Coming clean on Barney

I am afraid that Sydney will someday "throw me under the bus" so I may as well come clean.

Mike is NOT a controlling person; HOWEVER, when we first discovered that we were pregnant, he asked that we NOT let our kids watch Barney. (I wondered if he has ever even WATCHED Barney before; I remember cousins Rachel & Kristen watching it YEARS AGO.)

Barney is (still) on PBS. I believe that Sydney has watched it twice... in 29 months. Being a two year old boy, he LIKES dinosaurs... and bright colors... and singing... and dancing... and kids; Barney has all those things.

Today, I had turned on the tv and Sydney caught a glimpse of Barney before I could get the remote to change channels.

"Want to watch Barney." he stated.

"Who?" I played dumb.

"Barney. Dinosaur Barney." he stated with a furrowed brow.

"I didn't know you knew his name."

"I _ike Barney. _ike dat guy."

"Don't tell daddy you like Barney. Daddy does NOT like Barney."

"Why?" he wondered.

"I don't know. Sorry Buddy."

Daddy encourages Sydney to criss-cross his shoes... a "fun trick" that he learned in June 2011. All on his own, Sydney crosses his velcro straps and announces "Criss Cross oooshz. Mommy don't _ike dat!" (Translation: Criss cross shoes. Mommy don't like that.)

I keep hoping that he will someday forget about criss-crossing his shoes; Mike brings it up on purpose quite often... knowing that it kind of irks me. So far, I've had no luck with that "fun trick" disappearing. Dear Hubby... Gee, thanks for that! P.S. I'm really sorry your kid likes Barney.

Photographers proofs from photoshoot

Here are our photographer's top pics from our family photoshoot over the weekend. (NOTE: Two year olds are NOT the most cooperative models and infants don't REALLY know where to look. All-in-all, she didn't do too badly for us.)

Lost on the old camera - oldies, but goodies

We recently filled up the hard drive on our video camera (and have misplaced the cords to upload it all to our computer). So, I dragged out our old digital camera so that we had SOME WAY to document the fits of giggles displayed by our two boys. (We're in the process of getting the last year-and-a-half off of the old video camera. OOPS, my bad!)

As it turns out, there were some old Christmas pictures still living on that old camera, but they were neglected and left there because we had gotten our fancy new camera last Christmas.

Funny thing... at Christmas 2010... when Sydney got his toy kitchen...

he was wearing the SAME OUTFIT that Silas* is wearing now!

*Silas is wearing 12 month clothes and will likely be upgrading into the 18month clothes by the end of the winter season (that we just cleaned out of Sydney's dresser last month.) He's a BIG GUY while Sydney is still a tall and skinny little boy.

Here are some Christmas memories that were gone and forgotten, but now live on again...

Our Christmas Day brunch - consisting of quiche and broiled grapefruits.

Eating cookies with Nana Olson.

Playing bounce, Bounce, BOUNCE and jump, Jump, JUMP with Papa Olson.

Our assortment of baked goodies... chocolate covered peanut butter balls, orange juice balls (new recipe) and some cut-out cookies that Sydney and I made (and we LOVED THEM... also a new recipe).

Sydney getting Sesame Street big boy pants and insisting upon wearing them NOW!

How Sydney kept running to the kitchen with all of his new toys and hiding them all in our silverware drawer. (He didn't know that we were watching him... and giggling!)

The joy of the season.

Funny Sydney-isms at age 2

Starting a list of Funny Sydney-isms at age 2

(so that we someday remember when he was little... and silly!)

want kikker on my otter keek

want sticker on my other cheek

ty kicks dis

try (to) fix this

tinkle, tinkle _ittle _tar

t

Feeding time at the zoo - fun lunch

Sydney was SUPER EXCITED to help feed Silas this morning.

He had to stand on a chair and feed him his cereal - mixed with baby food.

For lunch, I had cut some fresh carrots and steamed them - thinking that Silas might like to gnaw on one of those soft-cooked carrots. He decided to help himself... to the bowl!

I'm not sure that you'll get the whole effect with your thumb in your mouth.

Hmmm, interesting! (Gagged only once or twice when a chunk of it broke off and got towards the back of his throat.)

