The Boys' Combined Birthday Party

This year we did a combined birthday party for the boys, the last year we can probably do so. It was Cars themed but simple and laid back. We had it at the park so the kids could run around (and I wouldn't have to clean my house before or after).

I painted the kids' faces as we waited for everyone to arrive and had Cars pages for the kids to color. We had pizza and snacks for lunch.

Instead of spending more money on Cars-themed cups, I printed out a Cars picture with each child's name and taped it to a plain cup.

After lunch we did a water balloon toss that turned into a fight and then everyone ganging up on Justin. It was awesome.

 
Next was cake and ice cream. Again, instead of spending extra money ordering a cake or making my own from scratch (I didn't have the time, either), I found a chocolate cake at the store and replaced its butterfly decorations with my own Cars ones.

Unfortunately, the wind prevented the boys from being able to blow out the candles.

Presents followed, and the boys were thoroughly spoiled with lots of thoughtful gifts.

Bubble bath so no more soap fiascos! Also, Gabe would not let go of that last water balloon, lol.

Everyone got a Cars favor box before leaving; we ran out of time for balloon animals.

My boys had a great time, and I hope everyone else did, too. I may not put much effort in decorations and such, but I always try to make parties enjoyable and fun for my guests, particularly the kids.

Gabe the Babe Is Two!

Taking a walk on his birthday.

Gabriel turned two last week. Weaned and already potty training, he is no longer a baby, nor looks it. His vocabulary has increased much the past few months, and especially the last few weeks, though his pronunciation is still adorably atrocious. For example:

• Any word that ends in p he adds an f to, like cupf.
• Share and sure sound the same.
• Duts is nuts, sis is light, oh is hole, dutch is bread/lunch/bridge/truck, dirch is church, bff is balloon, bb bb is booboo, goodgy/goody is cookie, dye is bye, siohwy is silly, and ahk is rock and sidewalk.
• Da is still ball. I try to get him to say it right by coaxing, "B, b, ball." He repeats, "B, b, dah!" Reminds me of the time I tried teaching Caden how to say book.
• He makes a growling sound for broccoli. I still haven't figured that one out. 
• All letters of the alphabet are G.

Some of his favorite words that he can say correctly include car, corn, dirt, go, golf, gone, guy, hi, home, off, on, pop, salsa, sauce, see, some, sorry, stop, turn, wall, whoa, whoo whoo (train sound), yay, yeah. He says oi for anything he thinks is gross (Daddy taught him that) and fans the air when someone stinks. He still calls all monkeys George, and now all snowmen are Olaf (aff). He makes the cutest monkey and penguin impressions.

Taking a ride on his friend's scooter

He likes to read books, draw, and play with cars, in the bathtub, and outside. He enjoys digging in the dirt and stepping on bugs. His favorite show is Curious George and he also likes the Signing Time videos. Sometimes he stomps around the house and roars like a dinosaur. He knows how to give kisses correctly and will say sorry and kiss you if he hurts you. He loves fruit, some frozen vegetables, raw mushrooms just as Caden does (and me too), pasta, nuts, and cereal.

Pretending to be No Noggin from the Halloween Curious George movie

He still loves to snuggle and be worn in the baby carrier. He sleeps with a blanket and stuffed animal (or five). He transitioned to the toddler bed about three weeks ago. He sucks his two fingers all the time. He was using a pacifier during the weaning process, but when I found it after it was lost recently, I threw it out.

A dirty diaper is a rarity. He goes on the potty and thinks it's fun to wipe (he just scrunches the toilet paper and taps his bottom, and repeats this several times) and flush the toilet. Then he claps and says "yay" afterward.

He is very silly and stubborn and loud. He screams when he doesn't get what he wants but knows how to calm down when I ask him to. That was an accident, actually. He learned that from watching me teach Caden.

11 days old

I can't believe how big he is now. His first year of life seemed to go by so quickly, but his second did not, so it's harder this time to accept the fact that he's growing up and not a baby anymore. I love my little Gabe so much, even though he drives me crazy most of the time!

A Win for Weaning: Gabe's Journey

First time nursing Gabe

Weaning Gabe started nearly a year ago. I wanted to cut out night feedings first to help him sleep longer and in his crib. It went disastrously. We made some progress, but it all went down the drain when more teeth came in. I decided to try again when Justin's family came to town in April since we would all be sleeping together in the boys' room. It took several more sleepless weeks to get him sleeping in his crib. He would only wake up once or twice, and I would nurse him and then put him back in his crib. Eventually he was sleeping through the night.

