This week at day care...

I LOVE SCHOOL!

There are these low bookshelves in the middle of Banner's classroom at day care. Banner has learned that if he takes all the toys off the lowest shelf (that is flush with the floor) that he can climb inside and hang out. Once he even tried to fall asleep in there. His teachers think it is funny. I think he is trying to build a fort.

Brox and Banner continue to be best buddies. Even though Brox is four or five weeks older than Banner, they continue to hit their milestones (rolling over, army crawling, etc.) at about the same time. I just hope they remain friends until high school, because I think "Brox and Banner" sounds like a kick a$$ garage band.

The other day a couple of new toys appeared in class. Brox and Banner were at the far end of the nursery next to the door, but when the teacher put the foam shape pieces on the floor, the race was on. Both boys couldn't wait to get their hands on them.

Six months old and already looks at his mama like I'm the craziest thing he has ever seen.

Not long afterward, the teachers heard giggles and happy squeals and discovered Brox and Banner baby wrestling for the foam shapes on the floor together. The only point of contention between the two is that Banner keeps trying to teeth on Brox's arm, and Brox isn't a big fan of being gnawed on by our little zombie baby. Otherwise, the two boys spend most of the day wearing each other out.

Speaking of which, Banner is too busy to nap at day care. If we are lucky, he will take one or two thirty minute naps a day. And he doesn't signal that he is tired, either. He just passes out on the floor in the middle of doing something. Banner doesn't want to miss a thing! Home, on the other hand, is where he goes to recharge and sleep. I think that is why he will snuggle and nap with us on the weekends - he is reenergizing for Monday!

In the same vein, Banner has the strength, balance and coordination to sit up on his own. I've seen him do it. So has day care. It is just that the little guy likes to always be moving, and, well, sitting is completely void of movement. So, this is a skill that he has absolutely no interest in perfecting at the moment.  Same goes for real crawling (as opposed to army crawling).  Banner will get in the classic "crawl" pose and rock back and forth for several seconds before giving up and going back to the ole' tried and true army crawl.

When Trevor takes Banner to day care, he plops him on the mat with a ball to play with. Little B has learned that he can push the ball and chase it, and he likes to roll it over to the window, rest his head on it like a pillow and stare at the birds, trees and sky.

Banner knows what the high chair means at day care, and quickly races towards it whenever it makes an appearance in his classroom. Only problem is that he is not the only baby who uses the high chair, so, more often than not, the chair isn't for him. This is too bad for our kiddo since he is essentially the baby version of a teenage boy “human disposal”. That kid loves to eat! But, alas, when it is not time for Banner's next meal, his teachers have to put him in his crib. Otherwise he sits at the base of the high chair and begs like a dog or tries to eat the little bits and pieces that get thrown or dropped from above.

Sigh...we feed him. I swear.

Ironically, our little scavenger does have foods that he does not enjoy as much as others. Take sweet potatoes, for instance. Banner isn't a big fan, and has been known to gag when you try to feed them to him. Trevor is horrified because sweet potatoes are one of his favorite foods. I, on the other hand, am right there with Banner. Sweet potatoes are just one of those foods that I will eat, but only because I know they are good for me and I should. But, really? Yeah, not my favorite.

Not only does Banner gag when eating something he doesn't necessarily like, but when another spoonful is offered, he will accept it before using it to blow raspberries. Thereby getting the undesirables, like sweet potatoes, everywhere. He thinks this is hysterical. This makes repeatedly trying foods rather challenging.

Banner has this funny way of lying on his side. We call it his "beach modeling pose".

A blurry iPhone snapshot of the
"Beach Modeling Pose"

As of yesterday, a note came home with Banner asking us to please dress Banner for school in the morning.  It wasn't like he was showing up to school naked, but we'd take him in the footed onesies that he sleeps in.  This was partly because Banner is sometimes slow to wake up in the morning, and partly because our house is chilly in the A.M.  So it seemed kinder to just keep the little guy in his snuggly PJs until he got to school.  Plus, Banner tends to spit up in the car when I take him to day care, and it was saving me from having to wash yet another outfit.  And, well, Banner is SIX MONTHS OLD and I really didn't think it mattered what he wore to school as long as he was dressed in something more than a diaper.  But apparently not.  Hrmph.

For the first time ever, Banner army crawled to me when I came into his classroom today to pick him up.  There is nothing quite like seeing your child light up when they see you at the end of a long day and eagerly rush over to greet you!  Sweet baby melts my heart!