THE FORTH ON THE FARM...
We finally made it out to the farm! MawMaws has told mom for weeks that we needed to make the trip to see all the little animals...mom waited too long! I was so excited! I saw the teething piglets and not so little white chicks, the lambs now as big as the rams and the calves that are looking more like big cows now. I was a real rancher for the weekend. I fed all the animals and watered them too. I shucked corn, picked tomatoes and fished for goldfish with a net. I drove the ranch roads in the Kubota and tractors both small and large chanting faster, faster! I thought it was great, but mom was holding on tight saying, SLOW DOWN! She has fears. Grandpa Malone once flipped the 3 wheeler after driving it up a tree. And she must admit that when she was in Mexico with Aunt Meme they wrecked the 4 wheeler 2 times in one day. They thought they were going to have to buy it. Mom should probably stay off these things, but Grandpa...for real...I drive better than you :) I must have burned a tank and a half of gas...sorry Tim! Mawmaws preped a great lunch and I ate my first deer and pig hamburger--mom passed but she did not know what she was missin'. Here was the real treat though; Mom and dad left me at the farm! Can you believe it? They headed back to Houston for a Monte Montgomery concert and everyone enjoyed the evening. MawMaws took extra good care of me and I didn't even want to come home. Everyone had prepared themselves for a midnight run, but it was not needed. Mom came back to Bellville early the next morning to find me driving the Kubota smile still in tact. I even tried out Tim's runny eggs. I say Yum, but Mawmaws says YUCK! What a weekend! The forth must be my favorite!

CHILDREN'S MUSEUM "MAKE-UP"...
Mom and I headed out to Sugarland and I discovered some of the best crayons ever! Whew! I colored every inch of my face and studied myself in the mirror very intently while I was working. I was a masterpiece! Mom was just thankful that some clean up wipes cleaned me up! That would have been a messy ride home.

COOKIE KING!...
Mom and I have made ourselves useful in the kitchen this summer. We have baked cookies, muffins and more and of course I am the star helper. I can read the back of the packages and get out the ingredients and spoons. Mom has to get the bowls. I know all about subsituting vanilla for 1/2 the butter too. I make sure we get it all mixed up and safely into the oven. If it spills I get the hand vac and clean up. Mom found that out when she stepped out of the room and left me to stir. A blob of dough fell on the floor and I quickly vaced it up. Oh, mom had fun with that one. Here is my secret...strawberry icing and sprinkles make EVERYTHING taste better!

CT. IS JUST TOO FAR AWAY!...
Each time the Cumagun clan visits we try our best to convince them to stay...CT is just too far away. I had a blast with Dylon and made sure that he knew that all the toys he was chewing on were mine. He understood! It did not take me anytime at all to jump right into the arms of Uncle D and Aunt T. I did call her Meme once though. She looks like Aunt Meme to me :)
Mom and dad hope that someday we can take a trip to visit them, but until then we are thrilled to have them in Houston...even if it is only for a few days.

