Brayden and Brynn

Oct. 2009

Well, you have to look back at about 5 entries of pictures to get a bit caught up on the kids and their fun during the summer and fall with both aunties weddings and some family visits. It has been great!!! I am currently teaching 2 music classes a week, babysitting a little guy 8 weeks older than Brynn, and working as an educator for Parents as Teachers. It is busy, busy around here. Here is a little glimps as to what the kids are up to, the things they love, and the funny things they do.

Brynn:

Brynn now says some 7-8 word sentences but converses very easily with 3 word sentences throughout a day. Here are a bunch of her favorite sayings:
“Come on Quinn!”
“See my Mommy”
“Look at baby!”
“Oh, Yea!!! Mac, Mac!!!”
“I want more, Mommy!”
“Thank you, Mommy!”
“I love you, Brayden!”
“I don’t like it!”
“I like it!”
“Hello guys!”
“Shopping - YEA!!!”

She is always wanting us to “Pet Doggie” or “Hold baby.”

I am sure happy when she says “Bye Mommy” when I have to go to work and I leave her with Nonnie. It relieves my separation anxiety.

It is so cute how she uses “Very, very...” in a sentence like this: “It’s very, very too hot!”

She has started the terrific two’s a bit early. She gets frustrated, demanding her way and independence, testing the boundaries, and becomes very emotional and quick to upset when she is not getting what she wants. We hear a lot of “No”, “Mine”, “I don’t want,” “I do it myself!”

Even though she is talking so well, her frustration wins over some times. I am hearing an UH,UH noise often.

She is also asking a lot of questions like “What is it?” “ What is this?” My gum stash was stored in a drawer down low that she was getting into often so I decided to move it out of reach. She was looking for it one morning and was searching the kitchen with her eyes, saying, “Where do I find it?”

Brynn and Brayden like playing a little game called, “Watch this!” where one yells, “Watch this” and makes a funny pose or silly noise, etc. They take turns over and over making each other laugh. Too cute!

She sings her ABC’s without hesitation (I have a video somewhere). She knows almost all her colors and shapes and can almost count to 20. She counts backwards from 10 really well too. She still loves to draw and she holds her pencil with perfection.

She is so good at sharing and taking turns. She shares even if the first instinct is to yell “NO” and pull away - sometimes even throws a fit and then gives in to sharing after thinking about it. She is quick to say “Sorry” when she is at fault and is very hurt when Brayden is rough with her or yells at her. She only calms down from her upset when Brayden will give her a hug and apologize.

She demands to buckle her car seat on her own. I remember Brayden going through that stage.

She wants to push everything - strollers, bikes. cars, etc. (with a baby in it of course)

Loves to run around playing tag with brother and ride bikes “FAST” in cul-de-sac.

Quinn and Brynn are a little distraught these days when sharing from time to time. It is fun to have two 2 years olds in the house some times. Wink, wink! I see some small pushes and grabs and Brynn gets upset quickly.

She plays in her food at every meal and is the messiest eater. She will not keep a bib on so Grandma Sheri found bibs that go over the head. Now her clothes are staying so much cleaner. At least she likes helping me wash dishes after dinner where she sits at the sink edge with her feet in the basin. She pours and pours from one cup to another. She is a great little eater though.

Brynn wants to play on the computer any chance she gets.

Likes to watch Da-Da-Da-Da Dora on TV. She sings with the songs and loves Swiper.

Really likes to socialize and interact with others. She will play on her own for short periods but I find her moving herself close to Brayden and Quinn in quiet play.

She loves hide-n-seek at the park and swinging. When we play hide-n-seek she covers her eyes and counts to 10. Then she yells, “Ready, not, hear I come!” After she has found me, Brynn pats my shoulder and shouts “You hide!” It can go on forever.

She loves to get out the lotion and spread lotion all over my legs, Brayden’s legs, and her own legs as we get ready in the morning.

Loves baby dolls (preferably with no clothes on), books, stuffed animals, real dogs, strollers, bikes, and walks in her push car.

She likes to tell me to pretend I’m crying and says, “Mommy Crying!” as she gives me sets of feel better kisses.

She is a big singer. You can catch her singing - ring around the rosies, itsie bitsy spider, twinkle, twinkle, and Old McDonald many times a day.

She is starting to have a few good nights of sleep here and there (7:30-4:30 or 5am). Mommy is really looking forward to a full nights sleep soon. It has been a long time coming!!!

Bray:
Brayden is at a really cool stage. I love his thought process and maturity that is setting in. He loves to laugh and is very entertaining.

He is making some observations about others like when he said:“Brynnie’s not watching the movies. Can I change it?”or when I made a suggestion one day:“I didn’t think of that.”

He is becoming more independent, confident, and thinking about what he is doing.

Of course, he is still so very imaginative and makes a toy and story line out of anything. I catch him in la-la land often and it takes him 10 times longer to do a simple task because of it. How do we harness that creativity?

He is doing so much better at going to school. I think it is a good environment. He is feeling important and appreciated and empowered toward being successful. As we were getting ready for the new school year he said he didn’t want to go though and it was because: “ I just miss you!” A "rip my heart out" moment!

He responds well to playful teasing and reverse psychology to correct his behavior. He gets really negative with criticism and disappointment. I think he beats himself up internally. We are working on helping him feel capable and giving him skills to take care of himself more. He loves feeling like he can do things and is entrusted with tasks around the house.

He plays on own so nicely, although still loves role play and pretend if he has someone's attention.

He is reading a bit. He knows all his letters and sounds and is able to sound out word s- just does not have the attention plan for too much of it yet. Learning to write his name is proving to be a daunting task. He has learned to count to 10 and the colors in spanish. We are now working on the days of the week. He seems very interested in learning another language.

Does not like rules at all. He resists big time and his creative side offers many alternatives to rules. We can hardly get through a board game with the suggested rules. The games pieces are often turned into some imaginative play.

He is excited about Christmas and expanding on his list. He found my Christmas stash
and got a glimpse of an item. It took him two weeks to get his mind off of Christmas and wanting it to be here, “SO BAD!” I told him that is why is it not fun to peek. It makes the wait so hard.

We are working on earning money for our money box and talking about donating, saving, and spending. He likes the spending part and asks two questions when we are out shopping: “Is it on sale Mom?” and “Do I have enough money in my box?”

He can buckle his own cross seat belt now, although often complains that he is too tired. Can you tell we sometimes lack motivation to get things done.

Loves computer games and his game system for the TV. Beware: he knows when I’m trying to sneak learning games in there! He is also learning to work the TV remote. We may have to hide it.

He is so good with Brynn and Quinn. He might talk big and say that he does not like them at times but he is such a great helpers, talks so kindly, and really does play with them so sweetly. He also puts his plate away after meals and helps out regularly.

His fish passed on and he got a new red one he called Red Eye. He has been pretty matter of fact about the other fishes death and moved on quickly.

He got bunk-beds and alternates sleeping on the top and bottom from week to week. Eventually, we will have both kiddos in there together.

He has the best new, genuine laugh and loves to play a game he and Grandpa Dave make up called "Attack baby." You can find it on a home movie.