Happy 3rd Birthday!

To my Doogs,

I can't believe you're 3 today. Maysen was just about this age when you came along and all I can see in you is that you're still my baby! You've gone through lots of new changes this year, so it's been a big year for you!!

For Christmas this year, Santa brought you a motorcycle bike with training wheels! It is red, silver, and black. At first you had a hard time pedaling because you kept stomping the pedal backwards and slamming on the breaks. You're sure getting the hang of it, though and even running that hummer off the curb. Grandma and Poppy must have known Santa was bringing you a bike because they got you a super cool red helmet to wear! Bubba even got a new bike. His has no training wheels, a "two-wheeler" he says, and it is lime green and silver. You two have a lot of fun riding and playing together on them.

Everyone developes little habits throughout their life and you have started one; you have a transient tic where you blink your eyes really hard but you alternate your eyes. Most people comment how you're "winking" but you can't help it. We don't draw a lot of attention to it as you can't "wink" if we ask you to, yet you do this subconsiously. It gets worse when you're tired or if you're upset. Laurie Carmichael, pediatric NP, saw you for your 3yr check and says that its not uncommon for kids your age to get something like this due to all social and developmental changes going on at this age. She says you'll outgrow it more than likely, but we don't care either way!

You are a very good eater, and it shows because of how tall you've gotten! You will eat just about anything. We like to sit together on the couch and eat yogurt. Our game is you see if you can get a whole blueberry and then you show it to me before you chew it. Its just silly but I sure do enjoy your cuddly time with me. You really have been a Momma's boy this year and I love it. I just can't believe how big you are.

In September, you got your first experience of school. You are going to 5Cs now in the Young Preschool class that Miss Thelma teaches. That was Bubba's teacher, too! You have some familiar faces in your class; Karaline is Austin's sister and just recently Skyler Anderson joined your class. You've really come out of your shell now that you're in a classroom. You can be shy at first and wrap your arms around my legs, but as soon as you get comfortable you're 100mph like the rest of them.

We went and visited Grandma Jo and Grandpa "Bob" (one day you just walked up to him and said "Hi Bob", so ever since Gr Dave has been Grandpa Bob) in Yosemite this summer. We drove down in the van and it was a long drive but you guys did really well. We got to see the National Forest and we did lots of swimming and playing in the warm sun. You absolutely loved Grandpa's golf cart and wanted to drive it any chance you could get!

I love watching you say your "S"s because you have a little cute lisp when you say it. So when you say "Perry the Platipusssssth" your little tongue dodges quickly to the right and out of the front of your teeth. It is so stinking cute!

 

 You have grown so tall over this last year. In fact, only six inches seperates you and Maysen! He is still your big brother though! You guys have found that you have more in common this year. You have a love/hate relationship like any other siblings but you are able to play together on the same page almost. Favorite things to do right now are Hide and Seek and playing Mario Kart on the Wii together. You've also discovered the game Cooties and have lots of fun with that, but you get upset when anyone mixes up the colors of the bodies and heads; you'd like them to match, thank you very much!

Our next adventure is getting you potty trained which should be successful this summer in which you will roam around with no pants on. In fact, if I do that now you are potty trained! If you are naked from the waist down, you will not go anywhere but the toilet. The second you have pants on? Forget it. So we'll work on that this summer.

In January after your 2nd birthday we started building our new house. We would go just about every night after supper to see what the new developments were. You and Bubba would run all over, play in the rocks, play hide and seek, climb on the bull dozers, and anything else little boys can get into. We had to be careful, though, because there were lots of nails and tools around that you were itching to get ahold of! We finally moved into our new house in July and you love going up and down the stairs! You sleep upstairs with Bubba in your Surf Board beds. You have lots of fun playing in your play room. You used to be deathly afraid of Bubba's dinosaurs, but at the end of this year you came around to kind of liking them!


Onward we go! Looking forward to all the adventures to come ...


I love you, my special Doogy Boy.

My buddy

Big brothers are usually good at many things. In our house, Mase is usually the fight instigator and bully most of the time. I know he really does love his brother but he likes to put Griffin in his little-brother-place. I bought the boys slippers for this winter, as I usually get "My feet are cold!" in the mornings getting ready for school. They love wearing them and have donned the phrase "Little Red Riding Boots". At the library last week, Maysen picked "Splat the Cat" and has been reciting the book over and over. On this night, sitting by the fire, Bubba asked Griffin to sit by him as he recited, word-for-word, Splat the Cat Goes to CatSchool. They really are good pals ...

Brotherly trouble

Oh my little Doogs,

I always knew that because mommy and daddy were so ornery growing up that someday you and your brother would be, too. (Did I really say that?). I have just a few recent stories for you that are just great (at the time, not so great).

Floating Boats
Last Friday I came home from work and Bubba said he wanted to play Legos. You and him built boats and all sorts of different objects, mainly just fighting over the legos. Just as soon as I thought about it, Maysen came around the corner - buck naked and wet. I asked him why he was wet and he informed me that it was because "I'm floating my Legos, mom". ... "Why?" ... "Because! Because I built a boat". Ah! I thought I'd better check up on this situation and when I turned the corner into my bathroom, I saw the soaker tub, filled to the brim and water still pouring. You were on the tiled ledge surrounding the tub and as I came in, you cannon-balled it off the tile and into the tub, the biggest smile on your face and laugh that said it all! I soon noticed my iPod was missing off it's "home" and when I asked Mase where it was, I got, "You mean Griffin's phone?" ... "No, not a phone" ... "Well, its in the toilet".

