2 and a half....

Adrian turned 2 1/2 this October 1st...

We switched from Mondays to Fridays going to Grandma D's house! Talking even more then before...he reads stories to me and has imaginary food, toys, animals, and conversations! He includes us in his play or games. He loves to draw, write, and paint. Loves playing 'tato' aka 'playdo'. He's learning his 'letters' as he calls them. His favorite are F, G, N! But he picks up new one's all the time. He can recognize A for Adrian. He's starting to recognize more colors like yellow and blue, now knows brown and pink, including the others he knew: orange, black, green, red. He's been counting 1-2-4-6, skipping 3 and 5...we're working on it. He can match shapes and knows circle, star, moon. We have a preschool uppercase letter book we like to look at. I found pancake molds in circle, heart and star shapes :) Makes for fun breakfasts!

He knows more tv shows than I ever let him watch like 'Kipper' and 'Wiggles' I only let him watch 'Thomas the train' and 'Caillou'....Hmmmmm.....He cries whenever his show is over and the tv goes off. Sometimes it's easier not turning the tv on in the first place.

Adrian associates daddy with dinner because he makes dinner so often...anytime he hears pots and pans he asks 'daddy making dinner?' even if I am in the kitchen cooking....haha. I still cook often but Barry makes dinner most of the time.

Adrian has taken to singing often and enjoys playing the piano, his drums, and all the other musical toys he has...especially his shrill whistles early in the morning :)

When he wakes up early, he doesn't get out of bed (our bed) but instead bargains with me 'breakfast, hungry, soy-soy?' , yells at me to wake up, and plays until I finally wake up...he only sleeps in during the week and is up at 7 on the weekends. He still ends up in our bed 99.9 % of the time. I still only get 9% of the bed and usually have to scoot him over to prevent myself from falling off the bed...probably payback from the time he fell off the bed awhile ago. Barry never got more than 10% of the bed so he's used to it...

People say that the Twos are Terrible but I find them enjoyable...it's the Threes that are Frightful! Then is when the child becomes more aware of their impact on the world and their ability to manipulate and influence others. This doesn't start on the day the child turns three but in Adrian's case after he turned 2 1/2. He now bargains and pleads. Throwing fits is another way to control parents or caregivers' who feel bad if a child cries. Saying please and batting the eyelashes is a way to appeal to the soft hearted. Getting something down by 'myself' is another way to bypass the system and now with another inch gained (36 1/4 inches tall) is easier to do. Of course bargaining is another method, 'mommy drinks it' so 'adrian drinks it'. 'Cavyn has a binky' so 'Adrian needs a binky'....that's what we hear now that he talks. And there is a huge difference between ''need" and "want" and Adrian is not in need of anything but soemtimes thinks he is...we have to remember to say 'want' when we mean 'want' and 'need' when we mean 'need'. A good lifeskill...since most American's don't actually need anything.

So all in all, moments are few and far between, and are more frequent when Mom is in a hurry and running late, of course. Luckily we started timeouts at 1 1/2 so he's familiar with the process. He usually requests a 'clock' aka timer when sitting on the step or if it's emotional situation aka 'fit' then he slowly creep out of timeout and throw himself to the floor for attention while howling...usually it takes a lot of active ignoring to prevent from laughing in serious parenting moments as those. Eventually the toddler calms himself and realizes that at least at home, he won't get attention for such shennanigans. Throwing a fit is reason enough to be put in timeout or bed, timeout for another reason is reason enough to throw a fit. Luckily he's not too 'naughty'.

The things he does well are singing the clean up song while mom cleans up. Helping clean up when the vacuum is on for fear that it will eat his toys. Throwing trash and other things that look like 'trash' in the garbage.

He's a packrat and likes to 'bring' things with. we recently got a 'back-up blankie' so when blankie is dirty, he has a back-up.....this however has not been his idea. His ideas is that he has two blankies and cannot go anywhere without both of them....he was easier to bargain with when he was younger.

Anyways...It's crazy to see him grow up and learn so much!

Busy Boy

Maddox and Adrian

Pony Rides at the Farm
Adrian, Rowan, Maddox at the Farm

Swinging-Library Park

Chicken Fingers-a whole new meaning

Goofball

Flying Goofball

"GAGA!"

Posing with his babies "Cheese"

Avery Park

Pretending to be tough guys

Pretending to be a rabbit

Water that little brain...

