What's Your Name?

We've been working with Joshua on this question. People are always asking him, "What's your name?" and he just looks at them. So we will ask him at home and while he is prompted in this video he does usually answer on his own. He will tell you how old he is now and my favorite is when you ask him, "What's your daddy's name?". He thinks he is saying Raul, but it comes out as "Raaooon"...he doesn't quite have mommy's name yet.

(Papa and Nana....listen carefully to the end of the video)

Dance

Joshua loves music...all kinds of music. Earlier today I had an old Aqua and Beach Boys mixed CD playing in the car on the way home from Bastrop and Joshua was just smiling away dancing his little cars in his hands. So tonight a commercial came on and both Joshua and Daddy got up to dance. Joshua now wants everyone to dance when he dances so you can hear him say "Shake Booty Daddy, Shake Booty Mommy" as he shakes his little booty around to the music.

Loving Two

This is a poem I recently ran across online and it brought tears to my eyes and I felt I needed to share it with everyone else.


Loving Two 

I walk along holding your 2-year-old hand, basking in the glow of our magical relationship. Suddenly I feel a kick from within, as if to remind me that our time alone is limited. And I wonder: how could I ever love another child as I love you? 

Then he is born, and I watch you. I watch the pain you feel at having to share me as you’ve never shared me before. 

I hear you telling me in your own way, “Please love only me”. And I hear myself telling you in mine, “I can’t”, knowing, in fact, that I never can again. 

You cry. I cry with you. I almost see our new baby as an intruder on the precious relationship we once shared. A relationship we can never quite have again. 

But then, barely noticing, I find myself attached to that new being, and feeling almost guilty. I’m afraid to let you see me enjoying him, as though I am betraying you. 

But then I notice your resentment change, first to curiosity, then to protectiveness, finally to genuine affection. 

More days pass, and we are settling into a new routine. The memory of days with just the two of us is fading fast. 

But something else is replacing those wonderful times we shared, just we two. There are new times – only now, we are three. I watch the love between you grow, the way you look at each other, touch each other. 

I watch how he adores you – as I have for so long. I see how excited you are by each of his new accomplishments. And I begin to realize that I haven’t taken something from you, I’ve given something to you. I notice that I am no longer afraid to share my love openly with both of you. 

I find that my love for each of you is as different as you are, but equally strong. And my question is finally answered, to my amazement. Yes, I can love another child as much as I love you – only differently. 

And although I realize that you may have to share my time, I now know you’ll never share my love. There’s enough of that for both of you – you each have your own supply. 

I love you – both. And I thank you both for blessing my life. 

Author Unknown

A New Coat

So, we've been shoving our poor little two year old into a jacket that is meant for a one year old for a while now. It barely hits his waist and gets pulled up nearly to his elbows when he raises his arms. I've been on the hunt for a Carhart jacket for a while now. Every store I went to or called were out of the toddler sizes so I gave up and bought it online. It finally arrived yesterday and he got to use it for the first time. It arrived just in time for the cold front that is supposed to be coming through this weekend (I'll believe it when it happens).

Here he is looking so adorable in the new coat

Thomas the Train

After the meeting on Sunday, Silina went out to her car with Joshua and came back with a Thomas the Train complete with tracks. We got home and set it up for him since he kept saying "Thomas Train" the whole drive home.

It's now the first thing he wants to play with in the morning and this morning I got this picture of him watching Thomas make his turn on the tracks.

Sentences

Joshua has exploded with putting sentences together. Just saturday evening he was playing in his bathtub and placed a little duck next to a larger duck. He looks at me and says, "Mama, please leave duckie here." I couldn't believe how much he is starting to put all his two three word phrases into sentences.

Then this morning he woke up at his usual 7am time and we tried to get him to go back to sleep. So, Raul pretended to have his eyes closed and started snoring. Joshua leans over to him and says, "Daddy, don't do that."

Updates and Pictures

First, potty training...not really in the works. Occasionally we can get him to go on the sea turtle potty before he goes in his diaper, but we are not going to be pushing the issue. We really feel the best way is letting him lead us as to where he is at with it. No need in having him regress after Matthew arrives anyway. At least he gets the idea of what to do on the potty.

Second, sleeping is going okay. We decided that because he has been sleeping in our bed for a year now it isn't a habit that can be broken overnight or even in a week despite what people will say. So, we are working on naps. He takes his naps in his bed (as long as I'm not running errands that keeps us out at nap time). He actually does really well and will just wake up and walk out into the living room looking for one of us. From others experience with this method their little one eventually just asked to sleep in his own bed at night after experiencing many joyful naps in his own bed. So, hopefully we can get people to stop pushing us to get him out of our bed overnight. It isn't as if Matthew will be in our bed too.

Now, some pictures of Joshua lately.

