Weekend at Grandma and Grandpa's

I'm What a fantastic weekend our little muffin has had. After a late arrival in Ottawa Thursday night Declan stayed up until after 10pm. 

Did he sleep in Friday morning? Of course not. He woke up before 6am. I made him crawl into bed with me and sleep for an hour. Then just before 7am he woke and I entertained him with things on my phone so I could get in another 30 minutes shut eye.

In the late morning Declan got some alone time with Grandma and that included some chocolate. Morning chocolate (LOL). Lunchtime also included chocolate.

His nose has been bothering him but nothing really coming out when he'd blow it so I had to go in. Yup...I picked a crusty booger out of his nose. Go ahead and judge me but I know his nose feels better now.

After his nap and after we'd left for a wedding Declan was home with Grandma when he peaked in the cupboard, saw a kitkat and asked "Would it be ok if I had that Grandma!"

Score...late afternoon chocolate. So spoiled. 

His cousin Alex and Aunt Marissa were over for pizza dinner. The boys ate side by side at the table and then after dinner they shared the iPad on the couch. Declan said to Alex "You're a nice friend Alex." Just the cutest.

Saturday morning Declan got the coolest Lego Junior castle set. He loves it. This kept him busy most of his day and even into the evening with his cousins Alex and Holden.

At breakfast this morning Declan was sitting beside me when I randomly and without any thought turned and winked at Declan. To this he slyly winked back at me.

And Daddy, and Grandma, and Alex and Aunt Marissa. 

He's really just the coolest.

Inseparable

Having a few long days with Declan in a row and now he's glued to me. This morning I needed to get some things down and others prepared for our road trip to Ottawa and it was pretty impossible. With a nearly 3 year old attached to my thigh I couldn't do much. Tried to run downstairs quickly "wait for me Mommy!" or back upstairs again for one little think and he's right at my heels.

Next week back to daycare, he's gonna lose his little mind.

On the positive, he's hilarious. I've been laughing a lot the last couple days. Got him in the bath this morning so I'd have a clean Declan for Ottawa and he told me that he's a "Dirty Declan."

During our road trip I said "Declan are you a fibber?" And he said "No. Not yet!" And grinned ear to ear.

He's trouble.

Inch by Inch

Today we had some company. Hayley visited with 4 1/2 month old baby Emily. Declan was very interested in the baby. He wanted to touch her - he wanted to touch her head so I had to instruct him away from her head and instead to her little hands. He pulled out her soother so he could see her mouth. Then with Emily's Mommy's help he put her soother back in her mouth. Just like she was a toy for him to discover. I asked if he liked the baby and he of course said yes. I asked if he wanted a baby sister to which he replied "No." Then I asked if he wanted a baby brother and he said "No." So we're good.

Overall today Declan and I had another great day. I was so happy when he slept in and came to wake me at 7am instead of 6am! Then he crawled in to bed with me for a half hour and played his Lego game on my phone.

Yesterday Declan got his first piggyback ride from me and today we showed Daddy. Declan loves it but I have to admit it really tires me out.

Then I got thinking how over the last couple days together is caught Declan rubbing his leg a couple times. I wondered if maybe he'd been experiencing growing pains. Sure enough I check his height and he's grown another full inch. That's two inches now in the last four months. Declan is 3 feet, 4 and a half inches tall. Won't be long before he outgrows his bed.

Shortest Hour

Not only is Declan getting up and out of bed at 6am today he surprised me with the shortest nap. I'm expecting the usual 2 1/2 hours, I decide to dye my hair. I'm in the bathroom with 10 minutes left in the timer before I have to wash it out when I hear little feet coming my way. I opened the door to "Hi Mommy!" Declan only slept for a mere hour.

So to follow up I had yet another shower where I have to talk through a curtain to a toddler the entire time. Well at least today he wasn't using his cell phone to try and take pictures of me in the shower (again).

Awesome

Declan took his Lego Emmett apart. Then he put him back together, held him up high in the air and announced: "Everything is awesome now!"

(If you've seen the movie you get it)

Approves of the Kitchen

Declan had a successful sleepover last night. I arrived this morning to find a happy little boy. He had just started watching for me to arrive not log before I got there. Most of the drive home he rambled on about what he'd done the entire time at Gramma's. Most importantly Gramma got him to go back to sleep until 7:30am after he woke on his own at 6am. (I know what I'm tryig in the morning)

Now the reason for the sleepover at Grammas was so we could work on the backsplash in our kitchen. One half of the kitchen was complete on Saturday and when Declan got home is morning Daddy was just starting the other side. I was curious to see what Declan's reaction would be. Sometimes he gets real emotional about things changed so my fingers were crossed. Soon as he walked in the door and looked into the kitchen "oooohhhh wow!!" he gasped. 

