Goodnight Whispers

As I checked on Joshua last night I had to step over a sleeping Sebastian who prefers the floor for some reason (his mattress is actually on the floor as part of the bottom "bunk" of a loft bed - he likes to use his bed as a pillow and the floor as his bed).

His band-aid had fallen off and he was worried his cut would be in trouble but I assured him it got enough medicine and we would check on it again tomorrow. I kissed and hugged him goodnight, then turned to leave.

"Mommy," he whispered. "Please get Sebastian."

"He likes to sleep on the floor."

"No, Mommy. Please say goodnight to Sebastian."

My heart swelled and I smiled. My big boy takes such good care of his baby. I crept back in and brushed Sebastian's back while telling him goodnight. I whispered goodnight to Joshua once more, but his back was already turned to me as he settled in for bed.

Toddler Tales: Phone Call

We were dropping off the boys at my Mom's on Saturday. As Sebastian (2 in Feb) got out, he stepped on his toy phone. He held up one finger to my husband to tell him to wait, picked up his phone and said, "Hello?" Sebastian continued his conversation all the way into the house. It must have been something important. :-)

(Photo taken at a different time, but who's counting?)

Toddler Tales Special Edition

Happy 4th Birthday, Joshua!!

A to Z: N - A Toddler Tale

Not for grown-ups.

"Pshew!" Joshua said as he picked up DVD's to put away.

"Pshew!" I copied, thrilled he was actually listening to me.

"No, I make that sound."

"I can make it, too.

"No, Mommy. Grown-ups don't say that. Only kids say that."

"Oh, sorry." :P

A to Z: E - A Toddler Tale

Eating Easter M&M's

Sebastian just turned one in February. For Easter we made sure to give him (just a little) candy we felt he was developed enough to eat. So he got to taste milk chocolate M&M's for the first time.

Toddler Tales: Shapes and Colors

"Mommy, I push X."

"Sweetie, you're playing with your puzzle."

"I play my game with you, too. I push the red X."

"It's blue, baby. Red circle, green triangle, pink square."

"Oh. Do I push the X yet?"



How I try to make my guilty pleasure educational. ;-)

Growing Pains: Stepping Up

My toddler is graduating to kid status, and my baby is just about to become a toddler. Still, it's amazing how they can still struggle with similar issues, like trying to reach a little farther, be a little bigger. I hope they can always see their similarities and help each other with them.

Toddler Tales: Crazy

"I'm crazy for you," Joshua said with a grin.

"Awww. I'm crazy for you, too."

"No, Mommy, only boys. Only boys can be crazy for girls. Not girls."

"Oh, I see."

Lol.

Toddler Tales: Long Day

Joshua had a hard time going down for a nap yesterday. He came stomping down the stairs, then broke down into tears when he saw me come to carry him back up.

I got him in bed and calmed down. He looked at me with tear-wet eyes and said:

"It's a long day."

"It has been a long day, baby. Now get some sleep."

I don't usually get photos of Joshua sleeping because his room is dark and the flash wakes him up. A few days ago I was able to take this one because he came down after an hour in bed to sleep another hour on the couch. It must have been yet another long day for the poor little guy.

Toddler Tales: Sit

When we feed the dogs, we make them sit while we're filling their bowls, then until all bowls are put on the floor. We fell into this when we realized the polite waiting helped them eat slower.

Then, there's Joshua who wants to help. Sometimes, he wants to pour the food into the bowls. Sometimes, he wants to put each bowl down himself, which can end up with food all over the floor. Sometimes, he helps the dogs sit when they have trouble doing it themselves.

I have a couple vantage points.

Kia, Joshua and Rambo.

Joshua, Rambo and Chiaotzu.

And one of Joshua and Rambo because ... Well, just look at those faces!

Toddler Tales: Dinner Time

I made roasted chicken legs for dinner last night. Joshua always starts out with the whole chicken leg - he wants the bone just like the adults have. I always end up cutting it for him.

I was in the process of cutting his chicken in the kitchen when he ran in with a big smile.

"Sebastian's eating, Mommy. He's happy."

"He is?" Great. Did Sebastian get his spoon? I imagined the mess.

"Yeah. Come see."

Joshua grabbed my hand, but I had to get his plate. I told him to go ahead and I'd come in with his food.

When I came in, Sebastian was laughing, but food wasn't all over. Joshua was feeding him, showing him how to open his mouth for the bite.

Yeah. That's my boy. :)

Toddler Tales: Playing in the Closet

Because of early swim lessons on Saturday, my nephew stays the night on Friday. This past Friday I heard them playing in  the bathroom.

Daemon: "Tell me you need more cotton balls."

Joshua: "More cotton balls."

Daemon: "Say you need more towels."

Joshua: "More towels, please."

At this point I was terrified the contents of my closet were all over the floor. I peeked in to see the boys jammed in the closet, reaching up on the shelves and pretending to restock them.

It always amazes me, the imagination of kids and what they think is fun. My nephew is always coming up with games and honestly has one of the best imaginations of kids his age that I've seen. If Joshua is going to learn from anyone how to play pretend, this is the kid to teach him.

Toddler Tales: Reading Fun

I thought I would let Joshua tell you today's story. :)






The author's goodread's profile: Mary Murphy

Toddler Tales: Tummy Ache

A head cold is going through our family. Joshua got it first. Now Sebastian and Kris have it. Joshua is feeling better, but isn't 100% yet. He climbed up on my lap tonight, curling into a ball.

"Mommy, my tummy hurts."

"It does? Why?"

"Because I'm sick."

My poor, big baby.

Toddler Tales: Eat or Nap?

"Joshua, it's nap time."

"No. I eat!"

It had been an odd day, and he could have been hungry. I was a good Mommy and gave him the food I was making for myself. He sat at the coffee table and stared at it.

"Joshua, you need to eat or it's nap time."

"Eat."

I left to change Sebastian's diaper. By the time I got back, this was Joshua.

 

Toddler Tales: Password

"You can't go, Mommy."

"Oh, no, I'm stuck?"

"You have to say password."

"What's the password?"

"Okay, you can go."


I think this might get tougher when he figures out he has to pick a word to be the password.

Toddler Tales: Farfar's visit

My husband's father and stepmother were here this past week, visiting from Denmark. We are always concerned at Joshua's acceptance of people he doesn't see very often, yet he always surprises us. He loved his farfar (dad's dad) and would sit out with him on the drive while farfar soaked in the sun.

They had to leave today to go back home. We will miss them a lot, and are so grateful for the time they were able to take to come see us.

Toddler Tales: Overwear

Getting to the big boy underwear part of potty training:

"Mommy, my pants on first."

"No, sweetie. Underwear on first. Underwear goes under your pants."

"Oh. Overwear goes over my pants."

"No, sweetie, under."

He is still trying to convince me they're overwear. Maybe too much Superman ... ?

Joshua showing off his underwear. Kia checking them out.

Toddler Tales: You're Silly, Mommy.

"Mommy, you're silly."

"I'm silly? Why?"

"You left the door open. It was an accident."

"What?"

"Let me show you. (He takes me into the kitchen.) See, Mommy, the door. You're silly. Hahaha."

Toddler Tales: Snake

"Ah, Joshua, keep that away from me. Snakes are scary."

"Scary to you."

Hmmm.