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Sunday, September 28, 2014

Twelve (and a Half) Months

So I tried to write a 12 month post/Dear Owen the night before his birthday, but I couldn't.  I couldn't believe I would have another toddler the next day, so I lived the next two weeks in denial.  I delayed saying I needed his 1 year stats.  All my excuses are gone, so here I am, accepting I have another toddler and most importantly, no more baby. :(

At his well visit, Owen weighed 25.4 lbs and was 32” tall.  He was in the 99th percentile for each, and I think he was taller than Aidan was at one year.  Owen, fortunately, did not react to his shots like his brother did.  He cried for a minute, took his pacifier, and as we were leaving, he was waving and smiling at everyone.

Despite wanting to live in denial, I love how active Owen is and love seeing his personality develop. He knows when he is missing out, like daddy and Aidan riding the tractor.  But he also knows that he can cry and the toy Aidan has or has taken will be given back (in most cases).  He knows that he can try to tackle, tickle, and pat Aidan.  He knows Aidan is "bubba" and has even said "Aidan".  Owen knows that Bo's room has a baby gate, and when he sees the gate open, he looks back at me, then closes it.

Owen can practically run, and he loves chasing after Aidan.  If he hears the door open, he runs towards to see who came in or to catch whoever is leaving.  He loves to climb up stairs, climb up slides, and climb all over Bo.  

Owen is excited about remote controls and keys.  He also loves to eat puzzles and run after balls.  He likes to bring blocks and toys to Aidan, daddy or me.  He has learned to say “thank you”.  He gives you something, and he says “thank you”.

I couldn’t imagine our family without Owen. 

Aidan can be a sweet big brother, but he can also be rough.  I can’t wait for the day for Owen to hold his own.  Aidan does apologize, sometimes not very sweetly, but he’ll learn.  

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Mom Fail


I have to remind myself that I create the situations that foster the behavior that my toddler exhibits.  To be upset at my kid for things he doesn’t understand isn’t fair to him.  Unfortunately, this kind of thinking doesn’t occur to me until well after the fact that the situation occurred, and I am beyond upset.

There was a toddler situation that happened a few months back that felt like the worst day ever since becoming a mom.  However, I forget whatever happened.  The only memory I have of the day is cuddling with my toddler when he’s already asleep.  So I selectively remembered the good.

On Friday, after running many errands and cleaning the house to prep for the boys’ birthday party, I was excited to pick them up early.  I had a plan – I would treat Aidan to a cheeseburger and a haircut.  Aidan loves to have his haircut now, so when I asked him if he wanted to go, he excitedly said “yes”.  Owen was in desperate need of his first real haircut (momma cut the curls and long hairs a month or so back, but he needed something).

Upon asking where Aidan wanted a cheeseburger and a toy, mom, we went to Sonic to fulfill his wishes.  He ate in the car on the way to the hair cut place, which was just a few minutes down the road.  We played with his toy, a plastic Mohawk, while he ate the rest of his cheeseburger in the parking lot.  

Aidan, Owen and I went inside of Great Clips.  They had two people in chairs receiving haircuts, but other than those customers, we were next in line.  There was a man getting a buzz haircut, and I figured the wait for Aidan would be short.

BUT! It felt like forever.  Aidan played with toys, Owen went for hair care products.  If Aidan saw Owen being bad, he had to do the same.  Aidan proclaimed he was a baby and proceeded to walk like a baby and knock stuff over.  I distracted Owen with the toys, and of course, Aidan had to scream “those are my toys.”  Owen will let out a scream, and Aidan would let out a louder scream or two…or three.  I would scold Aidan, then Owen would scream again.  I tell Owen “no” but he doesn’t understand. REPEAT. And REPEAT. And REPEAT.  After an eternity, the hair dresser was finally ready for Aidan.

AJ always tells me how great Aidan does with a haircut.  He tells me the haircut only takes a few minutes, and Aidan sits still. LIES LIES! Aidan did not sit still. Aidan did not listen, Aidan’s haircut took forever.  While the hairdresser was patiently distracting and asking Aidan to listen to her directions, the second hairdresser said she was ready for Owen.

