Gone

Luke finally lost his belly button cover today!  I knew it was getting close and I'm relieved that it's gone.  Just a few more days until our little guy can have a real bath and not just a sponge bath.  We sure love our little Lukers!

2 Week Checkup

Luke had his two week checkup today with Dr. Fullmer.  Everything checked out perfectly, except for his little cold.  Dr. Fullmer told us to just keep doing what we've been doing for our little guy and his stuffy nose. I told him I feel like I'm drowning poor Luke with the saline drops.  Dr. Fullmer said that means I'm doing right (I still don't like it though).  We were told to watch for fevers and that if Luke started having trouble eating, or cuts back, we have to take him back in.  Here's hoping that that doesn't happen.  I'm still so upset that our newborn has caught his first cold already.

Luke was not a big fan of getting checked out (just like his big brother).  He hated being stripped down to be weighed and measured.  He hated having his oxygen levels checked and he hated all of Dr. Fullmer's visit.  Tyke went with us and was very concerned for himself and his brother.  He calmed right down once he finally realized he would NOT be getting picked on today, just poor little Luke.  We were shocked when the nurse told us how much Luke weighed in at.  7 pounds 12 ounces, a whole pound gained since he was born!  In fact, more than a pound gained in two weeks!  Luke weighed 6 pounds 12 ounces when he was born and he weighed 6 pounds 4 ounces by the time we left the hospital (which is normal for newborns to lose some weight in the first few days).  I knew he had gained some weight because his little cheeks are starting to fill out and he's growing the cutest little double chin, but a pound, wow!  Way to go Luke!!!

Luke's 2 Week stats:

Weight: 7 pounds 12 ounces (22%)

Height: 20.8 (61%)

Head: 13.75 (22%)

Our poor guy got picked on good.  He had to have his heel poked, yet again, for his PKU test.  He was a tough guy about it and only cried for a few seconds after the initial poke.  After having that done and getting looked over by the doctor it was time for him to have his circumcision done.  I dreaded it!  Poor boy.  Chad went with him for moral support and our little Luke did great!  He barely cried and enjoyed all of the sugar water they supplied him.  

Dr. Fullmer gave me my instructions for taking care of Luke for the next two weeks and sent us on our way.  Before we could get poor Luke dressed and in his car seat he started crying and did not stop for hours!  Before leaving the parking lot of the clinic I fed him a bottle and that seemed to help a little bit but not enough.  Poor Luke cried and cried but luckily fell asleep on the long twenty minute ride home.  Once we got home he started crying a hurt cry again and it didn't stop for a good four hours or so.  It was the saddest thing ever, and so hard for me knowing there was nothing I could do for him.  By the end of the day he was doing great and sleeping peacefully.  

I can't believe our little guy is two weeks old already (technically two weeks and one day).  We love him so much!  He completes our little family and is such a sweetheart!

21 Months Old

Tyke is 21 months old now and getting so big!  He's officially a big brother, and the best big brother baby Luke could ask for.  It's amazing how big Tyke got overnight with a new baby in the house.  Our little man sure grew up!

Tyke is growing up and growing out of his cute little baby stage(s).  He no longer gives "aww-wah's" and instead gives real kisses now.  Occasionally I'll get an aww-wah and I love it.  It makes me a little sad that they're getting few and far in between, even though I still get lots of kisses from him.  It's bittersweet watching him grow up!

Tyke has been the best big brother so far.  He's done great to leave Luke alone for the most part but he does love getting in his face and talking to him.  Tyke loves giving Luke kisses but only on the back of his head.  He loves holding his little brother and he loves arguing with me whether Luke needs his "be-be" (binky) or not.  He's great big brother and it's been so fun watching how loving he is with Luke.

Tyke is getting bossy in his old age.  He demands that we sit by him and play trucks.  He will get a mean, serious look on his face and point at the ground next to him while yelling, "Be-La!"  We're not sure what he's saying word wise but we definitely know what he means: sit here and play with me now!  He also demands that we eat dinner when he eats.  We always do but who ever is the last one to sit down at the dinner table gets yelled at by Tyke.

