The life of a toddler

So, out of the blue Grayson has become such a toddler. Ok, I guess he's been doing toddler-ish things for quite awhile and is technically considered a toddler....but there are new developments in this department. The "terrible-two's" are rearing their ugly head. Grayson has always been a really good little boy (not to brag or anything)....and we've never had any real behavior issues, excessive crying, naughtiness, etc....but lately we can tell that life as a sweet little baby is nearing the end. Don't get me wrong, he is still super awesome and for the most part listens to what we want him to do. As I write this, he is supposed to be coloring on his paper but has now taken to coloring on his canvas cushy chair....and doesn't have any intention of stopping. These do happen to be "washable" crayons, but since I just got them I don't really know how "washable" they truly are. So for the time being they are now in my possession. Ok...let me get back to my thoughts.

I bought a book the other day....a guide about toddlers. I was hoping this would enlighten me with all the tools to deal with toddler issues. This book is pretty superficial and hasn't given me too much insight besides an overview of general common sense. I would really like a super-nanny to come in and give me a class. I'm one of these people that wants to know everything....I don't like "winging" it all the time. I looked into taking a parenting class for toddlers at the community college, but was too late. Maybe next quarter. But I don't want to wait that long! I am really glad that I have a good group of mom friends that remind me that we are all in the same boat....toddler antics are universal.

So, new things that he has started doing lately are excessive whining and crying when I leave and go into another room in the house or when I take him out of the pantry or do something he doesn't want to do. Hi....typical toddler, I know. I'm trying to ignore the whining, but boy it gets old. Another typical thing is that he will keep doing something when I tell him not to.....he thinks its funny (I guess this is from my dog-yelling voice). He likes to climb onto my antique rocking chair, stand up and start rocking. This would be no big deal except this chair is old and has a broken spring and would easily tip over. Definitely an independence thing....which is good and bad.

We have also created a monster....a sleep monster that is. We've tried various techniques (we think anyway) to get Grayson to fall asleep on his own but nothing but our hands really works. You know how most kids are attached to a special blanket, toy or stuffed animal....well, our kid is totally, obsessively attached to our hands. It really isn't to us being there....its our hands. I asked Heath if he thought a fake hand would work if we put it in his crib. I know this sounds demented, but I'm almost willing to try it. Heath didn't quite agree with me. Lately Grayson is seeming to be more obsessed with our hands and will fiddle around with them forever. He has been waking up in the middle of the night again (maybe due to teething or habit from when he was sick). Last night it was only once, but it takes my hands to get him to fall asleep....and it seemed like it took forever. The night before he woke up 4 times....by the 3rd time I was on pretty much going to lose it and said a few choice words. That was when Heath got up and took charge. Thank God....I felt like I was seriously going mental. So, my new plan for getting him off the hands is to place his soft fuzzy bear/blanket combo in our hands while holding his. My hope is that eventually he will be cool with just the blanket. I'm probably delusional, but maybe it will work...I hope! I've also thought that maybe a somewhat large doll with good hands would work too. I just don't think going cold turkey is an option.

Ok...enough with the ranting....on to the bragging. Even though there are trying times with this toddler age....fun times also still exist we enjoy him all the time. He is really funny, loving and is still my little cuddle bug. I am watching him right now read his favorite book (that has some torn pages out of it).....it really looks like he is reading. He is just staring at the pages and taking it all in. Now he is touching the pictures. Its pretty funny to watch.

We got him a kitchen (I had a Discovery Toys party last week and got it for 1/2 price)....he is really enjoying playing with this. I was thinking I would take it to dad's for him to play with there, but I may keep it here and take something else instead. Its a nice break from all the trucks, tractors, cars, etc that he loves to play with all the time. I'm totally cool with my kid becoming the next Jamie Oliver (love that guy), minus the British accent (but the accent would be cool too).

When I pick him up at daycare....I just crack up. He runs to me from where he is playing....smiling....and doing his silly run. Then he will say "back" which means that he needs to go put the toy he is playing with back. He is very helpful at daycare and at home with putting things away.

I put a little kids table in our living room for him to sit like a big boy and eat his snacks and for doing art projects. He really enjoys sitting there....and tip his chair back like we used to do in school and get in trouble for. Luckily he has his cushy chair in the way so he can't really fall. But I am waiting for the fall someday. I just bought him color wonder stuff (thanks to some of my mom friends), playdoh and those washable crayons. I kind of forgot how cool playdoh feels....except of the lovely residue.

I really need to get a picture of this reading thing....he is really into it!

Favorite word: Backhoe (all tractors are backhoes now).

Well, that pretty much sums it up for now. That was one long post! Any advice or tips are appreciated. Even though the toddler times are here, Grayson will always be my sweet little baby :) (ahhh!)

Grayson's "movie"

I really wish that I could somehow post the photo montage that Grayson has been obsessed about lately....but I don't think it is entirely possible.  So, instead I will post a few of the pictures that he loves in his little slide show.  The slide show I'm talking about is one that had about 10 or so photos that I uploaded to the new iMac computer.  Grayson and I were looking at them and I decided to try the slideshow view.  What came up was a full screen slideshow that went through each photo a little differently by zooming in and fading out, etc.  The best thing is that it automatically started in on one of itunes I downloaded.  The song seemed very fitting....upbeat and catchy (Underdog by Spoon).  Anyway, Grayson wants to watch his "movie" all the time now....and gets a little bit of an attitude if he doesn't get to.  Sometimes I will catch him in the office trying to get it started.  Whats crazy is that one time he did.  Smart kid, eh?  When we sit together and watch it he is all smiles....just chillin' watching photos of himself and also his friend Fraser visiting with the sheep.  He wants to watch it over and over and over.  A lot of times I just let him sit in the office chair by himself to watch.  Now if he hears this song playing he gets all excited....its his new favorite song.  I think I will put this song on here just so you can get a little idea.     

Broken foot scare

Go to my training blog if you want to see what fun I had last night :)

My training blog

Well, here it is.  I decided to put together another blog for my 1/2 marathon and triathlon training.  I'm a little reluctant to share, but I will because that was part of the point.  

www.jbtraininglog.blogspot.com

  

Snow fun

By the time we got outside the snow was starting to melt, but we did get to play a little. Heath got stuck at home....he tried to drive into work but made it as far as the end of our little road. He decided he didn't want to try any further because he was afraid he would get stuck. So we all got a snow day!

First sled ride

My favorite little blue eyed boy!

Wishing there was more snow so mom could go down the hill with Grayson. Boo hoo!

Oops....mom went a little crazy with the sled and tipped it over. Grayson's first face plant in the snow...which he didn't like too much!

Family snow photo

Nisqually Delta walk

The three of us went to the Nisqually Delta for a walk this past Friday. We wanted to get out in the sun and cold, crisp weather one last time before the weather changed.

Down comes the tree

On Saturday it was time to take down the big Maple in our yard before it decided to come down on its own...on our house. It was a pretty big to-do...it required about 6 guys to help with the process. Gary climbed up the tall ladder and wrapped a rope around the tree while Tony hooked it up to his truck and pulled it while Gary started cutting. Wes, Clayton and Heath were all spotters. Grayson was really enthralled with watching from the front window....that is until the cutting began. Then mom decided it was a little too close for comfort...so we watched from his bedroom window. What a big crash it made!

Turns out that it was a good idea we brought down the tree....the center was quite rotten. Makes for great firewood though!