Ball...and other cool Rhett things:)

We were having dinner at a friends home, and they have a dog.  

Rhett sees the dog, stops, points, and says "dog!" 

 His language is bursting and it is super fun. 

 Other new words "ball" and "ut-oh" 

He is also started shaking his head yes and no.  

He doesn't just casually shake his head though, he shakes his head fervently.

  Fast and decisively:)  

It is super cute.  

He loves to walk backwards 

(a new skill)

The big boys love to hold his hand and help him walk down the stairs 

(like a big boy)

I would prefer crawling backwards, 

but

Rhett thinks he is big, and the boys love it so I won't argue...

He is in the mix, the big brothers don't always love it, 

but I remind them he is part of the crew too....

I am amazed at how much he picks up from watching them...

Rhett

drives cars around,

plays little legos, 

digs in the sand box,

wrestles with the big brothers 

and 

is even a strong contender in the evening match against Daddy!

He is nearly 19 months....

A Moment: The fire pole.

We have been going to the play structure by the library since we moved here nearly 4 years ago. 

 I remember looking at the sticker on play structure saying it was rated for ages 5-12 and worrying about my little toddlers falling from the high platforms.  

Today we went to the library and stopped to play and Quint came over to ask if they could do the fire pole. 

I didn't even realize there was a fire pole at this playground...

 and then i saw it. 

 From the highest platform, way over my head, there was a huge fire pole.  

Honestly, I was not sure how this would go....

I reached my hands into the sky to try to catch him if it went terribly wrong....

and then he did it.

He rode down the pole like a professional fireman.

To add to my shock, 

Russell followed right behind him:)

Quint then asked me to...

 "Let him do it all by himself"

I stepped away and watched my baby grow before my eyes.

Wasn't it just a few days (or years) ago that I would not even let him up on this platform without me up there too?

and then it happened...

 I found myself asking the same question parents have asked forever

"where did the time go?"

Everyone says it goes fast....

they didn't lie....

and he is only 5....

Fortunately, 

Russell still let me stand below him (in case he needed me) even though he didn't....

and.....

Rhett still needs me to chase him up the play structure to guard him from all the "dangers" of a structure built for 5 year olds:)

and I am soaking it all in:)

A MOMENT: In the tree

At the park with friends, 

on a perfect spring day...

when...

 I looked over to scan for the boys when I realized Quint and Russell were climbing a very large tree. 

 It was a great climbing tree (lots of branches) but my anxious instinct was 

DANGER.  

I withheld my feelings and walked over to check it out. 

 I would expect this from Russell, but it was rare for Quint. 

 Russell was hanging out on the lower branches so I was not that concerned but Quint had ventured up fairly high. 

 Quint hollered down from the tree tops "Mom, look how high I am!" 

 He was beaming with pride.  

My typically overly cautious first born was free in the tree tops.  

 My anxiousness faded away and I began to beam with pride. 

 He was stretching himself:)   

Then, another little boy began to climb higher than him....and I watched Quint's competitive spirit kick in....

I could tell he was a little afraid (he was a good 20 feet up)  

but he would not let the other boy get higher than him.  

Love it.

I realize competitiveness is not always a good thing, 

but I am a big fan when it drives people to reach for their potential:) 

When he eventually came down he was so proud, and I was super proud of my cautious man scaling new limits....

literally:)