Devilish Grin--so excited to fly on an airplane (Oct 29 to Nov 5 to NJ) and have his own suitcase

Puzzle Practice...smart boy

Autumn is upon us...the cool air in the morning and the heat during the day and then confusion by evening...how am I supposed to dress for this weather...well...take it from Adrian...sweatshirt and flip-flops covers all potential.

Counting to 9: 1-2-3-laugh, 4-5-6-laugh, 7-8-laugh, 9!!!

Knows red, white, green, orange, and sometimes yellow. Learning blue and black and purple and all others.

Loves rocket ships, dinosaurs, cars and trucks and especially 'wooowooos' aka 'firetrucks' because he's "Adrin" (as he says it) and a 'Fighter'. At the video store, Adrian got to see a firetruck and ambulance and ems help someone who passed out. Since he sat and watched the whole time until the unblocked our car, he got two stickers and a fireman told him that he's a 'junior fire fighter'! He was so excited he could barely say 'thank you' and stood there with his mouth hanging open and was practically drooling (which he does when he's concentrating very hard on something).

Must be rocked to sleep at night (he gets one minute or twenty rocks and then falls fast asleep in his bed with his new pillow he calls 'squish').

And what happened to letting him dress himself, well sometimes it's just faster to help a 2 year old...patience is key at this age. Even I find myself saying 'hurry' and know that's not fair or even comprehendable to a two year old. Sometimes we race but I must always give myself time for him to observe and learn aka be distracted by every little thing and turn a run into the library into a field trip to explore the elevator, bathroom and all the rows of books while attempting to play hide and seek. No Daddy did not get any movies or books...somewhere my patience goes out the window and that was it...but I figure Daddy didn't miss what he didn't have and also it's the thought that counts...but we didn't want to tell him that or else he would have missed what he didn't have...I know him.

What else: Talking up a storm, singing songs, 'what's that? what's this?', proud of himself, shows off, loves to jump, run races, still has good manners-is now saying 'you're welcome' if someone says thank you to him, loves to use public restrooms whenever we're out-doesn't miss a chance, PRETENDING-so cool to watch him talk to his people, cars, Loves the dogs and enjoys having licking wars with Harley-so gross I know, Also drinks out of the dog's water bowl like a dog-also not encouraged, does chores with mommy and daddy like pick up toys, fill the dog's water bowl, the cat's food bowl, and help put dishes away, cook/mix/makes coffee. Very helpful...I should probably have more if they can all be this helpful.

Anyways... still only 3 feet tall and 27.8 lbs...but that brain sure is growing.

Jumping Castle

Tour de Fat 2010 Fort Collins

A PRACTICE RUN

Adrian and Barry had a blast at Tour de Fat! Barry of course built a contraption and rode it backwards much of the time. Adrian had fun...he's a people watcher!


THE REAL RUN





All while Mommy was in Wisconsin at friends Monica and Brandon's wedding with friends Patti and Erin. Adrian did great and had a fun weekend with Daddy :) Got to see Milwaukee and a lake with waves, eat cheese curds and enjoy some time away with the girls.

September

We're going to NJ from Oct 29 to Nov 5th for Ronnie and Romi's Halloween Wedding! Adrian's going to be a ring bearer :)

Adrian can now recognize red and green and can point them out consistently. Driving in the car, he says 'green go!' when the light turns green.

This weekend I'm going to WI to a friend and coworker's wedding. Adrian is staying home with daddy and they are riding bikes in Tour de Fat!!
Happy Labor Day Weekend!

August

I would like to ask 'where has August gone?' actually 'where has the summer gone?' It's getting dark earlier and getting cooler...except yesterday which was 98 degrees.

