Five and a half

Thomas is now officially 5 1/2. It seems like so much has happened in these past six months that I have to do an update.

Thomas has been reading small words and short phrases for quite some time now (since some point in his 4s class last year). But in the past month or two, his reading has really taken off. He can read books and words with more than two syllables. It’s almost like he has known how to read for quite some time, but he’s been keeping it a secret from us because he just…reads. He doesn’t really sound many words out (except for the ones he doesn't know right off the bat), he just reads and reads and reads.

Granted, his DESIRE to sit and read by himself is still a work in progress and he still fights us a little bit when we ask him to read a story at night. But he can. And I’m hoping his love of reading will continue to grow as he gains more confidence in his ability to do it.

I have a two-minute video of him reading last night, but I think the file is too big to upload. I edited to a 30-second version that I will post below. This is a book that we hadn’t read in months to him and he has never tried to read by himself. He did need help on a few words (like “gorge” in this clip), but he knew words like squeaking, squealing and panicking, but he needed a little help with “scampering.” :)

I'm having a bit of a problem with uploading videos...but here goes the third try. And if that doesn't work, try here.

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

In addition to reading, I’m interested to hear what his teacher will tell us when she gives us his report card on Wednesday and we meet with her for our first parent/teacher conference. From what I see, his fine motor skills still need some work (coloring in the lines and handwriting), but he has improved tremendously. He used to HATE coloring and writing, but now he is actually ASKING us to let him do these things!

I think in preschool he was frequently allowed to give minimal effort in doing these things (which was probably fine for that age), but it was a bit of a rude awakening when his kindergarten teacher started asking him, “Is that the best you can do?” and pushed him to try harder. I’ve started giving him extra “assignments” at home to help him with his focus and his skills, and it seems to be helping him in those aspects and also creating a desire in him to do more of these things. He LOVES to be praised for his hard work and effort; so I think a lot of times he asks to do these things just so he can be praised. Fine with me!

Sometimes he still wants to take shortcuts, but he sticks with it. Last week he wanted to watch a tv show and I told him he had to write “I want to watch television” in his best handwriting first (I wrote it for him and he had to copy it). He kept saying, “Can’t I just write ‘tv’”? Funny boy.

He still loves to dress up and he has now passed this love along to his brother as well. Lately when one or both of the boys are in costume out in public someone will usually say, “Oh getting ready for Halloween?” and I think, “Nope, just a regular day in our house!”

Thomas loves to play and he loves to be goofy. We’re trying to always remind him that there’s a time and place for everything, but in general, I adore his enthusiasm.

In other random news, he continues to be a better eater. Like my mother always did with me, I make him take at least one bite of everything at dinner, and it seems to be working. Now his one little bite has turned into at least three bites and a lot of times, he does it without too much complaint (mostly with vegetables like broccoli, lima beans, green beans—his least favorites). AND, Trey decided, rightfully so, that if we make him eat foods he doesn’t like, why are we letting him not drink milk just because he doesn’t like it? He now drinks a cup of milk with dinner…and that is HUGE progress in our house!

I’m so proud of the little boy he is becoming. He is usually sweet and kind and I love and adore his innocence and hope it lasts a long time. He loves his brother and they are absolute best friends. I cannot believe how much he is growing and learning; it’s truly amazing and heartwarming to see. He is such a gift and a blessing and I remain eternally grateful that he is our son.

From four wheels to two

I was in the mood yesterday for what Trey (and I) would consider a "proper Sunday dinner" -- you know, a really good meat & three -- so we headed up to my hometown and met my parents' at our local favorite restaurant.  The boys are always happy to get a helping of baked ham, fried okra and delicious, melt-in-your-mouth macaroni and cheese -- with a side of biscuits, of course.  

Afterward the boys were looking forward to going to Nannie & Papa's house to ride their John Deere bicycles.  As they were doing that, I was inside looking for a few things when I heard one of the boys crying.  I slowly made my way outside, thinking one of the boys must have fallen off their bike and onto the concrete, but that was not the case.  Instead, when I got outside and asked what was wrong, I was told nothing, just that Trey had taken the training wheels off Thomas' bike.  He was not amused.  

After assuring him that we would not let him fall, he finally agreed to try riding his bike without training wheels, but he would not stop whimpering and crying.  It was a pretty pathetic sight.  He was doing okay at first, but he did manage to fall a few times and that just made him all the more upset (not that he was hurt, but that his training wheels weren't there).  He finally managed a few smiles (and by then, I had my camera):




We did have to keep reminding him to keep his eyes in front of him!


Still, he was not convinced.  He begged and pleaded for his training wheels but his Daddy stood firm.  I was ready to put the things on myself (for fear that he would no longer want to come to his grandparents' house).  After a little break (and some time riding his brother's bike) he went up to his bike again.  He immediately fell (before he even got going) and was initially ready to quit.  But then he decided to give it one more try.  And sure enough, the boy found some confidence and he started to really have fun.  He even told his Daddy to "Please let go and let me go!"




