Climber & EC

There's my little climber! He will not stay away from the oven! So far, he does seem to notice when it's on and warm & he hasn't really tried to mess with it then.. But I'm always right there too & telling him no, hot! Otherwise, he likes climbing on it several times a day. One day I was holding it closed and so he angrily opened the drawer there next to it and attempted to pull himself up.. He did a full pull up! He's one strong little man. We tried to find an oven lock but haven't yet. He also sees his brother use his step stool all the time, so he thinks he has to as well! He actually uses it very well!

Courtesy of wikipedia: Elimination communication (EC) is a toilet training practice in which a caregiver uses timing, signals, cues, and intuition to address an infant's need to eliminate waste. Caregivers try to recognize and respond to babies' bodily needs and enable them to urinate and defecate in an appropriate place (e.g. a toilet). Caregivers either use diapers as a back-up in case of misses, avoid the use of them altogether, or do a mixture of the two. EC emphasizes communication between the caregiver and child, helping them both become more attuned to the child's innate rhythms and control of urination and defecation. The practice can be done full time, part time, or just occasionally. The term "elimination communication" was inspired by traditional practices of diaper-less baby care in less industrialized countries and hunter-gatherer cultures.^[1] Some practitioners of EC begin soon after birth, although it can be started with babies of any age.

This week, I began semi using elimination communication. Aeson hates to have diapers on & will take them off any chance he gets. I also figure since I'm home, I may as well be working on it with him! And, I see this as the more natural thing.. Diapers don't seem that way for me. Plus, I get tired of washing diapers all the time & I don't want him to get used to always going in them, which will in turn make potty training harder! I'm not trying it all the time yet or anything like that.. It's too hard with other children here or when we go out places.. but I say it's still a start! I thought it was rather fun too. I haven't picked up on any signal or cue that he's going to go potty but once he started, I stuck the bucket under him and he LOVED peeing in it! He actually stopped himself pretty much every time (when I gasped, realizing he was going!) and then started again once the bowl was under him. Once, he's even pointed to the bowl & when I got it, he went! He was pretty proud of himself for pottying in there. He also LOVES to sit on the toilet.. but the problem is, he just wants to sit there! And sit there & sit there & sit there! :) He's made a few messes but luckily we have hardwood floors & it's an easy cleanup. I hope I continue to find time to work on it with him. I think it's a pretty amazing practice!

Well, I hear my little bundle up right now, so I better go cuddle him & give him some milk!

Westen's first 'girlfriend'

Starting a few weeks ago, a couple of girls I met through LLL and I have been meeting every Thursday, just to hang out and get to know each other better. One of them has a 4 year old daughter and she attends the same preschool as Westen. They play together the entire time without any problems whatsoever. This past week, when Calla's mommy came to get her, Westen & Calla both started protesting, asking for Calla to please be able to stay here or for Westen to be able to go to her house. Shannon (Calla's mom) said something about not needing to see each other EVERY day, to which they both protested with Westen saying "We're boyfriend and girlfriend now!" and Calla shaking her head yes.

The next day, Calla came with us after school to stay for a bit. Once again, we went through neither of them wanting to leave each other when it was time to go (and Westen even crying because he said he would miss her!). While she was here, I also overheard him telling her he loves her! I think he was actually trying to get her to come do something with him and he was like "But I like you.. I love you!"

Later that night, Westen told us that he'd kissed Calla! I thought he was joking, but he swore up and down that he was not fibbing. He said that she'd said "Let's kiss!" while they were playing house in the playpen they'd made into a 'tent.' He kissed her right on the lips and even showed me how he did! I didn't know how to respond! I couldn't believe I was having this conversation with my FOUR year old!! He obviously picked up on this, telling me that it was "okay because I love her." Oh boy!!!

I still don't know quite what to think about it! I thought it was cute and funny, but I also don't want him to grow up too fast! Parenting is so much harder than you think it will be!!

WALKING!!!

Let's see how much I can write while all 3 babies are sleeping!

First.. the most important thing!.. Aeson is WALKING!! A couple weeks ago, he'd gotten up to about 8 steps and then hadn't even tried for about a week and then two nights ago, he just started walking all over the place! It is too cute! He isn't even really wobbly & if he starts to lose his balance, he just squats down. He also was drinking VERY well out of the sippy cup yesterday (finally!).

My sister and her family were here this last weekend and they brought along a new picture of their baby, Bentley. After they left on Sunday, I put it in a frame we had next to our tv and as soon as Aeson noticed it, he went up to the picture and kept pointing to it squealing and talking. He then carried it over to me (walking!) and did the same thing. THEN, he started giving it kisses! I've never seen him give ANYTHING kisses. He's continued doing this same thing since then! We have other pictures up but he doesn't do anything to those except knock them down. He must love his little cousin bunches! :) Last night, Eric & I both swear he said 'Bentley' while doing all of this too.

