life

Tyler to Daddy: "You are ruining my life!"

moment in time

Happy Tyler. Cross Jenna.

 

bubble wrap!

Need I say more? A big hit in the Campbell house.

 

 

 

engineer?

Tyler's new colloquialisms

Tyler says the darnedest things (what kid doesn't?). Here are a few of his latest ones:
1) I'm just joking with you! (after saying something silly)
2) How 'bout three? (after offering him one toy to take along with him)
3) He's gaining on us! (regarding Daddy walking the trash down the driveway while me and the kids are backing down the driveway in the car to leave)

big boy underwear

After having no accidents for a full week at daycare while wearing pull ups, Tyler got the green light from Ms. Debbie to start wearing big boy underwear to daycare this week. Total SUCCESS on his first day. Even during nap time!!

Now we just need to work on when it is and isn't appropriate to show his big boy underwear: he showed two neighbors his cool undies within the span of our one-block walk. :) But he's proud and so are we, so flasher Tyler it is!

fashion bug

Jenna Bear is starting to show preferences for certain outfits, shoes and accessories. Once she started wearing her shoes each day, it became a bit difficult to take them off once inside the house! I bought her a chunky plastic jeweled necklace for dress up, except now she seems to like to wear it more often and even takes turns passing it back and forth between her neck and Tyler's.

Now this morning Alex mistakenly put on Jenna's fall jacket thinking it was her raincoat. Realizing that it was really raining and it would be better to switch coats, he met some serious resistance. Jenna wailed because she really wanted to wear her tan and pink coat with the flowers rather than her, dare I say, drab navy and white raincoat. Apparently this was very traumatic. And once home from daycare she insisted on putting on her flowered coat even while in the house. Anything for fashion!

PB&J

Both of my kids love their peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Tyler likes to pick out cookie cutters that I use to make his sandwich into a particular shape (a teddy bear in this instance) and Jenna just gobbles them up no matter the shape.

 

happy birthday to Xavier!

My childhood friend's son turned one year old already! We joined them in celebrating the occasion at their house in Rockville. Tyler and Jenna both had a great time in the ball pit, but after asking Tyler what his favorite thing about the party was, he declared, "the cupcakes!"

 

 

passing on the green one

Tyler skipped the green one for a car ride today (very unusual). And did it once more. Could he be growing out of his security blanket??

potty training

Tyler has been peeing and pooping on the potty for the better part of this year. But I need to qualify that statement: while fully capable of going on the potty, he hasn't been potty trained. He still fights us occasionally and chooses not to go on the potty at times. He is just so stubborn and does not want to stop playing to perform the duty. And frankly, potty training is not something I'm all that urgent about instituting (call me lazy). I have had numerous other moms tell me how Tyler is right on track with other little boys they know his age. But that is little consolation when Tyler looks like a 5-year old (he's very tall folks)!

We have tried numerous options to entice, coax and demand him to use the potty (candy each time he used the potty, aim for the cheerios as a game, put him in big boy underwear and let him pee himself if unsuccessful) and all have had mixed results. But just lately Tyler has seemed to WANT to pee and poop on the potty. We've had dry pull ups for almost a week now including three poops on the potty at daycare yesterday. Our daycare provider said that we could start sending him in undies this week. Fingers crossed that my headstrong son will keep up the effort!

looking up

Jenna is really taking notice of all the things moving overhead. She likes to point out the trees, birds and airplanes. She now mimics the airplane noises we make, "Kkkkuhshhh."

peekabanister

Jenna loves to peek through the banister and giggle!

king or queen of the hill

Poor Daddy! The abuse he endures!

 

car show

After a morning of soccer, we headed to a car show in Laurel. Tyler was in heaven! He and Jenna even got to test out a 1922 Model T Ford. And later he found a moon bounce and slide and Jenna was serenaded to by the live musicians who enjoyed her dancing. This was such a fun activity and didn't cost us a dime!

 

 

 

soccer stars

 

 

dance time

The Campbells new favorite pasttime: dance time! Jenna has shown a great interest in music and dance. And Tyler has always had rhythm. So we crank up the iPod with BOSE sound system and rock out. Good funny and healthy too!

fun with food

 

green ones

Tyler still loves his green ones. He has never had them with him during the day while at daycare, but he expects to find one in the car when we pick him up. He has also now given each one a name, Four and Five.

And poor green ones...they are guilty by association. Tyler was being scolded and sent to the corner. Knowing that he is not allowed his comfort blankets while being punished, he quickly added, "My green one was bad too so it has to come with me." This boy is sharp and thinks quickly on his feet!

new signs

Jenna now knows and uses sign language for the words: apple and drink. She continues to use the ones for: more and all done. Now it is time for me to brush up on my sign language skills so I can teach her more!

in the wagon

her wave

Jenna LIVES for her walks with Daisy. And on her way out you might be lucky enough to get a Jenna wave goodbye. It's the cutest thing -- elbow, elbow, wrist twist, twist. I hope that I capture it on video before she outgrows it.

hershey park

Jenna's first amusement park trip! We had a great (and long) day along with the Howes family. Tyler's favorite ride was the ambulances and Jenna was really excited about all the baby rides -- that is until she was half way through when she nervously whimpered. We'll make a coaster rider of her yet!

 

 

 

 

 

 

the governor

Alex was so wonderful and took both kids to play soccer so mommy could have some girl time. What do mommies do during their time away from their kids? They talk about and shop for ... their kids! My friend Katherine and I headed to some great consignment shops, got some great deals and then stopped for lunch. Unbeknownst to us, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley was in town to support Howard County Executive Ken Ulman. We got to briefly chat with them and get a picture. An exciting to end to a fun morning!

 

skinned knees

With increased mobility comes increased risk of injury. Jenna's learning and has had many scraped knees from her sidewalk travels. But practice makes perfect right?