Tyke has his good and bad days at eating well.  Sometimes he's a good eater and sometimes he's not.  When he's not there is no way you can convince him to eat something.  When he's in a good eating mode there's no way you can feed him enough.  He loves pizza and macaroni and cheese.  If we'd just feed him those two foods at every meal we wouldn't have a problem with him not eating.  Tyke loves his chocolate milk and will not drink it plain anymore.  He also loves apple juice and occasionally will ask for water (I try and be tricky with sneaking him water throughout the day but he's usually too smart for me).

Tyke has been so cute with his toys lately.  He is obsessed with Moo, his Schlac cow and has to always have him by his side.  He's also obsessed with his stuffed puppy Douglas, books and his blankets.  He packs all three out of his room and into the living room where he snuggle down with them on the couch and flip through his books.  It's adorable!

Opposite of Tyke's soft side (snuggling with his puppy) is his wild side.  This kid LOVES to wrestle lately!  If Chad or I lay on the ground we're going to get body slammed and tricked into a wrestling match.  Tyke also loves to wrestle with his cousins.  Size doesn't phase him.  He'll wrestle whoever will play with him.  He can take down the 3 year olds and the 5 year old with no problem.  The boys (Trayson, Bowdee and Mac) KNOW not to mess with Tyke.  He's a mean little bugger, but in a playful way.

Tyke's size hasn't changed much even though it seems like he's growing like crazy!  He's wearing 18-24 month jeans and shirts.  His jeans are starting to look a little floody and his shirts are getting snug.  Tyke's in a size 7 shoe, and size 5 diapers.  Tyke still only has 12 teeth that I'm aware of.  It's a chore/fight to try and look in his little mouth so we've kind of given up for now.

We love our little Roni-man so much!  He's a fun little guy and makes our day everyday!

Jaundice

Our poor little Luke got diagnosed with a slight case of jaundice.  On the day that we were to be released (10-7-14), the nursery nurse informed me that Luke's jaundice level was at 95% and he most likely would NOT be going home.  I was super bummed to hear this because we were so ready to bust out of the hospital.  They told me that if that was the case, I would be staying in my room as a guest and not a patient until his release.  Dr. Fullmer, our pediatrician, stopped in a little later and told me that Luke was looking well and that he would release him to go home but we would need to take bili-lights with us and use them overnight.  While waiting to be released Luke spent a good couple of hours on the lights at the hospital.  We were told that the bili-light would be delivered to our house but as we were leaving the hospital the company providing them called and said the didn't deliver to our town so we would need to go to Lindon to pick them up.  Talk about a pain in the neck.  We were ready to go home, to get Tyke and be home under our roof as a family of four!  The last thing we wanted to do was drive thirty minutes north to pick up lights before heading home.

We got the lights, which were in the shape of a "blanket" and headed home.  Instead of being able to hold baby Luke we had to strip him down to his diaper and wrap him up in lights.  This "blanket" was about as wide and long as Luke so it didn't really cover much area.   We were able to wrap it around his belly and that's all that got covered.

On Wednesday (10/8/14) after having Luke on lights for 24 hours, we took him to his pediatrician for a visit and a foot poke to check his bili-rubin.  Luke had gained a few ounces of his birth weight back and checked out great.  We were sent home and called a couple of hours later with bad news that his levels had gone up.  And so Luke had to spend another 24 hours on the lights and had to have another doctors visit with another foot poke.  His poor little feet were bruised purple from being so picked on.

