christmas card bloopers

We make our own Christmas card, and when I say we I really just mean I.  This year we decided on dedicating the Christmas card photo to Oliver.  Here are a few photos that didn't make the cut. 

"Jim can you get a few shot of him next to these Christmas trees
while I go inside and ask a few questions"  Not Jim can you take
a picture of him trying to give a tree a piggy back ride.


Closer, but too squinty

 

Totally adorable, but being on the deck makes it look like he is
in some sort of toddler jail...which he is.

Too silly



Way too serious



Just right!

merry merry

We had Christmas on Tuesday.  Unlike actual Christmas day we all had Tuesday off from work and had nothing to rush out for...so Tuesday it was. 

wondering if the gifts are in the way
of the train


checking out his stocking
toothbrush, toothpaste, body spray & a toy car

after stocking we ate some yummy breakfast and then got to our
presents, Oliver had to try his new underwear on right away!

 Jim has an extensive stash of Brio trains from his childhood
we gave Oliver the shed and the crossing gates for Christmas.
Ya for free presents!

new socks "I do it!"

 painting with water 

new race track

He opened his presents slowly and enjoyed checking out his new things.  It was nice not having any other plans for the day; no church, no dinner to go to, just hanging out.  Also, since it wasn't actually Christmas we were able to stop by the fabric store so I could get a few things to go with my new sewing machine. 

We are really lucky.  People are always so nice to us and very sweet to invite us over, knowing our families are far away.  On Christmas eve we went to some friends for a nice dinner and then to church.  Then today (Christmas) Oliver and I worked at the church nursery and then headed over to some other friends for a nice lunch and some fun.

ooooo fancy
getting ready to go have lunch with our friends 

 

Oliver is wearing a tie because we are going to a wedding in January, so we need to practice.  His comment about tie wearing "no tie mama, no."  He actually ended up wearing it all morning.  So handsome! 

DIY, light box

I find this site to be amazing.  It's filled with fun and creative things for kids, and it's awesome, and it's totally inspiring or totally overwhelming...I usually feel both emotions simultaneously.

Two things that seem very commonly used  are sensory tables and light boxes.  Both items can be pretty pricey at school specialty stores.  Both items can also be DIYed at home.  Scroll around here for some fun sensory and light box activities.  Overwhelming, right?  But totally fun looking too!

Then I googled around for DIY light boxes.  This one is made from a train table and looks really professional...we don't have a train table.  Another site has views of a variety of tables.  I decided to make a light box out of a storage bin, inspiration found right here.  She used small battery operated florescent lights, all I heard was battery operated and I tuned out.  Electricity is cheaper then batteries even rechargeable.  I used Christmas lights, because I had them on hand and they don't need batteries.  

necessary supplies; frosting spray paint, silver metallic spray paint,
a flat plastic storage bin, and some white christmas lights

1. Frosting the inside of the lid with a few light coats of spray paint.

2. Metallic the inside of the bin with a few light coats of spray paint.
-I should have primed it first, it would have been more opaque
3. When dry, stuff a string of christmas lights into the bin, plug it in and
call it a light box!

just discovering it after nap

 

it's not as perfect as a store bought light box

but it cost under $20 not over $200

                                                               

bubbles 

indoor entertainment

Oliver has a playroom with trains, musical instruments, books, cars, etc.  He is content playing in there when one of us is playing with him or for short periods on his own.  What he seems to prefer is when I set an activity up for him at the kitchen table.  He likes being able to play with something on his own while still being able to see what I'm up to, which these days seems to writing an endless pile of Christmas cards.

Here are a few of his favorites...

"I cut it"  He just loves cutting his way through a good pottery barn catalog or other junk mail.  When he is finished he throws it all in the recycling.

Letter Stamps.  Oliver is doing a great job learning uppercase letters.  He usually remembers 20 or 21.  Once in awhile I take out 4 or 5 letters for him to practice stamping on paper.  These are the stamps that we have.

Coloring.  Have you ever been to this site?  It's called Made By Joel.  Tons of crafty activities for children, though most of the activities seem to be better for older kids, Oliver loves his coloring sheets.

"I use marters peas"  Oh markers, a standard size 8X10 piece of paper is not enough space for the excitement you bring.  When Oliver wants to use markers I cut down the side of a paper bag, cut the bottom off, open in all the way and let him go to town.

