Photo Recap...

Photo Recap (Monday, December 14th - Sunday, December 20th, 2009)

Weekly Glance...

Weekly Glance (Monday, December 14th - Sunday, December 20th, 2009)

• Typical week at school/home
• Sleeping is back to waking up during the night and sleeping in with Mommy
  
• Went to preschool a few times this week in the morning for practice-runs...he did very well
• Peed twice in the potty at school
  
• Thursday we had two incident reports (see separate post)
• Daddy was king of tub-time this week
• Family dinner (pizza) on Friday night
• Uncle Matt & Michael came over on Saturday to play for a while. It was comical, at one point Alexander was playing with Matt in the playroom and Michael was playing with Dan in the kitchen.
• After nap on Saturday, Alexander helped Mommy bake Christmas cookies
• Played in the snow on Sunday - helped shovel
• Hung out with Daddy Sunday afternoon (Mommy had a Christmas show)
• Getting ready for Christmas although he still has no concept of Christmas/Santa/presents
• He does say that Santa says "ho ho merry kissmasess"

Let It Snow...

We had our first blizzard of the 2009-2010 winter season...and although it wasn't necessarily a blizzard for us, we did get about a foot of snow. And while we are typically in the heart of all crappy, snowy weather Mimi & Papi's house got more than we did this time around. Whew!The three of us got bundled up to shovel & play in the snow. For the type of snow we got (light & fluffy), I do not recommend throwing caution to the wind and just falling backwards into the snow to do a snow angel. There's not enough snow cushion! OUCH!Alexander loved the snow and he actually did a great job shoveling. He would pick some up and throw it on the side. In about 10 years, he'll be doing the whole driveway himself!

Incident Report...

This week, Alexander came home with an incident report. However, not only did he come home with one report - he came home with two incident reports - in one day!

The first report was a bad one. Alexander bit a friend over a toy. This is the first time he's ever bitten someone. Hopefully this doesn't turn into a trend. It doesn't help that it seems to be the "hip" thing to do in his class right now so I can't wait for this phase to end.

The second was a minor report. He was running around the room with Connor, playing, and they ran into each other bumping heads. And if I didn't know any better I think he would do some of it on purpose so he can get an ice pack. He loves getting ice packs.

School Picture Proofs...

Here is a copy of Alexander's School Picture proofs...I'm very happy with how they came out. Not a cheesy smile in the bunch!

Photo Recap...

Photo Recap (Monday, December 7th - Sunday, December 13th, 2009)

Photo Recap...

Photo Recap (Monday, December 7th - Sunday, December 13th, 2009)

Weekly Glance...

Weekly Glance (Monday, December 7th - Sunday, December 13th, 2009)

• Fairly low-key week despite decorating for Christmas
• Alexander wanted no part in decorating the Christmas tree
• He had a good week of school however he was a bit clingy during drop-off this week
  
• Received an incident report on Monday (not his fault - see separate post)
• Peed on the potty at school
  
• Sleeping was better this week where he slept in his room the whole night for most of the week
• Had a snow "storm" on Wednesday so he was excited to wear his boots to school
• Got our School picture proofs back - they came out very cute!
  
• The last top eye teeth have broken through
• Went to Target with Mommy on Thursday for our weekly visit
• Guys night on Friday - dinner & bedtime was the Daddy & Alexander show
• Lowkey day at home on Saturday
• Mimi over on Sunday to visit
• Went to Target with Mimi - then read some books and played with trains
• Hung out with Mommy Sunday afternoon as Daddy went to volleyball - played with trains, etc as it was rainy/chilly out
  

Christmas Card: Unveiling...

Here is our Christmas Card for 2009!
Inspired by the movie "A Christmas Story"
I hope you all enjoy it as much as we do! (sorry for the fuzzy scan)

Transition...

Earlier this week we got the memo that Alexander will be moving to Preschool class in January.

PRESCHOOL?? When did that happen?

Hopefully it will be yet another easy transition as the previous transitions have gone. We already know his teachers so that does make it easier. I meant to ask if Aidan was going to transition with him has they moved into Older Toddlers together. But I kept forgetting...I'll just have to ask on Monday.

