Binky, Binky
    
Okay, so we don’t even call it a “binky” - we call it a pacifier. Or “di” (long i), to Joshua. And we kinda wish the pacifier would die. It’s not as though having a pacifier is a terrible thing, or that he’s never going to give it up. He is, after all, just two. But come on. It’s invading every picture! Look how much cuter these would be if his mouth wasn’t “plugged”. I’m trying to slowly wean him off of it (I hide it whenever he loosens his grip on it, and he doesn’t get it back unless he begs persistently), but I think it’s going to be a long battle. Who knows… maybe one day he’ll just outgrow it? Like maybe one day he’ll just start sleeping through the night… in his own bed. And maybe he’ll stop playing with his big-boy potty and start using it in lieu of diapers! Maybe all of these things will fall perfectly into place just before Caleb is born. (No, we haven’t made a definitive decision on Baby Boy Harlan’s name … I’m just trying this out to see how it sounds). Or… maybe I’m just a wishful thinker.
On a less complaining note… doesn’t Joshua look super cute in his little man truck? He loves that thing! He’s an “excellent driver” (to coin Rainman’s favorite phrase). He knows when and how to put it in reverse, and back in forward. He can turn corners well, and drive all around the neighborhood like the little man that he is. It’s so much fun! I’m sad that the nice driving weather will disappear soon, and we’ll be relegated to indoor play for the rest of the dreary winter season. Why are we still in PA??
In the picture on the left, Joshua is hanging out with Uncle Jon. He loves Uncle Jon, and his crazy little Jack Russell Terrior, Jack (who Jon adopted from my parents when my dad gave him the boot when they moved from a 4-acre SFH to a townhome). Several times a week, Joshua gets this adorable (almost mischievous) smile on his face and says: “Jon? Big Jon? And Jack?” That’s him asking me if they can come to play. What a sweet boy I have!