Trick or Treat...

Tonight, Alexander went trick or treating for the first time. We went around to just a few neighbors as our street isn't the ideal setting for trick or treating plus there isn't a ton of houses around us that actually give out candy (probably because of the road conditions and not a lot of kids...).
Before we actually went out, we had one family come to our house to trick or treat. They were two little boys from the little neighborhood behind us. Alexander was so excited to see them all dressed up that he kept screeching. But he didn't want to hold the candy bowl - he just wanted to screech! After they left he liked going through the bowl and shaking the candy, but that's about it...all that candy and only 2 kids! Alexander was all for putting his costume on for the third time today and even had no problem wearing the hood. He even seemed excited to hold his pumpkin and knew to put the candy inside. Smart kid! First, we went over to Mrs. M (she lives across the street) once we knew she was home. She was so excited to see him! And for some reason he wanted to see her too as he was trying to go inside her house.
Mrs. M gave him some candy and he held open his pumpkin for her. As we were standing there, we noticed something run through our yard which they thought was a coyote. Yah, not big on wild animals, especially ones who could eat my kid. After we gave the coyote some time to get out of the area, we headed to our other 2 neighbors who live behind/next to us. They were both very excited to see Alexander! He got rave reviews for his costume and being so cute. Of course.
For the 2nd house, they opened the door and he walked right on in, without fear. (eek) They had a dancing skeleton which he thought was fantastic and started to dance along with him. Once we were able to get him out of the house (he was trying to go into the kitchen), we headed over to our other neighbor's house.
The 14 yr old daughter was home with her grandmother and was very excited to give Alexander some candy. All Alexander wanted to do was fling around his pumpkin bag.
After that it was time to head home...we walked back home, on the coyote lookout, and tried to do one last picture on the steps. But someone was getting tired so he wasn't all that cooperative.
But for just a few houses he got a decent amount of goodies in his Halloween pumpkin...
Happy Halloween!

Halloween Parade...

There was a Halloween Parade today at School. It was very similar to last year where they walked around the 'block'...

Alexander got into his costume without incident and even kept the hood on...they didn't want to hold the ropes but we were quite happy to ride in the buggy. It was a fairly quick parade around the block, without incident!

Alexander sat with his buddy, Aidan, in the back of the buggy and they were both quite happy back there.

This is Alexander's class, minus a few kids. Ms. Mary Jo is in the orange shirt.

As usual, I blocked the faces out of the other kids...

Happy Halloween...

New Trick...

The other night I went upstairs to check on Alexander as I typically do. He was in his normal sleeping position - on his belly with his arms tucked underneath & his feet crossed.

Only this time there was something different...his shirt was off! I know when I put him to bed he had a shirt on. At some point he not only took off his shirt but threw around all of his stuffed animals that were neatly placed around his crib.

I didn't even hear him make any commotion that night so we'll see how often this new trick occurs. We did manage to put his shirt back on him without waking him so he wouldn't get cold throughout the night (he's okay having his blankie on him as long as it doesn't cover his feet - he must get that from Daddy!)

Picture Recap...

Picture Recap (Monday, October 20th - Sunday, October 26th, 2008) ...

Photo Recap...

Picture Recap (Monday, October 20th - Sunday, October 26th, 2008) ...

Weekly Glance...

Weekly Glance (Monday, October 20th - Sunday, October 26th, 2008)

• Hit the 19 Month Milestone
• Had a good week at school - played outside
• Slept well this week
• New words: off, empty, on, yellow, elmo
• Two more top teeth are breaking through!
• He will show you his teeth now if you ask him too
• Loves anything that has to do with trucks
• Loves to wrestle
• During tubby time, loves to swim and is getting pretty good at the kicking and getting himself around without a mouthful of water
• Ate a lot of carrots this week
• Eating strawberries & bananas now (yah for more fruit)
• Played in the leaves with Daddy - loves running into a big pile of leaves
• Celebrated Alyson's birthday on Saturday
• Helped Daddy & Grampie outside with stacking wood
• Going up the stairs without a lot of help and getting better about going down only holding onto one hand
• Got our 3rd Haircut - and this time Daddy came with us (Daddy was horrified)
• Tried on his costume(s) and he seemed okay with them although he much rather wanted to cuddle with them
• Went out with Mommy & Daddy after haircut for a new winter jacket & some lunch.
• Actually wanted to eat his burger & apple slices

Haircut...

Alexander was due for another haircut (his 3rd) and this time Daddy came with us. I don't know who was more horrified - Alexander or Daddy.
We went back to the same place we've gone for our other 2 haircuts to help to get him more used to it. Yah, didn't work... We had a third woman cut his hair. Although she appeared to be very nice in the beginning she got annoyed(ing) when Alexander started crying. Again - I don't know why people who work at these types of places don't have more patience. Alexander pinched her and she wasn't happy. Oh well...
I held his hands and Daddy tried to distract him. Occasionally it would work, but he cried hard the entire time, he really didn't want to be distracted. She missed a few stragglers here & there but overall she did a good job considering he wasn't sitting still.

Yardwork...

Alexander helped Daddy & Grampie stack some wood and pick up sticks. He was a very good helper and wanted to be around the big boys.

