Another Update...2 1/4 years old!

Declan continues to be a very active boy but I am feeling that he is settling down a little.
Things he likes to Eat:
Declan will generally eat anything we give him. There are some foods however that he will like to eat sometimes. For instance, if we go to McDonalds he will only sometimes eat a hamburger. We never will know. He is just now becoming more of a french fry eater. He has never much like potatoes -- from the beginning. He LOVES any types of fruit. He is still a fairly big eater. One thing I am very happy about is that eating is never a stressful time with Declan. We give him whatever we are eating and that is what he gets. Generally he eats a lot but sometimes he doesn't and we don't worry about it. There have been no problems in this territory. He is doing well with using a spoon and fork. Sometimes he still throws things off his tray...but he is improving in this area. He loves his sweets but we dont' give him a lot unless we are at a family reunion or party...and that goes out the window but I really dont' worry about it too much. I've learned that with Declan and toilet training, he can't handle juice. He has been drinking just milk and water for the last several months.
Things he likes to say:
Declan is talking quite well, but not yet in proper sentences all the time. Here are a few little phrases that he says a lot: 'Pee bad', 'See that!', 'Morn please', 'Big loader, big excavator, big port truck', He has longer sentences as well I just can't think of them...but he does say a lot of two word sentences but they get the point across. He was singing happy birthday to his grandma doney today. He was like 'Happy Birthday to Daddy, Grandma, Happy Birthday to Grandma,' I'll have to write more once I hear him talk.
Things he likes to do:
Declan loves playing with tractors, trucks, construction machinery, boats etc. He loves talking about his sea doo and LOVES playing with his truck, boat and trailer that he aunt and uncle torrie gave him. He loves his John deere tractor which he calls 'John tractor'. He is really into Thomas trains and he loves the library because they have a Thomas train set there. He will now sit through a whole book and listen. Then he will spend some time reading/looking at it afterwards. Declan likes building things in the sand but he hasn't really settled in and play a ton in the sand (at least at the beach). He is really getting into playing the Gary's micro machines lately. He spends half the time trying to break things apart though.
Bed/Sleep Routines:
Declan has slept in his own bed for quite some time and has only fallen out of bed twice. He has been getting better with staying in bed and going to sleep. We have really had to figure out what his sleep needs are. I always liked to get a good solid nap in for Declan and so I had a nice break but then he wasn't settling in at night well. So....I finally had to admit that he probably didn't need a two hour nap in the afternoon. We started talking away his naps (in July) and now he falls asleep much easier in the evenings. We have substituted his nap for a quiet time if we are home. This involves playing in his room. We have only been home to have quiet times a handful of times but half the time he seemed to be so tired that he crawled in his bed and fell asleep. I guess he is really tired but then I have to wake him up so that he doesn't go to bed too late. Declan has been sleeping in until about 7:30 ish.
Toilet Training:
Declan goes on his own to the bathroom to pee or poo. He senses it and just goes on his own. This is good progress! We are finding he is dribbling a little before peeing. Sometimes he doesn't pull his pant down enough and then pees on them or he sprits up and pees on the seat. Other than that he is doing quite well. He stays dry when he does have his naps now. He has stayed dry about 3 times in the last two weeks at night. We have implemented the idea that if he stays dry at night he gets gummy bears in the morning.
Behaviour
Declan is quite a good listener but I don't think he would be if we haven't been working towards good behaviour by using time-outs. He will go a week or so without any but then a bad day comes and he might have two or three in one day. He has been quite cooperative. He loves going out and about. On days when we are just home he doesn't do as well...he may get more whiney. He doesn't have the dreaded temper tantrums that much. I don't know if it is because of his personality or because he has never gotten his way if he spazes out a little. He is a very happy boy and loves to laugh and smile. He is fairly outgoing and friendly to other kids. He will talk to people he doesn't know easily. I think I will need to work with Declan on sharing...he does okay sometimes but he finds it hard to give up a toy that he is playing with and another kid wants it. The whole sharing thing is sometimes stupid because if you are playing with something, why should he have to share it right then? Maybe I need lessons on sharing too. Like at the wading pool Declan brings a few toys to play with in the water. Right away kids come up to borrow all his toys. Am I supposed to dish out al of his toys to everyone else and leave Declan with only one? Urgh...I brought them for Declan to play with --Is that selfish?

Declan is two years old!!!!

