Coming up on the ending of year 2 (for the boy) and year 3 (for the parents) Do the math.

It has been a while since I updated this.

And today's "update" isn't going to be much, since I have to go downstairs and start breakfast in less than 5 minutes.

So, it may read like a journal entry.  So feel free to ignore it.. And also, feel free to use the word "So..." as many times as you want today when you begin a sentence...

(I'm labeling this post a rough draft, because it's one of those that may need some revising in the future and/or some deleting in the future)

There are so many updates for the boy - who used to be a baby but is now clearly a boy - I don't know where to begin.  He is potty trained now, though he has a few accidents, so do we still say they're potty trained?  I guess so.  If I know how to drive but I crash once in a while, I suppose I still know how to drive... So let's say he's a potty trained person, though he just started, so he makes some mistakes.

In his daycare, he has switched to the large side, which means the ratio from teacher to kid goes from 1-4 to 1-8, meaning there are 16 kids in his class and two teachers.

The problem is, there's really only one teacher.  The school hasn't hired a permanent second teacher, so that second spot always rotates.

Anyway, the boy likes the big playground, but I don't think he likes all the other kids.

Everytime I pick him up, though, he's busy playing with magnets with other kids, or pretending to cook while wearing a princess dress (not sure the dress is necessary for him to cook...and when I think about it, it seems a little bit gender stereotypical...do they make him put on that dress over his clothes when he cooks?  Or did he choose it himself?  Anyhow, this has only happened once, so we'll see.

Christmas pageant is Friday at his school.  We'll see how the Frosty and Rudulf songs go.  And hopefully I'll update about it.

If not, there will be an update about the books I read this year, because damn if I didn't keep track on that Google doc for nothing.

Oh shit, time for breakfst.

Breakfast.

(I could have corrected my misspelling - like I just did for the word "mispelling" - but I wanted to illustrate how pressed for time I am these days.)

Sincerely,

-ND

Two Years, Eight Months, Three Days - Milestones & Favorite Things

Typing this on a Sunday afternoon while Not-so-New Mom finishes up napping the boy... So it may be short.

Milestones:

Who knows.  Where did we last stop?  He walks, he talks, he eats, he's starting to poo and pee in the toilet.

Says things like:

"I LOVE vegetables."
"Act-tually..."
"Daddy, I pooed."

Convinced me to buy him a jumprope by explaining that the one we have is long and hurts, and he needs a soft one for himself.  (We were at the Dollar Tree, so hey, he convinced me to the tune of a brand new $1 jump rope.  Congrats kid!)

New Dad's all-time favorite things that he's said:

-Boy: Who bit the apple, Daddy? (Pointing to iPad)
-ND: Oh, that's funny, it's actu--
-Boy: The donkey.

-Boy: Daddy, there's a spider in your ear.
-ND: Really?  You see a spider?
-Boy (Looking closer): Oh, it's gone.

-ND: Good morning. Daddy's here.
-Boy: I want mommy.
-ND: Mommy's busy.  Daddy's here-
-Boy: Go get mommy.
-ND: Let's wake up with Daddy today-
-Boy: Go put a shirt on, Daddy.
-ND: I'll go get mommy.

Favorites:

Think this should be an update as much as Milestones - shows where's he at, and his favorite things

Favorite Movie: Little Mermaid (but has seen no movie all the way through)

Favorite YouTube Vid: Blippi's Garbage Trucks

Favorite Word: Pamplemousse



Oh shit, he's up.  We're off to the mall or something equally exciting.

-ND

Coming Blogs:

-Our Two Year Old Boy's 10 Favorite Videos
(in no order, because all will annoy you)

-Things that sound like the boy's cry

-The Allure of Garbage Trucks

-Best Book for Parents

Milestones - 2 years, just over 4 months

(This post is a rough draft.  For finished, polished posts, might I reccommend (see how I spelled "recommend" incorrectly?  I may not even have time to go back and fix that!) one of the "Popular Posts" in the box on the right.  A handful of folks were particularly not bored by "5 Tricks to Get Your Toddler to Do What You Want) 

So, I missed the boy's birthday update that I was so diligent about the first year of his life.  Missed it like I've missed it for maybe a year now.

Because who celebrates monthly birthdays?  It's confusing for the kid AND the parent.

