Well, I haven't caught up in a week or so.
What does that mean for me?
A frazzled brain while I try and figure out what I wanted to say.
What does that mean for you?
Not reading through a time by time, frame by frame outline of one day's events.
Purees
I keep procrastinating on pureeing more meat, veggies, and fruit for Dexter. I keep meaning to do it, but the boy's naps haven't overlapped for a couple of days, and I keep feeling the need to 'get out of the house'. So, Dexter's had a bit more jarred food than usual this week, particularly with the introduction of chicken and turkey. Richard cannot wait to turn Dexter into his next steak lovin' carnivorous protege.
A Fun Day
Last week, Jen and I headed up to Eagle Mountain (where the 'good' playground is) to let Makenna and AJ play and Dexter, Emerson, and Jaxon 'hang out'. Of course, we had to pick up our Starbucks drinks on the way for us and the toddlers. Mmmmmm. I'm so glad that AJ appreciates Starbucks as much as I do. He even spots them from the highway and yells, "Starbucks, Mommy! Hot cocoa! Chocolate milk!" That's my boy.
The park was fun, and followed by some fun 'kiddie pool' time at Jen's house. Erica brought Jack and Rya to play too, so it was the three kids and the four babies. What used to be our little group of 6, is now our BIG group of 10, YIKES!
The kids had fun fighting over bikes, playing with bikes, fighting over toys, playing with toys, splashing in the water, using the 'potty', and throwing dirt in the pool! (Sorry Jen).
It's so cute when Jen brings out lunch for the kids and the three of them all sit together to eat.
One day, I'll learn how to load pics onto the computer instead of waiting for Richard to it in a big batch and that way you'll see the scenes as they happened.
AJ's Verbs
So AJ's started this new thing where he's kind of trying to get verification that he's using the right verbs.
For example....
AJ - "Mommy, what are you checking?"
Me - "I'm checking to make sure Daddy isn't taking all the beets out of his salad."
AJ - "Mommy what are you changing?"
Me - "What do you think I'm changing?"
AJ - "You are changing Baby Dexter's bum."
Me - "That's right."
AJ - "Mommy, what are you talking about?"
Me - "I'm talking about how you need to pick up your trucks and put them away."
AJ - "Mommy what are you trying to?"
Me - "I'm trying to find your bento box."
AJ - "Mommy, what are you looking for?"
Me - "I'm looking for your black shoes."
And....
I'm pretty sure he said, "Whatever" today. We were colouring, and he started to ask me something about a colour, like where's the other orange (because he likes to colour with the same colour you're using), and said, "Oh, whatever" and kept colouring.
Colds
Yup, got 'em. It sucks. I seem to be getting one now, too. I sure hope not.
Left and Right
AJ now knows his left foot from his right when asked, and his left hand from his right. YAY. He's starting to try and use 'left and right' to explain which direction we're going if we're going to someone's house or a store, etc.
The USA Meet Up!
So, I joined this website called babywhisperer when AJ was two months old. It was a support site for the book I use as a somewhat, 'parenting philosophy'. Anyhow, I started chatting on a thread for my 'birthclub', march/april 06 babies. It's an international site. You talk with moms who follow the same general parenting principles as you, stage by stage with your child. So, I've been talking, almost daily, with these 'friends' for more than two years now. We even started our own site. It started as about 60 of us chatting on the babywhisperer site, and now it's about 20 or so that talk regularly on our new site keeping each other updated on how our 'babies' are doing. Actually, about 4 of us have had second babies now, and one is only day older than Dexter, so it's been great to have lots to share about the new babies too.
Anyhow, I digress.....
So, although we're from all over the world, (Scotland, USA, Australia, Poland, Russia, England, Slovakia, Estonia, to name a few) we sometimes get to meet. We'd love to all meet, but of course, yah right.
I've had the pleasure of meeting a 'friend' locally, from Alberta, from Washington, and from Slovakia.
This past Monday, only a week after going to Snoqualmie, Washington, to see Thomas the Train, I headed alone with the boys to Seattle Premium Outlets in Tulalip to shop with and visit my friend from Puyallup and my friend from Bratislava, Slovakia. The kids, AJ, Grace, and Kubko (Jakub) had some fun playing together at the mall and running around. Shopping was followed by dinner. Dexter was great and sat in the travel high chair for the first time. He was just a star for me. Actually, all the kids were super.
A New Playplace, Finally
For months now, particularly since having 'the babies', Erica, Jen, and I have been complaining that there isn't an indoor playcentre in Abbotsford, and there isn't any mommy-coffee-shops. We'd love a place to drink our coffee and tea that has like mats on the floor, books, toys, etc. We tend to feel a little guilty bringing 3 toddlers and 4 babies into Starbucks and interrupting people's 'special quiet time'.
Well, a reasonably local lady in Mission just opened J-J's playplace especially for 0-6 year olds. She's getting an espresso machine soon, the climbing structure is totally toddler friendly, there's a ride on train, and even exersaucers and a swing for the babies. Not to mention, comfy couches for the moms.
It was really nice.
Paid Help
So I had this epiphany a couple months ago that if Richard wasn't keen on me wasting money on a housecleaner, that instead I would spend way less money on a babysitter for the boys while I clean.
So far, it's more working out that I pay a little for someone to watch AJ and play with AJ while I keep Dexter busy or 'in a contraption' of some sort while I clean the house.
AJ's had the chance to play with my friend's daughter, Ashley. She was so great with both boys, and even gave Dexter a bottle. I see it as a 'sitter in training' for those rare occasions when my sister, brother, or parents can't watch the boys when Richard and I would like to go out.
Last Friday, I think, I had our friends two oldest kids, Adam and Matt (grade 5 and 6, I believe), come and play with AJ while I cleaned and kept Dexter busy. It worked out soooo great. They played out in the back yard with him, played in the pool with him in front, and then came in and played trains and cars with him. AJ loved all the 2 on 1 attention. I loved 'no distractions'. I hope their mom, Christine didn't mind that Matt got wet in the pool because "AJ made [him] go down the slide" and I gave them some Orange Crush while they were here, sufficiently sugaring them up during their visit.
Anyhow, it was so great for both AJ and I!
Vandalism, By My Budding Big Boy Artiste!!!
First, my Big Boys news.
AJ hadn't napped in two days, which unfortunately doesn't make him fall asleep faster at bedtime. So, to prevent him from getting up out of his bed and turning on the light and playing during his naptime, I offered him the opportunity to sleep in his top bunk just for naptime. It went very well. He even chose to take two more naps up there. YAY! As long as he doesn't start playing up there.
Now, The Artiste
The other night, because AJ didn't nap during the day, I took the opportunity to put him in bed a bit early. I did a major quiet time, lots of attention, lots of stories type wind down, and then put him in bed. I thwarted the begging for water and then he was nice and quiet. Awake, but quiet. Still took about 40 minutes to fall asleep, but wasn't calling for me.
Well, the next morning, he walks into the kitchen, having just woken up, and he's got some felt on his shirt. Hmmmm. I didn't think much of it. I just thought it must've gotten on his shirt while we coloured last night.
I entered his bedroom after breakfast and saw this beautiful drawing in the same colour felt of what appears to be a little kid standing under a rainbow.
I said, "OH WOW! Did you draw this beautiful picture last night before you fell asleep?" And before he could answer, I saw IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Felt.
Felt on his wall.
Felt on his bed.
Felt on his pillow.
Felt on monkey.
Felt on his sheets.
Felt on his bedspread.
Felt, felt, felt.
I took them away. They're washable, but they must need soap and water because simple wipes weren't cleaning it up. This is why he was so 'nice' and quiet last night. ARG!
Magic eraser later took it off the wall, but along with some paint.
I'm gong to return his felts to him tomorrow.
And that's what's new.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Just Stuff
Today's "Weigh'ther (It's a pun)
Dexter - 21 lbs
Feels like - 30 lbs
80% chance of oral precipitation
Sunny all day with cloudy breaks in the early evening.
AJ - 24 lbs
Feels like - 20 lbs
80% chance of ocular precipitation
Sunny all day with freak storms, hail, rain, heat waves, warmth, floods.
Dexter
He's having a bit of a hard time settling for naps the last couple of days. He's really wanting to crawl. My great tummy sleeper keeps flipping over onto his back and then playing. It's getting a little annoying.
Dexter's got an allergy appointment coming up and due to what seems to be a milk allergy, I haven't been introducing his solids as fast paced as I did AJ's.
Dexter's now had rice cereal, pears, apples, carrots, sweet potato, carrot, green beans, wax beans, squash, zucchini, turnips, oat cereal, barley cereal, peaches, apricots, chicken, and a small bit of peas that were in one of the mix baby food jars.
For the most part, I make homemade purees, then freeze them in cubes for Dexter, just like I did for AJ.
Dexter Rolls and Naps
Well the rolling and attempting to crawl is getting in the way of nap time. I keep going in to see him with his legs up under him or all over the crib. It's driving me bonkers.
Dexter Sitting Up
-I think I can say that Dexter is sitting up unaided now. Although I still like to keep something cushy behind him, I technically can leave the room and when I return, he's still sitting and playing. YAY Dexter. This is the day I've been waiting for. Now you have permission to stop growing and accomplishing things.
AJ
-In an attempt to keep him in his bed for his nap, I let him take a nap in his top bunk today. So far, so good.
Dexter - 21 lbs
Feels like - 30 lbs
80% chance of oral precipitation
Sunny all day with cloudy breaks in the early evening.
AJ - 24 lbs
Feels like - 20 lbs
80% chance of ocular precipitation
Sunny all day with freak storms, hail, rain, heat waves, warmth, floods.
Dexter
He's having a bit of a hard time settling for naps the last couple of days. He's really wanting to crawl. My great tummy sleeper keeps flipping over onto his back and then playing. It's getting a little annoying.
Dexter's got an allergy appointment coming up and due to what seems to be a milk allergy, I haven't been introducing his solids as fast paced as I did AJ's.
Dexter's now had rice cereal, pears, apples, carrots, sweet potato, carrot, green beans, wax beans, squash, zucchini, turnips, oat cereal, barley cereal, peaches, apricots, chicken, and a small bit of peas that were in one of the mix baby food jars.
For the most part, I make homemade purees, then freeze them in cubes for Dexter, just like I did for AJ.
Dexter Rolls and Naps
Well the rolling and attempting to crawl is getting in the way of nap time. I keep going in to see him with his legs up under him or all over the crib. It's driving me bonkers.
Dexter Sitting Up
-I think I can say that Dexter is sitting up unaided now. Although I still like to keep something cushy behind him, I technically can leave the room and when I return, he's still sitting and playing. YAY Dexter. This is the day I've been waiting for. Now you have permission to stop growing and accomplishing things.
AJ
-In an attempt to keep him in his bed for his nap, I let him take a nap in his top bunk today. So far, so good.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
How Kim's Day With Dexter Went
While we visited 'the real Thomas the Train', Kimmy stayed at our place with Dexter.
In her point form words.........
(The only editing I've done is to take out one word that she uses all the time, and replaced it with a * . Let's play a game. Can you guess the missing word? Once you've read the passage, scroll down to see if you're correct!)
- his second morning nap went great, and I had to go get him because it was the latest he could sleep for.
- had his bottle and ate all his lunch, I don't know how you keep him so clean but he was a mess and I had to clean him up *
-went in the exersaucer a few times, and almost everytime bit that 'B' thing *, and then would cry :(
-we read those two big Baby Einstein books that you can touch and feel and the very hungry caterpillar, and I thought he was really excited about the pictures and stuff but he was really trying to eat the books *
-sat in his bouncy chair and was just amazed by the mole sisters show, he would have watched the whole thing
- afternoon nap, was only 45 minutes, which wasn't great, but whatever....
- had his bottle at like 3 or so...
- between that and his dinner, we played on that mat thing, with all the hanging toys, and he went in the jolly jumper, and he sat on the couch with me and played with that mirror that he loves so much
-dinner at about 5:15, he ate all that too
- bath around 5:45, he is so cute in the bath *, he just splashes and has a great time, I put one of the ducks in the water and he was just watching it and trying to get it *
-put him in his pajamas, gave him his night time bottle, that thing got stuck in the hole part, so I had to go get a new one, dexter was not impressed *, he was getting really tired so I fed him the rest of the bottle , zoomed through a couple books, and then put him to bed, and he went to sleep instantly
- then sitting in the living room, I could hear in the monitor every once in a while he would hit that animal piano thing, and it would make noises or sing, and I was just thinking crap, should I go in there or not...I decided not too, because I thought maybe he wouldn't hit it anymore, but he did a couple more times, but I just had this feeling that if I went in there, he might wake up see me and I didn't want that *
-although that thing went off, he never woke up, and then you guys came home like 4 hours later, or a little less, and I believe you went in and turned it off.
uhmm, that was pretty much my day, I can't think of anything else really, except he was just such a happy guy, laughing all the time. :)
* = ha
In her point form words.........
(The only editing I've done is to take out one word that she uses all the time, and replaced it with a * . Let's play a game. Can you guess the missing word? Once you've read the passage, scroll down to see if you're correct!)
- his second morning nap went great, and I had to go get him because it was the latest he could sleep for.
- had his bottle and ate all his lunch, I don't know how you keep him so clean but he was a mess and I had to clean him up *
-went in the exersaucer a few times, and almost everytime bit that 'B' thing *, and then would cry :(
-we read those two big Baby Einstein books that you can touch and feel and the very hungry caterpillar, and I thought he was really excited about the pictures and stuff but he was really trying to eat the books *
-sat in his bouncy chair and was just amazed by the mole sisters show, he would have watched the whole thing
- afternoon nap, was only 45 minutes, which wasn't great, but whatever....
- had his bottle at like 3 or so...
- between that and his dinner, we played on that mat thing, with all the hanging toys, and he went in the jolly jumper, and he sat on the couch with me and played with that mirror that he loves so much
-dinner at about 5:15, he ate all that too
- bath around 5:45, he is so cute in the bath *, he just splashes and has a great time, I put one of the ducks in the water and he was just watching it and trying to get it *
-put him in his pajamas, gave him his night time bottle, that thing got stuck in the hole part, so I had to go get a new one, dexter was not impressed *, he was getting really tired so I fed him the rest of the bottle , zoomed through a couple books, and then put him to bed, and he went to sleep instantly
- then sitting in the living room, I could hear in the monitor every once in a while he would hit that animal piano thing, and it would make noises or sing, and I was just thinking crap, should I go in there or not...I decided not too, because I thought maybe he wouldn't hit it anymore, but he did a couple more times, but I just had this feeling that if I went in there, he might wake up see me and I didn't want that *
-although that thing went off, he never woke up, and then you guys came home like 4 hours later, or a little less, and I believe you went in and turned it off.
uhmm, that was pretty much my day, I can't think of anything else really, except he was just such a happy guy, laughing all the time. :)
* = ha
Monday, July 21, 2008
A Day Out With Thomas, and Without Dexter
The day before heading to Snoqualmie, Washington for the big "Day Out With Thomas", I entered a conversation that ended with ...
Why are we bringing Dexter? Why put him through the big car ride and the hot day? He's getting nothing out of it.
So, we asked my sister if she would like to come look after Dexter from about 8:30am to 11:00pm. She has her license now!!! YAY!!! She happily obliged.
Saturday, July 19th
9:30am
Mommy, Daddy, and AJ head on the road for a 2.5 hour drive to Snoqualmie, Washington, USA to the railway museum for a "Day Out With Thomas the Train".
9:40am-10:20am
Border line up. Thank goodness for portable DVD players and Baby Einstein DVDs. Phew.
10:20am-2:00pm or so
On the road, stopping for lunch, stopping for gas, etc. AJ napped in the car. Thank goodness, or the day could've been ugly.
2:00pm - We arrive!
Upon entering the railway museum property, you are greeted with live music, the gift shop, food vendors, and the big tent of Thomas merchandise. I wanted to find AJ a non-lame t-shirt. I believe I was successful at this, finding a nice navy blue shirt with Thomas the Train on it and all the labelled parts of a train.
You could meet Sir Topham Hat.
You could get a Thomas tattoo, which we surely did.
There was a tent sent up with about 5 train tables and tracks out for kids to play with. It was funny to watch the 2 and 3 year old in 'hoarding-mode'. Watch out! If you turn your head away from one of your train cars or heaven-forbid your train rolls down the track ahead of your grasp for a moment, it's sure to get swiped by one of these kids. The words, "Mine! That's mine! No that's mine!" could be heard from many feet away. My child was not innocent in all of this either. Although he was not guilty of any train swiping, he was definitely guilty of using the "M" word.
A cynical Richard was already questioning the authenticity of our Thomas the Train ride scheduled for 4:30pm. He couldn't help but notice that the real train we would be riding on later that day had no life size Thomas attached to it as the ads suggested.
I informed him that I'm sure there's a life size Thomas somewhere, if only for the kids to climb on even. If there wasn't, and I drove all this way,......... "Heads are gonna roll."
Thank goodness. As you approach the other end of the property, you see him. All blue in his glory. Thomas the train. Oddly, he's at the back of the train. He gets 'dragged', so to speak. Nonetheless, he's life size, he looks real, and you get to have your picture taken with him! It was pretty cool looking! I think AJ thought it was pretty neat.
There was a bouncy castle to play in and in true AJ-touchy-sensitive-emo-style, AJ asked to go in the bouncy castle, removed his shoes, and then flipped a wing nut as he neared the door yelling, "No, no bouncy castle."
-Of course, as we walked away, the crying of "I want to go on the bouncy castle" resonated familiarly in our ears. Good Grief!
3:50pm-We see Jack!
We finally ran into Jack, his Daddy, and his Grandma. AJ and Jack run around a bit, give each some hugs, and then part ways to later meet up on the train.
