Learning Lessons at 2 is really hard to do!

We have discovered that Evan is a strong willed little guy.  We suspected this from the beginning.  He had a rough start in that he came home from the hospital with Whooping cough.  He refused to nurse well and he turned bright red and screamed at the top of his lungs to let us know he was not happy.  We even called him lobster boy.  Evan has always only done things on his own terms when he feels like it. 

Now that Evan is in his toddler years, communicating with us much better and learning to follow directions and rules, we are coming across a whole new set of challenges.  Evan likes to keep us on our toes!

About a week ago I was cleaning up the living room.  At just 2 years old I never expect Evan to clean up everything, but I do expect him to help, even if he only picks up 3 or 4 toys.  On this day he wasn't having any part of the cleaning process.  I came across a fruit snack wrapper that he had thrown on the floor just 20 minutes earlier and I asked him to throw it in the garbage.  "NO" was his reply with a huge smile on his face and a little 'I win' dance.  So I left the wrapper on the floor and explained to him that he was not getting anything he wanted or doing anything he wanted until he picked it up.  It didn't sink in until 5 minutes later when he asked for juice. "when you throw the garbage away" I said.  Tears.  I continued to make dinner and clean while he cried "juice plllleeeeeaaaasssseee" I ignored him.  He walked around crying and the asked me to hold him.  "when you pick up the garbage" I said. More tears. Then he asked for his binky.  My response stayed the same.  Eventually he disappeared and when I went into the living room he was sitting with the wrapper at the edge of the kitchen.  When he realized I might win the tears came again and he threw the wrapper back on the floor.  So I left him alone.  10 minutes later he fell at my feet with the wrapper in his hand.  I held out the garbage can for him to throw it away and then I held him, gave him juice and a binky.  He was a much happier kid then.  All of this over a wrapper and who was going to win the battle.

This weekend while I was showering, Evan dumped all of his bath toys on the floor after I told him not to.  He laughed and ran away.  Tony brought him back to the bathroom, sat on the edge of the tub and proceeded to force Evan to clean up the toys to no avail.  Evan just cried and cried.  Tony said "that's it your bath toys are going in the garbage"  Evan was not too happy about that, but it didn't really hit him until he had no toys for the bathtub that night.  He looked in the garbage (we took them out and put them away) and said "toys trash can, dump out" telling me he knew full well what he did.  Needless to say he got his toys back the next day and we hope he learned something there.

Today Evan took out a puzzle and dumped it on the floor.  When he was done he refused to put it away.  I told him he will not ride his bike or get anything he wants until he puts his puzzle away.  I only had to tell him once.  He left the kitchen for a few minutes then came back, picked up the puzzle and put it away.  Progress!  There was no battle this time!

As long as we stay consistent (as exhausting as it is) and don't give in to him, hopefully our strong willed 2 year old will learn some valuable life lessons.

Getting out some 2 year old energy at the park :-)

Camping Trip 2011

We just got back from a three night camping trip to Ohanapecosh on Mt. Rainier....while it was an exhausting and I would even say a little stressful trip for this mommy, it was an overall fun trip. :-) 

The weather started out iffy (we thought it might rain the entire time) but just a light sprinkling and the nice sunny weather.  Our first night brought a huge tree branch through the top of our tent!  It scared us awake and then made me a little nervous the rest of the time!

A nice hole in our tent

Evan had a blast his 2nd year camping. Last year he spent much of the time sick this year he spent most of the time defying me and exploring the wilderness.  While he didn't eat much, he continued to muster up enough energy for all five adults who had all eyes on him :-)

Evan had plenty of toys to play with in the dirt

Stomping in the creek

Loving the outdoors

Those rocks under his feet don't phase him at all

Look at that belly

This boy is NOT afraid of the dark!

Evan enjoyed the quality time he got to spend with Nana and Papa and Uncle Jason came home from Florida with Aunt Tina to hang out with us too. :-)

Daddy and Evan

Evan loves his Papa

Nana brought him a special surprise

Evan had fun showing off on his bike

A family walk

Even though Evan hasn't seen uncle Jason since Christmas, he acted like he saw him yesterday!

He loves his Uncle Jason

Silly boy in Papas glasses

Paradise....Evan doesn't want to be a part of the picture!

Camping is a fun family favorite that we will continue to do as long as we possibly can, and as Evan gets older I just know that camping will become so much more enjoyable (even more than it already is).

My Animated Little Boy

Lately Evan has been so animated.  He uses his hands, body and face to tell me so much and I absolutely love it! 

We had a baby girl at our house the other day and she was crawling around and started crying.  Evan comes to me and says "Mama, Alexis waaaaaaa!"  All the while he is crawling on the ground and making the cutest little face showing me exactly how she is doing it.

When it is time to mow the lawn Evan gets so excited and scratches his fingers on the floor making a sort of lawn mower noise and then says "Mama, mow the lawn!"

Today the neighbor was driving a large tractor that was picking up the field clippings for hay and shooting them into a trailer.  Evan was fascinated and again did his lawn mower movement but added a "whooshing" for the shooting it into the trailer part.  This time in his excitement he was yelling "Mama, tractor, dirt, whoosh, mower, lawn, grass!"  He just couldn't decide what to say!

When the little boy I watch (who is the same age as Evan) cries Evan comes to me and lets me know by mimicking his wail and the showing me what happened.  He fell....Evan throws himself to the floor, his sister hit him...Evan hits himself. 

The little girl I watch was crying as she was getting into her van to go home, Evan said "Mama, Autumn waaaaaaaaa....baby!"  He was telling me she was being a baby at 4 years old! This kid kills me!