Fresh avocado inside this mesh bag. With that new TOOTH, he liked to gnaw on the plastic handle.

But biting on the avocado flesh and sucking on the mesh bag is fun, too!

This was a fun lunch today!

Whoa, what a mess! (Did I do that?)

Sydney also had some avocado for lunch... in the form of guacamole and chips.

He doesn't really stop moving... or talking... except for when he is sleeping. (And even then, he moves around a lot and sometimes even talks in his sleep!)

After lunch, Silas fed himself a bottle of breast milk. It was a good day!

He REALLY pays attention! OATMEAL SUPPER story

On Friday night, we had called Nana & Papa's house only to discover that they were not home and we were forced to say HELLO to their answering machine. Inquisitively, Sydney asked "Where Nana Papa at?"

"I don't know." I replied.

"Find dem." (Find them.)

I dialed my mom's cell phone. She answered it and informed us that they were out to eat for Friday Night Fish Fry in Wisconsin with some friends. (YUM! Jealous!!! Mouth waters JUST THINKING ABOUT IT!)

After we got off the phone, Sydney announced "Nana Papa out eat fish. Papa Lowell prolley just eat oatmeal."

Translation: Nana (and) Papa (are) out (to) eat (for) fish. Papa Lowell (will) probably just eat oatmeal.

I think I almost wet my pants giggling. On Sundays, we sometimes tease Grandpa Lowell that if he hadn't come to eat dinner with us that night, that we would probably be eating oatmeal.

"Do you think we should call Papa Lowell to see what he ate for dinner?"

"Yeah." Sydney agreed with a nod. "Prolley oatmeal." he stated so matter-of-factly. (Translation: Probably oatmeal.)

We called Papa Lowell. He, too, laughed at Sydney. "I did not have oatmeal for supper, but I did have oatmeal for breakfast."

After we got off the phone, Sydney gave me the play-by-play update: Papa not eat oatmeal supper. Papa eat oatmeal breakfast. Nana Papa eat out. Fish. Nih-knee _ike fish too. Nih-knee _ike oatmeal a _ot, too!

Translation: Papa (did) not eat oatmeal (for) supper. Papa (did) eat oatmeal (for) breakfast. Nana (and) Papa eat out (tonight.) Fish. Sydney like(s) fish, too. Sydney like(s) oatmeal a lot, too!

Toothless wonder no more!

At Silas' 6 month well-child check-up on Tuesday morning, the doctor called him "a toothless wonder."

Perhaps, Silas took offense to that remark?

Today, I caught a glimpse into his drooling mouth and noticed a fleck of white on his lower gums.

"Wait a minute!" I announced. "Let me see in there."

I rubbed my finger on his gums. He attempted to suck on my finger. Sure enough... his first tooth has broken through the surface! (His Lower left.) He's a VERY ORAL BABY already; everything goes into his mouth. He's also a drool factory; has been for more than a month already. While sitting in the Baby Einstein earlier today, he seemed VERY CONTENT gnawing on the starfish toy; perhaps THAT is what caused it to break through?

Our baby boy has his first tooth! Maybe, tomorrow, we can celebrate with the purchase of some teething biscuits.

First Fruit is blend of Apple and Apricot

Silas tried another new food today: apricot and apple purée. It was his first REAL taste of fruit. (Other than fresh banana that he did NOT care for.) When feeding the new food, he didn't miss a beat, quickly opening his mouth baby-bird-style in search of more while making a "YUM" sound. (He's not a very vocal kid at this point, but he does tend to "sing for his supper".

Fall fun and s'more pics

We went to Grandpa's house on Tuesday afternoon. It was a near-perfect fall day! Warm(er) weather, sunshine, beautiful fall leaves...

I like how the sunshine brightened the face of baby Silas.

Sydney ran past... super fast... and super excited... he had found a hairbrush and wanted to brush Bishop. (I really like how I captured BOTH BOYS in the same frame.)

I love this picture of Silas!

Silas was a perfect model for my fall photo-shoot. Bishop is the white blur in the foreground. Silas was very intrigued by the little dog.

I wanted Mike to take a picture of Silas and I in the leaves - much like one that we had from August 2009 when Sydney was a baby. Silas had other things on his mind - instead of gazing at the camera.