4:30pm-We're off!!!
-We sat in the old fashioned passenger car with Jack and his crew. Oh, did I mention that AJ briefly started to freak out as we got closer to the train? I assured him that Jack wasn't scared and he seemed to calm down.
-The engine pulls us for about 12 minutes to the edge of a cliff overlooking a river. It was beautiful.
-On the 12 minute ride back down the tracks Thomas is 'pulling' us back to the railway museum. We couldn't help but laugh about the kids in cars at intersections who didn't know about Thomas coming to town seeing this life sized Thomas coming down the tracks, yelling to their moms, "Mom it's Thomas, it's Thomas!" Must've blown some minds.
5:00pm- We head home.
-We stopped at Bellis Fair for dinner at The Country Buffet as we had a hankering for a "Sizzler-esque" dinner experience. It didn't live up to the Sizzler, as expected. Does anything in life? Really? Think about that.
-went to Target. I HAD to do SOME shopping!!! Come on!!!!!! Seriously.
10:15pm - AJ finally falls asleep literally 25 seconds from our front door. What a goof.
Kim had a great day with Dexter. She loved how fast he goes to sleep on his belly. In fact, I think I'll ask her to type up how her day went with him and I'll add it on here.
Other things to mention...
New Foods
-I don't think I've been keeping up on listing Dexter's new foods, as is the life of a second born. Get used to it Dexy.
-Apricots, Oatmeal, Green Beans, Wax Beans, Squash, Peaches (which he does not care for), and I think that's it.
-oh ya, chicken too.
AJ Being a Kind Brother
-Dexter was on his tummy on his play mat and I saw AJ get some tissue and approach Dexter. Immediatly, I said, "That is not a toy. You can't give that to Dexter. " He said, "No, I'm just cleaning up his barf."
-Awwww, isn't that cute?
AJ Antics and Sass
-AJ accidentally spilled some water on the bathroom floor with his cup and I asked him to get a towel to help me clean it up. He said, "No, I don't like to get a towel. Just spank my bum." What a smartypants.
Bouncing Dexter
-Well the Jolly Jumper has definitely been good training for Dexter. Now, in his exersaucer, he bounces like there's no tomorrow. From down the hall you hear "CRASH CRASH CRASH CRASH CRASH CRASH!"
Why are we bringing Dexter? Why put him through the big car ride and the hot day? He's getting nothing out of it.
So, we asked my sister if she would like to come look after Dexter from about 8:30am to 11:00pm. She has her license now!!! YAY!!! She happily obliged.
Saturday, July 19th
9:30am
Mommy, Daddy, and AJ head on the road for a 2.5 hour drive to Snoqualmie, Washington, USA to the railway museum for a "Day Out With Thomas the Train".
9:40am-10:20am
Border line up. Thank goodness for portable DVD players and Baby Einstein DVDs. Phew.
10:20am-2:00pm or so
On the road, stopping for lunch, stopping for gas, etc. AJ napped in the car. Thank goodness, or the day could've been ugly.
2:00pm - We arrive!
Upon entering the railway museum property, you are greeted with live music, the gift shop, food vendors, and the big tent of Thomas merchandise. I wanted to find AJ a non-lame t-shirt. I believe I was successful at this, finding a nice navy blue shirt with Thomas the Train on it and all the labelled parts of a train.
You could meet Sir Topham Hat.
You could get a Thomas tattoo, which we surely did.
There was a tent sent up with about 5 train tables and tracks out for kids to play with. It was funny to watch the 2 and 3 year old in 'hoarding-mode'. Watch out! If you turn your head away from one of your train cars or heaven-forbid your train rolls down the track ahead of your grasp for a moment, it's sure to get swiped by one of these kids. The words, "Mine! That's mine! No that's mine!" could be heard from many feet away. My child was not innocent in all of this either. Although he was not guilty of any train swiping, he was definitely guilty of using the "M" word.
A cynical Richard was already questioning the authenticity of our Thomas the Train ride scheduled for 4:30pm. He couldn't help but notice that the real train we would be riding on later that day had no life size Thomas attached to it as the ads suggested.
I informed him that I'm sure there's a life size Thomas somewhere, if only for the kids to climb on even. If there wasn't, and I drove all this way,......... "Heads are gonna roll."
Thank goodness. As you approach the other end of the property, you see him. All blue in his glory. Thomas the train. Oddly, he's at the back of the train. He gets 'dragged', so to speak. Nonetheless, he's life size, he looks real, and you get to have your picture taken with him! It was pretty cool looking! I think AJ thought it was pretty neat.
There was a bouncy castle to play in and in true AJ-touchy-sensitive-emo-style, AJ asked to go in the bouncy castle, removed his shoes, and then flipped a wing nut as he neared the door yelling, "No, no bouncy castle."
-Of course, as we walked away, the crying of "I want to go on the bouncy castle" resonated familiarly in our ears. Good Grief!
3:50pm-We see Jack!
We finally ran into Jack, his Daddy, and his Grandma. AJ and Jack run around a bit, give each some hugs, and then part ways to later meet up on the train.
4:30pm-We're off!!!
-We sat in the old fashioned passenger car with Jack and his crew. Oh, did I mention that AJ briefly started to freak out as we got closer to the train? I assured him that Jack wasn't scared and he seemed to calm down.
-The engine pulls us for about 12 minutes to the edge of a cliff overlooking a river. It was beautiful.
-On the 12 minute ride back down the tracks Thomas is 'pulling' us back to the railway museum. We couldn't help but laugh about the kids in cars at intersections who didn't know about Thomas coming to town seeing this life sized Thomas coming down the tracks, yelling to their moms, "Mom it's Thomas, it's Thomas!" Must've blown some minds.
5:00pm- We head home.
-We stopped at Bellis Fair for dinner at The Country Buffet as we had a hankering for a "Sizzler-esque" dinner experience. It didn't live up to the Sizzler, as expected. Does anything in life? Really? Think about that.
-went to Target. I HAD to do SOME shopping!!! Come on!!!!!! Seriously.
10:15pm - AJ finally falls asleep literally 25 seconds from our front door. What a goof.
Kim had a great day with Dexter. She loved how fast he goes to sleep on his belly. In fact, I think I'll ask her to type up how her day went with him and I'll add it on here.
Other things to mention...
New Foods
-I don't think I've been keeping up on listing Dexter's new foods, as is the life of a second born. Get used to it Dexy.
-Apricots, Oatmeal, Green Beans, Wax Beans, Squash, Peaches (which he does not care for), and I think that's it.
-oh ya, chicken too.
AJ Being a Kind Brother
-Dexter was on his tummy on his play mat and I saw AJ get some tissue and approach Dexter. Immediatly, I said, "That is not a toy. You can't give that to Dexter. " He said, "No, I'm just cleaning up his barf."
-Awwww, isn't that cute?
AJ Antics and Sass
-AJ accidentally spilled some water on the bathroom floor with his cup and I asked him to get a towel to help me clean it up. He said, "No, I don't like to get a towel. Just spank my bum." What a smartypants.
Bouncing Dexter
-Well the Jolly Jumper has definitely been good training for Dexter. Now, in his exersaucer, he bounces like there's no tomorrow. From down the hall you hear "CRASH CRASH CRASH CRASH CRASH CRASH!"
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Houston, We Have a Tooth
Actually, we have two of them.
It's a good thing because I was beginning to wonder where all this saliva was coming from.
YAY Dexter for your first two teeth cutting through today!!!
It was a BIG BIG day today.
We were invited to my co-worker, Judy's house/farm for today for a get-together for the little kids. Judy has lots of property, a lovely, cozy home, a bridge, a trampoline, cool picnic tables, gardens, a sand pit, a bonfire pit, and just a great place to hang out. She even brought out the blow up pool for the kids. And, she had toys galore.
The day couldn't have gone more smoothly.
Dexter woke early, at 6:00am, but instead of attempting to put him back to sleep, I took advantage of the impending nap change, knowing it would work in our favour today.
I put Dexter down for his first nap around 8:00am while I was still packing for our big day.
We left the house around 9:45am, and of course, I noticed a bum-change was in order as we were heading out the door. Had to stop at Starbucks too (of course) for my VERY NECESSARY Venti-Iced-Sugar-Free-Hazelnut-Breve-Americano-Misto. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. I convinced AJ that they weren't giving out chocolate milk for kids today.
On the way, I noticed that a bunch of houses on 96th, just off of 176th we torn down. I said, "Oh no, all the houses have been torn down. There were houses here." I was really talking to myself, but AJ was listening and said, "Oh no, the houses are gone. The houses are sad." I said, "No, the houses aren't sad. Houses don't have feelings. Houses aren't alive like you and I." He said, "My books have feelings. Books are happy and sad." LOL. A few weeks ago we took out lots of books from the library about feelings. They have pictures of kids who are happy, sad, confused, etc, and they talk about why you have certain feelings and stuff like that. It was such a cute comment.
Dexter napped on the way there. YES! Perfecto.
We arrived around 10:30am. AJ got right into playing with his best buddy, Jack. Lunch, bottle, playing, talking, relaxing, and Dexter napping in my carrier (thanks Grand-Dan). We had a blast. AJ was pretty good except for when he decided to seek some sand-throwing revenge at Jack, perhaps for some past sand throwing or bike tipping incidences, or perhaps just because he's two. Otherwise, the boys were great, as were all the kids. And what a cute bunch of kids too, and all around the same age. Dexter even had a cute little chunky buddy that could've passed as a fraternal twin brother with whom to play.
We left at 1:30pm. Dexter transferred quite nicely from sleeping in the carrier to sleeping in the car until we arrived in Richmond, at Aberdeen Mall at 2:20pm. AJ also napped in the car at this time. YES! Perfecto!
We went to Daiso at the mall. It's this great Japanese (I think) dollar store type thing. OMGsh. I could've stayed in there forever. I'll definitely have to go sans-kiddos next time. They had wooden trains and planes and buses for AJ's wooden train track set, all for $2.00 each. They had lots of bento box accessories which is the real reason I went. We loaded up on that stuff. I also bought some strange non-refridegerated yoghurt and jello type things. I read this tip to freeze them and use them as temporary edible icepacks. I think that'll be a great idea.
Dexter had his bottle there at the mall whilst AJ and I enjoyed a cool beverage and watched the wishing fountain water/music show.
Then it was off too Grand-Dan's house for dinnertime. Dexter took a quick 10 minute catnap in the car from about 4:10-4:20pm. YES!! Perfecto!
Do you think I remembered to bring the camera into my dad's place?
No.
I missed some very sweet picture opportunities after we gave Grand-Dan his very belated Father's Day cards and mini-hockey sticks.
AJ is VERY ready for a sleepover at Grand-Dan's house whenever Grand-Dan's ready. He's got a great lawn area for throwing and catching, a pool, AND a nearby Go-Cart track. Long gone are the days when AJ needed a little time to warm up to Grand-Dan. Today the two of them were rollerblading, chewing toothpicks, and eating Dillybars, having a 'grand' time. Pun intended.
(yes, this is all a little hint for Grand-Dan if he's reading this)
We hopped in the car around 7:30pm (about 30 minutes after Dexter's bedtime, and about 30 minutes before AJ's). YES! Perfecto.
Dexter slept the whole way home.
But AJ didn't sleep on the way home, remarkably. Hmmmmm. Not-so-perfecto.
Got home. Richard took the kids, plopped them in bed while I brought in the bags, and they both fell asleep in no-time.
It's a good thing because I was beginning to wonder where all this saliva was coming from.
YAY Dexter for your first two teeth cutting through today!!!
It was a BIG BIG day today.
We were invited to my co-worker, Judy's house/farm for today for a get-together for the little kids. Judy has lots of property, a lovely, cozy home, a bridge, a trampoline, cool picnic tables, gardens, a sand pit, a bonfire pit, and just a great place to hang out. She even brought out the blow up pool for the kids. And, she had toys galore.
The day couldn't have gone more smoothly.
Dexter woke early, at 6:00am, but instead of attempting to put him back to sleep, I took advantage of the impending nap change, knowing it would work in our favour today.
I put Dexter down for his first nap around 8:00am while I was still packing for our big day.
We left the house around 9:45am, and of course, I noticed a bum-change was in order as we were heading out the door. Had to stop at Starbucks too (of course) for my VERY NECESSARY Venti-Iced-Sugar-Free-Hazelnut-Breve-Americano-Misto. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. I convinced AJ that they weren't giving out chocolate milk for kids today.
On the way, I noticed that a bunch of houses on 96th, just off of 176th we torn down. I said, "Oh no, all the houses have been torn down. There were houses here." I was really talking to myself, but AJ was listening and said, "Oh no, the houses are gone. The houses are sad." I said, "No, the houses aren't sad. Houses don't have feelings. Houses aren't alive like you and I." He said, "My books have feelings. Books are happy and sad." LOL. A few weeks ago we took out lots of books from the library about feelings. They have pictures of kids who are happy, sad, confused, etc, and they talk about why you have certain feelings and stuff like that. It was such a cute comment.
Dexter napped on the way there. YES! Perfecto.
We arrived around 10:30am. AJ got right into playing with his best buddy, Jack. Lunch, bottle, playing, talking, relaxing, and Dexter napping in my carrier (thanks Grand-Dan). We had a blast. AJ was pretty good except for when he decided to seek some sand-throwing revenge at Jack, perhaps for some past sand throwing or bike tipping incidences, or perhaps just because he's two. Otherwise, the boys were great, as were all the kids. And what a cute bunch of kids too, and all around the same age. Dexter even had a cute little chunky buddy that could've passed as a fraternal twin brother with whom to play.
We left at 1:30pm. Dexter transferred quite nicely from sleeping in the carrier to sleeping in the car until we arrived in Richmond, at Aberdeen Mall at 2:20pm. AJ also napped in the car at this time. YES! Perfecto!
We went to Daiso at the mall. It's this great Japanese (I think) dollar store type thing. OMGsh. I could've stayed in there forever. I'll definitely have to go sans-kiddos next time. They had wooden trains and planes and buses for AJ's wooden train track set, all for $2.00 each. They had lots of bento box accessories which is the real reason I went. We loaded up on that stuff. I also bought some strange non-refridegerated yoghurt and jello type things. I read this tip to freeze them and use them as temporary edible icepacks. I think that'll be a great idea.
Dexter had his bottle there at the mall whilst AJ and I enjoyed a cool beverage and watched the wishing fountain water/music show.
Then it was off too Grand-Dan's house for dinnertime. Dexter took a quick 10 minute catnap in the car from about 4:10-4:20pm. YES!! Perfecto!
Do you think I remembered to bring the camera into my dad's place?
No.
I missed some very sweet picture opportunities after we gave Grand-Dan his very belated Father's Day cards and mini-hockey sticks.
AJ is VERY ready for a sleepover at Grand-Dan's house whenever Grand-Dan's ready. He's got a great lawn area for throwing and catching, a pool, AND a nearby Go-Cart track. Long gone are the days when AJ needed a little time to warm up to Grand-Dan. Today the two of them were rollerblading, chewing toothpicks, and eating Dillybars, having a 'grand' time. Pun intended.
(yes, this is all a little hint for Grand-Dan if he's reading this)
We hopped in the car around 7:30pm (about 30 minutes after Dexter's bedtime, and about 30 minutes before AJ's). YES! Perfecto.
Dexter slept the whole way home.
But AJ didn't sleep on the way home, remarkably. Hmmmmm. Not-so-perfecto.
Got home. Richard took the kids, plopped them in bed while I brought in the bags, and they both fell asleep in no-time.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Finally, He's On a Roll!!!
Well, I say finally, but really I mean 'ARG'!
Dexter finally rolled from front to back (which is supposed to be the 'easier' one), go figure.
Anyhow, it's sure interfering with naps today. He usually sleeps on his tummy, but he kept rolling onto his back.
To answer Erica's comment on the last post....
You'll be able to order prints of AJ's masterpiece for the bargain price of $2000000 once they're uploaded onto our site.
Dexter finally rolled from front to back (which is supposed to be the 'easier' one), go figure.
Anyhow, it's sure interfering with naps today. He usually sleeps on his tummy, but he kept rolling onto his back.
To answer Erica's comment on the last post....
You'll be able to order prints of AJ's masterpiece for the bargain price of $2000000 once they're uploaded onto our site.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
The Artist Spends the Night at Gram's
AJ got to stay at Gram's house last night. Mom, Ken, Kim and Paul got home from their trip to Disneyland (on which they somehow forgot to take AJ, and me for that matter) on Thursday night.
On Friday night, we had them over for perogies and they decided to take AJ overnight.
Saturday, they took AJ to the beach and we had Dexy all to ourselves and got a bunch of yard work done during his naps. Man, you forget how much time you have to yourself with only one baby!!! Took it for granted when AJ was a baby, for sure.
AJ had a great Saturday at Gram's house. They took him to Harrison to play at the beach. Thank goodness, because I was beginning to think that with two kids, AJ wouldn't get to go to the beach this summer.
We went for dinner at their place tonight (Saturday night) to go pick up AJ, have dessert, and hang out.
While we were there, AJ was playing on the Magna Doodle. Lo and behold, my little artist drew a cat. He was saying, "Foot foot foot foot, head, eyes, nose, mouth, etc." And drew something that actually looked like a cat. Later he drew Makenna. I thought his fire trucks were good, but whoa, these were amazingly detailed (for a 2 year old, of course).
Dexter had a great day of one on one attention. He napped wonderfully, and went to sleep impecably for bedtime at my mom's. The day went swimmingly. Hope there's lots more to come.
Oh, and..... couldn't help but notice that the whole time I was at my mom's, AJ didn't stutter once. Hmmmmmmm.
On Friday night, we had them over for perogies and they decided to take AJ overnight.
