We've played in the water a little this summer, but we drove out to my Aunt Chris' house for a day of swimming in her "real" pool. As usual, Bradley didn't want to go in. "No mommy, I don't yike it anymore" was his plea. But also as usual, Bradley warmed up to the idea, eventually getting in the pool by himself (Exhibit A at left).

After some splashing and floating around in the water while being held, Bradley got brave enough to don the staple of childhood swimmers: the floaties. He and his cousin Isabel later boarded what he has come to call the "blue boat" (Isabel calls it "the beach"). Whatever you want to call it, they got pushed and pulled all around the pool while lounging like royalty. (Exhibit B at right)

Matthew got in the pool, too, and he enjoyed himself, but mom was too preoccupied to get the camera and snap a picture. But I did take a picture of him getting his first haircut! Yep, I asked my cousin Jessica to do the deed and clip those beautiful curls. They were getting a bit unruly and unkempt looking, so she just gave him a little "shaping."

My unofficial weigh-in and measurement taking puts Matthew at 19.6 pounds and 29 inches, which is about 60th percentile for weight (could have fooled me ;-) and 92nd percentile for height. He has officially outgrown the baby carrier, which is both a blessing and curse.

He still smiles at the drop of a hat (except when you have him at the portrait studio) and if you get in close to him he grabs at your nose and hair (and nose hair if the shoe fits). If your nose isn't close, his feet will do. Oh, actual baby toys hold his interest for a while, but don't they always prefer burp cloths and big brother's sandals?

But his biggest news this month would be that mouthful of teeth he's acquiring. He got his first one just after I posted the last update, another one followed right behind, and his current project is pushing out FOUR more. I think I can imagine his pain having been through the braces fiasco last year, so I just keep the ibuprofen nearby.

Edit: upon further investigation, I discovered not four but six teeth coming in -- that can't feel good.

Bradley celebrated his third birthday at the end of May, and despite months of hearing about Lightning McQueen nonstop, I thought it was safe to assume he would want some sort of Cars themed cake. Seemingly out of nowhere, Bradley began to discuss the Thomas the Tank Engine cake he wanted, complete with three green candles on top. Try to talk him down? Nope, he wasn't having any of that. Sure, he still loves his "Light-a-Queen" and "Mater" characters as much as the next toddler boy, but he would be having a Thomas cake, thankyouverymuch.

And so, as you can see in the pictures, a Thomas cake it was. It was fun to make, and rather easy (thank you, thomasthetankenginecake.blogspot.com website!). We celebrated with family and a barbecue.

Now, about that headline. I wouldn't say Bradley is "terrible" like the saying goes, but he is definitely...Bradley. We often refer to him as "Rainman," and if you saw how this kid's eyes light up at the sight of all 13,745 Hot Wheels he owns lined up perfectly at the spot du jour, you would know what I mean. Some days, it's the "straight lines" Grandpa drew him on a piece of paper (a mini parking lot, if you will), others its our bed and its plaid comforter (holy cow, lots of straight lines there), and many days it's just the couch and the seams on the cushions. The Rainman tendencies, in and of themselves, certainly don't make him terrible. But it does perhaps lend a clue as to how stubborn he can be at times (I dare you to try to move one of those parked cars, or mix the "racing cars" with the regular cars).

But at the end of the day, when it's all quiet and the boys are sleeping (all three of them), I find myself smiling at Bradley's catchphrases, quirks and habits. He is quick to tell us he loves us, then pucker up for a kiss and top it off with a big hug. We love you Bradley--happy birthday!

Edit: I thought apostrophes in the headline made "Twos" and "Threes" more readable, but later changed my mind.

One recent evening Justin and I were sitting in the basement, and Bradley was upstairs. He yelled down the stairway, "Mommy, have cookie, pease?" And I politely yelled back up the stairway, "No, it's almost time for bed." Surprisingly, there were no tears, no whining, just a long pause, and then, "Mommy, have two cookies, pease?"

Unfortunately our vacation to Las Vegas and Los Angeles coincided with Matthew's five month birthday, so he celebrated with Grandma Char and Grandpa David in Bloomington. We "spoke" with him on the phone but he was rather understated about the whole thing.

There won't be a visit to the pediatrician until next month, but on our bathroom scale the little guy is 17 lb. 7 oz., which puts him in the 65% percentile. His two big accomplishments this month: 1) referenced in the previous post is starting solid foods. We began with rice cereal, but then we expanded the offerings to oatmeal and sweet potatoes. And 2) he got his first tooth! He's not as excited about it was we are, as he breaks down in tears every time we touch it. But it's nothing a little dose of acetaminophen can't cure.

Overall he is still as happy and smiley as ever. He loves watching his big brother, and for now big brother still likes him. Let's just hope little brother grows up liking animals or trains or trees or anything besides cars, because I think that could be the source of some contention down the road. But for now, everything is good, and we're enjoying having daddy at home more this month!