Today Mateo is 2.5 years old. I had already asked his cousin (bestie) to come spend the night when I realized what a special day it was. So we had a little 'appy do you' ('party' in Mateo language).
After a 1 minute search on Pinterest (this morning...), I decided a half cake was in order. Since mommy is on a diet, this was a perfect excuse to have some chocolate. How can I *not* celebrate this important day. I had fun at the little party and so did the 2 toddlers. Or are they preschoolers?
I removed Liora's banner and hung up a blue one that ways 'Party Time!' We had cake, they each got a present and we had music. Fun, fun, fun...
Actually having a party today was probably just as good for mommy as for Mateo. It has been a ROUGH week. A big week, so actually a good week in a weird way. The reason it was good for me is it make me reflect on how much I love my little man.
Last week I decided it was time to be strict with bottle and pacifier usage. I also took out the crib, so Mateo had more space to play. That meant he had to sleep in the big bed. No more switching back and forth.
Loving his jungle animals
Last week went well until this:
What an artist I am-hehe
Broken computer screen! From his pacifier. We decided an appropriate punishment would be to take it away. We have been putting it off for over a year. Always another vacation coming up, mom and dad going away, new baby, etc. Finally.we.did.it. He is doing better in one way than expected. He does not really ask for it. What I did not think about is that he would have a hard time sleeping. Hard time as in a FIGHT, DRAMA, TEARS, YOU-NAME-IT. Since Sunday almost every bed time has been a drawn out process. Once he falls asleep he is then awake earlier than normal or after an hour nap. He has been very grumpy and defiant all week. But...*drum roll* we are pacifier and bottle free! Next up potty training.
He starts school February 4th. Mommy has to admit she is pretty excited about this. Potty training will commence sometime in February after he sees other kids at school doing it.
Next week we go for his height/weight/overall check-up.
Now some photos of the day...
Half a cake for a half birthday
Loves chocolate like his mommy does
Such goofs
He copies everything she does...
Goofballs
His banner. Playing with their gifts
She is 14 months older and they look the same height.
We are getting more smiles every day. I love it! Liora went yesterday for her 2 month check-up and first set of shots. I predicted how she would react. She seems to be a little diva. I remember with Mateo he screamed (duh), but was fine a few minutes later. Little missy whimpered for about 20 minutes until I finally ended up feeding her.
She is 5,780 kg/12.74 lb and 58 cm/22.84 in at 9 weeks.
We have been trying to get her to take a bottle and are not having success. I am convinced she knows that if she drinks it, she will have to go to a babysitter (hubby's work party is next week, but I think I am going to have to skip the event).
Liora seems to have mellowed out since the first month. No more random, unexplained crying. She is pretty easy to take out and about.
She has reached the 3 main 'points' for her ages. 1. Moves arms and legs 2. Follows with her eyes 3. Makes sounds
Well, actually in a lot of aspects he is really hard right now.
I know becoming a big brother is a big change, so I try to have grace.
His eating is terrible. He only will drink milk if it is chocolate milk. He doesn't like yogurt with pieces anymore. If he is mad he will throw full bowls on the ground. Etc, etc, etc...
Naps are continually being shortened. A normal nap is now 1.5 hours. He goes to bed around 9 at night and sleeps about 12 hours. He wants the door open when he goes to sleep. Normally we shut it when we go to bed, but if he wakes up and realized, there is a lot of screaming until we come open it again.
He can be super sweet with his sister, but is not to be trusted. He BIT her fingers last week! I was so mad...
Baths have been a struggle for a few weeks (thankfully he put up no fight today, only because I said he could watch Cars after). He pooped and peed in the bath and has been freaked to go back in.
When mom was here we watched Planes with Mateo and he loved it. He started noticing every plane in the sky and would constantly say 'plane' and 'fly.' The next week we showed him Cars and the next week Cars 2. It is so cute how obsessed he is with them. It is funny once you are aware, how much you see them. His aunt gave him a stocking with McQueen and Mater. He always is saying 'Een' and 'Toe Mate.' Grandpa had recorded a Cars book for him last Christmas and he was not very interested, but now he reads/listens to it the entire day.
Mateo now climbs out of his bed. Actually, I do not mind very much. He knows when he has to sleep he needs to stay in. He comes out of bed when he is ready and stands at the gate and calls me.
He has also gone upstairs or downstairs alone a few times to play, which actually was nice to not have to drag him along with the baby. Yesterday it was cute at first, but later a mess, I came down and he had found 'breakfast.' A bowl of corn in the fridge. He was sitting nicely at the table eating it, which I was fine with. BUT when I was on the phone, he started strewing handfuls around the living room! That was less cute.
I can't even remember all the words he says how. It is all coming together finally! It is pretty funny how he mixes the languages. Good thing both of his parents understand both. This week he said 'Ik wil walken' (I want to walk, but he said it in Dutch with a 'Dutchified' English verb). Now when he copies what we say it actually comes out the right way. He discovered the microphone his daddy has, so he likes to sing while daddy plays.
Wow, I actually am on my computer! Hubby took tomorrow off, so today is a relaxing evening. He is playing with Mateo, the house is cleaned thanks to my household help and Liora is actually not crying this evening! Time to catch up. I am actually trying to finish up my pregnancy journal photobook on Shutterfly, but I keep getting distracted.
Today Liora had her hearing test and passed with flying colors. I also asked if they could measure her, so her latest stats are: 4.25 kilogram = 9.369 lbs/52 centimeter = 20.47 in. Up a pound in a week. Go us!
She is eating every 2 hours and sleeping at night normally a 3-4 hour period, then 2-3 hours.
I hope to take some nice photos of her tomorrow. I have actually filmed some this week instead of photos, because they just are not working out nicely.
What did I say about relaxing? It seems that time is over. Time to feed a now-crying baby and make a bottle for the now-whining-little-bit-older toddler.
This was another big month. Not only was grandma here for 3 weeks, but Mateo became a big brother! He is a good big brother. He likes to give his sister kisses and hold her for no longer than 10 seconds. He always checks where she is hanging out and double checks when we go out that she is going with us. He still has a hard time with her name, but we know who he is talking about.
Poor kid has been inside more this month than the past few months. He LOVES being outside, even if it is cold and raining.
His vocabulary is exploding. Every day I am hearing new words. I feel like I am reliving my past. I am his interpreter, like I was my brother's when he was young. I know what Mateo is trying to say or what words he says for certain things.
He loves all things to do with transportation. Cars, trains, busses, trucks, bikes, boats and planes (He love the movie by that name). He also loves monkeys and elephants. Surprising in how many things they appear. We even bought a monkey and an elephant chocolate at the bakery.
Mateo is capable of sleeping in a normal bed, but he basically decides to do whatever the opposite is of what we want. If we put him in the crib, he wants to climb out, if he is in the big bed, he asks to sleep in the crib...I guess that is basically how everything is with him at this stage. He wants to be the boss.
Eating has been totally off. One day he eats 3 pieces of toast, the next day he won't touch it. Yesterday he didn't want yogurt, today he had it for snack, lunch and took one out after dinner. GRRRR....I try not to be frustrated and forcing him doesn't work. Tricking him only works some times and takes so much effort.
