Such a cute kid!

We hope he still wants to help clean-up the house when he is a teenager!

woo woo wooooooo

Vrooom, vrooooooom.... Within 1 hour I tore the tail-spoiler off, broke the mirrors, busted the steering, scratched the yellow paint, and dented the floor in 3 places when I dropped it (many times).

I'm so cute.

Hello, OnStar?

You know we've heard those OnStar commercials over the past several years and we have often wondered if the stories are for real. Well, as luck would have it, after paying for OnStar service now for over 4 years, it was put to the test last Sunday when Fletcher got locked into the Hummer -- with the engine running. Yes, you might wonder how this would happen??? Well, our button-pushing son locked the truck unbeknownst to either of us. So, on a sweltering summer day, deep in the Virginia country side (over an hour from home), there Fletcher sat, cozy and cool as a cucumber, sipping his juice, and watching his favorite cartoons on the DVD while we were frantically trying to figure out how to gain access to him. Mommy and Daddy kept their "cool" while everyone at the picnic wanted to "see this work" -- get a car unlocked remotely... We were a bit concerned that the cell-coverage in the area was a bit limited and it may not work (FYI, OnStar is not satellite communication, it is just a cell phone connection). Anyhow, Daddy made the call and after giving a half-dozen invalid access codes, like magic, we heard the click and the truck was unlocked... Thanks, OnStar, you SAVED our day and the cost of a broken window! p.s., the renewal check is in the mail.

Hi, Daddy!!! Mommy, Ms. Frances, and Grandma are taking good care of me while you are away. I can't wait until you get back home to play with me, take me to the swimming pool and read me my favorite books. I miss you. Signed - StinkerDinker

Fletcher's busy and active days ends with settling down for about 11-12 hours of sleep and these are his favorite sleep positions -- neither look very comfortable...

Yes, he's breathing...

Fletcher always has loads of fun with Aunt Jeana, Uncle John and Cousin Elijah -- trucks, bubbles, balloons and lots of love -- what more could he ask for?

Mommy and Fletcher enjoy a walk and fresh air after breakfast.

Daddy's more of breast man when it comes to chicken -- Fletcher goes for the leg! :-)

Fletcher "helping" Mommy with her client work....

Get on, Mommy, I'll push you... (I wish!)

Fletcher enjoying his playgroup, his new friends and all the fun toys he gets to share.

Fletcher is 20 months now and he will be two years old before we know it – hard to believe.

The lil guy is communicating more and more with us each day. He can clearly tell us if he wants juice or noodles or wants to go outside or go to bed or if he wants more of something or when he’s all done. Even though the two-way communicating is going well, sometimes we still need to use the special “decoder” ear to figure out exactly what he’s saying -- context is everything.

Fletcher enjoys playing with any type of car or truck. Grandma, Mommy and Daddy had to even make a late evening run to the toy store to get him a car track to ride his cars on and it was worth it. We can always tell where he’s been in the house because of the trail of cars and lit rooms he leaves behind him – oh, the new fascination of turning on everything electric in the house. Still, all and all, Fletcher's favorite thing is being outside.

A friend told us that we should share the “human” side of parenting, i.e., the not so pleasant. Of course, there are challenging days, but for me most days are good ones and the bad ones seem to fade quickly or end up being humorous after the fact. Like the day when Fletcher took his diaper off and pooped on the kitchen floor while standing right next to us and then stepped in it and smeared it across the floor. There sat the diaper in the next room the “U-shaped” diaper as if he had stepped right out of it. Like fools, we put Fletcher down for his nap without his bottoms on, i.e., the protective barrier that keeps most kids from taking off their diaper, and he woke up crying and all wet cuz he had taken his diaper off AGAIN – all this in a 3 hour span. Oh, the things we learn -- the hard way! Or the day, when Mommy decided Fletcher needed to start walking down the stairs solo (an injured knee and back pain from toting around our 40lber drove this decision) and Fletcher pointed to her and issued an edict “UP” which sounded more like "Woman, you'd better pick me up! Or the days Mommy tries to introduce Fletcher to new foods and they are rejected with all kinds of theatrics -- "no-no," the hand, and spitting. Or the day Fletcher busted Mommy’s lip when he fell on her while he was horseplaying. These things are funny to us now, but when they happened, we had to summons our patience and remember how much we love this little guy.






Craaaashhhhh..... Fletcher loves doing a leap or a free fall into the ball pit. It is hard to believe he was once afraid of this.













We are thankful that Fletcher still loves to cuddle. I think this is Daddy's favorite part of the day -- the cuddle time before bed.










Food for the sea gulls...

Fletcher loved petting the animals at the County Fair -- definitely "the" highlight of the visit.