Life With 2 (+ 1) Redheads

Here's this year's video! Make sure to turn the music player on pause below (scroll down halfway and to the right) before clicking play here so that you don't have overlapping music playing.

Last night I put to bed a two year old, and this morning I woke up (very early) to a three year old. At 4 am. He never cries out at night or wakes up earlier than normal, but last night at aproximately 4am, I heard him cry out. I walked zombie-like through the streamers and balloons I had strategically placed outside his door that night into his room. I'm not sure what it was that he wanted since he wouldn't tell me, but it was quite obvious that he wanted me in the meantime.

I slept off and on from 4 am to when the blaring radio came on at 6 am. Snooze. Snooze again. And then as I stepped out of the shower, there were Tyler's cries again. This time it was 6:30 am. Still too early.

I brought him into our bed with Josh still sleeping while I put on my make-up and dried my hair. When I walked out of the bathroom, I caught a glimpse of Tyler reading books in bed to daddy (who was still snoring at this point).

"I want waffles!" To this I replied with "ok, you're the birthday boy." Two bites into breakfast, "I want fruit!" Typically, I don't play food games. Especially that early in the morning. But today was an exception.

I got him dressed with only one threat by mommy of the wooden spoon (another day, another post) and with only three references by Tyler to the cupcakes sitting on top of the stove ready to bring to his preschool.

We walked into preschool and an overwhelming "Happy Birthday, Tyler" came out of the little mouths of most of the three year olds and all of the teachers. As a side note, I also had a very interesting fashion discussion with three prissy little three year old girls. The same girls that enjoy telling me when I come pick up Tyler that he's had a bad day.

I reminded Tyler of being a good boy, listening, and keeping that stinking apple on the tree! Of course, regardless of whether it falls or not today he will still get extra hugs and kisses tonight when I pick him up at 5:30. Why?

Because my baby is three. It's hard to comprehend that. Can I still call him a baby?

We've had a rough, rough last couple of weeks at school. There were days that I was sure I could never convince Josh to think about another child. Like ever. But, we are working through this phase in Tyler's life. I still like to call it a phase. Sounds less permanent. (smile)

However, Tyler had a great day at preschool today and came home to birthday cards, presents, cheeseburgers, and ice cream cake!

So, I can now say I have a 3 year old. Let the party begin. But please keep it drama free! :-)

On the radio this morning, most stations are on spring break so they are doing the "best ofs." A station played this song and seriously the tears started going and people were calling in left and right. I came in to work to find the song, and I was only able to find a live version on youtube though it's on iTunes as well. We see so many father/daughter songs and of course never enough son songs at all! But this is a mother/daughter song, and oh. my. gosh.....

I definitely teared up! Such a sweet song about growing up :-) It's by the Isaacs and called "Barbie Bandaids." Check it out!

But first!!! go down and click the pause button on the music that is already playing on here so that you don't have two songs playing at the same time! The music player is about halfway down the page on the right.

Mommy: "Why do you like the Little Mermaid so much?"
Tyler: "Lil' Mermaid has red hair. Tyler has red hair too!"
Mommy: "point taken"

Tyler: "I got crabs at new school!"
(after finding out his teachers got two pet crabs for the classroom)

Mommy: (looking in the freezer for something to eat for breakfast)
Tyler: "How about dat?" (pointing to dinosaur chicken nuggets)

Mommy: (sitting down to use the restroom)
Tyler: (runs in with a box of feminine products)

(CD playing song to the tune of "Do you know the muffin man?" The lyrics now change to "Do you know the doughnut man?"
Tyler: dat's Paw Paw!

Tyler: "I bumped my head!"
Mommy: "What happened?"
Tyler: "Mommy call the doctor. No more monkeys jumping on the bed!"

(while sitting at a stoplight in Creedmoor)
Tyler: "Bambi!"
Mommy: (on the phone and ignoring him)
Tyler: "Mommy, it's Bambi!"
Mommy: (turning to look at Tyler to see him pointing over to fake deer in the front yard of a house) "Only in Creedmoor"

Yesterday was Tyler's birthday party. Even though his actual birthday is not until this Friday, March 27, we had his party this weekend to accommodate other schedules.

Tyler was so excited that he didn't nap at all yesterday! From the moment he woke up, he kept talking my ears off wanting a cupcake! His friends arrived at 3:30 which included Lawson (1.5), Jena (1.5), Hailee (2.5), and Elisa (2.5). And Gaga (Josh's mom) made an appearance for cake and presents!

The kids ate goodies, opened presents, and then went outside for an Animal Easter egg hunt and play time. The weather was great, and the kids got a lot of energy out!

Tyler got some great presents. He received puzzles from Lawson and Jena, a lunch box from Elisa, a wheelbarrow and gardening tools from Hailee, and play food and books from Gaga. He's thrilled with all of them!

Below are some pictures from the party. Um, I took over 100! And as always, I post each and every picture and video on www.dropshots.com/elizabeth043005 so check it out!


The theme of the party was barnyard animals. I made everything!