Saturday, they took AJ to the beach and we had Dexy all to ourselves and got a bunch of yard work done during his naps. Man, you forget how much time you have to yourself with only one baby!!! Took it for granted when AJ was a baby, for sure.
AJ had a great Saturday at Gram's house. They took him to Harrison to play at the beach. Thank goodness, because I was beginning to think that with two kids, AJ wouldn't get to go to the beach this summer.
We went for dinner at their place tonight (Saturday night) to go pick up AJ, have dessert, and hang out.
While we were there, AJ was playing on the Magna Doodle. Lo and behold, my little artist drew a cat. He was saying, "Foot foot foot foot, head, eyes, nose, mouth, etc." And drew something that actually looked like a cat. Later he drew Makenna. I thought his fire trucks were good, but whoa, these were amazingly detailed (for a 2 year old, of course).
Dexter had a great day of one on one attention. He napped wonderfully, and went to sleep impecably for bedtime at my mom's. The day went swimmingly. Hope there's lots more to come.
Oh, and..... couldn't help but notice that the whole time I was at my mom's, AJ didn't stutter once. Hmmmmmmm.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Dexter's Shots
He was a trooper today. Richard said that Dexter only cried for the last needle and for the other two, Dexter just gave the nurse a dirty look.
YAY!
YAY!
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
AJ's Speech Appointment
AJ was a star. I prepared him. I told him we were going to be talking to a lady. I told him she would ask him questions, blah blah blah.
If you know AJ at all, then you know that he gets really shy and usually won't talk to new people until he's very comfortable.
So, if you were unaware of why I was taking AJ to the speech and language pathologist, here's the situation....
He has a lisp, like Cindy Brady, you know? 'th' instead of 's'
He only started to say the 'f' sound at the beginning of words just recently. Before, he was saying 'wish' for 'fish'.
He says 'fwing' for swing.
He doesn't usually use the 'h' sound at the beginning of words. For instance, for 'hospital', he'd say 'opital'.
And a week ago, he started stuttering on the first word of a sentence which I've read is very normal, but worth mentioning.
Also, I need to kind of translate him for strangers.
Now many of you will say, "But Sonja, calm down. He's only 2."
I wanted to be on the safe side. It's a win win situation. I'm going to go there and they're going to say, "Don't worry, it's all normal. He's fine." or they'll say, "Yes, it's a concern. Here's what you can do to fix it."
So, we walked in to the appointment, and she asked me if he'd like to play with cars or farm animals. I said, "Let me ask him. AJ would you like to play with cars or farm animals?"
AJ answered, "Cars please." Thank goodness. We were off to a good start. He's talking in front of a stranger.
Well, he demonstrated all the stuff I was talking about. She got to hear the stutter, the no 'h', the lisp, the new 'f' sound, etc.
She said everything was completely normal and totally developmental. She said there's nothing to do right now about the lisp because he's so young. Maybe when he's 4, if he still has it. As she observed him more and more and talked him, she just kept smiling and laughing because he's 'so way beyond expectations' for his age by way of communication.
'For fun' she said, for the sake of her 'student' that was observing, she did the more in depth questions. She said, "He'll pass without a doubt, but just so you see what we're hoping for at this age."
So the questions were things like
Can he name one colour?
AJ can name about 25 colours including 'pinky purple' and 'macaroni and cheese orange'. lol
Does he understand function?
Like she showed him a sock, a key, and a cup, and asked him, "Which one is for drinking." She wanted him to point to the cup, but he pointed to it and said, "The cup is for drinking."
She wanted him to have about 1-2 words per sentence, but he has about 10-12.
Bottom line, 'communication' is definitely not a problem, but I knew that.
The lisp, we'll watch it. We don't want it to get worse. But she's not concerned.
Same with the stutter. We'll see her again in November.
They were loving him. She said that they don't get to have kids that 'advanced' in there very often.
All I could think was, "Makenna would blow her away."
So, anyhow. He's fine. She's not concerned. But she'll see us again in November or so to check on his stutter, but she said that sometimes this stage lasts 3-6 months.
She asked about the 'needing to translate'. I said that I understand, almost all of what he says, close friends understand most of what he's saying, and strangers understand about half or so.
She said, that's totally normal. Phew.
AJ was really well behaved. He was hardly shy at all.
On the way home, I picked him up some ice cream and said, "Thanks for doing all the talking to the lady, and thanks for answering her questions." He said, "I told her what was for drinking. A cup for drinking." I thought it was funny that it stood out for him.
And that's it.
If you know AJ at all, then you know that he gets really shy and usually won't talk to new people until he's very comfortable.
So, if you were unaware of why I was taking AJ to the speech and language pathologist, here's the situation....
He has a lisp, like Cindy Brady, you know? 'th' instead of 's'
He only started to say the 'f' sound at the beginning of words just recently. Before, he was saying 'wish' for 'fish'.
He says 'fwing' for swing.
He doesn't usually use the 'h' sound at the beginning of words. For instance, for 'hospital', he'd say 'opital'.
And a week ago, he started stuttering on the first word of a sentence which I've read is very normal, but worth mentioning.
Also, I need to kind of translate him for strangers.
Now many of you will say, "But Sonja, calm down. He's only 2."
I wanted to be on the safe side. It's a win win situation. I'm going to go there and they're going to say, "Don't worry, it's all normal. He's fine." or they'll say, "Yes, it's a concern. Here's what you can do to fix it."
So, we walked in to the appointment, and she asked me if he'd like to play with cars or farm animals. I said, "Let me ask him. AJ would you like to play with cars or farm animals?"
AJ answered, "Cars please." Thank goodness. We were off to a good start. He's talking in front of a stranger.
Well, he demonstrated all the stuff I was talking about. She got to hear the stutter, the no 'h', the lisp, the new 'f' sound, etc.
She said everything was completely normal and totally developmental. She said there's nothing to do right now about the lisp because he's so young. Maybe when he's 4, if he still has it. As she observed him more and more and talked him, she just kept smiling and laughing because he's 'so way beyond expectations' for his age by way of communication.
'For fun' she said, for the sake of her 'student' that was observing, she did the more in depth questions. She said, "He'll pass without a doubt, but just so you see what we're hoping for at this age."
So the questions were things like
Can he name one colour?
AJ can name about 25 colours including 'pinky purple' and 'macaroni and cheese orange'. lol
Does he understand function?
Like she showed him a sock, a key, and a cup, and asked him, "Which one is for drinking." She wanted him to point to the cup, but he pointed to it and said, "The cup is for drinking."
She wanted him to have about 1-2 words per sentence, but he has about 10-12.
Bottom line, 'communication' is definitely not a problem, but I knew that.
The lisp, we'll watch it. We don't want it to get worse. But she's not concerned.
Same with the stutter. We'll see her again in November.
They were loving him. She said that they don't get to have kids that 'advanced' in there very often.
All I could think was, "Makenna would blow her away."
So, anyhow. He's fine. She's not concerned. But she'll see us again in November or so to check on his stutter, but she said that sometimes this stage lasts 3-6 months.
She asked about the 'needing to translate'. I said that I understand, almost all of what he says, close friends understand most of what he's saying, and strangers understand about half or so.
She said, that's totally normal. Phew.
AJ was really well behaved. He was hardly shy at all.
On the way home, I picked him up some ice cream and said, "Thanks for doing all the talking to the lady, and thanks for answering her questions." He said, "I told her what was for drinking. A cup for drinking." I thought it was funny that it stood out for him.
And that's it.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
A Whole Month or More!
It is updated, finally.
Now I will try to write every couple of days.
Tomorrow I'll finish updating the details on the events and all about Dexter.
Okay, so I'm going to stop writing this all in second person, as though I were writing to AJ and Dexter personally. It's just more fun to write 'about them' instead.
The last day I wrote was on the 14th of May! I'm so bad about keeping up on this. I should write every day or two instead. Or maybe once a week.
Anyhow, AJ is now almost 2 years and 3.5 months old, and Dexter is now almost 5.5 months old. Time is flying by.
What have we been up to?
Special days/Special Events
May 15th - Dexter really starts grabbing at stuff with his hands. Toys, food, you name it. He's greedy!
May 24th - Shauna's wedding shower.
May 27th - Dexter truly rolled over back to front. He still chooses not to roll front to back, although, I have to admit, we're out so much that he doesn't get much time to practice anything on the floor. Poor guy.
May 28th - We went to the zoo AGAIN! Just us this time.
May 31st - Dexter starts blowing raspberries.
June 5th - I noticed that Dexter has been grabbing and holding his feet. I LOVE this stage. He loves it when I play 'toes to the nose' with him. He's so flexy and chunky!
June 7th - Shauna's wedding. We stayed overnight in a hotel. I'll have to write more later.
June 8th - Poor little Dext starts soy.
June 9th - Dexter's just all over his playmat and his crib.
June 9th - Dexter starts carrots.
June 9th - AJ's last music class.
June 10th - I elevate Dexter's crib mattress because of his congestion, but he defeats the purpose of this by turning around so all of the blood is rushing to his head.
June 12th - We go to the bird sanctuary. Or as AJ knows it, The Bird Zoo.
June 15th - Sometimes around now Dexter tries sweet potatoes. I actually think he tried them before the carrots when we went to the Island, but I didn't record this very well.
June 13th - Preschool at the Park.
June 16th - A big day of gardening! Poor Dirty Dexter.
June 17th - I start Baby Bootcamp and both boys are just great for me!
June 18th - I'm really noticing how many comments I get about Dexter and how smiley he is. He can make anyone smile and anyone can make him smile.
June 20th - Dexter moves onto his tummy for sleeping.
June 20th - AJ's last day of preschool.
June 21st - More gardening. Dexter's a super star and AJ wants to help help help.
June 21st - Dexter starts learning to use a sippy cup. He's a pro already. Go Dexter Go!
June 21st - I decide to give up the infant carrier. I'm sick of carrying my 18lb Chunky-D. I've got one Popeye arm and the other is flabby! Okay, no, both are flabby, but one is flabbier than the other. That's even worse.
June 22nd - We use the umbrella stroller in IHOP for breakfast time instead of the infant carrier. Works like a charm.
June 23rd - I notice that AJ is using 'F' sounds at the beginning of words now. Phew!
June 23rd - We head over to 'Auntie Jen's' for the day. She's been dealing with sick kids 'poop and puke', and hoping that it's the same illness that AJ and I already had and hopefully became immune to, we decide to head over and 'help the day go by'.
June 25th - Dexter went to the doctor and will be going for an allergy appointment on the 24th of July. I'm sick. Got what Jen's family has. I'm wiped out of commission. Richard takes over as mom and dad.
June 26th - AJ and Dexter get what I have. AJ just for one day and Dexter off and on for about 5 days. VERY dehydrated. Scary even.
June 29th - Yup, you guessed it, Richard gets the illness too. I wasnt' back to 100% for 6 days. He took about 7. Our whole household inside, sick for a week and a half, self-quarantined from the public.
June 30th - To the zoo again! for the first time ever, we don't actaully walk aroudn to see animals. We ride the train, and AJ spends the day at the playground instead, while Dexter and I relax in the shade. But somehow, I still get burnt.
July 1st - Canada Day: Parade and Festivities! This day was fabulous, except for Richard still feeling ill. Parade, playing in the sand, sliding down the hill on pieces of cardboard, tattoos, bubbles, skipping, music. AJ had a blast. Dexter and Daddy, not-so-much.
July 3rd - Dexter starts taking long naps.
July 4th -Dexter's almost sitting up and Dexter has his first Baby Mum Mum.
July 5th - Charlie's 1st birthday party.
July 6th - AJ finally starts to say, "I love you too Mommy." Instead of just "I love you."
July 7th - Dexter says "Hi", and sleeps beautifully because we let him keep his paci overnight. (I should also mention that I swear he calls out for me, "Muma", and that he copied me saying, "I love you." But you know, I'm a mom, so I hear what I want to hear.
July 8th - Definite crawling motions and a lovely 2.2.5 hour nap, FINALLY!
About Dexter............
Jolly Giant
He is just a super jolly guy. He laughs until he's out of breath and wheezing, usually thanks to AJ's antics. With the exception of Witching Hour and Growth Spurts, he's really happy all the time.
The Play Arc
He's been loving this for quite a while. He loves to pull on all the assorted toys until the thing practically collapses down onto him.
The Jolly Jumper
So, I put Dexter in this spot on at 3 months old. Oh wait, no, a little after because I let AJ go in the original one and he broke it. I guess 24 pounds IS too heavy.
Dexter, in 2 months, has changed so much, and the jolly jumper is where to see this change. He used to just dangle and enjoy if you bounced him softly. Now, he's viciously bouncing up and down and side to side, just narrowly missing the door frame. I've got to keep an eye on a hall-wandering-AJ though who will just start to reef on the thing. Dexter loves it, but it spells D-I-S-A-S-T-E-R !
Greedy Grabber
So it's almost 2 months ago now that Dexter really started grabbing for things. This morning, he grabbed his cereal right off the kitchen table and turfed it on the floor.
When I put him into his new car seat, he immediately reaches for his banana toy.
Rolling and Crawling
So, I still haven't witnessed him roll from tummy to back, but he's really getting close to crawling. He can get where he needs to go by shimmying, but today, I witnessed for the first time, him really pushing up off his hands, he put his knees under him in the middle of our living room floor, and pushed forward toward the toy he wanted.
Songs He Loves
He loves when I push his toes up his nose and sing "toes to the nose" and he loves when I sing him "rocking horse" and "Ride that Bike"
Shauna's Wedding and the Resulting Soy Formula
Dexter was really great for our trip the the Island, but that night his congestion that he's had since birth, worsened.
That was the last straw. We took him to the doctor when we got back and the doctor really thinks it's a milk allergy. We switched him to soy formula, reluctantly as we are pretty anti-soy. It makes sense, as his congestion did worsen during weaning from breast to bottle. The more formula, the more congestion. When we switched to the soy, it got better. It's not gone, but it's better.
He has an appointment with the paediatrician on the 24th of July. We're hoping it's not an additional cat allergy. I'm thinking it's dust, cats, orange foods, simethicone, or some secret ingredient that's in powder formula, but not concentrate formula.
Dirty Dirty Dexter
Well, we've spent many a day outside weeding as of late. I could hear Dexter laughing his head off watching AJ throwing dirt in the air with a shovel. I was on lower level of the garden so I didn't notice from my angle, just how close AJ was to Dexter.
When I got over to Dexter to pack up to go inside, he just just covered in dirt. His mouth, oh yeah, he ate dirt for sure.
Tummy Sleeps
Thank goodness! Finally! I've been waiting for this day, and of course, like I assumed, it's made nap times better for Dexter.
Sippy Cup
He just guzzles water from his sippy at dinner time and lunch time. I'm impressed. I may soon, move his lunch time bottle to a sippy when I introduce meat to his lunches.
Napping
Finally, long naps, and today (July 8th), for 2.25 hours. It only took him 6 months.
Sitting Up
He can sit unaided for about a minute. But I stay right behind him because he will fall, but he's getting better.
Solids and then Some
Yup, a Baby Mum Mum cracker and he knew just what to do with it. Grabbed it and brought it right to his mouth and started biting and sucking away. He is entranced by this yummy item.
First Words
I know, I know, he's only 6 months old. They're probably not really words, but let me be proud mommy will you?
Muma - seriously it sounds like this when he's calling out in the morning.
Hi - Okay, now this one's real. AJ and I will say "Hiiiiiiiiii" in the morning, and he immediately replies with a "Haaaaiiiiiiiiii". It's super cute.
I love you - This one's a long shot, but I said it to him and I swear it sounded like he tried to copy me.
The Paci
I let you keep it overnight, and lo and behold, yes, you went back to sleeping through. Let's see if it happens two nights in a row.
About AJ........
Clever Chatter
Although I still have to translate him for strangers sometimes, he's using such big sentences now even using things words like 'are' 'is' 'ourselves' 'myself', etc. His sentences are upwards of 10-12 words long, but I haven't counted the 'story' situation when he's explaining something to me, so it could be more.
He's really been into the whole "how are you doing" thing. He likes to ask,"Hi _____, how are YOU doing?" He likes to reply with either, "I'm fine." Or "I'm well, thank you." or "I'm doing very well." lol. It's very cute. He especially likes to ask you this if he knows you are mad.
Common questions from AJ while we're driving are "What are we on?" or "What are we in?" It's funny because we'll be driving between some trees and he's thinking that we're in the trees or something. If we're driving beside water, he thinks we're actually driving on the water. Ah, to see things through a child's eyes. I remember looking at the Patullo bridge as a child and thinking that we were going to be driving on the orange arc part. lol.
After the last sleep over at my mom's place, AJ was asking about Kim and Paul. Where's Uncle Paul? Where Kirsty? Where's Other Kirsty?" 'Other Kirsty' is what he calls Kim's friend Kaitlyn. I guess he just refuses to say her name for some reason.
Potty Training
Well, I would count AJ as potty trained since slightly before his second birthday. You know, like staying dry all day and wearing underwear instead of pull ups.
There's been more advancement in this area over this month. I would say that 6 out of 7 days in a week, he wakes dry from his nap, and about 4 out of 7 mornings, he wakes dry from his night sleep. It kind of depends on when he wakes up. The later he sleeps, the less likely that he's still dry.
This has already gotten better since I last typed this. He's dry for about 6 out of 7 naps a week.
Sassiness
He's getting very clever in the 'smart A$$' kind of way.
EXAMPLE...
He is normally not allowed to ride his ride on cars in the kitchen UNLESS Dexter is sleeping and I don't want him going down the hall. Well, thereis one nap that Dexter used to take while I get dinner ready from about 4:30-5:00pm. AJ will refrain from riding his cars all day until THIS NAP.Then, while I'm trying to make dinner, he'll come cruising in and he'll see that I'm itching to get ticked off about him riding in there and he'll stop, look up, smile, and say, "Dexter's sleeping, so I ride my car in the kitchen." That little bugger.
