Discovery of the Week

Gavin has figured out how to open door knobs, which frustrated big brother on many occasions especially when he's using the bathroom.

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Ethan never cease to amaze me with his constant desire to learn.  He loves teaching himself how to write and lately I have found him using the calculator to "crunch" numbers.  Haha.  Today he wanted to learn how to read and to my surprise, he was able to read something like 20 sight words like "and", "are" etc.  I guess he has been listening over and over again to this Jonah bible story on CD that my mom has given him and apparently has memorized it.

Thankfully school is resumed today after its closure yesterday due to extreme cold weather.  You should have seen him bawled after I told him.  He was so upset.  Don't remember anything like that in IA although waiting at the school bus stops here can be pretty dangerous with that low of a temp.  Anyway, Ethan was ready to learn, do crafts and all the fun things his teacher has for him.

Discovery of the Week

This past Friday, we had a family bonfire (both kids included).  It was Gavin's first one ever and he kept covering his face and saying, "hot" in a panic.  It was pretty funny.  They had so much fun running around outside in the dark (since I never let them) that I extended bedtime by half an hour.  What a more enjoyable time having it on a flat driveway compared to last year.

Then on Monday we met up with some friends at the Frying Pan Farm and Ethan wanted to go on the carousel...and apparently Gavin too.  Well, it turns out that the day before, when we were at the Clemenjontri Park, he wanted to ride and I didn't know.  So Brian took Ethan while I had him in the stroller.  Oh did he cried.  So this time around, he made sure it was clear that he wasn't going to miss out.  Anyway, you should have seen the excitement on his face as he rode that horse up and down.  It was priceless.

Discovery of the Week

Back in November, Gavin had said "mamma" and soon after that it was "dada."  But then his whole ear thing happened and we didn't hear much since until recently.  He has been jabbering up a storm which has been fun listening and talking to him.  Here are a few more words to add to his vocabulary (Ethan has been helping me keeping track):

-"hi"
-he says "up" and "ack" for everything
-"rock"
-"uh oh"
-and the newest one this week "Kaika"
-he knows "moo" and "woof woof"
-we're working on giving a kiss with a "muah" instead of just bonking us in the head or drooling all over Kaika.

Discovery of the Week

Ethan has learned how to write his ABC's, now he's moving on to writing numbers, all the US states, and doing sign language.  This kid amazes me!

Discovery of the Week

Gavin can now crawl on all fours and is super speedy fast.  He has also figured out how to gently bend his knees to get down to the ground.  So smart. 

Discovery of the Week

I'm sick again (with a back to back cold) and it has just been a struggle keeping up with the kids, especially Gavin.  He hates the swing and maybe will last five minutes tops in the exersaucer or pack n' play.  He does like to be held more than Ethan did but you have to stand.  As soon as you let him down, he's on the move and doesn't ever stop.  He's so determined too.  Sounds familiar?  Haha. 

In two weeks, Gavin has figured out how to pull himself up all 13 steps of our stairs (with some assistant) and various furniture, including his crib.  Lots of bumps and bruises, but I guess it just comes with the territory.  Is it just me or this is going way faster than I remember it with Ethan.  I'm pretty sure he'll be able to walk before the age of one.  His top two incisors are coming in almost all the way now - some pain and lots of droooooling.

Discovery of the Week

Gavin can now completely rotate himself in a circle and started scooting a little bit.  Still seems frustrated though that he can't crawl and get to things fast enough.

We decided to trim his hair tonight since it was out of control.  He had lost all his hair except this long Mohawk that just looked awful especially on a humid day.  So glad we didn't wait until his 1st birthday.  

As for Ethan, he can now write the first three letters of his name by himself.  I'm quite impressed!  He's just pretty much an all around kid - motor skills, thinking & artistic skills and especially his speech.  It's very logical and well thought out.  Oh yeah, can't forget his memory too.  He doesn't forget anything...EVER!

Discovery of the Week

Gavin tried out rice cereal for the first time today and seemed to like it.  I totally forgot though how long this process can take and how much mess it can make.  So big brother stood by to watch and help run for things like a wash cloth.  What a helpful kid! 

 

Discovery of the Week

All of a sudden Gavin seemed to notice everything that's going on around him and is ready to join in on the fun.  He has now figured out how to roll from his tummy to his back.  It's a pretty hilarious process actually.  He would stick his butt way up in the air, tuck both of his arms in and then roll.  Clever lil' guy.  He has been scooting a little bit, too.  If I remember right, this was about the time Ethan just learned how to roll over one way.  Maybe they were right about the whole keeping up with an older sibling.  Watch out, here he comes!  The nursery people at church called him an "angel" or a "sweetheart" because he just contently sits on their laps.  That's my Gavin for ya!

Discovery of the Week

Gavin has outgrown his bassinet so we moved him to the crib.  We found him all wedged up at the very top width-wise all red faced with crazy hair.  Now he looked so tiny sleeping in the big crib.  Anyway, I went in to get him this morning only to find him grunting because he had rolled himself over (back to tummy just like Ethan).  Then he got stuck and continued to do so after every nap.  Finally.  This has been in the works for quite some time now.

Discovery of the Week

It's Day 5 and Ethan has been waking up dry without his night time diaper. I'm impressed! We weren't sure how it was gonna go so we armed his bed with a zipped waterproof plastic sheet, followed by a regular sheet, then another waterproof fitted sheet and finally a another regular sheet. A friend of ours had shared this trick with us so we don't have to make the bed in the middle of the night. Just pull the first two layers off. Genious! So far, so good.

Discovery of the Week

Looks like we have another thumb sucker =0)
Also, you can't tell from the pic but Gavin's long lashes (courtesy of Brian) are coming in and growing fast!