 Watching cartoons

Double fisted

 

 Walking out on the farm

Rolling down a dirt hill in the back...yes, he did this voluntarily

Napping and Sleeping Update

I must say that when Daddy is home the problem is harder than usual because he is going through a Daddy stage, where only Daddy can feed him, change his diaper, get him dressed, and put him to sleep.

So I've been working really hard to put him on a 5-2-5 schedule...five hours after waking up he goes down for a nap...the nap can only be two hours max...then he is up for five hours before getting his bath and being put to bed.

The first attempt he went to sleep amazingly quick. He didn't need to hold my neck, didn't need me sleeping in the bed with him. He just needed my hand on his back for a few minutes. In each of his hands held a small toy car. He slept for an hour and a half then came out of his room crawled onto the couch and fell asleep again for another half hour.

Then yesterday after playing outside for some time he took a short nap in his bed in the morning, then played around some more and took another nap while we ate dinner. He came into the living room, laid down on his bed, covered up, and went back to sleep while I finished cooking dinner. 

Today he went down for his nap with a little bit of fuss about wanting to go to Daddy, but I stuck to my guns and made him lie down. Of course, he needed my neck, but hey, he's in his little bed, and has been for two hours now. He's finally getting it. I love it because I am now able to do small things around the house, write on here undisturbed, or put my feet up and watch TV.

We are still working on night time, but it is getting better. Wednesday night Daddy slept in Joshua's room on the floor and said that he didn't wake up once. I told him I knew Joshua could do it...it's just getting him to go down without a major fuss anymore.

Potty Training....Maybe?!?!?!?

I had just finished talking with my mom on Skype when Joshua came running into the kitchen with absolutely no diaper on. I had also just asked him if he needed a diaper change to which I got a very adamant "No" and a head shake.
I looked at him and asked if he needed to go potty on the sea turtle (his potty seat that attaches to the toilet). He took off running for his bathroom and tried to put the potty on the toilet. I put it all on and put him on the toilet in which hie did a really great pee-pee job. Then said he was finished. I helped him off and asked "Are you sure you're done?" and he said "Potty, Potty". So back on he went...at which time he peed a little bit more and then had a little poop too. I got so excited and clapped for him and told him great job. I asked, "Do you want a clean diaper or undies on?" He looked at me and said "Undies" and ran to his bedroom to the drawer that I have been keeping the undies in. He is at this moment walking around the house in a T-shirt and undies. I am paranoid that he is going to pee on our carpet or couches and keep asking if he needs to go potty and he keeps telling me no. I guess we'll see what he does today. I'll just stay on top of it.


UPDATE:
We made it a full hour before he peed in the kitchen. If anything at least it was in the kitchen and not carpet. He then asked to go on the sea turtle, where he went a little bit more. We'll keep trying. I'm sure he is getting the hang of it and he's starting to do it all by himself rather than us forcing him to potty train.

Black Out Shades

Nana sent us a picture of some black out shades from IKEA and I went down to our local one and picked up one for Joshua's room and one for Matthew's room (which was defective...need to take that back). I got Joshua's all set up in advance of us teaching him to sleep in his own room...which I will start with naptime today. I am actually very excited about it. I think I will be changing the curtain rod to his football one rather than the ones that came with the house because this one won't hold the weight of the curtains. I raised it so it wouldn't be touching the floor (one less curtain to take up). I picked the gray color because black just seemed so dreary and down for a little boys room and white, well, who puts white in a little boys room?

This weekend we are getting Joshua's dresser out of storage so I look forward to that and getting his closet re-organized since the bin that is in it won't be holding his clothes anymore. I plan to get his name back up on the wall as well. I put most of his stuffed animals into a space saver bag to go into storage under the house since he NEVER plays with them and just kept out a few of the ones that he either likes to dance around or that I will put up on shelves for decor. 

Here is the corner of the room where his bed is.

With the new blinds open

 With the blinds closed but the curtains open 

Two Years Old Today

My Dearest Joshua,

I hope someday you will understand completely how much your mom and dad love you. You have been our sunshine on a cloudy day. Mommy is still trying to wrap her mind around the fact that two years have gone by since we welcomed you into our lives. Sometimes I look at you and still see my little tiny baby that needs Mommy for everything, then there are times that I look again and you are so grown up doing things all by yourself and don't want my help anymore.

I have sat and watched your every milestone and watched you thrive in this strange world of ours. You have always had a smile for others and have always had your own opinions about how things should be done. I love that you are an independent little boy that wants to do things for himself. Every day when we wake up and you look at me and smile is the best way for me to start my day. I love that I can walk into another room of the house and you will look around calling out "Mama, Honey, Mama, Honey" until you locate me just to give me a hug or kiss or both.

I love that no matter what you do in your day you always come back to Mama for your hugs, kisses, snuggles, and holding for your nap time and bed time. You are my everything and I could not ask for a more loving, well rounded, little two year old.