Mommy and Sydney enjoyed run, Run, RUNNING!

It was LOTS of fun to run!

We were going to learn how to put the marshmallow on the stick, but we (Sydney) ate that one!

Here we go again!

Into the fire.

And now, we wait... in the darkness.

Mmmm, doesn't THAT look yummy? (We need to toast that one a little longer!)

So, what do you think? STICKY!

Here's a family portrait we took - using a self-timer and running into the frame. We didn't do too terribly bad at all:

We officially have a BIG little guy, HB 6 months

Happy 6 Month Birthday Baby Silas!

Silas went in for his 6-month well-child check-up and pediatrician Dr. Mullen announced that Silas is officially on his Infant Fantasy Football team.

Silas measured in the 75th percentile for head circumference, the 90th percentile for weight and the 95th percentile for height. (Checking in at 20# 9 ounces and 28" tall.)

So, we officially have a BIG little guy!

At six months, Silas is wearing SIZE 3 diapers during the day and SIZE 4 diapers over-night. He recently upgraded to 12 month clothes (and they aren't looking BIG on him at all... currently a perfect fit!)

He nurses on demand, but isn't overly demanding since he self-soothes with his thumb-sucking. (Adorable!) He is on solid foods and is a very good eater! So far, he has had: rice cereal, oatmeal, guacamole/avocado, squash, sweet potato, green bean, and banana.... of which he did NOT care for the consistency of oatmeal or mashed banana. He DID, however, seem to like to gnaw on the whole banana when we put it into one of his mesh teether feeders.

Silas sits up all by himself. He leans forward to reach toys and then sits back up again. He LOVES to play on a blanket on the floor, but does have a tendency to pivot to reach things or watch what everyone else is doing.

He rolls over from back to belly with ease. He does get STUCK on his belly though; can't make it back onto his back yet. He likes to stand up with assistance.

Silas LOVES his big brother! He and Sydney entertain each other A LOT! They share a lot of giggles, smiles and toys. Silas likes to reach out and grab faces and hair. Sydney still thinks THAT is pretty funny. Sydney proudly announces "_ike my brother. Is nice baby. _ike baby _ilas a lot!"

Silas is NOT overly vocal yet. He is an incredibly happy little guy; sits with a smile on his face most of the time... watching the world around him and LOVING IT! He does tend to "sing for his supper" making a YUM sound when we feed him; it is SO CUTE!

Silas likes to pet our cats. He smiles when we announce "That's a cat. Me-ow!" At Nana & Papa's house, he is very interested in Beamer (dog). Beamer likes to SLURP his face. Silas sits, smiles and blinks as the dog slurps his chin and cheeks. (Sydney, on the other hand, actually GAGS when the dog licks his face... he has a strong sense of smell and does not tolerate "doggy breath" very well. This is VERY FUNNY to witness his gagging spells... he does it with the smell of his own poop in the potty chair, too... or when he gets too close to the garbage can! HILARIOUS!)

He is also very skilled with his hands. He likes to put EVERYTHING into his mouth. Being a thumb-sucker, he KNOWS where his mouth is, for sure! He likes books a lot, he chews on board books a lot. He does appear to like to look at pictures and listen to us read story books as well.

He likes when we play Peek-a-Boo with him. Pat-a-Cake makes him smile, too... especially the "roll it..." part. When he eats (sitting in the high chair) we make him giggle by blowing zerberts on the bottom of his feet; he thinks THAT is VERY FUNNY... although, perhaps, he thinks we are playing Peek-a-Book... making it even MORE FUN!

Silas naps a few times a day, putting himself to sleep. He is starting to sleep better at night. (He had been waking in the night to nurse, but doctor assures us that he CAN/SHOULD make it through the night without eating. We'll work on that!) He sleeps best at night when he is warm; if he gets cold, he tends to fuss. (Babies are NOT allowed to sleep with blankets so, we understand WHY he gets cold.) Silas wakes up HAPPY; the first smile of the day is still THE BEST! (He's got a BEAUTIFUL SMILE and bright blue eyes!)

His hair is thinned out since birth; What's left is a sandy blonde fuzz. SUPER CUTE!

Silas is a FANTASTIC addition to our family!