My can do it by MySelf!

The past few weeks Alex is "getting bigger!"  He is developing his skills buttoning shirts, working puzzles, manipulating mom, and lots of other fun tricks!  He has learned what makes me laugh, and is starting to do it all the time - not that I am complaining.  He loves to shout "My can do it by MySelf!!"  Needless to say I am leaving us more time in the morning to get ready.  He is gaining his independence and I don't want to hinder that.

 

Alex had a blast at the Barnyard Boogie on Friday 10/05.  He was running after a boy named Harry.  Harry was older, probably 6, and was much faster than Alex.  Whenever Alex fell behind, Harry would stop and wait for him.  Then take off again!  It was fun to see.  I don't know how Alex strikes up such easy friendships, but I hope he never loses that trait.  Those two paled around all night.  I was chasing them as well to make sure they didn't get into trouble and the would run out of the gym to drink from the water fountain, huff and puff, and get right back to it.  Wanting a break myself, I said, "Boys - why don't you go dance?"  Alex replied, "Yeah!" and immediately started dancing.

 

Harry looked at me very seriously and said, "I don't dance." 

 

It was hilarious.

 

 

Here is a video of us doing the Hookie Pookie before he ditched the dance floor for Harry.

 

 

 This past Sunday waiting for Grandma Sue and Grandpa Larry to arrive.  Alex was a tad grumpy that we didn't go on a longer walk!

 

Happy boy again!

 

Poor Elmo.  What did Alex do to you?

Oh My Alley Bear!

 

Alex is changing every day. He is definitely in his terrible 3’s… lots of struggles with bed time and not listening. Eating is becoming a chore. There is no “always” with Alex. Sometimes he is just a peach and listens like a good little boy, and others he gets defiant. One good thing about this is his growing independence. Sometimes he will let me put his shoes on, and sometimes he yells, “No MY can do it!” And sure enough, he can. He is asserting himself. He wants to button his own pajamas, zip his coat, put toothpaste on his brush. Some of this is just a learning curve for Brent and I. we are so accustomed to doing all of these small tasks for him. We are quicker. But ultimately, our little boy is growing up and wants to do these things himself.

 

He is also singing more. Do you know that song “Call me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen? He loves it and wanders around singing the chorus randomly. Another favorite is the Itsy Bitsy Spider. He does so well and projects his voice so well. As a singer myself, I really love that he enjoys singing and encourage him often. I have found recently when he gets in a mood, I can start singing and he either joins in and the mood is gone – or he yells, “No Mommie, not YOU!” Then I stop singing… and he starts. Priceless.

 

Here is a short video of Alex dancing along to the Hot Dog Dance...

 

 

 

I asked Alex the other day if he wanted to go to the Barnyard Boogie in a few days. I explained they were going to have dancing, singing, and a petting zoo. He got really excited and said, “Yeah Mom! I want to see the pandas!” Brent and I burst into laughter. Brent tried to explain that pandas are not a barnyard animal and would not be in a community gymnasium… but he insisted.

 

Bedtime has been interesting the past few months. He repeatedly gets out of bed, sometimes immediately after we leave the room. We always brush teeth, put on pajamas, read stories, snuggle for “2 minutes,” and then leave the room. The routine does not alter, Brent and I do the same steps. I have started to tell him that he will get a spanking if he gets out of bed unless he has to potty. This only worked for about a week! My smart boy is now saying that he has to poop. He grins and sits on the toilet seat, starts chatting, and then the phantom poop arrives. Nothing. You never want to tell a kid to not leave the bed, just in case they really do have to go potty, but good grief! What a challenge.

 

We are also noticing that Alex is getting so hard on himself. He is a budding perfectionist. If he doesn’t complete a task to his high standards, he gets frustrated. Our daycare provider said he just bursts into tears during school work if he’s tired. We have both noticed this trait so we are approaching it the same way by explaining, “Alex, you are just a little guy. You have to learn how to do this…” That is seeming to work because he is slowly but surely cutting himself some slack.

 

He is now cracking us up by randomly blurting out "Poop!"  He says it so sweetly we just burst into laughter every time.

 

Another injury for Alex occurred on September 19^th. The kids were jumping off the jungle gym at daycare and Alex landed wrong and couldn’t walk for a week and limped a week after that. Brent took him to the doctor and an Xray didn’t determine if it were broken or sprained since toddlers have little calcium in their feet and they didn’t have a clear look. Brent was smart and told Alex to crawl around so he was only immobile for a day. He is only in real pain for the first few days, and boy did he get spoiled! He seems to be doing better now, but we are still trying to get him to take it easy.

 

Last thing – Alex can finally peddle his bike! Brent followed behind Alex on the sidewalk with Anna in a stroller yesterday evening. Alex did great but then said to Brent suddenly that he was tired. Brent ended up attaching the bike to the stroller so Alex could just walk home! I would’ve loved to see that. Good thing he decided to leave the dog at home!

 

 

 

Noerenberg Memorial County Park

 

 

Hot summer day in the back yard!

 

We keep telling him he's too big, but he keeps trying!

New Hope Fire Station open house

 

Apple Jack's Apple Orchard

 

Snuggle time, very important business

 

Lake Calhoun

Grandpa Larry's birthday party

Alex bought his grandpa a Woody doll that inserts into a pumpkin for Halloween... no pumpkins around so a potato had to do!

 

 

Pictures taken today of the kids

 

Vacation Days

Time for another update on Alex.  Alex was home from daycare for two weeks with mom and Anna this month.  We had a blast visiting with friends and going on adventures.  And of course, there was some relaxing too!

 

 

Alex in Chisage with Grandma and Grandpa Johnson.  This night ended poorly in the ER.  We were talking to Georgia Emo on Skype and Alex was getting hyper.  Next thing ya know, he banged his head on the corner of the iPad and we were off to the emergency room.  They gave us the option of liquid adhesive or 2 stitches... so we went with the super glue!

 

 

Yuck!

 Alex and Anna like kitties in the sun.

 French Park with Grandma Sue.

 

 Painting time with daddy!

 School work with mommy!

 We went to Como Zoo to see the animals.  Alex still says the giraffees were his favorite.  We had a great time.  Below are several pictures from the zoo.  After the picnic we ate at the park and then the boys wandered off to play on the playground.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Sunnyside Park in Golden Valley, located on Medicine Lake.

 

 

 

 Choo Choo Bob's Train Store in St. Paul. 

 

 

 Picnic lunch after the train store.