Tyler at His First Movie

Here is a picture Adam took with his Blackberry at the theater. Tyler was beyond excited to be there, was very pleased that they were in theater #9 (daddy's favorite number), and loved that the arm rests went up and down.

Adam said that Tyler didn't talk or move through the first 30 minutes while they waited (they got there a little early so they wouldn't be rushed) and he just ate popcorn and M&M's the entire wait. ;) And once the movie started he didn't move. Adam eventually had to move his hand down from his mouth (as he was mid-bite when it started) and he never went back for snacks after the movie started he was so into it. :)

At the end of the movie he got to sip daddy's pop as he was really thirsty and daddy figured why not. So he got his first taste of pop, which has always been an "adult drink" to him. So I am guessing that his opinion will change as we move forward. He was pretty excited when he got home to show me the popcorn bag and M&M's (they brought the leftovers home) and tell me all about the movie. He even offered to take me back with him and hold my hand so I don't get scared at the scary parts. ;) Apparently, there were scarier parts in the movie, but Tyler didn't get scared (a first for a Disney movie for him). He did hold daddy's hand during a sadder part to "help daddy" though. ;) What a big little guy.

I am just excited that he got to have such a special outing for his first trip to the theater. I always remember my parents taking my brother and I as kids, and how special those trips were....so his first time out was a big moment for me and I made Adam promise me to get me a picture of it (as I was resisting the urge to tag along to take pictures for blogging purposes...grin).

I like this picture because apparently he asked daddy for a napkin and then proceeded to lay it over his knees all by himself (and without prompting). Too cute. I love that they sat the popcorn between themselves and how excited he was when he came home.

Another week has passed.

Wow, another week passed by so quickly! Last week flew by with the start of new classes, and before we knew it it was the weekend. Tyler is in two classes through the City and he loves them. He goes Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday and basically plays with kids aged 3-5 for an hour. In his Monday and Wednesday class they make an art craft each time and then play random games. In his Wednesday class, it is more focused on "ball skills" and "athletics". But those are loose terms given that it is a class for three and four year olds. ;) But he has a lot of fun, and has become great friends with one little boy who was also born in December 2006 and is both classes. So they stick together and get pretty excited to see each other at each class. :)

And last week he started the second level of swim classes. He has a new teacher and he likes him a lot. The other two kids in his class didn't show up last week for the first week of classes, so Tyler had a private lesson. He wasn't too sure about the other kids not being there, but soon enough warmed up and was excited to learn some "big kid" swimming. Last week, he earned "a flipping button" that is on the top of his head and that is what they practiced for about half of the lesson. Basically, Tyler takes off swimming and when the teacher taps him on his head he has to turn over and float. And when the teacher taps him again, he flips again and continues swimming to the end. It took awhile for Tyler to figure out how to flip, but these teachers are amazing and so patient teaching them that it didn't take him long to figure out what they were looking for.

First, here is a picture from today. Tyler had his class at the park and we all went along. Tyler was hesitant to go today, telling me how badly his tummy hurt and how he didn't want to be in the sun. He did this last week too with each of the classes....and I have a hard time gauging what could be his sun allergy (as we are learning that he could have other responses to the UV light...not just hives...like dizziness, upset stomach, tiredness, irritability) and what is just being a three year old. It is tough though because he puts on quite a show about being sleepy and just wanting to nap with me all day, or today's excuse "that his tummy hurt so bad it hurt all the way to the ocean". But every time once we are there and he sees the kids, he is excited and runs away to play. ;)

Today, I decided to just walk around the park with Kevin in the stroller and the dogs while Tyler was playing so that if he did start to feel sick during the class they could find me. We had a great walk for about 30 minutes and then Ellie started really slowing down. And about ten minutes later when we stopped to sniff she jumped into the stroller. So I took a picture. And sure enough she stayed put for the rest of our walk (about 15 minutes). She just laid down next to Kevin and he just petted her. And Carlie and I just continued our laps around the park until it was time to pick Tyler up. And sure enough, Ellie got a lot of attention when we walked back to the car as a tball game was letting up...and the kids LOVED seeing a dog riding in a double jogging stroller. ;)




Here is a picture of Tyler pre-haircut last week. Adam and I weren't sure if we should buzz his hair given his sun sensitivity this year, but we ultimately decided that since he will be wearing a hat anyways, this will be cooler. It took some convincing on our parts for him to let us do it, mainly because (1) he didn't think that his hair would grow back and (2) he needed to know that other boys do this too during the summer. So once daddy showed him pictures of his hair from last summer and then pictures of his boy cousins with short hair, Tyler was game.