I am so proud to be your Mommy and I look forward to all the years to come and watching you grow.

Love,
Mommy

Why Is Sleep So Elusive?

When we brought Joshua home from the hospital he was the perfect baby. He would be up every 3-4 hours for a feeding and would sleep. After a month he was sleeping 6-7 hours straight. Then four months old and he hit the sleep regression, I guess, he woke every 3 hours again. The only thing is...it didn't stop there. While most babies hit this sleep regression they get over it within a week or two. Mine...he didn't get that memo. His sleep at night began to deteriorate. By the time Joshua turned a year he was sleeping in only 1-1.5 hour stretches. It was a nightmare for me. I was a first time mom and I listened to what every mom before me had to tell me try just putting him in the crib, let him cry himself to sleep...that was not the best. Joshua would cry till he threw up all over. We tried The Ferber Method...check 5mins, 10mins after that, 15mins after that, 20mins after that until the baby goes to sleep. Yeah right....he screamed forever and never let up. We tried the Sleep Easy Solution. NOTHING worked and I mean nothing. So, Raul said...lets just bring him to our bed and see if we can get some sleep. By this time I was an angry mom, I was not happy with motherhood and found no joy in being around my one year old. Joshua slept between us comfortably and would pass out from 8:00pm till 7:00am without waking up once. Life did a total 180. I was happy again, I could function, and my little boy started to smile more.

Now, you know what happened, although no one could tell us why he wouldn't sleep on his own in his own bed. 

So, here we are almost a year later and he is still sleeping in our bed, which has gotten very uncomfortable now that I am just seven weeks away from having Joshua's little brother, Matthew. Joshua has this adorable little toddler bed in his room and it has cute little Cars themed bedding on it. You'd think my little Cars addict would love sleeping in it. Nope...it is not where he wants to be at all. He has no lovey, as much as I have tried to get him attached to a blanket, stuffed animal, toy of any kind, etc...nope...he has to hold my neck.

Last night I got him out of his bath and read him a bedtime story. I told him he had to lay down in his bed. I laid down with him for a short while, but I got tired of the neck grabbing so I asked if he wanted me to hold him...this is where the rocking chair would have come in handy...I held him on his bed for a few minutes until I asked him if he would like to lay down...which he said he did. So I laid him down and put his blanket on him and told him he was a big boy and had to sleep in his bed so he could show Matthew how to sleep in his bed when he arrives. After about ten minutes of just sitting on the floor by his bed...he was asleep...soundly...with his soft little snore. I couldn't believe it. Life was going to be amazing if he could do this every night.

At 11pm...three hours after he fell asleep...I could hear him crying so I jumped out of bed...worst thing I could have done...I heard a loud popping noise and just felt the pain radiate in my pelvis. I had forgotten to move slowly. I opened our bedroom door and walked into the kitchen where Joshua was already up and heading toward our room. I couldn't bare the thought of sitting on his floor to get him back to sleep after how I got up so I just let him back to our bed. I'll try again tonight and this time I'll remember to get up slowly and put him back into his bed. After all, how else is he going to learn.

I did buy this cute little clock for his room. It teaches him that when the bunny is sleeping he needs to be in his bed no matter what. Then when the bunny is up he can get up out of his bed. I hope it works...it should arrive in the mail sometime this week.

Pumpkin Picking

Yesterday I took Joshua down to the tree farm next to where we live and he got to pick out a pumpkin from their patch so I can make some homemade pumpkin pie and bread (well, at least attempt it). He loved it and did great with mommy wanting to take pictures the whole time.

A picture with mommy

 Petting the goats

 Sitting on a pile of hay

 In all the big pumpkins

 I want this one Mommy

 With all the little pumpkins (which were his favorite)

Get Down

So Joshua likes to climb onto the arm of the couch and dive off of it onto the seat. My crazy little dare devil child. Raul just about had a heart attack when he saw it, but I just laughed and couldn't get enough of it.

23 Months Old

Joshua is 23 months old today...I can't believe that in a month he will be two. Seriously, where did the time go. I can't blame the time being gone on being at work, out with my girlfriends, out on dates with Daddy...I've had my little man with me since the day he was born, minus the two small stints over to Nana and Papa's house in California, but even then I was able to Skype him everyday. So this morning at breakfast Nana caught this video of the little guy saying his new phrase "Oh, Baby", which he picked up from Nana, who would say it every time she would pick him up out of the car or change his diaper because he is getting so big. I will catch him saying it while playing with his toys under the kitchen table or in his bedroom. Sometimes he will just look at me and say it.