Thursday's visit (10/9/14) Dr. Fullmer wasn't in, so we got to meet with Dr. Miller.  He was confused as to why we were only given a light blanket and not the the suitcase lights.  After checking Luke's levels again, and seeing that his numbers had gone up again(!) (which was normal for Luke where he was born nearly three weeks early), he ordered us the suit case and sent us on our way.  We hung around in Payson waiting for the final word from the doctors office of whether the lights would really be delivered or not so we stripped Luke down to his diaper and layed him in the sunlight.  That night around 8 p.m. the lights were delivered and we immediately stuck Luke on them, covering his belly with the blanket so that he would be getting as covered as possible.

Friday (10/10/14) we met with Dr. Fullmer and he apologized for not getting us the suitcase lights to begin with.  He pointed out that Luke's coloring looked really good and that he seemed active which was a good sign.  Luke had his poor foot poked yet again and we were sent on our way.  We anxiously awaited Dr. Fullmer's phone call and really hoped and prayed it would be good news.  The day before, Luke's levels had been over a 17.  Anything close to a 20 meant a possible hospital stay and we were nervous that that was where we were headed.  Dr. Fullmer called around 6 p.m. that night and gave us the good news!  Luke's levels had dropped to a 14.7!  Because he had dropped nearly three points the doctor told us we wouldn't need to come back in for another foot poke, yay!  He told us to keep Luke on the lights until Sunday night and then we could be done with them!

By Sunday night Luke was looking great and he was loving being snuggled by anyone that would hold him!  We're so glad to be done with the lights!!  Yay for no more jaundice!!

Birthday!

Our little guy decided to make his big debut a few days early!  I had been commenting to nearly everyone that I would be okay with it if baby boy Long decided to come a few days early.  I was miserable!  I was huge and exhausted and just plain tired of being pregnant.  

At our weekly doctor visit with Dr. Nance I was dilated to a 1 and 75% thinned.  Dr. Nance said that if he was a betting man we'd be back the next week for another doctors appointment.  Chad got excited and asked if he dared go elk hunting that weekend.  Dr. Nance looked at him funny and said, "probably not."  

On Saturday while we were on our bi-weekly grocery shopping trip we ran into Dr. Nance at Costco.  He asked how we were doing and how I was feeling.  "No baby yet huh?"  Nope... He then told us, "well, don't have it tonight." and smiled.  I told him and his wife not to worry because I was just sure this little guy was going to be as stubborn as Tyke was and most likely come days late, just because I was so ready to be done.  We got our shopping done and called it a day.  

Chad and I were both tired from chasing Tyke around the stores.  After getting groceries put away and comfy clothes put on we settled down for the night to watch movies.  Tyke was still being wild and he got in trouble with me when he rammed his big Tonka dump truck into my knee, not once but three times!  After the third time he got a time out.  Chad took him to talk to him and Tyke fell right to sleep.  He tends to get mean when he's tired.  I felt bad that Tyke had fallen asleep without he and I having a little talk and making up.  I hate going to bed with hard feelings, even though I know Tyke doesn't know the difference yet.  

Chad and Tyke were snuggled on the couch and I had my feet kicked up in the recliner.  I had just dozed off when I felt a strange pinch down low and two gushes of fluid.  I gasped and sat straight up, scaring Chad half to death.  He jumped right up and asked what was wrong.  I sat there for a second trying to decided if I had been dreaming, if I had just peed my pants, or if my water had just broke!  I told him, "I don't think I just peed my pants!  You better go grab me a towel!"  He ran to get me a towel and I just sat there.  I still wasn't sure if I was dreaming or not.  I eventually got brave enough to move and stood up to go to the bathroom and check.  Sure enough, my water had broken!  It was around 11:45 p.m.  

My first instinct was to call my sister Stephanie to see what she thought (she's the only sister that's been through the water breaking experience) but when I noticed the time I decided against it and called my mom instead.  I told her what I thought but that I wasn't sure (my biggest fear would be to arrive at the hospital just to be told I had peed my pants).  She told me to call the hospital and see what they thought and then call her back.  I called up to Mountain View Hospital and told them what had happened but that I wasn't having any pain at all.  They advised me to come and get checked out anyway.  And so we scrambled to pack bags and any last minute items, I called my mom to meet us at the freeway to take Tyke, and we headed north.  

