growing up

If you would have told me that my little Tyler would be binky-free, sleeping in a big boy bed AND potty-trained before the baby was born, I wouldn't have believed you. But this little boy has been doing some serious growing-up and all of it (well, except for the ditching the binky) on his own. I even tried to discourage  all of this growing up but to no avail. So alas, we are wearing big boy undies and sleeping in big boy beds and NOT talking about how much we miss the binky! I think baby brother is now free to come.

p.s. my due date is just a little over 1 week away - getting ready!

you're the best mommy in the whole white world

That's what Tyler told me this morning. He is so precious when he first wakes up in the morning. It's my favorite moment of the day. Lately he wraps his arms right around my neck and hugs me really tight. He lets go for a quick kiss on his little puckered lips, then wraps me up again. Then he lets me lay dozens of smooches all over his cheeks. That right there is worth it all, folks. I love being a mom.

We are at such a great stage with both of our boys right now. They are so much fun. Granted, we have our fair share of tantrums and fights to deal with, but they play very well together, for the most part and have become quite good little friends. The other day, Johnny was asked who his best friend was. He said "my brother." I was surprised how proud and happy that made me feel. Not long ago we left the boys at the Walker's house while we went on a date. We had given them a bath and dressed them in their matching pajamas and Brian had given them both a nice comb over - signature Brian move. They looked so cute. When we arrived, the Walker boys announced that they were just about to start a movie, so we left Johnny and Ty sitting very close together on the couch and said good bye. When we returned to pick them up 3 hours later, we found them in the exact same spot on the couch. They hadn't moved the entire time we were gone! I found it so sweet that they found comfort sitting next to each other while we were gone.

Tyler is a little over two and still surprises us with his command of words. If he's not talking, he's singing. He always answers questions with full sentences. You never get's just a yes or a no from Ty. It's "yes, I did" or "no, I didn't", "yes, I can" or "no, I can't", etc., etc. He comes home from nursery on Sunday singing songs I didn't know he knew. My favorite is "If you chance to meet a frown." He sings it with all the right expressions. Such a little love. Tyler is also quite a momma's boy. In his world, moms make everything better. In addition to being very attached to me, and not letting me too far out of his sight, he is also very sensitive to babies, children or creatures of any kind who are sad or crying and thinks that the solution to every problem is a mommy. "He/she wants his/her mommy!" is a phrase I hear many times a day.

Johnny sure knows how to make this pregnant lady feel good. He notices everything. "Is that a new dress mom? I like it!" "Did you paint your toenails?" "I like the way you fixed your hair!" This isn't something Brian or I have taught Johnny boy. He just came that way and I love it. He is a kind-hearted, observant and quiet boy who loves his family and friends and is always thinking about other people. He is learning at such a quick pace right now. Its like he's a little sponge soaking everything up. For family night we talked about coming to earth and I was explaining that Lucifer had another plan for us- he wanted to take away our free agency or choice. Tyler, who doesn't quite have the attention span to pay attention during our lessons, approached us and Johnny said, "Memmy, Lucifer didn't want us to have any toys!" He has also been learning in Primary that we chose to come to earth and gain a body. The other day he did something he shouldn't have and I asked him if he had made a good choice. He said, "No mom. It was a bad choice. Do I have to give my body back?" Johnny is also has a very good memory and will catch me if I vary the words of a favorite story book. "Maa-um, you forgot to say..."

A few things other things I would like to remember about my boys at this age:
-Ty successfully accomplished his (my) New Year's resolution of ditching the binky (no more binky kisses. sad!). He is now also sleeping in a big boy bed and doing great.
-Johnny's most f.a.q's are "Mom, why isn't your baby coming out for a long time?" and "Can we watch a show now?"
-Favorite shows at the moment are the Wonder Pets, Cinderella, Micky Mouse Club House, My Little Pony
-Ty can't pronounce his c's - instead he makes a "t" or even a "tw" sound. Okay is "otay" cow is "tow" cream is "tweam" Clark is "twark." etc, etc.
-Johnny is still holding onto a few funny pronunciations from his babyhood - "tink" instead of think and shmarshmallows instead of well, marshmallows!
-Ty's favorite babysitter Autumn is lovingly called, "Ottoman."
-The boys go upstairs to Dad's office every Sunday after church to get a piece of candy and a kiss

good question

Tonight we were getting the boys into bed and Tyler asked, "Mom, how is the baby going to pop out?" I deferred to Brian who explained that the doctor would be there to help when the baby was ready to come. Next thing we knew Tyler had disappeared up two flights of stairs to the loft. Once we figured out where he was I asked him what (in the world) he was doing up there! In the sweetest voice he replied, "I'm looking for my doctor kit. I'm going to help the baby pop out." So sweet. If only it were that simple!

Family Pictures - Santa Monica Pier

We took for real family pictures this year! We found a great photographer and I am really happy with how they turned out. Especially because Ty was having a horribly cranky morning. I couldn't believe that we got so many of him smiling. He literally cried in between every picture and didn't want to be anywhere but in my arms. Our photographer brought her husband along and he was our saving grace. He made so many crazy faces, he was probably sore for days afterward. A big thank you to Stacy Thiot (and Pierce!). And now, for more pictures than you probably want to see...