Boys!?

Since this is my personal blog where I document memorable things about my boys, I guess I can post this. I guess this is what I have to look forward to with boys. Just wasn't sure this kind of "talk" would happen so soon. The boys have a great baby sitter. And she has two sons that are absolutely wonderful with my sons. I guess you could call them "older brothers".

Last night Cade and Mason were in the bath together. I was rinsing Cade's hair under the faucet and Mason was in front of him. Mason reached over to try to grab Cade's dingaling. And yes, that's what we call it. Well, at least that's what I thought we called it. Cade yelled "hey, Mason is trying to grab my balls!" Yes, I was shocked. I said where did you hear that. He saw the shock on my face. He said "that's what Alec calls his back." I said "his back?" He said "his legs". I said really. I said is that what he calls his dingaling. And Cade said yes. I said we don't say that word. He said "is it bad?" I said "well, when you call your dingaling that, yes, it's bad." I guess when he was outside with Mike, Mike also told him it was bad and he said "yeah that's what momma said." I was so not ready for this kind of talk yet. But I guess I have to accept the fact that my boys have older brothers....so they might pick up "older boy" lingo. About that lingo, why do they have to be so crude. :)

Times to remember and things I miss

While Cade has excellent verbal skills he still says some things that remind me he's still just a little guy. Nana was at the house talking about getting a new birdfeeder at their house. She was talking about a woodpecker they have. Cade told us that he was "going to shoot that peckerwood." Yeah, we laughed. He really thinks this is the correct way to say that word. It's one of those things like "lickafish" that we find funny so I won't correct him. Mostly I have corrected when he says a word not quite right. But sometimes a parent has to get a little enjoyment out of what kids come up. And yes we still snicker a little about the cuss words. I know it won't be funny when he drops an f-bomb in kindergarten.....

We went to Hot Springs to the horse races last weekend. It was a much needed couple days away for me. I missed both boys terribly but it was nice to get to do what I wanted without having to worry about anyone else. The boys stayed with my mom while we were gone. I think they did fine. But Mason grew a lot while I was gone. He's all the sudden taller and thicker. And while I was gone, he quit being as much of a cuddler at bedtime as he use to be. He will rock with me and drink a bottle. Sometimes he will fall asleep while drinking it. I will just sit and rock him because I enjoy that time. But if he doesn't fall asleep right away he's a wallower. I'll try and get him to cuddle but he'll have nothing of it. Really he just wants to lay down in his bed and suck his thumb or talk to himself. I'm going to miss the cuddly baby stage. No, I don't want anymore babies but that is one stage that will be forever missed...

I now have two very active toddler boys. New and fun experiences are ahead for us!

Wow, these boys are busy!

I haven't been on here to post anything in awhile....because, well, 2 small boys are very busy! The first of the year brought birthday number 3 for Cade and birthday number 1 for Mason. As happens with 2nd children, Mason's first birthday party wasn't quite the to-do as Cade's first birthday party. Quite frankly, I was too tired to plan a big fan fare for a little guy who didn't care about the fan fare. He had the people there that are most important to him and he had cake. What else is there?!

The boys are good. The birthdays brought doctors' visits. We changed pediatricians this year due to an insurance change. We now see a doctor in Neosho. I have to say I was apprehensive switching because I like who we were seeing. But I have to say I've been pleasantly surprised. The convenience of being in Neosho is wonderful! And the doctor is very thorough and straight to the point. And he told me something that I hadn't really thought of until he said it. He was talking about his twin granddaughters who are 2. And he said "well, you basically have twins here because they are so close in age." I'd never thought of it that way. But we kind of do. They are close enough in age and young enough that they still have a lot of the same needs. I think it will be wonderful in the long run how close they are in age.

Cade is talking like he's a teenager. I know you are saying but he's only 3. Just have a conversation with him and you'll know what I mean. He already calls girls "smokin hot". And yes, he seems to know what smokin hot is. He likes to look at the Victoria's Secret catalog becauase "the girls are pretty". And he manages to throw in a few cuss words here and there. I can't forget the talking back and arguing either! If it wasn't for his short stature and the fact that he still wears diapers...I might think I have a teenager.