Before leaving the house I had a complete breakdown.  I cried and cried because I was not ready for this to be happening right now!  Not so soon!  I wasn't ready to leave my baby Tyke for his first sleep over.  I was upset that I would be dropping him off in the middle of the night without getting to say goodbye and without having our talk about our fight.  I cried the whole way to Mona, and then I cried even harder when we loaded Tyke up in my mom's car and left him.  It was honestly the hardest goodbye I've ever had to do even though I knew he was in good hands and it would only be a few hours before seeing him again.  

We got on the freeway and officially headed to the hospital around 12:30 a.m.  The entire ride to Payson I cried on and off and could not shut up.  I talked Chad's ear off.  I went from being excited and happy to complete breakdown all in one breath.  Chad drove like a mad man and I kept telling him to slow down, we had plenty of time.  He wouldn't listen though.  I was surprised how calm I was (besides my crying) and that I still had no pains.  He was freaked out that we were going to have a baby on the side of the road.  We got to the hospital in record time and checked in through the emergency room.  The entire time they were asking me questions to check us in I was standing in an odd position making them think I was in pain.  I wasn't, I just didn't like the feeling of the water leaking.  

By 1:30 a.m. we were finally admitted into labor and delivery and they had me change into a gown and get into bed.  We got the monitors put on the baby and then the nurse checked me.  Sure enough, my water had broken and I was dilated to a two!  We were here to stay until this baby boy got here!  I had an IV put in that took five tries before the nurses were finally successful (I bruised bad from each and every attempt too!).  After getting a bag of fluid in my body and two bags of antibiotics (I had tested positive for Strep B) Dr. Nance ordered that I be started on the pit to get things moving along faster.  

Around 3:30 a.m. I was started on pitocin.  After about a half an hour I started to finally feel some contractions.  At 4:00 a.m. Dr. Nance ordered the nurses to put internal monitors on the baby because the monitors on my belly just weren't cutting it.  The nurses advised that it would be more comfortable for me to have them inserted if I had my epidural in and asked if I was ready for it.  I definitely was!  I'm no wimp but my pains were getting more and more frequent and stronger by the minute.  I was scared to death that I would miss my window of opportunity to have my epidural and I knew I wouldn't be able to have this kid naturally.  (I know I could have, women do it all the time, but not this one!)  The nurses called anestesia to order my epidural and around 5:00 a.m. it was in and I was feeling good.  It was nice to only have to feel contractions for less than an hour.  My right leg went completely numb but my left leg never did and I was able to move it.  This epidural was a bit more painful to get than my epidural with Tyke.  I was dilated to a five by now.  I was really surprised at how fast things were moving along this round, it was nice!

Around 8 a.m. the nurses shift changed and my new nurse came in to check on me.  I was dilated to a 7, 100% thinned and the baby had moved down lower.  The nurse decided that it was time to prep the room and get everything out and ready.  At this point Chad started to look a little nervous and made the comment that things were starting to get real!  Within thirty minutes I was at an 8, and about ten minutes after that Dr. Nance showed up and started checking me.  I was at a nine and he said he'd be back in a few minutes to get this baby here.  

At 9:03 a.m. the room filled up with help and it was go time!  I can honestly say that this labor and delivery went so much smoother and less painful than Tyke's!  I was able to hold my breath to the count of ten, watch what was going on, talk and laugh with the doctor and staff, and push with no problem.  Within four sets of pushing our little guy was here!  Luke Chad Long arrived at 9:16 a.m weighing in at 6 pounds 12 ounces and measuring 20 1/2 inches long!  Chad was able to cut the cord this time (with Tyke he wasn't able to because it was wrapped around his neck).  The nurses took Luke and cleaned him up before bringing him to me for some skin to skin time.  I was in love!  Another beautiful little boy added to our little family!  

