28 months VS 5 months

SYDNEY: 28 months old

Size 4 overnights for naps and nighttime. Potty-trained during waking hours.

Weighs 28 pounds at Nana & Papa's house. According to the sign in the kid's department at Target, he is about 37" tall. At his 2 year well-child check-up, he ranked 75% for height and 10% for weight; he's STILL a skinny-little-thing!

Wears 24mo/2T shirts and 18 month bottoms! (Although, he'll need bigger bottoms for the length soon, I'm afraid. Being that he is diaper-less, wont help hold his pants up either.)

Identifies all capital letters of the alphabet, counts to 20, can identify most colors and common animal sounds. Sings songs independently and as a duet.

Naps mid-day. JUST upgraded to big boy bed after discovering the ART of climbing out of his crib.

Sydney is now 28 months old and talks ALL. THE. TIME! (Teacher Patty/Parents As Teachers indicates that he is very advanced in his vocabulary for his age and we believe it!) He is a little chatter-box and LOVES to ask questions.

He is easiest to understand in context and he is starting to get frustrated if we can't understand what he is trying to say. If we tell him SHOW ME, he often is able to gain our comprehension. When he is around other family/friends, I often remind him that he will have to try really hard to say his words right so that other people can understand him, too. He's a good sport about it!

He continues to push our buttons, constantly testing to see what he can get away with. Per Dr. Mullen's suggestion, we have tried to implement 1-2-3 Magic; although, we still use way more talking than necessary (i.e. we warn a few times and then ask "Do you need a timeout?"). He's a very smart kid; if we ask him to stop banging his toys on the wall, he will often tap them lighter. Reading between the lines, we asked him not to BANG; therefore, gently tapping MUST be OK. Of course, he KNOWS EXACTLY what he is doing to still get his way.

While driving in the car, Sydney watches stoplights and announces "Green, Go. Red, Stop!" (Just what Daddy wanted... another person in the car telling him what to do. Tee-Hee!)

Numbers are starting to make more sense to him now. He can count to 20. He also can count if he has five items in his hand. Sometimes, though, he will count the same item(s) over and over in his hand, pointing to each one (obviously, more than once).

He sings ABC's. For a while, he nailed it - missing only the L. Lately, he has been singing a roundabout version... where he will sing a letter that sounds similar to what SHOULD go there; then, will proceed to sing the next sequence of letters. (i.e. A-B-C-D-E-F-- P-- Q-R-S -- G -- H-I-J-K (still skips L) M-N-O-P... Q-R-S-T-U-V, bayou, X- Y and Z!)

While playing independently, you'll also discover that he sings songs such as Hokey Pokey; Row, Row, Row Your Boat; If You're Happy and you know it; and Old McDonald.

At bedtime, he sings TWINKLE, TWINKLE LITTLE STAR; knowing most of the words and the melody. He also likes to "hum" it - in a near-singing voice. He also surprised me one night by knowing a bunch of the words to DO-RE-ME, which I used to sing to him nightly.

He acts out many animals and their sounds. We really like when he crawls on his knees, hissing like a snake; we've never seen a snake quite like that, but it still makes us giggle. After visiting the Milwaukee County Zoo, his selection of animals has increased.

We often have time-outs for being naughty. He often KNOWS that he's being naughty. Daddy warns "if you do *that* again, you will get a time-out; do you understand?" Often, a time-out is up next on the agenda.

Sydney LOVES watching Sesame Street, Sid the Science Kid, Between the Lions and Word World. "Is Elmo on?" is often asked. We often say "Elmo is NOT on." (Mommy makes him wait until 9am's PBS broadcasting. Although, the other day, he informed me "Elmo on when Daddy home." Perhaps, he has realized that we've got them recorded on the DVR box.)

He LOVES going to library storytime where his favorite is the moroccan shakers to "shake your sillies out and wiggle your waggles away". He flawlessly demonstrates the dance with his toy salt & pepper shakers or spices from the kitchen.

He LOVES to dance! and jump! and gallop! and climb! and throw/kick balls! Jumping ON the couch and off of the couch was fun, until mom & dad put the ka-bosh on that.

He LOVES to color with pen, pencil, crayons or markers. We tried finger paint with teacher Patty once; he loved it! (Mommy hasn't been brave enough to attempt it.)

He LOVES to play with playdough, but still attempts to eat it when we are not looking. (He still chews on crayons from time-to-time as well and licks the tip of his markers.) He often has marker all over his hands and face.

I *think* his two year molars are in. He likes to pry our mouths open and peer inside, asking "You got any molars in there?" (It is funny!)

Sydney STILL ADORES his baby brother! The feeling is mutual. The two boys smile at each other all the time. Silas LOVES to watch Sydney's every move.

SILAS: 5 months old

Size 3 diapers

Weighs 18 pounds 15 ounces. At last check, measured 23.25" tall.

Upgraded to 9 month clothes already. Likely have to switch to 12 month clothes by Christmas, for sure.

Scratches himself with his long fingernails. He is a thumb-sucker and self-soother. Nurses on demand.

Goes to bed on his own: tired, but awake.

Like clock-work, Silas wakes around 1am and 3:45am for feedings. Ironically, when pregnant, I would pee around 1am and (when Mike is on the opening shift) Mike's alarm goes off at 3:45am (and I would often get up to have a snack with him then.) Nurses in the night, but is strictly business.

More and more alert. Smiles. Coos. Giggles when we kiss his neck or when he thinks something is funny. Started "talking" and "singing" with a fingernails-on-the-chalkboard sound; smiling all-the-while!

Likes playing with toys; grabs at toys. Very skilled at getting toys into his mouth. Just recently discovered his toes; those are good for chewing, too!

Is often a side-sleeper; although, lately, we are finding him flipped over onto his belly.

Enjoys Pat-a-Cake, SO BIG and Peek-a-Boo with mommy.

Silas has been a remarkable baby! He is SO HAPPY and SO CONTENT all the time!!! Mike announces "It is easy to forget about him" insinuating that he is so calm and quiet - whereas older brother Sydney's presence is always known.

Silas fusses when he is over-stimulated or if he has had enough. He is content laying on the floor and sucking his thumb. He often just likes to be left alone.

Silas LOVES to be talked to! He's very smily and social. He's finding his voice and starting to talk back now. He smiles with his beautiful big, blue eyes! He's adorable!

Silas is showing signs of being ready for table food. He watches intently as we eat. He tracks the motion of our fork from plate to mouth. He reaches out to grab our plates. He'll likely be starting baby rice cereal within the next week or so. (He's still a GREAT nurser, too!)