31 MONTHS...ONLY 10 MONTHS BEHIND IN POSTS...
Mom is ashamed of herself. She has let 10 months go by without posting my most wonderful accomplishments and stats. So, she decided that now is just a good as time as ever to pick up and start again.
Mom says I am amazing; all 39 inches, 38 pounds and size 10 feet of me! She is absolutely blown away each day as I reveal more and more of what I have learned from this world and all of its teachers. This morning I helped her recite the months of the year. Mom had no idea that I knew them. We sing songs and such at home, but I think I have to give credit to LMS for this one. We practice the calendar every morning at school.
I can count to 20 or higher independently and to 10 in Spanish if you count along with me. I know all of my colors of course...I have since I was 18 months old, but we are still battling the red and green issue. Mom still thinks that I may be color blind with those 2. She has asked the eye doc, but he can't test me until I recognize all my numerals 1-10 without mistake. He usually tests children in kindergarten...so until then, green is green and red is either or. I have learned to do so many things independently. I turn on and off lights, open cabinets or the fridge to get what I need and if I can't reach it then I just climb on top of my stool and reach. Mom realizes that this is a huge accomplishment in planning and resourcefulness, but she wants me to be VERY CAREFUL too! I am enjoying taking showers these days too. I like to squeege all the shower glass while mom soaps me up. I still scream a bit when it is time to rinse my hair, but whew! as long as the water is cold I am good to go. I do not like warm water! I am taking gymnastics and swimming lessons this summer and having a blast. I prefer gymnastics, but I am doing great in swimming too. My first day of lessons this summer is the first time I have ever put my ears in the water. I have always had infections or tubes and would not wear plugs so swim lessons are working for me. My teacher is Ms. Jennifer and she lays the law of the pool while really giving me the positive support I need. I am learning to reach and pull with my strokes, jump in and go under independently, walk the wall of the pool with my hands and feet and climb out, put my face in and go under, blow bubbles and take breaths and of course float on my back. Mom is amazed, but I still prefer gymnastics. I love to show off my flips around the house. When I first began I was galloping rather than jumping with 2 feet. I would always lead with my left foot. But, TA-DA! I can jump with my feet together now after my 5th lesson I got the hang of it. I even tried making big circles with my arms as I jump and I did it! Now I am practicing feet together and apart while jumping on the tramp. Again, I am told to be careful. I keep trying to flip on the bed and the couch and such. My favorite place to jump is of course on my bed. Dad keeps imaging me flying off, but I'm an expert these days...I have had 6 lessons now. I can front roll, back roll, log roll, put my legs in the straddle and pike positions, walk, roll and jump on the beam and flip on the bars and rings too. I absolutely love jumping off of the tramp into the foam pit. Mom tried it just the other day and thought she would never get out of there. Use your muscles mom! She had to dive for her sock too. Beginners! My favorite books are still those about animals, snakes and insects. I like to read stories, but I prefer informational books with real world pictures. Dad has plenty of Biology and Herpatology books to keep me busy. I have started pointing to the words while we read and I even tell the story or caption as we read. I have a great memory. I know that bats use echolocation to navigate and mimic their sounds while we read and I know that baby birds open their mouths for their moms to drop in worms and bugs to eat. My creative play is still surprising mom. I love to cook it up in my play kitchen and save everyone from illness as I am the best doc in town. I think it is great to go on a bear hunt around the house too. Mom tells me time and again that when I am in the bed we are safe. She wants to make sure that any fears or worked up anxiety from creative play is left behind at bed time. Not a bad idea. We get lanterns and flashlights and run away from the bear. We hide in the closet and look under the covers and under the bed too. I mainly just love screaming and running through the house only to jump under the covers and say "we're safe." Dad likes to kick it up a notch and turn into a monster, but even he knows that the bed is a safe place. I belly laugh the whole time and tell dad to do the jumps and voices again and again. Mom is usually saying "enough, enough" to that guy...she does not like scary stuff. Even on the playground I find ways to use creative play to entertain myself; of course I enjoy playing with someone most. I really use my "thinking brain" as mom calls it. Mom and dad asked me a question at the breakfast table the other day. I sat and stared for awhile then rested my chin on my hand and said, "hummmmm," then I ticked my finger up and down on my lip and said, "let me see...." I have lots of other phrases too like, "do you hear me?", "will you play with me?", "open your eyes, the sun is out...", "1,2,3... "(I learned that from Les and Emma), "Say Bye-Bye" that is everytime that mom is talking on the phone, "I'm sorry Mommy" and the famous toddler question, "WHY???" That one comes in 3's or more for each statement made. "Why, why mommy?, why....", "Help me please; this is hard to do," and "wait, not yet" or "not today okay, alright?" The toughest one to deal with is of course..."NO SCHOOL, NOT TODAY, I STAY HOME MOMMY! ALRIGHT? NO SCHOOL!" Needless to say I was signed up to attend 2 days a week at LMS this summer to preserve routine yet have spent most of my days in the arms of Mommy. I don't know what will happen come August, but I am happy for now spending my time with the woman who loves me the mostest!

TOKEN MALE!...
Mom and Mawmaws had a weekend away with the Alpha Chi sisters and their moms too. I got to join in the fun and excitement as a token male (the only other boy was just 2 months old.) WHEW! I kept mom busy too. I filled the swimming pool with water, water Emma's head--she did not much like that--and poured water in buckets and on others as requested. Emma was not so sure about me holding the hose. I think she knew I was plotting to soak her. I was very careful with Baby Charlie though. I made sure all the sprinkles steared clear of him. I would pause to pet his head or rub his back whenever he was near. I loved to walk down by the boat house and play outside, but inside is where all the goods were kept. Chex mix, juice boxes galore and toys I have never seen before. Emma has My Little Pony's, babies, a stroller and doll house and more. I had a hard time understanding that I had to share my boy stuff if she was going to share all the girly things with me. I wanted "all of them." Mom learned 2 important lessons on this trip. Girl time is great! And, one night get aways are better than 2 when the little snuggle bug is with you.

STICKER FACE!...
Mom and dad often call me stinker, but now I guess they will call me sticker face! I have a contagious silliness about me. I just love to laugh. If I think I can rope you into laughing along with me I will spare no expense. I have mom and dad rollin' even when they want to keep a straight face! So much for discipline. I learned from dad that if you keep them smiling or even better laughing you can get away with just about anything!