I was able to enjoy skin to skin time for quite a while before I finally let Chad have a turn at holding our cute little guy.  It was nice having time to be just the three of us before visitors started coming.  We spent quite a while in the labor and delivery room loving on our little Luke before the nurses came in to help get me moved and take Luke for his check up and first bath.  

While Chad and Luke headed to the nursery for that, I got moved to my room.  I felt so good I could have walked if the nurses would have let me.  I didn't hurt at all, a big difference from when I had Tyke.  I spent quite a while in my new room before Chad and Luke showed up.

I had requested that Tyke be Luke's first visitor and he was, thanks to Aunt Jenny and Nana!  Tyke was pretty excited about his new little brother, a reaction I wasn't quite expecting.  I expected him to be jealous and weery of Luke but he just loved him!  It was so cute watching him interact with his new little buddy!

We had quite a few visitors for the next couple of hours/days.  Even with all of the visitors we were able to spend quite a bit of time to ourselves which was nice.  Chad's plans were to stay at the hospital with Luke and I but we decided it would be best if he went home at night to be with Tyke, which turned out to be a good thing.  Tyke came and visited as much as possible which I loved, but he definitely got bored quickly.  Luckily he had lots of people to come and entertain him and take him for rides.  It was a good hospital experience all around but we were ready to get home and be a family of four under one roof.  It was hard having us split up like we were.  

 

We were scheduled to be released on Tuesday!  Dr. Nance showed up in my room super early that morning, somewhere between 5 & 5:30 a.m. and told me I could go home and he'd get the paper work started.  I text Chad to let him know we'd be able to go home that morning.  A couple of hours later Luke was brought in and the nurse informed me that his jaundice levels were pretty high and that she was pretty sure he would have to stay another night and be put on the lights.  Luke spent the morning on the lights in the nursery while I got our things packed up and ready to go.  Luckily Dr. Fullmer released him that afternoon with orders for us to have him on lights at home.  We were all discharged from the hospital by noon!  Instead of getting to go home we had to take a detour to Lindon to pick up the lights for Luke.  

We made a quick stop at Grandma Cheryl's house to pick up Tyke and headed home!  It felt so good to be home and to have our little family of four under one roof finally!  We love our little Luke so much and we're so thankful that he's ours!  He completes our family!  Life is good!

36 Weeks!

Yay!!!  We're officially 36 weeks this week and so ready for this journey to be over!  Only 4 weeks to go until we get to meet our new baby boy!  I start visiting Dr. Nance weekly starting Tuesday morning.  He's betting that I won't go into labor early with this little guy either (Tyke was 3 days past due date and came one day before I was scheduled to be induced).  It's so crazy to me how fast this pregnancy has gone!  This round has been a lot easier on me but at the same time I feel like it's been harder.  I have Tyke to chase around now instead of relaxing and trying to get comfortable.  I'm huge and sore everywhere!  I have cankles and can't stand for long periods of time.  I've got a good waddle going on when I walk.  I have a hard time catching my breath, I get exhausted super easy, and my stomach has no more stretch to give I swear.  I've been having braxton hicks daily and sometimes they're a little painful.  This baby is running out of room and he let's me know so!  Some of his movements take my breath away and make me flinch because they hurt.  I'm nervous that he's going to be HUGE compared to what Tyke was.  Being on a high dose of prednisone (which is why I have felt so great this round) has got me worried that this little guy won't be so little.  I guess we'll see...  We have a few things to finish up at home to feel really prepared for our baby boy.  We have the car seat cleaned and ready to go and just need to pack for all three, I mean four, of us (I have mine and baby's stuff together, just need to get it in a bag).  Hurry up October 24th!!!  Or sooner, I'd be just fine with that! =)

Pumpkins!

