1 & 2 years!
So here we are! Kate is 2 and Luke is less than a week from 1! We decided to celebrate Kate's birthday with balloons and decorations and a special present (big wheel type thing I found on craigslist) on our own on her special day, but are going to celebrate with friends and family (grammy and pop-pop are coming out for it!) in a couple of weeks with a combined party. I can't believe they're 1 & 2 already!
Kate
-Potty training part 2: We did potty training again- another 3 days of pure heaven (eye roll) of being locked up in a small area cleaning messes. What helped keep my sanity is laying blankets down on the carpet (much easier to just throw in the laundry rather than be afraid stuff is soaking into the carpet pad!), have meals already made and ready to throw in the oven, have all cleaning supplies easy on hand, and plenty of m&ms to reward myself everytime I have to clean a mess! After the 3 days, Kate will sometimes tell us when she needs to go, but I'm staying committed this time. She seemed more ready- can certainly hold it longer now too. So we're in underwear. I tried to go naps/nights without underwear but she'd wake up needing to go meaning I'd basically have to get her right when she woke up to take her to the potty and if you know our little girl, she needs a few minutes of "wake-up lazy time" in bed before actually getting up or she'll be cranky, whiny, and just miserable. So to keep us all sane, we're doing pull-ups over her underwear for sleep times for now. Someday we'll switch over but we've got plenty of time.
-Words up the wazoo! This girl is talking all the time and is repeating words after hearing them once. (We were walking in the parking lot and I told her to watch out for that.... (couldn't think of the word crack) chasm!- Next day, she was pointing to every crack saying "chasm!" oh boy... oops!)
-Naps are usually from around 1:00-2:30ish. Although if we're in the car she could fall asleep from anytime after 11!
-LOVES play-dough, coloring, ALL about music and dancing, playing with little people (we have the barn and some animals), building towers with bowls and tuperware, and playing with her kitchen set. I've been looking everywhere for a paint with water book but can't find it anywhere! I'm thinking Kate (and mommy! because of the lack of mess) would love it!
Luke
-Sturdy on his feet! Certainly not confident yet enough to let go, but he's walking holding 1 hand, cruising, even today was using the swing outside to stand up and was enjoying making it lean forward and back as he changed his center of gravity. He only fell once doing that so he's on his way!
-Love his sister's stuffed animals (we often have to remind Katelyn that the turtle is actually technically Luke's, not hers!)
-Suddenly terrified of baths? Put the water on, and he'll lean over the tub on his tippy toes to touch the water, squeels of excitement all the while. You actually need to watch him carefully because he will reach hard enough that his feet will leave the ground and if you aren't ready, he'd go toppling into the tub. Undress him, still happy trying to touch water. Put him IN the tub? Ear piercing terrified screams and crying? What? What happened?! It's gotten to where I need to sit on the edge of the tub with my legs on either side of him and get something to distract him (plastic cup tends to work well), and in a few minutes, crying will subside and he'll be happy again where he's splashing and have a joyous time again. But yet this process happens every time now? He certainly didn't have any traumatic experiences that I know of? Doesn't make sense to me!
-LOVES to be chased, rubbing his head/body on blankets/pillows/stuffed animals, interactive books, snuggles, when you're sitting/laying on the floor, he will climb all over you. Often plops his butt in my lap and kicks his feet happy and content to just being with someone he loves. He also loves to lean against me when I'm squatting helping Kate which makes for a very difficult time for me to get up with him leaning on me! I'm calling it already that his love language is touch. Wondering if Kate's is acts of service. We'll see as the years progress!