LUCKY JERSEY...
Everyone needs a lucky jersey and this is mine. I didn't care that it was 95 degrees and felt like 110. I wanted to wear my yellow jacket complete with hood. Mom had tried to hide it away in the closet a few times this summer, but I always catch a glimpse of it and pull it back out. I tell her "so cold, brrrrr...." What can she say? I love wearing my jacket.

BUBBLE BOY HEADS FOR THE SPRINKLER...
I am an expert bubble blower. I love to watch them fly overhead, chase them down, catch and pop them, but today was even more fun! After we decorated the driveway with chalk we got out the wiggly caterpillar sprinkler. I was pumped I couldn't wait to wear my goggles and dance around the front yard, but I wanted a partner. Mom was ready...IN PAJAMAS!...and ran right in with me. I'm sure our neighbors thought she had lost her mind dancing through the water, running in circles and screaming with me. I didn't even mind getting my hair wet. I would put my goggles down over my eyes run through, jump out, push up the goggles to take a look around and start all over again. It was the perfect summer morning with mom.



























Mom loves my "moo-stache." It is bright orange today...I drank Fanta, Fanta...don't ya want a Fanta, Fanta!

BAGEL HALO...
Mom always knew that I was her angel so this picture is the perfect representation of that. However, I quickly switched gears and put the bagel to my eye and exclaimed "I'm a pirate! RRRRRRR!" Boys will be boys!

GYMNASTICS!...
All my "no fear" moments led mom to believe that I would really enjoy gymnastics. I needed a place I could bounce and run and flip and flop with safety and structure. She was right! I love it! I have attended 4 lessons now and I am steadily becoming an expert. I love to volunteer to demonstrate how to walk the beam, or complete a forward roll. I love to hang from the rings, flip over my them and jump on the tramp. I am building confidence and learning new skills each lesson. This is something we will continue for months to come. Mommy and me classes will soon turn into toddler classes all on my own. Will mom be ready for the transition?

MY 3rd HAIRCUT!...
Mom finally got dad to give in...or maybe she just did not ask, but I needed a haircut. Summer is here and I was SOOOO HOT with all my curls. I had to get a trim. Except my trim turned into a major ordeal. I shed 3/4 of my locks and dad was in for a huge surprise. I am handsome as ever and enjoying the breeze through my hair these days. Mom is enjoying an ease in styling my curls and washing them too. Whew...why did we wait so long to tame the beautiful fro?



















Straight from the tub my curls are ready to roll!

JUST LIKE TO GOOD 'OL DAYS...
Summer is here! We have so much scheduled including play dates with my good friends and there mommy's too. Landon and I have the same birthday and Julia was born just 3 days after. I moms love to see how we are growing and changing and compare notes too. Landon is the first to have a sibling and so we have been playing at his house this month. Trying out all his toys has been loads of fun. I love his BBQ grill and pretend to cook up hotdogs for my friends. Okay, I admit it. I did chase Julia and pretend to throw hotdogs at her, but she ran away with my tongs so I think she deserved it! To say the least, the 3 of us have kept our moms very busy and oh so proud!

GOGGLES ARE GOOD!
I have been fighting mom for some extended time now about washing my hair in the tub. I have so much of it to begin with, but I DO NOT LIKE WATER IN MY EYES! Whew! It took mom awhile to figure that one out. She thought for the longest that I was worried about my ears, but now I have the words to explain it to her. Problem solved! Mom bought me goggles. We were successful! I didn't have to cry because the water ran right off. Now I can get over the anxiety and back to enjoying my bath. I love to scrub to dub and play in the tub. I practice swimming in there too. I can blow bubbles, make splashes and now wash my hair too. Mom allows me to rinse my hair now. I am in control of the water bucket. I pour it on my own head to rinse the suds. What a compromise! This Taylor Tot is happy!



















I tried out all my swimmy moves with the goggles. Mom had to remind me that big splashes are for the big pool.

I AM 2! DOT IS 20!...
Dot has reached his second decade. WHOA! We celebrated at Road House. I ate a bowl of tomatoes and a side of mashed potatoes. That is basically how my meals go these days. Odd and odder.
I sure do love my uncles. I pretend to call them on the phone often. I always ask them to come play with me. It is good to have someone so cool (ie not mom and dad) to look up to. "HABE BIRBAY DOT! LUD DU"

AND THE VERY NEXT DAY...
We celebrated Memorial day pool side. I was so hungry from my chex mix diet I ate a whole hamburger and could have consumed a whole cantelope too. The sun was out and we enjoyed every second of the cool water, rafts and pool toys. I showed off my swimming skills and jumped with NO FEAR! from the edge of the pool. I kicked my legs and walked the steps as I waited for the next ball or float (not always with a smile.) We were tired and Wes and I had just a bit of trouble sharing the balls and rings. I thought "Mine" was easy to understand, but I guess sharing is required! Mom and Aunt Carley think that Wes and I will appreciate these matching pictures when we get grown, but I'm not so sure. At least we both look handsome!

