My Adrian is getting big and talking a lot. Things are going well though and he's a good boy...I count 1-2-3 and then he gets a consequence. He usually listens by 2. Doesn't really bother him but it gives him a choice at least. My biggest issues I discipline for 1. not listening to mommy when mommy says to do something 2. Running away from mommy in public and not wanting to hold hands or sit in cart. 3. Biting, hitting, pinching, scratching. Timeout still works and he usually stays for at least a minute or two...always says sorry too. He says sorry if you get hurt and he was in the other room. He says excuse me, when rushing or squeezing past someone, he says thank you to everything he gets and bless you when you sneeze. He has the best manners :)
Had our first night time accident last night...of course it was in mommy and daddy's bed but on daddy's side...haha. I now have two mattress pads on our bed...since he often ends up there still. He's taken a liking to Dinosaurs!!! He likes to read about and watch "my Caillou" as he calls it. Likes toy trains. train stories, Thomas the Train, and real trains! Also enjoys 'Little Einsteins' show. He actually likes TV in general and is a TV head. It bother's me and he doesn't get to watch too much but he definitely watches more than I though I'd ever be ok with. I did not grow up with a TV in the home until I was at least 12. It makes me feel good that he LOVES to read. Went to the library this evening to pick out books.
Signing off till next update....too tired to think anymore.

27 Months Old

Adrian is fully potty trained since July 26th...All night, All day, Everyday! We don't wear diapers anymore!!!! Rarely have accidents either although those may happen.
The secret to our success: he's a genius! Maybe, but we just started potty training around 18 months with standing at the potty to pee then the last week or two of July we encouraged him to poop on the potty (or accidently on the floor or outside...)since we just didn't put a diaper on him at home most of the time. Anyways...he was easy and some kids just are. A trick for wiping-have him touch his toes.
Now what to do with my diaper stock pile.....??? Well, some ideas are that we can pretend Adrian is a baby and put a diaper on him as he really really wanted last night....just to rip it promptly off...or we could dress every stuffed animal in a diaper...the dog and Hamburger the cow had one on too last night.

PHASES and ACCOMPLISHEMENTS OF A TWO YEAR OLD:
1. Crying and Whining
2. Hitting and Pinching and Scratching
3. Putting Self in Timeout when Naughty
4. Blowing Rasberries on Mommy at Innapropriate Times and Places (Like my Face or Foot)
5. Loves To Read, Color, Play PlayDo, Practice Cutting with Scissors
6. Playing with Friends and Cousins
7. Singing :)
8. Dressing Self and Undressing Self (Even in the Restaurant Waiting for our To Go Order) including Putting Shoes On and Off By Himself
9. Buckling Self Into Carseat
10. Sitting Still During Haircuts and No Longer Getting Hysterical

Potty Trained....Almost

My little boy is growing up so fast. He wakes up dry...naps and bedtime!!! He pees in the potty all the time. He wears "unders" and can go potty by himself. He usually poops out in the back yard band sometimes in the potty but I don't think I've had to change a diaper in quite some time. I take him out places without diapers on all the time now so pretty soon we won't even use them anymore! Tonight he's wearing cloth training pants so hopefully it will be uncomfortable if he pees in the night. I still give him water at night too so I'm thoroughly impressed.
We have a sticker chart in the bathroom as well as 'chocwat' which right now is gummy frogs. He doesn't ask for 'Chocwat' if we're not at home and still successfully uses the potty.

Talking is amazing! 'Dinosaur' and all sorts of other big words and sentences. He copies whatever I say when I'm on the phone. He sings 'tinkle tinkle' and other songs. He and his cousin have conversations and use manners with each other 'please and thank you and sess you (bless you) and scuseee (excuse me)." He is also whining and throwing fits so much more. The 'throw yourself on the floor quite dramatically and cry because mommy tried to help me or touched me' kind of fits. I just walk away. Drives me craaaazy! Also kicking, throwing things at and hitting mommy and daddy when I'm mad stage is here and/or back. Timeout is instantaneous even if he misses (at least with mommy).

Adrian is also a very big helper. He helped mommy make pumpkin bread last weekend and he helps clean up and pick up and feed his toads and clean himself in the bath and water plants and find things.

We've enjoyed a bike ride and picnic in the park with Daddy last week, going to the river this past weekend, taking walks and playing with the neighbor kids, hanging out with cousin Cavyn on Mondays, and the hot weather. We have not enjoyed mommy working late hours at her demanding job, all the drama happening around us, and the fact that the summer is flying by so quickly.

Summer Fun

Hanging at the Poudre River July 18 2010

Chasing Wildlife at the Farm

Splish Splash...taking part of a photo shoot for the Coloradoan
Cousin Cavyn got to be in the newspaper as did the back of Adrian's head...next time perhaps....