There's been a lot of naughty spot visits lately and tantrum time has finally settled in for us. Good grief. What a drama queen. I can't imagine where he gets it from.
Another favourite sassy time for AJ is when I've asked him to come to me. He yells, "I'm coming!" If I call him again because he's not coming, he comes trapesing down the hall yelling, "I'm coming! I'm coming!" and finally, right up in my face, "I'M COMING!" Again, I really don't know where he gets this. lol.
Best Big Brother
He's really being great with Dexter. I think he's really noticing how Dexter is changing and learning things and becoming more of a playmate rather than a decoration, for lack of a better word.
He loves to get Dexter into stitches of laughter and he loves having 'crib time' with Dexter.
Today (July 8th), when i had the two of them in the jogging stroller, AJ literally had Dexter screaming in fits of laughter for the whole 20 minute jog around the lake. Too funny.
I should also add that for about 5 minutes of that jog, AJ thought it would be a good idea to lean on Dexter in the stroller.
Naps or Bust
Well, I have a decision to make. What's more important to me, smooth bedtime or daytime nap. If I let AJ sleep too late, like past 2:00pm, then he doesn't want to fall asleep until 9:00pm or LATER! If he has no nap at all, then he's cranky in the afternoon, whiny, crying about everything, and just generally a giant PITA, IYKWIM. I don't want to shorten the nap too much because when the two boys are napping, that's 'my time'. We'll have to see what I figure out in the next few days of experimentation with his naps. At least on the days that he didn't nap, he was willing to have 'room time' where he stays in his room for the 1.5 hours and plays alone with the door closed. That was peaceful and I think he really got some serious playtime in there. You could hear the imagination working overtime through the monitor.
Colouring
So after someone mentioned to me 'colouring in the lines', I decided to try this with AJ, and sure enough. He can do it. We call it 'colouring in' as opposed to 'colouring all around'. It's fun to watch him try so hard to fill in a car shape, a wheel, a face, a hand, etc.
Not to mention, he's also really great at tracing shapes, letters, etc. He's getting better and better every day.
Jurassic Park
Yes, that's right. Give me another worst mom of the year award.....
I'm watching tv and AJ was in the room and I happened upon Jurassic Park.
It was the beginning part when everything's all nice. AJ's getting really interested in the dinosaurs and pointing them out and such.
Then the bad stuff starts happening when the T-Rex starts flipping the tour vehicles and eating people.
All of a sudden, I clue into what we're watching.
I say, "Oh what a crazy scary bad dinosaur. Let's watch something else."
He says, "No Mommy. I want to watch the dinosaur movie. Let's watch the big scary dinosaur. Crazy dinosaur."
So I ask him if he thinks it's scary. He says yes. I ask him if he would like me to turn it off and he says no.
So, enjoying the movie and fascinated by his response, we continue to watch it.
Now, he is scared by parts of it, enough that he wants to sit on my lap to watch it, but not outwardly acting scared. I kept saying to myself, "What am I doing? Am I crazy?"
So, at one point, the T-rex is eating one of the other dinosaurs and AJ's saying, "Where did his head go? Where's his tail."
I think I was justifying him watching the movie by thinking, "This is no different than watching Animal Kingdom. This is nature." lol.
Anyhow, there's only been one or two nights of dinosaur bad dreams, and that's after now watching Jurassic Park parts 2 and 3 now as well (thanks Daddy).
He is asking often still to watch what he refers to as "The Kid Movie" (I'm guessing because of the two kids that are in it).
I figure, kid's in war-torn countries have seen WAY worse and people killing people. Maybe AJ's going to be an 'EMO' all dressed in black and watching horror films.
Hmmmmm.
Cars
AJ loves to ride ANY vehicle in the house no matter how small. Hot wheels motorcycle? No problem! There he is like so many clowns, just riding his miniature motorcycle around the house. What a goof!
Not to mention, he LOVES the movie Cars. Just loves it.
Oh yes, and lest we forget. He doesn't like our car. It's not good enough. He wants to go home in the fancy cars.... Hummers, Bugs, Mustangs, Escalades, Jeeps, even.
First Movie
I took AJ to see his first movie, "Wall-E". He was so good. He sat still and watched the whole thing. He loved the characters and was talking about the movie non-stop on the way home. He also really enjoyed the unlimited popcorn and Fruitopia mixed with Sprite. Sugar! What a treat!
Starbucks
Asks to go, I swear. I don't drag him. He requests it. This is definitely my kind of kid! He can even spot a Starbucks from the highway.
We've made quite the trips to Starbucks, especially now that Auntie Jen ventures there with us.
Here's the Starbucks group...
Mommy
AJ
Baby Dexter
Auntie Erica
Jack
Baby Rya
Auntie Jen
Makenna
Baby Emerson
Baby Jaxon
(and you thought it was a place to unwind!)
Books
We took out Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See from the library a few weeks ago, as surprisingly, I don't already own it.
AJ really likes it, not surprisingly, since he loves Panda Bear Panda Bear too.
So, it was breakfast time the other day, and I was asking him what kind of fruit he wanted: a brown pear, a green pear, an apple, or an orange.
He says, "Brown Pear please."
He then, takes a second and lets that sink in, and begins to say, just like the book,
Brown Pear
Brown Pear
What do you see?
I see a green pear looking at me.
Green Pear
Green Pear
What do you see?
I see another brown pear looking at me.
It was very cute.
AJ and His Music
He had his last music class and is still asking about it. I'll be putting him in Fine Arts preschool in September, and I think he's really going to love it.
I can't help but notice how well AJ stays on beat, like when tapping a drum. He pauses when the music pauses even.
Gymanstics
I'd really like to get AJ into gymnastics too. He loves doing forward rolls and headstand-type-things. I think this could be 'his thing'.
The Bird Sanctuary
I shouldn't have referred to it as the 'bird zoo'. I was thinking it would help him visualize where we were going, but the whole time there, he just kept asking, "Where's the Zoo".
He loves feeding the birds, and we came back with extra bird seed that we shared with birds at the local park.
Now I will try to write every couple of days.
Tomorrow I'll finish updating the details on the events and all about Dexter.
Okay, so I'm going to stop writing this all in second person, as though I were writing to AJ and Dexter personally. It's just more fun to write 'about them' instead.
The last day I wrote was on the 14th of May! I'm so bad about keeping up on this. I should write every day or two instead. Or maybe once a week.
Anyhow, AJ is now almost 2 years and 3.5 months old, and Dexter is now almost 5.5 months old. Time is flying by.
What have we been up to?
Special days/Special Events
May 15th - Dexter really starts grabbing at stuff with his hands. Toys, food, you name it. He's greedy!
May 24th - Shauna's wedding shower.
May 27th - Dexter truly rolled over back to front. He still chooses not to roll front to back, although, I have to admit, we're out so much that he doesn't get much time to practice anything on the floor. Poor guy.
May 28th - We went to the zoo AGAIN! Just us this time.
May 31st - Dexter starts blowing raspberries.
June 5th - I noticed that Dexter has been grabbing and holding his feet. I LOVE this stage. He loves it when I play 'toes to the nose' with him. He's so flexy and chunky!
June 7th - Shauna's wedding. We stayed overnight in a hotel. I'll have to write more later.
June 8th - Poor little Dext starts soy.
June 9th - Dexter's just all over his playmat and his crib.
June 9th - Dexter starts carrots.
June 9th - AJ's last music class.
June 10th - I elevate Dexter's crib mattress because of his congestion, but he defeats the purpose of this by turning around so all of the blood is rushing to his head.
June 12th - We go to the bird sanctuary. Or as AJ knows it, The Bird Zoo.
June 15th - Sometimes around now Dexter tries sweet potatoes. I actually think he tried them before the carrots when we went to the Island, but I didn't record this very well.
June 13th - Preschool at the Park.
June 16th - A big day of gardening! Poor Dirty Dexter.
June 17th - I start Baby Bootcamp and both boys are just great for me!
June 18th - I'm really noticing how many comments I get about Dexter and how smiley he is. He can make anyone smile and anyone can make him smile.
June 20th - Dexter moves onto his tummy for sleeping.
June 20th - AJ's last day of preschool.
June 21st - More gardening. Dexter's a super star and AJ wants to help help help.
June 21st - Dexter starts learning to use a sippy cup. He's a pro already. Go Dexter Go!
June 21st - I decide to give up the infant carrier. I'm sick of carrying my 18lb Chunky-D. I've got one Popeye arm and the other is flabby! Okay, no, both are flabby, but one is flabbier than the other. That's even worse.
June 22nd - We use the umbrella stroller in IHOP for breakfast time instead of the infant carrier. Works like a charm.
June 23rd - I notice that AJ is using 'F' sounds at the beginning of words now. Phew!
June 23rd - We head over to 'Auntie Jen's' for the day. She's been dealing with sick kids 'poop and puke', and hoping that it's the same illness that AJ and I already had and hopefully became immune to, we decide to head over and 'help the day go by'.
June 25th - Dexter went to the doctor and will be going for an allergy appointment on the 24th of July. I'm sick. Got what Jen's family has. I'm wiped out of commission. Richard takes over as mom and dad.
June 26th - AJ and Dexter get what I have. AJ just for one day and Dexter off and on for about 5 days. VERY dehydrated. Scary even.
June 29th - Yup, you guessed it, Richard gets the illness too. I wasnt' back to 100% for 6 days. He took about 7. Our whole household inside, sick for a week and a half, self-quarantined from the public.
June 30th - To the zoo again! for the first time ever, we don't actaully walk aroudn to see animals. We ride the train, and AJ spends the day at the playground instead, while Dexter and I relax in the shade. But somehow, I still get burnt.
July 1st - Canada Day: Parade and Festivities! This day was fabulous, except for Richard still feeling ill. Parade, playing in the sand, sliding down the hill on pieces of cardboard, tattoos, bubbles, skipping, music. AJ had a blast. Dexter and Daddy, not-so-much.
July 3rd - Dexter starts taking long naps.
July 4th -Dexter's almost sitting up and Dexter has his first Baby Mum Mum.
July 5th - Charlie's 1st birthday party.
July 6th - AJ finally starts to say, "I love you too Mommy." Instead of just "I love you."
July 7th - Dexter says "Hi", and sleeps beautifully because we let him keep his paci overnight. (I should also mention that I swear he calls out for me, "Muma", and that he copied me saying, "I love you." But you know, I'm a mom, so I hear what I want to hear.
July 8th - Definite crawling motions and a lovely 2.2.5 hour nap, FINALLY!
About Dexter............
Jolly Giant
He is just a super jolly guy. He laughs until he's out of breath and wheezing, usually thanks to AJ's antics. With the exception of Witching Hour and Growth Spurts, he's really happy all the time.
The Play Arc
He's been loving this for quite a while. He loves to pull on all the assorted toys until the thing practically collapses down onto him.
The Jolly Jumper
So, I put Dexter in this spot on at 3 months old. Oh wait, no, a little after because I let AJ go in the original one and he broke it. I guess 24 pounds IS too heavy.
Dexter, in 2 months, has changed so much, and the jolly jumper is where to see this change. He used to just dangle and enjoy if you bounced him softly. Now, he's viciously bouncing up and down and side to side, just narrowly missing the door frame. I've got to keep an eye on a hall-wandering-AJ though who will just start to reef on the thing. Dexter loves it, but it spells D-I-S-A-S-T-E-R !
Greedy Grabber
So it's almost 2 months ago now that Dexter really started grabbing for things. This morning, he grabbed his cereal right off the kitchen table and turfed it on the floor.
When I put him into his new car seat, he immediately reaches for his banana toy.
Rolling and Crawling
So, I still haven't witnessed him roll from tummy to back, but he's really getting close to crawling. He can get where he needs to go by shimmying, but today, I witnessed for the first time, him really pushing up off his hands, he put his knees under him in the middle of our living room floor, and pushed forward toward the toy he wanted.
Songs He Loves
He loves when I push his toes up his nose and sing "toes to the nose" and he loves when I sing him "rocking horse" and "Ride that Bike"
Shauna's Wedding and the Resulting Soy Formula
Dexter was really great for our trip the the Island, but that night his congestion that he's had since birth, worsened.
That was the last straw. We took him to the doctor when we got back and the doctor really thinks it's a milk allergy. We switched him to soy formula, reluctantly as we are pretty anti-soy. It makes sense, as his congestion did worsen during weaning from breast to bottle. The more formula, the more congestion. When we switched to the soy, it got better. It's not gone, but it's better.
He has an appointment with the paediatrician on the 24th of July. We're hoping it's not an additional cat allergy. I'm thinking it's dust, cats, orange foods, simethicone, or some secret ingredient that's in powder formula, but not concentrate formula.
Dirty Dirty Dexter
Well, we've spent many a day outside weeding as of late. I could hear Dexter laughing his head off watching AJ throwing dirt in the air with a shovel. I was on lower level of the garden so I didn't notice from my angle, just how close AJ was to Dexter.
When I got over to Dexter to pack up to go inside, he just just covered in dirt. His mouth, oh yeah, he ate dirt for sure.
Tummy Sleeps
Thank goodness! Finally! I've been waiting for this day, and of course, like I assumed, it's made nap times better for Dexter.
Sippy Cup
He just guzzles water from his sippy at dinner time and lunch time. I'm impressed. I may soon, move his lunch time bottle to a sippy when I introduce meat to his lunches.
Napping
Finally, long naps, and today (July 8th), for 2.25 hours. It only took him 6 months.
Sitting Up
He can sit unaided for about a minute. But I stay right behind him because he will fall, but he's getting better.
Solids and then Some
Yup, a Baby Mum Mum cracker and he knew just what to do with it. Grabbed it and brought it right to his mouth and started biting and sucking away. He is entranced by this yummy item.
First Words
I know, I know, he's only 6 months old. They're probably not really words, but let me be proud mommy will you?
Muma - seriously it sounds like this when he's calling out in the morning.
Hi - Okay, now this one's real. AJ and I will say "Hiiiiiiiiii" in the morning, and he immediately replies with a "Haaaaiiiiiiiiii". It's super cute.
I love you - This one's a long shot, but I said it to him and I swear it sounded like he tried to copy me.
The Paci
I let you keep it overnight, and lo and behold, yes, you went back to sleeping through. Let's see if it happens two nights in a row.
About AJ........
Clever Chatter
Although I still have to translate him for strangers sometimes, he's using such big sentences now even using things words like 'are' 'is' 'ourselves' 'myself', etc. His sentences are upwards of 10-12 words long, but I haven't counted the 'story' situation when he's explaining something to me, so it could be more.
He's really been into the whole "how are you doing" thing. He likes to ask,"Hi _____, how are YOU doing?" He likes to reply with either, "I'm fine." Or "I'm well, thank you." or "I'm doing very well." lol. It's very cute. He especially likes to ask you this if he knows you are mad.
Common questions from AJ while we're driving are "What are we on?" or "What are we in?" It's funny because we'll be driving between some trees and he's thinking that we're in the trees or something. If we're driving beside water, he thinks we're actually driving on the water. Ah, to see things through a child's eyes. I remember looking at the Patullo bridge as a child and thinking that we were going to be driving on the orange arc part. lol.
After the last sleep over at my mom's place, AJ was asking about Kim and Paul. Where's Uncle Paul? Where Kirsty? Where's Other Kirsty?" 'Other Kirsty' is what he calls Kim's friend Kaitlyn. I guess he just refuses to say her name for some reason.
Potty Training
Well, I would count AJ as potty trained since slightly before his second birthday. You know, like staying dry all day and wearing underwear instead of pull ups.
There's been more advancement in this area over this month. I would say that 6 out of 7 days in a week, he wakes dry from his nap, and about 4 out of 7 mornings, he wakes dry from his night sleep. It kind of depends on when he wakes up. The later he sleeps, the less likely that he's still dry.
This has already gotten better since I last typed this. He's dry for about 6 out of 7 naps a week.
Sassiness
He's getting very clever in the 'smart A$$' kind of way.
EXAMPLE...
He is normally not allowed to ride his ride on cars in the kitchen UNLESS Dexter is sleeping and I don't want him going down the hall. Well, thereis one nap that Dexter used to take while I get dinner ready from about 4:30-5:00pm. AJ will refrain from riding his cars all day until THIS NAP.Then, while I'm trying to make dinner, he'll come cruising in and he'll see that I'm itching to get ticked off about him riding in there and he'll stop, look up, smile, and say, "Dexter's sleeping, so I ride my car in the kitchen." That little bugger.
There's been a lot of naughty spot visits lately and tantrum time has finally settled in for us. Good grief. What a drama queen. I can't imagine where he gets it from.
Another favourite sassy time for AJ is when I've asked him to come to me. He yells, "I'm coming!" If I call him again because he's not coming, he comes trapesing down the hall yelling, "I'm coming! I'm coming!" and finally, right up in my face, "I'M COMING!" Again, I really don't know where he gets this. lol.
Best Big Brother
He's really being great with Dexter. I think he's really noticing how Dexter is changing and learning things and becoming more of a playmate rather than a decoration, for lack of a better word.
He loves to get Dexter into stitches of laughter and he loves having 'crib time' with Dexter.
Today (July 8th), when i had the two of them in the jogging stroller, AJ literally had Dexter screaming in fits of laughter for the whole 20 minute jog around the lake. Too funny.
I should also add that for about 5 minutes of that jog, AJ thought it would be a good idea to lean on Dexter in the stroller.