So here are a few things, mostly for my own record, of what he's been doing these days:

Boy is 2 years, 4 months and change...here are some things he's doing:

Likes to say:

Most recently:

"NB play trumpet, make daddy laugh."

"NB poo on daddy!  NB pee on daddy!  NB poo on carpet.  NB pee on carpet!" He doesn't do any of these things, but he only says them when he isn't wearing a diaper, and sometimes has snuck up behind Daddy and wrapped him in a pants-less hug.  I think he just likes to see the raised eyebrow expression I give him.  So, I need to work on not reacting to SOMEONE  SAYING THEY'RE GOING TO POO OR PEE ON YOU!

When asked where to go: "Go to the Japanese market!"

"Daddy, play ABCs.  NB play Twinkle Twinkle."  Not sure if he knows these are the same song, but he puts them together.

Other:

Counts to 13, but then skips to 16 or 17.  Goes on to 30, with slight assistance.

Says the letters of the alphabet, but skips N.  (Who needs it, anyway?)

Tip toes.

Walks "slowly."

(Most of the time is running, so these variations are interesting...to his parents, only...)

Ate 6 raw oysters a few weeks ago.

Ate intestine cold dish apetizer yesterday.

Eats shrimp like it's running out of style.

There's a lot more, but it's breakfast time..

-ND

5 Tricks to Get the Toddler to Do What You Want

As Baby Boy turns into Toddler Boy, communication between him and his Not-Quite-As-New Parents slowly shifts.

The old tricks* of "here are my car keys, jingle jingle," don't necessarily work.  (Although sometimes it still does!  God bless the "keys" trick!)

So, for parents like us going through this transition, here are five new tricks to use on that baby slowly turning into a kid.

I didn't make all these tricks up, but I definitely use them all.  Every day.

Sometimes they work.  And other times, like last night, baby boy runs around with his diaper off yelling, "I pee and poo on carpet, I pee and poo on carpet!"

Seriously.

5 Tricks to Get the Toddler to Do What You Want

1.  Which of these two things do you want to do?

Give your toddler two options, both of which lead to your desired outcome.

Example: Instead of, "Do you want to go to the car?" Ask, "Which shoes do you want to wear to the car: the orange shoes, or the yellow shoes?"

Success Rate: 95%

Side Note: My internet provider also uses this trick on me.  Why?  Because it works.  You get stuck thinking about the options presented in front of you, and it's hard to think about an alternative.  (Maybe I DON'T need internet at the house!  Maybe I should get together with my neighbor and share!)

Now that I think about it, my bank, credit card company, and wife also use this trick.  That's because it's a good one.


2. Yes, you can do that, but later.

Instead of saying, "No," let your toddler know that of course they can go outside and play in the mud, but just, not right now because it's dinnertime.  Later, though.  No problem.

Success Rate: 80%

Why this works: Toddlers don't like to hear "no." And most of them time, they forget about "later." I'm not saying they live in the present and don't have a sense of the future...but.. Actually, I am saying that.

Why this doesn't always work: Sometimes they don't forget.  Especially if "later" involves ice cream.

Bonus: I've heard parents are able to use this to get kids to do chores, such as, "Yes, you can do that, but not until your toys are picked up."  Those parent's are fucking amazing.


3. That's for adults only.

I don't know if this works for everyone, but when we tell baby boy that something is "for adults only," with a serious look, he respects that.

Example: Of course you can't drink Daddy's coffee, that's for "adults only."

This can also apply to anything you don't want messed up, such as any drawer or cupboard or closet or anything he can get his damn hands...

Success Rate: 70%

I am aware the phrase, "Adults Only," is used a different manner in the "adult" world.  But I swear, when you say it to your kid, it's sounds really innocent...and definitely not like a sign on the side of a gentleman's club.


4. Uh oh, Mommy's leaving, quick, let's...

New Mom often leaves for work first.  The boy knows that he only has a certain amount of time to do things with her in the morning, so if he wants to brush his teeth with mamma, well, now's the time!  Go go go!

Success Rate: 60%


5.  Daddy is doing X and it's the the most goddamn fun thing in the world...

Also known as the Huckleberry Finn trick, this one takes commitment.   Any hesitation, and the game is up.  So break out that inner Meryl Streep and dig in.

