Seth is 20 months

Well, technically yesterday.  I can hardly believe it.  I still even this week got a comment about how he is too small to be walking.  Ha ha ha – he’s only been walking for 10 months!  He is a teeny tiny things though. 

So, let’s see … Physically – I don’t think Seth has gained any weight.  He got sick this month – with a 104 degree fever and just totally lethargic for like 3 days.  Poor kiddo.  And of course, it was the one really nice week here where it was like 50-60 every day.  Oh, well.  He is still a little monkey – just all over the place.  He climbs into places I don’t even know how gets there.

He is finally starting to move his one nap later – of course, like 11:30, now.  So, it’s still kind of challenging.

He is pretty handy with utensils now and feeds himself very well with a spoon.  He wolfed down the Jello we gave him today.

He peed in the potty for the first time this month.  But now shows no real interest, so we’ll wait.  He thinks if he presses his finger against the potty it helps him pee.

Emotionally – Seth is really emotionally / tantrummy lately.  He gets very angry and then he throws things or hits things or bites things.  Usually throwing.  Then he’ll get really upset and leave and go to a room and cool down.  But he mostly has tantrums when he is tired or Andrew is bothering him.  The rest of the time, he is very loving and loves to cuddle and check back in with me and give hugs and kisses.  He plays pretty independently – people always comment on it – but wants us in the room.  His favorite is to say “Hand” “Hand” and then wait until I will take his hand and go wherever he wants.

Mentally – Seth is pretty smart, I think.  But it is probably due to wanting to do everything that Andrew can.  He is trying to learn all his letters and numbers, too.  I was so impressed when I thought he knew that we were in Apartment 8 b/c it says it on our door, but I think that was luck.  He can totally do shape shorting completely and knows the names of some of the shapes and maybe some colors, too.  He is starting to count – consistently 1 and 2, but I know he knows most of the names to 10.  He loves puzzles but always wants to do jigsaw puzzles – he likes putting the pieces together, but, of course, he has a little bit of a hard time knowing which piece goes where.

Seth is talking more.  He has a HUGE vocabulary.  I think it is way more than Andrew had at this age.  On the other hand, his speech is still pretty unclear (the kid needs to learn to enunciate and pronounce end syllables) and I still sometimes have no idea what he wants.  I usually eventually figure it out, though.  He is starting to combine words and phrases – I don’t know if I would quite call it a sentence.  I love how he answers questions – When I ask how something was, he will usually say “Good”.  And today he asked for “Jello please”.  Pretty darn cute.  Oh, and the word “Mine” has surfaced loud and clear this month.  He definitely knows that word well.

Seth will repeat phrases for prayers and fold his arms and clearly say “Amen”.  He also loves to sing Primary songs and will even try to sing along to the Wise Men and the Foolish Men.  When we sing “Follow the Prophet” he will go and get the LDS board books.  he likes nursery – as long as Katsu is there the whole time.  Of course, he is only there about half the time because he is sick the rest of the time.

Seth still loves trains and cars.  First thing when he stumbles out of bed, he goes straight to the trains.  “Train track” is like his favorite phrase.  He also likes to make his cars “wreck” which means they are upside down and then he turns them right side up.  He likes to dance and gallop around, especially when he is excited.  He LOVES to read, especially Dora and SkippyJon Jones books.  He loves to do jigsaw puzzles and shuns ones with too few or too large pieces.  He likes TV too much (I finally have a weekly chart with 5 30 min slots with 2 being for our movie night – it is working pretty well).  He loves to play with play dough, but mostly playing with the jars.  He loves to throw balls.  He likes to play pretend with Andrew – wearing a cape and being Super Why – or pretending to go off and fight giants “Giants, giants”.   He likes to turn on faucets whenever I turn my back.  He likes to do play dates.  He loves Japanese characters – An Pan Man and Doraemon – and any American character, really.   He is a really big helper and if he sees me doing a chore, he rushes to help.  He has a good sense of direction and gets upset if I am not going the way he thinks I should be (like when we took a different way to the zoo).

I love his cheesy grin.  They are such cute boys and brothers.

Fun Things this month:

- Setsubun – a Japanese holiday where you throw beans at a goblin.  Seth was terrified whenever Katsu wore the mask, even when he knew that Katsu was underneath.  The whole next day he would go to the back door and say “Monster.  Beans”.

- Watching movies at History Museum.  Also story time.  Seth loves the snacks!  And seeing the replica of the plane, the Spirit of St. Louis.

- Zoo.  Always a treat.  We’ve been 2 or 3 times this month.

- Cahokia Mounds.  Seth was moderately interested.

