Sleeping Toddler/Weekend

Sleeping in his own bed went fairly well this weekend. Friday he only got up a couple of times and I spent about 2 hours in there because I fell asleep on the floor. Saturday night he fussed once, I put him back down without the blanket over his head and he slept the rest of the night. Sunday, he never made a peep. He came in at 6:00 am the next morning and took a 30 minute nap with us! Last night he appeared at our bedside at 2 am without making a peep. His Momma opened her eyes and he was standing there. He spent the rest of the night in our bed. I hope we didn't ruin the streak. It is good that we got him out of the crib, he climbs all over it now. Definitely an accident waiting to happen.

When he does get into Tori's crib (with his parents assistance), he tries on the hats in the closet.



He then makes me wear a hat, we then spend a few minutes trading and trying different hats. He used to hate wearing hats, now he seems to enjoy it. He doesn't keep them on for very long, but he will wear them for a little bit. Someday, he may wear a hat for more than 10 minutes. It is just a fun game for now.


They usually end up on backwards as well, but in his case, it is cuter. As long as he doesn't start wearing it sideways.

To Sleep In His Own Bed

Ollie will be sleeping in his own bed this weekend for the entire night. This past week he has been waking due to teething or cold, we aren't sure which. He then ends up in our bed for the night. We end up being punching bags and railings for the bed. It makes his already uncomfortable Momma, even more so. It just prepares me for the lack of sleep we'll have in 1 month.

So, this weekend, I'll be on his floor for the entire weekend if necessary. He needs to get comfortable and used to sleeping in his big bed.

Shh, I'm Hiding

Toys

You buy your children all the expensive toys that promise to increase your child's abilities to the max! They are bright, colorful, shiny and make a lot of noise. These toys don't compare to the mundane 'toys' found around the house. They become castles and race cars. They become the dreams of their creators. All the while the shiny noise-makers gather dust. I guess a cardboard box can be a lot of things when you use your mind.

The Human Wheelbarrow

Party Animal

What do you do when you are told that you are going to be the next Harry Potter? You have a party! Of course, you have to party like an animal and show up in you birthday suit.

Kitties not included

Harry Potter:Day 3

There is nothing that I could write to convince you that this picture would be a good argument for Ollie being the next Harry Potter. He's wearing the glasses, with 1 dark lens down. He is wearing socks with is sandals (a common occurrence). He is holding onto his Mama's purse and holding his arm in a weird position to keep it from dragging on the floor. He's also using real keys to 'run' his vehicle. This is a must any time he is on a vehicle. We have a strange child, but I wouldn't trade him for the world.

Speaking of trading children, I was holding a little girl at the sitter's yesterday. Ollie was running around and wouldn't get ready to go. So the sitter told Ollie that I was going to take the little girl home. He looked at me, then her and asked me if I was going to take her home. I told him yes, he immediately sprung forward and tried to push the little girl out of my lap. Then he jumped into my lap to take her place. Only slightly jealous. I really hope he doesn't do this to Tori. 1 month and we shall see.

Harry Potter:Day 2

Harry had a little run in with trouble. He looks a bit more battered and bruised. He has also traded his beast Tigger for a more convenient mode of transportation. Unfortunately, it isn't the flying car that appeared in the second movie.

He has also acquired a strange luggage system called a purse. I'm sure our little Harry will get through the troubling times with help from his friends. Maybe a good game of Quidditch would raise his spirits. I'm sure he'll be back to his evil fighting ways in no time.

Harry Potter:Day 1

With a new Harry Potter being cast for the next set of movies, we thought we'd enter Ollie as the young wizard. He has the prerequisite scar on his forehead. He can make things disappear before you realize they are gone. Sometimes, they will never return to your sight. He sees things that aren't there and will tell you all about it like you see it too. He is extremely good at chasing off evil-doers like cats and can imitate many animal sounds, though not always the correct ones. For instance, did you know that fish Chirp chirp according to the new Harry Potter. One more piece of evidence to bolster our son as the new Harry Potter.


The New Harry Potter Riding his Beast Tigger!

Letter L

Last night Ollie woke up around 1 am crying. He didn't make it out of bed before I got in there. He was laying at the bottom of his bed with his lower torso dangling over the side of the bed. He and the bed made an 'L' shape. He asked for his pillow, so I placed him back in the proper sleeping position on his pillow at the top of the bed and crept out of the room. He went back to sleep without a fuss and we got to enjoy a toddler free bed for another night.