My only concern is regarding potty training as Alexander is not potty-trained and I thought they had to be before transitioning into Preschool class. That will be my other follow-up question as well...

Regardless of the questions, I'm sure everything will go just fine as they have in the past. Alexander seems to adjust easily in these situations.

Incident Report...

Yesterday, Alexander came home with another incident report. However, this time it was not his fault. They were playing legos and it was time to clean up...however Alexander had a piece that a friend wanted. So rather than asking for the piece, the friend went over and bit Alexander in the back. No broken skin, just a little black & blue...

Miss Lori gave him some TLC & put an ice pack on and he calmed down.

Decorating the Tree...

Tonight, we decorated the Christmas Tree and Alexander wanted *NO* part of it. He was much more content to sit, eat his snack & watch Mickey Mouse.
We tried to see if he wanted to help with the lights - nope. Then we wanted to see if he wanted to hang his ornament on the tree - nope. Then we wanted to see if he wanted to help water the tree - nope.Then for a moment, I thought he was ready to go but he just helped Daddy with the lights for a split second and then he was uninterested again. Maybe next year...

Photo Recap...

Photo Recap (Monday, November 30th - Sunday, December 6th, 2009)

Photo Recap...

Photo Recap (Monday, November 30th - Sunday, December 6th, 2009)

Weekly Glance...

Weekly Glance (Monday, November 30th - Sunday, December 6th, 2009)

• Had a very good week at school
• Sleeping was also better - slept in his room the whole night three nights this week!
  
• Was very excited going back to school on Monday to see his friends
  
• Went to Dr. M's for the 2nd part of the flu shot (see separate post for visit details)
• Went to Target with Mommy
• Milestone: Used the potty to go #2 and got to put stickers on his Potty Chart
• School Picture Day on Wednesday
• Mommy was the Mystery Reader in school this week
• Went to Stop & Shop with Mommy - loves going grocery shopping
• Loves saying Hi to the lit-reindeers on our lawn
• Went to Target with Mommy after school on Thursday - saw our Target friend (she's not going to be at Target for a bit - she's having surgery, we said we'd call to check on her)
• Went to visit with Santa Saturday morning with Mommy & Mimi
• Walked around the mall, had lunch and loved seeing Santa from afar but didn't really want to go back & sit with him
• After nap on Saturday, helped Mommy & Daddy do some decorating for Christmas but wasn't all that into it
• Continuing our weekly tradition of family dinner Saturday night
• Played out in the snow for a bit Sunday morning with Daddy before heading to Uncle Matt's house to visit with Grandma & Pop-pop
• After naptime, we went to get our Christmas tree...albeit a bit rushed! Let's hope that when we decorate it, it won't turn out to be Charlie Brown's Christmas Tree

Hunt for the Christmas Tree...

We decided that since it was too rainy/snowy yesterday that we would get our Christmas tree this afternoon, after Alexander's nap.

Well Alexander woke up a bit cranky & refused to do anything except watch Mickey Mouse Choo-Choo Express...we had to coax him outside & into the car. Thankfully once we got him in the car, he was fine. However by the time we got him ready & in the car, it was 10 mins to 5pm.

As we're driving to the place we've been going to the last three years, we realized they probably close at 5pm. Sure enough, we pull up and it looks like they're about to close. Pete was nice enough to let us pick out a tree.

I felt so rushed! They showed us one, I didn't like it. They showed another, Dan didn't like it. Finally we found a couple and thought they could do so we picked one & basically are hoping for the best!

After we got our wreaths and the tree was tied to the car, I realized we didn't take any pictures. So I took Alexander over to take a couple pics (at least one with him standing by trees)...and just as Dan goes to take a picture of Alexander & Mommy - Pete shuts the lights off!

Oh well...and here's the one picture we got *just* as the lights were going off - hence my lovely expression!

WHY?

Even in his sleep, Alexander is your typical two & half year old!

