Last night of two

Tonight is the very last night I will ever have a two year old. Sanders turns 3 tomorrow!

I'm not afraid to admit that I'm feeling very nostalgic about the whole thing. Not enough to make plans to ensure I have another two year old child of my own, but slightly melancholy about the whole affair none the less.

Two year olds are SO fun...and challenging....and frustrating...and FUN! Their personalities really shine and they learn SO much between the age of Two and Three.

Sanders is no different. He learned to speak better, He is potty trained, He sleeps in a big boy bed (well, mostly...we still only have the crib mattress on the floor). He can get himself dressed. He can wash his own hands. He can peddle a bike...mostly. He recognizes a bunch of letters. He knows what's funny and does it or says it just to get a laugh. He's the best!!

I took a few pictures of him a few days ago with the idea that I would make some invites, but time got away from me. He wants a GREEN birthday party which is why he is wearing his very green shirt. I wanted to document the pictures. He is nearly impossible to photograph right now because he keeps trying to get action shots and I'm not a skilled enough photographer to make them not fuzzy. Anyway, they still do a good job documenting his general personality. Enjoy.(GASP! I know! A post with pictures!!!!)

Picture black mail. He said he would LOVE to have his picture taken...... right after I snapped a shot of him as Batman.

 

I realize this pic is all washed out, but I love his expression so much I couldn't leave it out.

The rest are what I call, "Sanders in action"

"Who me?"

"Here's my 'camera' smile, mom!"

"I'm loving this one on one time and all, but I'm still not going to look at the camera..."

"Yeah. I'm cute."

"Mom, how can you say no to a look like this?"

"No, YOU'RE turning 3!"

"Kidding!!!"

"I'm so silly! She totally believe she was turning 3 instead of me!!"

"The Ennnnnd!"

I love you Sanders Bo Banders!

Big milestone

Two nights ago I realized that Sanders had, yet again, pushed his feet up on the railing of crib and caused the spindles to come out of their slots. Sigh. It takes FOREVER to put everything back together so I decided that is was time to get rid of the crib.

Apparently, all the big milestones with Sanders are going to happened unplanned.

We do have a bed frame for him but no mattress. We just used the crib mattress and put it on the floor.

It went just like you would expect it to. He was SUPER excited for the change and could NOT sleep or stay in bed.

Last night was better and tonight went great!

He grew up so fast.

Kids are great!

I got to spend most of the day with my friend, Nicki, working on Disneyland shirts. It was so fun to be reminded of my very favorite kinds of friends. The kind that can hang out all day with you and it's never boring, awkward, or tiresome. Just relaxing. Even if our project didn't match suit ;) PLUS she even did my dishes. Now THAT'S the kind of friend everyone needs! Thanks!

The whole time Nicki and I were crafting the kids were playing so nicely. Very few hiccups.

I was reminded why little kids are so fun to be around shortly after Nicki and her kids left. I noticed Sanders out of the corner of my eye coming up the stairs slowly. In his hand were a toy tea pot and a toy glass. He stopped at the top of the stairs to see if I had noticed him....he knows he's not supposed to bring those particular toys upstairs because when he does I know it only means ONE thing. He wants to play in the water with them. He didn't want to risk a, "No." from me so he was trying to be sneaky.

I just gave him a look that said, " Umm...excuse me now. Where do you think you are going with those?"

He  interpreted the look correctly and responded by pointing out, "My eyes are closed!!!"

I laughed out loud! I had totally forgotten that 2 and 3 year olds believe very strongly that if they can't see you, you most certainly can't see them! HA!!!!

The other funny thing happened just after Karaia had a new foam mattress put on her bed tonight. As she laid down for the first time she sighed, "This. is. paradise! I could get used to this!"

When did she get so old?

Back in the game

I can't believe it's been over a week since I posted!!!! Sheesh. I might have to go back to daily for the rest of the year.

Does anyone even read this blog anymore?

The fantastic news is that I have overcome my design block!!! Whew! I was starting to think I might have lost whatever talent the Lord had blessed me with. I am very excited about the changes I have made and might be sending them off as early as tomorrow!

I will also be sitting my rear down and catching up with pictures and posts. Sooner than later!

Really Should

I really should blog today. I have so many pictures I haven't posted lately (ha! Like I was ever really good at posting pictures). I have pictures of the kid's valentines that they made/help me make and other fun things. But today has been kind of lame. Not because it's Valentine's Day, that part has been good, (Kevin got me Brian Reagan tickets!!!!) but because I have inadvertently caused or attracted drama in my business life and in one little area of my personal life. The one in my personal life makes my insides hurt! I just want to crawl into a hole, find a time machine, turn back the clock and stuff a bunch of socks in my mouth before I can open it up.

Sigh.

Tomorrow is another day right?

A new life

For the last 9 years diapers have been part of my life. Thankfully not wearing them myself ;)

Before today Sanders was accident free for 4 days! Including running to the bathroom himself. He has even been waking up dry through the night. YAY!

I said before today. You see, Kevin got home from a 2 week business trip today. That's kind of thrown off the rhythm of things. Still, I'm hopeful.

This is an end of the diapers. 9 years of diapers. It's kind of awesome!

OH, and Tennyson had been wearing pull ups at night for a long time. When Sanders started potty training Tennyson announced he would no longer be wearing pull-ups at night. I told him, "OK, I'll see you at 2 am." But I didn't! He's stayed dry every night since.

Stick together

My friend, Jaime, invited me and the kids over for dinner tonight. Her husband was at school and mine is, well, away.

It's truly lovely to spend time with someone you like but especially because you know that you are both feeling lonely and would rather not.

She is a great blessing in my life.

On the way home I asked Tennyson why he didn't eat very much, "Because I'm having a REALLY big snack at preschool on Valentine's Day so I'm trying not to eat very much."

Bwahahahaha!

It's true. There is a feast planned. Well a Tea Party. They are all to come in their Sunday best and practice their manners. Including leading girls into a room by the arm and all of that. It's darling and very appropriate for the Holiday of Love.

I tried to explain to him that maybe he should only do that on Tuesday and that a week of "saving room" was probably overkill. I'm not sure he bought it. This may make for very interesting meals for the next week.