Awww...cousins

Little CowPoke

June 24-28th New Jersey

Adrian did great on the airplane to NJ for PopPops 50th Birthday Camping Trip! Daddy thinks we need to get to the aiport 2 hours before our flight, mommy likes to get to the airport, get on the plane and leave! Mommy won with more than enough time to buy coffee and eat McD's for breakfast! We had to buy Adrian his own seat at full price since he's over the age of 2 and looks like he's almost 3. He sat in it most of the time. He loved going 'up up up' and eating fruit snacks to make his ears pop. We had a layover in Dallas/Fort Worth. We walked from gate C17 to C39 only to be sent back to C20. That's only a hassle when you're carting 2 carryon size suitcases, a backpack a kid backpack, a mommy bag, a carseat and a kid with no stroller who likes to walk in front of oncoming traffic and a pack mule daddy. It wasn't that bad but it sure was a hassle.
Daddy drove us out of NY city in rush hour traffic and then up to Kymer's to go camping Thursday night to Sunday morning. Adrian had so much fun-making friends with all the girls in the campground, swimming, catching bugs, sleeping in the loft, dancing on the deck, getting to know his Aunt Leanne, Uncle Shane, Mima and PopPop. Also got to see Aunt Ronnie and soon to be Uncle Romi! Said hi to Great Gma Phyllis when we first got to NJ also. Cousin Neelie, Bob and Gianna, Ethan and Dylan stopped by and we all got to meet the boys. We ate delicious food every day-taylor ham sandwiches for breakfast which we miss out on living in CO, chocoloate chip pancakes, brazilian style spinner chicken :), mussels, clams, filet mignon, I could go on....we had a feast for PopPop's Birthday! Adrian helped blow out the candles on the cake
Then on Sunday morning we went to spend the day/night with mommy's family Aunt Sharon, Uncle Joe, Eric and Justin. Great Grandpa and Aunt Ann and Cousin Lauren all came over for dinner. Grandpa brought mommy a birthday cake :) We relit the candles fo Adrian to blow them out. Adrian loved all the attention and time with his family! Mommy loved having a break from work and being with family too!
Sadly on the way back, mommy left her phone and all the pictures on it in the airplane. Someone has not sent it back yet (United Airlines).

July 4th and Toads

Adrian had a blast with all the fireworks! Since it rained in the afternoon (and he didn't have a nap until 6pm till 8:30), we watched fireworks at home. Barry's friend Steve is visiting from NJ and bought $200 worth of big fireworks from WY!! The illegal kind. There was about a 3 hour show all combined. Afterwards. Adrian, mommy, granma and 'papa' drove up Horsetooth to watch all the fireworks all over Fort Collins, including the show at City Park! The day before we went to a BBQ at Aunt Laurie's and Barry made home-made salsa and Barry and Steve set off lots of fireworks there too! There was a swimming pool set up and a fire!

In other news, we found the perfect pets! Toads! Don't need to be handled...actually are mildly toxic. Feed 3x a week, water daily! Found 2 of them near Aunt Laurie's kiddie swimming pool and put them in the bug catcher. They didn't die of shock from being handled by 2 very excited little boys so we took them home and set up a terrarium in Adrian's room. He was so excited the first night that he actually slept next to the little cage all night! What a perfect cuddly pet toads make :) Little did I know they could live 10 years before I brought them home. What have I gotten myself into now? Just when the pet to human ratio was equaling out.

And one more...

Or so we thought it was a good idea....

Pictures....

Trying out the new undies...new hat...new boots!

Avery Park, FoCo

Loving on the daddy!

One...Two...Three...Jump!

Big climber!

What mom? What?
4 Bugs in a Bed

Summer Pics Continued...

Walking the blankie...

Oh the faces we make....

Downtown FoCo...sitting on a bear!

__________________________________________________________

That fountain does not look safe to me....

RRRUUUUNNNN!

June Pictures: Enjoying Summertime!

Cowboy Bob!

Farmer loves his sheep.

Playing at Gma D's with "Camyn"

Team Toddler!

Weekend Plans

Old Man Jerry Cat!

We're garage sale-ing tomorrow! Got ready for it tonight with Julie, Chris, Cavyn and Adrian! Ordered chinese and priced each and every item. Barry skipped out to go camping with Uncle Judah.

Sunday is Father's Day-We'll just BBQ here at the house. Surf and Turf on sale everywhere!!

Work is busy-lots to do in the last 3 days before we leave! I don't even have time to plan our trip at this point...which reminds me that I need to pack this weekend also.