Whew. He likes it.

He was good all day and kept back from the work at least 90% of the time but it was sweet every time he got curious about Daddy's work. We gave him two tiles of his own and some tape so he could feel a part. As of 6pm he was still looking for somewhere on the wall he could place his two tiles.

Not Any Easier

Somebody happily ran into our room this morning just past 6am. Declan hopes up on the bed and then I pulled him in between us. We tried to entertain him with a game on my phone but he just kept demanding that we get up and go downstairs with him.

I suppose it'll be Gramma and Poppa getting the early wake up tomorrow as the little guy had a sleepover tonight.

So what am I doing since we have the night Declan free?

Missing him.

He's getting big so you'd think it would be easier but it's worse. Not getting any easier.

See you tomorrow buddy!!!

Great. 6AM.

Literally woke up to the sound of Declan playing with his bedroom door at 6am. 

I woke up and froze.

Seriously?

6AM?

I just Laid there listening. He walked from his room to our room in the dark and walked right up to me "Mommy?"

Sadly, 

"Hi Declan."

We have nowhere we need to be. I remember only weeks ago having to go into his room at 6:30 on daycare days and wake him from a deep sleep. 

6AM?

He did have a great morning. I got to watch his creativity in action. First he built something with three Duplo lego blocks, told me it was a "toy", "a squeaky toy", "it's a squeaky bone for a puppy!" 

And surprisingly, for Duplo, it kindof looked like it.

Next up he built "a bamp" which is what Declan has always called a hammer.

Again it really looked like a hammer and then he proceeded to use it as such. I sure enjoy his little toddler brain in action.

Third Swim Class

Declan has gone three weeks now to swim class. I was working and missed again this week but Daddy says he did a great job. More practice floating on belly and back.

His New Freedom

So Declan seems to enjoy his new freedom. Again I lay in bed debating if I should get up and get in a fast shower before Declan wakes up but then before I can decide I can hear him playing with his bedroom door.  Forget the shower. 

Now I decide wether to be a nice Mon and turn on a light so he can find his way to me in the dark.

Of course I turn the light on.

And then Declan runs in yelling "MOMMY!!"

See. Totally worth it.

In his new freedom I heard a great story about Tuesday's bedtime from Daddy.

Seems he went down to bed without too much fuss. He was very quiet on the monitor so Daddy snuck up the stairs about 20 minutes later and found a little Declan peaking out his bedroom door.

So it was back to bed.

Then nearly an hour after Declan's bedtime Daddy hears Declan running from one end of his room to the other and back again repeatedly. He can hear this because Declan's room is right above where he's sitting. Then through the monitor he can hear Declan saying "Runnig. Running. Running."

So up the stairs goes Daddy.

And back to bed for good, finally Declan fell asleep. 

"Kleenex. Mommy?"

It's 5:45am.

I'll just sleep in a little, get up about 6:30, have a quick shower then get up the kid.

That's what I was thinking early this morning.

6am

Over the monitor I hear a sneeze followed by "Kleenex. Mommy? Kleenex!"

I turned on my bedside light and listen for the creak of Declan's bedroom door. He walks in, head tipped back, snot on top lip. I reach for a tissue and wipe his little nose. Poor guy. 

And I'm up.

Spent the next two hours taking tissue to his nose every 2-3 minutes. Must have been driving him mad because it wasn't exactly a grand time for me.

By 9:30 we were down to only once every 15 minutes so things were more tolerable and we could actually play.

We got in some square tower destruction and put together some puzzles. I even squeezed in a quick shower while Declan just hung out upstairs with me.

We had a great morning. When Daddy got home he was greeted by Declan yelling "Happy Birthday Daddy!"

I then had to leave for work which was meet with tears. Broke my heart but I know he had a nice night in with Daddy.

.

All Stuffed Up

Declan has a cold. He has a continually running nose. When I brought him to daycare I warned Kelly that he would need Kleenex. She told Tyler that Declan was sneezing once every 5 minutes. Poor kid.