Example: "Wow, putting on my shoes is amazing!  Left foot slides right in, oh my gosh that feels so cool!"

Yeah, that sounds a little lame when I write it out.  But as I've learned as parent, don't judge until you try it.

Success Rate: 25-75% (Depending on your inner Streep.)

And...

That's all I've got. Hopefully those help!

Got any tricks you use?  Let me know and when I have another 5, I'll create another list.

Lastly, I'm always a little hesitant to write about parenting "things that work." Because now, there is a 25% chance that I've jinxed all these tricks, and we're back to square one.

And I'd rather not be in square one.  There's a lot of crying in square one.

Not to mention, pee and poo.

Seriously.

-ND

----
* Maybe "trick" is the wrong word.**

** Maybe it isn't.

The Lone White Guy At a Coffee Shop in Monterey Park on a Saturday Night

Thought this would be more productive than writing that screenplay and/or novel that I've been meaning to write.

Holy shit, there's a totally decent coffee / boba place near us called Honey Boba.  Despite the name, it's large, with a lot of seats and booths, plugs for plugging in your old-ass MacBook.  So many seats, like they're expecting an after-prom party to come in at any time.

The Mango Iced Tea is really sweet.  I should have done the old man thing, and just asked for a plain coffee.

Next time.

Some things about the boy, before I forget.

Drummed that ABC's song today.  For every letter he hit a drum...

Played some sounds on the trumpet.

Down, Da Da.  -What he likes to say when he wants to get down.

Likes Daddy to pick him up "Like a Monkey."  Meaning, grab by the feet, lift up, and swing left to right, like a pendulum.  It looks a little crazy and holy shit, New Mom does not like this at all.

Went poo the toilet once, back in Feb?  Early March?  Not since.  Only pee.  Loves going pee in the potty and then asking (nay, demanding), "Undies!"

So much more.  Can't believe we used to write down every little thing.  Feels like he does 10 new things every day, it's hard to keep track.  Oh wait, a few more.

Counts to 30...but misses 14 and 15 for some reason..

There was another one, but forgot, for now.  There must be some way to keep track while they are happening. (ie: the recorder on your phone...but who has time to relisten to that?  The notepad on your phone?)

Favorite book seems to vary.  He goes back and forth between his newer, more advanced books (The Little Mermaid), and his older, more baby ones.  (Goodnight Baby, Biscuit's Halloween).

Oh, movies.  He has two he knows:

1. Soccer Movie!  (Bend it Like Beckham)
2. Wall-E

But can't really sit through either for too long.  I think that's a good thing.

Baby is 2 years and 2 months old, tomorrow!

Haven't updated in a while, so just wanted to write something.  So this is rough.  I need to label this or something. (Done!)

It seems like there's some sort of milestone every day.  I think that's why I haven't updated.  Things are moving fast.

The funniest things he's said recently include:

"Daddy tired.  Mommy tired.  Only Baby Boy happy."  (Except he used his name instead of "Baby Boy")

To which I responded: Truer words have never been spoken, my son.

Eh, I'm not sure anyone will be interested in updates like these, except for the grandparents.

I recently told him that we used to call him Mr Wiggles, and now he calls himself Mr. Wiggles when he lies down to change a diaper.

Oh, big milestone earlier this month (or late last month?) - he sat on the toilet - with his potty cover - and went poo.

Well, according to New Mom, he did.

Well, according to New Mom, and the pictures she took, he did.

He hasn't done it since.  So maybe it scared him?

He is excited about getting some undies though.  I'm not sure why.  (What has New Mom told him about undies?)

Put on his own sock (just one) the other day.  That was surprising.

He can put on his own shoes...sometimes.  And sometimes they're on the right feet.

He likes saying things like:

"Baby boy is gardener!" when he works in the garden.

"Baby boy hit D" when he hits the dog.

"Baby boy kick D" when he kicks the dog.

"Go to Japanese Market"

"Momma come back / Daddy come back"


Phrases I wish he never learned:

"One more...." whatever it is, just one more won't hurt, Daddy.  C'mon.

"Ice cream." Two words that can never be spoken around him - no matter what time of day it is.


Will write more later.  Hopefully.

It's time to get dressed and get the day started.

(Written in 10 minutes, before breakfast, and getting the day started)


-ND