- Watching any sports with Katsu.  He is especially interested in soccer and must point out soccer balls wherever he sees them.

- Valentine’s Day diner visit and also chocolate.  Seth loved the chocolate and playing with Andrew’s valentines.  Also, the cool octopus balloons that Katsu brought home for them.

- Play dates with kids in the ward.

- A really fun puppet show with two fun books – Bark George Bark and the Daddy Mountain – at the library.  Seth was so excited about it, at dinner he kept trying to tell Katsu “Pupp, pupp, pupp” – it took us a little bit but then he said yes when we asked him how much he enjoyed it.  So cute that he wanted to add to the dinner conversation.

Double Trouble

The kids have been one huge bunch of trouble lately.  Two boys really is more than just two boys stuck together.  Of course, the big ones this last week or so were flushing all their crayons down the toilet and drawing on our coffee table with permanent marker.  And the daily playing in the sink and throwing things in their to get ruined (books, the hair cutting kit, paper, squeezing hair gel out into it).  And drawing with markers on the exercise bike.  And the couch.  And breaking the key off my laptop.  And scooping and throwing toilet water on the floor.  And taking everything out from the pantry and leaving it either in a pile on the floor or putting it in the tupperware with the cat food.  Or stealing all the spoons so they can dance around with them in their mouths (Because Katsu said that only spoons and forks and knives can go in your mouth).  The list just goes on and on and on ….  And that is just this week!  And what I can remember.  Good thing they are cute little rascals.  I am worn out.

Cahokia Mounds

We went to the UNESCO site Cahokia Mounds – it’s the oldest civilization site of Native Americans north of Mexico.  It’s just a state park and it’s not particularly well known, especially outside of St. Louis, although there was a nice article recently in National Geographic.

It was a relatively warmer day between a few big snow storms, enough that the snow had melted mostly and the kids wanted to run around.  We skipped the visitor center, cause we were cheap and we mostly just wanted the kids to kick around.

The kids loved climbing up the mounds and running to the edge.  The mound is pretty tall and had a nice view of St. Louis.  There are lots of little ones around there.  There used to be nice mounds nearby, even in St. Louis, but they’re not there anymore.  We even got to see a Wood-henge.  Katsu was not very impressed.  Not quite as cool as stonehenge.

It was a fun little trip.

Pictures of Andrew

Andrew is 3 years, 9 months

And this post is really late.  Oh, well.  The last couple weeks stunk in terms of weather (as they did everywhere) and we have felt so stir crazy and I’ve just been in general cranky.  Then, Seth started getting sick on Friday with his fever up to the 104s on Sunday when we finally measured it (we were medicating the whole time, of course).  Now, Andrew is getting sick.  He really wanted to go to preschool today to exchange valentines, but then on the way, he threw up all over himself and his seat.  So, we drove him and I planted them in front of Sesame Street so I could try to clean out the car and car seat.  And he is sobbing because he really wanted to go to preschool.  Sigh … I swear, he missed half of preschool last month and will miss half of it this month, which is so frustrating because it’s so expensive.   And now the weather is finally nicer and we can’t go outside because everyone is sick.  I am SOOO stir crazy.  And it really stinks that we still don’t have any good friends and they have had a total of like 3 play dates since we moved here … maybe.

Back to Andrew … not much seems different.  He is obsessed with his super powers and being “Super Why” and how all the super whys are going to move to our planet and live with us.  He wants to fly and save people all the time.  He wears all of his pretend clothes – his cape and mask and sunglasses and hats and doctor stethoscope and holding all his tools and then dances around to his Dora CD.  Pretty cute.  He said a spontaneous prayer this month – God, please kill all the bad people, Amen.

He loves preschool and sunbeams.  He loves playing with his flannel boards and wants to show it to all his classmates at Primary.  He loves singing songs and sings the ones he learns at preschool and church.  He enjoys painting and especially cutting and gluing.  He is learning his letters and knows at least half and can occasionally sounds out words if prompted.

Otherwise, the same old Andrew.   He knows what he wants.  when I asked if he wanted to go on a date with Daddy and go ice skating, he said no, he wanted to go to the Chinese buffet together.  That is what they do for dates.  Ha ha ha.  Well, glad we got that covered.

Fun things this month.

- Ice festival at the loop – Andrew wanted to see everything and get the ice cubes with chocolate inside at each place.

- Sledding on art hill.  Andrew loved it!  He could have done it all day.  He was so tired afterwards (or so we thought), he couldn’t even walk.  Turns out he started running a fever and got sick that day.  Oh, well (side note – we were all healthy for about 2 or 3 weeks there until last weekend … otherwise, someone has been sick in the household since Miami – yes since late September).