When I got home from work Declan was all congested. First time I've ever heard his voice with nasal congestion. He was eating his dinner, very slowly and with his mouth open so he could breath. That's when I realized "oh hey, he normally chews with his mouth closed. What a good kid." I never noticed until he couldn't close his mouth.

He was tired too. Kept yawning.

Although every time I commented on it he told me he wasn't tired. 

Declan has a short bath and got all cleaned up but he just wasn't himself. 

When we put him to bed he protested and cried (it's his new, every freakin' time thing). We tried just leaving him to calm down on his own but while I sat outside his door I heard him start to cough and choke. When I ran in his room he was laying on his back. Declan looked panicked and he had vomit on his face. I had him sit up right away to make sure he could breath and then I got the full vomit spew all over the bed, down the front of Declan and my arm. Had to yell to Daddy (over the monitor-how convenient) to come help so I could strip down the little guy while Daddy stripped down and remade the bed.

So I've been in his room to check on him every hour now. He looks perfect, sounds a little contested but he's sleeping well. I sure hope he's feeling better in the morning.

From Where?

From daycare, from listening to people, from watching TV. So many places he is exposed to new things. 

Today I have to wonder when he was exposed to "Valley Girls" as his latest new phrases are "Embarassing!" Or "Boring". And yes he says both in a sing-song manner.

He's my favourite form of entertainment.

We had a lazy day today. The three of us, and the cat too just stayed in and played with Declan's toys. He was so focused he wouldn't even stop for a quick "Hello" to Gramma because he was watching men fall down the trap door of his Dragon Fort.

Declan's latest development of coming out of bed and his room when he wakes up is becoming the norm. So far I still find it cute when he comes in and thinks he's waking me up. 

Give it a couple weeks.

Such a Boy

So now he wants Darth Vader and The Emperor. I don't even know who The Emperor is. He's obsessed with Lego Star Wars. We visited Daddy at work and he found Lego. Had to inspect it and then show it to Monkey. 

He's such a boy.

Lego. Star Wars. Super Heros.

Such a Boy!

I guess it's a good thing I'm not a girlie girl.

He's Out!!

Oh how I enjoy the extra few minutes sleeping in after Declan wakes up but he just lays in bed and talks to Monkey. Well this morning he not only got out of bed, he opened his door and came on out. 

In the words of Bad Cop "Darny, darn, darn!" Goodbye extra sleep. I know it's good and he's growing up but this kind of sucks.

This afternoon was the first swim class where only Daddy could take Declan. I got a call at work about 10 minutes before they should have left. So the story went, Declan didn't want to go. He loved last week, was fine all week talking about class today, this morning he was excited and when Daddy picked him up from Kellys. Then they stop at home for a moment and Declan doesn't want to leave. Home is where all his toys are and he wants to play. Poor Daddy. I gave his some encouragement and then he was able to convince Declan to cooperate and success!!! Swim class number two complete! And he liked it. 

Tells Daddy About It

Declan went to Kellys this morning. Ella was still sleeping and none of the other little kids were there yet so Declan was running around on his own. When his friends are there he gets into the toys and books right away and is happy to be there. This morning he was happy to be there but without a kid to hang with he didn't want me to leave. He was telling me to sit down and stay but I had to go. So many tears. Full open wide mouth and tears. Made me feel terrible.

Then while on my break at work I get a text early evening from Daddy saying Declan told him about being sad because Mommy left. 

YOURE KILLING ME KID!

I also asked if Declan was excited for swim class tomorrow.

Daddy responded with "I don't know. He just stuck his hand in the toilet while Inwas trying to pee and then punched me".

Fantastic!

Best of Times, Worst of Times

I'm getting ready for work. Upstairs blow drying my hair. I yell downstairs to Declan a couple times. He playing Lego and watching a movie. 

"You ok Declan!?"

"Yes Mommy!!"

Once I'm done and ready I head downstairs to the kid who then says "You're all done Mommy. You look beautiful."

The best.

Declan wanted me to play with his Lego with him. He wants me to build him a wall again (What's with walls!!??) As I start he says "not that one. Not that one." So I stop and inquire. "What do you mean Declan?" 

"Build another one."

"You don't like this wall?"

"No build ANOTHER one!"

"Ok"

So here Intake it apart and start building another one.

The tears.

"Not that one!" He yells with more tears.

I tell him I don't understand so perhaps I shouldn't be building walls.

Full. Freakin. Meltdown.

The worst.

