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.

Big Stuff!

Some big events since we wrote last.  First and foremost, Alex is now a big brother!!  His sister Anna was born on June 11 and Alex is madly in love with her.  As you can see from the pictures, he loves spending time with her and is a great helper.  It seems like he wants her to play with him already!  If she is crying, he goes to comfort her by turning on her swing, giving her a pacifier, or rubbing her head and saying, "It's okay baby." 

He has been acting out a bit with mom and dad, but that seems to be subsiding as time goes on since Anna was born.  Doesn't help that our little boy just turned 3 years old on July 23... I have heard it's not the terrible 2's but the terrible 3's.  I made a train cake for Alex's birthday and he really loved it.  He got his first bike and has wanted to ride it every day since although he still doesn't have pedaling down pat.  It's fun helping him try for sure. 

We had Grandma Penny stay with us for a few weeks.  Alex got to share his bedroom with Grandma so we set him up on the a small mattress inside his tent - he loved it!  Every morning when Alex wasn't headed to school Grandma would get up with Alex and they would relax until Anna and I rolled out of bed.  It was wonderful to see them bond and when Grandma left, he asked several times, "Where's Grandma Penny?"  We all loved having her here.

May Fun so far...

As you can see from the following pictures, Alex LOVES to fingerpaint.  We have been doing this together since he was a little baby and family members and friends receive his artwork from time to time in the mail... Georgia Emo said she cherishes these in her birthday packages and can see the growth of his skill from year to year!  He has very specific ideas of color.  The first piece is always very thoughtful and considered... then he just has fun with it!  I mildly encouraged him by writing 'Alex' on his chest then he just went nuts!  He colored himself and then chased me into the kitchen to color Pumpkin!  Luckily, all very washable!

Brent was working on a project to reinstall our magnetic knife rack above the stove.  Of course, Alex had to help!  He is such a good helper!  Daddy had his drill and Alex had his toy drill!  He was working hard.  And of course, Dad loved the help.

Alex also likes to help in the garden.  Here is a shot of Alex and I planting some annuals.  We even got him a pair of kid gloves (which he promptly removed)!  He normally wants to wear a pair of mine which are obviously too big.  Hopefully he will get used to his pair, his fingernails get dirty enough as it is.  Yuck! 

On Cinco de Mayo, we had the Alexanders over for a Mexican feast!  Here are a few pictures of Isaac and Alex with their dads.  I can't get over how much each boy looks like their father.  They get along so well.  It is such a blessing since they are our "couple."  We love those guys like family.

Alex is now telling us when he needs to go to the bathroom.  That means he is officially potty-trained!  He has been solid with only 1 accident for the past month.  I think that is outstanding!  He doesn't actually like going to the bathroom and he holds it for a ridiculously long time.  If we are out and about, he likes to try new bathrooms.  He especially likes restuarant bathrooms, and yes, I know how odd this sounds!  Must be something male coming out in him.

What else?  He seems to understand that Pumpkin is coming soon.  The ladies at daycare were trying to get her name out of Alex and they said, "Alex, what is your sister's name?"  He screamed "Pumpkin!"  Good boy.  Another daycare story is that the ladies were talking about making a pumpkin pie for an upcoming event.  Alex broke into their conversation and said, "You can't eat my SISTER!" with a very upset look on his face!  He is already protecting her.  I am sure that caused a big laugh, I know it did when Kristi told us about it!

Alex has also turned into a huge Chatty Cathy.  He talks all the time now.  Most of it we understand and if we don't he sometimes incorporates hand gestures to help us out!  He is growing up way too fast.  One of my favorite lines is when he looks at me very seriously and says, "Mommy, my need strawberries."  He sure isn't afraid to tell you what he wants or needs and I love that about him.  He makes parenting a joy.

The only challenge we have had with Alex is he is not listening well.  This has been going on for weeks and it tries both of our patience.  He can hear us, reports the command back to us in most cases, and then just doesn't listen.  Brent and I are on the exact same page as far as discipline is concerned so Alex doesn't get away with much.  He has been getting more time outs lately.  He needs to listen when we say things, and understand that Dad and Mom are in charge. 

Right now Alex is in Chisago with his grandparents Sue and Larry.  His cousins Ashley and Jack are there as well.  The kids just love one another.  On Mother's Day, Alex didn't want to come home.  He wanted to stay at Grandpa's house.  Larry looked at him and said, "Well Sparky, do you have your toothbrush?  What about your blanket?  You have to have a few things to stay over."  Alex considered this, and seemed to agree.  When I told him on Friday morning that he was going to stay with his grandparents he was elated.  When we were leaving their house he said, "Bye Mom, Bye Dad!  See you later!"

Needless to say, we have enjoyed getting text messages with pictures of the kids having a blast.  We got the house cleaned up, errands run, had two grown-up evenings, and are ready to see our little boy this afternoon.  It's been nice to be home and get things done without distraction, but I am ready for a hug!!