Nightmares, it seems

We had one of THE WORST NIGHTS EVER last night! Put Sydney to bed around 8pm. He went down without a fuss and slept for no more than 30 minutes before screaming "Mommy! Mommy! Mommy..."

Calmed his nerves. Snuggled a minute. Gave him a drink of water. Hummed "Twinkle, Twinkle"... thought that everything was good to go...

Repeat.

Over.

and.

Over.

and.

Over.

(Every few minutes. FOR HOURS UPON END!)

Fast forward to the wee-early hours of today and he was still going at it... waking every few minutes, yelling for Mommy. (Seriously, I wanted to change my name!)

I did NOT want to start the habit of coming into our bed with us. I did NOT want to get into the habit of having to stay in his room until he was asleep before sneaking out. I JUST wanted him to go to sleep. At one point, I finally closed our bedroom door and moved myself to the office so that Mike would (hopefully) get some sleep since HE had to get up at 3:45am for work.

Eventually, he couldn't take it... he grabbed the comforter off of the office bed and went into the recliner, snuggling with Sydney. After a few minutes, Sydney woke again - yelling "Mommy!..." Mike snuggled him and he quieted down again. Mike isn't sure WHEN it happened, but HE fell asleep in the recliner and woke to find that Sydney had put himself back into his own bed.

When asking Sydney (repeatedly) what was the matter, he would not answer with anything more than "Want you." or "Go downstairs please." When asked if he was scared, he replied YES, but was unable to express his fear; we're thinking that the floating belt at swimming lessons MAY have been a contributing factor.

Thankfully, Sydney (FINALLY) slept from 1:30-ish until 9:15am.

• • • • •

As I write this post, the house has been quiet for the past 15 minutes or so. I am going to get a drink of water, find some pajamas out of the clean laundry pile and head off to bed myself. Some days, it is tiring to be a parent.

Q: Do you want to go sit in the car? A: YES!

Earlier this week, while attempting to enjoy a meal at Carlos O' Kelly's with our family and Grandma Carol, Sydney started to act up. We attempted to curb the behavior, but Sydney opted to keep it up.

I was secretly THRILLED that he was acting up since he has done it to me a few times and Mike had accused me of not handling the situation properly. This time, Mike was here to witness it and attempt to outsmart his 2-year old.

Eventually, Mike calmly asked "Sydney, do you want to go sit in the car by yourself?"

Without hesitation, Sydney announced "YES!"

Mike removed him from his high chair and told Sydney to say good-bye to everybody as they headed towards the door.

Loudly, Sydney announced "Good-bye everybody!" to the entire wing of the restaurant with a huge grin on his face. (There were LOTS of snickers and giggles from the crowd.)

We hadn't expected that. (Sometimes, it is hard NOT to laugh.)

• • •

Mike and Sydney sat in the car. When we were done eating, I had apologized to the table directly across from us that their free entertainment was going home.

"You've got REALLY CUTE KIDS!" the woman stated.

"Thank you." I replied. We quickly discussed how thankful I was that Sydney had acted up for his daddy since Mike could never believe that Sydney was naughty for me. "You're probably thinking Better her, than me!" I stated.

"Been there. Done that. We can relate!"

• • •

Damn, apple... didn't land far from the tree! We're starting to refer to him as: Apple-sass, but Sydney thinks we are saying applesauce. :)

(It seems that we're CONSTANTLY trying to outsmart and outwit our 2-year old!)

Big Boy upgrades to Big Boy Bed!

Sydney learned last night that he can climb out of his bed. He continues to demonstrate this new-found ability. (We heard the THUD shortly before he announced that he was awake from his bedroom baby-gate.) Therefore, before we deal with injury, we decided to upgrade to a BIG BOY BED!

While Mike was busy taking apart the crib, I showed Sydney pictures of what his bed will look like. He seemed pretty excited.

He was even more excited to HELP Daddy.

And couldn't wait to try it out!

Grandma Carol and Donna were getting back to the house, just as Mike was finishing up. Sydney was SUPER EXCITED to invite them to his room so that he could show them his new BIG BOY BED and was excited to be able to recruit Donna to read him a story.

He's LOVING his new bed and within the past 30 minutes has announced that he wants to "go to bed". (It isn't even dinner-time yet; perhaps, we'll be able to pull off an early bedtime tonight!) Hopefully, with our explanation of "following the rules" he will cooperate with us. Time will tell...

