Toddler and Preschooler Check-in (10/4)

[taberbtb]

Age: 20 months

Milestones: Every week is the same. New words and sentences.

Challenges: Eating. We are almost on a full eating strike over here. The only acceptable foods are pb sandwiches, muffins and occasionally grapes.

Funny/cute stories: Since DH works long hours right now I am alone for bedtime. DD2 is getting too old now to just leave in her crib or swing while I get the big one ready for bed so we have started doing the bedtime routine all together. DD1 will happily lie down and go to bed without a word as long as I put DD2 in the crib with her for a hug and a kiss. Without that she fights like nobody's business now until we do it. I guess it's safe to say my fears of ruining her only child life have been squashed

Anything else to share? Nope!

QOTW: I am a righty, and DD appears to be also, though like @enchanted she will gladly use both hands to shovel food in her mouth when it suits her highness to eat.

[ellebelle]

I guess I should participate here too for my first rainbow. I will try to be more active on this board!

Age: 4.75 years.

Milestones: Just learning more and more all the time.

Challenges: Sleeping in her own bed by herself. If she wakes up in the middle of the night she wants to crawl into our bed still.

Funny/cute stories: She is so excited for Halloween she wore her Halloween pajamas to school today even though she knows they are not allowed to wear pajamas at school. So she told me not to tell anyone and just call them her "skeleton clothes".

How are you? I'm good!

QOTW: Is your little one a righty or a lefty? What about you? Definite righty. We're all righties here.

[2redtulips]

Age: 2

Milestones: He can count to 7 on his own now! He counts everything, and it's too cute.

Challenges: Eating. Trying to get him to eat healthy is an ongoing challenge. I mostly get stressed when family or friends witness him not eating well, and I need to let that go. We offer him a good variety, and some days are better than others.

Funny/cute stories: He met my cousin's little 2yo DD this weekend. As usual, it took him awhile to warm up to her. Once he did, though, he made a game of decorating her with strings of beads. It was adorable, and I wish I had taken a photo of that.

How are you? Good. I just had a great weekend with family, and I really needed that.

Anything else to share? My two sisters, R and I just went on a loooong road trip for our cousin's wedding two states away. My sisters and I talked for hours on end, and I really needed that. R. did amazing in the car, too! We grew up in a road-trip family, so he's one of us!

QOTW: Is your little one a righty or a lefty? What about you? I am not sure yet. He uses both hands for most things. I am a righty.

[oldbaylover1024]

Age: 3.5

Milestones: More independence. I think she's planning to move out next week.

Challenges: Typical 3 stuff, but really she's been great the last few weeks. Her stys have become a challenge... again. We asked the ophthalmologist if there is anything preventive we can do and, unfortunately, there isn't. We just have to keep up with the warm compresses and watch her eyes for signs of bigger problems. She has a new one on her right eye that we're trying to get rid of, and her left eye seems to be puffy, but there's no sign of another sty yet. It's so frustrating... the body is a wondrous, but sometimes annoying, machine!

Funny/cute stories: MH was picking on me (kindly teasing), and J immediately stopped what she was doing, put one hand on her hip, and waved her little fingers at him and said, "Daddy, we do not pick on Mommy like that. It may hurt her feelings." She totally gave him the business. J's my ride-or-die partner for lyfe, yo.

How are you? Tired. I stayed up to listen to the baseball game last night. Eleven innings later and they lost. Womp womp. There's always next year...

Anything else to share? I know I mentioned we moved J to a big girl room and a new bigger bed. Ever since we moved her from a toddler bed to a full-size bed, she's been sleeping so much better! It's amazing! She didn't STTN until she was 18 months old and she's always been a restless sleeper, so now that she's getting more rested sleep we're all happier! LOL

QOTW: She's a righty, just like me and MH.

[meagpt22]

oldbaylover1024 LOL at J yelling at her daddy. DD does that if it seems like we're arguing (or loud voices). She'll put her hands up and say "stop it Daddy" following by babbling. Basically it's always his fought haha.

[eliz77]

Age: 22 months today!

Milestones: Lots of words! Animals and sounds, colors, and my favorite thing he has learned this week...his babysitter speaks Spanish. The other day he grabbed her daughter's hand and said,"Come on! Vamos!"

Challenges: Suddenly realizing I hand him over to babysitters before work. He has had zero separation anxiety until now. He seems to be over it quickly, but still makes me feel guilty.

Funny/cute stories: The other night, H and I were sitting on couch with D standing in front of us. 1st H asks for high 5, then i do, D gives us both high 5s. then H asks for a fist bump, then I do, D gives u both fist bumps. Then H trills his lip, i do, then D. Then H covers his cheeks and says “oh, no!” then I do. D covers cheeks and says..."oh, F--K!!!"

How are you? Allergies kicking my butt! But all good.

Anything else to share? I am struggling financially lately. It sucks. I mean, all our bills are paid, that's not the issue, but having our accounts so low afterwards is new and it sucks. H has been offered jobs in other states and I keep asking him to check them out. We live in a rather high cost living area...Southern NY...so I really want him to see what options we have.

QOTW: Is your little one a righty or a lefty? What about you? I'm a righty. LO seems to be righty but will use his left hand for a lot of things which H is thrilled about (baseball dad...)

[shandorfml2]

Age: 18mo

Milestones: More words, still working on walking. He skipped crawling initially, and he is now attempting which I'm guessing will help his leg strength

Challenges: Walking

Funny/cute stories: We took him on a walk and walked through some crunchy leaves and he thought it was hysterical

How are you? good, tired and stressed. working full time with high needs kids,plus having a toddler and being pregnant is hard!

Anything else to share? Nope

QOTW: Is your little one a righty or a lefty? What about you? Don't know yet. I'm right, but I believe I should have been a lefty or ambidextrous because my kindergarten teacher made me choose instead of let it happen naturally (I did everything with both hands)

[shandorfml2]

@enchanted, we had our memorial walk this past weekend as well. It was tough. It was our fourth year walking and I held it together through the whole thing then lost it at the end. It was difficult.