While Daddy's away...

Donovan and Mommy will play! Brad has been on a recruiting trip in Utah since Thursday and won't be back until Tuesday so Donovan and I have been trying to fill our days with fun to make the time go by faster. The weather has been awesome (almost 60 on Friday and Saturday) so we went to the zoo Friday morning. I didn't bother with the stroller, I hooked him up to his monkey leash and let him guide me through the zoo. He had a great time but wore himself out and was ready to go home when the time came. I didn't take my camera, but he was being HILARIOUS. He has been saying "wow" for a long time, but while we were at the zoo he kept saying "whoa". He almost sounded like a surfer saying "whooooa, dude". It made me laugh. He loved the fish as he always does, I think they are his favorite. I think that is the most fun we have ever had at the zoo. He even made some friends who taught him how to play with the chains by the aviary doors. The only downside was all of the melting dirty snow. I had an issue about him playing with it so he got upset and that is when we decided it was time to go.

Other than being outside and going to the zoo, we have done a lot of coloring. It's one of Donovan's favorite things now. I was noticing that when he would color in a coloring book, he would go for the blank side of the covers, so we got him a tablet of blank paper and he loves it. I actually heard in an art class that giving children blank paper and letting them create instead of coloring something that is already there helps them develop their creativity so I guess it's a good thing.We have also been playing "potatoes" (as Mason calls it). He is getting much better about putting the parts in the correct places.
We have watched A Goofy Movie three times since Brad left and will probably watch it a fourth time when he wakes up from his nap. He loves this movie. I give him the option of about four movies and he goes for Goofy every time!
His favorite part is the beginning concert. I have enjoyed watching him and seeing his facial expressions as he watches. He seems to find Goofy very humorous. He always has a big grin on his face when Goofy is on the screen. I don't blame him, who doesn't love Goofy?

I just threw this picture in because he looks so handsome when we go to church. I was having a hard time getting him to walk in the chapel this morning so I told him we were going to find Mason and he got a big grin on his face and ran straight to where Mason and Scott were sitting (Lenna was giving a talk today, she did a great job).
Last night, Donovan and I went to the mall to get some stuff for my lesson. I decided to let him play in the play area for a while and when he got sick of that we walked around until he found the bubble gum machines. He kept signing "candy", and then "eat". After he figured out I wasn't going to let him have any, he tried to grab it through the glass and then he would suck on his fingers. He is already good at playing pretend! I guess that is what you have to do when your mean mom won't let you chew gum at 18 months old. He has been cracking me up all weekend. He is learning things so fast, I just wish he would say more words. He talks all the time, but most of it is jibberish at this point. At least he can grab our hands and show us what he wants!