Life Skills

Declan and I braved IKEA today. When I decided to go I wasn't really thinking about how many people are on Christmas vacation still and out shopping. It was so busy. Declan would run ahead of me and A few times go so far that I had to yell for him over the heads of easily 20 people. He listens though (now he does) and comes back to me.

We got a new storage unit for his toys in the TV room. Mommy can't relax with so much stuff everywhere. Now we will be neat and Declan loves it.

While we were at IKEA I had the opportunity to watch Declan developing social skills. Important ones that are going to serve him very well in life. 

There is a toy area and there were lots of toddlers playing around and looking at toys. A little girl was playing with a soft gingerbread house that opens and he toys inside. Declan spotted it and walked over to see it. Naturally when he approached her she clutched the toy tight and pulled it to her chest to protect it and keep it for herself. I didn't interfere or say a word and luckily for my sons development her mother didn't notice anything that was happening. I just watched. Nobody said for her to "share" or "give him a turn" and I certainly wasn't about to tell him he'd "get his turn" because this isn't a class or organized activity. This is just life. She has the toy. He does not. I watched as he stood patiently and looked at her. Then he grinned. He smiled his sweet charming smile and his eyes twinkled. I'm not kidding. He can surely twinkle those eyes. He "charmed" her and I witnessed as she loosened her grasp and pushed the toy house toward him without a single word spoken between them. My little Declan. Your skills are going to do you well. Use them kindly.

I find him so amusing.

Here he was just waiting for Daddy to get home. 

And then telling me the leaf on the flower was his.

He doesn't bother trying to charm me. He just tells me how it is.

Soccer

Big "BOY"

Sometimes it feels like he has gone from a 1 year old to a 3 year old overnight and today was one of those times. When I got home from work he was just finishing his dinner. He yelled "Mommy!" To me from his seat soon as he heard me walk in. I got my boots and coat off and then walked over to him. I knelt down and he nearly lept into my arms. He reached for me and held tightly. He turned his head and snuggled in close before leaning back and just staring at me. He was physically holding onto me and then telling Daddy he had me. Since he's finished dinner Daddy gave him two pieces of his Christmas chocolate. After he ate them and Daddy cleaned Declan's hands my little guy jumped down from his seat to give me another big hug and kiss. 

Then the boy in him really came out as he proceeded to jump backwards into my lap repeatedly while yelling and giggling for about 10 minutes. I think it was the first real rough housing I've had with Declan. Oh the joys of a son. I'm not certain my 40 year old self can handle it.

Dr. In the House

Declan asked to put on his Dr. coat today. He then proceeded to put bandaide stickers on his Lego men. Then the Joker got a proper checkup. It would appear that everyone is going to be ok.

So fun playing with him.

When I got home from work Daddy told me Declan was exhausted and went right to sleep at bedtime. Turns out he didn't sleep at all in the afternoon. After he'd been in bed for 30 minutes he went in to tell Declan to stop chatting with his stuffed animals and go to sleep. He told Decan "Grab Monkey and go to sleep". Declan then proceeded to pull Monkey, Mamonkey and bunny out one by one from under his shirt all while saying "Sorry Daddy. Sorry."

Sounds like a crazy weird party.

Boxing Day Back to Normal

The Muffin Man woke up really happy this morning. He couldn't wait to get downstairs and back to all his new toys. He was good though, not acting spoilt and not difficult. He let me get him changed, he ate, all he asked for was that I sit on the floor and play with him. I was all too happy to oblige. 

He played with his Dr. set and told me he had to fix Molly's leg (haven't narrowed down if it's Molly his friend or Molly from Bubble Guppies and either way I don't know how she was supposed to have gotten hurt). 

Next he put on his hard hat so we could dig some "Lego" dirt. Then we built Lego buildings before playing with his Dragon Fort castle. The Lego men eventually took over the castle. It's cool. All the toys play together. It's fantastic observing his imagination at work.

Daddy and Declan then drive me to work in the afternoon. The boys had a great night. Declan even cooperated and easily left his toys for bath time when Daddy said so. Little man fell asleep quickly at bedtime. He's exhausted from all the play and he might even be having another growth spurt. Love my string bean.

3rd Christmas

Looks like Santa came by last night!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve present from Grandma and Grandpa May.

Getting cookies and milk ready for Santa.

And he finally got the Advent Calendar Lego he'd been waiting for - Santa!!!

Getting Close

Declan keeps trying to look inside the first gift we put under the tree. Sneaky. He waits until I'm distracted. 

He's pretty pumped about opening his last advent square tomorrow. He knows it's going to be Santa because there's a Santa on the box and he hasn't gotten one yet.

I tried to watch some classic Christmas movies with Declan today. Partway through Charlie Brown he said "I don't like" and then threw a hissy when I put Rudolph on. 

He got a Tonka recycling truck for Christmas from Kelly yesterday. He loves it. The truck makes noise and has lights and little recycling containers which I've discovered have Lego in them now. Boy. He is REALLY going to love Christmas.

