andrew time

My sister and family came into town to celebrate at Oma's surprise birthday party. Tyler really enjoyed playing with Andrew, who he called "Ann-ew." During the party the boys had a ball creating forts using what little furniture and toys we had in the basement. Two peas in a pod!

best friend

Driving to daycare this morning I asked Tyler who his favorite buddy at "school" is. Usually he responds with Zachary or Kingston. This time he thought about it for a few seconds and then said exuberantly, "Jenna!"

baby sister

Tyler is going to be such a great big brother. He kisses my belly goodnight. This evening he decided that he wanted to take his new rocking chair into the baby's room. I wasn't exactly sure what he was up to until he said, "Chair in Jenna's room." Although Jenna sounds more like Djenna, but it was the first time he used her name rather than "baby." I found it too cute.

tyler on the mend

Alex took Tyler to the doctor this morning after his fever returned with a vengeance last night. Turns out that he has a bacterial infection that has spread to both ears. I can't believe he wasn't miserable all weekend. Tough little guy.

He is now on Amoxicillin and it can't be easier to give him the medicine. Tyler sees the bottle and gets giddy and tells us how he wants more of this "treat!" It smells like orange creamcicle and probably tastes that way too going by Tyler's reaction.

Despite this, I'm looking forward to him completing this cycle of medicine. The first time he tried it he spit up afterward. We learned not to give it to him on an empty stomach, but getting him to eat has proved a challenge. Guess the medicine zaps his appetite so we have to nearly bribe him to eat sometimes. And the medicine or feeling bad has made my crazy happy boy somewhat cranky!

caught up

Finally!! I've filled in all the photos corresponding to older posts (going back to early December) so make sure to check them out. Katie and Meg- I hope I've satisfied your belly photo needs.

baby kicks for daddy

I felt this baby kick at the same point in the pregnancy as I did with Tyler's. However, the style of kicks has been completely different. Tyler did karate chops and would go nonstop for quite a while. This baby kicks more frequently but very gently, so it has been harder for Alex to experience it as well. This time she was uncharacteristically thumping me and Alex was able to feel it as well. The awe he showed and the prideful smile he flashed me afterward really touched me. There is just something about a man who engages parenthood and family in that way. Love sigh!

sick Tyler

While still half asleep this morning we heard an unwelcome sound through the baby monitor. Tyler was coughing. A very dry, barking cough. Sure enough he popped up earlier than usual and called for Mommy. But he was in good spirits and had no fever. All is well right? No! Midday I get a call from his daycare that he developed a fever and needed to be picked up. Alex was able to pick him up just in time for a nap. He slept soundly but still had a cough and fever upon waking up. Tyler was hurting and wasn't his usual energetic self. But after a dose of Tylenol his fever is down and he seems much more comfortable. I'm hoping another day home with Daddy tomorrow will nip this bug!

future president

We were so thrilled about the inauguration! Rather then brave the frigid cold, we celebrated with special attire.

aunt deb time

My sister Deb came into town this weekend to visit our Dad. She stayed in our guest room, but not alone! Tyler asked to go to bed along with her. Sucker! He stayed up playing with her watch and jewelry before finally crashing at 10.

Apparently he had a dream about Mommy, because while still asleep he said, "Hi Mommy!"

tool man tyler

As we hung new curtains in the family room, Tyler was dying to participate. He climbed the ladder over and over. He pulled tools out of the tool bag. The curtain-hanging task took nearly twice as long, but our son enjoyed every prolonged moment.

i see you!

Tyler was playing on the floor next to my side of our bed. Alex jumped onto the floor to peer under the bed from his side. When Tyler spotted him he giggled and said, " I see you!"

where is baby sister?

As my belly grows, Tyler likes to point to where his baby sister is and gives my belly kisses. Last night as I was lying on the couch he pointed out my round belly. When I told him that the baby was in there, he pulled up my shirt as though he could see her. Tonight he pointed to my belly and said, "Baby inside body."

As I type Tyler has pointed to my belly button and told me there is a baby in there. Then he lifted Alex's shirt and pointed to his belly button and told Alex that he has a baby in there too. Alex has now decided to go on a diet.

aunt teresa time

Well, we dropped the ball and totally forgot that Tyler's daycare provider had off today. Alex could take care of him with the exception of 10:30 to 1 while he presented a web demo for work. I could come home from work anytime with the exception of 10 to noon due to a memorial service at work. We scrambled yesterday to line up someone to babysit during the mid-day time slot.

Aunt Teresa and Uncle Dev to the rescue! They came over and all three had a ball. Hide-n-seek, toys strewn about, an aunt's undivided attention: what's not to love!

huh?

Sitting in our family room I called out to Alex who was in an adjoining room. Tyler popped up and replied, "HUH?" He said it as though he was an adult which caught me off guard and caused me to start laughing. Alex and I started replicating the way he said HUH. Tyler picked up on the humor and then repeated it over and over, pausing to laugh in between.

prepping for baby

As we unearthed some baby gear, we found another use for it. In addition to the exersaucer, Tyler managed to sit in his old Bumbo seat.

driving

Tyler's top activity: pretending to drive Daddy's truck! While Alex loaded up the back of the truck with some of our boxes that we had been temporarily storing at my dad's house prior to our move, Tyler raced the truck around in his imagination. He would be perfectly content doing this for hours.

SIMON!

Tyler hung out with Simon on New Year's Eve day and couldn't seem to get enough of the fun. He begged to stay longer.

So we did a repeat playdate and again the boys had a ball. So much so that Tyler asks to play with Simon constantly. He even recognizes the road near Simon's house and asks if we can stop by to play with Simon.

21 weeks, 4 days

Belly picture!

belly shot - 21 weeks 4 days

duck and cover

I've not laughed so hard at something Tyler has done in quite awhile. Alex announced that it was bath time. Without a moment's hesitation, Tyler grabbed his Amazing Animals toy train which was sitting in front of an end table and tossed it aside like it was a throw pillow. And then in less than a second he dove under the end table like he was jumping into a foxhole and started whining, "No, no, no..." I could not help but laugh hysterically.

Alex offered to give him a treat once Tyler took a bath. Much slower, yet on his own, Tyler came out from under the table and followed Alex upstairs softly crying the entire trip. But nothing would stand in the way of getting his treat!

buttons

The buttons on Oma's jacket were so cool, Tyler just had to come across the restaurant table to see them up close. He tried to count them ... eight, nine, three ...

spanish speaker

A week ago while at UMMC visiting my dad we were using the beautiful glass elevators in the newer Weinberg wing of the hospital. Tyler was commanding the elevator doors to open, but he didn't realize that the elevator was not yet on our floor. After forcefully saying, "OPEN!" for the fourth or fifth time, Alex asked Tyler, "What if the elevator speaks Spanish." Without skipping a beat Tyler yells, "Abré!"

If you hadn't guessed, he's been watching the bilingual shows Dora the Explorer and Go, Diego, Go nearly every evening.