However, he was still nursing during the day. I whittled it down to three times: once in the morning, once before or after nap, and once before bed. The nap time session was cut out first and then the morning one, so he was only nursing before bed.

The first weekend in July I went to my cousin's wedding. Gabe went one night without me and milk. I nursed him for the last time the day I came back from the wedding, July 4. How fitting that it was Independence Day.

A couple days later, my family came to visit. While they were here, Gabe was easily distracted and tired, just like when Caden was weaning. Once they left, he remembered again. I told him, "No more milkies. All gone." He was very upset. After about a week, he stopped fussing about it. Whenever he saw my naked chest, he would sign "milk" and then go "Ah! Ah!" and I would turn him down, but he wouldn't cry.

Soon he stopped asking for it and drank regular milk instead when he was in the mood. Last week, he looked at my chest, signed "milk," shook his head no, pointed to the fridge, and asked for a cup and straw to drink some milk. I knew then that we were truly done and he was okay with it.

Oops! Caden Found His Birthday Present

Monday morning I asked Caden to look for something of mine he had lost, and he accidentally stumbled upon his birthday present in our closet. This kid, along with his brother, hides in our closet all the time, but always on my side. The present was on his dad's side behind the hamper and was more visible that day, I guess. Caden usually isn't a very observant person, just like me.

"I see a Cars scooter," he said.

"Deny, deny, deny!" my husband suggested.

"No, I'm not going to lie to him," I replied. I wanted to give it to him early anyway so he could use it more during the summer. He was very happy and couldn't wait to use it. That evening I took him out for a ride.

Gabe wanted to ride the plasma car, so I put him in Caden's old helmet. I didn't think he would need the other protective gear, but he tripped walking to the car and scraped his knee.

Pointing out his "bb-bb" (boo boo)

Caden did really well balancing on the two-wheeled scooter. I credit it to his experience with the balance bike. However, he needs to work on steering, because that's when he falls down.

After a while, Gabe decided it was easier to scoot without steering.

We went out again yesterday to show Caden's friend. I wore Gabe in the carrier, though. Tonight, we went out once more. This time, I put Gabe in full protective gear. He was very excited.

However, after a few feet, he started pulling the car and then completely abandoned it altogether.

I got out the balance bike for him to try, but even with the lowest adjustments, he is still too short to ride it. So he walked instead, then sat on the sidewalk and scooted along on his bottom! Finally, he asked me to pick him up. I guess we have yet to find the right ride-along toy for him, but Caden is enjoying his scooter very much.

It's All about the Boys

It's been a long time since I've posted just about the boys! Caden is all about the potty humor right now: talking about poop and bums, farting, and shaking his bottom. He is learning so much and is interested in spelling everything right now. Some more Cadenisms: pizza skin (crust), ha ha (his taunting laugh, pronounced as written), roop (rope, since corrected), mark check (check mark), and dagnabit (he got that from me, lol).

Gabe is quite the character. He learned to kiss and wave hello/goodbye. He can sign dozens of words and always tries to copy whatever new sign I show him. He loves to sign and say dada the most. He can sign mama, but only if I ask him to and he won't say it. Instead, he says om and now ommy. [Update: a few days later he started saying mama and mommy!] When he wants my attention or is mad he screeches, "MAHM!!!" He also says da (ball), gah (car), shish (shoes), sis (socks), de-de (Caden), gook (cookie), shhh (he used to do it with his finger on his mouth too), uh uh (instead of no), Dudge (Curious George), choo-choo (for train), beep (for cars), eesh (fish), and dachoo (tractor).

He loves to cuddle with blankets and pillows, play with cars and stuffed animals, read books, color, jump, dance, and listen to music. He can retrieve items you ask for, clean up his toys, and pick out his clothes--that is, if he wants to. He went through a raisin-loving phase but has since moved on to cashews and peanut butter. I've also started weaning Gabe, and he is down to nursing three times a day and twice at night.

The boys fight a lot and like to rile each other up, but they also get into trouble together and love to chase each other and make each other laugh. They're the cutest, smartest, silliest boys a mom could ask for.