Westen is loving school. He said yesterday that he wishes he could stay there all night because he loves it that much! He also said that the teacher said again how much she loves when people say please, because he'd said it again when asking for more milk.. So he said he's going to keep saying it so she'll keep saying that! :)

This past weekend, we also went shopping in Springfield for a few things. While we were there, Westen & Aeson got to ride on the carousel (picture below) and we took Westen to the Build A Bear store. He had never done it before, but he LOVED it. He chose a Cubs outfit and named the bear Cubby.

And then, the last picture below is one day when Aeson & Cohen dumped an entire box of cereal out!

First Day of Preschool!

Westen started preschool this week! We decided to go with the local Catholic preschool, so he only goes three days a week for a little over 2 hours each time. The preschool is actually in a little house that's behind the church/school, which I think makes it kind of nice. There are 11 kids in his class, with only 4 of them being boys (Westen included). The teacher is awesome and she has an aid as well. Westen was completely ready to go.. I, on the other hand, had weird feelings! I was nervous and sad and excited all at the same time! When I picked him up, the first thing he said to me was "I missed you, Mom!".. followed a few seconds later by "I was good!" :) He told me after his second day that he asked for more milk "please" at snack time and his teacher said she just LOVES when people say please. :) He's really enjoying it so far. He's come home with pictures he colored or made and tells me about the snack they had and how much they played. I'm glad he gets to be around other kids his age.

One day last week, I think it was, Westen used "speaking of" and "impressed" correctly while he was talking! He's such a big boy now. He also asked me the other day if God put a baby in my tummy yet. I said "you mean, besides Aeson?" and he said yes.. I said nope, and he goes "awww.. Mom!" in a disappointed tone. :) I asked if he wanted another baby and he said yes and I said "besides Aeson??" & he said "yes!"

Aeson has continued getting into anything & everything! Last week, he pulled many, many Kleenex's out of the box and then later that week, he dumped almost an entire box of cereal out onto the floor. He's so funny at this age. He dances and loves to give high fives. He'll go get a snack out of the kitchen (if the pantry's open) and bring it all the way into the living room and throw it on my lap! He LOVES cheese. He also LOVES to be outside. If he could be outside or in the bathtub, I'm pretty sure he'd be happy 24/7!

We're going to the Balloon Glow tonight, so I'm excited for the boys.. I'm sure they'll both love it.

Oh, and one of my best friends Sasha had her third baby boy yesterday (well, in the middle of the night). She named him Oliver Nicholas!

Steps!

Aeson has had quite the week this week! Earlier in the week, he figured out how to climb up on the couch by putting his leg up and pulling himself. The same day, he figured out how to climb onto his brother's recliner in his bedroom and get from there up on to the bed! We now have a gate blocking that doorway, and so far he hasn't fallen off the couch (thank goodness!). Then yesterday, he stood up and took FOUR steps! Very wobbly, but still four! And TODAY, he stood up and took between 6 and 8! I say between because he was pretty wobbly and I'm not sure a couple of them counted! Such a big boy!

Westen's been especially helpful this week too. With the start of the school year, I keep thinking about how next year he'll be starting kindergarten! It's hard to believe. I'll definitely miss him when that time comes! Yesterday, we walked up to the ice cream store and since I have 3 babies under 1.5 years, I strolled the older two in the double stroller and Westen strolled the baby in the umbrella stroller. So helpful!

Funny Boys

Westen has continued to say funny things almost every day. I wish I could remember them all! He's started his Christmas list, and it's quite funny. Actually, I'll just copy & paste it for you!

gi joe toy story lego
big buzz lightyear
toy story store lego set
toy story rocketship lego
lego airplane yellow
green lego car
blue motorcycle lego
huge airplane that you build forever lego set
buzz lightyear with wings
jets at Walmart & helicopter & airplane
moonsand that you put in the roof on the farm & it turns into an animal
transformers freedom fighters

Today, he was looking at wedding pictures & he said "Mommy, you married Grandpa Jim??" He's also asked several times lately why people were called whatever they were when they were born. He finds Aeson's name strange. He asks a million questions, a lot of which I can't really explain! (like things about the moon, sun, storms, etc) He's already very excited about Halloween and Christmas. He's decided he wants to be Batman, Aeson to be a bat, Daddy to be a gorilla, P-nut to be SuperDog, and I don't think he's decided for me.

As funny and darling as he is sometimes, he's also been quite challenging lately! I don't know how to teach him respect and politeness... without just being that way toward him. I also don't know how to teach him the value of money and possessions. Last week, he was on a kick where he just did not understand why he couldn't have McDonalds for every meal and watch tv all day and night. He's been in time out often lately and gotten tv taken away several times. I hope things start to go a little better once he's in school and out of the house for short times.. Hopefully it doesn't go the other way and he learns even more bad behavior there! He doesn't start until after Labor Day, and he's going in the afternoon, which I'm happy with. Hopefully it won't be too hard getting the daycare kiddos in and out.