Adrian is not sleeping well in his big boy bed. He wakes up an average of 7 times a night which means I wake up at least 7 times a night. He said he wanted his crib back tonight so I propped the rail against his bed and he talked himself to sleep and didn't cry once. I think we like the crib idea still and aren't ready for the big boy bed just yet. Fine with me if I get some sleep ;) There is no need to grow up fast, that will come soon enough.

Still doing well, peeing in the potty. Now he says 'come see' and demands 'chocwat'!

Another current cute saying is 'I see you!' and "I hide.'

Adrian is so tall at 35" that everyone always compares their three and four year olds to him. He's gonna be tall like his grandads!

Anyways...must be up early to set up the garage sale so I better go to bed now! Hopefully Adrian will sleep in and I'll sleep all night :)

25 Months

Adrian is a big talker these days...oh wait...he's always been a big talker. He says things like 'are you ok?' 'what's happening?' "I want chokwat' (chocolate), 'I want wimins' (vitamins). 'I want outsiiiide."
He's refusing to sit in his high chair anymore and prefers to sleep in "mommy's bed". Last night he was kicking Barry out of bed, no matter where Barry tried to lay, he threw a fit and kept kicking and subsequently landed in his own bed. Tonight he dissapeared and I found him curled up in the dark on my bed ready for sleep. He has not been falling right to sleep since his 2 year bday. He'll stay up and talk for at least 20 minutes no matter when I put him down...I've tried earlier and I've tried later.
He's getting better at eating more textures...didn't spit any grapes out tonight. Usually he gets thrown off by skins or tougher textures. Dip Dip helps most things go down though. Still loves fruit, yogurt, avocados, hotdogs, and soy soy (soymilk). He's an all around healthy eater though and will try anything.
He's only 35" tall. I measured the other day...after the doctor visit had him measured at 36". And I thought he was getting taller.
Adrian pees in the potty whenever he's running around naked. Unless he's outside-somehow little boys think it's ok to pee whereever they are when outside. I never even encouraged it. Weird. No pooping in the potty yet though. He still baracades himself in the corners arranging all sorts of furniture around him. I try reasoning with the 2 year old that the bathroom is much more private and that I can still see him despite his attempts. One step at a time: in the bathroom is number one.
I've been working a lot lately-9 hours every day for the last couple weeks. Not too bad since we spend time together in the morning and then Barry has more time with him in the evening. Makes for a rushed dinner/bedtime routine though. Luckily I have an excellent cook for a husband!

June 24-28 we're headed to NJ! We're going out to celebrate PopPop's 50th Birthday!

Big Boy Update

My baby has a stuffy nose :(
He's been sleeping through the night lately which is fun news!
He took off a poopy diaper for Barry this evening and said "stinky" and threw it in the trash...now all we have to do is the toilet practice part. He pees in the potty on his own if he's naked otherwise he just wets his pants or diaper. We run around naked a lot and he'll go when he needs to. Still haven't mastered pooping on the potty yet though.
He's talking up a storm. He's whining a little less as we went through a whiney period.
He loves visiting Gma D on Mondays and taking walks with Gma and Papa on nice days!

Adrian went to his friend Ashden's birthday party last Saturday.

Smarty Pants

Adrian introduced me to the stranger standing in line at the store this evening...pointing...'that my mommy'! What a social bug he is!
He's starting to show more of his likes and dislikes. He knows what he wants...but he's stubborn and doesn't want to say please first or to sit in his carseat. He wants to get his mommy to get him things without asking with manners and he wants to sit in the front seat instead of his carseat.
In the morning when we make our usual turns to Papa and Grammy's house, he says 'no that way' and tries to get me to take him with me to work. He says it before we turn which makes me think he has his father's sense of direction, and not my sense of confusion. Probably a good thing.
When I dropped him off to Gma D's on Monday, his face lit up and he waved wildly, "Hi! Hi!" then ran to climb into the carseat without being asked twice. "Bye Mom!" What a treat to have extended family in his life almost daily!
Uncle Bobby left today on the greyhound bus for Portland. Next stop: Alaska! Working for Princess Cruise Ships/Hotels for the summer with some friends! We'll see him again in September. Adrian is already missing him. He loves his uncle "Bobbo" "Bobby" "BobBob"...whatever name of the day he decides to call him!