Yesterday we had the opportunity to break in Hayden’s new rain boots. He got new rain boots because we can’t keep him in shoes that fit. Goodness he is a growing boy!
Don’t let these faces fool you. He fell into those water puddles on accident purpose.
RAISING A BOY IS SO MUCH FUN!
Jeff and I made up our minds that we were ready for make the leap. The leap to let Hayden have a big boy bed! This is hard on a Momma. This Momma atleast! I don’t know why, but it was and is.
This morning, I took Hayden to school, got a few things done at home and headed out to do a little shopping to see if I might could find Hayden some bedding. I have scoured the internet all week trying to find something I like. There isn’ t a lot out there for boys. No offense, but I am just not into character bedding. ;-) The bedding from Potter Barn I liked just wasn’t in the budget. So, the hunt was on. I went straight to Home Goods. Do you love that store as much as I do? Guess what, I found some bedding that I really liked and kind of what I had in mind. First stop. Score! Well, they had all the pieces to the bedding set other than the actual quilt in the size I needed. Boo! So, I drove about 30 minutes to another store to pick one up!
Hayden was so excited about getting a big boy bed. He was a pretty good helper too! We just converted his crib to a full size bed.
TA-DA!
Pardon the lack of clothes. He runs around in underwear most of the time these days. Just seems easiest (with potty training) and makes him happy.
Look at that sweet little angel asleep in his big boy bed for the first time!
We have survived a full week of potty training! Woot! We are so proud of Hayden! Today was our first day with no accidents and we were even gone from home about 2 hours! I think we might be getting the hang of things!
Jeff and I had talked tonight about possibly moving him into a big boy bed. I really want an “office” and our extra bedroom is our only option which has a full size bed in it. So, we were thinking about making his bed a full size (it is convertible) and allowing room to make the extra bedroom an office and playroom.
Jeff has wanted to move him to a big boy bed for a while but I was adamant about waiting! He doesn’t try to climb out of his bed. He won’t even try to get on/off of our bed or the extra bed on his own. He hasn’t given us a reason to get rid of the “baby bed”. With that being said, the last couple of nights after we put Hayden to bed, he will yell “Momma, tee-tee. Daddy, tee-tee.” So, as soon as we get him out of bed, he has the biggest smile. Like he won! Well, tonight, he did go, but then the game was on. He kept finding reasons to not go back to bed. “Kiss Daddy. Big hugs. More kisses. Love you!” etc. I admit, quite sweet and his daddy was LOVING it. But, this is my concern. Him not staying in his bed! But, again, he doesn’t get out of any other bed. So, who knows! I really kind of want an office. ;-)
I am not sure if it is just a bigger bed or what, but Hayden takes some awesome naps in our bed. He naps for about 1 1/2 hours if he is in his bed. He naps for about 3 hours if he is in our bed. Hmm…
Another dilemma is a full vs. twin. I would rather not put him in a full size because it limits the space in his room. But, it is free at this point and gets rid of the extra bed (in the could be office room).
Decisions, decisions.
Just because he is cute {and quite hilarious these days}…
Tonight, after he got finished with dinner and got down from the table, he came over to Jeff and I (we were still eating) and said, “PLAY PEOPLE!” I guess he really wanted to play. So funny!
Jeff has been in a leadership school all month and has been home every night by like 5:00 or 5:30 PM. I can’t tell you how nice it is to have a normal schedule. From the moment Jeff walks in, Hayden is saying “Play! Play Daddy! Play! Play Daddy!” I know it won’t last too much longer, but I am so thankful that we have had this time! I love cooking dinner because I know we can all sit down and eat together. I have made some yummy (and healthy-we are on a diet) stuff lately! I will have to share soon!
(This picture was taking a month or so ago, but I love it! Even with the scratch on his face.)
Hayden has changed so much in the last month, weeks, days, hours….
Seriously, I feel like he is getting so grown up. Hayden’s vocabulary is exploding! He is talking so much more. In sentences. Words I never knew he knew. Kind of scary. Ha! I love being able to have a conversation with him. He makes us laugh so much. He says some of the funniest things and I am always thinking, where did he get that? Here are a few Hayden-isms..
Jeff and I were walking outside and he said, “Wait, people.” What on earth? Where did he get that?
When we were leaving our playdate today, he said “Bye, people.” Again, where on earth did he get that? So funny!
He also frequently says “Bye, ya’ll” or to his Granddaddy, “Bye, Dude”.
“Good Job Daddy! Good Job Mommy!”
“Cozy!” He will say this when he has his blanket on and cuddled up with an animal or three in his bed.
“Scared!” He has recently become scared of the dark and would cry at night when we closed his door. We finally figured out that was the problem. Now we leave his door open a little and it has worked beautifully!
“Go left. Go right.” And he knows which is which! He knows directions and where we are going quite well.