Aeson's learning more and more each day. He started taking one step just around his first birthday and yesterday he took two. He just doesn't quite have his balance. We have a couple of train/truck toys that you can push around and instead of pushing them from behind like you're supposed to, he pushes them sideways! I think he needs the extra leverage. He recently started saying "ni ni" for night night. He signs "milk" constantly and others like "more," "bath," and "all done" less frequently. Today, he climbed up on the couch all by himself for the first time. He's enjoyed climbing stairs for some time but he hasn't figured out how to get down from places.. and he also hasn't quite realized when there's NOTHING there to sit back on! Scares Mommy to death! His last round of bloodwork and sonogram came back normal, so thank goodness there. His lead screen came back fine, but he was slightly anemic. I think his score was 9.7 and they like it above 10.5. His doctor started him on iron supplements two times a day. He actually likes taking it! The baby that's three months older than Aeson (more of a toddler then, huh? :)) returned to our daycare with the start of the school year, and it's so fun to watch the two of them. They play together pretty well & entertain each other. Aeson's really good about sharing and was sharing his cereal yesterday, even putting it in the other little boy's mouth for him!

One word that definitely describes life with a 1 year old is repetitive! Everything that I like DONE, Aeson likes UNDONE. He'll pull all the towels off the shelf, push freshly folded laundry down, throw all the diapers off his changing table shelf, take picture frames down, etc... I fix it, and he does it again!

I'm really enjoying have a one year old, though. :) He's so funny. He repeats things that we find funny, or if he hurts himself, he'll gently do it again, like he's showing us what happened.

Aeson's First Birthday!

Aeson's first birthday was August 3rd! The weekend before, we went to St. Louis and stayed one night. We went to the zoo the first day and even though it was very hot, we all had a wonderful time. We saw all the animals, went on a train ride, got to pet stingrays, rode the carosel, and watched the sea lion show. We went swimming at the hotel that evening. Maybe the week before, Aeson started putting his face in the bathwater & he did that at the pool too! I think he's trying to copy his brother. Aeson also decided to unroll the roll of toilet paper while Mommy was showering. :) The rest of the evening, we watched Shark Week on Discovery, which Westen LOVED. He was asking questions about sharks the rest of the weekend! The next day, we went to the Magic House there, which is like a huge toyhouse. I think Westen's favorite part was the vine with huge leaves that you could climb up to go between the floors. There were a ton of different settings for kids to play in, lots of slides, and just all around cool things for kids to do. They even had a baby area that Aeson loved. We weighed him there, and he weighed in at 28lbs. Aeson did fairly well on the drive to and from St. Louis, but he was a little fussy the last half hour to hour each way.

Which reminds me, I got a van! I traded my car in the Friday before for a minivan. I had a lot of trouble deciding between a 3 row SUV and the minivan, but in the end I thought this would be easier for our family (and daycare kids). It has a built-in DVD player, so that definitely helped for the trip. There's so much room too! It makes me feel very old and I still can't quite wrap my head around the fact that I drive a VAN.. but I'm happy we got it, and it is so much easier than my car. I also found out when trading in that my tire was about to separate, which would have caused a blow out. It was one of my back tires, so it could have been very dangerous. I'm so thankful I decided to trade it in when I did! While debating trading in, I also realized I'm getting older because the excitement of getting a new vehicle was definitely overcome by the realization of having more debt! I used to trade in yearly and never gave a thought to that part of it.

The weekend after Aeson's actual birthday, we had a party at our house for him. We had a photographer come here to do pictures, and I'm anxious to see how they turned out. The sneak peeks I've seen are awesome! We provided dinner for everybody (and had LOTS of people here!), opened some very cool presents, and then did the cake.. Aeson really wasn't too interested in it and barely ate any. He's never had any sugary items, other than ice cream (which he LOVES!), so I don't know if that had anything to do with it or not. A few of my family members stayed after and we had a good time. My sister and her hubby were down for the weekend, so they stayed with us & we were very happy to have them!

So now I'm a mother of a one year old! I can't believe it. :) I'm excited for this next year, though, and I know he'll get more independent and verbal. He had his 1 year checkup yesterday. I'm not sure how much she marked for weight, because it was fluctuating between 28lbs, 3oz.. 28lbs, 8oz.. etc.. and he was moving lots! Regardless, he's over 28 lbs and he was 32 inches long.

Westen told me the other day that he wants another baby in my tummy, because it's "empty" now. :) He also asked how the baby gets there! :) He asks LOTS of questions lately! One other funny thing Westen said last night.. We went to DQ to get ice cream and he said he wanted a "lizard." :)