This morning while getting ready for work, he came bursting into our room when he woke up. We keep waiting for this to happen in the middle of the night, but so far it hasn't. Last night was the first night he didn't sleep all the way through in his new bed. I was expecting him to come into our room when he awoke, maybe next time.




Ollie also had his 2 year checkup yesterday and is fit as a fiddle. They said if he keeps growing the way he is now, he will be 6 ft. tall. He must've gotten the height from his grandfathers, because he didn't get it from Tresa and I. He was 31 lbs. so, he is giving our arms a workout as well. He seems to be a little above the curve in talking and motor skills. He displayed none of it during his exam. He was too shy and too tired.

He didn't get a nap before his exam and he was getting crabby by the time his exam started. He was put to bed 3 times before he finally fell asleep on the couch last night. He kept fighting it every time. While on the couch he had to keep touching his momma. She was the chosen one last night. He should get a good nap today and be a little easier to get to sleep tonight...we hope.

Birthday and The Bed

Ollie got plenty for his birthday. Cake, ice cream, power tools, tricycle and a pool. It was too cold to use the pool, so it has to wait. The power tools have been used to fix many things, like our bodies. The tricycle has been ridden every where as well.

His birthday dinner was macaroni and hotdogs. He didn't eat more than a bite of cake. Then we played outside for at least an hour. The next door neighbors were out, so Ollie played with Aaron (6 years) and Matthew (21 months). Aaron pulled his brother and Ollie in the wagon up and down the street. Then all 3 got a ride in the wagon. Occasionally, they'd stop and switch seats in the wagon. They'd play with the golf toys and check out the cats. Then the tricylces came out for a quick race. Ollie had to have keys to start his vehicle.

Finally, it was time for them to get their bath, so Ollie had his bath and eventually went to bed. Saturday morning we went to the garage sales around our subdivision and the only thing we found were a few toys that Ollie had to have. We then went shopping and bough Ollie a toddler bed. It is a Winnie-the-Pooh bed that can be used for Tori when she is ready as well. His first adventure in the bed was a struggle.

We laid him down for his nap on Saturday and he immediately wanted up. It was a fight for awhile, but Tresa got him to lay down and go to sleep. She had to pat his stomach and pretend to sleep herself to get him to doze off. Saturday night he laid down and went to sleep without a fuss. On Sunday, we had a repeat of Saturday's nap drama, but Sunday night stayed the same. We may have to fake sleep for awhile to get him used to napping in his bed.

Today, Ollie gets his 2 year check-up and we aren't expecting any issues. He seems to be healthy as a horse. If only he would stop riding on us like we are horses.

Year 2

Today Ollie turns 2. It is amazing how much he has changed in that little amount of time. He went from being totally helpless to helping himself to whatever he wants. He's grown from a chubby cheaked baby to a lean mean running machine, with jumping nearing. From howls and screams to coherent sentences. He knows what he wants and he'll tell you.

This evening, we are planning on making Hot Dogs and Macaroni (his favorite). We are going to try and eat on the deck if it doesn't rain. We also have a cake with the Monster's Inc. characters on it. Ice cream to top it off.

He's already gotten his tricycle and last night he got a toy toolset from his aunt. I doubt it will prevent him from playing with my real tools, but it could help. We are also planning on getting him a plastic swimming pool for the summer. I imagine we will be soaked by summers end.

Tomorrow we plan on garage sales. I'm sure he will find something he must have, he did last year. Luckily, it was only 10 cents. He'll get to cruise in his stroller while we walk from house to house.

I only hope he sleeps in his own bed for his birthday. He didn't do so well last night and he isn't an easy person to sleep with. He did get up in a good mood though.

So, here's to 2 years and many more. When you turn 18, we'll show you the door. (I should really leave the poetry to professionals)

Food

The past couple of nights, after dinner, Ollie has made stuff for us to eat. Monday night it had no description, but it came on his plastic baking sheet. I would get 1 bite of it and he would make more. It looked like it was a lot of salt and pepper to me, because he was shaking his toy shaker onto the baking sheet. We also had popcorn for a snack later on, but the plastic didn't taste very good.

