Routines

I need to write this down before it's forgotten.  I'm always telling my mom and sisters stories about Tyke, some are funny and some are frustrating.  My mom always tells me, "Write it down because before you know it he'll be done doing that and you'll forget."  It's true!  I miss my little guy telling me, "Eva!" is his sassy tone.  I didn't think I would, but I do.  There are other things too but I honestly can't remember them.  It's both sad and fun watching Tyke grow and learn so fast!  Tyke is a funny little guy.  He has a mind of his own and does things the way HE wants to do them.  He has a few little routines that he's done for a while now but they're slowly changing into new ones.

Every morning, without fail, he leans over me and whispers, "Mom, mom, mom" while tapping me on the shoulder.  As soon as I answer he lays his head down on my arm and says, "Mil?" (milk?)  I get up to go and get him some milk and he immediately dives into his Daddy's arms to snuggle and wait for me to come back.  As soon as I hand him his sippy, he takes three or four big gulps before coming up for air and saying, "Dank you!" and then goes back to drinking his milk.  After he's somewhat satisfied he'll stop drinking and point to the TV and say, "Toons?"  And we turn on some cartoons to watch while we get ready for the day.  He no longer puts up a fight while getting dressed and in fact tries to help us out.  He decides which arms and legs go in first, and which foot gets socks first.  After dressing him he makes sure that all of the doors are shut and then he carries his diaper out to the garbage and throws it away.  For breakfast (and sometimes dinner too) he always requests, "waffles!"  While we wait for his waffle, we make him some chocolate milk and he helps us put his shoes on.  As soon as every thing's ready to go he gives me a hug and kiss and he and his Daddy head out the door to Grandma's house.  

When we get home from work/baby sitters, the first thing Tyke does is to run in the house, grab his pool noodle horse and go around flipping on all of the lights and the ceiling fan.  He has to do this, and he proudly does, before he will play with his toys. 

When it's getting close to dinner time he helps me out in the kitchen.  He's usually right in the way, nearly tripping me, but he loves the action.  He's constantly saying my name, "Mom, mom, mom, mom!" and then telling me that the stove is, "Hoooootttttaaaaa!!!!" (hot) and shakes his hands in the air saying, "Ow, ow, ow."  He's never been burned before, I guess we've just taught him well that hot = ouch.  Once dinner is done and I start dishing up plates he tries so hard to take his clothes off. (We always strip him down to his diaper for meals, it's easier on the clothes that way even though he doesn't make very big messes with food).  After we take of his clothes he runs over to his highchair and tries to climb it.  We put him in and he's ready to go!  Of course he doesn't eat dinner very well lately, he's turned into a picky eater again, but I know it's just a phase.  Once HE'S done with dinner he cleans up and hands us his plate and sippy cup saying, "All don!"  He's very persistent and will keep repeating himself until we take his plate away.  He can't stand to have it sitting in front of him.  If we don't take it, he starts throwing food at us.  Little goof ball!

At night time before he gets bathed, I always ask him if he needs to go potty.  We strip him down naked and tell him to sit on his chair.  Before he can do so he has to shut the bedroom door, the bathroom door, the toilet lid, open his potty chair, goof off for a few minutes and then he finally sits down and goes potty.  As soon as he's done he dumps the dish in the toilet, flushes it, puts things back together, closes the lids and then tries his hardest to climb in the tub.

It's fun watching our little man be so independent and in such a routine that he doesn't skip a beat!