Toddler independence: GO SLOW

Armed with an over-full laundry basket, I ventured downstairs with my little helper leading the way. (He makes us quite nervous when he goes down forward-facing, holding onto.... well, NOTHING!)

"Silas, go slow!" I chirped.

"NO!" he snapped. "Go dis way! LIKE THIS! Haven't fallen down (in a) long time. DIS WAY!"

AH, YES... 
the independence of a toddler (who talks VERY WELL for his age and CAN rationalize that he really HASN'T fallen down the stairs in a long time).

3.31.13: Silas is 23 months old - tomorrow.


NOTE: Sometimes, he likes to stiffen his body like a board and slide down multiple steps at once, giggling the whole way and proud of his SPEED.

Safehouse and Disney Store

Sydney is SO LUCKY! He got to go to the Safe House 

in Milwaukee, WI today with Uncle Mike, 

Nana & Papa and they emailed us these pics:

 AND he got to go to The Disney Store, where

he got THIS Buzz Lightyear helmet. :)

Spring Special is a struggle

We took advantage of a portrait package today since we haven't gotten the kids pictures taken since last summer. The local place was running a SPRING SPECIAL so, we had hoped to get a picture of the boys together. Didn't expect it to be such a struggle. 

Silas, who is normally called SMILEY everywhere we go was our trouble-maker. He wouldn't cooperate. (Sydney did have a spell of falling out of position because he thought he was funny, as well as sticking his tongue out, since Silas was doing it.)

The photographer seemed pleased with her work, claiming that many of the shots were CUTE, but I had declared "If you know our child, THAT is NOT REALLY HIM." They emailed us a link to view the pics, in case we wanted to order STUFF from the company. 

Here's a low-res peek at our "so-called" FAVORITES:

cWeaning cWap (Cleaning Crap)

SYDNEY:

Hey, did you notice dat Dad 

cWeaned aw his cWap off of da sunporch?

(Hey, did you notice that Dad cleaned all his crap off of the sunporch?)

MOM:

Did you help him?

SYDNEY:

No, he cWeaned his cWap up by himself. 

It shore does wook nicer now doe.

(No, he cleaned his crap up by himself. It sure does look nicer now though.

MOM:

Yes, it does! Daddy did good work!

SYDNEY:

Yes, he did!

(I had a hard time not laughing while having this conversation with Sydney.)

Thanks for cleaning up the 

messy sunporch, Dad! 

It looks great!

Funny Things Kids Say_MARCH 2013

Silas comes into the kitchen, grabs my hand and announces "Help me build track please."

MOM: OK.

(Silas grabs my finger and guides me by the hand. We venture into the living room and sit down to assemble train tracks for Silas.)

MOM: Hey, it smells like poop over here.

SILAS: Yeah, I noticed that.

• • • • • • •

Riding in the car, I hear all kinds of chatter in the backseat. Suddenly, I hear this:

HEY, Mama! I'm talkin' to you!

MOM: Oh, sorry! I'll listen now.

SILAS: OK. Dat's better.

• • • • • • •

SILAS: Hold on everybody!
(Announced whenever we brake for a yellow light and sometimes when we hit the gas.)

• • • • • • •

SYDNEY: Ah, Yes! Dis (this) is a fine, fine wunch (lunch).

(Admiring his lunch plate of mac & cheese, banana and fresh blueberries.... as so often, he announces "I don't wike (like) what we are having" before he even SEES his plate.)

• • • • • • •

Sydney was NOT being a good listener on Friday morning as we were heading out to storytime at the library. In the driveway, he decided to ignore MANY requests for him to climb into the car. Each time, he smiles and walks farther down the wall - away from the car. (Mom had even held out her fingers and announced "I'm on TWO!" but he STILL decided NOT to cooperate.)

MOM: I guess you don't want to go to the library very badly today?

SYD: Huh? NO, I weawwy (really) DO want to go to the wi-bwawy (library) now.

MOM: Oh, you do?

Sydney hops over and climbs into the car.

MOM: How sad. We won't be able to go today.

SYDNEY: NO!!!!!! WHY?

MOM: Why do YOU think?

SYDNEY: Because I wasn't being a good wistener (listener).

