Christmas Spirit

Since we had to write off Thanksgiving this year, we launched right into Christmas as soon as we could. This included a Sunday morning trip to get a tree at the small zoo near our house. We went to the same place last year (in the snow), and I think this is a great tradition to continue. Free admission to the zoo to spend 10 minutes checking out the animals (pigs, llamas, ducks, goats, horses, fox, deer); 10 minutes in the gift shop warming up and looking at ornaments; then 10 minutes outside watching Jason pick the perfect tree! In continuing with tradition, Uncle Ryan came out to string the lights and decorate the tree. This year he got some "help" from his biggest fan for a few minutes until he was too tired (and grouchy) to continue and had to retreat to Mommy's lap and/or the TV room.

After dinner and after a super quick bath, Santa pajamas were donned and smiles came out for the lighting of the tree! For the adult dinner after Will went to bed, we had prime rib and sweet potato brulee to practice our recipes for Christmas Eve.
Another beautiful tree - picked by Jason, decorated by Ryan, and admired by Lisa!

Still Thankful

Thanksgiving was cancelled at our house this year, but I'm still thankful for my boys and our usual good health! Will was sent home from daycare at 4 p.m. on Wednesday after his nap with a 102 degree temperature. He was a very sad little guy for the next 2 1/2 days with a temperature between 102 and 103.8, no appetite (thankfully he was still thirsty), and no energy. We took him to the pediatrician on Saturday morning by which time the fever had broken and he was doing a bit better. Sunday he broke out in a rash on his face and trunk, but didn't seem so much sick as just grouchy from missing an afternoon nap. We had the nebulizer from his RSV in February, so we did a few breathing treatments during the holiday. He didn't mind his "elephant" mask; it looks like a fish to me, but with the trunk piece attached, I could buy off on elephant.

We watched a bazillion On Demand episodes of Thomas, Mickey Mouse, and Dora (well, the same three or four dozens of times each), as well as played the Thomas "Day of the Diesel" iPad app. Here he's doing the memory card game. He's crazy good at the game - and operating the iPad. Both my iPad and Jason's have that app, but he likes to claim my iPad for his. He laid further claim to it moments after this photo but throwing up on it. All was well; Will, the iPad and the couch all cleaned up just fine.

On Friday morning (well, closer to noon), we just had to get out of the house, so we walked to Starbucks to share an orange-mango smoothy for lunch. Will chose vanilla milk, as well. He was pretty crabby on the stroller ride to/from, but was pretty good at the store while he drank his milk box.

We were very disappointed to miss our annual trip to Indiana to see Jason's extended family. It's the one (and only) day each year where we see everyone (and anyone), so I guess we'll just keep our fingers crossed for a healthy 2012!

Notes for My Record Book

November 13

• It isn't snowing or raining, so we had to get started on the outdoor Christmas decorations!


• Will wore his new "Thomas undies" for all of 3 minutes today before wetting them. He is currently wearing "Percy undies" over a diaper. The Thomas ones were my great idea after he walked out of his room after his nap not wearing a diaper. He sat on the potty for 10 minutes playing cars before putting on the Thomas undies. Mommy has so much to learn!

November 12

• Family pictures day for our Christmas card. Good thing you only need one or two good ones for a card. . . Mr. Will had his tongue out of his mouth on most of the other ones. I think he was licking his lips where the corners were cracked.

November 10

• First snow of the season. It only lasted a few hours but a small amount accumulated on our deck and lasted overnight since it was frosted/iced over.

Scissors

Will's report cards have recently mentioned that they are practicing with cutting out shapes, so I bought him a two-pack of safety scissors at the store yesterday afternoon when Uncle Ryan was here. After Ryan showed Will how to make snowflakes, Will showed Ryan how to destroy them! He also cut up the anniversary card he recently made for Grandma Joni and Grandpa Roger. . . . A Sunday morning drive through the living room is not complete without scissors and paper to cut!

And this is (part) of the result of an evening and morning cutting with scissors! This was about the time Uncle Ryan decided to go home! :-)

Jason and I enjoyed a fabulous dinner out on Saturday night at The Capital Grille in early celebration of his birthday. We were glad that Ryan agreed to baby-sit after hearing about all of Will's recent sleep woes. Ironically, Will actually fell out of bed last night while we were out, but Uncle Ryan soothed the sleepy, confused boy, and he was back asleep before we got home.

Just Funny

So, literally 30 minutes after I finished my last blog about not rushing potty training, Will decided he wanted to use his potty to "poopy." So, he set up shop in his closet on the potty and sat and played for more than 30 minutes. During that time he chose to drink almost an entire sippy cup of water (and he'd just finished dinner). I though we would have a huge breakthough but - amazingly - he didn't pee or poo! We had fun playing race cars though! Then we put on jammies and went to bed. His nighttime diaper was gigantic this morning from all of that water!

30 Month Check Up

Will had his 30 month check-up yesterday. I was a few weeks early, but I wanted him to get his flu shot early in the season.

The doctor said Will was doing great. The only conversation item was how much interest he was showing in potty training. His thoughts were that peer pressure at school would naturally lead to potty training and not to pressure it (we aren't).

• Height: 36 1/2 inches


• Weight: 29 lbs, 4 oz.


• Head: still big

Will continues to track steady right around 50th percentile for his age. He gained 3 pounds and 3 inches from his 24 month check up. Now I know why all his jeans from last spring didn't fit when I go them out for fall!

I'm happy to report that the 2T coat we bought last winter and rolled the sleeves up on still fits generously this year. He has gained a shoe size, but I'm hoping he'll still fit into last season's snow boots!

Will was not happy about the flu shot but the screaming quickly stopped when he focused on the band-aid design and the Halloween M&Ms that Mommy had stashed in her purse. In this picture he is trying to show off the Dora sticker that he got at check-out but can't get his arm turned out correctly. :-)

Happy Halloween

I have learned this week that candy is a great motivator! And who wouldn't want to give this adorable giraffe some candy?! (Big thanks to my friend Jen who saved Halloween by sending us this costume last minute after the dinosaur that I bought was way too big!) As soon as we got home from daycare (early, of course, since little kids need to trick-or-treat before dinner), Will grabbed his pumpkin and sat still long enough for me to put his giraffe back on. This photo is a little out of order, but I can't figure out how to move pictures around after I upload them. This is our neighbor friend, Jessica, who is three months older than Will.Here he is racing to our first stop at Jessica's house. Since they were out they left the candy on the porch (which is also what we did).

Posing for Mommy as he deposits his first loot into his pumpkin! He was very good about helping himself to only a piece or two out of each bucket. And he said "trick-or-treat" and "thank you" to each person with only limited prompting.

Photo op at the next door neighbor's house. They were giving out bags of microwave popcorn.

At the neighbor on the other side of our house, they had a special treat for Will: a red fire engine!

We had been to about 5 house by this point, so he needed to stop to see what was in his pumpkin now - and make room for the fire engine.

We went to about 10 or 12 houses on our street before calling it a night at 6:30 and heading inside for dinner. Will wore these pajamas under his giraffe costume, so getting ready for bed was easy, too! We ate cheese soft tacos, tortilla soup, yogurt and CANDY for dinner. I let him pick two pieces and he picked gross ones: Whoppers and a Dum Dum. He said they were yummy, and that left more good stuff more me, I guess! :-)

Our neighborhood was dark and quiet by 7 p.m. except a few packs of older kids. But most people ran out of candy and were turning off their lights as we were finishing up.