On Sunday morning I left JDaniel in the living room reading a book in his sleeper suit so that I could get ready for church. I knew my husband was in the kitchen and would be moving to the living room to be with JDaniel. Within minutes of getting into the bathroom I heard the pitter patter of little feet and squeals of laughter. I looked out of the bathroom to find JDaniel running round the bedroom with only a diaper on. I called out to my husband to see if JDaniel was running away from being changed for church. “No,” my husband called back, “JDaniel has unzipped his jamas, taken his arms out of the sleeves, and has been running around with the feet still in the sleeper suit.” He had apparently been tripping and falling in this state before my husband had removed the pajamas. Now JDaniel was running around the first floor of the house laughing like a banshee in a diaper. Who knew he had learned to take his jamas off?
Spring Training- Getting Ready For Egg Hunts
We started spring training for egg hunts last week by searching for some of JDaniel’s plastic balls around the second floor of the house. I gave him a plastic basket to collect them in and carefully explained what he needed to do. He had trouble at first finding them even if they were in plain sight. He needed guidance to know what part of the room to look in and once he was there what furniture it was on. After two days of playing find the ball inside, we moved outdoors. He really seemed to be able to find the balls quickly and loved placing them in the basket. When I tried to play find the ball with him over the weekend he was not interested. Yesterday he started playing the game by himself. JDaniel hides the eggs and then finds them. I guess he understood and enjoyed it more than I thought.
I Need a Lifeguard in the Bathtub!
SITS is holding a Back to Blogging Event this week. Each day bloggers are asked to select a particular thing to share. Today the we were at to share a blog entry title we were proud of. I like many of my titles, but this one is attached to a fun post too.
JDaniel has been sitting in a tub seat for over a year. He really loves it now. When I first put him in it, he cried and cried. Now that he is a chunky two year old, he doesn’t fit in the tub seat well. He also fusses about the toys that are out of his reach.
I decided that he needed to try and sit in tub on his own. Well, he didn’t want to be in the tub without the seat. He cried and cried about being in the tub. The first night I just took him out and told him we would try again in a day or two. The second time he was placed in the tub he was still fussing. I was frustrated about the crying about the tub and the fact I had forgotten to bring a diaper into the bathroom with me. I called down the steps to my husband and asked him to come watch JDaniel while I got a diaper. He came up stairs right a way. I left him trying to calm JDaniel down. When I returned all I could see was JDaniel sitting in the tub and no husband. We have glass doors that slide to close the tub off when you are using the shower. The front door was open to bathe Daniel and the back door was shut. I looked around the front door to the back on the tub and there my husband was squatting with his pants rolled up. It was the funniest thing to see. JDaniel has been talking about it all day. “Daddy in tub! Daddy in tub!” he says.
Later that night I asked him where he came up with the idea. He commented that he did the same thing when we first used the tub seat. I had forgotten that’s what JDaniel would need.
Hands On Thank You Notes
My sister Michelle used to have her children’s hand traced at the bottom of their thank you notes. It was a great alternative to having them scribble all over the card. Yesterday afternoon I finally sat down to write thank you notes for all of JDaniel’s wonderful birthday gifts. Last night after dinner we sat down to do his hand tracings. He loved that he was getting to leave a handprint on the cards that were going out to thank his friends and family. JDaniel was very patient as I traced his hand over and over again.
Shearing or Plucking A Sheep
When I visit the other Muffin Tin Monday blogs, I get to see some of the crafts they do as a part of a group called Tot School. They always look great and fit a theme each mom has picked for the week. Since I am focusing on lions and lambs this week, I thought I would have JDaniel make a lamb with cotton balls and a paper plate on Sunday night.
JDaniel was excited about doing a project. He carefully placed each cotton ball on the plate after I put a dab of glue on it. JDaniel rushed in the kitchen to show my husband when he was done. They hung it on the refrigerator in a prominent spot that was easy for him to see.
Monday morning the lamb was brought into the living room and placed on the coffee table. Then the shearing or plucking of the lamb began. JDaniel slowly pulled off all the cotton balls and placed them on the table. When he was finished, he walked away.
I asked him if he wanted to glue the cotton back on the plate. JDaniel told me, “No.” It was a fun and cute craft while it lasted.
I learned two lessons. One enjoys the process of making the craft. Two hang craft projects up high on the refrigerator.
JDaniel’s Birthday Was A Success!