MOM: Yep! Maybe we can go next week.

SYDNEY: BUT.... I didn't hear you tew (tell) me to get into the car now!

MOM: Which time?

SYDNEY: Um....  all of them??? I didn't hear you any of doze (those) times you toad (told) me to get into the car now.

(For the record, we drove down TO the library and I proceeded to return ALL of our books in the curb-side book drop. Then, I pointed out "It would have been really fun to pick out a bunch more new books. Maybe another day...")

Talking to Nana (pretend conversation on the phone)

I was working around the kitchen and noticed that Silas dragged a chair over. (He does this often... and quickly!) Quickly, he eyed up my cell phone on the counter.

He picks it up, holds it to his ear and starts to carry on an imaginary conversation. He does this for a few minutes of non-stop talking. (Seriously, you'd think that he really DID dial someone because he was carrying on conversation with himself so well; I actually did wonder....)

Finally, I ask him "Who are you talking to?"

At first, he seemed startled that I interrupted his conversation. Then, he grins THE BIGGEST GRIN and proudly announces "Talking to Nana!"

You've just gotta LOVE this kid! He's SO STINKIN' CUTE!
It's no wonder people call him SMILEY.

22 months vs. 3 years 9 months

Silas is 22 months old. 
Sydney is 3 years 9 months old.

Hard to believe... seems like just yesterday...

Silas:
is a right-handed thumb sucker
is called "Smiley" at Sydney's school (and most places we go)
is starting to show interest in potty training (some days)
tells you POOP interchangeably for #1 or #2
pees on the toilet before taking a bath or shower
prefers a bath - with toys!
wears 24 month jammies fully or 3T with extra length
wears a size 5 diaper, but could probably still fit fine in a 4.
Wears 18 and 24 month pants.
Wears 24 month or 2T shirts.
LOVES bubbles in the kitchen sink
is a serious FOODIE
carries "his monkey"
loves to read books
enjoys brushing his teeth
LOVES going outside
throws himself on the floor when he doesn't get his way
runs, jumps and climbs with ease
gallops like a horse
calls everything a DIGGER, like mommy does
talks A LOT!
recites "Nicky, Upstairs and Downstairs" and "The very busy spider" from memory
sings ABC's when he wants a turn next
enjoys counting
wants to do WHATEVER his brother is doing!
Likes to snuggle (with mom) before Sydney (at bedtime)
drags chairs all over the house
insists upon helping in the kitchen whenever possible
is an early riser
guesses almost everything to be GREEN
likes to watch BOB THE BUILDER
enjoys "scooping food (for) Eddy!"
just started smearing his dirty hands in his hair when he eats
likes to talk on the phone
always says "GOOD" when someone asks "How are you?"
drinks whole milk
LOVES cottage cheese (or most cheeses, for that matter.)
eats almost everything
thinks BUTTER is a food group!
started going through separation anxiety during the middle of the night
yells "Hold on everybody!" in the car at stoplights, as well as "Red. STOP! Green. GO!"
bull-da BO-zer = bulldozer
"Don't want that either!" is a common phrase, coinciding with temper tantrums

Sydney:
goes to school T/TH am.
is right-handed
LOVES to climb things
a very skilled jumper
is starting to wake dry in the mornings, a few times a week
is protesting naps
plays games at bedtime
LOVES to read books
LOVES to watch PBS on tv.
still has a thing for dinosaurs
talks like a mosquito (sometimes)
likes his "sc'wat-chee bwanket" (scratchy blanket = flannel sheet)
counts 1-14, 16... missing 15 every time.
thinks eleven-teen is a number that comes shortly before 20
knows all of the letters in the alphabet
recites LOTS of books
drags chairs around the house
climbs over gates
gets into trouble when left alone
is still a skinny little thing
puts on his own socks (normally upside down)
puts on his own shoes (normally on the wrong feet)
sometimes dresses himself, struggling with his shirt
puts on his own jacket, singing a song from school
often says his favorite color is BLUE
LOVES to help
says W for L (i.e. Silas = SiWas, like = wike, lamp= wamp)
says brow-er for brother
says Two-wewwa for nutella
Asks for PB & Jewwy every day, meaning PB & Nutella
LOVES broccoli, sugar snap peas and colored bell peppers
asks for BLUE bell peppers
thinks mom is silly for calling everything a DIGGER and corrects her often
doesn't like his food to touch
likes to talk on the phone
likes toast and bagels without butter
is starting to outgrow his 3T shirts and 4T jammies
wears a night diaper
LOVES to color and paint
likes to do puzzles
doesn't like to pick up
loves to snuggle with mom (at bedtime) after Silas
puts stickers all over the side of Mike's recliner
is a really, really smart boy!

