Here fishy fishy

Yesterday after naps the boys and I got into the car and drove up to Denver to pick up Justin. Justin was having a staff Christmas party so a few coworkers came out to say hi to the boys. Of course Tyler got all shy and would hardly look at them. As soon as the car door was shut he once again started talking up a storm. We went out to dinner with some friends, and for the most part the boys behaved pretty well. After dinner we headed off for the aquarium!

The boys loved the aquarium. Carter was giggling with delight as we went thru it. Tyler was very nervous at first, as he usually is in new places. He didn't even want to get out of his stroller at first. Eventually he also warmed up tho and loved looking at each tank. At the very end, we got to touch and feed some sting rays. Tyler put his hand in the water, but wouldn't touch them. I was feeding one of them and the sting ray pretty much jumped out of the water. Tyler screamed immediately. It was quite humorous. Everyone around us burst into laughter I think its because they all wanted to scream too. The boys had a great time and behaved so well! I was quite impressed as we didn't get to the aquarium til 7 and left at 9 - way past bedtime. I can't decide which pictures I like best, so my apologies in advance.

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Oh Christmas tree

We decorated the Christmas tree on Sunday. Tyler really did not want to hang any ornaments on the tree, but he did bring the ornaments to us. He was so excited when we turned off the lights and turned on the Christmas tree lights. Every time he sees it now (which is a few dozen times a day as its in the front living room) he has to say "issmas tee". I tried to get a picture of both of them in front of the tree, but like usual it didn't work out.I would think by now the boys would be used to the tree. But no. Carter will not stay away from it. He has already broken two ornaments and I have taken at least 15 other ornaments from his hands. Justin says we should just move all the ornaments up, but I am thinking that it will wear off soon - the wanting to touch the tree that is. We didn't have this problem with Tyler so I am at a loss of what to do. Any ideas?

Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow

It finally snowed enough for the boys to play in the snow. We got them all bundled up in their snow gear and took them out. I was hoping we would be able to make a snowman, as Tyler loves snowmen, but the snow was too dry. I guess we will have to wait for a spring snow for that.

Carter was unsure of the snow. Part of the time he liked it and other times he was crying his head off. Tyler on the other hand loves playing in it. He ran around and fell down in the snow, threw the snow in the air, and I helped him make a snow angel. He also rode his bike and his car in the snow and Carter went down his slide.

I love seeing this time of year thru Tyler's eyes. He is in awe of everything. A couple of weeks ago we drove around looking at Christmas lights. Now every time we are in the car Tyler wants to see more lights. We also went and picked out a Christmas tree today. Tyler didn't even want to get in the car, because he wanted to stay with our tree. Justin is bringing the tree in right now so that the boys can help us decorate it when they wake up from their naps.

On a potty training note. Tyler was getting stressed by it and not even wanting to sit on his potty seat. So he is back in diapers. I will continue to bring him to the potty and have the nursery as well, but I think I will hold off on really training him for a few more months.

Potty Training

I have been debating for about a month now if I should start potty training Tyler or not. I am not working much this month, so it would be a good time to do it as I can stay home and work on it with him. Well we went to Walmart today and got him some big boy pants. He is so proud of them! I put them on him and took him to the potty every 15 minutes or so. So far he has yet to go in the potty, but he hasn't had an accident either. Before his nap I put his diaper back on and he wasn't happy about that. I assured him that we would put his underwear back on as soon as he woke up. I will keep you posted.

Love you too

I think Justin and my hearts just melted. First a little background. Tyler has a speech delay, we all know this. Becuase of this he didn't say mommy until close to 20 months old. He actually had about 20 words before he said mommy, including Carter. When he first said mommy I immediately teared up. It was the most precious thing I have ever heard...until tonight (and just as a fyi - Carters first word was mama, so at least I had one that said it before doggy). Tyler is also a little parrot so if I ask him to tell me he loves me, he always does, but I always have to prompt him first.

Tonight I had to work so it was Justin's job to put the boys to bed. When I got home I hear Tyler saying "mommy home". I go up to his room to find him wide awake with his pants off (his new favorite thing to do). I put his pants back on, give him hugs and tell him good night. About 5 minutes later he is crying and I tell Justin to go get him, as usually that is who he wants when he wakes up crying.

Next thing I know Tyler is walking down the stairs and Justin says he wanted me. Well after singing a few songs and Hana licking his feet making him giggle with delight I finally understand that he wants me to sing the prayer song. So we sing the song and say our prayers and he is on his way upstairs off to bed. I guess Justin forgot to say them tonight and Tyler can be very particular about his routines. Justin lays him down and rubs his back and says "love you Tyler". Tyler responds "love you too". Melt Melt Melt. Hopefully I will hear this soon too.

*Justin came and told me all this with tears in his eyes, making it even that more precious. My boys sure do have a wonderful father.

ABC's, 123's, trees, and please

So because of Tyler's speech delay he is also behind in things like counting, singing ABC's, etc. Well lately he is, in Justin's words "doing so well".

He will now try to sing the ABC's with me! I will start singing and stop and he will add in the letter. He usually gets S, Z, P and C. Also we have the Leap Frog Letters . I highly recommend them. He will grab a letter and tell me what it is. He knows T and O with 100% accuracy. About 50-75% of the time he gets C, D, S, Z, and G. Yesterday he also came up to me holding the B and said "B ba". Oh the teacher in me gets so excited to see this!!

Its the same with counting. Counting used to be "two, two, two". Now he can count to 3, sometimes 4 with no help. As I count on he can add in 6, 8 and 10. I guess him learning how to be patient is paying off (when we tell him he has to be patient we make him clasp his hands and count).

Tyler is also not the best veggie eater. At best he will eat green beans once in a while and corn sometimes. This kid doesn't even like sweet potato fries! Anyway the last few time I have made them he has gobbled up his "trees" or broccoli. Maybe we are turning a corner?

Justin and I are trying to make our boys grow up learning that there are other people in the world besides them. They need to be respectful and loving of others at all times. This goes along with teaching them manners. We have been working on please and thank you with Tyler for who knows how long. Please was actually one of the very first signs he learned. Well, he is now saying it without prompting. During lunch he heard a trash truck go by. He looks at me and says" see tash tuck peas". He wanted to go see the trash truck. Usually when he is eating I don't let him get down until he is done. But because he asked so nicely I let him go see it. He came back after waving bye to the truck and finished up his trees. A mother couldn't be prouder!

Here comes Santa Claus

We brought the boys to see Santa today. I really had no idea to what to expect. While neither of them freaked out, they weren't happy either. Tyler sat on Santa's lap afraid to even move. I don't think he was scared, more anxious of why he was sitting on this big couch thing with this big guy with white stuff on his face who had him arm around him. Carter kept looking at Santa like he wanted to pull on his bread at any moment. Justin and I were hoping that he really would as it would make a great picture, but alas he did not. I don't have the picture the mall took on my computer, but this is the one I took with my own camera. Unfortunately you really can't see their expressions.