The REAL Game of Life: September 2013

Tyler turned 1 month on Sunday! What a fast, sleep-deprived month! Tyler is a pretty easy-going baby. He's definetely a second child - goes with the flow, not too fussy, waits his turn (haha), and sleeps through anything (Evan running circles around him, me vaccuuming, Lucy barking).

This past week I really noticed Tyler smiling and reacting to me more. It's amazing to watch him develop just in one month.

Tyler is now 11 lbs, 11 oz, 21 3/4 inches. He is 90th percentile for weight and 79 for height! He's a good eater and it shows!

Thanks again to Aunt Katie for taking a few baby pics of Tyler!

For Christmas, Erik bought me a nice camera so I could take better pictures on my own. Below is my attempt to take some pics of Tyler and Evan. Tyler's pics aren't too bad, but when I tried to get Evan to join the picture (literally), I failed. Not even bribing him with all the ice cream in the world could get him to take a picture for me. :(

Thankful that Tyler stays still so well!

Here's where I tried to get all "Anne Geddes". Well I didn't dress him like a fruit, but I tried to put him in a basket. A 9+ lb. tank of a baby does not fit in a basket. Clearly you can see that below!

This pose is just comical!

"Evan, sit by Tyler."........The only picture I got of Evan "with" Tyler. In another pose, we tried to get Evan to hold Tyler. We asked him to hold Tyler's head and he said "No, YOU hold his head."

And this is how the home photo shoot ended.

Shortly after this shoot, I scheduled for someone to take pics of the kids & family (stay tuned for those!).

Tyler Matthew - 1 Month

"What?! I'm how old?!"

"hmmmm..." This is what I call Tyler's skeptical look. He gives this look a lot!

Not sure how to describe this look

The closest thing I could get to a smile!

"I'm bored."

Evan wanted his picture taken too. Tyler wasn't too thrilled to share the chair!

Handsome boy! You love this pose with one arm up.

Evan entertaining Tyler while Mommy gets ready.

Super Baby!

Great Grandpa loved holding you at Evan's party

Such a funny boy

"This sheep flying over my head blows my mind!"

Love these smiles!

Happy 1 month Tyler man!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Evan!

Dear Evan,

You're THREE YEARS OLD! Wow! You're now in pre-school, talking in paragraphs (sometimes small books), spelling your name, counting to 10 (when you want to), singing the alphabet (you sang with me the other night and it made your mommy & daddy smile!), and you're also throwing MAJOR tantrums. Such big tantrums this week alone that I considered not writing this blog post.....some day when you have kids of your own I'll bring that experience up!

You're now 3 feet, 1 inch, and weigh 34 pounds. You passed the yearly test at the doctor, except that you could work on your listening better (not a shock to mom!). You are a sweet, energetic, outgoing, compassionate, loud, crazy, HAPPY little boy. Last night you were full of smiles and fun as you rolled down the hill in the backyard. Watching you live life with no worries and finding joy in the simplest of things is one thing I love about raising you. You're really into imaginative play now. At school the other day, you and your friends turned the playground into a fire truck. With your new tool bench, you'll build pretend trucks and toys for daddy and I. Today you were teaching a music class to pretend kids in the family room and asked me to join.

Life has been different since Baby Brother Tyler joined the family. You love to tell me every time Tyler is crying. Tyler could be sitting on my lap crying and you'll say "Mom, he's crying." You also don't understand why Tyler doesn't poop in the potty. Evan: "Mom, he really should poop in the potty but I think he's too small. Would he fall in?" I love catching moments where you talk to Tyler. Some recent conversations:
- "Hi Tyler, how are you doing? You doing good? OK."
- "Tyler, you want to play trucks?"
- "Tyler, you're too small. When you're bigger will you run around with me?"

I thought it would be fun to ask you questions on your birthday and see how your answers change over the years. Let's hope I can keep this up!

Evan - 3 Years Old

1. What is your favorite color? Green

2. What is your favorite toy? Ambulance

3. What is your favorite fruit? Strawberries

4. What is your favorite tv show? Mickey Mouse

5. What is your favorite movie? Jetson's (*Note: this answer changes weekly because daddy & I get tired of watching the same movie all the time so we introduce a new movie weekly basically to keep us sane!)

6. What is your favorite thing to wear? Pajamas or Super Man shirt/cape (a new gift from your bday party)

7. What is your favorite animal? Cow

8. What is your favorite song? Wheels on the bus

9. What is your favorite book? Curious George

10. Who is your best friend? Landon at school

11. What is your favorite snack? Goldfish

12. What is your favorite drink? Apple juice

13. What is your favorite food? Cake

14. What is your favorite game? My toolbench from Grandma & Grandpa

15. What is your favorite thing to play outside? My car

16. What is your favorite holiday? Fireworks (aka: 4th of July)

17. What do you sleep with at night? Evan sleeps with the 'toy of the day' at night.