Gabe's First Haircut

Last Friday Gabriel got his very first haircut! It wasn't planned. Although I cut Caden's hair when it was about the same length as Gabe's, Caden was a couple months older, so I was content letting Gabe go longer with the curls. I thought perhaps once spring came we would cut it. But it was always a mess and getting in his eyes and in my mouth (while co-sleeping). So when Justin decided to get a haircut that morning during a special deal, we thought, why not get Gabe's done too?

Caden had his done at a kid-friendly salon with all the stops, yet he sobbed both times he went there. I wasn't expecting much better from Gabe, especially since this was a regular salon. The hairdresser used to run a day care, so she was prepared with Sesame Street videos on her phone. She also saved some of his hair for us.

Gabe made confused faces and moved his head a lot, but did not cry or even whimper or fight me when I had to hold him still sometimes. He was very cooperative and easy. It was a night and day experience compared to Caden's first time (which you can read about here)!

Gabe looks more grown up and more like his brother. His hair isn't curly anymore, but I know it will grow back. (The funny thing is it was the opposite with Caden; his curls got tighter after being cut.)

 I love my little handsome boy!

Caden's Birthday & Party

Last month Caden turned 4. We asked him what he wanted to do on his birthday and he chose to go to the playground.

Afterward we got him and Gabriel balloons from the dollar store, which they played with every day until they deflated. They liked to run around with the balloons flying behind them.

I got Gabe the #1 balloon because he's always pointing at things. He preferred Caden's though.

After nap time we got ice cream at Nickey Doodle's and then went shopping to kill time before dinner. Caden wanted to eat out, so we chose Applebee's since we had vouchers for free kids' meals for reading 10 books. Gabriel wouldn't stop screeching the whole time! When I tried getting him to sign, the waiter was impressed we were teaching a hearing kid to sign. He signed as a kid because his mom used to be deaf.

This past Saturday we had Caden's birthday party. Caden helped me make the decorations and cupcakes the night before. We did a sports theme.

Three of his friends and their parents came. It was a short and simple but fun party. We danced to some children's music, decorated treat bags, played stick-the-nose-on-the-clown and a bean bag toss game, decorated cupcakes, opened presents, and then let the kids play in the boys' room. Little kids are so easy to please!

 

More Cadenisms: backworks (backwards), dooze (does; but he doesn't say this anymore), cheek (end slice of a tomato or bread), Mr. Mommy Man/Pants (what he calls me when he's being silly). There is a tall apartment building near the post office that Caden calls his work. And on his birthday he said, "I'm four now. I can put on my shirt by myself," and he's been doing so ever since. Every year I can't believe how much he's grown.

I didn't include an update on Gabe in his birthday post so I will here. He waves goodbye, gives open-mouthed kisses, and signs all done, eat, and water (the last two he does the same). On Sunday, August 24, he bowed his head for prayer! At our church picnic he chased a poor little dog around everywhere it went. He is so funny!

Gabriel's First Birthday

Justin's family came into town for Gabriel's first birthday. Saturday we took them to Nicky Doodle's for ice cream, which they thoroughly enjoyed. Sunday we played Catch Phrase (lots of cheating went on!) and watched Emma Smith: My Story.

enjoying cherries

Monday we went shopping while Justin played in a tournament with his dad caddying for him. I found a shirt and snow jackets for the boys, and Caden got to go on the carousel with Keilani. We stopped by Sam's Club before heading home. (I can't wait for Costco to open in Syracuse!) We ended the night with Saving Mr. Banks, a very touching story.

teething bling

Tuesday was the big day. The men were at the tournament again, so we took the boys to the rec center and then made banana cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, with a hint of brown sugar and cinnamon. Best frosting ever!

We ate at the casino buffet and visited the pro shop where Justin works. It was very nice and the view was gorgeous!

Once home we sang to Gabriel and gave him a plain cupcake, which he waited to eat until after we finished singing and then happily devoured, unlike Caden at his first birthday (or this one, for that matter. He just licked off the frosting.).

first bite

Gabe got Baby Signing Time DVDs from my mom and the peas from Toy Story 3 from Titi Kirsten.

Wednesday we went shopping again and had the missionaries over for dinner. Later I made sticky popcorn and we watched Epic. I must say, I was very happy that everything I cooked for my in-laws was a hit!

Thursday we toured the house we originally were supposed to move into. The upstairs is pretty, but the entire downstairs needs to be remodeled. After naptime, Caden got his birthday gifts: play swords from us and a plasma car from Justin's family. All were the same colors, teal and light green!

The family left early Friday morning. We had a wonderful time together and the boys enjoyed all the attention and gifts.