Last night, Alexander woke up screaming/crying. At first we thought it was a bad dream. Dan tried to rub his back & get him to lie back down but he wasn't having any of that. He knows what's up. He knows he'll get to go cuddle with Mommy in the big, cozy bed. As it turns out, he was sleeping on his arm/hand and his hand fell asleep so he had the pins & needles feeling.

He falls back asleep, while cuddling with Mommy. At about 3:30am, he starts babbling in his sleep. Then he says, out loud, "WAIT...WHY?". I'm wondering if I really heard that or thought I imagined it. But he said it again "WHY".

So not only is 'why' his favorite phrase during the day, it's now his favorite phrase while sleeping!

Visit with Santa...

This morning, we had our annual visit with Santa Claus this year. Mommy, Alexander & Mimi went to go visit Santa. I figured this trip could go 50/50. He was excited about Santa Claus and talked about seeing him all week but I figured he'd freak out a bit. So I knew he was excited because I'd ask him who we were going to see and he'd scream "SANTA!" and that he was going to ask for trains & trucks. But when I asked if he wanted a picture he said "no wanna see Santa".

We got in line and thankfully didn't have to wait long at all (SUPER quick). Alexander clung to my arm and wouldn't really get down. He almost cried but when Santa asked for a high-five he started to warm up to him. Although he was fine sitting there with Santa, there was no way he was letting me go (I tried). We got a few potential pictures so I didn't really push my luck by trying to have him sit by himself. As we got up to leave Alexander was so sweet wishing Santa a "Merry Christmas" without even being prompted.

Here is "our" picture with Santa this year:
He wanted to see him again after lunch but when we asked if he wanted to go sit with him, he wanted no part of it. Maybe next year...

Reading Abilities...

Lately, Alexander has been impressing me greatly with his "reading" skills. Whether is reading, remembering, memorizing ... he's been able to read books to me rather than me read them.

We have a Thomas the Train book that he loves & it's also easy to read. Over the past week or so, he's been able to read the ENTIRE book (minus four words) from start to finish. I'm finding it very impressive. Again, I don't know if he's actually reading or remembering, but it's still very cool!

And then last night, we were reading another common book and Alexander actually picked out some of the words and read them himself! I had to hold back a gulp in my throat - I was very proud of him.

Class Picture Day

Today, it was Picture Day at school! We've been trying to practice 'nice' smiles as opposed to his "cheese" grin. It was hit or miss.

He had his cute outfit on & looked like one of the sharpest dressed kids in the class. First they had individual pics and then it was class photo time. Aidan wasn't at school today, so unfortunately we won't have Aidan in our class picture again.

We should have the proofs back within the week - so fingers crossed that they come out well!

Mystery Reader...

Today, I went to Alexander's class to be the Mystery Reader!

They were out in the playground when I got there so I hid down the hall so I wouldn't disrupt them coming back in to the class. Once they were in the room & in a circle, I came in and Alexander got very excited. We had the kids sat down on the circle rug so they could all see.

I brought three books because two of them were super quick. I brought a Thomas the Train book (that we have at home), a Princess book and the Little Engine that Could. Selfishly, I brought the Thomas the Train & the Little Engine because Alexander & I read those and he's loves them.

However, he was actually the quietest of all the kids. Veronica & Connor were constantly asking questions; Tess kept saying that she had the Princess book; Grace kept pointing asking what and Sean would just lean in the way. Alexander was the most behaved until Sean tried sitting on my lap - Alexander was having none of that.

I was hoping Alexander would show off that he can read the Thomas book, but he was just content to sit & listen. Overall, it was a huge success & I'll definitely do this again!

Potty Time...

Tonight, right after tubby time, Alexander said he wanted to use the big toilet. So he gets out his stool & up he goes.

This kid cracks me up because he's sitting up on the toilet and says "okay big pee c'mon!" He realizes I find it funny so he keeps saying it and cracking us both up now. Then he stops talking and says "big poo coming now". I wasn't sure if he was sure or not, but sure enough, here comes poo. (don't know why but at first this kind of grossed me out even though I have no issue changing messy diapers, but I got over it because I was happy for him)

He was very proud of himself that he went poo in the toilet! And because he went in the toilet, he got to put stickers on his Potty Chart which he's starting to get a bit more than before.