Kyler is potty trained! I cannot believe how fast it went, but we got home from the holidays and literally within a few days, he peed in the tub and put it together that this is what he has to do in the potty. We went from pull-ups to underwear in a matter of a week without many accidents, and even learning to pee while standing up. I cannot believe how easy it was. Once Kyler was ready, he just got it, and there was not much we had to do. He even wakes up from his naps with dry pull-ups, so even then he has been wearing underwear. We had a lot of other big adventures this month, but saying goodbye to diapers was the big one!
He has been more adventurous about trying foods again, so he's had honey and avocado.
He came down with a really bad cough and had a super scratchy voice for a while
He is working on his "L" noises, slowly getting a bit better.
He loves to do yoga on the Wii.
All of us got sick, and when I was in bed trying to get some extra sleep, he came in to check on me. I asked him if he could be my doctor, and he said, "I no doctor, Mommy. I get you water though." He had a great bedside manner.
Ryan and I had an argument, so Kyler kept saying, "Apologize please."
He tried chipotle dip at store: "So spicy!"
He loves to play "volleyball" with a large orange ball in the living room. He likes to head it!
He has been having a lot of temper tantrums, and one day when I asked if he wanted to nap at 11:00am, he said that he did...and slept until almost 3:00pm!
He loves the taste of fondant.
He said, "Love you, Mommy," out of nowhere...makes my heart happy!
While watching a slideshow with family, he said, "Look at that!" for every picture.
He gave me a "spa day" by brushing my hair and wanting to use the entire contents of my bathroom drawer on my face.
He loves to give Devin a hug at night and gets great big smiles from his brother.
He has become obsessed with eating tortillas (plain) and nuts of any kind, but especially cashews.
When Ryan woke up from a long night with a migraine, Kyler said, "You should go back to bed, Daddy."
We went to Hudsonville Christian's early childhood open house and signed him up for 3-school!
He threw such a huge fit that I did not even get out of the parking lot at the grocery store (and he never throws a fit at the store).
When he pees standing up, he always says, "It's yellow every time."
He sang, "I am toot-toot-toot-tooting on an adventure," while watching the Cat in the Hat with Daddy.
He did very well getting his hair cut, but he always wants the "black one," not the fishy cape at the hairdresser's.
He had a great time at the pet store and really wants to get more pets.
The holidays are always fun, but kids just seem to make it even more memorable. Kyler is always so funny these days, and it is great to hear what his little mind comes up with when it comes to experiencing Christmas this year. We visited lots of family and friends, attended lots of parties, and made it out the Frederik Meijer Gardens again. With Kyler being older this year, he got to help with more decorating, baking, and other holiday activities. One of the best things has been going through the nativity story with him, talking about counting down to Jesus's birthday and seeing how thankful he is for everything he experiences. Oh, to be a child again at Christmas--it almost makes up for the lack of snow!
Kyler started out the month sick, saying, "Lovey sick too, Mommy. He has a bug."
He loves to help me "correct" behavior when Devin and the little girl I babysit throw things from their high chairs at lunch time. "No, that was a bad choice _____!" My little disciplinarian...
He started pooping in the potty! Once he figured it out, he never seemed to have an accident again.
I made a felt tree for him to decorate and redecorate until his heart was content. Each morning, he got a new decoration. He kept insisting he needed a star, but we saved that for Christmas Day!
We developed a new game called "ball shield," in which he deflects balls with a large lid (we got him a Captain American shield for Christmas because of this game).
He helped Daddy set up outdoor decorations and "swept" the driveway for us.
He had fun going to his first Calvin women's basketball game, even though he could barely sit still. He loved the popcorn (Daddy forgot his water, so he said it was too salty) and wanted to take his picture in the Cheese.
He loves watching Monsters, Inc. and started to assign us all names from the movie and remembers them all.
He had a great time having Uncle Darrel and Aunt Lynsey babysit, but he was a little OCD about where his books are placed after story time... Poor Uncle Darrel!
He had a tough time leaving both BSF and Coffee Break, crying and throwing meltdowns at both places. I guess the upside is that he likes learning about God, right?
He loved walking around the neighborhood with me to "deliver letters" to our neighbors.
