go in there!" when he gets upset.
Recently he has started helping me bathe himself at bath time. Any time he can do anything all by himself, he is so very proud. He is also learning to spit after he brushes his teeth; however, he ends up swallowing most of it. He hasn't got the hang of it yet.
Other than playing with his cars, he loves to have parties. I bought him some toy plates, bowls, cups, and utensils for real cheap at a yard sale. 
Instead of having a tea party, we have Sprite of Kool-Aid. Much more manly this way. He also cooks up soup, which he tells us is very hot. Cooking fries is also fun. He'll crack pepper over them and put pretend ketchup on them, too. Once, Nana and Granddaddy came over for a party.
Instead of having a tea party, we have Sprite of Kool-Aid. Much more manly this way. He also cooks up soup, which he tells us is very hot. Cooking fries is also fun. He'll crack pepper over them and put pretend ketchup on them, too. Once, Nana and Granddaddy came over for a party.Rocco is such a chatter box. He talks non-stop. And his vocabulary has grown leaps and bounds. Some of the things he says are just unbelievable. He is so fun at this age. It's my favorite stage (and yes, I know I've said that about every stage.)
My parents are staying with us in our condo. My Aunt Katie, my brother & his family are staying just a couple blocks away from us. The weather has been wonderful; we spent about 4 hours on the beach, at the lazy river, and in the pool on Thursday. My mom was such the beach bum with us. Dad, on the other hand, didn't join. He doesn't care for all the heat and sand. Rocco has been saying, "Mimi and Rocco beach bums. Mommy beach bum. Papaw's a jellybean." Thursday night we stayed in; I cooked some enchiladas and we played putt putt golf in our condo.
The lazy river was Rocco's absolute favorite. Because of my hip I didn't venture into the waves much. My mom and Rocco walked the shore a good bit, and they found some sea shells. We got tickled at Rocco filling his bucket because he would always find some sea weed to water.
And of course you can't go to the beach without playing in the sand with a shovel! Rocco found a sandy pool with goopy sand and kept going, "Flop" and "Splat!" Then, he and mimi would just laugh. 
My 7 month old niece, Daelyn
My mom and me with our suntan (sunburn??) 
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They enjoy hunting dove on this day every year. (Rocco is still a bit too young to join them.) At lunch the rest of the families (wives and kids) come for the big cookout. The pictures above were taken at the cabin today.
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When Jason and Tonya got a little loud, Rocco didn't know how to take it. He just kept saying, "Mommy!" That's what he does when he gets upset. We just don't yell around our house. . . football season is a little different though. Jason just explained that during football games we get excited and it's alright. Without hesitating, Rocco replied by yelling, "Nana!" I guess he was telling on daddy. It was all pretty funny. He's just in training to be a future DAWG fan. In a couple years or so I'm sure he'll be on the couch getting rowdy with the rest of the family. _edited-1.JPG)