Happy Birthday...

We went to Grammie & Grampie's today to celebrate Alyson's birthday. The weather was nicer than expected so we got to hang out a bit outside.
Alexander helped Daddy & Grampie with some wood & tried to push the wheel barrel. And I mean it when I say he tried to push it. He dug his feet in, grunted, and pushed! It was pretty comical! I'll post those pics separately...When it was time to sing Happy Birthday he didn't really want to sing as he was too busy getting ready to blow out the candles with Auntie Alyson.

Celebrate...

This weekend is a busy weekend in terms of celebrations.

First is Alyson's birthday on Saturday. Yah!
Alyson, we hope you have a wonderful birthday!

Then on Sunday, Grandpa & Grandma C celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary. How exciting! Happy 45th Anniversary - may you have many more years together!

New Teeth...

Finally...Alexander will have more than 4 teeth!

Daddy noticed that 2 more top teeth are coming in next to his front teeth. Hopefully this means the rest will start to break though soon!

19 Months...

19 Months

New:
-Puts up one finger if you count or say who's number one?
-Loves ring-around-the-rosie (goes around in circle and then plops down)

Developmental:
-Meltdowns are not as frequent as they were a month ago, but he still has them
-Gives great kisses & hugs
-Still just 4 teeth (2 bottom teeth & 2 top teeth)
-He takes direction very well, excellent at putting things away; Knows exactly what I'm asking for when I say "go get your dinosaur book" or what his other books are
-Loves the itsy bitsy spider & ring-around-the rosie songs
-Eating with utensils
-Loves anything to do with trucks (books, real, toys)
-Great with going up stairs and even getting better coming down holding onto hands
-Wants to brush his teeth every night once we get home
-Loves to play with his train & flash cards
-Likes coloring
-Puts things in the trash when asked
-Great throwing arm
-Seems to love animals
-He knows all of his body parts
-He screams, loudly, when he's excited
-Puts his hands up for "touchdown" or how big are you
-When we ask him to turn himself or something around he mimics my finger of spinning in a circle
-If he sees a fire truck or ambulance (real or picture), he'll spin his finger to mean 'siren'

Vocab:
dada (this is still the main word)
mama
Ahh Daa (is his word for Please and potentially thank you)
up
apple
turtle
JoJo (His teacher's name is MaryJo)
Aiden (aah-den)
Hi
Moo
Quack Quack
woof woof
Yah
Bye
All done
All gone
baaaa (sheep noise)
New ones:
Nouh
oh
baabaa
'ruck (I think this is truck)
Hat
Hot
hot dog
elbow
cup
ball
baby
pat
home
apron
tractor
knock
heart
oval
Book

Animal Noises:
He knows what sounds the lion, cow, sheep, dog, duck, frog, elephant, rabbit & cat make.

Sleeping (hasn't changed except he's on a pattern of waking up on the early side):
-Wakes up around 5:30-6am every day, even on weekends
-Takes one nap in the afternoon, usually 2 hrs
-At home on the weekends, most times he takes his 2 hr nap in the late morning
-Asleep by 7:30pm each night (on average)

Clothes:
-12/18 Months for shirts, sweaters, PJs
-18 Months pants are still a bit long but fitting better
-Shoes: Size 4/5 depending on the shoe - this happened quickly
-Diapers: Pampers Size 4 Cruisers

Feeding (Really hasn't changed that much in a month):
-He drinks mainly milk or sometimes water from sippy cups
-Three meals a day: (typical menu for school)
--Breakfast: pancake, waffle, cereal bar or muffin with his sippy cup
--AM Snack: Cheerios & fruit (bananas or strawberries) or graham crackers
--Lunch: Grilled Cheese or Hot dog & cheese, applesauce and milk in sippy cup
--PM Snack: snack bar, fruit, graham crackers, or yogurt
--Dinner: the staples are: PB&J, Hot Dogs, Grilled Cheese, cheese pizza, egg but he will eat veggies & fruit in the Gerber containers (he loves to feed himself)
-- Does not like food with texture
--Loves to get out the bread from the fridge so he can have a slice

Likes:
Being outside, water, taking baths, Bubbles, going down slides, Singing ABCs, reading books, pushing his truck, playing blocks, vaccum, being chased by Daddy, showing off that he knows his body parts, medicine, sweeping

Dislikes:
textured food, at home he won't eat fresh fruit besides apples

Bedtime Book List...

Just thought I'd list out the multiple books we read every night as part of our bedtime routine. The order and specific books can change each night...and some books we call by a different name than the title and he will usually pick them out ahead of time.

1. Cookie Book (Cookie Rhyme, Cookie Time)
2. Elmo Book
3. Grover Book
4. Dinosaur Book
5. Easter Bunny Book
6. Pumpkin Book (this is a new edition courtesy of Halloween)
7. Spider Book
8. Truck Book
9. Truck Book (we have 2 different ones and he knows which one you're referring too)
10. Moon Book
11. Face Book
12. Noah Book
13. Animal Book
14. Patty Cake Book

Picture Recap...

Picture Recap (Monday, October 13th - Sunday, October 19th, 2008)