Our boys are getting BIG!

Our boys are getting SO BIG!!! This week, Silas turns 5-months old and Sydney turns 28-months old. Soon, Silas will be started on solid foods; he is showing LOTS of interest in joining us for meals.

Crib-climber-outer challenges bedtime routine

It's official... we've got a crib-climber-outer on our hands!!!

Sydney, proudly, let himself out of his bed and came downstairs. At first, I thought Mike was coming, too, but he announced "Nih-knee climb out of crib."

I informed him that he should NOT do that because he will get hurt.

"Want kiss daddy" he stated.

After a visit to Mike (in bed), I put Sydney back to bed. He lasted less than a minute before I heard the THUD and saw his presence again.

He's now on a mattress on the floor and baby-gated in the room.... and continues to come to the door, asking for his blanket on.... again!

Not sure what step to take next. (Hopefully, he will leave his baby brother alone.)

Sigh...

not a baby anymore!

NOTE: I covered him once. The other two times he asked for me to cover him, I informed him that he was a big boy and that he would have to cover himself. Looks like he did a pretty good job! I also unplugged the air purifier and the electric space heater since I don't want to take any chances; plug covers were also added AFTER he went to sleep.

I guess I have to find a new hiding place for wrapped christmas presents now, too. Bummer.

Q: What should I draw? A: CAT POOP

Two-year olds are funny!

Sydney has never actually SEEN cat poop before; we've never let him see the litterbox because it closely resembles a sandbox... and Sydney LOVES playing in the sandbox!!!

Grandma Carol and Sydney were coloring on large paper in the kitchen (on the floor). Coloring with markers is Sydney's REWARD for going poop on the potty chair (instead of in his pants). I joined them in the kitchen and announced "It smells like cat poop." as I sat down. (The litterbox is in the pantry - just off of the kitchen.)

My two-year-old *mocking bird* repeated me. "It _mells _ike cat poop." (We laughed.)

I picked up a marker and started to draw. Sydney wanted a CAT and I obliged. Then, I asked "Now WHAT should mommy draw?"

"Cat poop." Sydney requested.

"Cat poop?"

"Yes, cat poop."

Carol and I were laughing. I shrugged my shoulders, grabbed the brown marker (again) and drew CAT POOP. Sydney was pleased with the cat poop drawing, but quickly decided that he needed MORE!

"More cat poop, mommy! More cat poop, please!"

While I was crouched on the kitchen floor, drawing MORE cat poop (per his request), Sydney took it upon himself to go behind me and stick his nose in my butt – like a friendly dog saying hello.

"_mells _ike cat poop, mommy!" he announced - while sniffing my rear.

"I can't wait to put THIS on the blog!" I announced. Carol and I continued to giggle; of course, I couldn't resist taking a picture of it either.

When telling Mike about the incident, he reminded me that I often sniff the rear of my children – to see if they have pooped; therefore, he thinks, it isn't all THAT STRANGE for Sydney to find this behavior to be acceptable.

I'm still going with the fact that: 2 year olds are pretty darned funny!

Dapper dude gets a haircut

Sydney got his hair cut this morning; it was getting pretty shaggy. (Plus, we want him to look super dooper cute for cousin Kristen's upcoming wedding!)

Grandma Carol picked up locks of hair off of the floor of the salon and asked them for an envelope and first haircut certificate to keep them in. I reminded her that she had hair from his FIRST EVER official haircut last September. She informed me that it was the same child, but different hair. At dinner tonight, she specified to Mike that her initial lock of hair was one-year-old hair and this new hair is two-year-old hair. We're told it hangs on her fridge at home.

I guess that is what you call LOCKS OF LOVE.

THREE-POOP Thursday!

Sydney has not pooped in a few days; likely from FEAR of being forced to go on the potty chair instead of in his big boy pants. I had kept him pantless for the past few days, in hopes that we would have luck.

Yesterday, late in the day, I used good old-fashioned bribery... if you go poop on the potty chair, you can color with markers!

Today, Sydney proudly pooped THREE TIMES on the potty chair!

Each time, he announced "Nih-knee want color with markers please."

