Useful Things Like Rakes and Mittens

When Pops bought this rake (I'm pretty sure he bought it while I was in the hospital right after having J. I could be wrong, but if it wasn't then it was definitely before J could even sit up) I thought he was crazy.  Well Pops, thanks for the rake.  J loves it.  I'm hoping one day very soon to put him to work in the backyard with that rake.  If you have seen our yard (ever) you know we need all the help we can get. 

J has become increasingly aware of his belly (as you will see in a later post) and his clothes as well as other people's bellies and their clothes.  He will point to his belly and say his version of the word.  He is also learning how to take off his clothes.  I can say it will only be a matter of time before I have to find a way to keep the boy from running around naked.

I absolutely love this picture because it captures one of his real expressions.  He is facing the backyard where the dogs (we are dog sitting Gracie hence dogs plural).  Ever since J figured out that dogs bark he makes it a point to bark back at them.  This is what he is doing in the above picture...barking.  

After being outside for well over an hour, J's little hands became cold.  Lucky for me I had just purchased some new mittens for him.  Of course we couldn't have traditional stripped or solid color mittens, rather we needed the ones with skull and cross bones.  He was quite proud of them if you cannot tell.

 (Don't worry, we put a hat on him too.)