That Wily Rascal Rex Ansley

For those of you who haven't interacted with Rex lately, this one is for you.

Look at this face, adorable, no?

I'll tell you why he is so cute. It's so we will feel BAD when we put him in continual timeouts for the day. Rex is sweet, but he is an energetic 2 year-old handful. He eats parents and teachers for breakfast and then looks around to see what else he can get into. Seriously, he runs his teachers so ragged that they have started asking us how he is at home . . . every time we pick him up. Also, he knows exactly what buttons to push in order to make his sister cry. Here are some recent Rex behaviors.

1. The Toddler Classic: Rex's two favorite words are "why" and "how." He can attempt to carry out a long 10-minute conversation with you using just these two words (and a devilish grin).

2. The New Move: Rex is only partially potty-trained, though he does love to change his own pull-ups. However, he has recently been trying to score points by peeing in his little red potty. Since he got so much positive feedback, he decided that more is better and has taken (somehow) to peeing about once every 20-30 minutes. He must be secretly drinking water. Then, he decided that the little red potty was beneath him (ha ha) and decided that the only way T-rex can pee is to STAND UP like his Dad using the big potty. Now, every time I look around for him, he's in the bathroom, on a step stool, doing his best to "aim" into the potty. It's terrifying and funny all at the same time.

3. The Night Move: Rex is immune to all yelling and most punishments. He likes to get up and visit the adults throughout the evening - even his Dad. He can be very sneaky. You'll be happily typing away on your computer at 10 p.m. and feel someone watching you from a shadowy corner. Yes, it will be a giggling toddler and, soon, a frustrated mom will be in tears (or screaming like a possessed lady).

4. The Sports Freak: Rex is a genetic anomaly in our family. At the tender age of 2, he's clearly already a sports fanatic. He loves his baseball and mitt, his Little Tykes basketball hoop, his tennis racket and he really loves his T-ball set. The only problem is that he really doesn't understand that these are (for him) only outdoor sports. You'll come cruising down the stairs only to have to duck to avoid a flying tennis ball or baseball. He's a throwing prodigy. He likes to aim right for your head and he throws straight and hard. He can also hold a tennis ball in one hand and drop hit it with his tennis racket. Or, you'll step out of the kitchen to see him setting up his T-ball set in the living room just in front of the original 1927 picture window. After you yell at him a while, he gives the standard Rex response to all situations - "sorry mom, it was an accident." To Rex, even whacking your sister over the head with a toy constitutes an "accident."

5. The Cannon Ball: Rex and Sylvie love swimming pools. Only Sylvie can marginally swim. Rex, however, is a master of the cannon ball. You have to keep your eye on him at all times because he will make that flying leap into the pool at any second. Usually, he smacks down face first plunging into the water. You pull him up sputtering and laughing. I'm counting down the days until he is 3 and I can put him into a real swim class.

We rent him out on weekends for those needing some exercise. He loves hiking, but you may have to carry a 25 lb weight on your shoulders for the last 1/4 mile.

Happy Easter