And last week was a big week for Tyler because he got to go to his first movie in a movie theatre and 3D no less. Daddy took him to see Toy Story 3 and they both had a blast. They ate lots of popcorn, M&M's, and Tyler even had a sip of daddy's pop at the end (his first time to try pop too). So he came home VERY excited and we have since been living in the world of Buzz and Woody even more so than we had been (if you can believe that at all). ;) Tyler even wore his Buzz Lightyear shirt to the movie's...and sure enough another little boy was right there too wearing the same shirt. :)



While daddy and Tyler were at the movies, Kevin and I did some things inside and then headed outdoors. Since Tyler's sensitivity, we have been spending more time inside and so Kevin was very thrilled to get outdoors and play. We had fun playing with a ball and bat, and dancing around (he LOVES to dance and will start dancing at every and any bit of music). :) And Kevin enjoyed waving "hi" and "bye bye" at all of the cars and trucks that drove by while we were playing outside.






Here is a picture of "Rex" (Kevin's character from Toy Story) and "Woody" (Tyler switches between Woody and Buzz...but here he is Woody riding Bullseye...Woody's horse). Yes, we are living in this world right now. :) But having fun doing going on adventures. :)

June Already

I cannot believe that is June already! Yikes! Spring just flew by way too quickly for me! I haven't posted in awhile because, well, we have been busy. We went to Iowa for Memorial Day weekend and had a blast getting to visit with all of Adam's family, and Tyler is still talking about all of the fun he had with the cousins and how big they all are (he told me today that he can't wait to be as big as them). Tyler and Kevin have six older cousins and one younger cousin on Adam's side. The older ones are so good to him and we are in awe of how nice they are to include them when they play (since he quite a bit younger than them so he can't always play their games, but he just longs to be a big kid like them). And he just adores his "baby Jay". I think that he LOVES being the "big" cousin with Jay and he loves to play, talk, and give him bumblebees.

Kevin had a blast as well and was caught offguard the first morning after we arrived when all of these kids were house. It took him awhile to warm up but soon enough he was LOVING having kids running around to watch, or play ball with him (for those that don't know, Kevin is OBSESSED with balls and thankfully Grandma and Grandpa Thimmesch have several bouncy balls around their house for him to toss around and carry).

The weekend did catch us offguard when Tyler broke out in a rash. Fortunately, he said that it didn't itch and he thought that his rash helped him fly (have I mentioned how obsessed Tyler is right now with Buzz Lightyear and Toy Story?). So our last two weeks have been trying to stay inside and seeing doctors. They all think that Tyler has a sun allergy, though two different types of them have been thrown out as options. We got some special creams and sunscreen and will be going back to the doctor this summer to check in and do some more testing. But for now we are just practicing sun protection and hoping he doesn't break out again!

With as busy as we have been, I haven't been taking many pictures. I wish I had my camera more handy though yesterday because we had two ducks (male and female) camping in the backyard all day and they were cute waddling around yard, and then a deer was in our front yard last night. Now, normally my camera would have been easy to grab, but given that it was still packed away from our trip no neat pictures to share of the wildlife around here.

I did eventually take out the camera yesterday after the deer as I realized how long it had been since I have posted. And sure enough I was able to catch a cute Kevin moment. We were all cleaning up the kitchen and living room (Kevin usually does well following simple compands..."clean up the toys"....and he knows to take toys to his room, etc.). Well, he was having none of it yesterday, which was frustrating Tyler. Tyler kept lecturing him on "we will be done soon if you just help Kevin" the entire time. Kevin did try, but he was focused on just rearranging the dog bowls (he thought that they should go on a chair in the living room). So finally, Tyler gave up lecturing Kevin and I gave up asking him to help and moved on to vaccuming.