Naps or Bust
Well, I have a decision to make. What's more important to me, smooth bedtime or daytime nap. If I let AJ sleep too late, like past 2:00pm, then he doesn't want to fall asleep until 9:00pm or LATER! If he has no nap at all, then he's cranky in the afternoon, whiny, crying about everything, and just generally a giant PITA, IYKWIM. I don't want to shorten the nap too much because when the two boys are napping, that's 'my time'. We'll have to see what I figure out in the next few days of experimentation with his naps. At least on the days that he didn't nap, he was willing to have 'room time' where he stays in his room for the 1.5 hours and plays alone with the door closed. That was peaceful and I think he really got some serious playtime in there. You could hear the imagination working overtime through the monitor.
Colouring
So after someone mentioned to me 'colouring in the lines', I decided to try this with AJ, and sure enough. He can do it. We call it 'colouring in' as opposed to 'colouring all around'. It's fun to watch him try so hard to fill in a car shape, a wheel, a face, a hand, etc.
Not to mention, he's also really great at tracing shapes, letters, etc. He's getting better and better every day.
Jurassic Park
Yes, that's right. Give me another worst mom of the year award.....
I'm watching tv and AJ was in the room and I happened upon Jurassic Park.
It was the beginning part when everything's all nice. AJ's getting really interested in the dinosaurs and pointing them out and such.
Then the bad stuff starts happening when the T-Rex starts flipping the tour vehicles and eating people.
All of a sudden, I clue into what we're watching.
I say, "Oh what a crazy scary bad dinosaur. Let's watch something else."
He says, "No Mommy. I want to watch the dinosaur movie. Let's watch the big scary dinosaur. Crazy dinosaur."
So I ask him if he thinks it's scary. He says yes. I ask him if he would like me to turn it off and he says no.
So, enjoying the movie and fascinated by his response, we continue to watch it.
Now, he is scared by parts of it, enough that he wants to sit on my lap to watch it, but not outwardly acting scared. I kept saying to myself, "What am I doing? Am I crazy?"
So, at one point, the T-rex is eating one of the other dinosaurs and AJ's saying, "Where did his head go? Where's his tail."
I think I was justifying him watching the movie by thinking, "This is no different than watching Animal Kingdom. This is nature." lol.
Anyhow, there's only been one or two nights of dinosaur bad dreams, and that's after now watching Jurassic Park parts 2 and 3 now as well (thanks Daddy).
He is asking often still to watch what he refers to as "The Kid Movie" (I'm guessing because of the two kids that are in it).
I figure, kid's in war-torn countries have seen WAY worse and people killing people. Maybe AJ's going to be an 'EMO' all dressed in black and watching horror films.
Hmmmmm.
Cars
AJ loves to ride ANY vehicle in the house no matter how small. Hot wheels motorcycle? No problem! There he is like so many clowns, just riding his miniature motorcycle around the house. What a goof!
Not to mention, he LOVES the movie Cars. Just loves it.
Oh yes, and lest we forget. He doesn't like our car. It's not good enough. He wants to go home in the fancy cars.... Hummers, Bugs, Mustangs, Escalades, Jeeps, even.
First Movie
I took AJ to see his first movie, "Wall-E". He was so good. He sat still and watched the whole thing. He loved the characters and was talking about the movie non-stop on the way home. He also really enjoyed the unlimited popcorn and Fruitopia mixed with Sprite. Sugar! What a treat!
Starbucks
Asks to go, I swear. I don't drag him. He requests it. This is definitely my kind of kid! He can even spot a Starbucks from the highway.
We've made quite the trips to Starbucks, especially now that Auntie Jen ventures there with us.
Here's the Starbucks group...
Mommy
AJ
Baby Dexter
Auntie Erica
Jack
Baby Rya
Auntie Jen
Makenna
Baby Emerson
Baby Jaxon
(and you thought it was a place to unwind!)
Books
We took out Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See from the library a few weeks ago, as surprisingly, I don't already own it.
AJ really likes it, not surprisingly, since he loves Panda Bear Panda Bear too.
So, it was breakfast time the other day, and I was asking him what kind of fruit he wanted: a brown pear, a green pear, an apple, or an orange.
He says, "Brown Pear please."
He then, takes a second and lets that sink in, and begins to say, just like the book,
Brown Pear
Brown Pear
What do you see?
I see a green pear looking at me.
Green Pear
Green Pear
What do you see?
I see another brown pear looking at me.
It was very cute.
AJ and His Music
He had his last music class and is still asking about it. I'll be putting him in Fine Arts preschool in September, and I think he's really going to love it.
I can't help but notice how well AJ stays on beat, like when tapping a drum. He pauses when the music pauses even.
Gymanstics
I'd really like to get AJ into gymnastics too. He loves doing forward rolls and headstand-type-things. I think this could be 'his thing'.
The Bird Sanctuary
I shouldn't have referred to it as the 'bird zoo'. I was thinking it would help him visualize where we were going, but the whole time there, he just kept asking, "Where's the Zoo".
He loves feeding the birds, and we came back with extra bird seed that we shared with birds at the local park.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
March/April
Well we've been busy since I last wrote.
Preschool
Music Classes
Walks
Starbucks
The Zoo
An Easter Party
To Granny and Papa's house on the Island
March 17th
*Dexter, you started laughing and you haven't stopped since! It is just the most adorable thing.
March 21st
*We went to the Kidswap Easter Party. It was soooooooo cold and windy. I had you (Dex) bundled up in a fleecy sleeper with a hood and you (AJ) had a toque and mittens. It was a bitter crisp windy kind of cold. Hail even!
*AJ, you were a star with your Easter egg hunting skills. You made bunny ears to wear and coloured an Easter picture.
*Dexter, you were good as gold, sleeping most of the time. The great thing about a baby that won't conform to the routine I'd like is that you can 'take em anywhere, anytime'.
*AJ, you started preschool today. It is the mom and tot kind. Erica takes Jack too. We mostly carry around Dexter and Rya in the Baby Bjorns or slings.
March 22nd
*Tonight we went to Gram and Papa's house for Easter dinner. You were both really great, and of course everyone loved seeing you.
March 23rd
*Dexter's first Easter!
*AJ you had a good day searching for eggs and eating chocolate. You were still finding eggs a few days later!
March 25th
*Dexter, you are 10 weeks old!
March 28th
*We all head to the Island to stay with Granny and Papa!
*We stayed in their master bedroom with you (Dexter) in the Moses basket in the hot tub room with a great sound proof door (thank goodness) and with you (AJ) on your thomas the Train travel bed (that is WAY to loud) at the end of our room. Not the best sleeps, but a really nice visit.
*Granny did lots of colouring with you, AJ. Everyone enjoyed holding you, Dexter. Papa Bud took Daddy to the gun club, YIKES!
*We also got to see your Great Grannie and Grandpa Clark and your Great Aunt Elaine!
April 1st
*Dexter, you had your first set of shots. I took you myself. It was horrible. We both pretty much sobbed. You had 4 shots! You were 11 weeks old and 15 lbs, 1 oz!!! You are a whopper of a boy so far!!! Love you my little chunky button.
April 2nd
*We went to the zoo with Auntie Erica, Jack and Rya. It was a great trip. A little chilly in the morning, but it warmed up nicely.
*AJ, you bailed big time on the way to the train and had a HUGE bruise on your forehead. It was scary looking.
April 5th
*We drove to Puyallup for Grace's 2nd birthday party. You both were really great for the drive. We had a good party!
April 7th
*Music class started today for the two of you. You are both really enjoying the class.
April 9th
*We went to playgroup. It was a fun time. AJ, you get to have a blast riding the plasma cars and jumping on the equipment, and I get to spend some quality time with you, Dexter.
April 11th
*You boys stayed home with Daddy and I went to Auntie Jen's baby shower for her twins, Emerson and Jaxon. It was a really nice night out for me. Dexter, you gave Daddy a run for his money!
April 12th
*Dexter's been really batting things like crazy on his play arc and such lately.
*WE WENT OUT FOR DINNER TO THE OLD SPAGHETTI FACTORY AND IT WAS AWESOME! Both of you were soooo well behaved!
*Sometime around now, I started putting you, Dexter, in the exersaucer. You really like getting to look around more.
April 14th
*Music class with Jack and Rya and then we all went to Starbucks. It went pretty well!
*We also went to Starbucks last week with Nancy and Ava!
April 15th
-Dexter, you are 3 months old or 13 weeks old!
April 16th
*We started trying a couple nights with no DF. They went alright, but I think I'll keep the DF.
April 17th
*We went to playgroup with Auntie Erica, Jack, and Rya.
April 18th
*Dexter, I didn't need to feed you in the middle of the night. I still had to get up to put you back to sleep, but not to feed you! Same thing the next night too!
April 19th
*We went to Gram and Papa's for dinner and to do taxes.
*Dexter, you went to sleep beautifully and stayed asleep. We transferred you to the car seat at around 11:30pm and it was wonderful.
*AJ, we let you stay up until 11:30pm. You were trying to be good, but you were so tired you just kept falling, tripping, crying, etc.
April 20th
*Dexter, today you got to use the Kick and Play piano for the first time. I couldn't help but notice how much you were kicking your feet, so I put you in your crib to kick at the piano. You had a great time!
April 21st
*Dexter, in this last week, I've been getting some hysterical laughter from you, and you are sooooo chatty. You coo and babble and chit chat. You are very vocal.
April 30th
*Dexter, finally, you are having some good tummy time, practically balancing on your tummy alone.
*You absolutely love to be standing up. Too cute.
May 3rd
*Dexter, we started you on rice cereal around now. You hungry boy.
*AJ, you are loving preschool. You ask to go all the time.
May 4th
*We went to the zoo again! Just me, and my boys! What a great day. We arrived just as the bird show was starting. We went on the train. We walked all around. We watched the tigers get fed. AJ, you enjoyed walking for most of the day rather than being put in the stroller.
May 5th
*Dexter, you've been holding your own bottle with some success. Basically, I put the bottle in your mouth and put your little hands on the grips on the sides and you just hold it and go. Good boy!
May 7th
*We went to Go Bananas with Erica and Jack. AJ you are still scared about climbing around in the big kid part. You sure don't like those tubes.
May 8th
*seriously, Dexter. You are soooo chatty. You are just a little person with major personality.
*AJ, you are being an awesome and helpful big brother.
*Makenna came for dinner tonight. You two had fun. You had some interesting conversation over which word certain letters stood for. For instance, Makenna would say, "S, S for Sonja" and you would say, "S for snake"
May 11th
-Mother's Day. Dexter and AJ, you and Daddy got me slippers for Mother's Day. Gram helped you, AJ, to make a card for me with printing from you inside, and plant sunflowers for me.
-Today was Makenna's second birthday party. We had a good time.
*AJ, later when you're in therapy, you can blame your paranoia on me for 'forcing' you (my shy boy) into the tubes at Captain Kids.
May 14th
*Dexter, in an effort to get you pooping, I've given you pears today. You liked them, but definitely found them a little tart.
Special Specifics
AJ -
1. We have a year pass for the zoo. It means that whenever the weather is nice, we get to go to the zoo. You just love it there. You love to watch the lions and the cougar especially.
2. We went to see Suessical the Musical at my old school, and you were enthralled. You sat on a little step stool on top of a chair, and you paid attention to the whole play. You were even, shockingly, yelling about what was going on. Luckily the people around us thought it was cute.
3. Preschool, oh my goodness. You love making the crafts there. You love the roller coaster there. You love going there. You point out the preschool whenever we're in the parking lot. You get so excited about going.
4. You are so into singing. We go to music class once a week and we listen to the CD in the car. You love to sing the alligator song, the 'out the window' song, the elephant song, and of course, still, your old favourite, ABC.
5. Counting. You have been working on counting to twenty. You pretty much have it, but you repeat a few numbers in there. You love to count items, pictures, steps, etc.
6. I have a calendar in your room where you get dressed. It is very cute that when I ask you to tell me the month, instead of saying May, you say, "It's not April anymore." You can almost sing the whole Days of The Week song that I use with my grade ones.
7. I started this little reading program thingy with you, just for fun and to see how you'd take to it. I think you're a bit young yet, but it's really cute to see you sounding out words.
I think I'll try again full force in a few months.
8. Your drawing skills are really developing. You aren't just telling me what things are after you've drawn them or just been drawing random shapes and such anymore. You are actually drawing things like a fire truck. It's a big roundish rectangle with wheels.
8. You are getting better are printing your name, and I've video taped you writing 'mom' too.
9. Well, sometimes you want to be like Dexter. I have pictures of you in the baby bjorn, the bumbo, and the jollyjumper which you broke, I might add.
10. We took a big trip to Puyallup to go to Grace's birthday party. You had fun playing outside and playing with bubbles.
11. You are in a phase of wanting to do EVERYTHING yourself. For instance, if you sit you on the potty, you will say, "AJ do it. I do it!" Then you proceed to get off the potty and get back on again. Speaking of the potty. You are having about 6/7 naps dry per week, and you've had some dry nights too. In fact, you usually are dry overnight, but if I don't get you right away, then you pee while you're laying in bed.
11. On Thursdays, if it's not zoo-weather, we go to playgroup. You just have a blast and you are obsessed with those plasma cars!! Not to mention, you had a giant run-in with one last week. YIKES! You were pretty badly injured. I was thinking you're leg was broken!
12. You've really been into saying everyone's names, and asking where everyone is. Especially cute is when you ask about Uncy-Al.
13. Letters and Numbers. You picked up a foam sticker that was the letter L. You had it upside and down and came to me saying, "seven mommy. Seven." Then you caught a glimse of it the other way and said, "L Mommy, L!" Then you looked puzzled. "L? Seven?" Cute. You love playing the alphabet zoo game
14. Puzzles. Whoa puzzles. You and I both are obsessed with wooden puzzles. 12 piece, 24 piece, 48 piece. You are doing them all and you love to do all of them and have them all on your floor of your bedroom. You are really good at trying a piece, turning it, trying again, trying it somewhere else. Interesting though, you don't like to the edges and corners first. You like to do sections. Like, you'll start with Thomas, then work your way out.
15. You all of a sudden have decided to become a true 2 year old and are saying a very sassy "No" to me. About a lot of things. You've even been having a couple of tantrums. Hmmmm, now to decide the best route to take with this.
Dexter -
1. You really get excited when I read Panda Bear Panda Bear by Eric Carle. you start flailing your limbs. It's pretty cute.
2. You love to stand. You love to sit. You love to be a part of the action. In fact, you're a little high maintenance.
3. Naps. Well. I don't even have words. You are really running me through the wringer. You do not want to do a routine that I like. You don't even want to do your own routine. You have trouble staying awake longer than 1.5 hours. It's kind of killing me. I want you to be on only 2 naps, but you're doing 4 and sometimes 5. Occasionally, only 3.
4. I swear you've been saying 'hi' to me when I say it to you. It's heartmelting.
5. You laugh so hard sometimes, like when you're being jiggled or tickled that you start to wheeze to catch your breath in between.
6. Inadvertently, your tag blanket seems to be becoming your lovie instead of the dinosaur like I planned.
7. the bumbo seat. We like to sit you at the table with us in this. Only for a little while and not just after you eat or else you spit up.
8. The exersaucer. It's only a month ago that you were in the exersaucer wedged in for support with receiving blankets and such. Now you're a pro. You're not stuffed in, and you can even spin the froggy thing. You just whack it with yor hand.
9. Alittle while ago I was dealing with what I thought was teething, a growth spurt, and a cold. You've still got a really wet cough, the growth spurt is over, and I don't know if you are teething. It could just be that you love your hands so much.
10. Sleeping through the night. You're doing it some of the time. I'm not feeding you in the middle of the night anymore, but it appears as though when you have a poop coming, you're up lots the night before.
Preschool
Music Classes
Walks
Starbucks
The Zoo
An Easter Party
To Granny and Papa's house on the Island
March 17th
*Dexter, you started laughing and you haven't stopped since! It is just the most adorable thing.
March 21st
*We went to the Kidswap Easter Party. It was soooooooo cold and windy. I had you (Dex) bundled up in a fleecy sleeper with a hood and you (AJ) had a toque and mittens. It was a bitter crisp windy kind of cold. Hail even!
*AJ, you were a star with your Easter egg hunting skills. You made bunny ears to wear and coloured an Easter picture.
*Dexter, you were good as gold, sleeping most of the time. The great thing about a baby that won't conform to the routine I'd like is that you can 'take em anywhere, anytime'.
*AJ, you started preschool today. It is the mom and tot kind. Erica takes Jack too. We mostly carry around Dexter and Rya in the Baby Bjorns or slings.
March 22nd
*Tonight we went to Gram and Papa's house for Easter dinner. You were both really great, and of course everyone loved seeing you.
March 23rd
*Dexter's first Easter!
*AJ you had a good day searching for eggs and eating chocolate. You were still finding eggs a few days later!
March 25th
*Dexter, you are 10 weeks old!
March 28th
*We all head to the Island to stay with Granny and Papa!
*We stayed in their master bedroom with you (Dexter) in the Moses basket in the hot tub room with a great sound proof door (thank goodness) and with you (AJ) on your thomas the Train travel bed (that is WAY to loud) at the end of our room. Not the best sleeps, but a really nice visit.
*Granny did lots of colouring with you, AJ. Everyone enjoyed holding you, Dexter. Papa Bud took Daddy to the gun club, YIKES!
*We also got to see your Great Grannie and Grandpa Clark and your Great Aunt Elaine!
April 1st
*Dexter, you had your first set of shots. I took you myself. It was horrible. We both pretty much sobbed. You had 4 shots! You were 11 weeks old and 15 lbs, 1 oz!!! You are a whopper of a boy so far!!! Love you my little chunky button.
April 2nd
*We went to the zoo with Auntie Erica, Jack and Rya. It was a great trip. A little chilly in the morning, but it warmed up nicely.
*AJ, you bailed big time on the way to the train and had a HUGE bruise on your forehead. It was scary looking.
