20 months old!

Wow! I am so behind on this blog. I'm hoping to get caught up as soon as possible. I need to share about my boys before I forget what I'm loving about these ages.

Paul is now 20 months old! He is such a fun-loving little boy who is always following his big brother around. They are at the point where they enjoy playing together and have a lot of fun...until one of them starts crying. I love hearing Paul's giggles and seeing his cute smile.  He's not a big talker but he has quite a few words. Luckily, I've been keeping a running list of them. Here they are (for my own memory)...
Whoa!
Mama
nana (banana
cup
poop
ball
go
shoe
sock
woof
hi
yes
grrrr (tiger - his favorite animal)
truck
hoop (basketball hoop)
hat
na (dad)
no
Da-ee (Daddy - 12/20/13)
tree
ho ho ho
go go go (when playing football or soccer)
milk
water
snack
toast
hot - whenever he sees a stove or any food that may potentially be hot
I wuv oo (I love you - will sometimes repeat it)
chips
choo choo
book
dirt (when playing with construction trucks)

Paul will also attempt to repeat most words and phrases we say to him which is really cute. He's still a big fan of his pacifier but only uses it at naptime and when he's upset or sad about something. He's on day 4 of being laid down awake for naptime! Woo-hoo! He will usually sleep for 3-4 hours at naptime. He goes to bed between 7:30 and 8:00 and wakes up between 6:30 and 7:30 in the morning.

Paul LOVES his daddy. I hear "Daddy" all day long and he likes to look at Daddy's picture on my phone. One of Paul's favorite things to do is tackle Daddy. He also likes driving cars and trucks; playing with trains; playing basketball, football, and soccer; playing outside; and reading books. He loves seeing babies and likes kissing Mommy's baby.

I'm trying to enjoy my "baby" boy as much as I can before he's no longer my baby in a few months. He brings all of us great joy and I know he'll be a wonderful big brother.

Playing in the gym at St. Louis - one of his favorite places!

Paul and his daddy

Sleeping last Friday (1/24) after being sick Thursday night

Translating Stephen

For the most part, Stephen is very easy to understand. However, there are a few words that I have to ask him to repeat several times before I figure out what he is saying. One of the more recent ones is "chim a chims." Any guesses? Definitely one that requires some context. This is what he calls "M&Ms." 

Family photo shoot

We had pictures taken yesterday. We got a family picture, Stephen's 3-year picture, and Paul's 18-month picture. The boys were very cooperative, and we got great pictures!

Paul James - 18 months old

Stephen Joseph - 3 years old

An interview with Stephen

What's your favorite color?   blue

What's your favorite fruit?   grapes

What's your favorite thing to watch on TV?   football, probably basketball

What's your favorite lunch?   peanut butter sandwich

What's your favorite shirt to wear?   Husker jersey shirt (which is what he's wearing right now)

What's your favorite thing to play?   my St. Louis game  (which means pretending to play basketball for St. Louis - the school where Steve used to coach, we've watched them play several games)

What's your favorite snack?   Goldfish (of course!)

What's your favorite animal?   giraffe and zebras

What's your favorite song?   la la la

What's your favorite book?   Mommy, let me pick one out.  (He brought back "Llama Llama Time to Share.")

Who's your best friend?   Grandma, Grandpa, and Amy

What's your favorite thing to do outside?   scoop up snow  (It's snowing today.)

What's your favorite drink?   juice, apple juice

What's your favorite holiday? I explained what a holiday was and then asked "Do you have a favorite holiday?"   Not yet.

What do you like to take to bed at night?   my basketball

What's your favorite thing to eat for supper?   macaroni and ravioli

What do you want to be when you grow up?   be a basketball player 



 

Happy 3rd birthday, Stephen!

Stephen is 3! He was very excited about his approaching birthday and kept talking about his birthday party. Here are some things I want to remember about him at this age...

Stephen requested to wear a tie to church on his birthday.

