While driving to preschool this morning, Sydney announces "Maybe when I get bigger someday, I can sit in that grown-up seat and hold your hand."
I smiled and said "I'd like that."
He's going to make SOMEONE very happy someday... being so sweet like that!
• • • • •
Sydney has been working very hard at helping to get himself dressed. Some days, he can do it all by himself, while other days, he fusses and cries, begging for MOM to do it. (One day, he ran outside in the driveway, buck-naked and holding his clothes, begging me to get him dressed. I continued to buckle Silas into his carseat and then, instructed Sydney piece-by-piece to put them on - starting with his big boy pants. He sat on the driveway block and announced "It's cold out here!" He decided that "next time, we should just get dressed inside where it is warmer." I told him that THAT was a good idea. Sometimes, his shoes are on the wrong feet, but HE is doing it himself now, too! AWESOME!
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Sydney is starting to understand that COOPERATION and GOOD LISTENING earn rewards. Last week, we went to our neighbors house so that the boys could play with Mason's old train set. When it was time to go, Sydney calmly declared "OK! Thanks for letting us come here to play, mom. We should do it again another day!" He did the same thing at a park one day. It, too, was AWESOME! (It is SO NICE when I don't have to fight with him... or chase him!)
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We often ask Sydney if he is a BOY or a MOSQUITO. It seems to be working wonders for his screeching, whiney voice. We also remind him that we can't understand him when he cries and that he should try again when he is calmed down.
• • • • •
Mike wants to get custom shirts printed: I WANT WHATEVER MY BROTHER HAS
(It seems to go both ways.)
• • • • •
Sydney was asked repeatedly to pick up a specific set of toys that was scattered everywhere and was no longer playing with. He ignored the first request. When I asked again, he became sassy and declared "NO! YOU pick it up!" I calmly told him that "If I pick it up, I will take it away." to which he sassily replied "Yeah, Go ahead." I think he was trying to call my bluff. I picked them up and put them out of reach - on top of the stacked washer/dryer. He cried and cried, explaining to Daddy how Mommy took his toys and he really wanted them. Eventually, the truth came out and Daddy reminded him "Next time, you should listen when mom asks you to do something."
Today, when he was asked to pick up his toys, he decided to help out and cooperate right away.
He's getting to be a quick study.
• • • • •
Recently, at a McDonalds, Sydney discovered an indoor play area. He kept a close eye on the kids and kept announcing "I just have to figure out how to get in there!" I reminded him that he had to eat his lunch or else we couldn't go in there to play. He nibbled on a couple of french fries, but ate almost nothing before attempting to slither out of our booth, under the table. I gave him a warning, reminding him that he had to eat his lunch first or else we would have to leave, but he decided not to cooperate.
Soon enough, I picked him up and carried him to the car. (Silas and Nana finished their lunch and later joined us in the car.)
This past weekend, we had the opportunity to visit a different McDonald's with a play area. We reminded Sydney "Remember what happened last time when we had to leave without playing? You need to eat your lunch first. Then, you can go play. Deal?"
"Deal."
Miraculously, he ate ALL OF HIS LUNCH and drank all of his milk and then, politely asked if he could go play now. (He was VERY PROUD of himself! We were pretty proud of him, too!)
• • • • •
Had a talk with Sydney, reminding him that HE is "the BIG BOY" and that we need him to help teach his baby brother how to be a good boy, too. "Just because Baby Silas throws something doesn't mean that it is OK for you to do it. Just because Baby Silas screams at the table doesn't mean that YOU should scream, too."
He looked at me inquisitively.
"If Silas screams at the table, we should remind him to quietly use his inside voice." (Phrases they use at preschool.)
Sydney is finding all sorts of opportunities to be a GOOD HELPER and an awesome big brother now!
I've heard him a few times telling Silas "Don't yell! Use your inside voice." AND "Silas, we throw BALLS, not toys!"
• • • • •
Wishing that we could get Sydney to:
1) sleep through the night
2) not wake us repeatedly throughout the night
3) climb quietly into the playpen in our room OR (if he must) climb into our bed without waking us
4) have a valid reason for waking us, other than "I don't know why I am up this time"
5) cover himself with his blankets and find his own sippy cup
5) any/all of the above.
SYDNEY (AND SILAS) ARE PRETTY AWESOME KIDS!