Declan is now a two year old! I've missed several months of blogging so I think I'll do an update. We continue to have a very active son. We've heard things like 'wow, does he ever stop?', 'if there is something to take apart, he'll do it', 'does he ever climb well!', 'how old is he?...my son wouldn't have dared climb up to the high slides in McDonalds playland at that age!'. My mom said 'There are kids who will gently walk hand and hand down the street, and then there is Declan'. Declan sure is active but we loves his energy and excitement! 'Rough and tumble'

He loves to explore. We've been having more and more 'Curious George' incidents with Declan. Here is a list:
-Mrs. Enns (babysitter) says he takes off all of the tires on her toy cars
-She also said that when she has her pool set up the kids usually play in the pool or the grass. Declan plays in the pool and the flower garden
-Declan has flooded the bathroom while pouring half a bottle of handsoap all over the floor
-He has dumped half a bottle of baby shampoo in the bathtub
-He dumped almost a full bottle of sunscreen on his sheets and on his head and eyes
-he rubbed cream into his carpet
-he played with vaseline and rubbed it on clothes

Declan is starting to talk quite a lot
-he talks a lot about cars, trucks, tractors, loaders, Paul (uncle Paul), George (curious george), Wolfie, Grandpa (Pup ups)
-He saw an ipod commercial and he says 'mommy gots a podpod, daddy gots a podpod'. That was June 1st.
-he says 'opsie days'
-'dad's pop', 'well okay', 'no way --is a favourite', 'thanks' 'pee bad'
-he is very polite as he often says 'peas', 'thanks', 'no thank you'

-we are still toilet training Declan -- He wears underwear all day and cloth diapers at nap (often waking up dry) and once he woke up dry in the morning. We have to tell him to go most of the time. Though in the last couple of days I have noticed that he is telling us more.

-food -- eats anything (normally we offer milk at breakfast and supper and then water the rest of the day). He eats basically anything and he is a BIG eater! He isn't too fond of potatoes.

-I'll add more later

Christmas has come and gone

Well, we are now into January and things are slowing down. The Christmas season is over....we just had our last Christmas party (Gary's Work)....well we have one more party that we were supposed to fit into the christmas season...but no one had any extra time so we'll meet in January.

One major thing that I have noticed is that Declan loves being busy during the day. He likes getting up and going somewhere. When we are home all day, he becomes anxious to get into everything. It is just too long in our small house. I didn't work at all this week, and I think that when I start getting supply teaching jobs, it will help. I think I need to make it part of my weekly plan to have play dates with other kids. I keep making excuses when I think of getting together with friends and their kids during the day....but when I think of it....I have at least 4 different moms and kids that I could easily get together with.

Today is a lazy Saturday. We were out last night late and now we just want to take it easy. We are still finding it hard to balance
'taking it easy' with a one year old running around. We've always done sleeping in switches. Today Gary gets to sleep in. So basically I get up with Declan and feed him breakfast...and then he watches t.v. (Saturday morning Cartoons:)) and then I put him into his play pen for play pen time....and then I go back to bed. Either Gary gets up with him when Declan is done having play pen time, or if I don't fall back to sleep, I'll get up with him. Then we switch the next sleep in day. It works fairly well except that we end up wasting a lot of the day. Normally by about 10:00 I am ready for the day and the house is all tidy. On a sleep in day, I may not be ready for the day until after 1. It just makes me feel groggy.

Declan has been able to watch t.v. for a longer period of time without him crying out for one of us. However...I hear him right now (he must be finished munching away on his cheerios). I'll make this a wrap. I'll post pictures next time.

Declan's ways

If I were asked to describe what Declan is like at this stage, I would have to say he is a helper. He wants to help with everything...especially in the kitchen. From the start we have made the dishwasher as a 'no touch'. I am so thankful for this because all I need is someone taking out all the dishes that I just put in, it just get frustrating. I do believe that it is good for him to help though, so I am letting him help in different ways. He absolutely loves stirring things, using the chopper to chop the onions, sweeping the floor etc. He seems to cry every time that I say we are done in the kitchen (like if something is cooking and there is nothing left to do). He always gets over his little crying times quite quickly. They may be because we never give in. He knows it won't work for us.

Now that I have been at the early years for several weeks, I am starting to notice the same parents. I am also noticing the children that are obedient and then ones that walk all over their parents. I am so glad that I have had good role models and have been given really good advice about raising your children. Kids say things to their parents and to other kids that I would never allow Declan to say without some kind of punishment. For instance a kid kept ripping toys out of Declan's hand and I saw the mother watch...and the kid says give it to me, I want it....in a mean sort of way. I would totally step in and teach the child how to say it in a nice way. It is hard in a situation like that because....what should I get Declan to do.....get walked over and give it back or get Declan to keep it and tell her that he wants it?? It is different when the other parents are present.