What?! Do you not understand physics? I can’t be in two places at once (I was previously holding Owen and standing near Aidan).  Surely you can take the next customer in line…oh, you can’t? Ugh, okay, here goes nothing.

Owen does not want his hair cut. He is screaming, crying, and moving all around.  He’s in a booster seat with me closely by waiting to grab a lunging baby, errrr, toddler.  Then I hear “momma” from the first hairdresser.  I turn around to see Aidan has a nose bleed.  He kept rubbing his nose because the hair was irritating him.  He rubbed it and accidentally pushed pointy hairs up his nose.  

Like a deer in the headlights, I froze. What do I do? Aidan is upset his nose is bleeding, and Owen is mad about his hair cut.  The first hairdresser has given Aidan tissue, and the second one is telling me she has Owen, not to worry. Okay, run to Aidan.  I calm him down and told the tissue on his nose while the hairdresser is brushing off the cut hair.  I get the bleed to stop, so I rush back to Owen to give him his pacifier.  Aidan rubs his nose like I told him not to do, and the bleeding resumes.  Owen is moving his head left and right, up and down, and squirming in his chair. I grab Owen, hold his head, and the hairdresser finishes with Owen.  

The first hairdresser takes Owen from me so I can use a cold, wet towel for Aidan and his nose.  I sit Aidan down in a chair while I fetch my purse to pay for the haircuts. I generously tip the hairdressers, take Owen, and am about to leave when Aidan asks for a sucker.  The first hairdresser promised him one (with my permission), and he wants to pick it out.  But she hands him a sucker instead…cue a meltdown.  I calm Aidan down, walk him to the counter, and I offer him the suckers.  He picks one, looks at it, and cries. Nope, he picked the wrong one.  He eventually finds what he wants (the same color as he originally chose), and we all leave NOT crying.  

I’m outside, feeling like I escaped the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park, and I take a deep breath.  We survived.

I remembered I forgot cream cheese for a dip I am making tomorrow, so I think we can make a short walk to Publix since Great Clips is in the same shopping center.  We walk to Publix on the sidewalk, grab a car cart, and enter the store.  

 I think to myself, these boys deserve a cookie.  Somehow we lost the sucker on our walk to Publix.  Owen gets his first cookie, and Aidan is happily eating one, too.  We stroll through the store and find cream cheese.  Then I remembered I needed cucumber.  We past donuts.  Aidan wants donuts.  I remind him that he had a cookie, and he does not need donuts. “But I want donuts, mommy!”  So now his behavior changes, and he has to touch, grab, and demand everything he sees.  I quickly grab a cucumber (and bananas) and head to check out.

Aidan wants a balloon. Aidan wants candy. Aidan wants his cheeseburger toy. I want out of here!  

We check out, park the car cart with the other carts in the store.  I pick Aidan up first and place him on the ground. I grab the two grocery bags, the diaper bag, and my purse.  I unsnap Owen and pick him up.  Aidan is at the toy and candy machines, you know, the quarter machines.  He wants this and that, and he doesn’t even know what this and that are.  I tell Aidan to take my hand. He refuses.  I tell Aidan “let’s go.”  He refuses. I squat down to look Aidan in the eyes and give him the directions firmly.  He refuses.  He runs.  He runs out the automatically opening doors.  I yell for Aidan to stop.  He runs towards the cross walk, and I’m yelling. I grab his hand and yank him away from the cross walk.  He escapes my grasp and runs back into Publix.  He runs in circles at the entrance of Publix where I see the looks in people’s eyes. You know “control your kid” or “you poor thing”.

Aidan runs back outside again. Again I grab him. Again he escapes. Again he runs back into the store.  Fortunately for me, he stops to stare at the quarter machines, so with my one empty arm, I pick him up.  So now I’m probably toting 80 lbs in both my arms, with two kids struggling to get free.  At this point, I have tears in my eyes because my kid will not listen, my kid endangered himself, and my kid is uncontrollable.

Aidan starts to cry and scream. Walking out of the store, a man says to me “I would be crying too if I had to wear that much orange.”  Thanks dude, I needed a laugh, but I sort of feel like punching you in the face. Lucky you, I don’t have a free hand.

