Jesse was only mildly impressed by the train ride at the park. Last year’s trip was more eventful.

This time, Jesse went in the moon bounce and saw a fire truck at our neighborhood block party.

After Gymboree, we walked over to the Burke Centre Festival.

Jesse met the Cat in the Hat, played in the toddler corral, saw the ponies, ate fries and tasted lemonade, and fell asleep on the way back to the car — still holding the fries.

(And that is a deep-fried Twinkie.)

We discovered recently that Jesse responds to simple commands:

“Stop!”

“Go to your couch!”

“Sit!”

Jesse has transitioned to the toddler room at day care, and today was his first day.

Here he is in the car before we went in:

Running to get inside:

Having a drink:

First snack without a high chair!

Checking out his new playground:

On the swings (very effective way for me to say goodbye, when he couldn’t run after me):

Jesse enjoyed lounging on the couch.

Then after work, we went to Gymboree.

Hanging with cousins:

Wedging himself between the cooler and bag:

Lunch in Philly (including a tiny bite of cheese steak hoagie):

First time at the beach (Atlantic Ocean):

Swinging at the playground:

Saying goodbye:

And a few more:

go round and round!

Here’s another sign in use: food/hungry

He’s pretty proficient with that one, the ones for “milk,” “please,” “thank you” and “more.” (He doesn’t bother with the water sign, because he says “a-waa.”)