Jogging Stroller Sold

I sold my beloved jogging stroller last night. I bought it from a friend when Joshua was just six months old and we started training for a 5K together. He would end up taking his morning naps in it while I ran...some coach he was...I know. Well, with having Matthew on the way I just didn't see the point in holding onto a single stroller that would basically get no use whatsoever. I found one at Target that I totally fell in love with and it isn't that badly priced compared to some that are on the market right now. I figure I'll get it in the Spring when Matthew is more stable at sitting up, although supported by the seat.  It has nothing but 5 star reviews and two mom's on the reviews have children spaced out like Joshua and Matthew and have not had issues with the weight difference. 

I can't wait till the spring to start running again. 

Kiss, Kiss

Joshua's newest phase is the kissing. I mean A LOT of kissing. Yesterday while doing laundry and picking up around the RV he would come running up to me yelling "Kiss, Kiss" and pucker up his lips for a kiss. It is the sweetest thing and I cherish these moments because he will eventually be a big boy and won't want to give Mommy kisses anymore.

Potty Training Will Commence in a Month

Why you may ask....well, we are leaving for vacation in a week. Who on earth starts potty training while on vacation? Then he will be visiting Nana and Papa for ten days after that trip so in 24 days I will begin the potty training. While we were out today I bought Joshua his Sea Turtle potty seat and big boy undies. We tested them and I got a picture, but he immediately peed in them...so obviously we aren't ready yet.

ABC's

I am proud to announce that Joshua knows almost all the letters on the alphabet on sight. He will point to the letters in books, magazines, and signs and say them out loud to you. He will even try to sign some letters of the alphabet. He is learning the sounds and will make the sound of what the letter makes. It is so much fun to watch him do it too.

I figure we will continue to work on his colors...right now everything is Blue. He'll repeat the colors and tell you the right one only after you have told him which one is which, but still I am rather excited at the progress my little man has made.

We work on counting too everyday, but so far he will only count to two. You end up hearing "One, Two, One, Two" coming from him when he is pointing to pictures or counting the trees on the side of the road.

I look forward to the day I get to pull all of his books out of the boxes, especially the Dr. Seuss ones. I really think he will be reading us his bedtime story before to long.

Playdate at the Austin Children's Museum

Yesterday, we went to the Austin Children's Museum to have a playdate with Javen and Silina. Our playdates are few and far between, but so much fun when we have them. We are looking at another one next week at the San Marcos Library where the firemen are coming to visit to read the kiddos stories and they get to explore the big fire truck.

So, back to the museum...they had so much fun. They loved the train/car table that is in the lobby area when you first come in.

We went the inventors area (which is actually for 5+ yr olds, but they had fun). They liked to build some strange contraptions with the little wheels and sticks. Joshua was more into dancing the sticks around the table than anything else.

Then there was the little construction zone with little plastic nuts and bolts that they would sort by shapes and drop into the pipes to go to the first floor. When on the first floor you can send the nuts and bolts up a pipe to the second floor.

Here they are building a brick wall together.

Little slide babies.

Playing a couple of games in the Rising Star Ranch area.

Then of course Joshua would find the area with the toy cows to play with. He wanted to just stay there and put the cows into the little barn over and over again. I think Daddy is going to need to build him a toy barn or we are going to have to buy the one on schleich-s.com.

Joshua liked to play with the trucks too.

Right before leaving the museum I got a picture of the boys holding hands. It was so adorable and a true sign of how they are best friends.

We walked up a couple of blocks and had lunch at the Spaghetti Warehouse. The boys immediately wanted to get on the horse, which they proceeded to not like after getting on it. Oh well.

Here is Joshua just before getting on the freeway to go home.

It was a very fun morning and will have to be repeated again.

Reflections of Motherhood

Puddle Splashing

Last night we went out and played on the road with a remote control car of Joshua's and he found more fun in running through the mud puddles. I have found that this is the main reason I love living here now. I love that we can play in the middle of the street and not have to worry about someone driving their car 40 mph down a 30 mph street. It was so quiet except for Joshua's laughing and screaming. My adorable baby boy is growing up so fast.

Joshua's First Baseball Game

Last night we took Joshua to his first baseball game. He really enjoyed it and loved Spike (the mascot for the Round Rock Express). He had a hot dog and sips from our soda. He loved the ice the best. We took him to the Kids Fun Zone and let him run around on the playscape, which he LOVED. Our seats were in the sun so this took us away from them for a bit till the sun set. While I was getting us another drink Joshua got to give Spike a high-five and spent the rest of the game watching for him and would get so excited when he would see him out on the field. After the game the kids were able to run the bases, but after watching for a while we realized that no other little ones Joshua's age were running so we opted to wait till next year. We got to watch a fireworks show right after the game. We had a wonderful time and can't wait to do it again.

When we got to the game...Daddy and Joshua

Eating some pizza

Watching them play ball

Going down the slide

Waving to Daddy

Having a drink

For some reason he would squeeze his eyes shut and sit there for a minute

Clapping his hands for the Home Run

Getting loud like the reader board said too