MARBLES

This past Saturday we took Alexander and Anna to Marbles Kids Museum in Raleigh.  It's a hands-on museum designed for young kids and was perfect for our 2 1/2 year old.  From the moment we walked in he was in heaven.  It was 2 floors full of exhibits of everything that he loves.  He started with a giant wooden train table at least 4 times the size of his at home, then we moved onto this giant room full of pretend play scenarios.  They had a fire engine with Alexander sized fire fighter clothing.  There was a fishing boat equipped with fishing poles and life jackets.  And much much more including a giant pirate ship, indoor sports arenas, a wood working station and a huge play kitchen and pizzeria.  It was definitely worth the trip to Raleigh and I can't wait to go back! 

Playing giant Connect Four

Driving the fishing boat

Splashing in the water zone

Aaargh, matey

Our little culinary whiz

Handy-man Xan

"What do you want on your pizza, Mommy?"

Fresh out of the oven

"That's be $10, Daddy."

 And I couldn't leave out Anna.  She enjoyed the museum as well, but a bit differently.  She had a blast just watching all of the crazy kiddos running around playing.  Here's a little pic of her sitting up all by herself. 

Sitting up all by herself.

30 MONTH CHECK UP AND OTHER FUNNY THINGS

Yesterday I took Alexander for his 30 month check up.   The doc says he looks good, healthy, and developmentally on track.  His stats are:  weight 31 lbs 75th% and height 93 cm (36.5 in) 75th %.  He had to get a shot and took it pretty well.  It's amazing how much stickers make things better.

In the doctor's office the exam table is on top of a large fire truck that Alexander thought was just amazing.  He couldn't get enough of it.  He was pretending to drive it and asking all sorts of questions about it while I was filling out a questionnaire on how he's doing in different categories such as problem solving, speech, motor skills etc.  I was reading the question, "Can your child put together a sentence with 2-3 big words?  If so, please give an example." and he asks me, word for word, "Where is the fire engine truck going, mommy?"  So yes, I would say that he can put together a sentence with 2-3 words.  It appears that his speech is right on track.

A couple of posts ago I listed a bunch of funny/memorable things that Alexander has said.  Well, here are a few more:

• As I was putting him down for his nap the other day.  "I love you, I love you.  You are my sweetheart."  Seriously.  Melt. My. Heart.
• In response to seeing the band-aid on my finger:  Alexander: "Mommy, did you get a boo boo?"  Me: "Yes, Alexander, I did."  Alexander:  "You have a band-aid on it?" Me: "Yes, I do."  Alexander:  "Do you want me to kiss it, mommy?"  Me:  "Yes, I would love that."
• And right now instead of saying "yes" he answers a lot of questions with "su-re".  He says it as a 2 syllable word.  Pretty funny. 

DIAPER TROUBLE



So today I was planning on spending the day getting ready for the little Super Bowl get together that we are hosting tomorrow.  However, my son had other ideas for the way that I should spend a big chunk of my day.  I put him down for a nap and then Chris left to go to the store for me.  I realized about a half an hour later that he wasn't sleeping.  I could hear him moving around in his room.  As I approached his door I smelled the distinct smell of a dirty diaper.  I opened the door and much to my surprise, he had taken his diaper off and was playing with its contents.  Yes, that's right.  It was all over his hands and smeared all over the carpet.  You may be thinking that at this point I completely freaked out, but I somehow remained calm on the outside.  On the inside I was crying and gagging.  I ended up putting him in the bathtub and called Chris to bring home some good carpet cleaner.  It took a while, but I finally was able to get the mess and the smell out of the carpet.  I'm not gonna lie, it was so disgusting. 

We are getting ready to start potty training and now I feel like we can't start soon enough.  We're talking about it with him and trying to get him excited.  But we are doing a big road trip in a couple of weeks to go back to Kentucky and we think it best to wait until we get back.  The tricky part is going to be keeping his diaper on him until then.  I'm considering duct tape...

MY GIRL

Here's a few pics of Anna that I took the other day.  They really show what a happy girl she is. We are so blessed!

 

TALK, TALK, TALK

Alexander, like a lot of boys, started talking a little late.  I was kind of worried about it for a while, but at about 22 months, right about the time we left Texas, he really started talking.  And he pretty much hasn't stopped since.  He now talks in complete paragraphs with great sentence structure.  I think that there are still a lot of words that people who are not his parents don't understand, but overall he is doing amazing.  And apparently all of the lessons on manners have really been sticking.  Here are a few phrases that he has said recently: 

• "Thank you so much for making this dinner, Mommy.  It is delicious." (Word for word, I swear) 
• The morning after Chris and I went on a date, "Daddy, what did you have to eat?" Chris said, "Steak and potatoes".  Alexander responds, "That sounds delicious!" 
• When Chris came home from work the other evening, "Hi Daddy!  How was your day at work?"
• "Daddy, I go fly in the green airplane with you?  I be your co-pilot."
• "Daddy, you go play trains with me?"
• The other day we were driving down the road and had to pull over so an ambulance could pass.  Alexander asked, "Mommy, what are we doing?"  I explained to him the proper protocol for emergency vehicles.  After a few minutes this was his response, "I have a good idea.  What if we get a rope to pull the ambulance, the police car and the fire engine truck past.  Is that a good idea, Mommy?"
• One of his favorite phrases, "Oh!  I almost forgot (fill in the blank)...
• For a while every time you would ask Alexander what his daddy did at work he would respond, "Eat.  Eat chicken."
• Just a couple of weeks ago he says to his sister, "Hello Anna.  My name is Alexander." 
• I know he has said a million other funny things, I just can't remember then all now.  I hope to post more funny Alexanderisms in the future.  Our boy is quite the character and absolutely full of life.  He cracks me up on a daily basis! 



I don't get very many good pics of him these days.  He rarely slows down long enough.



I can't even remember what he is saying in this one. 



Making cookies with daddy.



Eating the finished product!



Clean Up!!!



Daddy loves cookies too!!!