"Good Job"

Declan and Daddy got down on the floor for a Duplo building session. They dumped all of the Duplo bin onto the floor and got to work. Declan asked Daddy to build a few different things. The best as when he asked Daddy to build "a wall". Once complete Declan looked it over and said "You did a good job Daddy". He really meant it. Just like that. His sincerity and the seriousness with which he stated it was amusing.

I got in on the action myself for a little. He also asked me for "a wall." Once complete I presented to him my work and I got "You build a different wall."

It appears that I did NOT do a good job.

Rough Housing

I've just been having the best time playing with my kid the last couple days. We play Lego (he's WildStyle, I'm Emmett and we fight), we play with his Duplo (I build it, he destroys it), we complete puzzles (he can do quite a good amount on his own now but the end result is always destroy it), and our newest game is Mommy places all the blocks into a tower, Declan runs and kicks through it. I do tackle him often and commence tickle fights. So I most certainly have a boy. Everything is a battle. I'm learning the ways and trying to get out of the way when I need to.

And I know it was a good time when I tire him out.

Gratitude

He really loved swim class!

This morning when I went into his room Declan was still asleep. I turned on his light and started getting his clothes together (I did not however remember to put diapers in his daycare bag). He slowly woke up and then jumped out of bed, ran over to me, wrapped his arms around me and said "I did swim class Mommy!"

So I'm thinking he really enjoyed it. He told Kelly about swim class when I dropped him off at daycare and the first thing he told me when I got home today was that he wants "another swim class!"

Then he told me that he wore a pink princess bum home from Kelly's because there were no Declan bums in his bag.

And he survived.

Swim Class

Declan was excited as we were on our way to his first swim class. Then when we entered the building there were about three crying kids and that led to our Declan having a melt down. Just poor timing. He'd just walked in to a new place and kids crying everywhere! After a couple minutes he'd calmed down and had a good look around. Just like that he says "can I put my swimsuit on?" 

We got him dressed but we were really early being his first class. Entered the pool area and then our excited boy had to wait 25 minutes for class to start. He didn't seem to mind. He watched enthusiastically as other kids jumped in the pool and worked with their teachers. 

We were pretty impressed with his patience. Finally at 4:30pm his teacher Christine came over and got him and lead him to the poolside with his two classmates. When they first got in the water they were told to sit down in the water but Declan stood. He was more comfortable standing to start off so that's what he did. 

I can really appreciate the benefit of having someone else teach your child. The teacher kindly yet firmly reached for him when it was his turn and pulled him into the water with her. I could see the fear across his face and as his Mom I would want to stop and hold him close. This was great for him. He listened really well. He tried everything she asked even though he was scared. He floated on his back, he put his mouth in the water to blow bubbles, he stretched out to float a little on his belly. So proud. 

Declan loved it. He said Christine was nice, he told me how she counted 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 while he went in the water, he wants to go to Auntie T, Uncle Scott's house to swim more (umm it's winter...we're waiting until summer) and he's excited to go back next week.

Deep Freeze

Soooooo cold.

Got the car started then came inside to get Declan ready. It was below -20 with the wind chill. Had the kid in lined pants, long sleeve shirt, zip up fleece, winter coat, hat and mitts. Yup he wore the mitts happily and kept saying "and I can grab Monkey!" See this has been the issue before. His fancy mitts are too big and thick he had a hard time holding his best friend. I gave him my old yellow knit mitts and he's thrilled! The car was nice and warm so the kid barely had to handle any cold but we weren't taking chances.

After peeling layers of Declan he got to play right away at Kellys. His friends Alexis got there about the same time so I was able to watch them for a little while. They each grabbed a different book then sat down on the bottom step of the stairs and proceeds to show each other things in their books. Adorable. Now that he's almost three there is so much interactive play and activities where before it was just parallel play. He has true little friends that he hangs with when I'm at work and I just love it.

So proud of my kid.

Play Day

Yup. Nothing. Did nothing today but play with my kid. It was a blast. 

Total lazy fun day.

Here we are. Two lazy heads in a tent.

"Be Happy"

Frustrating toddler tantrum balanced by a very calm Daddy. Declan has decided recently that he doesn't want to go to bed. He likes his toys and he's a busy little guy. This evening we played in his room in his tent for a half hour. Lots of giggles and hearty laughter. We stopped so I Could take a few minutes and eat dinner so he got back to playing with his Lego. Quarter to 7 and it's time to get into pjs and head upstairs for bed.

Oh the tears.

And he likes to yell at us.

Laying on the ground tears and some leg kicking.

