1.5 Years

Lainey at 18 months:

You are getting more and more spunky every day.
You are a dare-devil with no fear at all. Ever. You stand on the couch and fall like a plank onto the ottoman. Or from the coffee table to the couch. Or from the bed to the floor (Ouch). Or from the edge of the pool into dad's arms.
You play with your brother a lot now.
You just figured out how to hitch a ride on the back of the tricycle while he pedals along.
You talk all the time and put 2-3 words together.
You know all your animal sounds.
You like to count. You say- one, free, four, five.
When we were reading a book tonight there was a dark haired girl who at first you called Isla. And then said Tay-tay (Tatum). And then changed your mind and called her Dora. Which led you to say backpack. And then map. You are like the Mouse in If you Give a Mouse a Cookie.
If your brother tells you to say the meanest word, you yell "Toopid!!" (Stupid). I tell you to stop and say nice words, but secretly chuckle every time we are driving and it happens.
You climb up our tall kitchen chairs onto the table a few times a day.
You have figured out how to wiggle under the locked baby gate and climb up the stairs.
You like to come down the stairs forwards and hold on to the rail.
When you smile, your bottom teeth cover up your top teeth, and it's quite cute. (But I think you may need head gear in the future).
You loved swim lessons. At the mention of the word swim, you say, "kick, kick, kick."
My favorite phrase you say is "hoo haw towboy" which you say when you climb on anything that you can pretend is a horse (the arm of the couch, someone's back, a pillow). Not sure where you learned it, but it is pretty cute.
You like to color.
You finally figured out the difference between saying grandma and grandpa.
You know your Nike shoes are pink.
I look at you and cannot believe when Grady was just a few weeks older than you are now, I had you... I thought he was so big. I look at you and think the same thing, but you are still my baby girl.

March Random Shots

I can't take my eyes off them for 2 seconds! Little monkeys!

 A little BFF tricycle riding. 

 Alittle naked book reading. 

 Someone has enough hair for a teeny tiny pony tail. 

 Another someone thinks his underwear is much comfier inside out and backwards. 

Only in Colorado is it 75 degrees on Thursday and 30 degrees with 10 inches of snow on Saturday. 

 These two didn't mind a bit. 

We are enjoying lots of book reading and cuddle time lately. Loving every second of it.

Tales of Potty Training

Everything I'd heard or read said just wait til boys are ready to attempt potty training. I listened to that advice, and the week before Grady turned 3, he decided to pee on the big boy potty.
From day one, it went great. No accidents at our house (a couple a grandma's), dry through the night, great when we are out and about....


Recently, we have taken a few steps back.

Things I (or others) may or may not have experienced/said in the past week:

- "Tuck your wienie, TUCK your wienie, PUSH your wienie DOWN." As pee sprays on the back of the toilet and all over the wall behind the toilet. (In our house, in the mall bathroom, at the library).

- "Grady, we don't pee in Ollie's water dish. We pee in the big boy potty."

- "Grady, why is there pee on the floor all around the potty, but not in the potty?"

- "Why is there poop on this sock?"

- "We are going to need to use diapers again if you don't stop pottying all over the floor in the bathroom instead of in the toilet."

 His response, "Mom, sometimes we all make mistakes. I made a mistake."

Point taken.

- When picking him up from Grandma's one day, the story went something like this. He had a pull up on, but pulled it down because he had to go to the bathroom. Grandma was dealing with one of the other children in the kitchen and felt something wet on her leg. She looked over and he was peeing like a sprinkler on her, on the hardwood floor, nearly on the baby laying on the blanket on the floor.

- "Mom, I can DO IT." As he puts his underwear on backwards, inside out, and two legs in one hole.

-"I need some PRIVACY."

Although there are numerous pics of him running around naked on my camera, I'll put this one on instead. At least he's fully clothed.

Buzz Lightyear and More

 Grady's birthday present was a shovel. It hasn't snowed much at all this winter, but recently we've had a few chances to use the $2.99 Target special on our North facing driveway that never ever melts. 

 

She just stands in the doorway and yells, "SHUBLE... SHUBLE...SHUBLE!!!"

Colorado weather is known for being crazy this time of year, from a blizzard to 65 degrees within a day or two. Sunday was one of those nice early spring days, so instead of going to church at 9 and being home by 10:13, we decided to venture to Pearl Street. It was a gorgeous day and the kids did great! We even went to Efrain's at 12:30 and no one freaked out. A small miracle. 

Lainey, the girl who can propel herself up any surface. 

He kept shouting for all the mall walkers to hear, "KEEP your arms out for BALANCE!"

You may think two children were in that stroller, but like 99% of the time, the fanciest stroller on the market held my purse and the diaper bag while Laine parked herself in front of the courthouse. 

And later that night... Lainey continued to increase her 18 month vocabulary by reading many many books in the tent dad made for her. 

Tonight as we read, she pointed to a frog and said "Yibbet, yibbet" Everyday she says something new that Grandma teaches her. Thank goodness Grandma is around, pretty sure she wouldn't be nearly as smart as she is without all the things she learns at Grandma's every week. 

I wish I had a video, but I have yet to catch it in action. Buzz was G's other birthday present. When you push the buttons on him, he says different things. One of the things he says is the famous line, "To infinity and beyond" then he plays music. At this point, Grady (usually naked from the waist down) hoists Buzz up over his shoulders and flies him around the house like he is flying. It is about the cutest thing you've ever seen. Naked and all. 

On a side note: Recent conversations with the 3 year old: 

Our conversation one night between 4:45 in the car on the way home from Grandma's to 6:00 in the kitchen during dinner and before swim lessons. 

"Mom, do you think Ollie was mischievous today while we were gone?"

***

"Grady, if you keep saying 'shut up' we're going to need to wash your mouth out with this soap." (Showing him the soap and modeling how I would squirt it on his tongue). 

Tears streaming down his face. 

His response... " I am big and strong. I will hold my mouth shut really tight so you can't get that soap in there." 

My response. So wise and mature. "I am stronger and I will pry your mouth open and squeeze that soap right in your mouth."

More tears. But no 'shut ups' were heard this evening. 

***

Same night:

Dad: Grady don't eat your boogers. You'll never get a girlfriend. 

***