We got Dylan a good baseball tee and a real metal bat for him to practice hitting. A few videos from last week. Notice he is hitting left handed:
Batting right handed:
He's a rookie, but he hits so hard we took him to the baseball field at the park down the street so the ball wasn't bouncing off of our playground equipment or the back fence:
Very hands-on approach to helping daddy fix the car:
Bubble bath time:
Newspaper hats. Dylan thought he looked like a dinosaur:
Shoppng at Kroger's:
He loves to push the kid-size carts:
Sharing a homemade juice popsicle:
Being a big boy on the bike:
Riding the tractor. He cried when we had to take him off to go inside. Very different from Dylan, who avoided the tractor at this age:
Busy summer. We've earned our naps around here:
I was entertaining the boys while doing laundry and Autrey kicked it up a notch when he got home. Video of the pirate ship:
Video of Colton trying to hide from my tickles:
Video of farmer Dylan riding down the sidewalk on his tractor:
Video of being splashed at the splash pad with Max and Kai:
Dylan 43/44 month update:
*Dylan likes to do things all by himself. For instance, he likes to carry his plate of food to his Lightning McQueen table. If I do it for him, he brings it back to the counter so he can do it.
*The back door gets left open with kids running in and out of the house and flies get in. Dylan likes to hunt for flies with the fly swatter. After I swat one he wants to see it and asks, "Did you dead him?"
*"Hey daddy. Did you know mama's a gril (girl)?" Pretty sure he did.
*Dylan put on his suit and tie and future missionary tag before church and said, "I look just like Joseph Smith."
*When we ask Dylan if he knows how much we love him, he will either stretch his arms out and shout "This much" or make his arms little and say "A little much" because he thinks it's funny when I pretend to cry.
*The other day Dylan randomly pronounced it "murdercycle" when he saw one drive past us. I thought of grandma Miller, even though he has never heard her say it.
*"Mom, my mission is to not let baby Colton look at me." Colton was staring at him while he was eating.
*Dylan is into pretend role playing. Depending on the day, there might be pirates, dragons, puppies, alligators, Batman/Superman, or a race car driver. (We usually play race car driver when I'm driving. But I promise I don't drive as fast as I used to to warrant such a game.)
*Dylan likes peanut butter and honey sandwiches, not jam. And he prefers the entire thing in one piece and not cut up into squares. Both boys are still into cheese.
*Dylan likes to drink from Autrey or I's water bottle. Besides the color they are exactly the same, but some days he prefers mine, and some days Autrey's.
*Even with all the other kids at Mimi's camp, Dylan mostly played with Tommy and Maggie.
*When Papa took Dylan to the bathroom he randomly said, "Do you know why I came to Houston? Because I love Mimi and Papa." Papa said it was cute, but he would have rather heard it somewhere other than in a restroom stall.
*Dylan loves under-dogs on the park swings. We practice our counting and I will do an underdog when he gets to the target number.
*Dylan can swim by himself in the pool with a life jacket on. It took him a few days for him to stop clinging to me in deeper water, but he can do it.
*Half of my family is Team Pulpy OJ and the other is Team Pulp Free OJ. Dylan is very much so the latter. Sorry, G-ma. Although his eyes have turned from blue to green, like yours.
*In our ward there are 3 boys his age with autism or similar special needs: Trey, Cash, and Max. Dylan has always been very loving towards them and asks to play with and be around them. I didn't think that was unique until my friend Meagan pointed out how rare/special that is. She said that many other kids don't know how to interact with her son or treat him differently. I'm glad she pointed that out to me. It made my heart smile.
*I'm still not sure whether Dylan is right-handed or left-handed. He does some things with each. He can hit a baseball with either, but seems to do better left-handed. My dad writes left-handed, but he bats right-handed. Totally the opposite of Dylan.
*Dylan loves his daddy. On Father's Day he told his Primary teacher his favorite thing to do with Autrey is to play downstairs and work on tool boxes with him. He also likes to help him in the garden and help him push the lawn mower. He gets excited about going to the Man Store (Home Depot).
