Hello everyone!  I hope you are enjoying Spring as much as I am!  Sorry about another month delay between blog postings.  I am always excited and ready to write, but my mom and dad always insist on helping me with using the computer.  I am sure my

computer skills are awesome, that's why I'm always grabbing my XO laptop from the bookshelf to do my important work (like messing around with the Wi-Fi antenna ears and laughing at myself on the webcam).  A lot has been going on for the whole

family, so let me catch you up!

Mom is busy with working on her Animazement staff work.  She is responsible for working in guest relations and for doing two Japanese panels (three sessions), one in language, and one in writing.  Dad is

really impressed and is trying to learn some while looking at her slides.  On weekends where mom has to go into meetings, dad and I hang out, usually going to the park, or the museum, or for a stroll.  I

don't get as much dad time as I would like, but he definitely tries.  Sometimes, dad helps volunteer for Animazement too, and on those days, Nana Rosemary comes over to take care of me.  We have a great time playing with my toys, playing in my sandbox, or running around the yard.  I never stop moving, except for my naps.

Speaking of naps, I'm totally a one-nap baby now.  I *try* to have a long single nap of three hours or so, but sometimes I only get between one and two hours.  Those are tough days for everyone, but I'm sure I should only have one nap now that I'm all grown.  Yup, I'm the big 19 months now and I'm sure I know what's good for me and always want my

way.  My parents try to thwart my desires, but I'm really just letting them think that they are winning.

In the last blog posting I gave my new vital stats, but being 18 months also means new professional photos!  Go check them out on my Eighteen Months Old page, which is also linked from my Professional Photos Page.  I think I look good in

my green springtime outfits.  You'll also see that my new buff monkey, who I got from Nana Rosemary for Christmas, decided to join me for moral support.  I'm still a little scared of new people, but I warmed up pretty well.  I think the results are pretty good.  Mom and Dad will be sending out photos to people soon.  You can also order your own from Sears.  But lets face it, if you want to see the real and unfiltered Brian, you have to check out all the great shots on my Eighteenth Photos Page.  My new theme is getting into things that aren't mine and making messes!  Dad always reminds me how lucky I am that I'm cute or I wouldn't be able to get away with a lot of what I do!!

I've become practically obsessed with drawing recently.  I love to draw with my crayons on a big sketchpad, with my tub crayons in the bath, and I also draw on my two magnetic DoodlePros.  My skills have improved a lot.  I can make parallel lines, big swoopy circles, fill-in scribbles, and make some shapes.  The new fun thing that I like to do with people is to have an adult write a letter, and I can sometimes repeat what the letter is or make its sound.  I think that impresses people a lot.  I also have my AquaDoodle which is great fun for drawing on a big surface but not making a mess since its just water.

The only thing that may be better than drawing is sand.  I am obsessed with sand now.  I had a trip to the park with mom where I "borrowed" a shovel from another kid and went wild in the playground sand.  Sand is truly the greatest thing ever, I can't get enough of it.  So, a few weeks ago, Mom and Dad got me a Little Tykes Turtle Sandbox of my very own!  Now, whenever I need sand and we can't get to the playground, I can go right onto the back porch and go wild.  The only downside for my parents is that I often don't want to keep the sand in the box.  My feeling is that the sand wants to be free!  I just love to throw sand and watch it fall!  To go along with my new sandbox and trips to the playground, Mom got me a lot of sand toys and

tools that came in a cool wagon.  I love wagons!

At the same time, I'm starting to really start to be

interested in balls.  Balls are fun to kick and throw!   Mom also got me two outdoor balls (soccer and basketball) and four indoor balls (soccer ball, basketball, football, and baseball).  I don't have the rules down yet, but I love to pick up my balls, run around, then hold it over my head before throwing it as far as it will go.  Then, I can go run after it and do it all over again!  I can also kick the ball really far!  Sometimes I can even roll the ball back and forth with my parents.  I think they really enjoy it now that I’m becoming more interactive!

One weekend we went to the park at the museum and we flew a kite and had a lot of fun with my soccer ball.  I mostly just spent my time running up and down the grassy hill.  Have I mentioned how I must stay on the move at all times?

Last weekend, Mom, Dad, Jennie, and I went to the North Carolina Renaissance Faire.  We had a good, if short, time.  Dad backpacked me until I had to get out and run around.  I saw doggies and ponies and

flirted with all the girls there.  I've mastered saying "HI!" and then being the quiet shy type.  That always gets the girls to like me.  You can see me running around on the photos page.

Last Thursday Mommy and I went to her Japanese teacher friend’s house for lunch!  As usual, I was a little shy at first, but I did warm up and I was quite the charmer!  I had a great time playing peek-a-boo through the noren curtains, playing ball, showing off my new words, and I even watched some cute Japanese children’s TV shows.  I ate yummy sushi and chicken katsu, pasta salad, strawberries, vegetables, an apple, and even some cake for dessert!  After lunch, Mommy was able to sit and drink tea and chat with her friends, while their teenage daughters chased after me!  We had a great time, and Mommy said she was very proud of me for being a nice guest.

Yesterday we went to Chapel Hill.  Mom and Dad both got haircuts, and I saw all of the fun folks at Salon 135.  Then we had pizza and garlic knots at Franklin Street Pizza and Pasta.  Franklin Street was looking pretty good.  I heard something happened there Monday night, something about the Tarheels being NCAA Champions, but it must have been after my bed time.  I do love my beauty rest.  After lunch we strolled all around the campus and then went to the bookstore.  Mom picked up some gifts for me and some friends.  By this time I was getting really tired and needed my nap.  So mom and dad got some bubble tea and we set sail back to Raleigh in the Odyssey.  So I could chill a little bit, I got to watch my Totoro DVD as a treat.  I usually don't

get to watch a DVD when we stay in town, but I was especially tired.  Before we got home mom and dad picked up my 18-Month Photos and a new case for daddy's iPhone.  By the time we got home, I was spent.

Mom and Dad are going to be spending the next few days heavy into learning stuff.  Mom with her PHP and Japanese classes, and Dad will be in training next week.  I guess you never stop learning, I know I'm not!  All this talk about naps is making me tired, *yawn*  Until next time.... Zzzz ....