Right Now - a look at SILAS (October 2013)

Right now, Silas:

• is suddenly sassy. "NO!" is his new favorite word, I'm afraid
• asks WHY, but doesn't really expect an answer. 
• struggles to poop on the potty chair, preferring to secretly do it in his big boy pants or diaper
• wakes up dry 4-5 times per week
• will only go potty on the toilet when HE wants to, but can sometimes be tricked into it because he doesn't argue when the timer goes off.
• will change his behavior at the very threat of a time-out
• is missing his last two year molar, but has started to chew on his hand lately.
• LOVES LuLu the dog and getting a sucker at the bookstore.
• is a human alarm clock, waking between 5:40-6:20am, but almost always very close to 6.
• asks to eat "gummy things" almost daily (fruit snacks... a gift from Bev & Frank)
• has attended MOPS childcare twice and freaked out both times
• sucks his right thumb
• waits until Daddy finishes his last speck of food before asking "NOW can I sit on your lap?" during dinner
• eats almost everything!
• demands a cup of juice upon waking
• used to ask for BOB THE BUILDER as soon as he woke up, but has now started to ask to watch THOMAS instead.
• wants to eat a picnic outside almost daily
• runs to the front of the room at the library, standing next to the storytime librarian when it is time to sing songs. (Hokey Pokey, etc.) He sings, smiles and dances in front of the entire room full of people, thinking nothing of it
• rushes to hold the hand of the storytime librarian when it is time to do ring around the rosie
• gets his hand stamp on a piece of paper at the library
• wakes up in the morning AND from afternoon naps, announcing "I had a happy nap!"
• pays attention while we're driving and announces things like "Mommy! This is NOT the way to Daddy's work!!! THIS is the way to Daddy's school! You are going the wrong way!!!" as well as "Huh? Where are we going? I've never been on this road before." AND "Red Light. Stop. Green light. GO!" (He also tells me that I went through a red light, as he looks out his window and sees the red for the side streets.)
• thinks butter and sour cream are foods.
• is getting good at memorizing children's books.
• announces "That's NOT funny. That's a terrible joke." to Sydney whenever Sydney tries to make up his own joke.
• often gives the reason "Sydney did...." whenever he's crying and we ask him what is the matter. Sometimes, Sydney isn't even HOME when he does it. (NOTE: often Sydney IS to blame, but NOT ALWAYS!)
• is an instigator that sometimes likes to "irk" his big brother. (They do it to each other, I'm afraid!)
• talks almost non-stop
• is an AWESOME EATER and an AWESOME SLEEPER!
• gets mad when we call him "MISTER" or "BABY"; he'll snap "I'm NOT a Mister! I'm a Silas!" or "I'm NOT a baby; I'm a Silas!" ALSO, when I tell him, you're ALWAYS going to be my baby, he corrects me - telling me "I'm always going to be your Silas!"
• plays rough; you'd NEVER GUESS he's only 2.5 He's also great at motor skills - hopping, climbing, running, jumping, skipping!
• thrives on routine; gets mad when Daddy forgets to have them brush their teeth on Boys Night.
• likes to wear a clothes hanger around his tiny waist and pretends to be an airplane; drives mommy crazy!
• likes to get a TRIANGLE donut with chocolate frosting - WITHOUT SPRINKLES!!!
• steals all of the gadgets from the kitchen drawer when no one is looking
• gets excited over heavy equipment; still says BULL-DA-BO-ZER for bulldozer. (LOVE!!!)
• loves to take the tiny shopping cart to run errands. He LOVES to go to Fareway to buy bagels and to Walmart to grocery shop. He's a great little helper!
• know his colors and counts very well
• thinks that the last line on our house rules sign says SILAS, but really it says SMILE. (Most people call him SMILEY because he is almost always smiling!!!)

UPDATE - 12/8/13: Silas is no longer potty training. He has reverted back to diapers for most of the time. (Although, a few times, he has taken his diaper off on is own and declared that he is a big boy and doesn't need it.) He HATES going poop anywhere, but in his diaper. He's showing NO INTEREST in wearing big boy pants right now. He's no longer waking dry most mornings. Giving him a little bit of breathing room again... he'll get there when he's ready.
 He's still AWESOME at going to the bathroom before a bath/shower. He also likes to go potty for Nana Olson, to make her proud. We'll keep trying! (Developmental email recently talked about regression... and them wanting to do what is comfortable for them.) ALSO, our sweet little boy has been getting rough and tumble; he holds his own agains his brother's 23 month advantage. Silas has pulled a fistful of hair from Sydney's head on more than one occasion. (Naughty!) Two-and-a-half IS a tough age, as I recall.