• • • • •

Ironically, incentive to use the potty chair used to be receiving a sticker. A big, blue sticker was incentive to poop on the potty. Soon, his REWARD for going on the potty chair was to help us hand-draw a happy face on the potty chart - and for him to color the square with a marker. (Now that he knows that he can use the markers on the chart, he could care less about the stickers or the cookie rewards.) Mike had attempted bribery of a cookie for poop, but it didn't seem to work. I find it AMAZING how well the thrill of using Crayola washable markers provided SO MUCH incentive to be a BIG BOY!

Way to go, Sydney!!!

Brotherly love

Sydney has been affectionate towards his baby brother. The two of them ADORE each other! (It is touching to watch their interaction and I look forward to the future when Silas is old enough to play WITH Sydney!)

Lately, Sydney takes a lot of effort to make sure that Silas holds onto Sydney's finger or hand (while Silas is laying on a blanket on the floor). He also makes sure that Silas has a toy to play with; although, sometimes sharing his own toy(s) is a hard thing to do.

Sydney makes sure that Silas always gets to come too, wherever we are going.

A few days ago, a dime fell out of my pants pocket when I was unpacking my bags from the weekend visit to WI. Excitedly, Sydney announced "MONEY!" (To a two-year-old, putting money into the piggy bank is much like winning the lottery, I think!)

When I asked him what we should do with the money, he quickly announced "put in pig bank".

"Which bank should we put it in - yours or Baby Silas?" I questioned, expecting an answer filled with greed.

I was pleasantly surprised when he immediately announced "Put in Baby Silas pig bank, mommy!"

With a cold night upon us, I gathered our polartec duck blankets to wrap around the mattress in both cribs, hoping to add extra warmth - like flannel sheets. I announced to Sydney that it was going to be pretty cold tonight and that we were also going to turn on the heater in their room. Sydney (proudly) got to pick which duck blanket went on which bed. Soon, I overheard Sydney announce "Dis blanket for baby 'tilas. Told out tonight."

I praised him for being so thoughtful and generous and then, tried to explain that Silas is too little to have a blanket. I even showed Sydney how Silas was (double-bagged) dressed in a sleeper AND a polartec sleep sack so that he would be warm enough at night tonight, since he is too little to have a blanket.

At bedtime, Sydney makes sure that we read a bedtime story for Baby Silas; sometimes, Sydney likes to read the story to him (or at least show him the pictures and talk about what happens in the story).

Sydney also makes sure to give Silas plenty of hugs and kisses throughout the day. And ALWAYS makes sure to say "ni-night" to his brother at naptime and at bedtime. It is SO NICE to see the near-constant displays of brotherly love.

NOTE: If you pay close attention to this photo, it gives a subtle hint at what Halloween will be like at our house this year. :)

Giving the boys an extra squeeze

Two of Mike's co-workers recently had a baby girl. Their baby was born with some health problems and as first-time parents, they were forced to make the decision to "pull the plug." Their baby lived a very short time after it was taken off of a ventilator.

I felt as if I had been suffering from a broken heart after Mike delivered the news to me that their baby was born with problems. These latest updates made my heart ache EVEN MORE and I couldn't get them out of my mind.

When I heard that their baby had passed, with tears in my eyes, I looked into my arms and smiled at MY baby: my healthy and incredibly happy baby. Mike and I agreed that we are SO VERY FORTUNATE to have had two incredibly healthy and happy little boys!

I hope to NEVER have to experience the pain of losing a child.

I hadn't been sleeping overly well these past few nights as I couldn't get Mike's co-workers out of my head. Baby Silas had woken a few extra times in the night as well. Instead of feeling frustrated or sleep-deprived, I felt INCREDIBLY THANKFUL for each and every opportunity to snuggle with him. (Perhaps, he could sense the pain I was feeling and KNEW that I needed him as much as he needs me.)

I've found myself hugging and kissing my kids a little more these past few days. (I'm sure that hardly seems possible to shower them with MORE love since they get so much of it already.) Deep down, I love being a mom; I love being THEIR MOM! Becoming a parent has enriched my life more than I ever thought possible!

Sydney and Silas, I want to THANK YOU for opening my eyes to the world and making my life a better one. And Mike, I want to THANK YOU for two of the best gifts in the world!

The Naked Chef

Jamie Oliver is The Naked Chef, cooking under the philosophy of stripping food down to the bare essentials and making really tasty food.