Thomas Cards.  We have a half price book store near us, and it's awesome and cheap.  The other day I found some alphabet flashcards with Thomas pictures on them.  He loves flipping through the letters and saying the guys names.  "Where's Percy?"

"Play beans peas"  This is by far Oliver's favorite activity and he requests it daily.  I took the big turkey roasting pan, cleaned it out, dumped a bag of dried beans, bag of lentils, and bag of brown rice into the pan...because during a moment of "we need an activity NOW" desperation, those were the things in my pantry.  We also added a few measuring cups, tablespoon, lego guy, and a cup.  He love loves it.  There are always beans on the kitchen floor and the vacuum seems to be permanently located right next to the table, but it's worth it.  "I hide the guy"  "Beans up high"  "Oh no beans on the floor" 

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This afternoon we made a "light box."  I must say it in quotes because it's a pretty rough interpretation of a light box, but Oliver seems to like it anyway....details later. 

What's keeping you toddler busy?

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Need cloth diapers?  We have a few for sale. 

cloth diapers for sale!!!

We have three size medium Fuzzi Bunz plus seven random inserts for sale.  The Fuzzi Bunz website says that the mediums are good for babes from 15-30 pounds.  They still fit Oliver (28lbs) we just don't need as many diapers as we have.  Two of the diapers are the standard newer style and one diaper is the older style with pointed tabs.  Pointed tabs or not they all seem to do the job!

 

*Three size medium Fuzzi Bunz
  -recently stripped and smelling great
  -always washed with Rockin Green
  -springy elastic
  -no stains
  -the diaper with the pointed tabs is not as bright white as the others, because of its age
 

*Seven random inserts
  -cared for the same as the diapers

*Free shipping

*$30 (a total steal!!)

leave a comment or send me an email (trisha.tylick@gmail.com) if you are interested

teething related question, I think

Oliver's two year molars have been making their way in.  He was a little fussy when the process first started, but seems to be okay with it now.

However, for the past month, in the location where his top right molar should be coming in there is a purple-ish squishy spot.  How is that for descriptive?  I don't know what to call it.  If it were on some other part of his body I might call it a blood blister, a swollen bruise, or some infection.  I do know that it does not hurt because he does not flinch in pain when it is touched.

The adoption specialist said "maybe it's a bruise, give it a week and then check with a dentist"
We went to the pediatrician today for a routine shot and I asked her about it "I have no idea, I've never seen anything like that, I'll get you a referral to the pediatric dentist office at children's mercy"

I asked if she thought it was an emergency or if it could wait until the new year, because we didn't get dental insurance for Oliver this year.  She said I should call for the appointment because they probably would not get us in until January.

Anyone have any idea what I'm talking about?  Anyone else have a kid with a purple squishy spot where a tooth should be? 

UPDATE!  A friend commented over on facebook and said "could it be this?"  Yes indeed!  The first picture on that link is very similar to what Oliver's looks like.  Glad to read that most likely it's not an issue. 

Other health related topics...
We bid adieu to our adoption specialist and will only be seeing our pediatrician.
He is done with the TB medication.  Ya!  No more every-two-month visits to the doctor to make sure he doesn't have liver poising.   
Oliver is all caught up on the necessary shots and doesn't need another until he is four.
He is done with his rapid post adoption grow spurt.  Eight pounds, seven inches, three shoe sizes and has been holding pretty steady.  Still at the bottom of the growth chart, but there would be no 50th percentile if some of the kids weren't smaller.  Small but mighty!! 

first haircut

Technically Oliver has had his hair cut before.  The first thing I did when I had him and scissors in the same place was trim off the mullet that was forming.  For the past, almost year I've kept the mullet from growing back and from hair growing into his eyes.  However, it was slowly becoming apparent that it was time to go see someone who actually knows what they are doing.

in the car just before going inside

We went to a salon specifically designed for cutting kid's hair.  It's fun and bright and cheery and the children get to sit in little cars while they get their hair done.  Oliver was really excited about sitting in a car.  When they told him he could pick any one he wanted he just went straight for the closest one.  Hot pink, barbie, jeep.  "I like it," he says as I hoist him up. 

one more before

sitting very nicely

The kid in that orange car in the background totally screamed the whole time.  I've never seen anyone cut hair so fast!  These ladies are amazing. 

enjoying some butternut squash & apple puree
after getting his hair cut

handsome 

 

 

doing some cutting of his own
attacking a red pepper for dinner