The House that Jack Built vs. The Broken Lamp

Grandpa Lowell has a children's book (The House that Jack Built) at his house that he's read to the boys a few times. It gets a little catchy to listen to him read. Last time, Mike started reciting it from the other room while Grandpa read it to the kids.

I searched for it online because we just had one of those days today... that happened to remind me of this (old) children's book.

Here's a look at our day, in the style of the nursery rhyme:

by Sarah, March 14, 2013

He dragged a chair

To climb over the gate

Snuck up the stairs

Crept down the hall

Hid in the room

Jumped on the bed

Knocked over the lamp

Broke the bulb

Yelled "Come quick! Something's terribly wong! 

   I bwoke the wamp!"

Mom vacuumed the mess

and then, did the hall

Discovering the spot 

  that the cat likes to lay

Looked under the sink

  to find carpet cleaner

Discovered a puddle

 and a crack in the drain

that caused the leak

that was under the sink

that wouldn't have been found

for WHO KNOWS how long?

All because 

he dragged a chair

climbed over the gate

snuck up the stairs

crept down the hall

hid in the room

jumped on the bed

and broke the lamp.

After-the-fact, I saw that the bulb had a warning (contains mercury) and looked online to discover that I did everything WRONG by vacuuming the mess. (I guess I should have evacuated all people and animals for 15 minutes, opened windows, used duct tape to pick up the pieces and NOT run the vacuum. Had to dispose of the bag... within the last few days was brand spanking new! Let the carpet dry and then, discover that I didn't have another new bag to put in the vacuum.)

Here's the nursery rhyme book that Grandpa reads:

The House That Jack Built (Nursery Rhyme)

Submitted by: Jill

Author: Unknown

This is the house that Jack built.
This is the rat
That ate the malt
That lay in the house that Jack built.

This is the cat,
That killed the rat,
That ate the malt
That lay in the house that Jack built.

This is the dog,
That worried the cat,
That killed the rat,
That ate the malt
That lay in the house that Jack built.

This is the cow with the crumpled horn,
That tossed the dog,
That worried the cat,
That killed the rat,
That ate the malt
That lay in the house that Jack built.

This is the maiden all forlorn,
That milked the cow with the crumpled horn,
That tossed the dog,
That worried the cat,
That killed the rat,
That ate the malt
That lay in the house that Jack built.

This is the man all tattered and torn,
That kissed the maiden all forlorn,
That milked the cow with the
crumpled horn,
That tossed the dog,
That worried the cat,
That killed the rat,
That ate the malt
That lay in the house that Jack built.

This is the priest all shaven and shorn,
That married the man all tattered and torn,
That kissed the maiden all forlorn,
That milked the cow with the crumpled horn,
That tossed the dog,
That worried the cat,
That killed the rat,
That ate the malt
That lay in the house that Jack built.

This is the cock that crowed in the morn,
That waked the priest all shaven and shorn,
That married the man all tattered and torn,
That kissed the maiden all forlorn,
That milked the cow with the crumpled horn,
That tossed the dog,
That worried the cat,
That killed the rat,
That ate the malt
That lay in the house that Jack built.

This is the farmer sowing the corn,
That kept the the cock that crowed in the morn,
That waked the priest all shaven and shorn,
That married the man all tattered and torn,
That kissed the maiden all forlorn,
That milked the cow with the crumpled horn,
That tossed the dog,
That worried the cat,
That killed the rat,
That ate the malt
That lay in the house that Jack built.

Thingamajigger Birthday Wish List

Sydney SHOULD be napping.

Sydney is NOT.