After dinner tonight, I was joined in the kitchen by my own Naked Chef. Sydney was SUPER EXCITED to "hep mommy bate." (Translation: Help Mommy bake.)

"Tep-tool for Nih-knee! Tep-tool for Nih-knee please!" was repeated over and over until his step stool was assembled at the kitchen counter. (Translation: Step-stool for Sydney! Step-stool for Sydney please!)

Cooking takes TEN TIMES LONGER when you have a miniature helper, but the experience is PRICELESS! Sydney LOVES watching the Food Network with Daddy. Sydney LOVES to help in the kitchen. He does best when he is given specific JOBS to do.

"Nih-knee rack 'em 'ike dis!" he announced. One of his jobs was to peel our hard-boiled eggs. "Kock. Kock. Kock." (Translation: Sydney crack them like this; Knock, knock, knock!)

He was SO PROUD to help out! (We were making a breakfast casserole so that Mike could just heat it up in the morning, before heading out the door at 4:30am.)

• • • • •

NOTE: We kept him bottom-less all day long in an attempt to keep him from pooping in his big-boy-pants. Instead, he did not poop all-day-long, but he did sit down for multiple attempts at gas. One of these days, we hope to master the art of POOPING on the potty chair.

• • • • •

On a separate note... A LIFE LESSON, if you will:

Never make bacon naked.

(This was a piece of advice offered to me while working at the local grocery store, during my high school years. A tidbit of information that has always remained in my head and always sounded like really good advice.)

Time to spend time with Silas

Mike and Sydney were enjoying a bedtime snack of graham crackers and milk at the dining room table. Silas was laying on the floor in the living room, making his new(est) sound in his attempt to find his voice.... the screeching fingernails-on-the-chalkboard noise(s).

Mike got up from the table, leaving Sydney to finish his crackers. Slightly perplexed, Sydney asked Daddy to sit down with him, but Mike replied "I have to go spend some time with Silas now."

A minute later, Sydney came running into the kitchen, asking for Daddy's milk. (Mike had set his partial glass on the counter in the kitchen because he was full and sharing it with me.)

"What do you need, buddy?" I asked.

"Daddy's milk." Sydney replied, very matter-of-factly.

I carefully handed him the glass and helped him to get a drink. Then, he started to walk away with the glass of milk.

"Where are you going with that?"

"Daddy's milk." he stated. "Over here." He carefully walked out of the kitchen, as I followed close-behind, wondering where he was going with it.

Sydney carefully delivered the glass of milk to Daddy and sat down on the floor.

"Check this out," Mike stated, pointing to the placemat laid out on the floor. "Sydney carefully carried his placemat (from the table) over here, balancing his sippy cup of milk on top of it the whole way over and set it all right here."

My heart started to melt a little bit.

"Awwww, how cute!" I replied. "He wanted to spend time with Silas, too! That is SO SWEET!"

My three boys were sitting on the floor in the living room, enjoying each other's company, having a bedtime picnic snack.

• • • • • •

NOTE: In an attempt to keep Sydney from pooping in his Big-Boy-Pants, I kept his bottom half naked all day long (except for naps). Throughout the day, I kept reminding him "not to poop on my floor." All day long, we had NO ACCIDENTS! (We had a record amount of potty parties today. We also had NO POOP all-day-long.) Sydney was very good at running to his potty chair(s) for nearly every occasion of GAS. One of these days, I hope he will use the potty chair for pooping... instead of announcing it AFTER he has already done it in his pants!

Who's new at the zoo?

We recently checked out a book from the library titled "Who's new at the zoo?" - knowing that we had a trip planned.

Then, on Friday, WE went to the zoo! As a family outing, we went to the Milwaukee County Zoo. About a ba-zillion times, we heard "_ook! _ook!" (Note: the L in look is silent.)

When quizzing him on his favorite things, the answer kept changing throughout the day and depending upon who asked him.

In no particular order, here is a list of Sydney's FAVORITE THING(s) at the zoo:

Lion
Flamingo
Giraffe
Elephant
Goat
Sea Lion
Penguin
Moose
Butterflies
Peacocks
Monkeys

Sydney was disappointed that we did NOT find pigeons or turkeys, despite them being on the list of animals at the MKE zoo. He was also disappointed to not see sheep or pigs. (We assured him that someday we will go to a farm to see some sheep and pigs.)