Discovery of the Week

Ethan has amazingly stayed dry through many nights this week. He woke me up a few times needing to use the bathroom in the middle of the night, but then just go back to sleep. So I think we're almost there with that.

Gavin has been cooing and smiling quite a bit...mostly at Brian though. He probably gets tired of hearing my voice all day so when Brian gets home, he seems extra excited. But then again, who isn't right? ;0)

Discovery of the Week

As I had mentioned previously, Ethan is now sleeping on a twin bed.  Wasn't sure how that transition was going to go, but he's loving it.  Minus a little oppsy where one night we heard a thump and a cry because he fell off of it.  Opps.  Poor kid was half awake, half asleep and pretty confused.  So now that we bought and installed a toddler safety bed rail, he's good to go.  I even got him new comforter and pillow and it's so cute seeing him sleeping under that.  Another big boy moment.

He has also been putting himself down for naps.  Many days after lunch, he would mention being tired and headed into his bedroom.  It has been nice that he knows his body and what he needs, but I couldn't figured out why he was so tired all the time.  Then it dawned on me that he's probably off by an hour with the EST change and also waking up in the middle of the night with Gavin crying. 

Ethan can now dressed himself almost completely.  He puts on his underwear and pants backwards...just because.  And we're still working on socks.  For some reason, he always ask me "which side?" and I always tell him that it doesn't matter for socks.

He finally gets the concept of not peeing in his diaper in the morning and leak while waiting for me to come and get him. Some mornings I would hear him dart out of his room, use the bathroom and then go back to bed.

A few things that he's into lately is watching Dora the Explorer.  Saw it on TV one time and had been asking for it ever since.  He loves drawing and is very meticulous with coloring within the lines.  Must have gotten that from me =0)  Not sure if he's pretty advanced with that stuff or not, but both Brian and I have been impressed.  He has a great imagination and does a lot of "pretend" playing. His favorite phase is "I want to do it!" and insist on doing it HIMSELF!  Such an independent child!

Discovery of the Week

Ever since we got back from Marshalltown, Ethan has decided that he's a big boy and is now done with pull ups at nap time.  I was a little hesitant at first but surprisingly he has been staying dry.  Nap down, night time to go!  That one will probably take a while since he has always been a soaker.
--------------------------  He's now dressing himself almost completely and MUST pick out his own clothes. Some days it makes me cringe, but I try to let him do it himself as long as it's not something super crazy.

-------------------------- Lately, Ethan's REALLY into wanting to know how to spell and write his own name.  He's doing quite well actually.

Discovery of the Week

Two new and quite impressive vocabs from Ethan (although I can't quite remember exactly what we were talking about...)

Me: It's all gone.
Ethan: Yup, it disappeared.
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Me: Haha, that's silly!
Ethan: That was ridiculous!

Ethan also has recently picked out a new place mat...of a US map of all things. And has begun to memorize a handful of states where we have family and friends living in. What a kid!

Discovery of the Week

Even though Ethan was still pretty happy in his crib, he was getting to be a little too heavy to lift in and out of it. So last night we decided to finally have a big transition from the crib to the toddler bed. Of course I laid some ground rules, including the most important one: Do not come out of your room when you get up in the morning! Anyway, apparently he was all about the big boy bed and went to bed quickly without stalling too much. And check this, not only did he stay in bed all night without wandering out, he also stayed in bed until I went in to get him in the morning. Even nap today went a lot quicker because he was just ready to lay down in his bed. Huh, it went a lot better than I thought it would! Awesome.

Discovery of the Week

• Ethan is in this "why?" stage right now and even though Brian and I try to give the most logical answer our 2-1/2 year old can understand, he just bombards us with more why's. And sometimes those why's don't even make any sense. Not sure why we bother. So then we just give up and leave it at "because." I'm not sure if he really wants to know the answer anyway.
  
  
• He is also in the "NO!" stage. Like yelling it at you kinda thing.
  
  
• Another favorite phrase is "My did it! Hada! (Tada!)" Puts a smile on my face every time!
  
  
• Ethan can dress himself for the most part and actually prefers to do it himself. Not perfect but pretty good...sometimes with the underwear backwards or two legs in the same hole.
  
  
• He is now transferred to the big toilet (with a kiddie seat) which is nice since it makes for less clean up.
  
  
• I think we're going through another rebellious/defiant period with Ethan and it hasn't been fun. There are days where I'm just tired/worn out and feel like giving up with discipline. Thank goodness my hubby's here to back me up on those days.

Discovery of the Week

Ethan could almost name all the numbers from 1-10 (out of order). He gets 6 and 9 mixed up and other ones here and there. I'm quite impressed. I think this number puzzles that I bought from the Dollar Store must really be helping.

Also, he is now going to the bathroom and does the whole deal "all by himself." What a big boy! It's nice not to spend half my day in the bathroom with him.

Discovery of the Week

Ethan has now moved on to a big kid swing. At first, I didn't think he could hang on without falling off, but he actually does a pretty good job. I do have to remind him every so often though to let me know when he wants to get down. We had a couple of incidents where he tried to get off mid swing and about killed himself.

In other news, we attempted potty training #3 today. And it wasn't even intentional. Ethan has been spending a lot of time playing outside in the pool so I thought I would bring out the potty...just because. This afternoon when we came inside to change out of his swim trunk, I asked if he wanted to wear his diaper or his big boy underwear. He chose the latter so I thought why not. Anyway, he peed in the potty 3 times tonight (twice with the urge where he ran to the potty) which is pretty good. I know it can take a while so I'm just reminding myself to a) be patient and not get too carried away and b) make it fun with no pressure. So here we are and yes, I am that mamma that blogs about their kid's potty training progress. Hey, it's an accomplishment! I'd like to think that the Elmo Potty Time DVD we've been watching is helping.