Guess how many pictures we took to get just one? I tired all my poses to make mom smile too.

I SLEEP WHERE?
A camping we will go; a camping we will go; high-ho-the-dairy-o a camping we will go...AND WE WILL LIKE IT!
We had our first camping adventures in Bastrop, Texas. Mom, dad and I were so excited. Mom picked out the tent of her dreams and made big plans to cook and enjoy campfire meals. Luckily Aunt Carley and Uncle JJ have more experience and a bit more sense in these situations. They have the practice that mom and dad plan to acquire in the WINTER! Whew was it hot! Memorial weekend brought record highs and with that I had mud trails running down my little cheeks. Mom and dad said I have never been dirtier, but I did not mind. I would have rather stayed dirty than face the solar shower again. 2 showers a day was just too much spraying of water for me. I tried to tell them through my screaming and crying petition that DIRT DON'T HURT, but they forced me clean anyway...at least until my feet hit the sand again.
We enjoyed the outdoors, the stars overhead and the time with family away from the hustle of Houston. We could have done with out the swarms of flies and hornets though they were invading our space and we tried it all to rid ourselves of them. Finally the ranger had to fog the site while we went fishing. I borrowed worms from a fellow camper and I caught a fish! I was so proud! Uncle JJ turned it into bait :( but he came home with a string of catfish...our fish tacos for dinner that evening. YUM! Wesley and I were into it all except the food. We filled our bellies with juice boxes and chex mix as mom introduced Wes to the good 'ol M&M. Wesley and I raced match box cars, colored pictures outside and rode our bikes into every lump of dirt and sand we could find. We ran, we cried and we enjoyed it all including the water fights straight out of the cooler. We were soaked! We are looking forward to fall and our next big adventure in the cooler outdoors. As for mom and dad...they are working off the many campfire smores and have finally located the long lost scorpian, centipede thing that we found in the car. I guess the heat was good for something...it cooked the bug and mom found the remains under the floorboard mat. GO MOM!

TO MARKET, TO MARKET...
Lala loves the farmers market and dad and I got to tag along. We picked up fresh organic fruits and veggies and dried fruits too. My favorite is pineapple--YUM! I had a great day with the fam exploring the market and then the backyard garden of paridise and birds too.

MOM'S DESERVE A MOTHER'S DAY!...
Mom and Mawmaws began celebrating Mother's Day a day early this year. They got manicures and pedicures and massages too. Mom said it was just what she needed. But, Sunday morning she got an even better treat. I surprised her with a card signed just by me and another gift certificate for a moment of relaxation and pedicure. Then, we were off to breakfast at Papa's brunch buffet and then to the Museum of Natural Science and Rose gardens as a family. Mom enjoys these family days. She loves spending time with her 2 most important guys. It always makes her smile. The sunshine was out and it was HOT, but we got learned so much about dinos inside. Dinosaurs are some of my favorite things to read about. I loved seeing all of them up close. It was a special day for both of us.



























We all need time to stop and smell the roses!

RELEASING LADYBUGS...SPLAT!...
Mom and I love to work in the "Taylor Garden." We get out our gloves and tools and dig and plant. (If you drive by you will notice that most of the dirt is dried and clumpy and the flowers are probably brown, but that doesn't stop us from trying again and again and again.) This last trip to the garden center we found ladybugs in a bag. 1,750 of them to be exact. We (Mom) just had to get them. She felt like it was a great buy--$8.00 for a lovely introduction to bugs and nature. So, we brought them home and followed all the directions. We kept them in the fridge over night and the next evening we were ready for our release. We even invited my friend and neighbor Austin and his parents to join in the fun. Mom cut open the bag and began to set the little red dots free to fly. I did what came natural--SPLAT! Who would want bugs on them...what was mom thinking? SPLAT, SPLAT, STOMP, SPLAT, STOMP! Mom and dad tried to convince me that these were "good bugs" and that our garden needed them, but I did not need them on me. I continued to SPLAT and STOMP while everyone else scooped the bugs and dumped them onto the base of plants in the yard. Mom decided that we should probably pick up the lesson next year. Those ladybugs pinch esp. when they are working in teams. All I can say is mom didn't look to happy with a bug between her eyes, down her shirt or in her hair. So, Maybe SPLAT wasn't such a bad idea after all!