Jumping Class

The boys have been taking a gymnastics class for the past few weeks. Tyler calls it "jumping class". Friends of ours take the class with the boys and they always have a blast. Their favorite part is when we go up to the trampolines and get to jump into the foam pit. They also love it when they get to be on the bungees and swing in the air. My favorite part is that they get to take it together at the same time - so much fun!! Here are some pictures showing off their skills.

Check Up

Carter had his 18 month check-up today. Tyler did great during the appointment and Carter hardly cried at all during the shots. The doctor says that he is doing great! He is speaking at a 2 year old level and is right on track with everything else. She also said we should start seeing his belly get a little smaller! His stats are:

Height - 32 in, 5oth percentile
Weight - 24 lbs 10oz, 40th percentile
Head Circumference - 48 cm, 50th percentile

It is also my birthday today and it was a great day. As I opened my birthday cards this morning Carter told me Happy Birthday and Tyler sang Happy Birthday to me (with my help). Then Justin surprised me with babysitters and a wonderful dinner out. The boys did fantastic for the sitters, which just made my birthday that more great! Thanks Heather, Leah, and Marj!

Take Me Out To The Ball Game

On Wednesday night we took the boys to their first baseball game of the year - Rockies versus the Cubbies. It was a great game. Justin says it will probably be one of the best games they will ever see in their life - too bad they won't remember it. Cubbies won 7-6 in 10 innings. The boys stayed awake the entire game! This was a feat considering the game didn't end until 10:15. They had a blast watching the scoreboard, playing with the people around us, and eating a lot of food they never get to eat otherwise. The video of Tyler is him practicing the "baseball song" before the game. During the 7th inning stretch he did great singing the song with the rest of the stadium.

Favorite Things

So many things have been coming out of Tyler's mouth the past few days. When we were at the zoo he would see an animal and tell me "it has its eyes on". On Sunday when we were trying to decide what we should do that day he said he wanted to "watch a baseball game" (this is one of Justin favorite things). Tyler loves to talk about animals. He loves to pretend to be certain animals, he loves looking at all animals. Because of this obsession he knows the names of most animals. However he still insists on calling pigs "oinkies".

Carter is still our little snuggler. He loves to give big hugs and "isses". His kisses now are sucking on your chin or licking you. One of things he likes best to do tho - hugging his brother. Can't get much better than that!

Rock Climbing

On Sunday we spent the morning/early afternoon at Garden of the Gods. We all had an absolute blast! The boys climbed up, down, and around a bunch of the rocks. At one point Carter just decided the best way would be to slid down a rock on his bottom. I made the mistake of putting them in their Crocs, which don't have the best traction. Tyler still did a very good job balancing himself and walking up and down the rocks. His favorite part was walking thru cracks in the rocks that only small children could fit thru. Needless to say they boys were pretty dirty when we left. Unfortunately I forgot my camera (again!) but we will be going back again soon I am sure. When Tyler woke up from his nap he told Justin "I had fun climbing the rocks, mommy helped me".

Today has also been a very good day so far. Tyler is listening so much better these past few days. I know its only time til the next phase will hit, but I am enjoying this time while its here. Carter is working on number 4 of his one year molars right now. He is not eating very much and is a little crankier than usual. Next up will be his 4 incisors and then we should have a break from teething for a bit until the two year old molars come in. I hope it will be a long break! We have also been enjoying the Spring weather. In Colorado this means it will probably snow next weekend so we are playing outside every chance we can while the sun is here.

Wonderful Day

Today was a great day! If only they could all be like this. The weather was gorgeous, so while Justin was covering a track meet the boys, Heather (a good friend), and I went to the zoo. The boys had a really fun time. We rode the carousel, the train, fed the giraffes, fed some birds,petted some goats, and just enjoyed watching all the animals. The best part of the trip tho - Tyler went potty at the zoo twice with zero accidents! I was so proud of him.

The boys also did a great job of listening. A couple of time Carter tried to run off. At the train he actually got out of his stroller and went and just sat in one of the cars all by himself. For the most part tho they both listened very well and had no examples of Tuesday attitudes. After the zoo we came home for some late naps and then played some before meeting up with daddy for dinner.

On the way to dinner Tyler was chewing on a wheel off of one of his cars. I asked him to spit it out and hand it to me (we were at a red light) and he did so immediately. He then started chewing on another one. I told him to spit that one out. He did so right away and tried to hand it to me. I told him since I was driving I needed him to either hold on to it or put it next to him in his seat which he complied with right away. I am so proud of how well behaved he was today. After dinner we went to the park. Unfortunately Tyler had an accident (the only one of the day) so we came home a little sooner and got ready for bed. But even with the one accident I must say life is great today.

Frustrations

It has been an overall frustrating day. Tyler has been frustrated over little things (like Carter getting to close to his truck), I have been frustrated at Tyler (for getting frustrated over little things and for overall not listening today), I have been frustrated at Carter (for asking for milk and then when I give him milk having a meltdown for example), but mostly I have been frustrated at myself.

It seems the minute the boys woke up they were already wearing on my patience. Yes Tyler is 2, so he is acting like a 2 year and not listening. I should be used to this. Its my job to teach and guide him thru this time. However today it seems that I just don't have the patience for it. If I have to ask Tyler more than once I am getting upset. And that frustrates me. I am the Mom. I need to have the patience even when I don't. I don't know who apologized more today. Tyler apologizing every time he came out of time out today or myself apologizing to Tyler for overreacting.

I did try to enjoy our beautiful day today. We went to the park. Only to have to leave after 30 minutes because Tyler wasn't listening. He also didn't want to go potty at the park and chose to come home instead of going potty and then getting to play again. We then got to eat lunch outside, which the boys seemed to enjoy, but wouldn't stay seated and also wouldn't eat. Frustrating.

