This Little One is . . .

an angel!

I can not even tell you how great Owen's behavior has been the past few weeks. He has not made a peep, been crabby (except for 1 time on Saturday) or needed much of anything. Owen can play all by himself for so long, moving from one activity to the next, having a great time and making his own fun. He smiles, he laughs, he dances to music, runs, does cute things, reads books to himself and others, helps out by putting things away or in the garbage, eats his food, does as he's asked and is just pleasant. He is currently a complete opposite of his brother. Now, this has not always been the case. :) And, if memory serves me right, there is a swapping of behavior that takes place when the one having bad behavior decides he's done with bad behavior. He takes over the "angel" behavior and the angel takes over the "challenging" behavior. This is how it's worked with them in the past. We'll see.

This Little One is . . .

Challenging.

Would you believe that this charming face can throw tantrum after tantrum after tantrum for seemingly no reason? It's true. Chase is going through a very hard phase. Chase likes to be held 24/7. Even when he is being held he's not always happy, he likes to climb to "higher ground", meaning he tries to climb higher on your body all the while whining and crying. It's a lot of fun around here. Today I gave him some quiet time in his crib - a.k.a. - a time out. His look nearly melted me and if it weren't for the steam coming out of my ears I'm sure I would have taken him right back out of his crib and cuddled him. He looked at me with these huge puppy dog eyes with pools of tears in them, his mouth slightly open with his big lip pouting and seemed to say "Mama, why?" He calmed down and was in there about 45 seconds. Chase is a little smarty. He knows what he is doing and loves to have lots of attention, which is what he's been getting with all the whining and crying. We are trying to meet his needs without giving in to whining. It's a tough job this parenting thing. Even though the tough times I love my children more and more each day as they show me new things they've learned, kisses, hugs and just plain love.

Uh Oh

This is how Chase says "Uh Oh". He has a little pause between the two words. So cute!

Owies

Owen got an owie on his arm (it's more like he got bit at daycare) and he was telling us all about it by pointing and making this face. :)

How I Go Down the Slide

Owen would like to give us all a tutorial on "How I Go Down the Slide".

 

First, hoist your body into the tunnel

Second, peek at Mommy to let her know you are able to climb in on your own.

Next pull your body onto the platform. 

Bring your entire body onto the platform.

Assess the slide and determine if head first is really a good idea.

 

Use your baby sign language to ask for "more" of something.

Melt Mommy's heart with your beautiful eyes.

  

Last, take the plunge and go down the slide

The Places Elmo Goes

 

Elmo goes with Chase down the slide

 

Elmo gets to hang out in Chase's hand

Elmo gets put into Daddy's mouth

 

Babies and Bottles

I have some baby dolls I've used at school for language therapy with my students.  The babies made their way home and I get them out every now and then for C & O to play with.  Owen was ever so gentle feeding the baby.  Chase prefered to drink the bottle himself.  He wasn't as into the doll.  This is how it is with real babies too. Owen is very interested in babies, Chase, not so much.

Owen, very seriously, feeds the baby.

 

Owen feels like a big boy

  

Chase is shaking the bottle-note the blurriness

  

Chase drinks the bottle (this was motivated by my suggestions)

 

Chase tells the baby "shhhh" which he learned from "Goodnight Moon"

Updates

It's been a while since I've written about what the boys are doing/likes/dislikes/etc.  Here I go.

Owen:
Favorite Toys:  2 plastic chicken legs, a plastic lime and lemon
Loves:  Yellow ducky blankey, looking at mommy's earrings, pointing at everything in sight to ask what it is,
            asking "where did it go?" with sign language.
Dislikes:  Not a whole lot at this point
Eating:  Loves most things
New things:  says "uh oh" under his breath, said "moon" last night, animal noises
Independence:  high
Books:  Truck books are a favorite
Motor:  Loves going down the slide, throwing his body around the ball pit, putting small objects in and out of 
             containers
Bath Time:  Races with Chase to the tub.  Like to think he can float, which really is me holding the back of
             his head and him tilting his head back while sitting fully upright.  Likes the dolphins, ducks and fish.
Wake Time:  5:30-6:30
Bed Time:  7:00

