Joshua: 2 1/2 yrs

Joshua turned 2 1/2 ...about a week ago.  I know, it's late.  Oh well.

Toilet training: the most exciting thing, at least for me, about this month is that something clicked with Joshua for toilet training.  He has about two accidents a week now, but they're small and easily dealt with.  He knows to go to the bathroom when he has to go.  He is dry at night.  Frankly, it's incredibly surprising to me.

Clothes: oh, clothes.  Joshua has definite ideas about what he wants to wear, and something that is nothing that he owns.  Sometimes getting him dressed is easy, sometimes it is difficult.  Also, he hates wet clothes.  If he gets the tiniest spill he wants to change his clothes immediately.  I often let him, but sometimes make him deal with it if it's really small.

Eating: eating is getting a bit better, but he still doesn't eat vegetables.  But he doesn't get a treat after meals then, and it doesn't seem to bother him.  He loves strawberries.

Playing: He got his running boosters, like Isaac, a few weeks ago.  He is starting to enjoy playing games, although doesn't always have the attention span for them.  He likes to color and play with Duplos and sing.

Cuddling: Joshua is a great at cuddling.  Isaac is pretty good at it, but Joshua is better.  He is often content to just sit with me, especially after being upset about something or after a bath.  His "no, not yet" response to my question of whether he's ready to get up is so cute that he often does get several more minutes.

Going outside: Joshua often puts his sunglasses on with his hat on backwards.  It is the middle of winter and we've just seen our first sun in about a month, so the sunglasses have been a bit weird.  He is really good at putting everything away once we get home without being asked.

School: Joshua seems to really be enjoying school.  Every once in a while I get a tidbit from him, although some of his stories are a bit sketchy and I wonder what was really going on.  Joshua's favorite thing about today, a non-school day, was going to school and playing...

Thursday: life

*I should post the kids' monthly updates, but just don't feel like it.  I actually got some good pictures this time.

*Thursdays are my busy days.  I was really glad when the day was done; by dinner time I was not doing so well.

*This evening I asked Joshua what his favorite part of the day was.  Without hesitation, he said, "Granola bar," which he had for breakfast.  Then he said, "Yogurt", also part of his breakfast.  "Freda gave to me" (a caregiver).  Joshua opened his mouth.  "Freda fed it to you?"  "Yes.  I swallow."  Well, I've expected for a while that they way to Joshua's heart is through his stomach.

Wednesday: icebergs

The kids played on the back deck for a while this afternoon.  A bunch of water had gotten into our toy tote, making ice and slush in it.  They tried to find "icebergs" in the tote.

Near the end Isaac found this gigantic ice berg.  There was a lot of screaming as he was getting it out, so I ran to the back door expecting to see him face first first in the tote with water spraying all around him.  But no.  He was just using his muscles.




P.S. Do you like his wrist guards?  They're socks with the toes cut off, but nicely add a layer of protection between the mitten and coat.

Monday: gymnastics

Last week, during Isaac's gymnastics session, a friend from college showed up.  She has her son in the same class with Isaac and a younger one too.  Awesome!  I had been meaning to try and get together with her soon, but this was extra happy.

We went to Barnes and Noble for a treat.  I didn't tell Isaac.

Anyway, we did the same thing today.  On the way there, she mentioned that they had bought a house in the last week!  Exciting!  She mentioned the street, and I said that it sounded really familiar.  I had a friend in that subdivision and did a lot of babysitting there too.  It was one of the houses in the cal-de-sac...she bought a house in a cal-de-sac.  It was a brown house...she bought a brown house.  Turns out that it was the same house that I babysat at.

We may have been two minutes late to pick up the boys. (Although to be fair, it was a substitute teacher who ended a few minutes earlier too.)  But they had gotten their coats on and Isaac brought down my extra bag...it was good to see them take care of themselves. :)

Saturday: half birthday

When we celebrated Isaac's birthday last month, Joshua was rather distraught that it wasn't his birthday.  So I told him we could celebrate his half birthday in a month.

Today was the day!  We used up a cupcake mix that I have had in the cupboard a rather long time, so I was happy about that.  Joshua was happy about the candles (and the frosting).  Isaac was happy for a different treat.  Ben was happy that everyone else was happy. :)

Friday: a teacher

Last night Isaac made a circuit puzzle that he was so excited for me to do.  I finally did it this morning.  Then he was going to make one for Joshua.  As they were leaving the room I called out to Isaac to make sure it was pretty simple.

Ben went out a few minutes later and found Isaac trying to teach Joshua about a very simple circuit.

It's a bit hard to see, but Joshua just has to put in one piece in the correct orientation.  Isaac was so patient with Joshua, trying to tell him how to turn in so that the contacts lined up.  I think they kept at it for at least two minutes; I'm not sure who finally put it together in the end.  

Wednesday/Thursday: spiderwebs

Two summers ago, one of the jar activities was a spider web.  Isaac loved it, but we quickly took it down when a mobile but not walking Joshua couldn't handle it.

Every once in a while he'd bring it up, and I'd usually say that Joshua wasn't old enough.  Well, he remembered again (it still surprises me) and Joshua was finally old enough.  We got some new yarn.  We made a spider web.  The kids loved it.

The parents, on the other hand, did not love it.  Yes, it was a great way for the kids to play.  But trying to get anywhere was terrible.  So it came down this evening.  Isaac was rather sad, but we'll do it again.  Possibly tomorrow, if he has any say in the matter.