2 and 1/2 year milestones

With every month, Elem is creepy closer and closer to becoming a preschooler and further and further away from the land of toddlerville! I am having mixed emotions about the 2 and 1/2 age, because I LOVE how independent kids are at this age, but I also HATE how independent kids are at this age! :) Elem is definitely growing into his own and learning and wanting to do more and more things for himself with each and every day. And with those things come some that I am happy to turn over to him and let him feel his way into (like brushing his teeth, opening the car door to get out, cleaning the potties-and the entire house for that matter, wanting to help cook or prepare meals, and trying to dress himself) and some that I am not so happy to let him feel his way into (like pouring milk into his sippy cup, jumping from one piece of furniture to another, walking across the street to go get sage, climbing out of the bath tub on his own, and trying to sit in the drivers seat with me at all times). So yes, mid toddler phase has its plus and minuses, but with all these challenging and most rewarding episodes of trial and error also comes LOTS of talking and LOTS of loving. So I can't complain too much, since Elem is one of THE easiest kids we could have ever asked for. His happy and silly temperament keeps us being thankful we have such a sweet little toddler, although the signs of one determined, rambunctious, and stubborn little boy do come shining through at different moments throughout the day! But truth be told, I wouldn't want him any other way.

I know I drifted off of the milestones once he turned a little over 1 year old, but it is just too hard to document all they learn in one month after that age! It seems as if he was just soaking up more than I could ever begin to jot down in one limited time sitting. I must give attention however, to the 2 and 1/2 year milestones, because they seem unbelievable, looking back at where he was this time last year. (sniff, sniff) To capture this little phase and most important date, we held a little mini photo shoot at Seths work. We set up a back drop of white paper and just shot some black and whit pics of our fam, but mostly of Elem Zane. We didn't want to forget this most special time in our lives!

Stats:
Weight: 33 pounds
Height:
Teeth: 16 all of them-2 year molars were not that fun, all 4 came in at the same time, several fever filled fun nights.
Shoe: 9


Physical Development:
-Can jump with both feet (not very high, but he can jump! :) )
-Runs forwards and can walk forward and backwards
-Hangs and swings from bars or rings on his own
-Draws straight lines, circles, and zig zags on purpose
-Walk on tip toes
-kick balls, shoot balls into a goal, dribbles balls, hits ball with bat or golf club
-Throws over handed
-holds a pencil and crayon correctly when writing or coloring
-Rides a tricycle, big wheel, scooter, etc. without any help
-Does forward rolls on own
-Builds and stacks blocks -about to 12 or 15 dependent of size
-Bathes himself
-Potty trained, but not quite at night just yet
-laces big or small beads on string


Mental Development:
-Spells name
-Recognizes name in print, and recognizes the letter E
-Knows right from left
-Knows days of the week
-Knows months of the year
-Counts to 16
-States his birthday
-Knows his age, mommy's age, and daddy's age
-Sings ABCs, and all songs we sing during carpet time at school
-Knows all of his body parts
-Knows the 1st and 42nd presidents and their "sayings" hehe, I love that one
-Relates everything adults do to himself, how he can do it, and how he can do it without our assistance!
-Knows his gender and the gender of others
-Bargains or talks his way into getting what he wants-for example, " I will cry if you dont get it for me"...hmm wonder where he got this one.
-Uses pronouns, adjectives, verbs, etc. when communicating with others
-Is understanding and concerned of others feelings around him
-Responds to what? and where? questions
-Loves to read books and turn the pages himself-loves to recount the page for you before you read it, "read" the book himself
-States his first, middle and last name, as well as mommy's and daddy's name


Top 6 things to do in his spare time:
6. Race cars at school with his friends-big cars where you run and push them across the entire length of the classroom
5. Read Books as long as you will let him
4. Ride his scooter or play outside in general-mostly games including balls
3. Play football and tackle with daddy/ lay in mommy's bed with his cup and blanky (these 2 tie) :)
2. Eat hotdogs and watch "back-lard-agains" as he likes to call it
1. Play with "Celia" his BFF-anywhere and anytime


Favorite Foods:
5. Scrambled Eggs
4. Meatballs
3. String Cheese
2. Hot Dogs
1. Ranch


