Just Like Daddy

The above picture pretty much sums up our household. Not just for me, but also for Charlie. He is going through a major "Daddy" phase right now. He doesn't want me to help him do anything, just Patrick. He will put his hand up in my face and say, "No, mommy, I'm talking to my dad." The first thing he asks for in the morning is daddy, when I pick him up from school he cries because I'm not daddy, and biggest of all... he wants to be just like his daddy.

Charlie is LOVING the Georgia Bulldogs this football season, just like daddy.
Wearing his towel, just like daddy.
He even has a North Face jacket, just like daddy's.
Stretching with daddy before going on a run.
And, obviously, they share a love for the Rangers.

This past weekend, on 11.11.11, we celebrated Patrick's birthday. Happy Birthday to the best husband and father a family could ask for. (Seriously, we are truly blessed!)

Halloween 2011

Charlie decided early on that he wanted to be Josh Hamilton for Halloween and never really waivered from this idea. We have worn a lot of Rangers apparel in the past month!
Thanks to the Hamilton's for hosting another successful Halloween party!

Hangin with Dean

Rhodes and Charlie at our neighborhood Halloween Party.

Fun with neighborhood friends:

Mommy and Charlie at the Arboretum's Goblins in the Garden

Lauren and Charlie and Goblins in the Garden

Halloween night:
Put me in coach!

Charlie was great at Trick or Treating and scored lots of candy loot! Soem the houses were to "scary" for him to go visit... maybe next year bud. All in all, he had a great Halloween season!

November? What?

I can't believe it is already November. Where did October go? October recap:

We spent A LOT of time at the Arboretum. I love the fall there.. such fun!



Charlie and I supported Patrick while he ran the Race for the Cure.

The triplets came in town last weekend. We hit up the Arboretum again, went to a Lake Highlands Halloween party and had fun hanging out.









We've done A LOT of Ranger watching, which really deserves it's own post and had a great Halloween. Halloween post coming up next...

Potty Training

Here we are, into week 4 after our first initial weekend of potty training. I have to say, things are going stellar thus far. I pretty much copied my friend, Molly, word for word and went for it.

Amo for the weekend included:
-A variety of juice boxes and other beverages
-A bag of M&M's
-A variety of stickers
-Fun "treasures" in a Treasure Chest (that I typically use with my speech clients)
-Portable potties in the living room and in Charlie's room
-My IPAD, which we used for a timer
-Loads and loads of undies
-Cleaning supplies, just in case there was an accident on the couch/rug (I think I only had to use this once!)



The day started off with diaper off, big boy underwear on and a trip to the potty.
Timer was set to go off every 15 minutes for the first hour, then 20 for the second hour, 25 for the third, etc. Drinks were pushed all day and Charlie pretty much consumed 1 juice everytime the timer went off. By the time nap time came around, he was pretty much telling me everytime he needed to potty, so we started fading out the timer that afternoon.

Prize system went as follows:
-A sticker for every time he sat on the potty and tried.
-An M&M everytime he either (1)pottied in the toilet or (2)everytime he told me he needed to go potty before the timer was up.
-A "treasure chest" prize everytime he pooed in the potty.

If he had an accident, he didn't get a prize, but was just told "better luck next time". Here he is washing hands. Such a big man!

At the days end, I asked Charlie what he wanted for his Potty Party and he requested cupcakes. Done, little buddy! (Notice the band-aid on his tummy. He requests a band-aid because his tummy hurts before he has to poo.)

On Day 2 we didn't push liquids or prizes for pottying. Just let things fall as they may, but we did keep close to home and to the potty. Day 3 was treated as any other day, we left the house and went to the park and to lunch and just reminded him to potty. The next week he started school and had just 1 accident while there.

Now, he has done really well over the past 2 weeks. No accidents except at nap times (when we forget to put on his pull-up). When he has to poo, he says his tummy hurts, so we know when to go sit. At school, he wears his underwear for naps and at home, we put him in a pull-up. His naps at home are always much longer than at school, so we need back-up. He also has started to use the potty without us even having to go in the bathroom with him, which has been super nice. He tells us, "No mommy/daddy, you stay. I do it." Ok then, you go for it! Hopefully things will progress until baby Allen arrives! I hear that some kids regress when they have a younger sibling come along. Please, no!

Back to school!

Charlie started a new Mother's Day Out program this week. He is now at Bethany Lutheran CDC for 3 days per week. New school, new teachers, new friends... lots of "newness" for that little man. His teacher's are super sweet and have tons of experience working with kids, which is comforting. But, there have been moments where Charlie has said that he wants to go to his "old" school. I know, little man, I miss it too! But, with mom at home these days the price difference is too huge and the need of a full-time daycare just isn't there. I'm hoping that he makes friends quickly and starts to really enjoy himself!!

Bits and Baubles from Charlie

Charlie and I went to his 2 year appointment a couple of weeks ago. He is now almost 31 lbs. (75th %ile) and almost 37 in. tall (95th %ile)! He continues to be a tall man... pretty sure he gets this from the Allen side. Charlie is dominating in all developmental areas and is above-average in everything... especially communication, which is the most difficult for boys. I am one proud mamma! At this appointment, they had to draw blood from Charlie's arm. I was prepared for a melt down, but he surprised us all by sitting perfectly still and just watching the whole process. The technician said that it was unbelievable for a 2 year old to do that well. This is also the way Charlie acts for haircuts these days... it's a welcome change from the screaming crying we got a few months ago.

Funny story from yesterday... Charlie and I were at the park and there was another boy at the playground. When Charlie wants to know what (or who) something is he will look at me and ask This? This? This? while pointing at the object or person. He asks "This" on repeat until he is satisfied with my answer. So, yesterday he was asking who the little boy was. Instead of saying my typical response of "It's a little boy", I said "I don't know his name, Charlie. If you want to know his name you can ask "What's your name?". So, he asked "Name?, Name?, Name?" to no response from the little boy. So, Charlie decided to say "Hey, come here Name." on repeat to the little boy. This boy still had no interest in Charlie. So, he took it one step further and decided that this little boys name should be "Jack". That's right... he just made up a name. "Come here Jack.; Hey Jack!; Bye Jack". Even after we figured out his name was actually Ryan, Charlie still insisted on calling him "Jack". Pretty funny that kid!