Harrison is 3!

My little Harrison is 3 years old! It's hard having his birthday so close to the holidays. Most people know that we also celebrate his half birthday so we spread out the celebrations a little. However, this year his birthday lasted almost a whole week!

We took him and Sam to Santaland at Macy's to see Santa and the Elf display. This would be a normal outing, but they have opened a small Build a Bear in the gift shop which we decided would be a fun little birthday gift for Harrison. He very quickly picked the Elsa bear from Frozen and a basketball. We saw Santa as well. Sam was enthralled and Harrison asked for dominoes (the stacking kind, not the pizza).

Harrison's little party we had on Sunday, just close family, gifts and cake. We kept it short and sweet. Harrison is thrilled with his new Curious George bed. He also got pizza on his actual birthday (and a very sick mommy...) and another birthday dinner courtesy of Grandma.

3 year old Harrison loves Curious George, chocolate, playing ball, juice, legos, watching videos of dominoes being knocked over on YouTube, our kitties, Cinder, his brother whom he calls "my baby." He can't wait to go to school or playgroup and run around with other kids, those are his favorite days of the week. He says he loves snow, but he also likes to be warm. He loves being praised, I think he feels it's his greatest reward. He also likes being rewarded with stickers.

We've been nerd-training and watching a bit of Doctor Who and Star Wars. He really likes both. He actually has requested both over Curious George in the past week, which says a lot. While watching Star Wars the other day he asked, "Where's Doctor Who?" and it was really adorable. He says Darth Vader is his favorite and doesn't want to watch Return of the Jedi yet because Darth Vader's picture is not on the cover of the DVD case (we've told him Vader is still in it!). When asked what color light saber he would want, he says red... because of Darth Vader. I also asked why he likes Darth Vader so much- "he's cool!"

I officially have an opinionated (very opinionated) 3 year old.

Housebound

I feel like we've been so busy, yet have barely left the house so much has happened that I keep thinking "oh! I should write that down," but just haven't had the time. 

We're all currently fighting colds. It's so heart wrenching listening to your 8 month old coughing so hard and not being able to help. Thankfully, Harrison is on the mend. We should be able to go back to his ECFE class tomorrow. 

In the last month- 

• Sam has gotten two teeth! He seems to be constantly teething, so I have no idea when the next ones will be. 

• I consider Harrison pretty much potty trained! His last accident was thanksgiving, and that was very likely because we weren't home (he's now getting much better at going while out). He's not night trained yet, though, but I'm fine with him using the potty at least while he's awake. He loves getting stickers every time he uses the potty. 

 (The picture is from a couple weeks ago)

• Harrison will be 3 in one week!

• We'll be going to Santaland and attached build a bear for his birthday. I'm very excited. Harrison will be once we get there, but he doesn't really know yet what we're doing. 

• Harrison is done with naps. He also refuses to do quiet time in his room. He wants to do quiet time downstairs. So, my normal day break is gone. It's been a good three years. Here is what it looks like now. 

• Harrison also finally gets out of bed on his own. He never used to get up without me. He would wait in his bed for me to come and get him, but with him potty training, I urged him to get out of bed on his own. I half regret the decision. He was in our room at 5:30 in the morning. I was able to convince him to go back to bed, but it was a little unnerving waking up to him next to the bed. 

• Bathtime fun!

• He's so silly!

Now I'm just hoping to get some sleep tonight, but Sam is not sleeping well. He was in bed an hour early, full of tired tears. 

• The cats act as though they have been given the best gift. 

I'm so ready for Christmas now! I'm getting excited! 

Big Day

Today was a big day and feels full of those things people call "milestones."

My little chunk, Sam, raised himself all the way onto his knees today and did the little rocking motion. While I don't expect him to crawl for quite awhile, it certainly was exciting and adorable. He's also a steady sitter! 

And on his way to being a Jedi master. 

Still no teeth, though. 

Harrison had a big day too. Not only did he visit the dentist for the first time, but it was day one for potty training. 

He was superb at the dentist. Listened well and loved the mouth sucking tool (y'know, the one that sucks the water from your mouth). When he was done he asked the hygienist to brush his teeth again. 

His teeth look great!

Then we "potty trained". 

It's hard. Not just on me, but also on Harrison. We've had 5 accidents, 3 soiled undies and some tears today. No successes. And I know he wants to go. I know he wants to potty train. He's excited to sit on the potty and read his new potty book. Then he pees on the floor. And he gets a little sad. He asked to put a diaper back on this afternoon, but I encouraged him to continue trying. I have a little potty chart and stickers on standby for when he finally goes. He did say he had to poop twice tonight and each time was a fart, but the feeling was there and he was very excited. He'll be going in a diaper for sleeping though, definitely not ready to try overnight. Hoping for some pee in his little potty tomorrow. I think once he finally goes and gets the praise, he'll do great! It's just recognizing that feeling of needing to go before it happens. 

I guess something had to be difficult. After smooth transitions to sleeping all night, big bed and big brother, something had to give. xD

We'll get there. Just have to remember to breathe sometimes.

Mommy, I'm Awake Now!

Day 2 of No Nap. This kid. Won't nap. "Mommy, I'm awake now!" he says as I check to see why he's making such a racket in his room. He's been unable to nap lately, only napping about every other day. I'm not ready. I need my quiet time. 

I don't think implementing a "quiet time" is going to go over well either. He wants to come downstairs and play. Be with mommy. 

And I've failed at making the time boring. I typically put on a show (almost always Curious George) so I can have my break time as well. Well, he likes tv, so this doesn't make him want to play in his room... He's also right next to napping Sam, I don't trust my toddler to be quiet enough. Harrison needs more practice playing on his own at home, he's great when we're out at playgroup or school, but he wants me to play at home. 

At least I completed my task even with Harrison. Finishing their Trick or Treat bags and making treat bags for playgroup/Halloween. 

Authors note: I'm trying to write more. I feel as though I'm missing too much and I love looking back at my old posts. 

Day 3 No Nap: Done with today. Tantrums and sour moods have been following no naps. He might think he's ready, but I don't think he is. He at least had a solid car nap on the way to grandma's, which is a very rare occurrence. Between Harrison not napping and Sam not sleeping at night, my brain is mush. Tomorrow, I'm expecting a dramatic battle over nap/quiet time. 

Teeth?

Don't let the smile deceive you. This boy has been very angry the past few days. I think we have teeth finally making an entrance. After months of sleeping through the night, he's been waking up 4-5 times all of a sudden. I think he's also been queasy. More spit up. 

Now, I don't function well with little sleep. As evidenced by the laughing attack I had earlier (during which Harrison thought it would be hilarious to climb all over me.) I should probably go to bed soon, but quiet time is so rare that I doubt that will happen. The weekend has balanced okay with Matt home, but now I have to endure on my own since tomorrow is Monday. 

Hoping for a better night tonight and more sleep for all of us. 

We also went to the pumpkin patch yesterday and I am finding little corn kernels everywhere. 

"Sam is really fluffy, mom!"