Blankets

Tyler has been playing with his blankets a lot recently. Since we often use the term "blankie", Tyler has started using the term "kie-kie".

I'm gonna push the stroller!

We don't use the stroller as often as we used to. But for longer treks (like the zoo) it usually comes in pretty handy. The only problem now is that when Tyler does want to walk around he wants to push the stroller. He walks super slow and he gets mad when you help him steer. The steering help is usually necessary so that Tyler does not push the stroller into other people.

Yucky!

Tyler has finally decided that eating food off the floor is yucky. I used to rush to pick up dropped Cheerios or other snacks that Tyler dropped on the floor before he picked them up and ate them. Now when Tyler accidentally drops food he says "Yucky!", picks up the food, and hands it to me to throw away. Tyler also picks up random stuff from the floor (e.g. pine needles, stray threads), says "Yucky!", and hands them to me to throw away. Should I take this as a sign that I should vacuum more?

Airplane!

Tyler has gotten really good at spotting airplanes. He can spot them far off in the distance during the day, he can pick out their lights in the night sky, and when we are inside the house he can distinguish their sound. So last week I brought Tyler a mini Air Force One plane back from DC and he has been quite attached to it.

More Tyler Sports Trivia

• Sometimes Tyler likes to wear a hat while we pass the ball. He switches back and forth between his fire chief hat and his construction hard hat.
• My friend Lourdes was quite impressed with Tyler's football throwing skills earlier this week. Her son Calvin was less impressed after Tyler accidentally beamed Calvin in the head twice. Luckily the ball is pretty soft and Calvin seemed to be okay.
• Tyler still thinks many balls are baseballs, particularly soccer balls and basketballs.
• Tyler identifies both his football and rugby ball as a football. I'm not even sure what the difference is between the two! (I'm sure Janina can tell me though.)

Mr. Sports

When Tyler is not playing with trucks, trains, or airplanes, you can bet he is throwing or kicking a sports ball. Last night he slept with his rugby ball and when I peeked in on him before I went to bed he still had it clutched under his arm. This afternoon he napped with his soccer ball and at dinner we had to convince him to let go of the rugby ball.

Favorite Words

Tyler's Top 6 Favorite Words:

1. No
2. Play (Tyler pretty much always thinks it is play time)
3. Snack
4. Milk
5. Up (as in pick me up right this second before I throw a fit)
6. Pass (as in go long because I am about to throw you the football)

These are listed in no particular order except for "no", which Tyler uses by far the most.

Little Gym

Tyler just completed his latest semester at the The Little Gym and on the last day of class was "show" day. I have no photos of Tyler up on the podium receiving his ribbon and certificate because when it was his turn to go up he did not want to go to the front.

Mr. Independent

Tyler increasingly does more and more things on his own or at least tries to. For about the past month he has gotten much more assertive. Even when you are already playing with him, Tyler will point to and tap the exact spot where he wants you to sit or stand and he often directs you to the toys he wants you to play with. Or Tyler will wrap his arms around one of your knees and "guide" you to where he wants you to go. Although his vocabulary is continuing to expand, Tyler has been throwing lots of tantrums lately and we suspect a big part of that is because he is frustrated about his inability to communicate everything he wants us to know. However, he has also been using tantrums to try and get his way and so he is learning about time outs! Discipline stinks!

Guys' Week

Tyler (and Michael for that matter!) survived a few days (2-1/2) without me while I was in Washington DC for a work conference. Michael said Tyler was fussy in the mornings and kept asking for Mommy (he does this on a normal morning these days anyway) but was pretty chipper in the evenings. Michael even got Tyler to say 'I wuv you' into the phone one evening while we were talking. I love my guys!

Climbing

Since we got back from the holidays, Tyler has been climbing up and into his high chair. He hammed it up on this particular occasion.

Baseketball

Although Tyler still calls it "baseball", he really enjoys playing basketball. He is even up to about 2 dribbles before the ball gets away from him.

Texas Holiday Trip

Christmas in Texas

I have finally downloaded the photos from our holiday trip and picked out the highlights. Click on photo above for entire album.

Dancing

Dancing along to Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas

Little Drummer Boys

Tyler and his cousin Noah playing together

New Fire Truck

Tyler and Santa checking out Tyler's new fire truck

Sliding

Tyler sliding with his Abuelito

Racing

Here is Tyler in Austin racing Daddy and Tia Ludy.

Back from Texas

Tyler and I just got back today from a fantastic 2+ week trip to Texas. Michael joined us for the first part of the trip but had to come back early for work. I have hundreds of photos (literally!) from the trip that are still on the camera and will post the highlights soon. In the meantime, here are a few outtakes from the photo shoot I did for our Christmas newsletter.

Merry Christmas!