It is exhausting taking my children in public. Especially when the waiting room at the doctors office is full of people over 65 who don't so much like when kids act crazy, which is something Talan does on a regular basis. The highlight for today was definitely when Talan crawled under the chairs and shouted to the entire waiting room,

"I'LL GET YOU LITTLE FREAKS!"

Yeah, old people do not so much find that amusing. I, however, thought it made for some great entertainment.  Much better entertainment than later in the day when he decided to start referring to himself in the third person, or when he added the word 'butt-face' to just about every sentence.

I can't wait until Talan turns 4.

4 months old...

Syphr likes:

• chewing on his hands
• his crazy brothers
• gargling his spit
• being outside
• taking a bath in the bathtub (there is more splashing room)
• eating baby cereal
• staying on a schedule

Talents:

• rolling from back to tummy
• grabbing toys to chew on
• grabbing and holding tiny little Syphr toes
• surviving being Talan's personal play thing

Dislikes:

• riding in the car
• being hot

Syphr rolled half way over and grabbed Talan's snake and began chewing on it. 

Talan realizes Syphr has his snake and demands it back. When I told Talan that soon he was going to have to share all his toys with Syphr he said, "No, that is not right. Those toys are for Talan." 

So far we love 4 months old!!! 

I fell asleep while feeding Syphr today and woke up to find a very quiet Talan not intensely watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. The possibilities were endless as to where he could have gone because Mickey Mouse Clubhouse is just about his favorite thing on earth right now. Luckily nothing was destroyed...Talan just thought the back cover of his Phonics book needed some toy story band-aids.

Here is what he said about the situation:



Yes, his story is that the trains on his bed and Ashton both told him to do it. I should probably be more concerned that lying comes so easily for the 3 year old.

Preschooler Talan

Tuesday marked a significant day in young Talan's life. He started preschool. Nothing too major...just dipping the toes in 4 hours a week. It is really nice for him to have to learn how to listen to other adults (not that he even listens to me), and play with other 3 year olds, but I think it is also really good for me to get into the habit of leaving him with other people realizing his peanut allergy isn't going to stop him from having a life, and I can't control it forever. And it helps that we are doing a co-op preschool and all the other ladies are good friends.

Here is Talan's recap of school:

He colored, played with toys, went on the slide, cut with scissors (clearly the highlight), and sang 'here we are together'.




I had plans to get this great picture of Talan doing some sort of preschool activity when I dropped him off. Turns out he just wanted to hang on my leg. The second he let go I had to grab Syphr and run out the door before Tal realized I left. Sadly that leaves me with a picture of Talan clinging to my leg, but isn't the top of his head so grown up??

3 months old...

Likes:
looking at brightly colored objects
people that make noises with their mouth
taking a bath
eating
being tightly wrapped in his blanket
the binki
being held facing forward
Pump It by Black Eyed Peas


Dislikes:
being touched while he's eating
being hot
long rides in the car
loud brothers during nap time


Talents:
cooing
smiling
giggling
standing
finding and chewing on his fists

Livin it up...3 year old style

The highlight of the morning was having breakfast in the living room while watching a movie. What could be better than that?




As soon as I brought the birthday loot out he was magically done with his cereal


Apparently this was the only toy Tal was not thrilled about. I got this on one of my 90% off target excursions a while back. I figure, hey, I have boys...one of them will like this fighting guy. Turns out it wasn't Talan. He pulled the wrapping paper off and took one look at it and said, "Here Ashton. This is a present for you."


I realized today how greatly Gage park is mapped out. We had our own If You Give a Mouse a Cookie morning. See, the mini train goes right by the carousel...Talan HAS to ride the carousel once he sees it, so when done with the train we drive over to ride the horses on the carousel...except, when we get there he sees a playground that he just HAS to play at, so, after the carousel we play...but then, as we're playing, the mini train drives by with a new load of waving passengers, and we just HAVE to ride that thing again. Its all a vicious cycle.














Being 3 also means Tal has a new big boy carseat! So ready for this change!!!


So far 3 has brought a lot of attitude. As if I can handle more attitude from Talan. But with a face this sweet, he's still my favorite middle child.

For a very brief moment (as in only long enough to snap this picture) Syphr actually enjoyed his tummy time...

3rd grade

Today marked the fourth milestone in Ashton's educational career....entering 3rd grade!!

He got all decked out in his first day of school gear, threw on his white shades and headed out the door. To my amazement, mostly because I was still in my pajamas, he let me accompany him to the bus stop. He even went along with it when I asked if he'd let me take a picture of him getting on the bus. I'll take what I can get!

The boy then came home at 4:30 with a planner (so excited for the planner checks), homework (guess 3rd grade doesn't think too highly of easing back into the school year after a summer of laziness), and a very excited little brother who had been watching out the front door for 40 minutes singing The Wheels On The Bus.

We both missed him tons today, but we're excited to see what 3rd grade brings us.

This is Talan's very slow, and very sad walk back to the front door after the bus left. He moped for a good 30 minutes before he realized his train tracks had not been played with yet.

Here are Syphr's 2 month stats for all the grandparents out there...

24.5 inches (86%)

13lbs 13oz (82%)

He was not a fan of the shots, and slept for 6 hours after receiving them only periodically waking to whimper as if he was remembering what happened to his poor little chubby legs. Looks like he might give Talan a run for his money in the size department.

Metro master

Shortly after Talan was born we decided to visit a place that required us to take the red line on the metro. We waited for the train, using the stroller to inch our way through the crowd insuring we got a spot on the next train. The train pulled up, doors opened, people came out, and Brad and Ashton went in along with a mass of other people. I tried to push, but I'm not mean. People might be stepping right in front of the stroller, but I'm not going to ram them....maybe just a gentle nudge. My nudging did nothing and the doors closed. We were separated. Brad mouthed to me to get on the next train and meet them at the next station, which I did, and all was well again.

The very first time we rode the train I had this on my mind. What would Ashton do if the doors closed and he was alone on the train? He can't read lips very well. We talked about all things metro safety. He is now an expert and has graduated onto navigating. He now can direct us home from any metro station in the area....just in time to go home.