Day 10...1/36.5th through the year already!

Today was sort of a repeat of yesterday's lesson...Alex just continues to blow me away with the grown up things he does! We went out for Mexican tonight and Alex decided he'd rather sit on the booth than in his high chair. He found a napkin and intently started unfolding it, then spread it across his lap! He also loves to take napkins and wipe his mouth off.



After that, he grabbed a fork and knife to help eat his quesadilla. He had one in each hand and was sawing away, trying to cut his food up. Too bad he was holding the wrong side of the knife...but before anyone says anything, it was a dull dull butter knife...we verified before letting him play with it :)



Oh, and this morning, he spilled a bunch of water. Eric grabbed him a little towel so he could mop up the mess. He swiped the floor a few times, then started swabbing the side of the couch (there was water splashed up there as well). Once he decided that the towel was too wet, he ran to the hallway and grabbed a couple more towels...they were the Christmas towels set aside to go back up into the attic! But he had the right idea :)

Day 9...time is flying!

I learned a very big lesson today...I learned just how much Alex play attention and how much he really learns! I was sitting on the couch and he was piddling around in my scrap area. I looked back, and he had snagged a paper off my desk and slid it into the paper cutter and was going to town! He must have really paid attention - he even knew to slide the paper under the little guard and was meticulously pushing it under, then gently sliding the blade. He was so proud of himself! I gave him some junk mail to shred and moved the cutter to his little table. He had a blast!



He also was "helping" me cook dinner...he'd grab the wooden spoon when I set it down and would stir the food. He'd even tap it on the side of the pan to get all the excess food off. He really does pay attention!

Oh, and just a little brag...he threw a fit when I tried to put a diaper on him, so I took him out for errands in underwear (under pants, of course). He didn't pee in his pants the whole time we were out! He even stayed dry during his nap (he fell asleep in the car on the way home and I didn't want to wake him to put a diaper on...I figured worst case, we'd have to wash his sheets). When he woke up, he wanted to take a bath, and sure enough, peed it all out then :) He's growing up so fast!

Day 8...another week begins!

Today, I learned a very difficult lesson. I learned that Alex refuses to go to bed until he has a chance to say good night to his daddy! So on the nights he's working that late, it's a nightmare getting him to bed!

I also learned that if Alex and Lindley disappear and are quiet for any amount of time, they're probably up to no good. We had our playdate at Jeanette's today, and she has a small play room with a futon and mattress. Alex and Lindley had wandered up the stairs and were jumping on the bed, leaping onto the futon, then back onto the bed. They were being so silly!

Day 7...1 week strong!

As I type this, I'm reflecting on today's lesson....not that it's a new one by any means. If you are tired and cranky, your child will be tired and cranky too. And he will refuse to go to sleep. So you will both be tired and cranky and twice as miserable. Ugh.

On a happier note...I also learned that if there is something rather gross and nasty, a toddler will put his mouth on it. After each bath, Alex lifts the bath mat and hands it to me or Eric. Today, he lifted it, stuck it on his face, and started yelling and licking on it. Nice, Alex, real nice.




And a couple of pictures of Alex's first tattoos :)

Day 6!

Today, I learned that if there's music, a toddler will dance, regardless of the circumstances. We were watching Noggin this morning and one of the songs came on...so Alex started dancing. And sent his chips flying all over the place! But he was having fun, so who was I to stand in the way of that? Besides, Phoebe was more than willing to clean up the chip crumbles :)





We also took down our Christmas decorations today, with Alex's help, of course, and we bought the decorations and party favors for Alex's birthday party!

Day 5...back on track :)

I only took one non-scrapbook layout picture today, so I guess there wasn't much narrowing down to worry about today!

Ever and Amanda came over, and Alex and Ever were going to town alternately playing nicely and irritating each other. At one point, Alex fell off the couch. Ever may or may not have contributed to that event, but it really doesn't matter! Of course, Alex started crying. Ever helped him up, then wrapped his little arms around him and gave him a sweet kiss on top of his head. Amanda and I both just melted, it was such a sweet moment!

So today's lesson is that kids are much more caring and nurturing than you may give them credit for! In between their little fits of ugly, they just want to make everything better for those around them...even if they're the cause of the upset in the first place!

Day 4...fail already!

As I was laying in bed last night, I remembered that I'd forgotten to put up my daily post! But I was too lazy to get out of bed to put it up last night, so here it is this morning :)

Yesterday's lesson was that even though a sweet little boy may behave during a haircut, that doesn't mean he's enjoying it! Yvonne came over to cut Eric and Alex's hair, and he did so good! He had a cookie, but just held on to it for a while. I'm sure it was the combination of being at home with minimal distractions and it being someone he knows doing the cutting that made this the easiest and best cut yet!

Before....

During...

and after! I only took one picture, and it's not very good, lol, but it shows how lovely his hair looks! It always amazes me how much older he looks after a hair cut!