We had announced that we were going to go to the sea lion show. Sydney kept thinking that we were going to SEE lions. We kept telling him that these are not lions like the library on PBS Between the Lions; these lions will swim and jump in the water.

He didn't understand where we were going with our explanation, but it quickly came together for him once the Zoo's "Harbor Seal & Sea Lion Show" had started. He especially liked when the animals clapped their hands or danced to the music.

Anything with antlers... caribou, elk, etc... were all declared MOOSE.

It was a great day! Check out some of our pics:

Our first ever trip to the zoo - with kids. Milwaukee County Zoo. Milwaukee, WI

The photo (colors) didn't do it justice... Sydney exclaimed "Monkey blue face!"

The cutest monkey at the zoo... demonstrating the use of opposable thumbs... Baby Silas!

"_ook, _ook... _ish!"

Mommy and Silas, waiting to gain entrance for the Harbor Seal & Sea Lion show.

California Sea Lion

Sydney smiles.

Sea Lion claps.

Sydney claps, too. (He thought it was funny when the Sea Lion was clapping, playing with toys, jumping and dancing to the music.)

Sydney admires peacocks.

This peacock was especially friendly.

They were all checking each other out.

Sydney learned how to stand on one leg from the "_ink 'la-mingos."

Any animal with horns, regardless of species, Sydney declared "_ook, a moose!" (By the time we finally got to the moose exhibit, he was rather uninterested because he had already seen "lots" of so-called "MOOSE".

Daddy and Sydney watch a BEAR! (Sydney demonstrated a GROWL very well!)

Camels

Rhinoceros

"_ook, _ook, Daddy... la-la-phant. Whoa, BIG!" (Elephant)

"_ook, _ook... graff! BIG!" (Giraffe)

"_ebra and Gonkeys!" (Sydney thought that these were Donkeys with the zebra.)

"_ook! Big cat! Pretty. Pretty big cat."

One of the new(est) members at the zoo: a beautiful member of the feline family.

Sydney loved watching this one pace the exhibit, walking right past the window... inches from Sydney.

"_ook! _ook!"

"_ion! _ion! _ook, Mommy; Daddy! _ook! _ion!" (Lion. NOTE: L is silent.)

Silas, snuggled up with hat and blankets, slept for much of our trip to the zoo, but woke up VERY HAPPY, like usual!

Quite interested in petting (and feeding) the goats. Helped that there was already another little kid doing it already.

Learning to feed the goats by holding out your hand flat.

Very interested in feeding the goats. We bought 2 servings worth of goat food.

Gained enough confidence to stray from Daddy. Galloped with excitement. (Adorable!)

Was thrilled to ride the 'rain at the zoo - with Daddy!

A change of clothes for Silas - while Sydney and Daddy rode the train.

Mommy and the Boys had great fun at the zoo!

We ended our day with a ride. (Sydney picked our first animal, but once the ride started, we discovered that it did not move so, we switched to the next animal inland.) Surprised, Daddy declared "You moved."

2 yr old asks: You got any MOLARS in there?

Perhaps, someday, Sydney will be a dentist.

His newest "thing" is to pry your mouth open and ask "You got any molars in there?"

Ever since he started doing that, it has been HILARIOUS! He is SUCH a funny kid!!!

For the record, Sydney DOES have his 2 year molars now.

Much-needed get-away for TWO

We would like to thank Nana & Papa Olson for the generous gift of a bed & breakfast stay as an anniversary present. We would also like to thank Nana for staying at our house to watch the boys for us while we enjoyed this much-needed getaway.

This was THE FIRST TIME we've ever left Sydney when there was not a hospital stay involved. (Going to the hospital to have Silas was the first time we'd ever left him.) I had been busy pumping and pumping so that Nana could feed our breastfed BLG (big little guy). Thankfully, she did NOT run out of milk!

Mike and I got dressed up and went out for dinner. (Another thing that normally has children involved.) It was the first time, in a long time, that I felt pretty. We enjoyed dinner and a drink at Tony Roma's.

At the Four Mounds Bed & Breakfast, we had the entire gray house to ourselves. We occupied the Majestic River Suite, which was VERY NICE! (We also got to view the white house, which has been under construction.) Another couple, also getting away from their kids, occupied the River Suite in the white house, which was equally beautiful. In fact, the white house as a whole (we think) was far prettier than the gray house.

