Sydney is 32 months old, but we're pretty convinced that he's more than ready to go to preschool. He can sing his ABC's and can identify ALL CAPITAL letters of the alphabet and nearly all lower-case letters. He can count to 20. He knows all of his colors and shapes. We're just starting to do the research on local preschools after Teacher Patty (Parents as Teachers) encouraged us to enroll him into 3 year old preschool when his birthday rolls around.
Sydney has been a trickster lately. He had been potty trained for MONTHS before suddenly having not-so-accidental accidents. Finally, within the past few weeks, we put our foot down and stopped being so nice - declaring that "we are all done having accidents in our pants and on the furniture". Given the age, he likes to challenge us and totally understands how 1-2-3 Magic timeouts work. He thinks it is funnier since we had removed the seatbelt from his booster seat and we have a hard time containing him during T.O. (Little stinker.) He's also playing LOTS OF GAMES at bedtime with the fake "need go potty" calls and the sudden "my room is _cary!"
Sydney is an AWESOME BIG BROTHER (most of the time). Silas ADORES HIM!
Sydney is convinced that everyone's middle name is MICHAEL, like his - proclaiming "Sydney Michael G____, Daddy Michael G____, Mommy Michael G_____, Baby Silas Michael G_____" Then, after we remind him that Silas' middle name is NOT Michael, he recalls "_ilas Gay-cob (Jacob) G____"
He is starting to understand that he IS a boy, Silas is a boy and Daddy is a boy. He recently made the shocking discovery in the bathtub that "Mommy, you have no penis!" I explained that I am a GIRL and confirmed that he is right, I do NOT have a penis.
Sydney LOVES to help in the kitchen, play PlayDoh, color with markers, play with puzzles, paint, and read books. (We love to go to the library for Toddler Time and to pick out new books!) He also LOVES sneaking into our spice drawer to smell spices. He's a great helper; he can even make his own bowl of oatmeal (by giving us instructions as far as where we keep everything and what we need next).
One of his latest obsessions is to "make birthday cards" (using my ink pads and stamps). He's made a couple of "birthday cards" for Daddy this past month already... a little early for Daddy's February birthday. This past December, he made birthday cards for Grandpa Lowell, Grandma Olson, Donna Husman, Great Grandma, Auntie Karin and Aunt Sue. Following Christmas, we made thank you cards together. Now, he's moved into birthday card mode again - wanting to constantly make birthday cards for Daddy, Uncle Mike and Auntie Karin. (He doesn't quite understand the concept... he often makes a birthday card for Daddy, but the WORDS that he writes inside say "Thank you Daddy and Mommy and Sydney and Silas for being a wonderful family. I love you!" and he clearly sees Uncle Mike and Auntie Karin as ONE ENTITY; therefore, they must share an upcoming birthday in May.
Sydney knows that HE, Silas, Alder, Uncle Mike and Mommy ALL have birthdays in May. He wonders a lot if it is May yet. He knows that Uncle Mike and Mommy SHARE a birthday.
When we venture outside, Sydney likes to shovel the snow on the grass. He also likes to knock snow off of the grass onto the freshly shoveled sidewalk. Someday, he'll understand better.
Sydney LOVES to watch Sesame Street, Sid the Science Kid and Word World on PBS. Sometimes, he asks to watch SUPER WHY or Barney. (He understands that "Daddy does NOT like Barney!" but he proclaims that HE DOES like Barney. I think, for the record, he has seen the show only 3 times in his life! Somehow, dinosaurs DO appeal to little boys!)
He talks nearly non-stop. Hard to imagine that we worried about him at 18-months for not talking. He repeats A LOT as well. Mike got a kick out of him asking "Mommy, why'd you yell OH, CRAP?"
Sydney really enjoys playing with Lucy. She is 2 months older than he is. He learns LOTS of tricks from her. Mommy likes to have her come play at our house because she is a good gauge of behavior to predict what is to come ahead. A month or so ago, she displayed a horrible temper tantrum where she threw herself on the floor and screamed; Sydney has since tried those moves as well.
Sydney likes to play games - being stingy with hugs and kisses - from time-to-time. He sometimes wipes them after you kiss him, but sweetly tells you that he is "rubbing it in".
He is VERY GENTLE and compassionate with other small children. He likes to look out for them. (He's a little rougher with his brother, I'm afraid. They already like to wrestle together; Silas giggles!)
We have transitioned from the NO!-phase into the WHY?-phase this past month as well. (Or a brutal combination of the two, actually.)
WHY? is never-ending. As soon as you give him an answer, he fires off another WHY. He can do this over-and-over AND OVER and over! We've recently discovered that if you IGNORE the "Why?" he rarely repeats his question. AND if you ask "Why do YOU think?" it slows him down or else provides his standard "Dunno" answer.
He's starting to want to play HIDE & SEEK. He clearly doesn't understand the game yet... he stands in plain sight, hiding his eyes, thinking that he's well-hidden. We, of course, have to PRETEND that we can't see him. Then, of course, he'll hide in the EXACT SAME SPOT again! When it is his turn to count/our turn to hide, he likes to tell us EXACTLY where to hide. He has caught on to us hiding in more secretive places; he's starting to hide better now. Under the laundry basket or inside the Baby Einstein toy were my favorites so far... but he giggles and talks, giving himself away.
Daddy pretends to scan the room "Now, WHERE is Sydney hiding?" and Sydney yells "I'm over here!" (It is kind of comical.)
Sydney is an INCREDIBLE little boy! We love him SO VERY MUCH! It is SO FUN to be a parent!