April 5th
*We drove to Puyallup for Grace's 2nd birthday party. You both were really great for the drive. We had a good party!
April 7th
*Music class started today for the two of you. You are both really enjoying the class.
April 9th
*We went to playgroup. It was a fun time. AJ, you get to have a blast riding the plasma cars and jumping on the equipment, and I get to spend some quality time with you, Dexter.
April 11th
*You boys stayed home with Daddy and I went to Auntie Jen's baby shower for her twins, Emerson and Jaxon. It was a really nice night out for me. Dexter, you gave Daddy a run for his money!
April 12th
*Dexter's been really batting things like crazy on his play arc and such lately.
*WE WENT OUT FOR DINNER TO THE OLD SPAGHETTI FACTORY AND IT WAS AWESOME! Both of you were soooo well behaved!
*Sometime around now, I started putting you, Dexter, in the exersaucer. You really like getting to look around more.
April 14th
*Music class with Jack and Rya and then we all went to Starbucks. It went pretty well!
*We also went to Starbucks last week with Nancy and Ava!
April 15th
-Dexter, you are 3 months old or 13 weeks old!
April 16th
*We started trying a couple nights with no DF. They went alright, but I think I'll keep the DF.
April 17th
*We went to playgroup with Auntie Erica, Jack, and Rya.
April 18th
*Dexter, I didn't need to feed you in the middle of the night. I still had to get up to put you back to sleep, but not to feed you! Same thing the next night too!
April 19th
*We went to Gram and Papa's for dinner and to do taxes.
*Dexter, you went to sleep beautifully and stayed asleep. We transferred you to the car seat at around 11:30pm and it was wonderful.
*AJ, we let you stay up until 11:30pm. You were trying to be good, but you were so tired you just kept falling, tripping, crying, etc.
April 20th
*Dexter, today you got to use the Kick and Play piano for the first time. I couldn't help but notice how much you were kicking your feet, so I put you in your crib to kick at the piano. You had a great time!
April 21st
*Dexter, in this last week, I've been getting some hysterical laughter from you, and you are sooooo chatty. You coo and babble and chit chat. You are very vocal.
April 30th
*Dexter, finally, you are having some good tummy time, practically balancing on your tummy alone.
*You absolutely love to be standing up. Too cute.
May 3rd
*Dexter, we started you on rice cereal around now. You hungry boy.
*AJ, you are loving preschool. You ask to go all the time.
May 4th
*We went to the zoo again! Just me, and my boys! What a great day. We arrived just as the bird show was starting. We went on the train. We walked all around. We watched the tigers get fed. AJ, you enjoyed walking for most of the day rather than being put in the stroller.
May 5th
*Dexter, you've been holding your own bottle with some success. Basically, I put the bottle in your mouth and put your little hands on the grips on the sides and you just hold it and go. Good boy!
May 7th
*We went to Go Bananas with Erica and Jack. AJ you are still scared about climbing around in the big kid part. You sure don't like those tubes.
May 8th
*seriously, Dexter. You are soooo chatty. You are just a little person with major personality.
*AJ, you are being an awesome and helpful big brother.
*Makenna came for dinner tonight. You two had fun. You had some interesting conversation over which word certain letters stood for. For instance, Makenna would say, "S, S for Sonja" and you would say, "S for snake"
May 11th
-Mother's Day. Dexter and AJ, you and Daddy got me slippers for Mother's Day. Gram helped you, AJ, to make a card for me with printing from you inside, and plant sunflowers for me.
-Today was Makenna's second birthday party. We had a good time.
*AJ, later when you're in therapy, you can blame your paranoia on me for 'forcing' you (my shy boy) into the tubes at Captain Kids.
May 14th
*Dexter, in an effort to get you pooping, I've given you pears today. You liked them, but definitely found them a little tart.
Special Specifics
AJ -
1. We have a year pass for the zoo. It means that whenever the weather is nice, we get to go to the zoo. You just love it there. You love to watch the lions and the cougar especially.
2. We went to see Suessical the Musical at my old school, and you were enthralled. You sat on a little step stool on top of a chair, and you paid attention to the whole play. You were even, shockingly, yelling about what was going on. Luckily the people around us thought it was cute.
3. Preschool, oh my goodness. You love making the crafts there. You love the roller coaster there. You love going there. You point out the preschool whenever we're in the parking lot. You get so excited about going.
4. You are so into singing. We go to music class once a week and we listen to the CD in the car. You love to sing the alligator song, the 'out the window' song, the elephant song, and of course, still, your old favourite, ABC.
5. Counting. You have been working on counting to twenty. You pretty much have it, but you repeat a few numbers in there. You love to count items, pictures, steps, etc.
6. I have a calendar in your room where you get dressed. It is very cute that when I ask you to tell me the month, instead of saying May, you say, "It's not April anymore." You can almost sing the whole Days of The Week song that I use with my grade ones.
7. I started this little reading program thingy with you, just for fun and to see how you'd take to it. I think you're a bit young yet, but it's really cute to see you sounding out words.
I think I'll try again full force in a few months.
8. Your drawing skills are really developing. You aren't just telling me what things are after you've drawn them or just been drawing random shapes and such anymore. You are actually drawing things like a fire truck. It's a big roundish rectangle with wheels.
8. You are getting better are printing your name, and I've video taped you writing 'mom' too.
9. Well, sometimes you want to be like Dexter. I have pictures of you in the baby bjorn, the bumbo, and the jollyjumper which you broke, I might add.
10. We took a big trip to Puyallup to go to Grace's birthday party. You had fun playing outside and playing with bubbles.
11. You are in a phase of wanting to do EVERYTHING yourself. For instance, if you sit you on the potty, you will say, "AJ do it. I do it!" Then you proceed to get off the potty and get back on again. Speaking of the potty. You are having about 6/7 naps dry per week, and you've had some dry nights too. In fact, you usually are dry overnight, but if I don't get you right away, then you pee while you're laying in bed.
11. On Thursdays, if it's not zoo-weather, we go to playgroup. You just have a blast and you are obsessed with those plasma cars!! Not to mention, you had a giant run-in with one last week. YIKES! You were pretty badly injured. I was thinking you're leg was broken!
12. You've really been into saying everyone's names, and asking where everyone is. Especially cute is when you ask about Uncy-Al.
13. Letters and Numbers. You picked up a foam sticker that was the letter L. You had it upside and down and came to me saying, "seven mommy. Seven." Then you caught a glimse of it the other way and said, "L Mommy, L!" Then you looked puzzled. "L? Seven?" Cute. You love playing the alphabet zoo game
14. Puzzles. Whoa puzzles. You and I both are obsessed with wooden puzzles. 12 piece, 24 piece, 48 piece. You are doing them all and you love to do all of them and have them all on your floor of your bedroom. You are really good at trying a piece, turning it, trying again, trying it somewhere else. Interesting though, you don't like to the edges and corners first. You like to do sections. Like, you'll start with Thomas, then work your way out.
15. You all of a sudden have decided to become a true 2 year old and are saying a very sassy "No" to me. About a lot of things. You've even been having a couple of tantrums. Hmmmm, now to decide the best route to take with this.
Dexter -
1. You really get excited when I read Panda Bear Panda Bear by Eric Carle. you start flailing your limbs. It's pretty cute.
2. You love to stand. You love to sit. You love to be a part of the action. In fact, you're a little high maintenance.
3. Naps. Well. I don't even have words. You are really running me through the wringer. You do not want to do a routine that I like. You don't even want to do your own routine. You have trouble staying awake longer than 1.5 hours. It's kind of killing me. I want you to be on only 2 naps, but you're doing 4 and sometimes 5. Occasionally, only 3.
4. I swear you've been saying 'hi' to me when I say it to you. It's heartmelting.
5. You laugh so hard sometimes, like when you're being jiggled or tickled that you start to wheeze to catch your breath in between.
6. Inadvertently, your tag blanket seems to be becoming your lovie instead of the dinosaur like I planned.
7. the bumbo seat. We like to sit you at the table with us in this. Only for a little while and not just after you eat or else you spit up.
8. The exersaucer. It's only a month ago that you were in the exersaucer wedged in for support with receiving blankets and such. Now you're a pro. You're not stuffed in, and you can even spin the froggy thing. You just whack it with yor hand.
9. Alittle while ago I was dealing with what I thought was teething, a growth spurt, and a cold. You've still got a really wet cough, the growth spurt is over, and I don't know if you are teething. It could just be that you love your hands so much.
10. Sleeping through the night. You're doing it some of the time. I'm not feeding you in the middle of the night anymore, but it appears as though when you have a poop coming, you're up lots the night before.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Oh, a Couple More Things
AJ, I forgot to mention about colours.
You are really into describing colours. If something is a purply pink colour, that's what you call it. "You use pinky blue mommy!" It's super cute.
TODAY YOU RODE A BIKE!! That's right. We finally got around to taking you outside to try using the pedals on your bike. You picked it up really fast. We'll need to video tape you next time.
i clued in too that you really understand the word spicy as opposed to hot. I always describe the Indian Butter chicken as 'spicy', and tonight, we were having pizza that was spicy. You pointed in your mouth and said, "Ooooh, spicy!."
Dexter - You are 13.5 lbs !
You are really into describing colours. If something is a purply pink colour, that's what you call it. "You use pinky blue mommy!" It's super cute.
TODAY YOU RODE A BIKE!! That's right. We finally got around to taking you outside to try using the pedals on your bike. You picked it up really fast. We'll need to video tape you next time.
i clued in too that you really understand the word spicy as opposed to hot. I always describe the Indian Butter chicken as 'spicy', and tonight, we were having pizza that was spicy. You pointed in your mouth and said, "Ooooh, spicy!."
Dexter - You are 13.5 lbs !
Saturday, March 15, 2008
My Two Little Men
Dexter's bath night!
two months and two years
watching Baby
Einstein with Makenna
guess the little people are thirsty?
I can't believe how far behind I've fallen on posting already. Here we go for a new update.
Dexter
You
-You are two months old today! It's been a month since I wrote here. you are sooo big! I'll have to weigh you tomorrow. I have no idea how much you weigh. You are out of all of your 0-3 month sleepers. You are wearing little man clothes and looking quite dashing I might add!
-You like to suck on your hands. you've definitely 'found them'.
-you are really strong at tummy time.
-I really thought you'd roll over really fast but no. I think it's because you're not on the floor a whole lot. You're out and about, or in the swing, or in a carrier, or in the bouncy chair, or on someone's lap. I'd better get you working on your rolling!
-you love to be read to. In particular, you are lighting up and going bonkers for "Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See?"
-you are liking the tag blanket that I made you too! YAY!
-Your eyes are still big and blue. Blue? Blue! Hmmm. Not sure if they'll stay that way or what.
Grannie and Papa's Visit-February 22
-You got to meet Grannie and Papa Ziegler for the first time. It was very special. They were very happy to see you.
Last Trip to the Midwife - February 26
-You had your last appointment at the midwife. You were 6 weeks old and you weighed 11lbs 12oz!!
Drive In Movie - February 29
-We went to a pretend Drive In movie at Betty Huff Elementary. You were very good. You didn't sleep the whole time, but you were very well behaved.
Time Alone With Mommy and Daddy - March 1
-AJ went to Gram and Papa's house so you got to be alone with Mommy and Daddy for the first time since the hospital. And mommy and daddy got to remember how easy it is to only have a newborn.
AJ's Birthday - march 8 and 9
-you were a very good boy for AJ's birthday party at Go Bananas and for the family birthday the next day. Thank you.
Paci Weaning - March 15
-Well I sure didn't want to be doing this so early, but with you being so congested and your naps getting worse, I had to do it. You were so grunty and loud. You were waking every ten minutes. So starting last night, we started weaning you from the paci for sleep. We're using pat/shh and so far, we're not having to use it much. You are already sleeping sooo much better, and last night, you didn't wake for your middle of the night feed until 5:11am!! Way to go!
AJ
You Are Two
-Your birthday parties went great! You dove right into having fun at go Bananas and you even went in the high big kid section having lots of fun with the giant exercise balls. You enjoyed having the family over the next day too.
-You opened your new tricycle and your guitar and colouring books in the morning on the 8th. You loved all three. You were having a hard deciding which to play with.
-At Go Bananas, Makenna got you a new spring coat just like hers, but the 'boy' version, and some fun sticky shapes for crafts that you were using today. You like doing crafts. From Jack, you got a Thomas the Train cargo drop of station and train.
-At the family party....
Great Grandma gave you birthday money and MandMs.
Gram and Papa gave you a ride on dump truck.
Great Auntie Brenda and Great Uncle Al gave you a race car that scares the crap out of you. It rumbles and revs and stuff.
Cousin Mike gave you birthday money too.
Grand-Dan gave you a Thomas the Train additional pack with the conductor station and 3 trains. We later made a HUGE track with all your track pieces.
-In the mail and from visitors...
You've received birthday cards and gifts and money from Great Granny and Great Grandpa Clark, Lauren from my BW birthclub (Kermit the Frog), Great Grandma and Great Grandpa Reberger, my friend Heather (Auntie Heather) and her family (Mega blocks construction Truck set).
-You are asking about Grannie Ziegler lots! She came for a visit on the 22nd of February and bought you some special birthday gifts, 2 big rigs and a bike helmet. You were definitely wondering where the bike was to go with it. You had a great visit with Grannie and Papa and you can't wait to see them again.
The Drive In
-We went to a pretend Drive in movie last month. you were soo well behaved. You sat in your special chair or on Daddy or my lap the whole time. We watched Shrek The Third.
Your Talking
-Still chatting up a storm. Sentences are flying out at the speed of light. You're a little bit witty if I may say so. I swear since you tunred two, you're saying more consonants now.
Colouring and Drawing
-You still love colouring. You're getting really good. You can also draw things like a rectangle, a face, a circle (well that's not new), the letter A for AJ, and a balloon (that's not new either). You love using your colour wonder felts and finger paint. You like using glue too. Don't even get me started on painting with water books!
The Alphabet and Counting
-so it's been over two months that you've been singing the alphabet song. You like to pretend to play the song on the piano. One key for each letter. Which reminds me to mention how much you love playing your harmonica. You are hilarious stopping your foot and everything.
-you can almost count to twenty now. You count up to 12 accurately, when you're stacking things, or going up stairs, etc, but after that, you can say the other numbers, but they're a little jumbled up.
-You can identify almost all the letters in the alphabet and you even know some of their sounds1 Yay for Leap Frog toys!
-you can name and draw shapes too. Today, you were drawing lines out of diamond shapes and saying, "Kite Mommy!" too cute
Potty Training
-Okay, so it's no news that you've been peeing on the potty forever. You've been pooping on the potty too. You aren't afraid to anymore.
-I'm considering you officially trained now as of the day before your 2nd birthday I guess. You still wear pull ups for naps and bed, but are usually waking dry.
-you wear underwear in and out of the house now, and for the past 3 days,there's been no accidents at all. Not even the little ones that let you know the pee is there.
-teh best part is that you can do it all yourself. you can pull down your pants and underwear, you can put the potty seat on the potty, you can get up on the stool, you can 'point it down', and you go. You've even gone a few times on your own but without calling us to come too. You just walked in, went, and walked out to go on with your business. What a big boy!
Helpful with Dexter
-You helped hold a bottle today and you can give him the pacifier and know how to tap it gently to get him to keep it in! Thanks!
This is all I can think of for now.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Dexter's Sleeping, and AJ's Not
My Two Little Men
Dexter Update
So, Dexter, you have been giving us some good sleeps. You are definitely not 'just like AJ'. You always want to go to sleep right after you eat which I'm trying to undo, but I can only do so much. You are very restless during naps, but yet, sleeping. I have to intervene many times. However, starting back last Monday night on the 28th, you've begun to give us some nice long stretches of sleep. you'll go to sleep shortly after the dream feed, so at about 10:45pm and then sometimes sleep until 3:00 or 4:00am. It's great. It's all I can ask for, really. You usually will go back to sleep until 7:00am or so after this feed, but sometimes, you are restless like your naps (VERY GASSY), and instead Daddy or I will take you out to the living room in the bouncy chair and bounce you with our foot whilst we try to rest on the couch.
You are VERY alert. You are very strong. I wouldn't dare leaveyou on the change table unbelted, as I'm sure you're going to be able to roll any day now, and I wouldn't be surprised if you were crawling by 2 months. Crikies, you're nutso wanting to move around so much, just like in my tummy.
You like to suckle. You'd breastfeed all day long if I'd let you. We are thanking goodness for a soother because it keeps you content until nap time when needed. We have to be really careful with the swaddle because if anything even grazes your cheek, you go berserk. Poor little guy.
I think you went through your 3 week growth spurt this past few days. You had some extra feeds and some extra top ups.
I keep wishing I could put you to bed at 'bedtime', but I need to remember that I didn't start a 7:00pm bedtime with AJ until 6 weeks, and you were born 2 weeks before him, so I'll need to relax on that issue.
Some days, we're trying different things with your feeds or seeing how your naps are, and sometimes, you want to sleep all afternoon or after dinner and then it kills the night sleep, but here's a pretty average day, give or take 15 minutes to 30 minutes.
E-Eat A-Activity S-Sleep Y-Mommy's 'You time'
E - 7:00am
A - after the feed
S - 8:30-10:00 (this has been great for taking you to AJ's music class)
Y
E - 10:00am
A - after the feed
S - 11:30-1:00 (and AJ sleeps 12-2:00, so I get one hour to myself)
Y
E - 1:00pm
A - after the feed
S - 2:30-4:00pm
Y
E - 4:00pm
A - after the feed
S - 6:00-7:00pm
Y
E - 7:00pm
A - after the feed
S - 9:00-10:00pm
Y
E - 10:00pm (DF - formula while I pump)
A - no activity, straight back to sleep
S - 10:45pm until 3:00 or 4:00am
Y - I go to sleep
E - 3:00am while I watch 90210 YAY!
