Like his dad, Nick continues to add to his car collection (two big-kid toys and the new Chrysler, of course, his favorite). But you can't just let a rookie driver take off with the new car, so Brandi found him a gently used Cozy Coupe from the 1980's (he loves the classics). Interesting that the first time he approaches any car he checks the tires, as if to gauge the tire pressure. When he was just old enough to walk, he must remember me checking air in all the car tires with my new air pump, so he knows that's important. When he's in a parking lot, he runs around knocking on all the tires. I'm going to teach him to check the oil next. Brandi also bought him a tee-ball set. We're starting with bunting, because it's a lost art that needs to be stressed early (right before switch-hitting). And he loves toy lawnmowers. At a recent party, he monopolized the toy mower from the other kids (and even got a little pushy about it - thank you for sharing your toys with us, Evan, and I'm sorry!)Nick's love for music doesn't stop at singing and the piano. He randomly breaks into dancing while watching TV, or hearing Brandi's music box. His dancing reminds us of the elephant in Aladdin, but there's video for you to be the judge. Apparently rhythm is a genetic thing, because he's never seen us dance. (Nick taught Brandi this dance, not the other way around.) He started jamming in his car seat when I played the new Kid Rock CD. My boy, made in Detroit.
Nick went strawberry picking at the beginning of the month with his mama and family. He quickly figured out filling his bucket with berries went much faster if he just thieved the berries from other people's buckets. Everyone stayed in order, picking and eating a little along the way, while Nick rotated between picking, running through the fields to the furthest corners of Petersburg, and moving the farmer's marker flags. A big thanks to Mr. Steuwe for letting the family pick all morning and having the field to themselves (my plug for Steuwe Farms, in Petersburg, MI.) I made myself sick on strawberry shortcake, and Brandi made homemade strawberry jam, which we ate with almost every meal for 2 weeks. Absolutely awesome.
Least favorite food of the month: avocados. I concur. Yuck! But we did take him out for some good Mexican, and there was nothing he turned down - not even the spicy stuff. He now gets steak Gorditas from Taco Bell as a reward, and he eats the entire thing.
Since this is a blog about the family, and not just Nick, Brandi earned a story this month. At a July 4th party with our gang from school, Stephanie had a video on her phone of Brandi riding the mechanical bull at the local bar, Whiskey Ranch, a few weeks earlier. It's a little dark to view, but I posted it anyway, because events in life that are a great story and a great memory are priceless and worth sharing. Apparently the word is out - invite the Mantels if you're looking to liven up the party. Can you believe that?
And finally, mark the day: July 21st. Either this was the exclusive preview to the terrible twos, or they've already started. In one day, he nearly pulled a dresser down on his head, climbed up on a table 4 feet in the air, knocked over the dehumidifier on himself and almost pulled a light fixture from the ceiling. All remodeling is officially on hold until the destruction is complete.
Click here for 19th month pictures.
- Jason