Top 7 phrases:
7. "He not tackle him" This is his response every time a football play happens and someone doesn't get tackled. He is very sharp!
6. "We want the red team to win, not the blue team, the read team?" This is his explanation when watching most sports games, uhm can you tell he is a trained Razorback lover?
5. "Uh..Yeah" This is the response to most of the questions we ask Elem when he is busy doing something else :) hehe
4. "I said ple-ease"...."please" This is the response when he is trying to get something, and he has already been denied once and he hasn't said please yet, but knows he needs to say please. Haha! This one is good.
3. "I want my juice and my blanky" This one needs no explanation
2. "When I get bigger, I'm go-ne play football, and I can run real fast like thay-at" hahaha
1. "I wan go night night in your bed" Although this one is sweet, its days are numbered :)

And those are the things I cant imagine not remembering looking back a few years from now! The picture above pretty much captures every little thing about Elem at this exact age! His style (well the style I have ever so graciously assigned him ha!), his happiness, his silliness, his animation, his calmness, his boyness, love of football (since he is squatting and saying, "hut hut", and just his love for the moment just beaming out of him! As always parents are biased in their conception of their children, but isn't that the fun in being a parent? To be proud of what you made and be even more proud of the little version of you that walks around and is a walking image of everything you are pumping into them. We are so in love with Elem, and literally wake up each and every day with a smile on our faces, when we hear a few little words, "mommy, I wan get in your bed" or " daddy go get me some juice, here". Haha, The innocence is irresistible. We are forever in love and head over heels. Happy 2 and 1/2 Elem Zane Shelby

Books, books, and more books!

Book Time/Story Time has definitely become a favorite around our house over the past few months. Not a day goes by that books are not read and stories are not shared at least multiple times and for I can not tell you how many minutes! This has not always been the "story" if you will and I am so glad that Elem has developed a love for books! I spent many a night reading books and magazines to Elem when he was not even born yet! Secretly hoping that he would come out calm and collected, and a true book lover. Instead, I got a sweet but rowdy little boy who could have cared less to stop by and glance at the books I was reading, much less sit down and enjoy them with me. It never stopped me though, I just kept reading and reading, and I hoped that one day all my hard work would pay off. And it finally has! Elem loves books just about as much as he loves football and basketball. And that means a lot! Our current routine includes piling in Elem's bed with the lamp light on, or piling on the couch with some covers and PLENTY of good books to keep us occupied and help us drift away into the land of make-believe. This is the usual set up at home:


And this is the usual set up at school. He and Robert indulging in a little Jack and the Beanstalk (his MOST favorite book of all time).


I'm so lucky to be with Elem all day and see how much he carries the lessons and routines that he learns at home with him to his school day. And even to share those lessons and tendencies with his friends. As I mentioned he LOVES Jack and the Beanstalk and he would read that book/ listen to the CD that goes along with it about 20 times a day if we would let him...which I usually do because it makes him so happy! :)So what! I love to see his eyes light up as he grabs a book, and see his little mind churning while he listens and anticipates what is about to happen next. He is so clever with his questions and I can just feel his sense of understanding as the books go on. I love sharing things like this with Elem and I hope that this love for books carries on throughout his life. I really feel that reading to him and his continuing love for books has really played a big role in his current excitement for imagination and his insane knowledge and use of words. I guess the teacher side of me, tries to take advantage of every single story as a chance to teach him even more words, while the mom side of me tries to capture the "mother/son" story time "moment" for all its worth, each and every time! So, as a general rule, I figure I am doing both of us a favor and I rarely ever skip over words or abbreviate what is written on the page. I try to expose him to new words every day, and I figure why not, if he seems to get the story no matter if I say the words or not. It is just an overall fun time and gratifying moment if I do say so myself. I love to see my kid enjoying books. I mean who wouldn't. And why wouldn't you. What a great chance for him to use his imagination and escape to a place he can only create with his imagination and a few words on a page.

His current favorites are:

1. Jack and the Beanstalk
2. Three Little Pigs
3. There's a Wocket in my Pocket (By Dr. Seuss)
4. Brown Bear Brown Bear...what do YOU see?
5. The Runaway Bunny (By Margaret Wise Brown)......I often catch his grabbing this book and saying..."Ill be a fisherman and I will catch you if you run away little bunny"
6. Head to Toe (Eric Carle)...this is where he learned about "penguinos" and how they turn their heads :)

So those, as well as MANY MANY others seem to work their way into our nap time and bed time routines. And I have to admit, as much as it takes a lot out of me to read like 18-20 books at one sit down, it is totally worth it. And adorable to hear your little 2 year old quoting out of a random part of a story in the middle of a conversation during the day. hehe. Hope your story time is as enjoyable as mine! And if you don't think your kiddo is listening, just keep on reading, and they will eventually come back around. Even if only for a minute.