I can’t walk the entire way back with both boys.  Honestly, it’s 100’ give or take, it’s not far. Great Clips is the next store down from Publix.  Fortunately, Aidan walks, crying the entire way. Crying in the car seat. Crying on the way home. Crying at home.

I turned up the radio, put the widows down, and drove the whole way home not talking to my toddler who kept saying “I want to ‘pologize. Mommy, I’m sooooorrry”. I needed a mental break.  Fortunately for me, the radio was playing all the good music, so I sang. Owen smiled.

Fifteen minutes are arriving home, so a grand total of giving Aidan the cold shoulder, I hugged him. I kissed him. I accepted his apology. But I also apologized, because I’m the mom, I created the situation.  I should have buckled my kids up after the haircuts and drove 100’ to find a parking spot next to the cart return.  Then, I would have had an easy way to put my kids in the car, return the cart, and drive home. No stupid quarter machine. Or I should have been the rude person who puts the cart in the bushes instead of returning it to its proper location, seeing how I thought we could make the short walk to Publix.

So let’s hope a few weeks from now, all I
remember is having two handsome boys and Owen experiencing his first taste of a cookie. Oh, and the good tasting wine I had that night.


Monday, September 8, 2014

THREE! An Update and Interview

My brown eyed baby boy is growing up, so here's an update on him...

GROWTH

Aidan has packed on a few more months since his 2.5 year old update.  He fluctuates between 41 and 42 lbs.  He also grew a few inches, and is between 41" and 42"  as measured at Stride Rite.  If I pull out the tape measure, he thinks it is his toy, and he must have it or won't stand still long enough for me to take a measurement.  He does go to the doctor for a yearly check up in a few weeks, so they can confirm (or deny) my measurements. 

Depending on the brand, Aidan is wearing 4t/5t/5/XS/S.  WHY AREN'T CLOTH SIZES UNIFORM?!  Gymboree or Children's place, better buy the smaller size because they run big.  Carter's, I buy 5.  Out shopping for a t-shirt from a lighthouse we climbed, he needs a YOUTH Small. Crazy.  I had hoped that Aidan would wear the same jeans from last year since but I noticed his swim suits that were loose at the beginning of the pool season are a struggle to put on.  So I went ahead and bought clearance 5T jeans (Children's Place). 

Aidan is still in a 8.5 to 9 Extra Wide shoe.  He prefers Crocs or Flip Flops, but he is not allowed to wear those to daycare/school.  He could wear the Crocs if he kept them on his feet, but apparently he constantly takes them off.  Toddlers... 

Aidan appears to have his 2 year molars popping through the gums.  Though I haven't dared to look in his mouth for a couple of months, but I did notice the teeth peeping through.  Maybe the dentist will confirm that the molars are present when he goes to his first official dentist visit. 

Aidan needs a hair cut at least every 3 weeks, but we usually wait until a month.  He goes with AJ for his hair appointment - it's their thing.  Though that doesn't stop Aidan from reminding me every day on the way home that he needs a haircut. 

SLEEP

Sleep or resisting sleep has not changed.  Taking toys and animals friends to bed has not changed.  His bed time was not suppose to change, but hey, with the summer time, we play outside a lot.  It's hard to make Aidan go to bed when there's still daylight and fun to be had.  I know, I know, he needs routine, but momma can't resist. 

Aidan still procrastinates sleep and finds every excuse to get out of bed.  Sometimes we have to take his favorite toy away to get him to stay in bed.  Never his lovey though, we would never take his Mimi (penguin). 

I did put up black out curtains in his room, hoping that it would cause Aidan to sleep later.  Two days last week he slept until 8AM! WHAT?! But then other days, he is up around 6AM.  Those curtains have been up for at least a month with not consistent change.  I tried. 

At daycare, Aidan still takes a two hour nap. At home, we struggle with naps.  It depends on how the day is going and how Aidan's attitude is whether we push and fight for the nap.  If we're having a busy day, I hope that he takes a power nap in the car.  If he doesn't, I hope bedtime is easier. 

 

Aidan has become quite the helper
MILESTONES

I think it's fantastic that Aidan can tell me what he wants to do.  After school, I try to take the boys somewhere if the weather is cooperating.  He will usually ask to 1. Go home and ride is tractor 2. Go to Fermata (pool) 3. Go to the regular park (as opposed to the Library park) 4. Go to the water park or 5. Go to Kroger.  I love how well he communicates and knows what he likes to do. 