- Watching Ratatouille at the History Museum.  Andrew loved the snacks but was terrified of the movie even though he had seen it before.  He made us leave half way through.

- Special Elephant and Piggie show at the library.  Andrew loved it!

- Setsubun – a Japanese holiday.  Andrew LOVED throwing beans at the demon (Katsu with a mask).

- Donuts with Dad – Andrew was so happy that Katsu came and had a great time!

- Playing at the indoor playground at a couple malls and even McDonalds – we have been so stir crazy.

- More cavities and more fillings – okay, so that wasn’t so fun, but necessary I suppose.  Andrew was scared and I had to drag him to the car and drag him inside, but he did really really well and was actually happy when it was done!

- Trip to the zoo.

- Visit to Cahokia mounds (a Unesco site).  Andrew loved climbing up, worried us that he was going to jump off, and liked to imagine the indians that lived there.

- Celebrating Chinese New Years at a friends house.  Andrew loves Chinese food, so he loved this!!!

- Watching the Super Bowl.  Andrew was excited all week about all the snacks we got for Katsu, but he was not as excited actually watching football.

- Lunch at a diner with the family for Valentine’s Day.  Andrew though the milkshake he got was really great!

Seth is 19 months old

This seems like it’s been a big month for Seth – like he got a lot older. 

First, the physical stuff.  Seth got the stomach flu right as we got home and was throwing up and not eating.  Then, he had a well check a couple days later.  He freaked out about getting weighed and was generally very upset – and he didn’t even get shots because he was sick!  The doctor was VERY concerned about his weight, as he had only gained 8 oz in like 9 months and was now at the 3%, so huge percentile jumping since we moved here.  So, she said we needed a weight check/immunization visit in 2 weeks when she we order blood tests and also we should see a nutritionist.  So, we as soon as he was feeling up to it, we bulked up on the whole milk and ice cream and meatballs.  And when he went to his next appointment, he gained 2 lbs!!!  And is 23 lbs and back to 10%.  So, no blood work or nutritionist.  Yeah.  Hopefully, he can keep it up.  We have another weight check in April scheduled.

Other wise, he is healthy and happy when he doesn’t have a cold (which is at least every other week … sigh).  He is down to only nursing right before nap and bed and he skips those half the time, so I can see him weaning completely soon.  Yeah for me!!!  He is still a super big monkey.  Nothing makes him happier than climbing, leaping, and jumping off the furniture.  Instead of walking down the stairs, he jumps down EACH step saying “jump” as he goes down each one.  He also is getting really good at throwing and loves to say “catch” and then throw the ball to us.  He can throw a ball clear across the room.

His sleep has been INSANE this month.  Between illnesses and the enforced weaning and becoming a total daddy’s boy, sleep has been illusive.  For some reason, he only wants daddy most of the time.  So, the last week he has been screaming and refusing to go to sleep for up to two hours each night!!!  It has gradually gotten better, but now it’s like he wants both of us in there while he goes to sleep.  And then, for a couple weeks now, he wakes up sometime between 4 and 6 am and starts screaming bloody murder and demanding Katsu.  Luckily, Katsu can usually put him back to sleep but on his chest and then sleep together on the couch.  I don’t know what’s up, but it’s like Seth wants to be joined to the hip with him.  Crazy.

Seth is obsessed with the train set we got for Christmas.  First thing when he wakes up, he wants to play trains.  He cries when it’s time for dinner because he still wants to play with the trains.  He doesn’t want to go to bed because he still wants to play with the trains.  But so far, all the Christmas presents have been hits.  Seth builds really tall towers with his blocks and can balance the little long rectangles on top of each other almost as well as I can.  I am impressed.  He even likes to build things with Andrew’s Trio blocks, too.  He also loves to play with Dolly.  And of course, cars and trucks.  He knows names for probably 20 different kinds of vehicles now.  Bulldozers, fire trucks, ambulances (“amb”), tow truck, crane, truck, car, bus, I’m sure he knows others, too.  When he’s not playing, he wants to read.  Continually.  All day long.

Seth loves being just like Andrew.  They both dress in capes and run like crazy people all over the house.  They like to wrestle.  Seth tries to burp just like Andrew and laugh just like Andrew and make weird noises just like Andrew.

Seth is really loving painting.  It’ll be time for bed and he will come up to me with a jar of paint and a paintbrush, “Paint.  Paint”.  Cute boy.

He has started having lots of temper tantrums.  At night.  Before bed.  And of course, during the day.  He usually throws anything he can see on the floor and then hides – either in another room or under the kitchen table or in the bathroom.  If the door is shut and he is still upset and you try to open it, he will immediately shut it again.  He needs to calm down on his own and wants nothing to do with you until then.  So different than Andrew.