Looking back on October

There were just so many things going on in October and so many really fun things that I wanted to take a look back! I literally can not believe that Thanksgiving is this month and Christmas is next month! I don't feel like we should be going shopping for a Christmas Tree to chop down, just yet! Looking back October was so full of events! And I mean jam packed. Here are a few I didn't get a chance to blog on as I think back:

Pajama party with Cecilia (a pizza baking pajama party at that! Cecilia came over for a night of baking their very own mini pizzas, chocolate cookies, and a nice bubble bath! Here the kids are patiently waiting right beside the oven for their cookies to be done. I love pajamas on kids-always so cute.


Mommy and Daddy date night-one of very few I might add, so this one HAS to go down in the record books! Seth and I were lucky enough to catch one of our long time favorite musicians here in Little Rock at the Rev Room, the one and only Mr. Bob Schneider! Man going out just isn't what it used to be is it!! It takes me a couple of red bull drinks just to stay up! But the music was awesome and we staid right on the front row where we always do. Hehe. We had so much fun.


Major vehicle obsessions-both on and off road vehicles at that! Elem continues his love for 4 wheelers, motorcycles, scooters, trucks, etc. and tends to be on at least one of the ones in this picture every few minutes or so. Nice to now that while these riding toys are nicely lined up for some kind of experiment here in the kitchen at the current moment, usually they are nicely spread about my living room. I don't think I will ever have my nice clean house back. Ahhh one day, one day.


Plenty of pumpkin action! Carving was so much fun! Elem was more than stoked about his butter knife.


The end result, one happy/classic pumpkin that took like an hour! And one kitty cat pumpkin that Elem Zane just HAD to have, that as you can see in the pic was not carved just yet! But yes it did get carved and took more time than I care to document. Seeing his face when I dropped the candle in...made it all worth the long amount of time spent to get that little kitty face looking good.


Elem also enjoyed lots of pumpkin painting both at home and at school. I believe he painted a total of 5 pumpkins but I am not even sure if that was all of them! Painting pumpkins caused for some real focus and creativity. Elem has always used his tongue or wiggled it or stuck it out when he is seriously trying to concentrate on something and he doesnt even realize that he is doing it! I was so pumped to catch him in the act, just working away on his little pumpkin to set outside for all the trick or treaters.


Wagon rides at the pumpkin patch were one of our toddler favorite activities!


As were the pig races, the petting zoo, hay ride, hay stack play area, and pumpkins galore! The pumpkin patch was more fun for all of us than I had anticipated. We headed to Molly's and it was so much more than just a big field of pumpkins. We will totally be hitting that place up again next year.


And last but not least, lots and lots of dressing up. :) Dress up has slowly but surely entered its way into our small little household. And I must say it always brings a smile to my face! From batman costumes, to mine or seth's shoes, to baseball hats, or purses, or back packs, etc! There is just never a such thing as too much dress up. Elem is really coming into his own and is starting to use his imagination more and more. Its so much fun to see him having fun in his own little world, and I hope I can capture just a few pieces of it along the way.


Wow so yes October is gone and we are already on our way through November! My little boy officially turns 2 and 1/2 on the 7th and we are having a family photo shoot on that very day to capture this very special time in our lives! I cant believe that my once chunky and waddling little baby is not about to be...what I guess I should call ....a preschooler (GULP). I think I need a good cuddle to get me back in the right mind frame! No tears, no tears, no tears.

Thought of the day

Not much time to blog lately but I plan on making it a monumental weekend and totally racking up on the documenting! For now, a little bit of what has been monopolizing my days. Mostly just sweetness and messiness all rolled into one.

I wanted to leave you with the following conversation:

Elem: I wanna lay on your bed mommy

Mommy: Okay comon up here, you can lay with me

Elem: Owww..you hurtin me

Mommy: No I'm not, what is hurting you?

Elem: YOU are. Your ow-ie things are hurtin me (pointing to mommy's legs)

Mommy: hahahahahahaha

Elem: You ARE. Get those ow-ie things off of your legs

Mommy: hahahaha. okay I will shave my legs tomorrow and those ow-ie things will be gone

NEXT DAY....

(ELem rubbing my legs)
Elem: mommy did you get those ow-ie things off your legs so they wont hurt me no more?