Aidan started 3K on his birthday, so in addition to what he learns at daycare, he will also be in a semi school setting.  I took him on his second day, and he walked into his classroom like it was no big deal and nothing new.  Growing up! 

FAVORITES

Aidan still loves to be outside.  Since he learn to swim over the summer, a lot of our weekend evenings are spent at Fermata where he jumps off the diving board, dives for toys on the bottom of the pool, or chases me around to splash me.  At home, he likes to ride his tractor, ride the real tractor with daddy, and throw sticks in the creek.  He recently became really excited when the sticks sink in the creek.  Aidan is also a fan of water fights, whether it's with water guns or him sneaking the water hose.  He was very proud and laughing a lot when he surprised me with the water hose.  Little stinker...don't worry, momma gets payback. ALWAYS. 

Aidan has recently become obsessed with Spiderman.  I'm not sure where the obsession came from, but he loves anything Spiderman related.  Jake and Mickey are still favorites, but not nearly as much.   

 
THINGS TO DO

Aidan still loves going to the Zoo.  He still insists on riding the carousel (the Tiger or Elephant), riding the training, and riding the pony.  He was afraid to feed the goats and the giraffe, but now he loves to feed them.  He giggles when he feeds the goats because their tongue tickles his hand.  The giraffe still seems intimidating, but he actually holds the food now and lets the tongue touch him. 

Aidan continues to enjoy grocery shopping, especially since Kroger recently bought new car carts.  Instead of the car being bulky and attached to the front of the car, where the kid faces away from you and is the farthest away, the new carts have the steering wheel up at the shopping car handle.  He stays entertained driving and honking at people.  He also yells "get out the way!"  Lovely for the patron in front of us... 
 
Occasionally we do something different like build a birdhouse at Home Depot or Lowe's.  Aidan really enjoys banging the wood with the hammer, and I think he has only hit my thumb twice.  I'd say that's pretty good for building two birdhouses.

FOOD

We went through a food slump, but it appears Aidan is back to eating well.  He loves chicken nuggets and cheeseburgers along with cheese and applesauce.  He will tell us what he doesn't like - like at school, he doesn't like how a certain person cooks the corn.  He's honest, so don't ask his opinion if you don't want to hear the toddler truth!  Aidan will eat fish, but shies away from eating shrimp. 

Aidan is all about birthday cake.  If you're having a birthday party, you better not skip the cake (or cupcake).  He will devour the top of the cupcake and ask for me.  Sorry kiddo, that's enough sugar. 

I also believe Aidan would drink enough milk to fill him up and not need anything else. He loves milk, and I noticed we are going through more milk than we were just a month ago. 

 
FRIENDS AND FAMILY

Aidan is lucky, he sees his grandparents often, and usually his Aunts and Uncles once a month.  He loves playing with them, though he calls one of his aunts, Uncle Manda or Uncle Aunt Manda, though if it's any consolation to Amanda, he always greets her first before Uncle Chris.  He will also ask about her or where she is at if he does not see her but sees Uncle Chris.   

Aidan talks about his cousin Rozzie, and even enjoyed picking out her birthday present.  He talked non stop about her birthday and Rozzie being "one."  He doesn't pick on Rozzie the way he picks on Owen...nor does he purposefully knock her down with his butt. 

Aidan has a lot of friends, even more now that he is at a new daycare.  So he has his buddies from the "old school" as he calls it and the "new school".  He seems to see at least one friend outside of daycare at least every other week. He is still crazy for his friend named Charley.  He continues to call other girls Charley, even though he knows their name.  What can I say, those two act a lot alike when they are together, and Aidan is really excited when he can see pictures of Charley.  In fact, if he is misbehaving or having a meltdown, I'll offer him a seat beside me to look through Facebook photos
of Charley - instant mood change! 