He cries and mumbles to himself the entire way up the stairs. In his room calls for a Kleenex (he's been crying - don't we know he needs a Kleenex?!?).

He just won't calm down.

That is until Daddy asks Declan to come to him, he cuddles him in and says "tell me why you're sad Declan. What are you upset?" He just holds him close and talks in a quiet voice. Declan nibbles quietly back to him about how he doesn't want to go to bed and Daddy calmly tells him that he has all day tomorrow to play with Mommy but he needs to sleep for that to happen. 

Eventually Declan has calmed down enough that he's cooperative and after a series of steps we take every night, we get him into bed.

I was exhausted already from work and low on patience. I was really impressed with how calm and patient Tyler was with him. Lucky little kid our Declan is.

Brain or Basement

Text from Daddy this morning:

"We're watching The Simpsons and Millhouse makes a comment about holding his tongue. I turn my head to the right and Declan is standing there holding his tongue between 2 fingers. He yells "Mine too!!!"."

He's a proud Daddy.

I asked him later how the day was going and he said Declan played with his Lego the entire time. Didn't touch another toy all day.

To which I replied "We've either got an Engineer on our hands or a fat guy living in our basement forever."

Wild Style

Declan was devastated this morning when Daddy got him up and Declan came downstairs to find that I wasn't  home, that I was at work. Ahhh cute.

Nope.

He was devastated because I was at work and took my cell phone with me. The phone that has the Lego game on it that he loves so much. Total freaking meltdown.

So to distract Declan Daddy said they could visit Walmart today.

So what happened then?

Well when I got home from work tonight I was met at the door and told "please don't even look at the Lego until Declan finishes his dinner. He's dying to show you."

I then walked inside and found an excited Declan eating his dinner but yelling "Mommy! Mommy! I got new Lego! Look! Look!"

I knelt down beside him and told him I'd like to see once he finished his dinner. He was so smiley. Soon as he finished eating  he ran over and showed me "Cloud Coucooland." He got "Emmett and Unikitty and WILD STYLE!" Declan LOVES his Lego.

Now going back to dinner for just a second...Declan's favourite meal is a slice of bread with peanut butter, sliced marble cheese and sliced banana. Yesterday he put a piece of cheese in his mouth with each bite of banana.

That is clearly disgusting. 

Lego Game Lottery

Yesterday afternoon I found a perfect game for my cell phone. It's a Lego Game where you build a Lego vehicle then a Lego man to drive it. Declan loves it. The best part is because it's on my phone and not one of his he has to sit with me to play. I've gotten so much almost snuggle time with Declan while he plays the Lego game. Just perfect.

Then even better. He leans into me and waits. Then says "a kiss!" He's demanding one. So sweet. 

On a sad note the Christmas tree came down today. I took the decorations down while he was in the room with me and told him we'd be taking it down during his nap. When he woke up and joined us downstairs he was still sad "oh nooo." We said we'd get a new one next Christmas. He said "Ok. Let's go. Mommy, Daddy, Declan go get boots on. Let's go." Sorry buddy. We have a long time to wait for Christmas.

He sure likes his new toy area though.

Toddlers. They Need Their Sleep

Happy 2015!!! 

Last evening we got the wee ones together to celebrate the New Year. Declan was excited all day to go see the kids. Not long after we got there he discovered the cash of Lego in MacGregor's room and that was it. He spent over an hour all alone playing with the Lego. The other kids off in the basement and Declan just plays alone with all the machines and little Lego people. He was happy but he'd been so excited to see other kids and Lego won. Not long before bedtime all the kids did play for a while in MacGregors room together jumping on the beds.

The evening got away from us. The kids were all playing so well. We past Declan's 7pm bedtime and then 8pm and then 9pm, it was nearly 10pm when we put him to bed. He was so tired. First one asleep though. We're so lucky.

In the morning he was right back to the Lego. Everyone else was in the living room when Declan runs into the room and says "does anybody hear a train?" There actually was a big train going right by the house at that moment. He watched for a minute before running back to the Lego. Finally for a short while before we headed out Declan and Chelsey chaced each other aroun the house and giggled for a while.

Got our little guy home and it was such a quiet day. 9:45 is simply too late for the Muffin Man. He was exhausted all day. So mellow and sleepy. Napped hard and didn't want to get up. He sat beside me and played a Lego game on my phone for nearly an hour in the evening. I sure hope he gets lots of sleep tonight.