Mommy: Yes Elem, I shaved my legs. They feel better?

Elem: Yep! They not hurtin me no more!



Ahhh. Those are the conversations that I seem to live for these days. Just when you are thankful that your husband will let you get by with not shavin' for a day or 2, your little boy needs to step right up and make it known, that it is so not okay with him. Hehe. So sweet. I love the innocence and the sheer interest in really trying to understand something that is just a little bit over their head and not really in the near future of something we have planned to explain. But I guess that is when the best mini lessons are taught. When you least expect it, they are soaking up every single little bit of info we are pumping into them. At least now my child knows that I shave my legs. He is just that much smarter! ha!

Trick or Treat

Halloween seemed to sneak right up on me just like it does every single year! I always have good intentions of getting Elem such a fabulous costume, but it seems that I am always scrambling until the very last minute. However, I couldn't have been happier with Elem's costume this year, and more importantly what a fun time we all had trick or treating! I tried putting the little Halloween bug in Elem's ear about 2 weeks before Halloween. And he didn't really understand what it was all about, but I knew it was only a matter of time before he got the picture. I began by asking him what he wanted to dress up as for the big event. Of course, he had no idea and just kind of looked at me. But strangely enough, the very day I started asking him about his costume, he started dressing up with some of the boys at school in the power ranger outfits. Elem has never been one to wear a mask, or costume, and I was very hopeful for a change of heart for the big night of trick or treating. Although I do catch him with this fabulous little crocheted baby blue hat with a flower on the side, and this black purse that he claims as his to "go to walmart" with his friends at school. haha. So deep down I knew there was a possibility of getting something on him, I just had to pump it up and catch him at the right moment. So once I saw him dressing up as the power ranger, I tried to talk it up, and make sure he knew how cool dressing up was! Before I knew it, he was telling me that he wanted to be a "pirate pig" for Halloween. Uhm, what??? Well I can thank Dora for that little idea. He has recently been watching this DVD in the car where Dora and Diego are on a mission to get their pirate costumes back from the "pirate pigs". Hehe. So a pirate pig seemed to be the ONLY thing he wanted to be. I mean nothing else. I thought....baseball player-NO. I thought football player-NO. I thought an animal, dragon or monkey or something-NO. Pirate pig, pirate pig-which meant super large hat, a sword, and an eye patch needed to be in the works. Meanwhile, I was trying to get 40 costumes donated for the kids at the shelter, and Elem's pirate pig seemed to slip to the backburner. I never mean for that to happen, but it always does! I am so obsessed trying to make everyone at the shelter happy, that I have to scramble when it comes to my own family. Never the less, and I had one pirate pig to create and so we did! Luckily, once the pirate pieces started to come together, the actual pig part kind of faded into the background! And thank goodness for that! I was willing to get a razorback nose and slap it on his face if I had to, but so did not want to do that. Thank you Elem for your cooperation and for being THE most adorable pirate pig in the whole wide universe. Da, da, da, daaaaaa-
ELem the pirate pig...eye patch and all-enjoying our freshly carved pumpkins. :)

The eye patch didn't really make it past the first house. But he was still as cute as could be. I love the massive pirate hat, I think it totally made his little costume. ha!


Off you go little man...reach for that "ring bell" as he likes to call them.


"Uhm..just a minute people. I need to take care of the popcorn ball before we take another step towards the next house. "


All set and ready to go.


We barely hit up the first few houses and rounded the corner before we ran into-who else....Cecilia the pumpkin fairy! The good thing about living about 10 houses away from your family-there is always a playmate ready to hang out! Can anyone tell they are excited to see each other?


Here you can see Elem doing his normal thing-smooozing Cecilia. I can only imagine what he is telling her here. He is probably telling her that they are going to knock on the door and then when the person comes with the candy to let him pick first. haha! Neh he loves his sissy and would do anything for her, most of the time. :)


Daddy was a big help, and took Elem to the door while I handled the camera. I tend to get a little finger happy when it comes to snapping shots of Elem, but I just cant help it. I seem to think every single thing needs to be snapped! It is my guilty pleasure, so what!


Cecilia, me, and Elem. I believe this was the last house of the night that we hit up. 15 houses or so was enough for Elem, he didnt feel the need to be greedy!


