Big 2 1/2

One thing I have realized with raising these two kiddos is how fast things can change.  I feel like they grow on a 6 month cycle (if that makes sense).  I love to see how much they have changed every 6 months. They are usually pretty big differences.  I find it very interesting and exciting. And it worked out kind of funny that my kids are almost exactly 18 months apart.  Which means with every birthday we celebrate there is a half birthday to celebrate too.  As G just turned 1 T is now 2 1/2.  So I thought I would give some love to my little boy and update everyone on what he is up to these days.
 T is the most active, funny and lovable little guy. He is an excellent talker and has been at it for a while  He says so many funny things.  He has picked up on how we talk and I often find him talking like me.  For example...usually when I explain to him something I end with an "Okay" to make sure he understands what I am saying.  So in turn when he is explaining things to me, he nods his head and says "Okay" to make sure I understand.  It never fails to make me laugh.  He also told me the other day that I was bothering him...again something I must have said to him a time or two.  

T has also started to use his imagination.  He loves to play store.  He also will pack his back pack with toys and pretend to go places like Costco or the Mall. He always picks me up a hot dog when he goes to Costco and he hits up the play area at the mall.  I love how entertaining he can be.  

Our least favorite phase at 2 1/2 is this "whining phase" that is has hit full force.  Every time he starts it just reminds me of my mom and all the times she used to tell us to "stop whining!" I can't tell you how many times a day I tell him to use his big boy voice and use his words.  I don't know how long this phase will last...but have a feeling it will here for a while.  

We are still working on potty training.  Definatley having some ups and downs.  Mostly downs... down his leg, down his pants, and sometimes down the toilet.  He has got peeing under control pretty well but the other function has been pretty tramatic so far.  I am trying not to push him and letting him figure it out on his own.

T loves his little sister.  He is interacting with her a lot better.  He often takes ownership of her like he does his toys saying "My sister".  We just love this little guy to death.  And I'd say 2 1/2 is pretty fun, although we are only working on a couple of days here.  Everything is so exciting for him.  I am  excited to see how things will be in 6 months when he celebrates 3 years!

Cute as a Cupcake

Our little cupcake just turned one!  Hooray!  We had a fun week of celebration (minus all the sickness that wasn't so fun).  Her birthday was Wednesday and we celebrated with lunch at Rain Forest Cafe with Grandma and Auntie Jen and Hadley, even D came during his lunch break.  That night we got ice cream at McDonald's and had fun at the Play Place.   But the big celebration was on Saturday.  We threw our little doll the best cupcake party!

We decorated cupcakes, played games, opened gifts and ate lots of cupcakes.

Her very own pink cake!

 Getting her first taste...

 Diggin in...

 

Gettin all messy!.  Not much got in her mouth. She had more fun just making a mess. 
Happy Birthday little princess! Thanks for all the love from family and friends as we celebrated her first year!

She's on the move

G took off crawling the day after her birthday.  Who would have thought 12 months and 1 day she finally decides to make a move.  Well it's been a long time coming.  She has been wanting to move for a while and we just knew it was a matter of time.  But I took me for surprise when she did it.  All it took was a Mr. Potato head sticker.  She saw that sticker and just made her way towards it.  Of course she is doing it her own way.  It may not be pretty now but she is getting around, most of the time with her head down and bum up in the air.  It is excited none the less.  She already has a favorite place to go to...under the table.

This is day two.  Not getting too far just yet...but it is still fun to watch.  She might be a natural gymnast...she just loves to be on her head.

Mom Guilt

I am feeling a little guilty this morning.  As I sit here and look at my empty baby book for G.  I am feeling bad for things that I have been lacking in lately.  I feel bad for not keeping up with all of her "first".  I can make a list of things that I haven't done.  Her baby book is nearly empty and her first birthday is around the corner.  She has two adorable little teeth sprout last month that I still have taken pictures of.  And have no pictures of her first thanksgiving or Christmas.  Thanksgiving I had my camera and just didn't take any pictures.  And Christmas I left my camera at home.  I am feeling so bad for my little girl.  I hope she knows how much we love her.  The time has just slipped away from me.  My goal this week, one week away from her 1st birthday is to get her up to date.  For her own sake, so she will never think we forgot about her and for my own sake, maybe I don't have to live with this Mom guilt the rest of my life.

"Mommy I have to go potty"

We have missed placed our memory card so this picture will have to do for now.

We are already on day 3 of our potty training days.  And things are starting off really well. T seems to be getting it down.  He has shown a lot of interest in using the potty this month.  Especially when he hangs around he cousins that use the potty.  He has been caught in the bathroom with his pants down trying to take off his diaper.  He even told the nursery leader he needed to use the potty, who then believed him.  So I knew it was time we start trying.  We got all prepared with treats, stickers, and let him pick out his big boy underwear.  He loves all it.  He loves he "Cars" undies and his Mike 'N' Ikes "special" treats.  We have had a few accidents but a lot of successes.  He even had 1 poo in the potty.  He really surprised me last night. Before he feel asleep he went potty 3 times and he woke me up this morning at 1 and told me had to go potty.  He was all dry when he woke up.  I think these are all really good signs.  But I am trying to keep my excitement at a minimum. I know this is a process that can take a long time with lots of ups and downs.  So we will see how he does over the many weeks to come.  I am super proud of him.  He always seems to amaze me!