Wally still really likes to help me cook. He knows which bowls to get out, how to hold the bowl when I crack eggs (I let him try the egg cracking once, and well, we didn't use that egg for cooking), and how to stir and keep most of it in the bowl. He is really good at eating the "special treats" we make.
Wally was at a birthday party recently and was given a ladybug tattoo. He found it the other day and really wanted it on his had. I was leary to put it on because he doesn't really like stickers on himself (he rather stick it to others) and sometimes panics if he can't get them off. I tried to explain to him that it wouldn't come off, even if we washed his hand (how do you explain a tattoo to a 2 1/2 year old?). He insisted, so I put it on him. He obviously thought it was pretty cool. However, after less than 5 minutes, he was wanting it off. Then he was saying it was "Owey." Then he was screaming frantically and trying to scrape it off. If you ever are in this situation, isopropanol or nail polish remover takes tattoos off quickly. He was happy again once it was gone.
Wally and Daisy have become really good buddies in the last few days. Daisy has always been good with Wally, but they now play together. They love to chase eachother. Wally is constantly giving Daisy (and Moose) hugs and kisses. His big thing these days is to list everyone that he loves. Sometimes the list gets quite long, but Moose and Daisy are always listed first (Mom usually makes the cut towards the end of the list).
Friday morning Wally and Daisy were playing again on the porch before we went to school. I heard a thump and then crying. All Wally says about what happend is, "Thump Daisy head." I'm pretty sure that he ended up tripping over Daisy and scraping his head on the porch wall (painted plywood). Needless to say, Wally is back to looking like Wally again with scrapes and bruises on his head. Don't worry, hasn't slowed down and he still plays with Daisy.
This was not the best picture, but it shows his "one, two owies" on his forehead and nose. It also shows his typical breakfast...milk, bagel with cream cheese and sometimes cereal. He has been a great eater lately...which means a great pooper too!
Also noteworthy, is that he is getting much better about listening to Mommy, especially if we are out and about (though this entry will probably mean the last of that!). I have been trying to point out that it makes him happy when Moose and Daisy listen to him and that it makes me happy when he listens to me. Is he old enough to understand that? It seems like he does. Wally and I went with Stacy and Sander to the mall on Friday night and we actually enjoyed our dinner because the boys actually stayed close (for the most part) and ate well. I consider it a successful night because Wally only hit his head twice and neither time left a mark! Maybe he is growing again!
I'll try to post again soon, but I have finally started editing and the Montana Daughenbaughs are coming for a visit (we are super SUPER excited).
Funny story as I was writing the above sentence...Wally was watching videos and eating his breakfast while I was blogging. As I was getting ready to sign-off, he came running into the office with no clothes or diaper on, turns around and say, "Look, poopoo butt!" His backside was covered in poopoo. Luckily he managed to get his PJs off, and his diaper off without poopoo getting everywhere. We then ran upstairs where I proceeded to use nearly an entire box of wipes trying to get him cleaned up. Maybe I should have just gotten the garden hose, but I figured it was still too early and cold for that. Cheers!
I also liked this shot because of the ladybugs at the top. I didn't notice them when I took the picture.
Previous owners left us some "prizes" in our attic. Amongst the winners were 4 cases of canning jars (anyone interested?) and a dirty, ugly, little Christmas tree. Wally and I hosed it off so he can use it next year. He apparently likes it:
But then logically, if you have a Christmas tree, you need a sled!
Joel was able to come home early on Friday, so we took the dogs swimming at Lake MacBride. Moose still loves to swim for no reason, Daisy still needs her feet to touch bottom. Wally only needs rocks.
After the swim, we took the dogs for a short hike to "dry off." I put "dry off" in quotes because in Iowa, things don't really dry. In Montana, the dogs would have been dried off by the middle of the hike. In Iowa, the dogs still smell like wet dogs at bed time. Lovely! 
Last year, Wally ran like crazy finding eggs before Reder did (Reder was too into figuring out what was in each egg). This year, without competition, we had to keep reminding Wally that there were more eggs hidden. Once he discovered there was candy hidden in the plastic eggs in the house, he got even slower as he had to eat all the candy as he found it.
How to hold 2 Easter baskets 101... Insert one basket into mouth.
Or, better yet, insert head through one and into the other!
What Easter is complete without eating one of those hard-boiled eggs the Easter Bunny left? Wally tried his first egg...
When Wally woke up, he feasted on chicken dippers and off we went to join Daddy at the baseball game. It was a good day.
Though Wally does have a lot of words he uses, when he is excited he still reverts to his use of "this" for everything. 
Wally sure loves his Daddy (and I think Daddy loves Wally too!)!