Here's a yearly birthday interview I hope to continue.  Some questions required prompting, like giving him choices (like naming holidays off so he knew what he was choosing from) 

  1. How old are you? THREE! (Also holding 3 fingers up) 
  2. What are your nicknames? AA (prompted by daddy, nickname from "old school") 
  3. What is your favorite color? Pink 
  4. What is your favorite toy? Spiderman 
  5. What is your favorite fruit? Grapes 
  6. What is your favorite tv show? Rescue Rangers (recent birthday gift, so that was fresh in his mind) 
  7. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Cheeseburger 
  8. What is your favorite outfit? My Mickey Mouse shirt and Spiderman flip flops 
  9. What is your favorite game? Football 
  10. What is your favorite snack? Goldfish 
  11. What is your favorite animal? Elephant 
  12. What is your favorite song? Twinkle Twinkle Little Star 
  13. What is your favorite book? Shark! (It's a pop up, underwater story book) 
  14. Who is your best friend? (Silent, thinking) Charley (with a smile)
  15. What is your favorite cereal? Oatmeal 
  16. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Ride your (pointing to daddy) tractor 
  17. What is your favorite drink? Milk (no surprise there, loves milk...we have to limit him) 
  18. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas 
  19. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Spiderman, snake, Buzz Light year, Jake, Mickey (and Mimi, doggy, hard plastic toys...tons of stuff!) 
  20. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Waffles 
  21. What is your favorite movie? Chipmunks 
  22. What do you want to be when you grow up? Go to birthday parties 
  23. What’s your favorite thing you did this year? Went up the Lighthouse 
  24. What’s your favorite place to eat? At the couch (No Aidan, if we were in the car driving, where would you ask to eat?) Sonic 
  25. Where is your favorite place to go? To the beach....tomorrow 
  26. What makes you feel happy? You (pointing to me) make me happy (melt my heart why don't you!) 
  27. What makes you feel sad? The floor makes me sad 
  28. What’s your favorite thing to do with Mom? Go to the Lighthouse 
  29. What’s your favorite thing to do with dad? Jump on the trampoline 
  30. What did you do today? School (He said he went to school, which is true on his actual birthday, but I asked him these questions Sunday. He went to the Zoo with Grammy) 

Sunday, September 7, 2014

Aidan Celebrates Being THREE

The night before Aidan's birthday, I stayed with him in his bed while he attempted to fall asleep.  We talked about him waking up three, and what it would mean.  He asked if he would have a birthday party, if people would sing him happy birthday, and if he could play on the big playground with the train.  He was stoked that I answered "yes" to all of his questions.  I also told him that Grammy would pick him up early after he takes his nap.  He was excited, and he actually stayed in bed to fall asleep by himself.

I wish I was home when Aidan woke up, but I was at work.  AJ sent me pictures of Aidan proudly wearing his "3" sticker.  He was cheesing big.

Aidan also started the 3K program at his daycare.  So he now goes to school three days a week.  He had a big day!

Grammy picked Aidan up shortly after his nap and took him shopping for his cake and balloons.  I was suppose to join them, but an urgent matter came up, so Grammy kept Aidan busy. He seemed stoked to go get ice cream and have random people tell him "Happy Birthday!".  After Grammy and Aidan had a good time, they picked up Aidan and dinner.  Then they met me at the house to continue to the celebration.

I was fortunate to find a treasure chest on a local online yardsale site.  Aidan loves Jake and the Neverland Pirates, so I figured he would like a treasure chest.  He did!  All his gifts were in the chest, and I loved watching him open the presents.  He tore into them, and he was excited about what he found.

When Papa arrived, he open the gift from Grammy and Papa.  He was also very excited about the train set.


Aidan picked out the cake and the candles.  He also acted like he was one or two, but globbing lots of icing between his hands and trying to smear it on me or have me lick it off his hands.  Um, no, it was cute when you were one, big boy. 

Whenever I asked Aidan how old he was, he would say "THREE!" and hold up three fingers.  He gets it, and I love it.  I love celebrating his birthday. 



So where was AJ?  Well, there was an incident while he was working at home, and he was taken by ambulance to the ER.  He's alright and will be okay, but he was really worried about messing up Aidan's birthday.  So he insisted I go home and celebrate with Aidan, and Aidan would have a redo...Aidan surely won't mind more cake, singing, and blowing out birthday candles.

More on that, later...just know that AJ has some amazing coworkers.