Tyler - 3 years

I feel like I have to do a three year update, but honestly I don’t think I can document everything about Tyler at this moment. It really is crazy as to how much this age holds. I find that I like to look back at old posts to see what Tyler was doing at a certain age and sometimes can’t find what I want in the post. This is good and bad because I also don’t want to compare the boys as to who did what, when, etc. So I’m just going to document some things that come to mind and maybe get a little interview with Tyler one day to cap this one off. Here it goes the good, the bad, and the ugly…

We had his three year checkup last week. He weighs in at 32.5 lbs (55%) and 38 in (60%). Everything checked out great. He had his first vision test and nothing else too exciting from the visit other than he was bouncing off the walls for the doctor (putting on a nice show for him) and wanted him to play hide and seek :)

Tyler you’re a social bug and overall a smiley happy kid. You like playing with friends at school, playing with your cousins, playing outside, reading books, going to the park and running around the yard with Mom and Dad. You’re pretty athletic for your age. In gym class one day, Ms. Kristen told us you won a game of tag between the 2, 3 and 4 year old classes. She said Mr. Ryan, your gym teacher and her couldn’t believe some of the moves you were pulling so you wouldn’t get tagged. You get that from me I’m sure ;) I think you’ll be pretty athletic and you like to play baseball, kick around the soccer ball and you love going swimming at the Y.

You know your full name and address and our names too. We have to ask you the address in pieces, but for the most part you know it. You can draw circles and lines and like I said in the last post I think you’re working on squares or rectangles now. You know your ABC’s and can count to about 20. You’re starting to recognize some letters and maybe a few numbers. You can recognize your name and spell it too. Your speech is awesome. Recently, you started using the words ‘also’ and ‘actually’. I love this it’s really cute. You know right and left and I’m certain that you’re learning so much at school because that’s one of those things that we just can’t take credit for. Actually, there’s a lot you learn at school and I can’t thank your teachers enough for what they teach you daily.

You are great with the potty and two weeks ago we decided to ditch the pull ups at night. You're doing really great with not wetting the bed. We hope it continues.

You’re funny…really funny. I wish I could capture all the things you say to make us laugh. The other day you told me about a Darth Vader shirt in your closet (in a very serious way) “Mom, that shirt is freaking me out.” We have no clue where you come up with some of the stuff you say! You got a Leap Pad for Christmas and we can put real music on it. You came home one day and said “Mom, you know that never, ever, ever getting back together song? Can I get that on my iPad?” I’ve never played that song before so I don't know how he knows of it.

Speaking of songs, you have a complete playlist that you requested on your “iPad”. We have Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepson, Dirt Road Anthem by Jason Aldean, Firework by Katy Perry, We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together by Taylor Swift, Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus, Home by Phillip Phillips, Learn Me Right (Mumford and Sons from Brave the movie), the oldie but goodie Runaround Sue (cause Mom likes that one), What's Makes You Beautiful by One Direction. You listen to the music all the time on there. And dance around the room. We have family dance parties and you’re brother is in to it now too. I taught you how to Tango the other day and you thought it was hysterical.

You love to watch movies and a few favorites at the moment are Cars, Brave, Despicable Me, all the Ice Age movies and Madagascar ones. But really, you like a ton of movies and you sit through them really well. Your favorite TV shows right now are Jake and the Neverland Pirates and Wild Kratts. You like Ninja Turtles and Transformers, but I limit those because then you go to school sometimes and think you’re one of them and get in trouble for pretending you have weapons and play fighting. There's 7 kids in your class and 6 of you are boys. Boys will be boys and you are all at the same stage with what you like to do and how you play.

You are a great big brother. You care a lot about Zac. You don’t like when he cries, you try to make him better and for the most part you share with him and are kind to him. I can’t wait to see your relationship with your brother grows.

So there’s the good. But as we all know life can’t be this much sunshine and rainbows all the time around here. Although I tend to only focus on the good stuff on the blog, we also have...some meltdowns, some jabs at little brother, some whining, some new found freedom of “No, I’m not going to do that now!” or “That’s not fair!”, some moments where I’m not quite sure if you can hear or not, but then I’m reassured you can when we have moments when you listen like a little angel. With that being said though, we’re told it’s all part of the process of having a growing kid and for the most part you are a good boy :)

I have to note this because one day it might come true and then I'll have written it down. The one day Ms. Kristen and I were talking and she said sometimes she and Ms. Maris will sit there while you guys are napping and talk about what they think each of you will be when you grow up and here are their predictions for you. I was told “He’ll either be a professional athlete, we think a baseball player” or “He’ll be one of the crazy smart people that invent something, but you’ll never know that’s he’s the person behind what was invented.” Either way, it looks like Mama’s getting to retire early. Kid, keep me in mind when you make it big! Whatever it is I know you’ll move mountains because you’re already getting them to shake a little bit and you’re only three.