Chase:
Favorite Toys:  anything Owen has, toothbrushes
Loves: Daddy, being carried, the tabs on his green froggy blankey, M&M's, grapes
Dislikes:  Being put down, being without Daddy or Mommy, not getting his way
Eating:  Is picky, loves chocolate and snacks from Daddy (gee, I wonder why he likes Daddy so much)
New things:  Says "uh oh" loudly, said "moon" last night, loves to laugh and laugh at himself in the mirror
Independence:  low
Books:  "Goodnight Moon" is the favorite at the moment.  He likes to say "shhhh" when the old woman says  
              "shhhh"
Motor:  Loves going down the slide, throwing his body in the ball pit, putting small objects in and out of
              containers, putting lids on things
Bath Time: Races for the tub.  Loves to float on his back with me holding his head and looks at me with the
                  most sweet innocent expression, likes the ducks, fish, and dolphins
Wake Time:  4:45-5:30
Bed Time:  7:00

Outdoor Gear Worn Indoors

 

Chase wears his boots to walk on Jeff's books 

Owen wanted to wear his snow gear inside.  He isn't even wearing pants under the snow pants.

 

Chase plays with the cars

  

Owen lays with Chase and plays cars

 

Owen grabs his boots while playing

Hidden?

 

This is Chase hiding from me.  Can you see him?  I'm sure you can't, he's pretty well hidden.  The camo helps.    Cracks me up that he has his legs sticking out and thinks he is well hidden.  ha ha ha

Check out this smile, he is so happy playing peek a boo.  (yes there is a sticker on his forehead that we put there)

Another shot of that little body sticking out from the curtains

It Was A Long Morning

 

This is Chase.  He is laying on the legs of a tiger at daycare.  Asleep.  ha ha.  My daycare provider sent me this picture.  She said Chase went over, layed on the legs of the tiger, pooped, and the next thing she knew he was snoring!  He fell asleep on the tiger. Poor guy, he was so pooped.  Chase and Owen have had colds and Chase has been majorly out of sorts.  He needs more sleep obviously. 

I Wish I Felt Like This!

 

This onesie cracks me up. 

   

Owen pulls on his shirt-showing it off to me, while being quite annoyed he can't get it off.

 

I like this picture because my little boy still looks like a baby.

Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day!

We had a nice day. We woke up and gave each other cards and gave Chase and Owen their valentines.  Inside the big heart was an Elmo book, coloring book and small Elmo figurines. They loved the figurines.  So far Elmo has been in the yogurt container, dipped in lasagna, carrots, and pears. 

Owen and Chase, Chase especially have been attached to Jeff at the hip.  Chase won't let Jeff out of his sight, much less let Jeff put him down.  Today at church Jeff collapsed into a chair.  Chase was with him, of course, and just laid on him.  I had Owen and he too, wanted to go to Jeff. So there was Jeff sitting with with the boys laying on him.  It was very sweet.

Oh I'm happy to have 3 valentine boys.  :)

These pictures show Owen (in orange) and Chase playing with stickers from G and G Anderson. Owen would take a sticker and right away slam it on his stomach, not even looking at it, it was just automatic. Very funny.

 

Chase holds his valentine

 

 

A future model?

  

Chase holding Elmos

Shades

Can these be any funnier?  Oh my gosh, what a fun day! The sun glasses cover their entire faces!

 

Owen is COOL!

Chase dons his shades

 

How do they stay on his little nose?

 

Chase just loves wearing these sunglasses

 

ha ha ha ha 

Flip Flops and Chubby Bare Legs

Owen and Chase love shoes. They love to put them on and wear them around.  They like other peoples' shoes too.  We have a tub of shoes in their closet that are too big.  Every now and then I let them open the tub and rummage through shoes.  Owen wanted to wear these.  I didn't think it would go very well because the last time I put flip flops on them there was crying involved.  This time, not so much.  Owen wanted to wear the flip flops around the house-without pants of course.  Why would my children ever be wearing pants in pictures?!  He wore them for awhile, then wanted them off.  I looked at his little toes and they were all red from where the sandals had rubbed.  Poor little toes.  We're trying to break them in for our upcoming trip to Florida.  Here we come sunshine and sand!

**I must make a little comment about the shirt Owen is wearing.  My good friend, Heidi, a wonderful seamstress, sewed it for the boys for Christmas!  Isn't that nice!**

 

Owen looks down at Chase with his flip flops on.

Who can resist chubby legs and chubby feet in flip flops?