Colton 13/14 month update:
*Colton took his 1st steps on June 26, while holding a baseball and bat. Since then the most he will do is take 2 steps and then crawl. He loves to walk holding onto my finger. He also loves his push toys (and so does Dylan). He can even steer them and change directions. He can swing his leg to get on his little riding truck and can make himself go backwards with his feet.
*Colton got his 1st tooth on July 12. It was his top right front tooth. More are on their way.
*I've started giving him a sippy cup. He will take a few sips and/or play with it, but he loves his bottle. I can see he's working on a few teeth and he's in pain, so I'm not going to take his bottle away for a while. Poor guy needs some comfort.
*He says "day do" for 'thank you' when you give him food or his bottle.
*Sounds like Colton is saying "hi" when he waves to people as they are coming and going.
*He says "wow" all the time.
*He likes to click his tongue. And squeal.
*He does the "ET" finger pointing thing where his pointer finger meets mine.
*Colton LOVES climbing up and down stairs all by himself. We have to barricade the top and bottom. The other day he tried to climb the baby gate like a fence. Luckily he can only get a few inches high. He is a goer and a doer. And does it quietly too so I watch him closely.
*I took the boys to see two summer movies with friends: Madagascar 3 and the Lorax. Dylan did great. Colton did pretty good the 1st time we went, but the 2nd time he remembered the lighted stairs and wanted to go up and down them the entire time. We probably will wait to go again for a while until he's older. (Autrey and I realized we haven't been to a movie theater together since before I went on bedrest with Dylan 4 years ago.)
*Colton loves to throw balls...or anything, really. He may be left-handed too since he throws with either hand. As a fine motor activity, we cut a slit in the top of a peanut butter jar lid so he could put poker chips inside. He did better with his left hand.
*He likes to jump on his crib and on Dylan's little air bed mattress he used at Mimi's.
*He loves pointing at fans. He loves to turn the fan lights on and off with the light switch and by pulling the little chain. Repeatedly.
*He likes to feed us Cheerios. He gets a kick out of sharing. Although sometimes he goes to offer a toy and then pulls it back.
*When I hold him and pat his back, he pats mine in return.
*He likes to play peek-a-boo in his crib before he goes to sleep and when he wakes up.
*Colton is a little bit of a mama's boy. He's fine staying with other people, especially if I'm not in the room. But when I'm there and someone else tries to hold him, after a few minutes he usually wants to be near me again or at least on the floor doing his own thing. The exception is when daddy gets home. He wants his daddy as soon as Autrey walks in the door.
*Colton (and Dylan) thinks it's hilarious when Dylan rides on my back like a cowboy on a horse, or like Hiccup on his dragon named Toothless (from the movie How to Train Your Dragon).
*If I tear the tortilla into pieces, he can eat a whole egg and cheese burrito by himself.
*Colton likes to kiss/lick/drink bath and pool water. Strange.
*A month ago he was absolutely freaked out by dogs since the pet store lady shoved a puppy in his face. As in shaking and crying when he saw them. Now he eagerly crawls towards them.
*Colton loved going to feed the ducks at a nearby pond. He wanted to touch them and go in the water after them.
On the 4th of July we met up with Janson, Meagan, Cash, and Chloe Kemp at their neighborhood pool and splash pad. She is my really good friend...and boss...haha (she is the Relief Society President). Lovin' the 4th of July swimming suits from Mimi:
Dylan and Miss Chloe. They are so cute together. She calls him 'Honey' and loves to give him hugs. One time we were leaving their house after a play date and she gave him a hug and his 1st kiss. He ran away from her when she would try to hug him after that. Good boy:
I could see this picture making the wedding video some day...
I made Rice Krispie 'sparklers' for the BBQ. Meagan wasn't wearing any shoes. That makes me feel a little better:
We went to Southlake for festivities and to see fireworks:
On the tank:
I think Dylan has finally gotten over his fear of blow-up toys. Yay! He rode this slide over and over again. I had to ride it with him the 1st time, but then he was good to go:
Waiting for the fireworks to start:
Happy belated 4th of July, y'all! And Happy 31st, Autrey!