Daddy and Tyke cleaned out the garden the other day.  We failed this year at using most of our veggies that we grew.  Between work and not feeling good our poor garden got neglected.  It still produced plenty for us, but there was plenty of waste too.  We enjoyed zucchini, squash, spaghetti squash, peas, tomatoes, jalapenos and onions!  And to finish it all off Tyke got himself fifteen pumpkins, off of one plant!  He had so much fun helping his Daddy play in the dirt and load the pumpkins up in his wagon.  A lot of them were too heavy for him to handle but sure did try his hardest to move them.  

After loading up the wagon Chad pulled it around to the front of the house so we could do a little fall decorating, shocking, I know!  Without even having to be asked Tyke went to the back of the wagon and pushed, helping his Daddy out.  He sure got a little workout doing so!  He was darn proud of himself for the work he had done and so were we!  

Puzzles

Our little guy is smart!  Anything we try to teach him he picks right up on.  He may not do or say it right but he sure tries his hardest!  Aunt Jenny bought Tyke a few wooden puzzles a while ago.  We have been slackers and haven't gotten them out as much as we should.  We finally did the other night just to see how Tyke would do.  Well, he hasn't got the hang of it yet but he sure tries hard to make those little wooden piece hook together.  He has been spending lots of time concentrating on them and trying his hardest to make them work.  Last night he came into our bedroom super excited yelling for me, "Mom! Mom! Mom!"  I asked him what and he threw his hands in the air and exclaimed, "Tada!!"  grabbed my hand and took me into his bedroom.  He pointed at the puzzle and looked at me with the biggest, proudest grin on his face!  He hadn't put it together but he had managed to fit 5 or 6 pieces together and was so excited to show off his hard work.  It made me smile and tear up a little bit.  I'm proud of my boy!  I'm proud that he tries so hard to makes things work.  I'm proud that he gets so excited and proud of himself.  And I'm happy that he comes and gets me and Chad to show us just what he has done!  Life is good!

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!

20 Months Old

Our big boy is 20 months old today!  It really is mind blowing how fast the months are flying by and how fast and big our little Tyke is growing.  This kid keeps us on our toes!  He's full of life and sass and happiness.

Tyke's little personality is exploding lately.  He is such a little goof ball and tries hard to make us laugh.  He's wild and has so much energy.  He's trying really hard to learn how to jump.  He practices jumping on the couches and his bed.  He also tries jumping off of the steps and logs outside.  He scares me half to death with his bravery!  He's pretty darn cute to watch tough.  He crouches down, springs up really fast, and then just steps off of the steps.  Eventually he's going to get it figured out.  For now though he's a bit clumsy about it and he's got the bruises to prove it.

Tyke loves to introduce Chad and I to each other, constantly!  He just gets so excited when we are all together after a long day at work.  He'll tap Chad on the shoulder and repeat "dad, dad, dad!" until Chad says "what?"  Then he'll point at me and tell him "momma!" with a big grin on his face.  As soon as Chad has been introduced to me, it's my turn to be introduced to him.  "Mom, mom, mom!"  "What?"  "Dadda!"  and this little ritual is repeated at least three to four times before he'll move onto something else.  And then, randomly throughout the rest of the day he'll start re-introducing us.  It's adorable!
  