Sydney keeps coming out of his bedroom. He's been busy reading Dr. Seuss books all morning. (We missed the Seuss celebration week at school because we were on vacation. We, sadly, did NOT celebrate the Seuss birthday with green eggs and ham - like last year.)

Sydney just came out and made the following announcement:

I sink... 

(Translation: I think)...

I sink for my birsday, dis year, I want a singamajigger. And for my gext birsday, I want an underwater singamajigger... and the gext one, I want a different kind of singamajigger that goes on snow, water AND on land.

(Translation: I think for my birthday, this year, I want a Thingamajigger. And for my next birthday, I want an underwater Thingamajigger... and the next one, I want a different kind of Thingamajigger that goes on snow, water AND on land. )

I sink dat's all I wanted.

(Translation: I think that's all I wanted.)

AND THEN, he turned around and went back into his bedroom (for a few more minutes...)

Mommy?

MOM: Yes, Sydney.

I sink I want a spiderman racecar, too.

(Translation: I think I want a Spiderman racecar, too.)

??? I have NO IDEA where THAT (Spiderman) came from. ???

Thingamajigger is a vehicle that "The Cat in the Hat" drives/flies

on the PBS show "The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That".

Best of Vacation_FEB 2013

Our bags are packed and we're ready to travel! 

A backpack, filled with entertainment and snacks, for each of the boys.

The Family of 4 taking our first trip together.

We haven't traveled ANYWHERE (except the cabin) since Sydney was 9 months old. 

We were LONG OVERDUE for a vacation and were THRILLED to go somewhere with plentiful sunshine and warm weather!

Silas threw up on the way to the airport so, we had to change his clothes (before we checked our suitcases.) Turns out, wearing the SAME OUTFIT to travel in on the way home, he threw up in the car AGAIN. We've since decided that he can only wear THAT OUTFIT on days that we stay home... since it is NOT fun to clean carseats!

Baby's first airplane ride! 

Mike takes a picture of Silas in front of his first plane.

Silas is excited to fly!

Both boys are having a hard time deciding 

WHO they want to sit next to on the plane.

20 minutes in flight... Silas falls asleep.

With a long layover, we are in NO RUSH to get off. 

Turns out, they invited Sydney to sit in the cockpit!

Getting off of the plane in Chicago.

Checking out the cows!

Sydney wonders WHY they all have 

numbers on their earrings.

YAY... Family of 4 on vacation!

The boys are LOVING being outside and enjoy

seeing some of the grandkids ride horses, helping

them to become braver, too. (Sydney told our flight

attendent that he was NOT going to ride a horse....

because they poop. She showed him a picture of herself 

riding and encouraged him to try it, too!)

Owen reads to Braxton and Sydney.

A trip to the EdVenture Children's Museum.

 

The boys keep talking about "that giant guy" 

and hope we can go back there again. 

  

The boys... our little super men!

Playing in the grocery store at the museum.

Family of 4 at the Children's Museum.

Daddy and Silas feed Sam.

Sydney examined ALL of the tractors on the ranch

and decided that he wanted to ride in the red one with

the yellow water tank. They were THRILLED when

Daddy took them for a ride in the tractor!!!

Sydney feeds Sam some hay.

Hay for horses, yes indeed!

Silas and Dad feed Sam some hay.

Silas BEGS to go outside whenever he is awake!

He LOVES it at the ranch! Loves horses and tractors!

Sydney rides!

And it looks like he likes it!

Silas rides!

No fear from this toddler!

He likes it, too!

The boys ride together!

Sydney and Silas enjoy riding a horse.

Although, they don't like sharing the saddle all that much.

Clyde finds Sydney a cowboy hat to wear on his ride.

Stinking cute little city kid disguised as a cowboy!

Mike wanted me to take a pic of our shadows.

Riding on a bull-dozer! AWESOME!!!

(We did tell them we were NOT going to ride in one of the cotton pickers. They did, however, get to sit in/on countless tractors and a big rig!)

Bull-dozer = AWESOME for 2 little boys!

Pretending to drive the bull-dozer.

LOVE THIS PIC!

Sydney demonstrates how to peddle.

Silas LOVES this little toy riding tractor!

Mom has been taking a cake decorating class

and surprised us with THIS CAKE when we got home!