Saturday, June 30, 2012

Time Out, Peaches

Lesson Learned...No Hitting
This morning Oliver put his drum time out for "hitting him" while he was swinging it around his body by the string. I guess it hit him one time too hard. He even asked for the timer, and had his drum in time-out for 2 minutes...

Chester making sure the drum behaves in time-out...with the timer set for 2 minutes on the dresser.


Lesson Learning...Waste Not, Want Not
For snack today, we all had some delicious peaches we just got at the Farmer's Market (TASTY!) After asking if he could have more and me answering him with yes after he finished his initial peach, I had to leave the room for a minute. I came back to find Oliver had taken a good 3-4 bites out of the remaining 3 peaches, with his still unfinished original 1/2 peach... And so now he sits until he finishes all the peach...or until he has agreed it really IS a good idea to finish one piece of fruit before deciding to bite into another.

Now that's a big pile of peaches! I'm betting the peaches will win.

Monday, June 25, 2012

"Proud You Da-Day"

While chatting with my Aussie sister on Skype the other night, I had a funny story for her about Oliver. I didn't get a chance to tell her because the subject changed, but it occurred to me to go ahead and blog about it. So, a while ago I'd written a post asking the question, "What am I doing wrong as a mother, or is my child just being TWO??" I loved the feedback that assured me every parent is in that boat at some point. Many points along the way, actually. But after feeling very uplifted and encouraged by the feedback, I changed how I reacted to Oliver.

I felt like I was getting on his case all day, every day, and the poor child couldn't do a thing right. I kept trying to set up opportunities for him to succeed but most things ended in tears, disasters, time outs, the usual mess. By 25 months old, he still wasn't sleeping through the night, and at 7 months pregnant, I was really worried about how I was going to handle two sleepless children. Thankfully, Oliver has always had a really relaxing, happy bedtime routine that he looks forward to. He's one of those kids who can't wait to jump in bed for nap or night time! I decided to tweak it one night, and tell him the good things he did that day that made me proud of him, right between the part where I finish singing songs and give him hugs and kisses. I was determined to find 3 things, and some days it was tough. I'd ask "You know what I'm proud of you for today?" and he'd immediately roll out of the covers, lay across the bed on his belly, and look at me, face in hands. We've done this every night since, and magically (along with some other efforts) he started sleeping through the night! His behavior is also much improved, and I actually saw improvement in his attitude the very next day :)  It is now to the point where, if I forget to tell him what I'm proud of him for that day, he rolls over, lays on his belly, stares at me and says "Wait, no! Proud you da-day!"

I digress. Back to the funny story, which is so built up now, it'll likely disappoint. Oh well, ha ha ha!

So fast forward 9 months later, and after telling him what I'm proud of him for, I ask him if there's anything he wants to talk about for a few minutes - this is one of our few times to be just the two of us, uninterrupted. He'll often tell me something that went on during the day, or remind me of the times he was "for-real crying"...getting soap in his eyes, falling off a 4' porch, having his tricycle break while he was riding it...those are his favorite things to reminisce ever since we had the discussion about what a "real cry" and "fake cry" are (fake = whiny).

So this one night, we were having a real heart-to-heart about him using the toilet 4 times, having a dry diaper after his nap, saying please and thank you all day, seeing an airplane so high in the sky I couldn't believe he spotted it, etc. And then he said "Know I'm prouda you da-day?" Me, thinking, wow the tables have turned and this is such a special moment, I wonder what he's got in mind..."What's that?"  Oliver:"When Mama did a BIG BURP. BLAAAAAAARP!!!" Much laughter and giggling ensued.

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Also Late...EASTER 2012!

 
 We really enjoy the new tradition of my side of the family coming to our place for Easter these past few years...it's so nice that it's gotten so much easier now that we're 6 hours closer! Here's a little look at the Easter egg hunt this year.















Oliver helped me plant all these beautiful flowers for the occasion...believe it or not, they're still alive and actually thriving 3 months later!

 And found it! I love the expression on his face! This year Oliver has really started grasping the concepts of these holidays (Haloween, Easter, Christmas, birthdays) and it's so much fun to watch his excitement!

And try as I might, this picture will forever be sideways.






And the obligatory "smile for the camera" pose ;)



And Eliska and Aunt Amy hunting


And another!













Ian's first Easter! He wasn't impressed with the hunt, but sure enjoyed snuggling in Daddy's arms :)

  Best buddies and thick as thieves, these two!

 Lollipops anyone?

Tongues changing colors!

So, I know it's goofy, but all three kiddoes had little bunny ears on. Somewhere, on someone's camera, (Za?) is a picture of all of them and their ears. Hey, I figure I gotta get them to do these dorky-cute things while they'll still let me!

A few months late. Blubonnets!

Family Portrait

 Me and my man!

With my boys

My heart!

And a picture I LOVE of me and our new little man

Flying Oliver!!!

Omama and Grandpapa with their two oldest grandbabies

Checking out the bluebonnets

And his sweet cousin, my beautiful goddaughter

And because I love the distance-shots...these are gorgeous!


I'm so glad we live in the "Wildflower Capital of Texas!"

Beer Band

I have a lot to catch up on over the last few months, and I'll do a history in photographs here if I have time, but right now I thought I'd post this morning's spontaneous formation of the all new boy band...


I love how Ian's rocking out here!

Now, I had an awesome video that took 30 minutes to upload, and then it disappeared. Sometimes this site drives me NUTS. That's a nice way to put it...argh!!!! Anyhoo, Nich said this was almost his dream. Just needs some football playing in the background :)

And I love Ian's face here - he's having a blast!

Oh, and they were playing "The Big Dance" aka "Blue Suede Shoes." Oliver is currently obsessed with all things Elvis Presley, especially this song. He "plays" it on the keyboard, requests it on the piano from Papabear, "plays" it on the guitar, knows all the words, and even does the Elvis dance! It's pretty awesome and I need to catch it on film here soon while he's not looking. Meanwhile, Nich has been trying to convince him the Beatles are way cooler. :)