While I can't get pictures of his animations, nor do I ever have the video camera ready for such occasions...I will always remember them!

My Animated Little Boy

Evans 10 Favorite Things

At two years old Evan has many things, activities and places that he loves.....there is Oh Baby the consignment store in town that he loves to go to, Papa Murphy's Pizza because he loves pizza, mama's car, our bike, etc. etc.  Here is a list of Evans top 10 favorite things:

1. His Blanket -  Nana made two of these especially for him and he has to take them EVERYWHERE, and he has to have them while he sleeps.  He plays with the silky part, folding it in between his fingers. Precious.



2. Binkies - He is never without one and it is going to be one hard habit to break!

3. Driving - Any chance he gets, Evan loves to get in the drivers seat of daddy's van and "drive".  When we get in the car to go somewhere he often asks "drive mama?" because he really wants a turn at the wheel!

4. CARS Movie Cars - Evan has recently discovered the movie Cars.  It is the first movie he has shown any interest in, and he absolutely loves the toy cars from the movie.  We now use them as a bribe when grocery shopping.  If he is good, stays in the cart etc. he can pick a new car....they are cheap so it's an easy treat!

5. Lawn Mowers - Evan gets so animated when it is time to mow the lawn, showing me exactly how to do it with his hands and then grabbing his mower and following me as I mow.  He tries to start my mower and loves to help me fill it with gas.  If I ever mention that I need to mow the lawn, I better be prepared to do it right then and there!

6. Vacuums - Yes the vacuum has been a favorite of Evan's for almost his entire life.  He has never been afraid of it and always wants me to vacuum (which is good since our house is ALL carpet!) Visits to consignment stores and Goodwill have blessed us with 4 vacuums (one is MIA) and he cherishes everyone!  He longs for the day he is big enough to use mine all by himself....hey I say as soon as he can go for it!

7. Nana and Papa's House - Evan loves his Nana and Papa, and when I announce that we are going to their house....he flips!  When we pull into their driveway he squeals with delight that one of them is going to come and get him and then he makes himself right at home and destroys the place!

8. Jumping from couch to ottoman and vice verse - Evan has no fear when it comes to jumping off of the couch or the ottoman....he seems to think he is invincible!

9. Parks - Any park, any time...Evan loves the park!  He loves to slide and swing and climb, he is a regular monkey!

10. Airplanes and Helicopters - Not just toys, but airplanes and helicopters in the sky, on the ground...you name it.  He loves to point them out an can spot them from far away. 

As Evan get older his favorites will change, but at 2 years old it is so fun to watch and engage him in the things he likes the most.

Can't wait to see what his new "favorites" are in a year!

Regret and Parenting Go Hand in Hand

Not a day goes by that I don't regret some sort of parenting move; the food I feed him, the toys I buy him, does he really need that binky, did he really deserve that time out?, does he even understand what he is doing wrong?, did he get enough outside time, too much TV time, not enough mommy time?.....worries, thoughts, regrets that CONSTANTLY plague me!

Most recent is the issue of training him to sleep in his own bed.  When I put him to bed at night it takes a good hour and most of that hour is spent with me nagging, yelling, begging and pleading with him to just lay down and go to sleep.  But what he is really after is the place where he has slept his entire little life....my bed.  He asks "mommy hold you?" and I have to tell him that he needs to be a big boy and sleep in his own bed now, but really does he have to be a big boy....he is only 2!  I guess when he is 10 I will say the same thing and it will only get harder, but right now it breaks my heart to deny him when he just wants what is familiar. When I go to sleep I feel a little sad and regret telling him to be a big boy, but I guess he has to start somewhere, perhaps it's me that is having the hardest time of all.

If it is this hard to teach him to sleep in his own bed, what is it going to be like to take away the binky?!? 

Napping in my bed after SOAKING his bed the night before, my little big boy

8 on the 8th

8 Things Evan Said Today

1. I DO IT!
2. Mommy hold you
3. All done time out
4. 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, COME! (he always skips 6)
5. Evan: "I'm tired" Me: "You're tired?" Evan: "NO! Autumn tired!"
6. Mama, apple juice PLEEEAAASSEE???    Thank you Mom
7. I Farted!
8. Daddy go?

8 Things Evan Did Today

1. Threw everything in sight (mostly out of anger, we are working on that)
2. Put 2 puzzles together
3. Played Hide and Seek with Ashley and Autumn
4. Ate chicken nuggets, waffle fries and oranges for lunch
5. Took a nice nap
6. Played outside
7. Helped daddy sort camping stuff
8. Took pants and diaper off and then climbed the baby gate into the bathroom and sat on the toilet all by himself

8 + 1 Pictures From Today



Play time with friends



Quiet Time

Puzzles are fun!



Nap time, and mommy's time to collect her thoughts!



Independent play time. Evan LOVES his cars and trucks!



Outside time

 

Potty time


 

Bath time is fun time!



Taking "Baby Madison" for a ride

Weekend Fun

So it's been three days since the weekend has been over and I am finally getting a chance to post weekend pictures!  Another family filled, relaxing weekend for us...

A bike ride...

 to the park to swing

 and to conquer the rock wall.

 Evan was so proud of himself!

 Sunday was train day!

 Waiting for the train

 Getting ready to go

 Evan LOVES his daddy!

 WEEEEEEEE! Fun!

 Going over a trussel

 Looking at Daddy from the outside

 Looking at Evan from the inside

 Love

 Our view from the train

 Laughing and having a good time

 Family Day

We ended the weekend with some much needed yard work....lawn was mowed, weeds eated and we even had some new sheep delivered that we put to bed. 

It was a weekend of new experiences and adventures for Evan, yet still productive and relaxing for his mommy and daddy.