Hi Doog,

Its been a long time since I've updated! Mom has been a tad busy. You've grown leaps and bounds, almost so fast I can't keep up. Just yesterday we were driving to Grandma and Poppi's and I had Jack Johnson playing in the stereo and you said clear as day, "Momma? I like this song!" It was great.

We are back to naps because I didn't last long with you having no nap. We have a routine that we do and after lunch you and I go lay down and sing songs in my bed. You will shortly drift off to sleep, begrudgingly, and sleep for at least an hour or two, giving Bubba and I some time to do our thing. It's good you are taking naps because lately you have been getting up at 6:45, walking in bright eyed and saying "Hi!". If you crawl up into daddy's warm cozy spot you usually will fall back asleep for another hour.

Maysen can do no wrong in your eyes and as you can see in the photo above, whatever it is he is doing, you wish to be just like him. Right now it seems to be the backtalking, getting into things. I think it's Maysen that has taught you to find out where I am before you get into trouble. The other day Daddy caught you in our bathroom saying "Mommmmmma? Where are you!?" when I didn't answer or come walking in there, you started getting in the cabinets and make up. The newest "oh great" moment was just the other day. You asked Daddy to watch a show in the playroom and when he turned it on, out the garage you went - broom stick in had to use the handle to open the garage door. I found you riding your trike down 1st street.

We are almost done building our house and I can't wait to make new memories watching you grow there ...

Mr No Nap

So, when I get to the point I'm fighting you for 2hrs to nap, it's time to NOT nap. And that's where we're at. It's an adjustment but if you finally DO nap, you're up until 10:00pm and that is not an option for mommy and daddy time! So, by about 4:00pm you're absolutely exhausted but you catch a second wind from somewhere and make it until about 7:30. Total Catch 22. Nap and stay up until 10:00 and I'm frustrated and TIRED ... or push through until bedtime. And that seems to be winning right now.

But you're not so happy ... Love you.

First Broken Bone

Last night you broke your right collar bone. We were at the model house showing Papa and Grandma Sherrill the house and you and Bubba were upstairs and BOOM. You and Bubba ran into each other with Bubba landing on top of you. After your nap yesterday you woke up intolerant to using your right arm. We saw Dr Kordesch this morning and sure enough! You had xrays and it’s broken. Poor baby. Luckily your bones are growing so fast it’ll fuse within the next few weeks and “all” I have to do is try and keep you from being too rough with it. Should be easy … right? Right!

Happy 2nd Birthday, Roo.

The last few months have been a wild ride. Over the last few months, you have turned 2 and had your second Christmas. But when it was here, it was a great time. On 12/24/09 while daddy worked until noon we all 3 stayed in our “cozies” and made Christmas cookies for Santa. You liked eating most of the frosting.

After having Christmas at Poppi and Grandma’s we went home and you helped Bubba get the Christmas cookies out for Santa. You slept really good that night and by the time to open presents at our house, you didn’t want to! That’s OK because I told dad, “We can just open the rest for his party on Sunday.” Then I realized that I hadn’t set any gifts aside for your birthday, so it all turned out good!!

You turned 2 on 12/27 and we held your party the same day! Mary, my hairdresser, was to come at 3:30 and cut your hair for the party. 4:00pm came and she still wasn’t there so we moved ahead and Grandma Bobbi did the honors and cut your hair. She used to be a hairdresser years ago, so she knew what she was doing. MAN, how you changed with that one haircut!!

 The next day we headed out for our Winter Wonderland vacation. Daddy took the week off and we rented “the mountain house” and left for 4 days. Before we left town, we did stop off at where Bubba gets his hair cut and Cindy cut it “right” for you.

 You loved Eagle Crest and the 2nd day we were there, we got snow! You played with Bubba in it and had a ball. Last winter you went out but had no gloves and you HATED that. This year you had snow and all the stuff to keep you warm and you loved it.

Dad, Bubba, and you built a snowman but you were scared to touch it or even pose for a picture with it. No thank you! We played games and played toys, watched movies, and snacked and you had a lot of fun. One of the best parts for you, I think, was going swimming at the indoor pool. We put arm floaties on you and just kicked and flapped your arms, stuck your head under water and blew bubbles. Natural swimmer!!

 You jibber all the time and are starting to make sense now! Instead of “ooce” for drink, you say “ink” now. You can repeat just about any word that we say. “Why?” is a frequent question around here followed by 4 million “Momma, mmmmmmmommmmm”. You are my constant shadow these days. Naps are fading I fear. It’s a struggle every day, and you will go probably 2 days a week with no nap. Bubba can do no wrong in your eyes! You constantly have the “Monkey See, Monkey Do” thing going on, despite the injuries it might bring.

I can’t believe you’re TWO already and it’s been so fun to watch you grow. Can’t wait for many many more. We love you, Roo/Doog/Doogles/Rooble.