After I ran, I gave him a big hug and told him that I probably stink. This made Kyler laugh, and he said, "Mommy, you smell like poopies." Thanks, kiddo. :-)
Kyler helped to make the dough, cut out shapes, and decorate cookies this year!
During church, there was a moment of silence. After a while, Kyler said, "What happened?"
He tried tacos and banket and seemed to like both--especially the banket.
He has started to spell words on his own without seeing them, such as "dog" and his name.
Has become OBSESSED with PAW Patrol on television and assigned us all new names to go with the characters.
We went to visit friends and meet their new baby. When their dog got a little excited and knocked Kyler over, he got put outside. So Kyler went up to the slider where the dog was waiting and told him, "You made a bad choice, so now you have to have a timeout."
We went to his first dentist visit, and he did SO WELL! The only thing that bothered him were the sunglasses for the bright light. The dentist could not believe it was his first time.
He had a great Daddy date to the mall for shopping and lunch with lots of mini corn dogs.
He had a great time visiting Meijer Gardens for the Christmas trees, trains, and the outdoor tree house. He even got to meet some reindeer!
After a bad choice, Kyler said, "Mommy, I make you happy. I give you a big hug."
"I pee in the tub!" He was really excited about this revelation.
He had a fun time visiting Santa and could not wait to meet him. As soon as we were inside, he ran straight over to him and said, "Hi, Santa!" He never wanted to leave, had no fear, and barely stopped talking to him. Poor Santa.
When asked what his favorite Christmas songs were, he would say, "'This Christmas,' 'Feliz Navidad,' and the 'Rum-pa-pum-pum song'."
He was very thankful for his gifts, but also very eager. He was soon distracted by loving to help clean up the used wrapping paper."
He had some great phrases for when he would open a gift, including, "That's perfect!" and "How neat!"
We enjoyed "tickle juice" (sparkling grape juice) for Christmas Day dinner.
We had so much fun visiting friends and playing with their daughters and dogs.
He loved seeing all the windmills in the Illinois countryside.
He enjoyed story time at the library with Grammy, made a craft, and enjoyed a Candy Land adventure.
We had "puppet shows" in the car, and he loved to have them dance to "Shake It Off"
When Devin was crying in the car and I kept telling him that there was nothing I could do, Kyler quipped, "Mommy, maybe a hug would make him feel better."
Hanging out with Daddy on a sleigh ride at the Gardens
At 2.5, Kyler has become so talkative and imaginative that I find I want to share almost everything he said or did this month. He has started to pretend with little stuffed animals, often wanting to have them touch books he is reading to them or tucking them in for a nap. He has also been catching on to emotions a lot more saying, "Devin sad," when he is crying or, "Mommy mad," when he does not listen to me. We also had a lot of great play dates and time with family, including his first time in the pool this year over the Memorial Day weekend. He loved it and can really swim almost completely on his own with his little puddle jumper on. He continues to jump off the side of the pool and the diving board too, but he has to wait for us to catch him or he will "drink too much pool water."
At the pet store, he heard a dog crying at the groomers: "Doggie no like haircut."
He is obsessed with the "Holy, holy, holy song" (a.k.a. "Open the Eyes of my Heart") on the Praise Baby DVD
He got stuck under the blankets one night and had to be "rescued."
At the store, Kyler said, "Lady pink face," when he saw a lady with REALLY bright lipstick.
He helped to bring me medicine when I was sick: "Make you feel better, Mommy."
He tried to "build a word" by putting letters in a row and saying them out loud.
He wants to help with everything, saying,"I help, Mommy," when I was bringing up the vacuum.
He started to draw lines and circles when coloring.
He started doing an "ugga mugga" at bedtime; see Daniel Tiger to understand what this means.
He likes to group his cars into piles of colors.
When Ryan and I hug, Kyler loves to be in the hug too.
He continues to help out with tummy time, wanting to put his hand under Devin's head to "help."
He actually said to me, "Tired, Mommy--sleep," and took a really long nap.
He takes all the letters he has and starts to match them (e.g., flashcards, puzzles, foam tub letters).
He constantly wants to sing the "W-H-Y" song from Super Why (see below).
He fed a little chipmunk that comes by our slider and wanted to chase after it.
When asked what a baby bird's name was, he said "duck".