Declan continues to be a hugger and kisser. I really really love that about Declan...he is the kind of kid that makes other people feel good...isn't that what little kids are for?:) I remember my neice and nephew went through quite the stage where they were grumpy and mean....I hope that Declan doesn't go through that stage...However....I am learning that you don't get to pick the stages and sometimes parents can't really do anything about certain attitudes. About the hugging and kissing....today Declan went up to a girl and gave her a hug and a kiss....the girl just stares at him....she really didn't like it. At some point the hugging and kissing is going to be a bad thing....but not yet:)

Declan still spends most of his time moving things around....no real playing yet. We have table time every day and he can put a puzzle together on his own! I looked up milestones on a website for 19 month olds and from the info written there, Declan is a little behind verbally. They say they are putting two words together or even small sentences. The most Declan can do is 'yes please'. He continues to pick up more words. Before he would just copy me saying the word (e.g. sock)....now he points to his sock and says it. He says 'stuck', 'juice', 'help - bup" "done" etc. I think he is doing just fine! I am really proud of him.

Like I have mentioned previously, my favourite part of my day is Declan' and Mommy Time at the end of the day. At about 6:30 we get on his pajamas, get milk and books. We sit in the big leather rocker with a blanket and do the following little routine: 1) Read 2 or 3 books 2) sing / say 3 or 4 little songs (e.g. eency weency, alphabet song, Jesus loves me, Twinkle etc.) 3) I sing him Silent night as he lays down on me --I had to work on this because he would never just lay down and relax on me--now he does 4) Sing 'Away in the Manger' 5) Pray 6) Count to 10....as we get off the chair 6) Advent Calendar -open the next door 7) Goodnights -to mom and dad 8) Bed ---I really enjoy that he will spend that much time with me with all these little activites. It is a great learning time as well:) I just love my little guy so much. We are praying for another little one...God knows the time. We really think Declan would love to have a brother or sister.

Days at Home

Declan really loves going to the babysitters and getting out of the house to go to the early years center or on errands. I am finding that he doesn't like the long stays at home. He needs to get out. Some days however, you just can't get out because it is rainy etc. Today is one of those days. We are home for the whole day and he seems to get ancy.

I'm not sure when kids start just quietly playing with toys in one spot. I am trying to teach him this and encourage him to sit down and play with toys. He would much rather climb chairs, move remotes, follow me around, carry objects around the house.... I'm sure it is probably very typical of a almost 19th old. I really just want him to sit down and play...maybe I'm asking too much!

Everyone these days is saying how busy they are. I am actually feeling quite bored. I have almost all of the gifts bought....what else is everyone else doing? Baking? I think it is too early. Wrapping gifts? I do need to do that at some point, but it feels too early. I haven't been working much. I have two days this week ... Thursday and Friday. It will be nice to get out of the house. Declan I am sure will love playing with the other kids. This weekend we are having the Christmas performances at our church. I'll be going to see it on Saturday evening, and then on Sunday morning I am helping in the nursery during both performances.

Declan is having his play pen time now! I am so happy that I started this routine...it really helps so much. I can use the time to have a shower, tidy up the house...or go on the computer.

Declan is talking some. He is starting to repeat words if you ask him to. He understands most of what you say to him...often answering with a big shake of the head our 'yes'. He went through a phase where he would say 'no' in a mean way. My babysitter suggested that you say back 'say yes mommy'. It completely distracts him from his mean face...and he says 'yes' with a happy face. Its cute. Declan is still very compassionate....again a child at the early years was crying and he went right up to him and gave him a kiss and a hug. So cute!

