Mini Update.

Dancing and singing

Water play with baby turns into "potty party time" Note the orange bucket had been the baby's bubble bath and yes picture number three would be water tipped everywhere. *I had to add that Boyd looked at this picture and said, "Boyd tipping over potty." and "Lollipop."

Tonight marks night 5 of our Boyd sleep alone project. My dear sister Jenny gets the last laugh on this one since I used to tell her just to let her boys cry it out(easier said than done). I also ate my words saying I would never co-sleep (eating my words for 2 years now). With the McQueen room painted we decided now was the time. We talked it up leading up to the start and going to bed is going fairly well. He is showing his defiance by wanting me to cover him up and then immediately go away. Books, prayers, hugs and kisses are going to have to come earlier in the evening now. Then I go out and he cries for just a few minutes. On morning 3 he told me, "I cry in McQueen room, then I hold squishy McQueen (his stuffed car)." Good coping skills. If only he could remember that when he awakes in the night around 2am. Any advice on surviving that hour and a half would be greatly appreciated. He calls, "Daddy, Mommy come here. Open the door" over and over. I love him just the same and it's better than having him take 2 hours to fall asleep while pulling my hair. Maybe my bald spots will go away in time and my friend/hairdresser won't gasp, 'What happened to your hair" with a look of horror on her face. * Night 5 report, I should blog about sleep every night if the return is Boyd sleeping by himself from 8pm-7am, woke up at 4 crying for one minute and went back to sleep without help. I hope this becomes the trend.

With the weather dreary, cold, and windy we have been getting creative with activities inside. Boyd's favorites include spraying stuff with his spray bottles and wiping things with his sponge, pretending to give Big baby a bath, and now making his toys go potty on the toilet. Yesterday I caught him opening the lid, sitting his car on the seat and making faces and sounds. When I asked his what he was doing he said his car was pooping. Ok Boyd, get the hint, YOU start going potty on the potty instead of hiding when that feeling arises. Today we played with salt and trucks pretending they were snow plows. Tackling is another favorite game with hut hut hike. He loves listening to music and dancing too, especially I like to Move it Move it.

Boyd has also been conditioned that banks= lollipops. Monday we went to the bank and when we got to the teller he asked, "Lollipop please." Today Papa said he was going to the bank and Boyd told him, "Ask for a lollipop." Oh Boyd.

He has also become quite the leader/boss. He likes to tell people how to play and what to do. Recently he likes to tell people to pretend to cry, I guess he is exploring emotion. Today he was looking at pictures and there was one where he was up on a hay bale reaching out to the camera. Boyd filled in the text saying, "Help me Mommy." The look on his face in the picture said exactly that. At Little Gym he is one of the older kids in class so he takes charge. He instructs kids to ring their bells when it's bell time and comforts those who are apprehensive telling them of the fun to come, especially when it's time to sing ABC. He wowed the class loudly singing Itsy Bitsy Spider and ABC's on Monday, and announcing "Mommy red" since I was under the red stripe of the parachute (I admit, I was such a proud Mommy). After class another family was talking about going to the grocery store, as were we, Boyd told the boy, "No, it's nap time." I was appalled and asked Boyd if that was what he was going to do. This must have made him think because he quickly said, "no", and told the boy, "Go to Schnucks (the grocery store)." Time is a word Boyd uses now such as playtime, nap time, eating time.

Another association is when I put my Mizuno running clothes on, Boyd tells me, "Mommy running." When Papa comes over Boyd always knows its running time. Boyd has started counting starting at 1 now which is fun and he is exploring the concept of one to one counting versus rote. He also recognizes numbers 2 and 3 along with many letters. Self help skills are coming along as today Boyd even put his mittens on independently. I just can't believe how much he is growing in all areas. Last week we went to the doctors for his two year check up but he would not lay on the scale. They weighed him on the big kids scale as he walked around on it so I doubt it is accurate(we have to go back in a few weeks for the 2nd flu mist so we'll try again). But his height puts him in the 75%. I still have to laugh as his head circumference is in the 92% it's because he is so smart his brain has to house the knowledge some place.

What can I say, he is such a gift and if you have the winter blues, come spend some time with Boyd, he'll make you step back and remember what's important.