More Tyler Tales

I have blogged and Facebooked and bemoaned about our potty training trials. So, I also wanted to share some good news on the potty training front. After a month and a half, we are finally making noticeable progress!! We are only having to clean up 1 or 2 accidents a day instead of only having 1 or 2 times when we didn't have to clean anything. Something must have finally clicked and he is much more happy to go when asked and even asks to go on his own now. We have had many frustrating moments, but also times that just made us all laugh too. But, I will spare you all the details. :)

Tyler has been using some new phrases lately. Three of my favorite: "Mom I missed you," "Oh, sorry Mommy," and "I need a hug" - so sweet!! He has also been saying "no thanks" if he doesn't want something, "oh goodness", "bless you" after we sneeze, and "hmm hmm" instead of yes if we ask him a question. None of these we tried to teach him on purpose - he just picked them up. I am a lot more aware of every time I say "hmm hmm" now instead of "yes" - no wonder he learned to say that!

Monday morning was a bit traumatic for us. I had just tried to talk Tyler into taking a break from his morning cartoon show to go potty (he agreed to go as soon as it ended in a few minutes). So, I used those few minutes to sneak out the front door to put a letter in the mail box - just 2 quick steps out the front door. I should mention at this point that Tyler has started a bad habit of closing doors shut on us lately - to keep us out of the bathroom or his bedroom if he gets there first. This is funny to him. So...apparently leaving his cartoon to go potty was out of the question, but leaving his cartoon to close the front door on Mom was not. This would NOT have been an issue if it weren't for the following series of unfortunate events:
1) The door was still locked from the inside
2) Tyler couldn't understand how to unlock it and was starting to cry and begging me to open the door.
3) My work-from-home husband who normally saves me during the day from these maladies had just left to go to the Y to work out.
4) Since it was a semi-nice day I hadn't even bothered to put on socks & shoes. I was barefoot!
5) The key we normally have hidden for such emergencies had been loaned out to someone and not put back.
6) Tyler is sobbing, saying he is "poopy now" and "I want a hug" and "I want my mommy" - further making me a distraught Mom. I have to figure something out!
7) I have no access to a phone. Tyler can't see me through a window from the front yard. Trying to console him isn't working.

So, I risk leaving my toddler alone to run next door - barefoot. Thankfully it is Spring Break here and the neighbor girl opens the door and lets me use their phone to call Adam at the Y and get him to come home to let me back in. It seemed like an eternity for Adam to drive 17 blocks home. He finally arrived. My feet were sore & frozen, Tyler was all wet, were were both shaken up from the whole ordeal and needed warm dry clothes, a snack, and cuddling under the blanket on the couch to calm our nerves. Now.....to get another key hidden before it happens again! :)

How we spent St. Pat's Day

My Mom came over to Boone so we could run some errands together.

First we went to Orschelns to visit the baby chicks and ducklings.

Here is a photo from visiting the chicks in March 2010.
He could barely see over the black containers last year!

Then we went to Walmart. Tyler spotted the fish.

We were there to buy Tyler some rubber boots so the next time Grandma takes him for a hike in the creek (see earlier post) he will be a little more water resistant! Right away Tyler asked me where the door out of the store was so he could go find a puddle to jump in!

Dedicated grandma sat down in the middle of Walmart to distract Tyler with some books (yes, he talked her into buying the Cars book) while I finished shopping.

Then we went to Subway and ended the day with a trip to the park before nap time.

March Trip to Clarinda

My Mom and I took Tyler with us for a 3-day trip back to my hometown to visit my grandparents. Tyler got both of them to read him books during our stay.

Tyler's Great-Grandma & Great-Grandpa Geer

The weather was nice while we were down there, so my Mom took Tyler to Nodaway Valley Park to play and even convinced him to climb up to the lookout area. He was disappointed there was not a slide on the other side.

The Middle School building I attended used to be right behind us where the new library is now. Tyler and I played in the library and then I took him to play out in the yard and have a snack while we waited for our ride.

A trip to Clarinda is not complete without Grandpa and Tyler spending some quality time on the farm. This time he scored a 4-wheeler ride AND a tractor ride!

Climbing the fence to talk to the cows

Driving the tractor out to feed the cows

The time span of four generations - holding onto the same steering wheel

I stayed home to rest while Grandma and Aunt Marvis took Tyler to the Clarinda Orchelns Store to see the rabbits, ducks, and chickens.

My Mom took Tyler for a hike up the creek by my Grandparent's house. I spent hours here as a child and now Tyler loves it too. Grandpa gave him a cooler to put his rocks in and he filled it to the brim and drug it along in the sand behind him.
He loves throwing rocks into water puddles!

These shoes are now play shoes.

Showing off his dirty hands!

On the way home we stopped at the Atlantic Pizza Ranch for dinner. Tyler had trouble holding still while the adults finished eating, so we gave him Grandma's cell phone on the speaker phone setting and he told his dad all about his exciting day. Kept him occupied for a little while anyway.

Family Fun

Adam and Tyler traveled to Knoxville, Iowa this past weekend for some fun Haselhuhn family bonding time while I was scrapbooking all weekend with my girlfriends at Crop for Camp. Here is some of the things they did while in Knoxville.

Being Silly

Playing in the new snowThrowing snowballs down the hill

Going out to eat with Grandma

A BIG yummy peanut butter ice cream sandwich!

Watching his favorite show

Photo of all 3 cousins - Sarah, Tyler, and Jacob

Baby Haselhuhn #2

Due to an uncooperative baby, we have had more than the average number of ultrasounds. I wanted to share a couple from the last 2 months. Our next one is at the end of March, and we might even get a 3-D image that time! The weeks have flown by faster this second time around, I will already be in my 3rd trimester in a week or so!

20 Weeks

24 Weeks