AJ is a BIG Boy Now!

Time is flying faster than I realize.  The boys are growing so fast; it's crazy!  AJ has learned so much since he moved up to his new classroom.  His independence is obvious.  He's 95% potty trained. And now he's declared himself a "BIG BOY"!!  Being a big boy though comes with lots of new territory...like his brand new big boy bed!

 

 

And while AJ was "distracted" with his new big boy room, we made the decision to ditch his nasty habit too.  It was time to say goodbye to "the sucker".  That pacifier was (and still is) the bane of my existence.  It has controlled our lives from the moment AJ learned of its sweet soothing delight.  But I couldn't stand when AJ would talk to me with it hanging out the corner of his mouth.  Or that he DEMANDED it as soon as he walked through the door from school (even though he knew he was only allowed to have it at bed time.)  So, we made a big deal of becoming a big boy...that big boys don't use suckers, and we would get him a "big boy bear" that he could make all by himself. 

 

On the day we decided to go to Build-a-Bear, AJ and I had a very special day together at the mall.  We arrived early and got to play on the choo-choo train.  AJ made sure to sit in EVERY car of the train and on every seat.  We played on all of the "rides" and jumped, climbed, and slid at the indoor playground.

 

Finally it was time to say goodbye to his old friend and make a new one.  AJ picked out a floppy stuffie from the bins.  We brought it over to the stuffing machine, where we brought his friend to life!  Before stitching him up, AJ put both of his suckers inside, along with a heart and a special wish.  He kissed the heart, tucked it inside, and his Monkey sprung to life!  We brushed him togehter, picked out big boy underwear and clothes for his new friend, and gave him a name.  AJ has appropriately named his friend "Monkey".  AJ was VERY proud of his new friend.  He didn't seem to mind at all that his suckers were tucked inside...

 

 

....Until later that night when he HURLED Monkey at me, shook him by the tail and demanded that I "Get [his] sucker!" He told me "Rip it...out.  RIP. IT. OUTTTTT!!!"  It's a work in progress.  But...we've made it one whole week without the suckers.  Let's hope the reality that it's not coming back sets in soon.

Even Robert digs Monkey ;)

 

Our Handsome Big Boy!



Happy Fall from the Pouliots!

A Season for Change

Summer has turned to fall and we couldn't be happier!  Cooler, more comfortable weather...beautiful colored leaves...and lots of changes for the munchkins.

 

Both boys moved up to the next level at school.  AJ moved to the "Transitional Twos" Classroom.  And Robert is in the Infants 2 Classroom.  AJ is learning more about letters and shapes, reading and science.  And Robert is learning how to use utensils and sippy cups!  We decided to make thank you gifts for AJ's former Two-Year-Old teachers.  I think that they have the TOUGHEST classroom by far.  They endured many of AJ's "incredible hulk" moments, soothed him during temper tantrums, and are just so down-right patient.  AJ did a WONDERFUL job painting each of the pots and he even picked the flowers out himself.

 

While AJ has been busy learning new songs and skills like jumping and dancing, Robert has been suffering through the misery of  teething.  I think he's getting used to it now...he's now got three teeth (two bottom and one top) with another soon on the way.

Poor Robert is not finding the "joy" in cutting his first tooth.



We've been taking advantage of the fall weather spending time outside doing traditional "fall things".

 

 

 

 

I think they definitely look like brothers here.

 

 

Visiting Daddy's Old Tractor at Auntie Kacey's Celebration!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Picking out Pumpkins at Lull Farm!

 

 



...and of COURSE, visiting another tractor!



 

 



Evel Knievel Lives at our House!

When AJ learned to walk, I didn't realize just how busy I would be.  I didn't realize that when we visited at our people's houses, I would be prying his fingers off of EVERYTHING.  I didn't realize that I would put all conversations with other adults on the back burner for the next five years.  But as "busy" as AJ is...I was definitely not prepared for what baby #2 would bring.  I thought "meh...how bad could it be?! We're surviving AJ just fine."  Oh my stars!!  Was I wrong!! 

For every "busy" thing that AJ did, Robert does it with more mischief in his eyes.  He's determined.  He's ambitious.  He's STRONG.  And good Lord, can that kid CLIMB!  (I have about 50 heart attacks a day when I see him doing something after I "just turned for a second"!)



It all started with a place to watch his show.  Looks innocent enough, doesn't it?!



...But quickly escalated to more daring feats.

Yes...he IS on the shelf of the sofa table.  Yes, he DID fold himself up to fit in there.

He even showed AJ how to open the window.  AJ had NO IDEA that the window opened....until Robert showed him.  That's when I discovered that the two of them were in cahoots...throwing toys out the window while I was making lunch for the boys.  That'll teach me!



My heart literally stopped for this gem. (Until today when I discovered him climbing ON TOP of the table in the toy room to get a sip of AJ's juice box.)

 



 

His persistence is paying off though.  On Wednesday night, Robert took his FIRST STEPS BY HIMSELF!!! He boldly looked at me as if to say "Watch this Momma.  I'm going to show you what I can do."  And he let go.  He just let go and walked.  TWO WHOLE STEPS.  I screamed like a madwoman.  I started him of course and he dropped to his bum.  He clapped and laughed hysterically.  And then he dutifully repeated the action so Adam could see it too.  I haven't been able to get him to do it again, but when he does, I will be ready this time with the camera!



Oh Brother!

As the boys grow, they're becoming very much their own people.  They're learning how to express their ideas and opinions.  They're exploring new things and gaining independence.  And they're learning that they're "connected".  I hope that some day AJ and Robert have the same friendship that I have with my sister.   I love when they get along...it makes my heart smile.

OK...so AJ might look a lot like Popeye here...but the point is that they are sitting here TOGETHER...not hitting each other and not screaming because they are invading each other's space!

Like Father, Like Son!

Everyone always says to Adam "Oh my gosh! AJ looks JUST. LIKE. YOU!"  But in my opinion, Robert is a dead ringer for his Daddy.  If you don't believe, me...here's proof ;)

(AJ looks exactly like my pepere Dion...reincarnated in miniature form.  Note to self...dig up a picture of Pepere for a future blog post!)