Well, when I finished the hallway I turned off the vacuum and heard music. Sure enough....when I walked back in I saw this.






Not only did he climb up in the computer chair, but he was playing around with the computer! And had gotten Itunes open and it was playing a song! I was floored and took a picture. He was LIVID when I pulled him away and told him "no no chair". And in addition to his screaming and back arching he shook his finger at me and said "no no" in response (his new game after Memorial Day Weekend when we were all getting him to say "no no" and shake his finger at us). ;) Just thought it was cute given his obsession with the computer lately.

Then of course I took a picture of Tyler with the vacuum as he was wanting to do it all by himself, which he then did.



And some pictures from swimming today. This was the last day of Tyler's first session of swimming in the Little 1 class. He graduated to the next level (Little 2) and is very excited to find out what kids will be in his new class next week.

He went from not wanting to put his face in the water to swimming on his own for about ten feet at a time and floating on his back alone. He can also jump off the side of the pool and turn himself around to swim back to the side and pull himself back out. And he can flip himself post backfloat and swim a few feet to the side (something they will work a lot on apparently this next session).

Needless to say, we are shocked at how quickly he picked this up. It is by far his favorite activity and he gets so excited to go to class each week. We are glad that we found this activity for him becuase not only does he love it, but if he does have a sun allergy this is a great solution for not getting to go to the community pool this summer. He is also so excited to find out who his new teacher will be next week and whether they will be a "boy swim class teacher" or a "girl swim class teacher" and keeps asking me when we will find out. ;)

Since today was his last day, I thought that I would take my camera and take a few pictures. I didn't realize how hard water pictures are to take though! I will have to work on that next session.


Holding up a bar bell. They started off using these to help them practicing "kicking", "monkey arms" and "monkey cheeks". Once they were confident on these they moved them to noodles, then packs, and then they were on their own. So here he is showing me a barbell....the starting place for the lessons this session.

Starting the class with some bubbles.

Then they sing a song "this is the way we wash our (insert body part...usually hands, then shoulders, then hair, then cheeks)" to get them used to the water. Then they play "red light (don't move), green light (big kicks), and purple light (face in the water and big kicks)" before movingon to swimming.

When they start swimming they always practice their kicking for a few laps without any arm assistance. So they get noodles to help them stay afloat while they just kick with their faces in the water. As they get better they will eventually hold on to a boogie board thing in front of them and kick that way....but that is for next session.

A sleepy Kevin watching on. The class was at 9, but we still had to wake Kevin up and take him straight to the car because he was still sleeping! But he had fun watching and LOVES to clap for the kids during their songs. :)

Once they practice their kicks without arms, goggles go on and they start swimming little laps.

Almost to the island. So amazed that he can do this!

Jumping off to come back to the steps.

Swimming to the steps still....I was taking lots of pictures but most of them are blurry...hence my comment that I need to practice water action pictures. :) It is so cute to watch him swim that I am sad most of them did not turn out.

Floating on his own! If you look closely you can see he is doing "monkey cheeks". It took him a long time to realize that he could take breaths while floating...but that they wanted monkey cheeks in case he started to go under so he wouldn't swallow. This is much better now that he knows because he used to turn purple while floating!

And after they float for a minute or longer, depending on the song, the teacher taps them on the head and they flip themselves and swim a few feet to the island. This is a new thing over the last two weeks as it is a skill they practice more in the future. The goal of the school with respect to this is to teach them to float well so that when they are tired they can just flip over in the water if they can't just climb out and float rather than treading water. This way they can rest and hopefully then get themselves safely out of the water. I have heard mixed reviews from parents on this since most places teach treading, but Tyler loves the flipping and we aren't swimming in deep water to need a treading skill quite yet. So I am excited to watch his floating ability getting better. Plus, he thinks that he is so big to be able to do float for so long on his own now. He always has the biggest smile when he stands up on the island and waits for his thumbs up from me and clapping from Kevin after he does it. :)