A - Nope, right back to sleep, usually
S - 4:00am-7:00am
Y
sometimes, I can't seem to keep you awake after the 4:00pm feed and then you want to be awake after. I may have to do some cluster feeding. Just trying to watch you and see what works best. Each day's a little different.
Sometimes, you wake at around 1:30am and 4:30am. That's not too bad, except that I don't get to watch 90210.
You had your 'operation' last Monday on the 28th and it went well. Like AJ, you pretty much slept through it. The timing all worked well. It didn't seem as stressful as when we took AJ. Thank goodness I had your daddy with me. He went in the room with you. I just can't do it.
Your daddy took you to your follow up appointment a couple days later, all by himself. He took some expressed milk in a bottle for you. it was weird for me to be baby-free that morning, but AJ I spent some special time together. You were a good boy for Daddy.
Have I mentioned how wonderful your daddy's been? He virtually had no sleep the first week doing all the caring for you since I was still incapacitated, and would bring you to me for feeds and then do everything else himself, including keeping the kitchen. Much tidier than I keep it, I'll add.
Even though, he gets to sleep more now that I can almost be my normal self, he still will help at night by warming your top up formula, bringing me a drink, or bouncing you in the bouncy chair if you won't go back to sleep.
Daddy also does your baths. I've never bathed you. I can count on two hands the amount of times I've bathed AJ. Daddy is the bath-man.
AJ Update
You sir, are getting more and more manipulative at bedtime. You will do anything to not actually go to sleep. Sometimes, you will bring your car case into bed, so we have to keep that out of your room. You were taking crayons into bed, so we've had to put those up high at bedtime. You'll go get all of your stuffed animals, or every book in your room. It's ridiculous. Even though we put you in bed between 7:30pmand 7:45pm, you aren't falling asleep lately until 8:30 or 9:00pm instead of 8:15pm on the button like before. You are sleeping until 7:30am though, and rarely waking ever in the middle of the night, so you're getting a good sleep.
About once a week, you'll not go to sleep for nap time, or you won't fall asleep until near the end of nap time.
I hope you aren't one of those kids who grows out of their nap early. YIKES!
You are being a great big brother and very helpful. You enjoy our special playdough or colouring time during Dexter's 10:00am feed.
You still love to colour, love books, especially the library book It Looked Like Spilt Milk. I'm going to have to buy that for you.
We are planning your 2nd birthday. I can't believe you're almost 2!! We'll keep it small this year and have it at Go Bananas. You really like that place, but whether or not you'll actually play is hit and miss.
I've pin poited your whacked out mispronunciation of words ....
you hardly use consonants. Like for Ice Cream Cone, you'll say,
i = ice
eee = cream
own = cone
Hmmmm, not sure what that's all about.
You are also still facinated with signing. It's like you're rediscovering it. It's pretty cute.
Dexter Update
So, Dexter, you have been giving us some good sleeps. You are definitely not 'just like AJ'. You always want to go to sleep right after you eat which I'm trying to undo, but I can only do so much. You are very restless during naps, but yet, sleeping. I have to intervene many times. However, starting back last Monday night on the 28th, you've begun to give us some nice long stretches of sleep. you'll go to sleep shortly after the dream feed, so at about 10:45pm and then sometimes sleep until 3:00 or 4:00am. It's great. It's all I can ask for, really. You usually will go back to sleep until 7:00am or so after this feed, but sometimes, you are restless like your naps (VERY GASSY), and instead Daddy or I will take you out to the living room in the bouncy chair and bounce you with our foot whilst we try to rest on the couch.
You are VERY alert. You are very strong. I wouldn't dare leaveyou on the change table unbelted, as I'm sure you're going to be able to roll any day now, and I wouldn't be surprised if you were crawling by 2 months. Crikies, you're nutso wanting to move around so much, just like in my tummy.
You like to suckle. You'd breastfeed all day long if I'd let you. We are thanking goodness for a soother because it keeps you content until nap time when needed. We have to be really careful with the swaddle because if anything even grazes your cheek, you go berserk. Poor little guy.
I think you went through your 3 week growth spurt this past few days. You had some extra feeds and some extra top ups.
I keep wishing I could put you to bed at 'bedtime', but I need to remember that I didn't start a 7:00pm bedtime with AJ until 6 weeks, and you were born 2 weeks before him, so I'll need to relax on that issue.
Some days, we're trying different things with your feeds or seeing how your naps are, and sometimes, you want to sleep all afternoon or after dinner and then it kills the night sleep, but here's a pretty average day, give or take 15 minutes to 30 minutes.
E-Eat A-Activity S-Sleep Y-Mommy's 'You time'
E - 7:00am
A - after the feed
S - 8:30-10:00 (this has been great for taking you to AJ's music class)
Y
E - 10:00am
A - after the feed
S - 11:30-1:00 (and AJ sleeps 12-2:00, so I get one hour to myself)
Y
E - 1:00pm
A - after the feed
S - 2:30-4:00pm
Y
E - 4:00pm
A - after the feed
S - 6:00-7:00pm
Y
E - 7:00pm
A - after the feed
S - 9:00-10:00pm
Y
E - 10:00pm (DF - formula while I pump)
A - no activity, straight back to sleep
S - 10:45pm until 3:00 or 4:00am
Y - I go to sleep
E - 3:00am while I watch 90210 YAY!
A - Nope, right back to sleep, usually
S - 4:00am-7:00am
Y
sometimes, I can't seem to keep you awake after the 4:00pm feed and then you want to be awake after. I may have to do some cluster feeding. Just trying to watch you and see what works best. Each day's a little different.
Sometimes, you wake at around 1:30am and 4:30am. That's not too bad, except that I don't get to watch 90210.
You had your 'operation' last Monday on the 28th and it went well. Like AJ, you pretty much slept through it. The timing all worked well. It didn't seem as stressful as when we took AJ. Thank goodness I had your daddy with me. He went in the room with you. I just can't do it.
Your daddy took you to your follow up appointment a couple days later, all by himself. He took some expressed milk in a bottle for you. it was weird for me to be baby-free that morning, but AJ I spent some special time together. You were a good boy for Daddy.
Have I mentioned how wonderful your daddy's been? He virtually had no sleep the first week doing all the caring for you since I was still incapacitated, and would bring you to me for feeds and then do everything else himself, including keeping the kitchen. Much tidier than I keep it, I'll add.
Even though, he gets to sleep more now that I can almost be my normal self, he still will help at night by warming your top up formula, bringing me a drink, or bouncing you in the bouncy chair if you won't go back to sleep.
Daddy also does your baths. I've never bathed you. I can count on two hands the amount of times I've bathed AJ. Daddy is the bath-man.
AJ Update
You sir, are getting more and more manipulative at bedtime. You will do anything to not actually go to sleep. Sometimes, you will bring your car case into bed, so we have to keep that out of your room. You were taking crayons into bed, so we've had to put those up high at bedtime. You'll go get all of your stuffed animals, or every book in your room. It's ridiculous. Even though we put you in bed between 7:30pmand 7:45pm, you aren't falling asleep lately until 8:30 or 9:00pm instead of 8:15pm on the button like before. You are sleeping until 7:30am though, and rarely waking ever in the middle of the night, so you're getting a good sleep.
About once a week, you'll not go to sleep for nap time, or you won't fall asleep until near the end of nap time.
I hope you aren't one of those kids who grows out of their nap early. YIKES!
You are being a great big brother and very helpful. You enjoy our special playdough or colouring time during Dexter's 10:00am feed.
You still love to colour, love books, especially the library book It Looked Like Spilt Milk. I'm going to have to buy that for you.
We are planning your 2nd birthday. I can't believe you're almost 2!! We'll keep it small this year and have it at Go Bananas. You really like that place, but whether or not you'll actually play is hit and miss.
I've pin poited your whacked out mispronunciation of words ....
you hardly use consonants. Like for Ice Cream Cone, you'll say,
i = ice
eee = cream
own = cone
Hmmmm, not sure what that's all about.
You are also still facinated with signing. It's like you're rediscovering it. It's pretty cute.
Friday, January 25, 2008
You're a Big Brother!
All About AJ
You are a BIG BROTHER now!!!
You are quite excited and intrigued by Dexter. You are a good big brother. You want to help, but you're not in his face. You aren't rough with him, and you are still just being yourself. If anything, you seem to be quite enjoying all the extra attention and gifts you are getting. I made sure that I had all of your playdough stuff set up for when I breastfeed Dexter and you are loving that special Mummy and AJ time during those feeds. One way that you are different is that you are more affectionate lately. More hugs, kisses, and 'cute' faces. I got to take you to music on Thursday when Dexter was 9 days old. You only had to miss one day!
Well it's been a couple months since I updated your blog.
What can I say? I've stopped keeping track of 'words' and 'phrases' that you say because I think it's just safe to say that you 'talk' and have for quite some time. Your pronunciation is still pretty whack for a lot of words, but that's okay.
Pee pee on the potty has totally regressed. Although you will always pee on the potty when we take you, you aren't telling us when you need to go anymore, you aren't 'holding it', and you're peeing a lot. Actually, to the point that we are a little concerned. However, on a positive note, you ARE pooping in the potty regularly now for this past week. Seems that being a big brother pushed you in the right direction.
You can sing the ABC's now. You are a little obsessed, sometimes making me sing it with you upwards of 25 times during a drive in the car. You have about 2 or 3 toys that play the ABC song too and it's your favourite thing about them.
You can also count to ten, but you're not quite accurately pointing and counting as you go. But you'll count steps as we go up or your blocks as you build a tower, and things like that.
You can identify some letters, thanks to us, I guess, and your fridge phonics.
You identify your name too.
You know that your other name is Alton.
I don't think I updated about how Christmas went.
It was great. I definitely bought too many stocking stuffers and gifts. You had to spend so much time opening everything that you didn't even get to play with any of your toys until after your nap.
You really loved all of your gifts, but some immediate favourites were..
-Any and all cars and trucks (hot wheels and others)
-this wooden train from Auntie Heather that has stackable parts.
-A Dress Me Elmo from Auntie Erica, but that obsession was only for a week or so, and now you just play with it like any of your other toys.
-Your car case from Auntie Jen. You love to lug that case up and down the hall, open it to get your cars, and race them on your rug or your train track.
-Your Thomas and Percy set from Grand-Dan. Now your track can be made extra big!!! And you have trains from the real show!
-Your doctor kit. Since coming to so many doctor's appointments with me and watching me take my insulin, this doctor kit has been a real gem! You love to take my blood pressure, and you were 'injecting me' with 'Dexter medicine' about 10 times a day for a while there!
-You really liked your slippers too, come to think of it.
Gifts You Grew Fond Of...
-Your Fisher Price Little People Racing Ramps Garage from Gram which we've been keeping at gram's house since you were going to be staying there for 4 days while I was in the hospital.
-Your Fisher Price busy Day Home from Santa. I didn't realise that I had to teach you how to play make believe. I did, and now it's really fun to watch you make the characters interact.
-Your Fridge Phonics from Shauna and from Mommy and Daddy. Shauna's plays the ABC song, so it's got you hooked.
-Your Little Leaps Electronic Story Book. Once you found the page that plays the ABC song, you were hooked on that too.
Gifts That Are on the Back Burner
-Great Auntie Brenda got you Hokey Pokey Elmo. You are quite freaked out by this and not quite ready to give elmo another chance just yet. You are allowing him to stay tucked in the corner of the living room, but you don't like him coming out from there.
All About Dexter
Dexter, you were born via scheduled c-section (not due to lack of trying to go into labour early) on Tuesday, January 15th, 2008 at 11:31am. You weighed a whopping 9lbs 4oz thanks to my Gestational Diabetes.
You had your days and nights mixed up which I expected due to you being born in the morning, but slowly we're changing you over.
You are 10 days old today, and you've spent 2 nights in your crib and many naps. We kicked you out of our room even earlier than AJ! You're already a true second born.
Yesterday, you accompanied AJ and I to AJ's music class. You were such a good boy and you slept through the whole class.
We've been giving you some formula as well as breastfeeding. You haven't gained as much weight as the midwives would like, so I'm trying to squeeze in some extra feeds. For the most part though, you are feeding every 3 hours including the night. You gave us a long 4 hour stretch for maybe one or two nights, but that's it. However, I can't complain. Last night you fed at 1:00am and 4:00am and went straight back to sleep after. You woke at 6:45am.
You are a good little guy. A little sleepy. I just can't keep you awake during feeds. You're eating, but your eyes are closed the whole time.
You look a lot like AJ did in the early days, just bigger with a thicker neck. I'm so curious to see what you'll really look like one day.
Welcome to the world Dexter Alexander Clark!
You are a BIG BROTHER now!!!
You are quite excited and intrigued by Dexter. You are a good big brother. You want to help, but you're not in his face. You aren't rough with him, and you are still just being yourself. If anything, you seem to be quite enjoying all the extra attention and gifts you are getting. I made sure that I had all of your playdough stuff set up for when I breastfeed Dexter and you are loving that special Mummy and AJ time during those feeds. One way that you are different is that you are more affectionate lately. More hugs, kisses, and 'cute' faces. I got to take you to music on Thursday when Dexter was 9 days old. You only had to miss one day!
Well it's been a couple months since I updated your blog.
What can I say? I've stopped keeping track of 'words' and 'phrases' that you say because I think it's just safe to say that you 'talk' and have for quite some time. Your pronunciation is still pretty whack for a lot of words, but that's okay.
Pee pee on the potty has totally regressed. Although you will always pee on the potty when we take you, you aren't telling us when you need to go anymore, you aren't 'holding it', and you're peeing a lot. Actually, to the point that we are a little concerned. However, on a positive note, you ARE pooping in the potty regularly now for this past week. Seems that being a big brother pushed you in the right direction.
You can sing the ABC's now. You are a little obsessed, sometimes making me sing it with you upwards of 25 times during a drive in the car. You have about 2 or 3 toys that play the ABC song too and it's your favourite thing about them.
You can also count to ten, but you're not quite accurately pointing and counting as you go. But you'll count steps as we go up or your blocks as you build a tower, and things like that.
You can identify some letters, thanks to us, I guess, and your fridge phonics.
You identify your name too.
You know that your other name is Alton.
I don't think I updated about how Christmas went.
It was great. I definitely bought too many stocking stuffers and gifts. You had to spend so much time opening everything that you didn't even get to play with any of your toys until after your nap.
You really loved all of your gifts, but some immediate favourites were..
-Any and all cars and trucks (hot wheels and others)
-this wooden train from Auntie Heather that has stackable parts.
-A Dress Me Elmo from Auntie Erica, but that obsession was only for a week or so, and now you just play with it like any of your other toys.
-Your car case from Auntie Jen. You love to lug that case up and down the hall, open it to get your cars, and race them on your rug or your train track.
-Your Thomas and Percy set from Grand-Dan. Now your track can be made extra big!!! And you have trains from the real show!
-Your doctor kit. Since coming to so many doctor's appointments with me and watching me take my insulin, this doctor kit has been a real gem! You love to take my blood pressure, and you were 'injecting me' with 'Dexter medicine' about 10 times a day for a while there!
-You really liked your slippers too, come to think of it.
Gifts You Grew Fond Of...
-Your Fisher Price Little People Racing Ramps Garage from Gram which we've been keeping at gram's house since you were going to be staying there for 4 days while I was in the hospital.
-Your Fisher Price busy Day Home from Santa. I didn't realise that I had to teach you how to play make believe. I did, and now it's really fun to watch you make the characters interact.
-Your Fridge Phonics from Shauna and from Mommy and Daddy. Shauna's plays the ABC song, so it's got you hooked.
-Your Little Leaps Electronic Story Book. Once you found the page that plays the ABC song, you were hooked on that too.
Gifts That Are on the Back Burner
-Great Auntie Brenda got you Hokey Pokey Elmo. You are quite freaked out by this and not quite ready to give elmo another chance just yet. You are allowing him to stay tucked in the corner of the living room, but you don't like him coming out from there.
All About Dexter
Dexter, you were born via scheduled c-section (not due to lack of trying to go into labour early) on Tuesday, January 15th, 2008 at 11:31am. You weighed a whopping 9lbs 4oz thanks to my Gestational Diabetes.
You had your days and nights mixed up which I expected due to you being born in the morning, but slowly we're changing you over.
You are 10 days old today, and you've spent 2 nights in your crib and many naps. We kicked you out of our room even earlier than AJ! You're already a true second born.
Yesterday, you accompanied AJ and I to AJ's music class. You were such a good boy and you slept through the whole class.
We've been giving you some formula as well as breastfeeding. You haven't gained as much weight as the midwives would like, so I'm trying to squeeze in some extra feeds. For the most part though, you are feeding every 3 hours including the night. You gave us a long 4 hour stretch for maybe one or two nights, but that's it. However, I can't complain. Last night you fed at 1:00am and 4:00am and went straight back to sleep after. You woke at 6:45am.
You are a good little guy. A little sleepy. I just can't keep you awake during feeds. You're eating, but your eyes are closed the whole time.
You look a lot like AJ did in the early days, just bigger with a thicker neck. I'm so curious to see what you'll really look like one day.
Welcome to the world Dexter Alexander Clark!
Friday, December 07, 2007
Nifty November
Well, as I've continued to say... When do I stop recording your words. I can't keep up. The ones I write today are not all the things you've been saying in November, but rather the ones I remember to write on the calendar. You are stringing words together. You are explaining things. You are trying to count more. You are trying to sing the ABC's. I just can't keep up.
I'm still not really introducing any signs and you're not really watching you signing DVDs lately, as you'd much rather watch Sesame Street ABCs or The Muppet Show.
