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