Last night, we had a special treat, Hot Dogs. At least that is what he told me it was. They were cooked in the pan with his spatula. Of course, we had to have the prerequisite salted baking sheet in addition to the Hot Dogs. He would eat 1 bite, run to the stove, salt and pepper the baking sheet and run back. Occasionally, he would turn the hot dogs and get a 'drink' then return to the baking. The imaginary world has begun. I can't wait to see what we eat tonight.

Yes, I re-enabled the comment box since no one made comments on posts.

Bicycle Birthday

"Bicycle Birthday", Ollie would say.

We would reassure him that he was getting a bicycle for his birthday. We found a tricycle this past weekend and showed it to him to see if he would like it. Let's just say he got his present early for his birthday and hasn't forgotten it since.

In the past 2 years, we could show him his gift before any holiday and he would forget it within a couple of minutes. Not this time around. We are going to have to start hiding his presents for Christmas when we buy them. If we don't he will want them immediately.

This Friday, he turns 2. He currently doesn't like the park or zoo so we are going to play it by ear. We'll get him a cake and see what he wants to do. I'm sure we'll play and maybe go out for ice cream. Then he'll go to bed and we'll get to enjoy the peace and quiet of his birthday.

Ollie the Biter

If they had been civilized, rational adults, the conversation would have gone something like this:

J: I see you are playing with a toy that I would like to play with.

Ollie: Yes it is a very fun toy

J: Can we share the fun toy and play with it together.

Ollie: Of course, then we can sing wonderful songs together while we play!

Off into the sunset they would go, singing and playing to their hearts content.

Unfortunately, they are not civilize rational adults, they are toddlers and I imagine the exchange went something more like this:

J: *grabs toy in Ollie's arms*

Ollie: Mine! *pulling toy out of J's reach*

J: Aaaauuuugggghhhhhh! *grabs toy*

From there the struggle would ensue over the toy each getting madder as it escalates.

Ollie: *pulls toy*

J: *pulls toy*

Watching 1-year-olds chant: figh figh figh!

Ollie: eeehhh

J: eeehhhh

Ollie: *chomps on J's arm*

J: Waaaaaaaaa

The crowd disperses and Ollie gets the toy taken away and a timeout on a kitchen chair. J gets her arm wrapped in ice. No blood drawn this time. I came in a little bit later and knew he was in trouble. I was told the epic saga of the toy battle and confronted sir chomps-a-lot about it. I asked him if he bit J and he turned his head away. I asked again and his eyes started welling up. I reminded him that he wasn't supposed to bite, more welling of eyes. J had forgiven him and he was allowed to get down. I tried to get him to tell her he was sorry, but he either doesn't know the word yet or was being stubborn. That is something we'll have to work on. This is the second time he has bitten her. He gets in trouble when tries to do it at home, I'm hoping he doesn't try to do it to Tori.

He Doesn't Know What He's In For

Ollie can point to the 3 other kids at the sitters and call them all by their names correctly. He can mimic 'Tori in Mama's Tummy', but he has no idea that a person is in there. He's in for a shock in about 6 weeks. About that time baby version 2 (Tori) will make her way into our home.

I am predicting that Ollie will be curious, but not very fond of his sister for a few months. The cats will hate her presence, but will get used to her. Being in the terrible 2's, Ollie will either throw fits every time we do something for her or he'll want to help with everything. I'm guessing fits. We'll have one throwing tantrums because he isn't getting his way and another crying because she needs something. I'm predicting earplugs in our future.

Once he gets used to her, he'll probably be an over protective brother. Over protective of his toys that is! He seems to share very well with the kids at the sitters and take a lot of their crap without complaint. For instance, the 2 kids learning to walk use him as a walker and he lets them grab on and walks with them without complaint. I'm hoping this carries over to his sister.

It is hard to know what to expect. It will change our family dynamic and will change all of us for the better. It will also change our sleeping patters, but that comes with the territory.

Servant

There is a commercial on TV, with a mom professing how great their 'help' around the house is. This is before they show you that the 'help' is toddlers not being helpful.

This morning, our servant was helpful to me. He shut the door to the bathroom, helped me undress for my shower and opened the door to the shower for me. The only complaint with his service was the 4:30 am wake up call. It was at least an hour and half early. He then proceeded to make our bed smaller by joining us in it. Some service! We then had to serve him a drink in bed! Needless to say, he hasn't earned his tip yet, but he does well with moving the sand out of his sandbox and all over everything else. Could you really not tip a face like this?