A double pump came with us on our trip because Mike didn't want me to stop home between dinner and B&B to feed Silas. Throughout three different pumpings, my left side let down an ounce or less, while the right side let down five or more ounces per pumping. Needless to say, I was SO RELIEVED to see Silas mid-morning!!! I woke feeling like a Barbie doll... very full on top.

Nana reports that Silas woke only once during the night. We're hoping that he'll soon start to sleep through the night again for us... as it was LOVELY to be able to sleep!

Thank you SO MUCH Nana & Papa for the incredible anniversary gift! We loved our "date" out and hope to do it again someday.

http://www.fourmounds.org/FourMoundsInn/MajesticRiverSuite/tabid/65/Default.aspx

Two year old reasons, requests juice; then, booze.

At dinner, Sydney politely announced "Juice please."

I informed him "We drink milk with dinner."

"Daddy have juice. Nih-knee want juice, too, please."

Mike, having a glass of milk and a glass of coke/whiskey set in front of him, seemed to help contradict my logic and reasoning abilities. "Daddy doesn't have juice. Daddy has booze."

"Nih-knee want booze, too."

Stumped. Thinking quickly... "You can have booze when you turn 21! Please drink your milk."

After dinner, Mike asks "Isn't two years old a little young for him to have an ability to reason already?" We are constantly amazed with our little man.

Sydney got 5 happies today

Today, Sydney went potty in his potty chair without much effort. Then, he had spent a good chunk of the day diapered. After the breastfeeding support group (Sydney was left at home with a new babysitter), I decided to try again.

His total for the day is FIVE "happies" on his potty training chart!

He proudly exclaims "I did it!" after going potty in the chair. The trick, it seems, is to set timers so that we can attempt to catch it before it becomes an accident. In the event that we are too late, it is best to have a potty chair close enough that we can get him to it so that SOME potty can be collected and a "happy" earned. Also, we have two potty chairs within close proximity to improve our odds of success.

We still celebrate - with high fives and cheering "Potty Party!"

YAY Sydney! Keep up the good work, little man! We're VERY PROUD of you!

• • • • •

He was concerned at bedtime that he would have to go potty in his diaper. I explained that we'll still wear a diaper at night until we don't have any more accidents so that we don't get his bed wet.

We have NOT had any luck with poop on the potty chair yet. All in due time...

Sydney is a BIG BOY, uses potty chair TWICE!

Sydney saw smiley face stickers in the kitchen drawer and immediately wanted one. I told him "those are for big boys who go potty on the potty chair."

Without hesitation, he went to the bathroom door and announced "open door please".

He dragged out his potty chair, we stripped him down and he sat. He told me that he wanted a sticker to put on his hand (like they do with the stamps at the library story time). I reminded him that if he went potty in the chair, we would have a POTTY PARTY and he could have a sticker.

Within a few seconds, he announced "__ook, mommy! Potty!" as we both peered into the potty chair, watching him void.

It was SO EXCITING!!!

Sydney got his sticker, but had a hard time deciding where to put it. First, on his hand; then, on his leg; then, he stuck it you-know-where.

Sydney admires his sticker for willingly going potty in the potty chair for the first time.

Since Daddy missed it, being at work, we took a picture. Of course, we called him to announce "POTTY PARTY! Sydney is a big boy!" Sydney was also quite proud to help dump and flush it!

After having one accident on the living room rug, I decided to improve our odds by bringing out another potty chair. We had one in the dining room and one in the living room. I also decided to set a timer so that we could sit and try again. This time, we sat on the FROG potty that Sydney had picked out himself at Target because it looked just like Lucy's potty chair. He was super excited to do it again!!! (We read a few books until he got the urge to go. It was a win-win for everyone!)

He thinks that he needs a new pair of big boy pants after every time on the toilet. I tried to convince him that they were still clean because he went potty in the potty chair instead of in his pants. I also made him feel that they were still dry. He was convinced "acky pants, mommy!"

(I guess that would be confusing since he gets a new diaper with every diaper change.) After feeling they were still dry, we managed to get them back on again.

I also made a chart for the fridge. He is thrilled to have "two happy faces, mom! ___ook, two happies!"

He is very excited to be a big boy again tomorrow!