Tyke is always babbling something.  Most of the time we can understand him but there are a few long phrases he says that have us confused.  He talks really well for his age and people are always impressed when they find out he's only 20 months old.  I think that his height and speech throw people off.  He looks and acts older than he really is.  Tyke communicates really well and lets us know what he does and doesn't want.  He's always requesting "mil hah hah" (milk, hop hop), aka chocolate milk, which is his favorite.  He even opens the pantry door and points to the chocolate milk mix.  If he doesn't want milk then he'll request "wa-wa" (water).  He will not drink something he doesn't want, if we get him the wrong thing he'll let us know until we dump it out and get it right.  Tyke is getting really good at saying words starting with the letter P.  I'm not sure how we got on this kick but his new words are: pinch, purple, push and pee.  He likes to pinch while saying the word pinch in a questioning tone, like he's asking if it's OK?  I'll tell him ouch and he'll immediately let got and say, "mom, mom, mom, dar-o!" (Dar-o is sorry in his language).  He is constantly climbing in his truck and asking us to push him.  He thinks that's the neatest thing ever and both Chad and I get exhausted with it.  Tyke can identify the color purple.  It all started two weeks ago when we went shopping and at one store the shopping carts were bright purple.  I told him they were purple and ever since then he points out that color whenever he sees it.  He's a smart little thing!  And his favorite word is pee.  He's constantly telling us he has to go pee.  Most of the time he really does but usually he's just teasing us.  Potty training, when we really get serious about it, might be totally exhausting with this kid!  Other words/phrases he says lately (that my preggo brain can think of...): no, no no!, ew, mom, dad (which have to be repeated three times before he'll tell us what he has to say), Gamma, Bampa, Nanna, Way (Quade), Eegon (Teagon), Way-Way (Waylon), Bowda (Bowdee), choo choo (he loves trains), ka-coon (raccoon),  eeze (please), fla (flag), and whoo hoo!  Anytime he gets excited about getting to see someone he throws his arms in the air screams "whoo hoo!"  It's adorable.

Tyke can identify quite a few of his body parts now.  We haven't really practiced much with him but somehow he just knows.  He can identify by saying and point to his: nose, eyes, ears, mouth, hair, belly button, knee, toes, elbow and fingers!  He can also identify his back but only when he's in the tub or getting lotioned up after bath time.  He likes to lay on his belly in the tub and pretend likes he's swimming.  As soon as I start soaping him up he says, "mom, back!" and points at his back.  When it's lotion time he always immediately flips over to his belly and points at his back while saying, "mom, back!"  He holds so still while I rub lotion on his back and give him a little back massage.  Chad says he's spoiled but that's OK.  It's nice that the little stinker will hold still for two seconds.

Tyke likes to be in charge of what he eats.  For the most part we let him decide what he wants.  Occasionally we just dish him up whatever we feel like which doesn't really work too well in our favor.  The kid loves cheese and will gobble macaroni and cheese, grilled cheese sandwiches and cheese quesadillas right down.  The only problem is if he eats to much cheese it results in him waking up the middle of the night throwing up.  Tyke is getting to the point now where he refuses to use a "baby" spoon or fork and has to have the real deal like us.  He does really well with it too!  He also is very persistent on getting to use the salt and pepper shakers.  He will throw the biggest fit if we don't let him use them.  It's getting to the point where we have to hide them from him and be sneaky about flavoring our food without him seeing.  Tyke doesn't miss a thing!

Tyke has a few new "obsessions" that he likes.  He will zone out if a football game is on, even if it's just a commercial he stops dead in his tracks and zones in on it.  Speaking of football, the boy can throw the ball really well and practices daily.  He will entertain himself for quite sometime throwing it over the couches and then running around to find it and throw it again.  He's also started "hiking" the ball, which we're not really sure where he learned that, unless it's from watching the games.  Tyke also really likes the actress Jennie Garth.  I have no idea why, but every time a commercial comes on with her on it he goes running to the TV set and just stares at her.  It's pretty funny.  Tyke's other obsession, that's been going on for a while now, is trains.  He likes playing with them, watching cartoons on them, and hearing them drive through town and he lets us know.  He'll pat us on the arm and say, "mom, mom, mom, (or dad, dad, dad), choo choo!"  While throwing his arms in the air like his honking the horn.