We are attempting to take Seth to nursery.  The first week, the leaders wanted us to just leave.  I was like … yeah, right, but sure, we’ll try it.  He screamed bloody murder for about 15 minutes till we decided that would not work.  So, for now, Katsu goes to nursery each week.  Seth is warming up and even threw away his trash without having Dad go with him … but it’s a slow process.  His nursery leader came over last week to play and help the adjustment.  I don’t care what other people think – I just want to take it slow and leave Seth when he is ready.  He’s not the type to just cry for 5-10 minutes and then calm down and play. 

Otherwise, it’s been a fun month.  Seth has such a fun little spirit – he loves to play and he loves to hug and kiss (he spontaneously hugs me ALL the time) and read and just plain have fun.  But boy, he is one stubborn boy.   Oh, and he finally is saying no, though he really just says “nah” and he says it ALL the time.  He still doesn’t really say yes, just nods his head.

Fun things this month:

-CHRISTMAS!!!

-Playing with Grandma and Grandpa, Michael and Meghan, and Sarah and Danny.

-Fantastic Caverns (he pretty much just chanted truck truck truck the whole time)

- A couple visits to the Art Museum – when we went sledding, Seth wanted to go inside and look at the art instead.

-Visiting the science museum.  Seth loves the space exhibits, but is still scared of the dinosaurs.

-Ice Festival on the Loop.  Seth thought getting the ice cubes with chocolate coins inside was fun.  Even more fun – throwing them against the sidewalk to get the chocolate.

-Sledding on Art hill!  Seth was a little unsure about sledding – too fast for him I think.  When I went down and braked the entire time he didn’t mind so much.

- Puppet show and movie (with tons of snacks) at the history museum.  Seth LOVED it (the movie and especially the snacks).

- Special Elephant and Piggy show at the library plus lots of other library visits of course.

- Running around with his super hero cape (really just a Japanese furoshiki and a clip).

Proof

The stocking was finished, granted just like a day or two before Christmas.

I think it turned out pretty well.  I am in withdrawl now, but I found an old project that I hadn’t finished, so I’ve been working on that the last day or two.

A good deal for today

I don’t know about you, but I buy a lot of things on Amazon … diapers, wipes, books, toys, all kinds of stuff, because on many things the prices can not be beat (diapers, especially).  Anyways, today at Living Social, they have a great deal where you can get an Amazon GC for half off!!!  This is one of those daily deal sites where they post a great deal, like Groupon.

Enjoy.

On the Way Home – Fantastic Caverns

The way home wasn’t too exciting.  We drove and drove and drove through Oklahoma.  It was pretty boring and I just felt sick (I drive the whole time because I can talk while I drive and it helps me from getting car sick).  We stopped on New Years Eve in a hotel just over the Missouri state line in Joplin.  We had a yummy meal at Cracker Barrel, where the waitress warned us of a tornado that hit St. Louis – luckily, it didn’t hit by our location.  I ended up exhausted and only woke up shortly for the count-down.  Poor Katsu – it seems like this always happens.

The next day (New Year’s Day), we stopped at Fantastic Caverns.  Wow, it was expensive!  But, you get to drive on a jeep/tram through the caverns.  They are just right there below the surface, but were undiscovered until the late 1800’s (during the Civil War, I think), because the hole was so tiny into the cave.  Seth LOVED the truck and just couldn’t stop talking about it.  The formations were really beautiful and it was just us and one other couple on the tour.  The boys even behaved well for the full hour.

Then, we just drove home.  And Seth threw up all that night with the stomach flu.  Lovely.  But it was a good trip.

Christmas

The boys loved Christmas!  Well, Seth was kind of sick and after a while was not interested in the end of opening presents. 

First off, the boys came down.  They were enthralled with the stockings (and yes, Seth’s is done!!!) and didn’t even notice the presents sitting out:  Candyland for Andrew and a super awesome train set.

They did finally notice the train set and LOVED it!  They wanted to open it and while we didn’t open it for a bit (didn’t want to loose all the pieces), we eventually did.  The boys loved passing out gifts, especially the gifts that we made for everyone.  And opening presents.

Some highlights:  Puzzles (from Grandpa Dick and Grandma Clo), the flannel board (from Grandma and Grandpa Crookston, which Andrew loves and always wants to bring to church to teach everyone about baby Jesus), cars, new books, magnets, and more.  Andrew says he got too many toys for Christmas and he doesn’t need any more.  He tells it to EVERYONE who asks about Christmas.  So funny – guess we don’t need to get him any more toys for a long time.