JDaniel had a wonderful birthday. From having his Cozy Coupe waiting for him when he came down to breakfast, to getting to wear his special Curious George birthday shirt, time at the zoo, eating cupcakes, and opening gifts he loved it all. There was a meltdown when mama won’t let him open the GeoTrax gift his friend Jake gave him until naptime was over and a really short nap so that he would get to play with his new toy. Dinner with my mom and two phone calls from sets relatives singing him Happy Birthday ended his day with a bang. By the time his head hit the mattress, he was filled with wonderful memories of turning two.
Here is picture of his monkey cupcakes.
This is Jake and JDaniel looking for the alligator!
Changes From One to Two
JDaniel will turn two on Friday. When I think about what he was doing a year ago and compare it to what he is doing now, it is amazing.
There are some things that are the same. Books are still one of his favorite things in the world. He has always loved to sit by himself and look at books as well as being read to. JDaniel’s very best friends are still the friends he met through the library and play group. Being outside or as he says “ouside” is really where he loves to be. We still start the day with morning prayers and snuggling. He still loves to snuggle with his hand up my husband’s or my sleeve. During meals holding hands to pray is still something JDaniel does. Bathtime is very much something he has continued to love. Eating has also continued to be something he enjoys. Now he is a little pickier.
There are many things that are different. JDaniel didn’t start to walk until he was 15 month old. This time last year he was still low crawling. Now he runs everywhere. I love to hear the padding of his sneakers around the house. He didn’t used to like to feed himself. Now he doesn’t like to be fed. Coloring, painting with bingo markers, building towers, and exploring all of his toys fills his time inside the house. Outside he loves to blow bubbles, gather sticks, play soccer, and write with chalk. JDaniel talks a mile a minute and knows about 400 words now. (About 150 of the words are food related) He gives great hugs now. He used to just cling. He can now say, “I wub you”,blow kisses, and hug you.
I wonder what he will be like this time next year.
My Son Changed His Name To You
For a very long time, JDaniel called himself Me. Everything was about a little boy named Me. A few weeks ago he changed his name to You. It was very confusing at first.
I would say, “ What would you like for lunch?”
He would say, “You cheese, bagel, gapes.”
I would say, “I would eat them. How about you?”
He would say, “You! You!” Then he would point to himself.
I would say, “You would like them for lunch?”
He would say again, “ You! You! (This time frantically pointing to himself.)
I would finally say, “ JDaniel would like cheese, bagel, and gapes.”
Finally, he would say, “Yes!” with an exasperated sigh.
How did I get into this mess? It started with my saying:
Are you ready to go upstairs?
Would you like to go to the park?
Are you the most beautiful toddler in the world?
You did a wonderful job.
You can play with bubbles.
I guess he decided that his name was now You.
At playgroup yesterday I found out that two of the other children in the group have changed their names too. They are also now named You.
We Got Snow! JDaniel Was So Happy!
About three inches of snow fell here in South Carolina during the night! We had a wonderful time playing in it this morning. The last time we got snow JDaniel was just about to turn one. This was the first time he was able to walk around it and talk about it.
My Little Valentine’s Head Was On Fire
JDaniel seemed to be over his cold early in the week so; we went to playground and mom’s group events at church on Monday and Tuesday. When I went to get him after his nap on Tuesday, his little head was on fire. I held him of a couple minutes to comfort him and cuddle before using the thermometer on him to see how hot he was. The thermometer read 104 degrees. Despite his pleading to not be placed in the tub, he went into a tub of lukewarm water and had his hair wetted down. The only way he would cooperate was if he could keep his pacifier. Then he got some fever reducing medicine and a cup of water with a little jello mixed in. He drank the whole cup.
We then spent the next several hours reading books and watching a marathon on children’s shows on PBS. His temperature seemed to drop every time I checked it which was every forty five minutes. I was so thankful.
JDaniel didn’t want dinner. He sat in his highchair with his head on his tray while I tried to ply him with him favorite foods. (As many of you know he is always hungry. JDaniel’s lack of interest in food was alarming for my husband and me.) Finally before bedtime he drank some watered down juice.
The next morning his appetite hadn’t totally returned, but he did eat and was interested in playing and not being attached to mom like spider monkey. He did rebound at lunch and ate an almost normal dinner. JDaniel’s desire to run and play hide and seek after dinner was seen as a joyous event.
Today he is fussy and whining a lot, but he was doing that before the fever. I guess he is back to normal.