One funny moment - A phrase I never thought I would say "Stop running over your brother with the car". Yes he is only 2.

Oh Poop!

Carter has decided he should also try potty training....I think he needs a little more practice.


In other news he is getting so big right before our eyes. He is now stringing 2-3 words together to make sentences. He jabbers all the time, even if we can't understand half of it. He loves to be outside and throws major fits when we have to come in. This boy is a drama king and throws some of the best tantrums. His newest trick is also walking up and down the stairs on his own. I can't believe he is already 18 months old!!!

Some PIctures

Here are some pictures my mom took of the boys swimming and playing in the hotel later on. Enjoy!

Jaws

Well it happened again. Biting in the nursery, This time it was Carter! Carter bit one of the workers yesterday. I can't believe it. Justin thinks it cause he got bit so much before. I am hoping/praying it is because he is getting his molars in right now. Today he did really well and if you ask him if you bite he immediately says "no biting". If he does become a biter, I am somewhat hopeful to say the phase wont last as long as Tyler's. Oye!

On another church note Tyler is doing awesome! In fact one day I went to pick him up and the teacher tells me "Tyler must really like animals. I was reading a book about animals and he was being so disruptive, he wouldn't stop talking." I am thinking great now I have another problem on my hands (this is a teacher who can be somewhat strict). Just then she finishes "and I loved it." She goes on to tell me that he never talked like that in her class and she loves watching him interact. Everyday when I pick him up they tell me how great he did (which, true, is what we are suppose to tell all the parents) and how he talks nonstop. I am SO proud of how well he is doing!

Just Keep Swimming

Oma and Opa are in town! Yesterday the boys went over to Oma and Opa's hotel and got to swim in their pool. They had a blast and didn't want to get out. Tyler jumped in over and over again. Fearless Carter would have just walked into the pool if we would have let him. Unfortunately I didn't think I had my camera, just to find in it the diaper bag later on.

We then met up with BJ, Abbi, Toby, and Norah and all had dinner. The boys did surprising well and Tyler even went potty at the restaurant. We all went back to their hotel were the boy cousins got to jump on the bed, have a pillow fight, and wrestle together. They had such a blast and it's so much fun to watch them play together.

Today Oma and Opa came over and watched the boys while I ran some errands. They had a lot of fun showing off their toys. When I got home thy had just gotten back from a long walk around our neighborhood. I was very happy to hear that BOTH of them held their hands during the whole walk and did a great job pointing out all the flowers and leaves along their way. Tyler also had a pretty good day potty training. We have about a 75% success rate now and I only see that getting higher each day. Life is good.

Foxy

Every year around this time we get a pair of foxes who then have about 4-5 pups right outside our backyard. This is the first time Tyler has really noticed the foxes. He loved telling us how the foxes were "umping" ,"runnin", and counting them. He didn't want Justin to put him down. I love seeing how much he observes and understands the world around him now. On our way to dinner tonight he kept telling me the "sun is in my eyes". It still surprises me that he talks so well now.

A Rough Patch

I lied. I said no more posts about potty training. Its been a rocky couple days on the potty training front. Sunday was a perfect day - not a single accident. Then came Monday. I had to cover someone at work, so I was more than a little anxious.

Tyler did the "I have to go potty, sit on the potty, not do anything, 5 minutes later I have to potty" thing many times at church. However he finally did go three times. He had one half accident. He had to poop and started going before we got to the potty, but he did finish in the potty at least. Justin was gone all night on Monday so I thought we would go to the mall for dinner and play. This was a mistake.

We get our food at the mall and I set it all out, making sure each boy has ketchup, the fruit is divided up, they have their milk, etc. I take a bite out of my sandwich to hear "I have to go potty". Great. So I pack up the food in the bag making sure nothing spills and we head to the women's bathroom. Tyler sits on the potty for a good 5-10 minutes and nothing. So back out to the food court. We eat for about 5 more minutes and Tyler says he is done and starts getting out of the chair. Then he is saying he has to go potty again and doing the dance. At this point I had eaten enough and Tyler said he was done so I put Carter in the stroller with the rest of his food and dumped the rest. Once again no potty in the bathroom. We then went on to look at the doggies and Tyler continues to act like he needs to go. I take him to the family restrooms in another part of the mall. After about 10 minutes of sitting there he finally goes. He was screaming bloody murder, but he went.

Now that we have that done and over with we head to the play area. Shoes and socks come off, Carter goes running and Tyler tells me he has to poop. I tell him he just went, so I am sure he is fine. Two minutes later he is saying "poop" and squatting. I pick him up, throw him in the stroller, grab Carter and head back to the bathrooms where I get to clean out underwear. Needless to say, we went home after that. Luckily looking back at this escapade I find it rather amusing.

Tuesday was somewhat better. He woke up and went right away. However he managed to cover me in pee so I put him back in his crib and jumped in the shower. Right before I turn on the water I hear him saying he has to poop. I go and check and he says he doesn't. Guess what was in his pants when I got out of the shower. So that one is totally my fault. We then play a little downstairs and he had yet another accident, but did finish up in the potty. We went to a friends house where he did great. However he wouldn't go potty again before his nap. After an hour he woke up, but still wouldn't go. When I went to go get him a little while later the sheets were wet. He then had another success, just to have another accident after dinner. However he did wake up around 10:30 and immediately went potty. He did the same thing this morning. However we also had to go to church this morning. 3 accidents later (and 1 success) and we are at home taking naps. Tomorrow we have church again and he won't be in my room. I am not even sure if he will tell the teacher he has to go. For now he is going in underwear and I am going to concentrate on him having all successes the rest of the night. He is making progress, he just is also taking some steps back. Hopefully this rough patch will be short.