Mr. Negotiator

Brody went for his 4 year check-up the same day as Meg's ear surgery. It was a few months overdue, but better late than never, right? This well child check-up just cracked me and Bryson up because it was the first appointment where Brody could actually answer all of the developmental questions the nurse asked. We especially liked the one where they asked if he brushes his teeth twice a day. His respone, "No, I brush them before bedtime except when I skip it." This was said with a huge grin on his face and followed by a big laugh! He then proceeded to tell the nurse and doctor a bunch of random stuff including that his daddy let him on the roof to put up Christmas lights but that he got scared and so daddy had to holler at neighbor Doug to come get him down. Thankfully our doctor is great! They even did an vision test and we now know that he sees way better than me and Bryson! The rest of the appointment was great until his shots! We had talked about them and he was ready for it. He laid there really still and then he actually felt the shot. I guess he didn't realize how bad the shot was going to hurt. He was very offended and screamed very loud and proceeded to tell the nurse how bad it hurt. Poor baby!

Brody's Personality and Other Random Updates

• Brody has become much more unpredictable. Previously I would pretty much know how he would be in a particular situation. Now....not so much! For example sometimes he is very put off by having to give hugs to people and say bye, etc and other times here recently he will shock us with giving people big hugs and telling them how much he has missed them or is going to miss them.
• Speaking of missing people. He tells us all the time that is going to miss us while we are work and when he is at school.
• The boy is still very particular about certain things. When he is getting tired and wants to watch TV he always lays in the exact same spot on the couch. He wants a pillow and don't even think about propping the pillow up. It needs to be laying flat. He then wants his little blankie covering the pillow. Put it must be silky side up. Then he wants the big polka-dot blanket with the brown side up. Then he must have one cup of water and one cup of milk. Until he gets all things he needs he will just keep saying milk, water, blankie, polka dot blanket. Then once he has laid there for anywhere from 5-20 minutes he will randomly get up and say, "I feel much better now". Then playing continues. When it is time for bed he wants to be thrown into his bed. I throw him twice frontwards (once fast and then once super fast) and then backwards (once fast and once superfast). While I know that all sounds like he is such a rude and demanding kid....it really isn't that bad. I am sure it is someway to get attention away from Meg.
• Speaking of Meg. I feel like he is more jealous of her now than he ever has been. It is still not bad, just kind of interesting. He wants me to hold him more and wants to cuddle a lot. Which I love but can't always do. Maybe it is because she is demanding more attention as well since she is into everything and has been sick so much!
• He is very into picking out his own clothes and shoes and for the most part I let him. I never thought I would let him wear all of the character clothing and stuff that he does, but it make him so happy! I still pick out what he wear to church so at least one day a week he looks semi-cute!
• He loves surprises and wants us to close our eyes all the time (like when he picks out his clothes).
• He has some good negotiating skills. He attempts to negotiate getting what he wants with great phrases like these. "But I am dying for it". "But it is really special to me" "I really really need it". If I do _____, then can I _____. Thankfully none of this works on us!

At his friend Kennedy's gymnastics birthday party!

Playing with Meg. She was not injured, I promise!

Trying to catch her to give her a zurbert (how on earth do you spell that???)