Tyler, you were the one brought us in to this crazy parenting business and you have made our lives exciting and complete. Love you buddy!

Snapshot from this morning. I made it at work for one hour this morning before I got a call that Tyler threw up. So, we're spending that day together at home :)

Randomness

I was working from home last week and Tyler drew in my notebook. He's perfected drawing lines and circles and now on to attempting a rectangle maybe? I didn't rip that page out, I like when I stumble upon it at work :)



After Zac did his tuck and roll down the stairs two weeks ago, we thought margaritas would help calm our nerves. The boys we're loving this Mariachi band!





Jake and the Neverland pirates are in full force around here!





My old roommate from college sent me some pictures. Everytime she sends me some I can't help but think that it looks like someone hooked me up to a beer IV. Oh my poofy face...thank goodness it was only 4 years...but it sure was fun :)



This one was from a date party at my sorority, Tri Sig. It was in our sludge filled, beer soaked, cement and cinderblock, crowded basement. Now that sounds like a good time doesn't it? Boys...even your Grammy played beer pong in that basement :)



These darn cookies get me every year. One minute I had none, the next minute someone sends an email with a picture of their cute little girl saying please buy cookies from me. Then there's 4 boxes staring me down all afternoon in my cube, three of which were opened in the first 5 minutes of getting them.

Tyler turns 3!

We celebrated Tyler turning three with a birthday party at Bounce U! Tyler has been asking to have his birthday there and this was his first party inviting friends from school. We all had a good time! I think the parents have as much fun as the kids at this place!





Aunt Donna climbing up the net!





















And after the party on Saturday we got to ride bikes for a little bit. It was 50 degrees outside! Rare for this January birthday kid!







And of course even with all of the toys he got, he wanted to read his new books. He loves to read!



For his birthday on Monday we had a little cake and celebrated with just the four of us. Unfortunately, on Sunday Tyler got sick and has been out of school all week. So, he's been on and off all week with how he's been feeling, but that didn't stop him from having a good birthday!

Hot dog, soft pretzel, cheese and pirate booty. Perfect birthday dinner!











Trying on his new Spiderman rain boots!



Happy Birthday Tyler love you so much!

Moments...

One day when our kids have jobs and make lots of money maybe they'll read some of these things and think "We should send Mom and Dad on a week vacation to a tropical island". Get it boys? Remember this stuff and how I'm slowly seeing more and more greys poke through my nice brown hair. I've never dyed my hair. I might be getting closer to the day. :)

Zac woke up one morning and I put him in bed with me and we were cuddling so nicely, then he coughed a little and threw up in my face. Thank goodness he cute.

One morning I was getting ready for work and Tyler, Zac and I were all in our little bathroom together. Tyler just went pee and hopped off the toilet only to have Zac come right up behind him and start splish splashing in the toilet water. ugh. Sometimes I get to work at 8 and feel as if I already ran a marathon. And when Zac sees the toilet paper roll it's like the heavens light up and he charges towards it like no other. He can unroll that puppy in under 2.5 seconds I swear and then eats the toilet paper. I don't remember Tyler being so infatuated with toilet paper.

This past Sunday, Zac rolled down our stairs. Thank goodness he was perfectly fine and that we only have 5 stairs. He was just a little startled and had a tiny fat lip. It's not even like he was left alone or we weren't watching him. This crap happens so fast it's unbelievable. But Good God did it scare us. Two minutes later he was climbing back up the stairs and Dave and I were still trying to get our hearts back to a regular rhythm. After this happened, Dave and I found out that every parent has a story to share like this. Thank goodness other parents are willing to share their moments too.

Yesterday morning, I was putting Zac in the car and Tyler was standing behind the car. He's always curious as to what the exhaust is coming out of the car on cold mornings, but he knows not to go near it. He started coughing and choking a little out of nowhere. I ran over to him and asked if he breathed the smoke in and he said no, but then I was freaking out that he did and something was going to happen. Who worries about this kind of stuff? ME. I work with nurses and the stuff I come in ask ask them probably has them one step away from admitting me to the looney bin.

In good news, I attempted to get a picture of the boys to put in frames in their rooms. Here's what I got :)















And some fixing with Dad



And then Tyler came walking down the stairs tonight and had tools tucked in his underwear. After a little while he said "Dad, look at my tool belt!". I asked him what he wanted for his birthday and he said "one of these like Dad" it was a voltage meter. :)

Look who's walking!

He may not be doing laps quite yet, but this weekend Zac decided to start walking! :)

Fun in the snow!

It's been pretty cool because Tyler is really in to playing in the snow. We spent 3 hours at at time outside just playing, sleigh riding, pulling Tyler around and pushing him as fast as we can down our little hill. I love it! Zac got to go in the snow for the first time too! And Tyler decided to hoard munchkins in his clubhouse :) Tyler isn't in a lot of pictures because he didn't really have time to stop and say cheese and Zac had a million pictures here because I can't decide on just one of that sweet face!