Declan has been going pee on the potty just about every day. He has gone poo once....and this is when he was already half way done what he was doing. Our goal is that after Christmas settles down again, we'll start him in his toddler underwear...I'm thinking January 2nd. We are going to do cold turkey (but diapers still for bed). The first week will be constant asking him to go to the toilet.....and maybe some running around naked. It might make it a little easier with the underwear because we won't have to snap up so many snaps each time.
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-YhmRMIMIe6eTMgDYC_TNp3X-Y5_05Xd20QENnernxgfraxHPet8Vu9H6z7ubJN3s3VV-tTQfHK71-8gHL4oMWTY1PglCnIbzNgetLsiJr6FmglgWPFzwdwxLF7d-olF5BqaXGt8_zhw/s1600-h/IMG_4384.JPG">

Our Little Talker

Declan has changed so much in one month! At some activities he is starting to calm down a little. For instance he will actually sit and watch some t.v. (white sitting buckled into his high chair). He won't sit still on a chair yet. He really enjoys watching the wiggles. He also like big bird. I don't like him watching too much t.v.. He is watching t.v. while I am writing this. It is Saturday morning, and every kid gets to watch cartoons on Saturday morning!

We've been going to the early years center a lot lately (about once a week), and we have also been going to story time (every Thursday). He is beginning to sit for a while during the circle times. This is a huge change. At the beginning he would sqirum away within the first minute. Yesterday we stayed for circle time at the early years and he actually is starting to participate. He layed down and she said to, he clapped when she said to...he tapped his knees, he waved etc. It was quite adorable! I was very proud of how well he did.

Another big change is that he is beginning to talk. Up until this past week when we asked Declan to say something he wouldn't...he didn't know how. Now he actually repeats words that we ask him to say. He now can say please when he wants something. This is a huge change because now that he can say more words, my expectations have risen. He is now saying things like up, out, down and all these words that are asking me for something.

One bad thing that he just started yesterday was saying 'no' in a mean tone of voice when I ask him to come to me. Boy did that annoy me and I really want to nip it in the bud without bringing so much attention to it that he does it all the time.

Declan is such a social little guy. We always get tons of comments about him being so happy, with a big smile, who is not shy at all. He'll enter a room with such confidence. He'll try to comfort kids that are sad. He'll share with other kids....though I am seeing a little bit more of an attitude in the last couple of days. He gets this mean little face on when a kid tries to take something that he has in his hand. Then he'll pull it back. That is a tricky situation because you want him to be gentle but you don't want kids to walk over him....so he is learning to stand up to himself. Is it better that kids come and grab his toy from him and he just stands there and lets them, or is it better that he grabs it back? I don't know?

I think I'll add some pictures from the last little bit.

Our fun little boy

Declan is now becoming a little boy. I really can say at this point his babyness is really fading. He tromps around the house playing with this along the way. He no longer gets into every possible...he is becoming a little more selective and he will put things back that he isn't supposed to touch. We can trust him outside for a few seconds now, where before he would immediately be into something that could be really dangerous. He enjoys playing on his trikes and he can now push along forward a little ways. For the longest time he would just push himself backwards. He talks in this cute little baby talk...but is wanting to express his own particular needs more and more. He is developing his own little routines with things now. For example, whenever he gets down from his highchair he always has to clip the buckles back together. He knows things are happening before they do now. When we say we are going to church, he starts to get upset because he realizes that we will be leaving him in the nursery. He is beginning to watch a little more t.v. It isn't that we want him to watch a lot of it, but there are times where we just want him occupied. He really seems to like 'The Wiggles'. I think it has to do with the fact that he really prefers men. We go to the 'early years' and to 'story time' each week. He seems to like to get out and socialize.

It really just amazes me how fast he is growing up. He really enjoys spending time with his relatives. He loves all of his grandparents. I was just thinking today how sad it is that he doesn't get to meet Poppy. I think my dad would have absolutely loved him to pieces!! Oh, and I know for sure he would have been Declan's favourite. Sometimes I see my dad in him....some of his looks and his smiles and his sense of humour. Declan has such an amazing sense of humour! I love how he likes to make people laugh.

Declan is getting to the age where I think I might feel comfortable bringing a brother or sister into the world for him....that is all in God's timing now. I watch him with his newborn little cousins Ella and Breanna...and one to soon come. I think he will make a fantastic big brother. Plus, I feel that we give so much attention to Declan, that it would only be healthy to bring someone else into the world that we can focus on too! We just have to wait on God for this...in his timing... If it takes a while then maybe our second will be closer in age to Annalies' second?

Our little guy is still really great at sleeping at night. This past week his afternoon nap has been shorter....but it might be because he is just getting over his cold. I've been supply teaching, however i haven't had many jobs. However, it has been kind of nice though. I've been blessed to spend a lot of time with Declan and to really enjoy him! A lot of mothers don't get this time with their kids. However I also really appreciate a day away from him....plus I like that he gets to play with other little kids. I wish I could see him play with his friends....but I guess that is why I bring him to the early years.