We had such a blast! Nothing to big or flashy, just a good ole night of trick or treating in the neighborhood and then back to our house to pass out candy to the rest of the kids that came by. Elem was so polite and adorable when he said trick or treat at each and every door he came to. He even said thank you to every single house, with a little encouragement from me and Seth, and had the most genuine look each time a new face would come to the door with a bowl full of candy! Such a fun holiday to share with a toddler. Looking forward to the even bigger holidays we have coming up! It is going to be so much fun, I cant hardly stand it. Oh and let me end on one last note about my other side of my family. Yes, Cecilia was a sweet little pumpkin fairy, and Elem pulled off the pirate pig look, but I cant mention this Halloween without including my sweet little red headed nephew-Wyatt. My sis has the cutest, red headed, pale skinned, little 18 month old boy, and they turned him into none other than-
Yes you guessed it-CHUCKY!

Better luck next year Wyatt, maybe you can choose what you get to be when you can talk a little better. I think your daddy got the upper hand this year! But you are THE cutest chucky I have ever seen and I wish I could have been there to see you say trick or treat when I answered my door. :) Love you!

We THINK PINK

Yes, all of us THINK PINK around here-including our boys!


Especially during the month of October, but mostly just because we love love love my mom (memaw to Elem) and are so proud of the battle she has won against breast cancer, and for all the women out there who have been touched some way by this horrible cancer. I am happy to report that it has officially been 3 years, well a little over 3 years, since my mom won her battled against breast cancer, and we make it a priority to do the Race for the Cure here in Little Rock each and every October. I have been doing the race for many years now, but it means so much more to actually walk for someone close to you, and "see" the difference you and all the others who are there are making, just by showing up, walking, and supporting the cause. It is truly an amazing event to be a part of and we wouldn't miss it for the world. I know many of you also participate in your cities, and I just want to say on behalf of my mom, THANK YOU! For those of you who run it, I envy you, because I so wish I could get there, hehe-Becky-but I am just as happy to walk with my mom. And all her many supporters. My mom arrived Friday night before the race and had some super sweet moments will Elem Zane. Every time he hears Memaw is coming, he gets excited, and immediately starts asking, "where", "where is she". And I mean does not usually stop until he sees her getting out of the car. It is so cute.
Catching a few stories before heading to bed to get ready for the big day...uhm did I mention how many stories Elem likes to read every single night??? Memaw had no idea what was in store. Typical night, bout 15 books or more. I think Memaw got off easy. :)


We made it downtown around 7:40am, after scooping up my cousin Jeff who drove from Memphis to walk with us in support of my mom! We are so thankful he got to join us for this wonderful day. The more the merrier. Seth's mom and sis, known around here as Aunt Ali and Grammy, met up with us as well-even battling a little illness, they made it just to show their support and sport their pink. Again, just so thankful and happy to have family around in support and to do this together. We signed up for the Family Fun Walk so Jeff and Seth could join us, and Elem :) After listening to a little music and battling the masses, we snapped a quick pic and headed off to join in with the tens of thousands already walking. Sadly Jeff seemed to get the boot on many of our pictures. hehe. Sorry Jeff, we still love you!
Me, Mom, Elem, Seth, Grammy, and Ali


I try to go all out, and make Elem as PINK of a supporter for his Memaw as I can, and still keeping him a noticeable boy from afar! Here he is sporting his "PINKED" out stroller with countless pink ribbons, and his "I walk for my memaw" shirt. True supporter since 6 months. Lets get to walkin'


The weather was beautiful, ending out a rainy couple of days, so it made the day even that much better. Our crown seemed to flow smoothly and there were no melt downs by the toddler. :) Made for an even better Race Day. We love you Mom, and are so thankful you won your fight against this disease. Thanks for letting us walk for you. And we look forward to many more years of supporting this cause until a cure is found. Hopefully, we can add to our little "memaw" group as the years come. :) Here we are heading round one of the last blocks downtown (otherwise known as the turn where the firemen are on their firetruck, stripping down and dancing to music.). Always a favorite of the ladies. I love this pic! Look at all that pink, too.


At the end of the race, there is a umbrella of balloons with people lined up on the outside, for survivors to run through and feel the love! Here is our little hero herself, enjoying her moment of triumph. Too cute. Go mom go!


And last but not least, Jeff and my mom. Thanks again for coming all the way down and for showing your support by walking and wearing pink, etc. We hope to see you here each and every year. I don't know why the girl at the end of the race cut you out of the family pic, but she did, so I am giving you your own little pic with mom in the blog! :)


What a great day! What a special day! We love you mom, and will always THINK PINK for you!