Turns were a little tricky at first, but straight paths were no problem!


Stopping proved to be the most difficult, but when he fell, he got up smiling.


He needs a little help to get going (just a quick push) but then he can go just fine (until he has to stop!).






I tried to teach him how to come forward off his seat when he stops to keep the bike from falling over and he finally started to get the hang of that, too.


In the end, he had a ball and his Daddy was right.  He was ready after all!  :)  He just came up to me as I write this and asked, "When can I go to Nannie's house and do it again."  I guess we'll have to take the training wheels off his bike here at home soon also.  But since we don't have a large grassy yard here, we might have to get some knee and elbow pads first!  :)  it's hard to believe our little boy is growing up so much!

Potty training success?

I haven't really wanted to say too much, so I've only mentioned it in passing on the blog, but potty training is going pretty well! I'll let this picture speak a few words for me...














(If you are wondering, he earned a prize (thus the car/truck drawing) or a visit to Spray Play for successfully going five times #1, or one time #2)

We started a few weeks ago when I realized I really wanted Thomas to go to camp at his school some (he has to be potty trained to go). I had been so hesitant and worried about it, but I found that he really was far more ready than I realized. Whew.

He had a couple minor accidents in the beginning and he still is not great about telling me he needs to go, but his body language says enough. He went to school last week for two half-days of camp and did fine. He wouldn't go for his teachers, but he didn't have an accident either.

In an effort to avoid too much potty talk, I'll just say #2 has been a bit more of a challenge, which was very much expected given his issues in that area as it is. But he's finally turned a corner on that too. I have to force him sometimes, but he goes and then he's so proud of himself.

I'm so proud of him!

Still transitioning

This was Thomas just before bed tonight. Consider it Part 2 in a THREE part transition.


This is probably the longest transition ever made to a big boy bed. It was almost exactly three months ago when we converted Thomas' crib to a toddler bed of sorts. We had hoped to procure his actual big boy bed by his third birthday, but we just haven't been able to go and get it (it's at Trey's parents' house). Hopefully we will get it very soon, but I've been trying to do some decorating/organizing in the boys' rooms and I decided I just couldn't wait any longer to get things moving. Besides, the bed railings are not intended to be used on a crib and Thomas was coming close to damaging the crib with his misuse. I realized a couple weeks ago that a set of bed rails we had in the closet could work for a twin, so this weekend we finally went and bought his new mattress set!

He was very excited at the mattress stores and even more excited when we set it up in his room. I was a little sad to take down his crib. I remember begging my doctor to let me ride with my mom to the baby store to pick out the crib once I was at a safer point in my pregnancy (I think I was 32 weeks along?). I remember "supervising" Trey has he set it up more than three years ago...weeks before Thomas was born. I remember sitting in that room, very pregnant and totally in awe that we were going to have our miracle child, after nearly 150 days of (mostly) strict bedrest.And today we took it down.


Of course, soon it will be re-assembled in Parker's room (I think). Because we have to switch dressers anyway...and the dresser/hutch in Thomas' room (currently) matches the crib. The dresser currently in Parker's room we got knowing it would be Thomas' as soon as he moved to the big boy bed. So still more transitioning to go, but for now, Thomas is most pleased. And Parker thinks it's neat too! This was Thomas when he first tried it out....


And then saying prayers with Daddy...


And then hopefully going to sleep (now at 9:30 I think he is finally asleep!):


The good thing about the big bed is that it makes our big boy seem a little smaller. :) I don't want him to grow too quickly.

Transition to big boy

Thomas has always liked his crib, so I've yet to rush to put him in a "big boy bed." I like him being confined when I need him to be, and he likes a quiet place to go read his books and enjoy his pacis. But lately, he has insisted quite frequently that he wants to get in his crib "all by myself." It goes something like this...


And then...


Next...


Then we hope the hands are down first...


Parker says: "People, it's time to get this boy a bed!"


Though he never has tried to get out by himself, we've finally decided it's time to start the transition. I ordered the bed railings a few weeks ago and finally pulled them out today. First we had to take off the railing of his crib (which Thomas thought was pretty neat):


And then the railings...


This is temporary. We figure this will be a good transition to the real "big boy bed." Hopefully by his third birthday we'll have him moved into his new real bed. He was so excited today about his "big boy bed," it made me wish I had done it sooner. He was too funny; I told him to get in his crib and he said, "Mommy, it's not a crib...it's a big boy bed!" It's close. :)



He didn't fall asleep for his nap today (just read books), but he did stay in the crib/bed the whole time. We'll see how he does tonight. Of course getting rid of the paci will be the next challenge...but that's not even on my radar screen at this point. At least he only has them in the crib (for the most part). But they are totally like a lovey to him. Notice in the picture he is holding one on his cheek while another is in his mouth. He is so addicted. Oh well. Our little boy is growing too fast...maybe it's good to have that baby part still about him. ;-)