The birthday boy





Mommy helping to blow out the candle



Opening presents



Animal Easter egg hunt




Riddle: How many attempts does it take 5 mommies and 5 kids to take a self-timer picture?




#1



#2



#3



#4



#5



#6




Answer: Lucky # 7

Kara/Elisa, Dana/Jena, Me/Tyler, Karen/Lawson, Mere/Hailee

As I type, Tyler is crying in his bed. It's been a long week, and it's not over yet. It didn't start off bad. Monday was not a bad day at preschool, but by Tuesday the calls from preschool started. It seems that Tyler doesn't want to listen or take naps. I'm not sure what exactly brings this on. On Tuesday, I thought I could blame the nasty weather and say that he's been couped up too long. But they've been outside the past two days. We had a few rough days about 3 or 4 weeks ago, but since then he's been fine. This week, he has refused to listen, and during nap time instead of being quiet he gets louder each time they tell him to quiet down. He prevents other kids from sleeping, which probably is the most upsetting to me. I've gotten a call every day this week. Tuesday, Josh actually went up there. Today as I talked to Tyler on the phone hunched at my desk whispering threatening words to him, he kept right on about his business. I'm happy he knows his months of the year, but nap time is not a place to yell them! Josh and I have gone back and forth about how to deal with it at home. First, I was against doing any punishment at home because I felt and still slightly feel that at this age, he's not 100% capable of making the connection between what happened hours ago at school and what he is getting punished for at home. However, by day 3 I had to start to give in to Josh's logic. I think often I forget that he knows more than I think he does. Tyler, that is :-) He is able to tell me why he got in trouble, and he certainly is upset when I come pick him up and bring him over to his apple tree. Today, he pushed me away as I brought him over there. He's ashamed and upset, as he should be. He's been the ultimate definition of a "trying three." He's developed stubborness, independence, and defiance. He's even learned to stick out his tongue at his teachers. Yet, of course we still love him the same. It's just hard this week because when he's good, he's so good. But weeks like this are just too much. Is it bad to feel embarrassed when I have to answer the phone knowing very well where that number on the caller ID is coming from? Or when I have to walk in and see the disappointment of his teacher's face? I feel like it.

It's finally quiet 40 minutes later. I pray he's finally down for the night.

I am not a reader by nature. Never have been. But last night I read 100 pages of a book during which Tyler was awake for 70 pages of it. He takes long baths :-) I still have 100 pages to go.

The name of the book (and you have to promise not to laugh) is: Potty Train your Child in Just One Day. You're laughing, aren't you?

Hear me out though. I needed to get Tyler a new potty seat because the one we have is not built very well for eh...his manhood. So, as I was searching for one, I came across this book. I'm not one for gimmicks like this, but I did read a BUNCH of reviews on it and was, yes, suckered into buying it. I also discovered that the author has been on Good Morning America discussing her book. If anything, I figured it would give me some ideas. I work full time, so I found it an easy read because it recognized that "a mere 13 percent of America's families fit the 1950s model of husband as breadwinner and wife as homemaker. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 60 percent of all marriages, 45 percent of the working population, are dual-career marriages. And nearly two-thirds of America's children attend some sort of out-of-home care on a regular basis. " Therefore, finding time to potty train is really hard and pretty much needs to happen over a weekend.

The premise of the book is this: demonstrate with a doll (or stuffed animal) and have a potty party

Very funny, right? Well, let's break it down. Tyler, like many kids his age, loves parties. He loves gifts, and he loves celebrating with games and food. So, the author explores what real motivation kids have to go against what is so comfortable with them (i.e. diapers). Tyler has no real motivation to stop doing what he's doing, yet we fully know he's capable. And like many kids, they learn better by watching than listening. By demonstrating and actually teaching a stuffed animal to potty train, they are actually learning themselves.

"Kids love parties. In Toddler-Speak, a party means fun, games, cake, candy, presents, and prizes. For a two- or three-year-old, it doesn't get much better than that. In Mom-Speak, a party can mean a fun way to motivate your child to learn a new behavior -- in this case using the toilet "

The author, Teri Crane, wrote the book based off real life experience. She's not a doctor by any means. More importantly, she's a mommy. Her son was going to be held back from preschool if he didn't get potty trained by age 3, so she researched everything, talked to everyone she could, until she could figure out a way to motivate her son.

PART ONE
Give your child a new doll (preferably one that "wets") and the three of you have a party. While playing games, reading books, and watching potty-training videos, you teach the doll how to use the potty. Your child learns about the potty and how to use it by helping you teach his or her doll.

Ok, I'm pretty sure Josh will just DIE if I go out and buy a doll. Even a boy one. So, that is not happening. However, we have plenty of stuffed animals and with the help of a creative mommy mind and lemonade in a squirt bottle, I'm sure I can figure out how to make it pee and poop!!

PART TWO
The theme party continues, but now the focus shifts to your child using the potty. Plenty of fun and rewards are built into this part of the party so that your child wants to use the potty and feels good about his or her success.

PART THREE
To celebrate your child's success, the party expands to include Dad, brothers and sisters, grandparents, and other close relations. Everyone congratulates your child for potty training his or her doll and for using the potty.

