Stocking cap weather

No need for a lot of words...it's been COLD here this week!  We've still been playing outside after supper, only with the addition of coats and hats. 

We purchased this Twins hat for Colin earlier this summer when we were still proud to be on the bandwagon.  We're still on that bandwagon, we just might have to tape a Sioux logo over the TC.  

Kidding...I think...

Box Car Days

It was Colin's second Box Car Days last weekend.  Although he chickened out on riding the trucks, we all enjoyed a weekend with the perfect amount of relaxation and activity.

The duck was the favorite animal.
Maybe because he was in a cage?!

 



Copycat



Grandma trying to convince Colin to give the bird five.
He wasn't so sure he wanted to touch the bird, but was too curious to leave.



Showing Uncle Al his mad skills





LOVED the slide!



Trying to decide what truck to ride (turns out he didn't ride any!)



Priceless faces




Watching the parade entries line up and talking about the "red tar".



 

Honesty is the best policy

It was a particularly trying supper prep hour at our house tonight.  We knew it had already been a rough day when Colin's daily sheet said he was "emotional and tired."  So after explaining to Colin that we could play outside once his milk was finished, the following conversation occurred:

John:  Are you going to be a good boy the rest of the night?

                                     Colin:  NO.

At least he's on his way to being a virtuous kid...?!

So Tall

There has been a lot of tower building in our living room lately.  This kid is starting to grow like a weed...

...but still needs a little help every now and then to reach the very top.



One final picture just because he was being goofy. :)



23 months

Colin: you are in full-fledged toddler mode now.  Your vocabulary has EXPLODED this last month.  You are saying short sentences and enunciating your words so much more.  Example: "tir...tuhl" (circle)

One of my favorite times of the day is in the morning when you're done watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (but before we put your shoes on).  We all say goodnight to lovey before you put him back to bed for the day.  A couple mornings ago you said, "Momma, nuhnee tiss. Nuhnee bed."  I gave him a kiss and then you said, "Da, nuhnee tiss."  After Dad's kiss you ran as fast as you could back to your bedroom, said, "Niiigh" to lovey, gave him a kiss and tossed him back in your crib.  

You're very into music, dancing and singing these days.  A daily request is for the name game song, or as you know it, "nana".  We sing it every night while brushing teeth.  It usually starts with "Nahnin" (Colin), proceeds to "Da", and then "Momma".  Although, a couple of the favorites lately are "RAHsss" (Ross) and "Tehnee" (Kelly). :)

Jumping, throwing, chasing, and climbing are all things you love to do.  Jumping, especially, can make anything funny and enjoyable to you.  You don't want to go get your shoes in the AM?  We jump like frogs to where they are sitting by the door.  Bathtime is too much fun and you're not happy about having to get out?  We ask if you're going to have a really big jump or a little jump to your towel (9 times out of 10 it's a super huge jump). 

It's amazing to watch how much you change each day.  You count to ten, sing almost all of the letters in the ABC's, and definitely have a great memory.  It surprises us when you remember something from months ago.  Don't toddlers have a short-term memory?!  Regardless, this age definitely has its struggles.  But along with that comes some incredibly wonderful moments.  You are such a sweet boy and I can only hope that continues (at least for a few more months)!

Transitions

A whole mass of changes are soon coming Colin's way - one of them being potty training.  His teacher at daycare said he's next on the potty list, so we broke down and purchased a potty last weekend.  We narrowed it down to 2 and let Colin decide which one he wanted.  We should've guessed he'd pick the red one (everything is red lately - even if he knows something isn't red, he will still say it's red...).

After the big selection, we scooted on out of the potty aisle with a screaming toddler in arm.  He continued yelling, "POTTY!!!" and John and I couldn't figure out what the problem was.  We got the potty he wanted.  The red one.  Until, he pointed at it and told us he wanted to sit on it.  In the cart.  

So this was us, walking around Target last Saturday.  

The things you'll do to avoid a toddler tantrum.  

Slacking.

I know.  That's an understatment.  But things have been busy - or more like chaotic - around our house lately. 

There's the sale of our house:

Purchase and inspection of a new one:

A week out of town for work.  Homework and corresponding craziness for John.  Not to mention a 22 month-old running around.   

Maybe it will start to slow down in the next year?!