At his 2.5-year appointment, he was 31 lbs, 37 inches tall, and impressing the pediatrics staff with his letters.
He helps to haul the garbage cans from the street back to the house.
When he found two pieces of watermelon still attached on his plate, he said the pieces hinged together were a "treasure chest."
We had a bonfire with the neighbors, and he joined some of the older girls to play truth or dare, just sitting by them and randomly shouting, "Dare!"
He had so much fun at the Memorial Day parade, getting candy and loving all the trucks.
He called tootsie rolls from the parade "dog poopies."
When I was gone at Zumba one night, Kyler told Ryan, "Mommy come home. Mommy have white hair!" I dyed it that night, so that in the morning he said, "Mommy have dark white hair!"
He had a lot of fun running around and jumping through sprinklers.
He said, "Kyler make mommy happy!" which is so true kiddo.
Already becoming a hat lover
Helping to fill up the kiddie pool
"Mommy, I have boo-boo., Kiss it."
Someone loves to roll and "hide" in the big bed before nap time
Pretending to bake cookies in his "oven" and wearing his oven mitt
What a silly boy!
Gotta love time with cousins!
Hanging out in the big bed for a movie
Playing cars on the deck
"So tall, Mommy!"
Helping me make some breakfast
Playing in the pool with the "noodle"
All ready to swim
Aunt Lynsey and Kyler already causing trouble together
My sweet boy looking so much older...
...but he still loves his lovey
Running to get candy at the parade
He loved the cars and trucks...wanting to go to a parade every morning
This month was such an experience of highs and lows. Kyler has become a very talkative little kid (even more so than before), and he has also been showing independence, leading to a lot of time outs and some pushed boundaries. He has genuinely shown love and concern for others, along with saying and doing some funny things (see the last bullet point). Here are a few highlights from the month:
He finally did really well getting a haircut. It was amazing! We could not believe it was the same kid, and I think the hairdressers thought we were over-exaggerating the previous experiences.
He keeps getting "tooted" and "pooped" mixed up...which was not fun when he "tooted" in the tub...
He loves to say "Mommy," but usually because he wants something.
He had fun with Calvin nursing students as they practiced taking vitals from him. He loved to show off and have them "listen heart." The professor said he was doing things a 4-year-old should be able to do. Go, Ky!
He is always concerned about Devin when he is crying: "Help, Mommy. Devin sad. Get him." Once I also found him with one hand behind Devin's head and one hand under his legs, trying to pick him up. He has also sometimes offers lovey to him when he cries.
He likes to pretend with lovey: "Drink water, lovey," or, "Eat lunch, lovey."
During the winter Olympics, Kyler and I went "ice skating" in the living room. He got to be part of a lot of "lifts" while we danced to the music, and he sure loved it!
When fussy or crabby, he has been known to hit me, Ryan, or Duncan. Time outs have become much more frequent.
He thought it would be fun to "forget lovey" at church. When the doors were locked, we had to wait for someone to open it and look from lovey...only to have Kyler run to hide lovey again before going out the door. Thankfully, I caught on the second time.
He rode the carousel at the mall and Sandy (the horse) at Meijer. In both instances, he wanted to "go faster."
He made his first impression of a character on television: Bob Goblin from a show called Wallykazam! It was hilarious!
He either eats like an adult (more than Ryan or me) or like a bird (nothing).
Very "Mommy-oriented," he sometimes does not want me to put him down when I get him up in the morning.
Once when I got him up, he pointed at me and said, "Devin's balls." As it turns out, he was pointing at my chest. I guess this is because I often feed Devin in front of Kyler, and Kyler is a little obsessed with round objects. :)
Snuggled up on the "big bed" with Mommy to watch a "show"
What a cute little eater with a new haircut!
He loves to "read" with these books. He spells out the words on the computer, and it talks... (supposed to be for 3+)
Just a cute little man
Gotta love mac and cheese face...the trick is to clean him up before he touches ANYTHING!
Alphie--another favorite toy that does letters and other educational things
We have a lot of cars...this kid LOVES them!
Riding into the sunset...
...well, it will be sunset when he gets the lights
Reading to Devin during tummy time
ABCs...his actual favorite book!
Giving me a great little look here
Showing Devin proper tummy time technique...he wants to do it all the time!