I don't know if there are even any new signs this month at all. It's kind of obsolete now. You and I will still use them when talking sometimes out of habit, but I'm by no means teaching you any new ones. Your signing did come in handy this month though. I'll try to remember to explain what happened.
Here are the words you say now on your own, not just copying (or at least as many as I can remember). Now, I'm not saying that you pronounce all these perfectly or anything.
Talking!!!!
New in the past month
Phrases...
AJ uses ________ /Mommy uses _________ / Daddy uses ________
(insert colour you are using with the colouring book)
up high
I love you (to refer to the book Snuggle Puppy in a sing song voice)
Daddy work
Mommy work
Daddy's stuff (the stuff you aren't supposed to touch, but Daddy keep strewn about anyhow)
one, two, three
eight, nine, eight, nine, eight, nine (which to you, is actual couting)
mommy's toast
mommy's __________ (you're big into possession)
'scuse me
mommy sit/daddy sit/Kimmy sit (or whoever you want to sit with you)
chicken soup
daddy's keys
mommy's soup
bathing suit
mommy's drink
where are you?
Daddy's brush
Mommy's toothbrush/AJ's toothbrush
good bye ________ (anything you're saying good bye to. Not really new, but you say it a lot more)
good bye radio
Mommies and Daddies (these are to refer to things you aren't supposed to touch/they're for mommyies and daddies only)
Papa's puppy
Daddy's truck
Big big truck, ya ya ya
Not small, no no no
daddy's light
Mommy's towel
hockey no tennis (this is for Grand-Dan from Papa)
baby shoes
yucky yucky yucky
I don't know
New Words...
pumpkins
puffies
mittens
snowman
Christmas Tree
Thomas
animals - the actual word and naming way more animals too. Ones that I didn't know you knew. I haven't written them all down because there's too many and I haven't come across one you don't know.
brown
orange (the colour)
green
black
turquoise
pink
white (in addition to the colours you could already say and identify)
straw
almost
muppets
Spiderman
underwear
finished (you were only signing this before)
celery
moon? Is this new?
clouds
Santa
diaper
Old Phrases You Could Already Say...
help me
help please
I don't know
Mommy Baby Dexter (when you point at my tummy)
apple juice
apple juice with no water please (applish, no awa, peas) LOL. This is my fave.
fish crackers (goldfish)
brush teeth
Gram eyes (when you see Gram's glasses on the table)
Older Words that you could already say-
yucky
turkey
Mummy, but you don't use it very often. You still prefer Ma ma (very Italian)
pillow
toothpaste
cheese
three
jacket
green
more (finally! You would only sign this one, before, but not say it!)
please - or were you already saying that?
body parts, finally, such as, but not limited to....
eyes
ears
hair
nose
toes
feet
legs
tummy
Elmo
Armaan
Dia
Kitchen
big
chicken
door
Makenna
cereal
drink
night night
owie
bus
airplane
orange
duck
purple
blue
yellow
red
Auntie
hot
granola
swing
Daddy with the eeeeee sound at the end
My Daddy
star
circle
Dexter
Kimmy
Gram
grapes
cheese
library
cake
love you
thank you (much better than before)
potty
oops
light
okay
seven
eight
nine
two
five
ten
strawberry
Marvin
Sassy
Shakes
zebra
shirt
ready
peas
graham
Mommy with the eeeeeee sound at the end
move
Erica
Mmmmhmmmmm (for yes)
dog - but this has been for months and months. I guess I just forgot to write it in.
chicken
balloon
Toboo (It sounds more like boot-boo. It's pretty darn cute.)
bike
lion
fish
got it
hello (you already said and signed 'hi', but you've started saying 'hello' on your phone)
stroller (many details to follow on that)
bathtub
all done (like when a DVD is over or a book ends)
colours (crayons)
no
bum
poo poo
bird
train
marble
buttons
up/down (for the teeter totter and 'the kids on the bus')
baby
flower
book
game
play
apple
orange
shoes
toast
help
Paul
bye bye
hi Daddy
bye daddy
cookie
car
that's all
truck
good bye (really you say 'good good')
thank you (sounds more like kay-q)
Papa (for Grandpa - Ken)
Gampa (for Grand-Dan)
garbage
hat
ball
buh bye
hi
up
down
bubbles
Mum and Mamaaaaa (very Italian-like)
Dada
Jack
cat
bath
toothbrush
cracker
tractor
Here are the animal sounds you currently say.
Pig - snorting (FINALLY!)
Cow - brooo
Cat - mow
Dog - woof woof and you 'pant' now too!!!
Monkey - uh uh (instead of ooh ooh)
Elephant - pfhhh (like a trunk noise, hard to explain)
Chicken - cluck cluck (you actually click your tongue)
Sheep - baaa
Rooster - cock doo
Bear - Raa
Lion - Raa
Tiger - Raa (I forgot that you could already say this too.
Rabbit - it's like a kissing/eating sound KWIM?
***you refuse to say quack or oink****
Signs!!!
You are still stringing signs together like 'more milk please'. You think this is pretty neato. You'll copy a whole bunch of the signs of the signing DVDs when the kids are doing them, but here are some of the ones you'll initiate and do on your own.
Newer Signs in the last month-
-None new that I can think of.
Older Signs, or signs I've already mentioned in the last few posts-
cereal
fish cracker (goldfish)
apple
shrugging shoulders - should I count that? It's pretty cute.
car
drink
airplane
ice cream
orange
hot
swing
cheese
library
toast
thank you
cracker
bike
potty
tickle (you made this one up)
-A bunch of others you've made up to try and tell me specifically which DVD you'd like, but darned if I can figure them out. This is frustrating.
bird
train
sorry
want
baby
ball
game
play
flower
book
finished
fruit
cereal
dvd / sign
monkey
play
help
bib (made this one up yourself)
thank you
cookie
cereal
bath
sleep
mum
Dad
hat
Hi
Bubbles
Please/like
More
Finished
Gone
Milk
Water
Eat
Change (you'll sign change if you're poopy or just on the change table if I ask you to)
Dog
More AJ Updates
Books
You are still loving books, and you love to read them when you wake up in the morning if you're waiting for us to come get you or if you aren't quite ready to go to sleep. You'll turn up the dimmer switch on your lamp (that you aren't supposed to touch) and then you'll get out your books. You actually tell me to get out of your room "bye bye mommy or night night mommy" cutting me off mid sentence so that I'll get out and I won't see you turn up your lamp and get books out.
Counting and Singing
You are still loving to count, especially as we go up and down stairs and you like trying to sing along to the ABC song. When you count, it's either 1, 2, 3 or 8,9,8,9,8,9,8,9,8,9,8,9. When we're counting together, you'll say the number that comes next, but when you're counting by yourself, you have preferred numbers.
You also like to sing the "Spiderman" song when we're putting on your spiderman underwear. It sounds like, "I-man I-man blah blurg blah blah I-man"
You also like to sing with Daddy in the new big truck to the tune of the Honey Combs commercial in the 80s. It goes, "big big truck, ya ya ya. It's not small, no no no"
Eating
Nothing's changed much, but you're back to off and on eating well at breakfast. Dinner's usually pretty good, but you've had a bit of an attitude lately.
You're still a veggie lover and I'm so glad! Broccoli, carrots, peas, cauliflower, corn, Edamame beans. Bring it on! Those are your main faves.
Sleeping
You're still loving your new room, but there's more to do in there which means that sometimes, when you shoud go to sleep, you sneak around to find your crayons and turn up your lamp so you can go colour.
Drawing and Colouring
You still LOVE colouring and you also like to be very bossy when you colour and tell people which colour they should be using. You can now accurately pick out the colours pink, red, green, brown, white, turquoise, blue, black, purple, and yellow and you can say them too. You just love to colour and draw. Seriously, I really can't even begin to explain how much you like doing this. And if someone will colour with you, then you're in Heaven!
Potty Training
You still wear big boy underwear all day at home, and you wear pull ups the rest of the time. Your night time sleeps would be dry if I came to get you as soon as you wake in the morning, but I don't, so you're wet when I come. One of your potties is in your room. Sometimes you go sit on it to poo, but with your pants on. You've been pooping in the potty more. I think it still scares you a bit. You can pull off your pants and underwear, but you don't necessarily think to. Your naps are dry unless you need to poop during your nap, but for the most part I've fixed the poops from ruining your naps by giving you cheese at breakfast and lunch and not giving you fruit at lunch and holding it off instead until your 3:00ish snack.
You are quite proud of yourself with this potty training and are sometimes quite upset if you have an accident. It's cute.
You can also put on your own pants. I thought this kind of belonged in the potty training section.
Locked in the Car, Again
So, I locked you in the car for the second time in your life. BCAA was not so fast this time and it took them 40 minutes to come! Thank goodness you can use and understand signs. I kept letting you know through the window that we'd go get ice cream and this seemed to get you through the 4 times or so that you started to wig out.
That's all I can think of right now.
I'm still not really introducing any signs and you're not really watching you signing DVDs lately, as you'd much rather watch Sesame Street ABCs or The Muppet Show.
I don't know if there are even any new signs this month at all. It's kind of obsolete now. You and I will still use them when talking sometimes out of habit, but I'm by no means teaching you any new ones. Your signing did come in handy this month though. I'll try to remember to explain what happened.
Here are the words you say now on your own, not just copying (or at least as many as I can remember). Now, I'm not saying that you pronounce all these perfectly or anything.
Talking!!!!
New in the past month
Phrases...
AJ uses ________ /Mommy uses _________ / Daddy uses ________
(insert colour you are using with the colouring book)
up high
I love you (to refer to the book Snuggle Puppy in a sing song voice)
Daddy work
Mommy work
Daddy's stuff (the stuff you aren't supposed to touch, but Daddy keep strewn about anyhow)
one, two, three
eight, nine, eight, nine, eight, nine (which to you, is actual couting)
mommy's toast
mommy's __________ (you're big into possession)
'scuse me
mommy sit/daddy sit/Kimmy sit (or whoever you want to sit with you)
chicken soup
daddy's keys
mommy's soup
bathing suit
mommy's drink
where are you?
Daddy's brush
Mommy's toothbrush/AJ's toothbrush
good bye ________ (anything you're saying good bye to. Not really new, but you say it a lot more)
good bye radio
Mommies and Daddies (these are to refer to things you aren't supposed to touch/they're for mommyies and daddies only)
Papa's puppy
Daddy's truck
Big big truck, ya ya ya
Not small, no no no
daddy's light
Mommy's towel
hockey no tennis (this is for Grand-Dan from Papa)
baby shoes
yucky yucky yucky
I don't know
New Words...
pumpkins
puffies
mittens
snowman
Christmas Tree
Thomas
animals - the actual word and naming way more animals too. Ones that I didn't know you knew. I haven't written them all down because there's too many and I haven't come across one you don't know.
brown
orange (the colour)
green
black
turquoise
pink
white (in addition to the colours you could already say and identify)
straw
almost
muppets
Spiderman
underwear
finished (you were only signing this before)
celery
moon? Is this new?
clouds
Santa
diaper
Old Phrases You Could Already Say...
help me
help please
I don't know
Mommy Baby Dexter (when you point at my tummy)
apple juice
apple juice with no water please (applish, no awa, peas) LOL. This is my fave.
fish crackers (goldfish)
brush teeth
Gram eyes (when you see Gram's glasses on the table)
Older Words that you could already say-
yucky
turkey
Mummy, but you don't use it very often. You still prefer Ma ma (very Italian)
pillow
toothpaste
cheese
three
jacket
green
more (finally! You would only sign this one, before, but not say it!)
please - or were you already saying that?
body parts, finally, such as, but not limited to....
eyes
ears
hair
nose
toes
feet
legs
tummy
Elmo
Armaan
Dia
Kitchen
big
chicken
door
Makenna
cereal
drink
night night
owie
bus
airplane
orange
duck
purple
blue
yellow
red
Auntie
hot
granola
swing
Daddy with the eeeeee sound at the end
My Daddy
star
circle
Dexter
Kimmy
Gram
grapes
cheese
library
cake
love you
thank you (much better than before)
potty
oops
light
okay
seven
eight
nine
two
five
ten
strawberry
Marvin
Sassy
Shakes
zebra
shirt
ready
peas
graham
Mommy with the eeeeeee sound at the end
move
Erica
Mmmmhmmmmm (for yes)
dog - but this has been for months and months. I guess I just forgot to write it in.
chicken
balloon
Toboo (It sounds more like boot-boo. It's pretty darn cute.)
bike
lion
fish
got it
hello (you already said and signed 'hi', but you've started saying 'hello' on your phone)
stroller (many details to follow on that)
bathtub
all done (like when a DVD is over or a book ends)
colours (crayons)
no
bum
poo poo
bird
train
marble
buttons
up/down (for the teeter totter and 'the kids on the bus')
baby
flower
book
game
play
apple
orange
shoes
toast
help
Paul
bye bye
hi Daddy
bye daddy
cookie
car
that's all
truck
good bye (really you say 'good good')
thank you (sounds more like kay-q)
Papa (for Grandpa - Ken)
Gampa (for Grand-Dan)
garbage
hat
ball
buh bye
hi
up
down
bubbles
Mum and Mamaaaaa (very Italian-like)
Dada
Jack
cat
bath
toothbrush
cracker
tractor
Here are the animal sounds you currently say.
Pig - snorting (FINALLY!)
Cow - brooo
Cat - mow
Dog - woof woof and you 'pant' now too!!!
Monkey - uh uh (instead of ooh ooh)
Elephant - pfhhh (like a trunk noise, hard to explain)
Chicken - cluck cluck (you actually click your tongue)
Sheep - baaa
Rooster - cock doo
Bear - Raa
Lion - Raa
Tiger - Raa (I forgot that you could already say this too.
Rabbit - it's like a kissing/eating sound KWIM?
***you refuse to say quack or oink****
Signs!!!
You are still stringing signs together like 'more milk please'. You think this is pretty neato. You'll copy a whole bunch of the signs of the signing DVDs when the kids are doing them, but here are some of the ones you'll initiate and do on your own.
Newer Signs in the last month-
-None new that I can think of.
Older Signs, or signs I've already mentioned in the last few posts-
cereal
fish cracker (goldfish)
apple
shrugging shoulders - should I count that? It's pretty cute.
car
drink
airplane
ice cream
orange
hot
swing
cheese
library
toast
thank you
cracker
bike
potty
tickle (you made this one up)
-A bunch of others you've made up to try and tell me specifically which DVD you'd like, but darned if I can figure them out. This is frustrating.
bird
train
sorry
want
baby
ball
game
play
flower
book
finished
fruit
cereal
dvd / sign
monkey
play
help
bib (made this one up yourself)
thank you
cookie
cereal
bath
sleep
mum
Dad
hat
Hi
Bubbles
Please/like
More
Finished
Gone
Milk
Water
Eat
Change (you'll sign change if you're poopy or just on the change table if I ask you to)
Dog
More AJ Updates
Books
You are still loving books, and you love to read them when you wake up in the morning if you're waiting for us to come get you or if you aren't quite ready to go to sleep. You'll turn up the dimmer switch on your lamp (that you aren't supposed to touch) and then you'll get out your books. You actually tell me to get out of your room "bye bye mommy or night night mommy" cutting me off mid sentence so that I'll get out and I won't see you turn up your lamp and get books out.
Counting and Singing
You are still loving to count, especially as we go up and down stairs and you like trying to sing along to the ABC song. When you count, it's either 1, 2, 3 or 8,9,8,9,8,9,8,9,8,9,8,9. When we're counting together, you'll say the number that comes next, but when you're counting by yourself, you have preferred numbers.
You also like to sing the "Spiderman" song when we're putting on your spiderman underwear. It sounds like, "I-man I-man blah blurg blah blah I-man"
You also like to sing with Daddy in the new big truck to the tune of the Honey Combs commercial in the 80s. It goes, "big big truck, ya ya ya. It's not small, no no no"
Eating
Nothing's changed much, but you're back to off and on eating well at breakfast. Dinner's usually pretty good, but you've had a bit of an attitude lately.
You're still a veggie lover and I'm so glad! Broccoli, carrots, peas, cauliflower, corn, Edamame beans. Bring it on! Those are your main faves.
Sleeping
You're still loving your new room, but there's more to do in there which means that sometimes, when you shoud go to sleep, you sneak around to find your crayons and turn up your lamp so you can go colour.
Drawing and Colouring
You still LOVE colouring and you also like to be very bossy when you colour and tell people which colour they should be using. You can now accurately pick out the colours pink, red, green, brown, white, turquoise, blue, black, purple, and yellow and you can say them too. You just love to colour and draw. Seriously, I really can't even begin to explain how much you like doing this. And if someone will colour with you, then you're in Heaven!
Potty Training
You still wear big boy underwear all day at home, and you wear pull ups the rest of the time. Your night time sleeps would be dry if I came to get you as soon as you wake in the morning, but I don't, so you're wet when I come. One of your potties is in your room. Sometimes you go sit on it to poo, but with your pants on. You've been pooping in the potty more. I think it still scares you a bit. You can pull off your pants and underwear, but you don't necessarily think to. Your naps are dry unless you need to poop during your nap, but for the most part I've fixed the poops from ruining your naps by giving you cheese at breakfast and lunch and not giving you fruit at lunch and holding it off instead until your 3:00ish snack.
You are quite proud of yourself with this potty training and are sometimes quite upset if you have an accident. It's cute.
You can also put on your own pants. I thought this kind of belonged in the potty training section.
Locked in the Car, Again
So, I locked you in the car for the second time in your life. BCAA was not so fast this time and it took them 40 minutes to come! Thank goodness you can use and understand signs. I kept letting you know through the window that we'd go get ice cream and this seemed to get you through the 4 times or so that you started to wig out.
That's all I can think of right now.
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