Worlds Collide

Declan was the first to wake up after the sleepover. He notices I'm in the same room right away and climbs up into the bed. Lucky for me Daddy takes him downstairs to play with Chelsey's toys while I try to officially wake up.

Daddy texts me a picture of Declan playing with Spider-Man. I noticed in the picture that Spider-Man was hanging out at Sesame Street. I get a text back "Cookie Monster was just on the roof of the building and Declan said "you'll never get me alive!""

Where does he get this stuff.

Apparently Declan kept asking where I was so Daddy told him I'd be down soon. Declan said "REALLY? Beautiful Mommy." 

So yes I'll be spoiling the kid for Christmas.

Kisses

Whoa, whoa, whoa...

What has happened to my little boy. It used to be when we'd visit Chelsey that she couldn't get enough of Declan but he was aloof and hardly gave her the time of day. He just wanted to play with her toys.

But today.

Today we look over and see him going in for a kiss. WHAT?!? This is a different kid. He was going in for a kiss on the mouth. We managed to actually catch them later when he kissed her on the cheek. But seriously. Who is this kid and what has he been up to at daycare!?!?

Simcoe Christmas Lights

He brought Monkey along of course.

Declan smiled for the entire horse drawn wagon ride.

He posed for a picture with his cousin Mad.

He wanted to see the penguin display twice. (And Madison says he's kind of heavy)

And he saw Santa with his reindeer.

He Cheered

Tonight during Declan's bath I sang a song from the Muppet Movie. He didn't yell at me to stop (which is the normal reaction). Instead he recognized the song and then cheered and clapped at the end. He even asked me to sing it again.

He really seems to be changing so much right now. Must be because 3 is right around the corner.

Reader

I was thrilled the other day to read Declan's Nursery Rhyme book with him because he would repeat what I said. Well this morning we read more books together. I love it! Especially because for a short while he wouldn't let me read them. Now we're entering a new stage. I was ecstatic when he pulled out "Moo. Bah. La La La." We made all the animal sounds together! Loved it.

Oh and we also looked through the toy catalogue again.

Tall Monkey

Measured Declan October 29th at just under 3 feet 3 inches tall.

Measured him yesterday December 14th and he now stands just under 3 feet 4 inches tall. An inch in less than 2 months. My giant monkey. Big boy.

Great Weekend

How I know it was a great weekend? My little man tells me on the drive home that he wants to go back and see "Grandma and Grandpa in Ottawa."

And on that note...he also started talking about Auntie T and Uncle Scott and how their pool has no water right now (it's winterized) so I guess it likes going there too.

He's so fun!

Late Bedtime

Since we're in Ottawa just for the weekend we let our little Muffin Man stay up way past his bedtime Friday and Saturday night. He was pretty good and he slept nice and soundly. It was just so hard pulling him away from his cousins. 

When we put Declan to bed tonight. He asked me to have his slippers in bed. I said No but asked if he wanted his slippers on the end of his bed. He said No. So I told him I'd put his slippers on the floor beside the bed. He was happy about that. Daddy and I gave Declan kisses goodnight and then I turned out the light. He asked (very unusually) to have a light on. We said sure and put a low light on. 

He didn't go right to sleep. He talked and talked until nearly 10pm. After that I knew I could sneak in and go to bed myself. When I walked it I found the real reason why he wanted the light on.

He put his slippers on and was sound asleep.

Cute.

And sneaky.

And wait...he can put his slippers on by himself!?!?

Love

The big development this week melted my heart. We tell Declan we love him all the time. The first response we ever got to this was simply "Thank you Mommy." (Or Daddy depending)

Then he moved to actually saying he loved us back. Each night when we put Declan down for bed we tell him we love him and he says "Love you Mommy, Daddy!"

This week when putting Declan to bed and before we had a chance to mutter a word Declan said "I love you Mommy." Tonight it was "Love you Mommy, Daddy" again before we'd told him we loved him.

Sure hope he means it!!

Gift Giving

Declan and I were finishing decorating the Christmas tree this morning. He is very impatient and doesn't listen. I tell him to hold no more than two ornaments at a time. I turn around he has four. I take two and tell him he can help and he can touch but to be careful and one for each hand at most. Then all of a sudden he drops a little blue ornament and it shatters. Declan says "oh the baby. Look Mom the baby one is broken. The baaaay-beeeeee." 

He's so dramatic.

Yes Declan. That's why you need to be careful. I told him it was ok but to be more careful as Id said before and no more than two at a time.

He got better.

I gave him a couple little hooks and he would attach them one at a time to some long twisted glittery ornaments. He'd get the hook on and then present it to me: "Mommy here's a gift for you." He was quite proud of himself.

We had fun and now our tree is done.

Another fun part of our morning was singing a duet with my little man. Usually he yells at me to stop when I sing it not today. We were watching the Muppet Movie and during a big song and dance number Declan and I sung along together. Holding long notes together, hearing him start to short of breath, I love it!!