“Sorry Mommy. Sorry Daddy. You ok?” (After running in to us with is scooter or bike. Or, stepping on our toe. Spilling water out of the tub. Etc.)
“Where are you?”
“Mommy, Hold You?”
He is really a sweet sweet boy who has such great manners. Thank you and Please are almost always used.
Speaking of sweet boy…I will be hugging on him and say “Sweet boy” and he will say “Best boy?” or “Momma’s Baby Boy”. He might hear those a lot too.
Other than the occasional fit, I absolutely LOVE this age. I love seeing his personality. I love communicating with him. I love seeing him learn new skills each day. We love you Hayden Luke. You are ONE PRECIOUS BOY!!!
Hayden finished up the squares on this chart this morning and we were able to head to Wal-Mart to let him pick out a new train. He was so excited!
Yes, this is an investment, but I want him to see an immediate reward. Maybe not the best way to do it, but it is working for us so far! I know we will increase the stickers need on the chart and/or change the reward at some point soon.
We started a new chart today. We were actually gone most of the day, but he did well this morning and did great after we got back home this afternoon. I took our potty with us and put it in the back of the Tahoe for him to use. I have to admit, it was quite funny with him sitting on his potty in the back of the car while covered up with my jacket so he wasn’t just out for everyone to see {and it was quite cold today}! He was happy as a lark, but never actually went in the potty. He used two diapers while we were out. Once when I was at my appointment (Robin was in the waiting room with him) and once on the way home this afternoon. Otherwise, he was dry! YAY! I am really proud of him.
Our struggles…when he first wakes up. The last thing he wants to do is go sit on the potty. He is a little moody in the morning. And the other, when he is sitting on the potty, he will try to keep from going because he doesn’t want it to get on him. I am thinking about letting him stand up??? This is all so new to me!
And that is your potty training update for today. I think we can do this!
Well, I think we are really ready to begin potty training again. We started back in the fall, but with obligations where we couldn’t stay home and Hayden just wasn’t quite ready, we held off for a bit. Now, we have begun again. I really have been waiting to have three solid days at home. But, realistically, that just doesn’t happen. We have two days this week we are going somewhere, so we are going to just do the best we can!
Hayden has just recently started telling us when he needs a new diaper and very rarely objects to getting in changed. He usually wakes up dry in the morning and after naps. We got a new “potty book” recently which has become one of his favorites, so maybe that has helped too. Or, maybe he just thinks it is cool that the bear in the story is wearing train underwear. Ha!
This morning, I decided we were giving it a go! I whipped up this cheesy little sticker chart to help us out. He got some Thomas the Train stickers for Christmas so we are using those. He knows that if he gets all of the squares filled, he is going to get to pick out a new Thomas the Train toy. We recently have become a little obsessed with Thomas the Train. Really trains in general!
So, today we spent a lot of our time in the bathroom. Or, washing undies or cleaning up from an accident. I didn’t leave his side all day. The fun part was Kristin and I were texting back and forth all day giving each other updates on our potty training efforts for the day!
Picking out his sticker!
Hayden only told me once that he needed to go today. But, I started recognizing the signals that he needed to go! If he had an accident, he would say “Oh no!” or “Oh my! Tee-tee on the floor! Tee-Tee on me!”
This is how we finished up the day. I would call that a success!
I have our next one ready to go…
Yesterday, Jeff, Hayden, and I loaded up to meet our friends Bo and Rhonda at the Dallas Safari Club Convention. I had no idea what to expect, but figured it might be pretty cool for Hayden to see some animals. And that it was! There were tons of animals on display. If you were in the market for any sort of exotic hunt, that was the place to be!
We thought this was really cool looking with the bronze metal effect. Jeff is thinking about doing this with a set of his horns he got this year.
Check out this machine! A Hummer with a party wagon on top. Ha Ha! Or a hunting wagon. You can drive it from up top. So cool!
Hayden kept saying “Like me” as his was sticking his tongue out and opening his mouth. So funny!
He kept posing, so I kept taking pictures! ;-)
The taxidermy work was crazy good {and wild}!
They had rhino’s and elephants too. I guess we didn’t get pictures of those. Probably because we were stunned by them!
We had a good time!
I had been wanting a little step stool for Hayden to use in the bathroom. I found this one at Canton for $6.00.
I wanted to paint it black but didn’t have any black paint other than spray paint. I tried spray paint, but that didn’t work so well! I had some chalkboard paint on hand and I thought I would give it a try. It looked great after two coats and I didn’t have to go buy any paint.
Jen and I cut out Hayden’s name out along with a tractor using her new Silhouette. Have I told you how much I loved that thing? ;-) I stuck them on there and here is how it turned out! Love how it turned out!
Probably should have puttied those nail holes. Oh well! ;-)