Don't worry. You will likely not be invited to the potty party but you may get a call :-)

So, yes I'm having a potty party. I mean who doesn't like parties? This one just happens to involve bodily functions. If I'm going to potty train, I require fun! I'm totally decorating our bathroom! And, I'm totally making treats! The second half of her book gives ideas for the party. Yes, you can make fun of me but not to my face.

Our weekends are full until through Easter, so the weekend of April 18 is the glorious party. I will likely not email or call anyone that weekend, partly because I'll be busy with Tyler but mainly because I know you will all make fun of me :-)

I started on February 9 to begin a workout schedule for 3 times a week. In the past, working out has never worked for me for many reasons. First, I work full time and have a preschooler, so by the time I get home and do everything I need to do, it's then 9pm. I don't know about you, but all I want to do is hop in bed and watch tv for an hour until bedtime. On the flip side, I already get up at 6am in order to get showered and ready for work before Tyler wakes up. So, rising before then is just never going to happen. Ever. So, when my department moved to a different building, I was really excited to find out that a gym would be located two floors above us. I use the word "gym" loosely because it's not large by any means. But, it houses one elliptical, one treadmill, one bike, and a series of weights. Plus, it has two showers. Still no TVs yet against my protesting, but luckily there is an electronic device called the iPod that I can listen to music on. So, three times a week I, along with my workout partner, venture up to the 10th floor to the hole in the box gym. Lisa, my favorite workout partner, works in my department and is a newer employee. We are great motivators for each other and despite what we feel like or have going on, we make each other go up there weekly at 3:45 to begin working out promptly at 4. I'm definitely an elliptical girl, and for a while Lisa was fine with the treadmill, but I've had to start sharing :-) And this is good for me because it's always good to change things up. Somehow, the treadmill makes me workout more, and in many ways that's why i dread it!

Up until now, my goal has been to workout at least 3 times a week for at least 30 minutes and to burn at least 300 calories. Two times a week, I do weights. Since February 9, I've acheived that goal! I haven't missed a week!

My new goal beginning this week is to work out as many days as I can during the work week with a max of 5 days a week. I'm going to pack my bags each day and if I can swing it, I'll be up there daily. Lisa is on board, so we're in it together.

As for the weight and inches, I'm losing. I'm not stepping on the scale religiously but just enough to know that I'm not gaining anything. I'm dieting but not to the extreme. I still allow myself to eat fun things every once in a while, and because of that the weight will come off slower but most likely stick that way. My main goal is to tone up.

But for the record, I weighed this morning and I'm down 4.7 lbs.

I'm so excited for Tyler to get this for his birthday! Since I know he doesn't obviously look at my blog, I get to post it beforehand! My parents, grandmother, and uncle are getting him this! This, along with the playhouse Josh and I got him, will provide Tyler with outdoor paradise! :-)

Tyler likes to sing himself happy birthday daily! I ask him how old he'll be, and he answers "three!" This year's party will just be a small one with a few close friends and their little ones. Then we'll do family celebrations three weekends in a row up until Easter! His party will be March 21, and his actual birthday is March 27.

Tyler finally filled up his sticker card at preschool, so he made his first trip to the treasure chest!




His new item? A new matchbox car.

Tyler loved the snow. We were outside for a good 1 and 1/2 hours! This was more snow than we got back in January, so at least he got to play in more of it! And, of course, today had to be a vacation day for me, but that's ok!

But spring, you're welcome to come anytime now!

All of today's pictures are on www.dropshots.com/elizabeth043005, but here are a select few.

Watching the snow outside



Yes, I measured



Our backyard



The house



Building a snowman (kinda)












Inside and now warm and cozy while watching Monster's, Inc.

I like to do this every once in a while to see how things change.

top foods:

1. turkey sandwich
2. cheeseburger and fries
3. yogurt covered raisins
4. fruit

top drinks:

1. apple juice
2. milk
3. water
4. lemonade

top songs:

1. 10 little monkeys jumping on the bed
2. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
3. Itsy Bitsy Spider
4. ABC song

top shows:

1. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
2. The Little Mermaid
3. Tigger and Poo
4. Handy Manny

top movies:

1. Jungle Book
2. Nemo
3. Elmo
4. Cars

top characters:

1. Mickey Mouse
2. Sesame Street

top activities:

1. read
2. play outside
3. color
4. puzzles
5. cars w/daddy

recently learned:

1. days of the week
2. months of the year
3. washing hands by himself (including pulling up a chair, turning on and off the faucet, and drying his hands)
4. taking OFF his clothes except his shirt

mastered skills:

1. all colors
2. counting to 12
3. singing selected songs
4. drinking out of a big cup

still needs work

1. articulation of words
2. choosing to use words instead of crying
3. potty
4. pedaling his bike

can't stand:

1. not having every piece of clothing on at all times
2. spilling anything on him

trips this year:

1. zoo (potentially)
2. beach in July

biggest change in the past year:

1. big boy bed
2. speech

Only in NC...

No wonder everyone is sick!