Lego Peeps

The Dark

As we left the house this morning it was still dark out. Declan ran down alongside the garden to go see the snowman decoration. As he stood there he tilted his head down. Then walked slowly around to the backside of the garden where he normally waits for me to say "I'm ready!" Then he runs toward me and I lift him into the car. This morning he didn't run, he walked quickly, head down and curled right into me when I picked him up. Seems the dark bothered him today and he was scared. Poor little man. He even told Daddy later how he was scared in the morning and had his head down. 

And we thought he was so tough.

Class Finished

Congrats to my little monkey who completed his Monkeynastix class today.

Certificate is on the fridge!

He had a good time today, didn't listen a whole lot. It would seem as we head into 3 that our days of "easiest child ever" will soon be behind us. He's still a lot of fun but HE IS BOSSY.

After class today we had a little playtime at home before we headed out to cut down a Christmas tree.

Lots of fun running around with Molly and MacGregor.

Finished it off with some cookies.

Very busy day. No nap. Little man ate every bite of his dinner and fell right asleep. Guess we tuckered him out.

Trying

Text from Daddy that I got at the end of my workday:

"Great night so far - 1 injury and 3 meltdowns."

"Please come home soon."

"4 meltdowns. I just threw 2 bowls of crackers."

"5."

Some little man was overtired and well...lets just say there was another injury and another meltdown after I got home and before bedtime.

Santa Visit

Soon as we got downstairs Declan ran to his Advent Calendar to open "number 4!"

He now has a bar stand with two mugs and a pie.

And today was easier. He really wanted to go ahead and open day five but there were no tears when I said no. Progress.

Later in the morning I saw a post on Auntie T's Facebook page of a Christmas Minions Video so I showed it to Declan. He had me play it 9 times. Then asked to watch Despicable Me so we could get in some more Minion entertainment. (Side note-he had me show it to him another six times this evening.)

Then this afternoon after nap time we had a visit with Santa. Declan did great. He was excited to see the decorations and Santa. He was a little shy of being too close or alone but right away he gave Santa a high five and fist bump. He got in sortof close and told Santa that he wanted Lego for Christmas and that he'd been a good boy. Santa asked if he'd be leaving out cookies and milk and a carrot for Rudolph. Declan said "no". We got our Santa picture. Yes "We". See when a small child doesn't want to sit alone with Santa you have to be strategic.

I think he made a good impression on Santa and he was so happy.

Bad Idea

So a Lego Advent calendar is not a great idea for a not quite 3 year old. He doesn't yet understand time and waiting. A very happy Declan opened up day 3 and got a Lego snowman. A snowman without a face. He really would have preferred one with a face. Then he wanted to open another. I try again to explain how it's one a day. He cries. I tell him he has to wait. He gets a tissue to wipes his tears and goes about playing some more. He disappears back into the kitchen for 30 seconds and comes out yelling that he got a policeman. I look at the advent calendar. There are no additional squats open. How in the world? Little bum reached in through day two and managed to reach behind the door of day 11 and drag the bag out. Unreal. Now he's not getting anything on the 11th.

He's also lost the head to his day 1 Lego guy and the spare knob from atop the mailbox from day 2.

Chocolate would have been easier.

We've Got a Yeller

Some little man likes to talk in his sleep. And by talk I mean yell. He yells in his sleep. 

Yup.

Wakes me up at 4:30am yelling "NO! No no no no NO!"

"UuuuuggggAh!"

"NO!"

And then silence.

Then I go in at 6:15am to wake him up to find him snuggled in, so tired and he wakes up happy.

I guess it's a good thing I fall back asleep easily.

Can't wait until he can properly explain what he dreams about.

Lego Advent

Today was the first day of advent which meant Declan got new Lego. Today it was a Lego man holding a letter. He was so excited. We spent about an hour just taking it apart, putting him back together, taking him apart, etc.

It is hard getting a two year old to understand the concepts of time and waiting. He wants to open all the days. 

When I was making dinner Declan was in the kitchen with me waiting for Daddy to get home. He was standing on a chair at the counter drawing with a pen on a piece of paper. I said "why don't you draw a picture of your new Lego?" Declan said "ok" then looked down at the piece of paper and said "looks its a Lego. Just kidding. It's a dinosaur." Then we turned the page over and he said he was drawing the Lego man there.

 

I still can't see the dinosaur.

And today it was time to perform surgery on one of his "Mamamonkeys." Declan was upset that it's face was broken so I stitched it up. When I handed him back Declan kissed his face, hugged him and thanked me." I'm now a monkey Dr.

He Puts the "Monkey" in Monkeynastix

At the end of class all the kids sit-in and one by one they get a new Monkeynastix sticker. Today all the kids sat in but Declan who walked up behind the teacher and stole a sticker. He stuck it to his shirt before proceeding to run all aver the room while the other kids were waiting patiently for their stickers. The other parents were laughing and commenting on his victory laps. That's my Monkey.

And a cute note: Declan slept over at Gramma and Poppa's last night.  Before bed Poppa had Declan all to himself for the first time.  When I picked him up this morning I heard how when Poppa was heading off to bed he checked in on Declan to make certain the blanket was still on him.