Sometimes we think Tyke has hit the terrible two's (we have been for a while now) and others we wonder if he's got a little teenager attitude in him.  He's starting to get really good at throwing fits now and can cry on the spot if he wants to.  He's stubborn.  He likes to tease.  He will do something like steal one of our pillows, or eat a chocolate chip without sharing and look at us, shakes his head from side to side and smile while saying, "Ha! Ha!"  It's adorable!!  He argues.  He has a mean punch!  He's sassy with his conversations.  He's starting to throw toys if he gets mad at us.  And he has got a hot little head when it comes to his temper and things not working out his way (he might have a little Grandpa Terry in him haha).  Even with all of that attitude though he is such a sweetheart!  He likes to cuddle and snuggle.  He gives us kisses and hugs.  He makes sure I have a blanket on my lap when we're sitting on the couch.  He shares his food with his Daddy.  And he's man of the house by making sure that things are taken care of.  He makes sure that all of the doors are closed before we leave the house in the mornings and he makes sure to turn on all of the lights and the ceiling fan when we get home in the afternoons.  He also lets us know that we need to go and check the mail by telling us "mayo" and pointing at the front door.  He loves doing chores (for now) and is the best helper!

Tyke is currently wearing size 18 month-24 month clothes and some 2T.  The 18 month shirts are getting to be a bit tight and we'll be retiring them soon.  He likes to help get himself dressed now.  Tyke's in a size 7 shoe!  And he doesn't have much growing room left in them.  We just recently moved Tyke up to size 5 diapers.  And our little guys still only has twelve teeth.  His canine teeth look like all four of them are getting close to popping through but nothing yet.  He did have one cut through in August, but a couple of days later it had disappeared.  I have no clue what Tyke weighs now but he is starting to get solid!  I also have no clue how tall he is now but he can no longer run underneath the counters without banging his poor little head, and height wise he hits me at the hips.  He's growing up too fast!

Happy 20 months little guy!  We sure do love you!!

Labor Day Weekend 2014

We had a great Labor Day weekend!  We camped, once again, with the Kay & Sutherland clan.  We had quite the crowd this year (not as big as last year but still fun).  Tyke had a blast playing with so many other little people.  He hung out close to cousins Kayson and Swasey.  Cousins Joey and Whitlee were so good to keep all of the little munchkins entertained.  They took them on walks, wagon rides and played games with them nearly the entire time.  It was fun seeing so many little kiddos playing together, another generation of the Kay's/Sutherland's.  These two families have been camping together for as long as anyone can remember!  

Saturday was full of yummy food and fun.  We did potluck breakfast with everyone and for dinner we cooked our own meat and brought potluck to the table again.  We ate so much food that day it was ridiculous!  Tyke did well to chow down on the yummy stuff everyone had prepared.  His favorites were: at breakfast the french toast and hash browns, and at dinner the jello salads and corn on the cob.  He thought he was so cool sitting at the table with his little friends.  Uncle Rick gave Tyke a horse ride and he thought that was pretty cool too.  

Sunday morning we got up and ventured out to the camp fire to hang out for a while.  Chad eventually started breakfast for us but not before Tyke helped himself to Lisa and Stephanie's grub.  They had just sat their families down for breakfast and Tyke climbed right up on the bench between Joey and Whitlee and fixed himself a plate of pancakes.  The little beggar!  He ate them and then left, leaving us all laughing.  Our breakfast was done and we went to sit with Uncle Drew and Aunt Char.  Tyke had his own little plate of food his Daddy had dished up for him but it didn't stop him from helping himself to Drew and Char's food too.  So for breakfast that day he had pancakes, an egg and cheese burrito, and french toast.  I couldn't believe how much he ate!  After breakfast Chad cleaned up most of our camp gear and left to go help on an elk hunt down south.  Tyke and I hung out at camp until nearly 4 p.m. and then we loaded up the car and headed home.  We had planned on staying the night up the canyon but Tyke had started to sound a little croupy and wheezy and I was afraid he was getting sick again.  I didn't want to be in the mountains, unprepared, if he did.  So we called it a weekend and went home.  I gave him a vapor bath and that helped a lot.  By the next morning he was good as new!

I'm so glad we got to camp with the gang again this year.  All in all it was a great weekend and our little guy never stopped playing.  There was never a dull moment and always tons of yummy food and good conversation.  We are so lucky!