I have tragically been off my game this summer. It’s been busy times, but that’s no excuse! Honestly, when Andy got his new phone with the good cam in it and we started using that, I kind of fell out of the picture habit. I was starting to notice though when I didn’t have any good videos anymore! So I finally got off my booty, got fresh batteries and started videoing and taking pics again. Not that I have any ready to go at this moment but I hope to work on it some today and have them posted tonight or tomorrow.
Just to quickly update on our goings ons.
We’ve all been battling a cold. Paul T and I seem to have the worst of it. His nose is nasty and mine isn’t much better. Andrew’s was a bit stuffy but is better now and Andy had it over a week ago and was better by the time the rest of us got sick. I thought for a while I’d end up with an ear infection I was so stopped up in my sinuses but it passed that phase. Now it is just lingering.
Because of this we haven’t been hanging out with our friends much. It isn’t nice to play with other kids when ours are sick. But we are still making trips to parks and the library very regularly. We go for walks outside here daily now that the weather allows for it. And Andrew is getting quite good at pedaling his trike. Next he can move up to his 2 wheel bike that we got him for Christmas last year!
We have run all the options for moving into a bigger living space and decided to stay here in this complex but switch to a 3 bedroom. We cannot buy the house we’d want this year and by waiting one more short year we should be able to get exactly what we want. We also cannot rent a house for the amount we’d pay to live here. This location is great, the property is newer. We give up the luxury of a yard for one more year. Lived without it this long!
Andrew is such a big boy! We’ve been calling him Big Boy since Paul T’s birth to get him used to not being a baby anymore, but it amazing to see him truly turning into one. He’s gotten a new big bed, as you’ve probably seen in the pics Andy posted. It’s like a castle! It’s honestly way too big but it is so cool we had to get it for him. And yes he sleeps in it! Wants to even. He slept in our bed last night for the first time in a while and I don’t think he was as comfortable. Though we were! I think it is harder for us to let go then we thought it would be. Andy honestly gets very little sleep at all the nights Andrew is in his own bed. He wakes at every noise.
Andrew also started getting up at night to go potty. he needs a little help because he is sleepy, and he prefers to have Daddy help him. But he is out of diapers completely now. Not even 3! Of course he hasn’t worn day time diapers since before last Christmas. But I always say as long as he’s in our bed he needs one on. Well, before he even left our bed, he started waking us up at night to take him to pee instead of using his diaper. He has done all this on his own. We just relaxed and let it happen.
I think it will be harder with Paul T for me to be so relaxed about it. Andrew has been so easy and so willing to learn and follow. Paul T is much stronger willed. He’s so passionate. From being super lovey and cuddly to being super upset to the point of throwing himself on the ground to cry when someone opens a door and he doesn’t get to go out and play. Andrew was always just such a go-with-the-flow kid. Paul T is more of a I-want-it-to-flow-this-way-and-if-it-doesn’t-I’ll-let-you-know kid! 
I admire that. Being so determined and goal oriented are wonderful attributes and will take him far in life. It will make for some difficult moments I think in his toddler and preschool years though! But we look forward to the test on our creativity. I’m going to have to read even more parenting books! 
Another big difference in these 2 is their appearance. Paul T is so tiny compared to what Andrew was at this age. I think they are about the same height but Paul is a skinny baby. Oh he eats! He likes to eat food more than nurse most times but he makes up the difference nursing at night. But he is super busy and he’s been walking now for over 2 months so he burns a lot of calories.
Right now Paul T is letting me know he NEEDS to go play on our back porch. Andrew would love to go play outside too and will be thrilled to go when we do. but he just waits for us to say let’s go, while Paul goes to the back door and yells and pounds on it. lol! We go out every day, I hope he starts to notice that soon and learns that he can find something else to do for a bit until it is time.
Andrew is also getting quite good at playing the Wii! Andy who has a bit of an addiction to purchasing video games is loving being able to fill this with buying games for Andrew to play. We only buy used ones of course and the selection of Wii games that are simple and fun is huge! Andrew has learned to turn it on himself and the TV. Now he is starting to learn to set up the TV and stereo. Soon enough we’ll be waking up in the morning to find him out here playing Wii! He still struggles with some motor control and some of the finer movements and consistency, but for pete’s sake he isn’t even 3 yet! I am amazed at how well he does do!
Speaking of not being 3 yet, they both have birthdays coming up next month! Keep your eyes on your mailbox for invites to the party. It will be a simple park gathering to celebrate both births in one day. For their individual days we’ll do something special just for them. I’m thinking the zoo again for Andrew. he’s been asking for it. And Paul T, well, he’d be happy just to spend the whole day playing outside! That’s all Andrew wanted to do for his first birthday too!
OK, now I am going to start sorting videos and getting them uploaded to share. But you know, I have to go outside soon too.
