Ok, so I don't have a lot of time because I
have to get some sleep tonight, but I really need to give some updates before I've forgotten everything. Pictures and video to come later.
First of all, Kaelan has been doing pretty well with his behavior lately. He had a VERY rough week a couple weeks ago and we were pretty much at our wit's end. However, one of my friends from school told me she does a marble jar with her boys (4 & 2). Of course I thought, that's one of the oldest teacher tricks in the book. I just never thought of doing it with my own kids. Anyways, we started it that weekend and it worked like a charm. That Monday at school he told his teachers right away that he'd get a marble if he had a green face. It has been working ever since and we pray it continues. He has a rough day her and there but they are definitely less frequent which makes for a much happier home! :)
Max continues to change in lots of ways. 3 weeks ago, he his teachers moved him from his crib to a cot. I know...ahhhhhh!!! I wasn't at all worried about his safety (they're right there if he moves even the slightest bit), but to think he's not in a
crib. That's where babies are supposed to be and if he's not in one, what's that say about him? :( I know, i know, he is STILL a baby, but still. Anyways, he is doing great at school. He is spoiled rotten by ALL the teachers and staff. Other people literally stop by his room just to squeeze him. And he is still Ms. Leigh's favorite. She said to me the other day, "I know we're not supposed to have favorites but I just can't help it." I can't tell you how thrilled and comforted it made me feel. We laughed about how he hugs, stops and looks at you with a big smile, then squeezes you again, stops and smiles at you, and then does it all over again, all the while kicking his little legs with excitment. He is just the most loving, precious little guy. Of course I'm just a teeny bit bias. ;) He crawls like a pro now, however he isn't in too big of a hurry to get anywhere. His content and passive personality often means he just sits and watches whatever is going on around him. There are 2 things that will get him moving everytime though, music and balls. He loves playing "catch" with a ball. He will throw/roll it back and forth with whoever will play. He also plays fetch...haha. Don't worry, he's the one throwing the ball. He'll find a ball, throw or roll it, then crawl after it and throw it again. They put a beachball in his room at school and he
loves it! He can also easily pull himself up and has begun to cruise along the furniture. Today, he even used his walker for the first time. We got some video that I'll post tomorrow.
Some boring stuff for me...he is down to 2 naps a day (although I may have already said that in an earlier post). He sleeps for 1 1/2-2 hours after lunch and then again from about 4:30-6ish. He gets 3 8oz bottles a day with a scoop of formula added in the first and last for extra calories (still a light-weight). :) He loves to feed himself and get all kinds of messy (pic to follow of this as well). Spaghetti-os are one of his favorites so you can imagine how fun it is to clean that up. Thank goodness he gets a bath every night. He can't seem to grasp the sippy cup yet and is more interested in throwing it on the floor. Mommy doesn't play that game so maybe I'm not being persistent enough. He LOVES drinking from the tip of a straw if you dip it in some water with your finger on the end. We thought we'd try one of the sippy cups with a straw since he liked it so much but can't figure out how to suck it hard and long enough to get anything out of it. He STILL doesn't have any teeth or any sign of any teeth. Surely they're in there someplace...right?
Some of his favorite things to do...look at people and grin with his little nose crinkled, hand you things/share (he'll put his food right in your mouth), watch his big brother, swing (again, at school - I've left a camera there now so they can capture some of these adorable and fun things he is doing when I'm not there to see them), and dump or pull things out and then put them back in. The other night in the tub we had the best time. I put the foam letters on the side of the tub and he would hand them to me one at a time and make this 2-syllable sound that sounded just like he was saying, "here-go". Of course he wasn't but it was SO cute. I hated that I didn't have my camera there to capture it. I'm sure he'll do it again though so look for that later on. He still loves to play peek-a-boo with his bath towel each night. He pulls it over his face and kick, kick, kicks before he pulls it off and we say boo. Today during snacktime, he even covered his eyes with his hands and took them away. Maybe he's learned that at school. Finally, he loves to cuddle and I have to remind myself not to take this time for granted. I have GOT to take advantage of this precious and short time in his life. I am always going, going, going and I don't stop to just cuddle nearly enough (if at all). I
really need to get better about that!!!!
Ok, hopefully pictures and video to come tomorrow...good night!!!!!!
Kaelan and Daddy posing on some chairs carved out of tree stumps. There is a new walking/jogging/biking trail along the river here in Rock Hill. It is SUPER nice and extremely family (and dog) friendly. It's so nice to see families spending time together these days. Kaelan likes to say these are the chairs from "the 3 little bears". haha
This is the squinty smile we always talk about.
Bathtime (that's a rubber ducky in his mouth - he likes to put things in his mouth and make noises)
"Cheese!!!"
This is truly one of his favorite times of the day. If he's a little fussy for whatever reason, bathtime makes everything all better.
Not wanting to wake up for dinner...SO sweet!!!
Swinging at school. I'm sad that I wasn't there for his first swing experience but at least his teachers are willing to capture these moments for me. I LOVE LOVE LOVE them!!!!! They say he loves the swings, just like his brother. :)
Some more shots from school. This is often what he's doing when I pick him up in the afternoons. Standing against the toy shelves.
When it's nice outside and other friends are on the playground, they take the kids for "buggy" rides - on a stroller built for fourrrr.
Havin' fun with his friends
On a walk with the fam'
