Strategy

So...against what we had decided on starting solids, we decided to try tonight. Matthew hasn't been sleeping as well, so we came up with a strategy:

Less sleep + drinking more = Needs more food = lets start solids!

He did good. We are starting on Rice Cereal and we'll move up from there. He wasn't excally thrilled with the mush in his mouth, but because he is so darn happy all the time, after every spoonful he would laugh and smile and all the cereal would fall right out of his mouth. Tomorrow we're going to thicken it up a little more as tonight it was like soup.

But of course I had to capture the moments on photos!

Oh and by the way...Sam was having a FIT that we were not giving him any attention at dinner and all attention was focused on Matthew. SO, the picture below demonstrates the frustration of brothers and to document that we love Sam as well, we will post his picture for no hurt feelings!

darn holidays

I'm desperately trying to create a 2006 holiday picture...it's just NOT working. I had it in my head that today was going to be it. I was determined to get a picture. I thought I had some good ones, came home, downloaded the photos...could Sam have any more slobber on his shirt? Bruises on his head? Scratches on his face? So, I decided that today wasn't going to be the photo day and post them on my blog instead to feel like my time was well spent on trying.

Sit and Stand or Sit and Spin?

The sit and spin just got a lot more fun! Do you ever wonder how and why toddlers minds work they way they do? Every day I am challenged with this question. Yesterday it was all about the sit and spin. I asked the famous question, "what should we play with next" and this is what was pulled out of the toy closet. This sit and spin is the best! It sings to us and tells us what to do, but no where in the song does it say, "Okay, pull your feet up towards the top and stand and shout HOORAY!". But...Something inside his little brain was demonstrating this exhibit. Sam was so proud of himself, he repeated this action over and over and over, becoming more and more excited about his accomplishment.

I guess we can say: It's time for gymnastics!

Teplin (Daddy)Brothers

Happy Thanksgiving 2006

What a beautiful day. our holiday started out with Thanksgiving Lunch at the Bartosz's. We had a great Turkey and all the fixings! Sam unfortunately did not want anything to do with the turkey or stuffing, but he did try. We spent Thanksgiving evening with the Teplins eating our second round of Turkey and all the fixings. We had a great time yesterday with family and friends! Matthew did great and everyone slept great last night. It has been a busy last couple of days around here! Enjoy the 2006 Thanksgiving pictures!

The "older" cousins!

All the Teplin cousins!

Matthew = 4 months!

What is Matthew up to at 4 months?

Height: 24 3/4" (50%)
Weight: 14lbs 14 ozs (50%0

Head: 41.5 (30%)

Sleeping: Recently, from 8:00 p.m. until 5:30 a.m.
Eating: Every 2-3 hours, about 30 oz a day
Loves: His hands and feet
Hates: To ride in the car?!?
Poops: Once a week (if that)
Admires: His Brother Sam
Giggles: ALL THE TIME!

When I think back to July 13th, I remember the anxiety I had to bring a new baby home. Well, each day that goes by gets better and better and easier and easier. Matthew is truley growing like a weed and continues to amaze us. He is a very happy baby who will give up smiles very easy. Sam is the light of his universe. He just gives him full belly laughs when Sam plays with him. Matthew is very very close to rolling as he sways back and forth. We're going to wait on solids for the sake of convenience, and he is just not ready quite yet. For now he is a content little guy who is just full of love!

PJ Brothers

I've given up on trying to get the boys a picture together, both smiling, looking at the camera!

So, here are my boys at 5:10 a.m mind you....

Hands hands fingers hands, Elephant!

I just cannot seem to take a picture of Matthew w/o his hands in his mouth! I swear he is teething, but his gums are still soft. This morning he woke up screaming and Brad said he went in his room and found his hand stuck in his sleeve so he was unable to suck on his little fingers. Once Brad rescued the hand, he fell back to sleep, hands in mouth, happy as could be!

...spilled fruit snacks

Matthew had his first directed time out from Sam. Matthew intentionally spilled Sam's fruit snacks all over the floor due to him expressing excitement with his flying arms.

What were we supposed to do? Sam was absoultly right on. When you do something naughty, you deserve to sit in the corner and reflect. When Matthew accidently dumped over his bowl of snacks, Sam was ALL over discipline. Sam directed us to place Matthew in the corner and Sam did the dicipline with his little pointer finger. Not sure what he was saying, but we did hear: "No no Matthew, naughty, see you later". When Matthew started looking at the TV Sam said, "look me, no Diego". OH yes, I see his mother in him already!!!

Swimming: Season 2

If you can recall, I took Sam to the pool at the beginning of Summer this past year. He was about 20 months old and a lot of work. Well, unfortunately, he still presents himself to be: *a lot of work* We had a pool birthday party over the weekend. Sam was OVER excited. Him and daddy spent some good bonding time playing in the pool, until Sam got a better idea: Exact words: "Daddy, out, I do it!""no daddy, NO hands", "Sam do it".

Shortly after this toddler tantrum, we packed up and headed for our 1 hour ride home...

So, the moral of Swimming: Season 2 is: LIFE JACKET and NO FEAR

Matthew didn't go swimming, but he sure enjoyed laying by the

pool and getting splashed every so often!

Note to parents:

DO NOT TRY THIS TOY AT HOME:
One of our children all have a toy that us parents cringe about every time they want to play with it. If you ignore them and try to revert attention, it starts a major toddler breakdown. Let me tell you about the little red cheap fire truck. The little red cheap fire truck has said his goodbyes to the Teplin humble abode. As a family, we donated it to the weekly Wednesday Onyx trash pick up. This toy has been meaning to see the inside of the Onyx truck for over 2 years now. But the unfair part is: Sam loves this toy, but his parents will differ. You ask, what can be so wrong with a little red cheap fire truck? Answer...it was abused by the user and the manufacture forgot to put a '"on/off" switch on the bottom. For some reason this truck was only played with when someone was sleeping. Someone being, Erin, Brad, Sam or Matthew. This toy had a mind of it's own and LOUD LOUD sirens would flash and BRIGHT BRIGHT lights surrounded the 4 wheels. This little red cheap fire truck has made numerous attempts to scare the *&%^*# out of us. Another rather annoying feature was: just when you thought the loud sounds were over, 2 minutes later it would start up again, and again scare the (*&#*@! out of us. We apologize to the family that purchased the little red cheap fire truck for us, but we hope you understand.

So, for now, we've retired what used to sit on the toy shelf.

Next toy to see the inside of the Onyx truck: The roaring talking animal puzzle. This one will be another post by itself. But I'll just say, this roaring talking animal puzzle goes off when the lights turn on and off?

Who thinks of these things?

The pathetic 2 year old photo shoot...

Sit still Sam...

I don't want to mommy....

NO...OFF...No picture...

"No picture please" louder..."NO Picture"...LOUDER..."NO NO NO NO NO".
I think these pictures justify the reason we're going to give the 2 year old shots a rest....

Then it was Matthews chance...

Started okay...

Are you serious?

AHHH..enough is enough...

I'm Outta Here...

Baths are FUN!

My little peanut isn't a very little peanut anymore. Check out all the CHUBS~~

Matthew loves his bath. If he had it his way, he'd bathe in the morning and night. Totally content, until his brother insists on washing his back?