A picture with our 3-year-old

*He LOVES basketball, football, baseball, soccer, hockey, tennis, golf, volleyball...basically anything that involves throwing, hitting, or kicking a ball. I think basketball is his favorite to play. He loves watching the Denver Broncos, Colorado Rockies, and Nebraska Huskers on TV. He knows that John Fox is the Broncos coach and Peyton Manning is the quarterback. Michael Cuddyer is his favorite player on the Rockies team. He also enjoys watching basketball games in person. When he watches sports, he is very attentive and will talk about what is happening. "He just scored a touchdown. They miss the shot. He didn't catch it. He just throw the ball. Go defense!"

*He talks about himself as whatever athlete he is that day. For example, "Basketball player is dribbling the ball. Basketball player is going to Target. Basketball player is eating lunch."

*He loves playing with Paul. He also loves taking toys away from Paul. I love watching their brother relationship develop. They have a great time chasing and tackling each other and spend lots of time laughing together. Stephen likes it when Paul tries to repeat a word or sound he says. Stephen usually uses the cutest voice when he is talking to Paul.

*Stephen will come up to me randomly, give me a hug, and say "I love you, Mommy." So sweet!

*He loves cars and can name a Mustang, Shelby, or Corvette by sight. He likes to watch for muscle cars and hot rods on the street.

*A few months ago, he stopped playing with my hair. It happened all of a sudden and I didn't even realize it at first. I sometimes miss it but am glad he is done.

*Stephen loves reading books. Some of his favorites right now are Pete the Cat, Curious George, "Go, Dog, Go," "Angel in the Waters" (a book about a baby in utero and being born), and the blog book from his first year. There are a few books he can "read" on his own. I love seeing him sit down with Paul and read a book. These include "Pete the Cat - I Love My White Shoes" and "Brown Bear, Brown Bear."

*He can be quite the little chatterbox. I love hearing him talk and laugh at the things he comes up with sometimes. He has quite the imagination. For awhile he had a friend named "Duncan Jackson." Sometimes he has a puppy named "Jackson." (Not sure where he came up with those names.) He plays with imaginary basketball and football players. He talks about going to work. He used to work at the post office. Now he works at high school basketball games.

*Stephen loves helping Daddy, especially if it involves going in the garage. He likes following Daddy around and going on errands with him. He also loves playing football and basketball with Daddy.

*Stephen is usually an early riser...up before 7. He'll come into our room and say, "It's morning day." Sometimes he'll be okay playing or reading in the living room. Other times he'll bring toys into our bedroom.

*One morning Stephen was finishing breakfast, and I was in the bathroom getting ready for the day. He started yelling, "Mommy, I'm done," and got no response. So he decided to try yelling, "Jessica!"

*I know there's more that I just can't think of right now. I wish I could record every cute thing he says and does because I want to always remember him at this age, especially when he becomes an adorable teenager. :)
          

Coming soon...

I want to introduce you to Baby C #3! He/she will arrive at the beginning of May. Stephen is very excited about the baby coming. Paul has no idea what's going to happen. Here's a couple Stephen tidbits...

*When asked what we should call the baby, Stephen enthusiastically replied, "Joey Boo Boo Baby!" We had been to storytime that morning where the theme was babies. One of the books had been "What Shall We Do with the Boo Hoo Baby?" Not sure where Joey came from. 

*One morning Stephen shared some of his breakfast with Paul. I told him, "When the baby comes, you will have someone else to share with. Isn't that exciting?" He shouted with his hands in the air, "Yay babies! God bless America!" Ever since I sang "God Bless America" around the 4th of July, he has been singing it and just saying that phrase randomly. 

Random August fun

August 2 - Paul loves corn on the cob.

August 6 - Paul started using a spoon.

August 7 - Two's a crowd!

August 17 - Western Welcome Week parade

August 19 - a creative piano player

August 22 - a silly boy

August 23 - Stephen loves his new job.

August 24 - Stephen has become a big fan of his Duplos.

August 24 - Reading books with Daddy

August 25

August 26 - Vroom!