Mason has been a pro at the physical stuff. Where Cade excelled early with the talking, Mason has excelled with the motor skills. He's been walking since he was 10 months ago. He has been walking backwards. He just doesn't say much. He's at that stage of screaming...he screams when he's happy, he screams when he's mad, he screams when his sad, he pretty much screams. And let me tell you, this scream is loud and annoying! I will be so glad when he can talk. He says a few words...he can say momma, he can say dada, he can say papa, he can say what I think is ball...etc. The one thing that I find funny that he says is Max. Max is the name of the sitter's dog. He says this clearly. What I find funny is that all dogs are Max. Doesn't matter what kind of dog or whose dog....they are all Max.

Cade has a John Deere gator that the Days brought to our house and left. Since yesterday was the first pretty day that we could get outside, we got it out. Cade was driving and we strapped Mason in there with him. They were so cute riding around the yard in that thing. Of course, Cade thought it was funny to chase the dog with it....yeah, he's a little ornery. And he gets that from his dad!

Birthdays, Christmas, and other things

Cade is fast approaching his 3rd birthday. It's hard for me to believe that 3 years have passed. What a great 3 years it's been! He's definitely a wonderful and interesting child. He amuses us everyday with things he says or does.

I took him with me to the Jumperoo place that opened here in Neosho to schedule his birthday party. His birthday is January 22nd. I scheduled the party for the 23rd. I was paying and discussing how things work with the lady while Cade stood there. When I was done, I told him that it was time to go. He threw a fit and said "I want my birthday!" Then he proceeded to have a meltdown in the parking lot. I tried to explain to him that we had to have Christmas before his birthday. I'm sure all he heard was "blah blah blah". All the kid wanted was his birthday! :)

He's also started making a sound and motion that my dad does. It's very frightening to have Cade do this at such a young age. My dad watched the boys for a couple hours the other day. This is the mannerism Cade decided to pick up!

We have an elf Santa sent us. We've named him Christmas Steve. The reason behind that name is one evening I was explaining to Cade that Santa comes on Christmas Eve. He looked at me and said "We call him Christmas Steve?" So when we got our Elf on the Shelf we figured that was a great name for him. Steve is working to a point to keep Cade's behavior in check. But the wooden spoon seems to be the most effective.

Mason will be a year on February 5th. I can't believe he's already almost a year. He's walking some now. Not all the time, but he can do it. He's so funny. He likes to wrestle with his brother. He's saying bye bye, momma, dada (some but not as much as momma :) ) and uh oh.

I love everyday with my boys. Oh sure, they try my patience daily but I wouldn't have it any other way. Mike has even survived watching both boys by himself. Things are going good in the Spiva Household.

Santa and other things

Cade and Mike were getting a list together for Santa. We are taking Cade to Branson again this year. We've done this the last 2 years. We go down with Chrissy, Brett, and Michael. We stay at the Landing and go to Silver Dollar City. This is the first year that Cade really understands who Santa Claus is. I told him he would have to sit on Santa's lap and tell him what he wants for Christmas. At first, he told me I would have to hold him and he could tell Santa. But now, he's really interested in seeing Santa. I guess we'll see if he will sit on his lap when we get here.

Everyday he asks if we are going to see Santa. He also says he will ride the train at Silver Dollar City. We went there this summer and he got scared because the train whistle was loud and scared him. He said the whistle wasn't scary and he would ride the train. I hope he will enjoy it!

While they were making Cade's Christmas list, Cade was drawing on the pad. I started listening to what he was saying. He was saying "C a d e that spells Cade." Mike and I just looked at each other in astonishment. I had no idea he knew how to spell his name! Mike looked at me and said "he's not actually writing the letters, is he?" He wasn't. But I'm sure that's not that far away.

Mason stood for a few seconds over the weekend. I think he could do it but he knows he can get somewhere really fast just crawling. I don't know if he'll make it to a year before he's walking. I guess we'll see. Cade was moving around stuff pretty early and we were sure he'd be walking before he was a year old. But he didn't start walking until right before his first birthday.

Mason is babbling "bababa". Cade was also hollering the other day and Mason would holler. So Cade would holler and Mason would holler. It was pretty funny. They play pretty good together if Cade will be nice. And for the most part, he is. I remind him everyday to be nice to his brother because Santa Claus is watching and he won't bring him any toys if he's bad. :)

Talking back

Cade is into the talking back already! I thought we had a few years before this was going to happen. Here are some of the things he says now:

"Whatever"
"Don't talk to me like that" - he likes this one when he is getting in trouble
"Stop being bossy"
"You're being too loud"
"No"

He's also gotten ornery with his little brother. Mason does a good job of hollering out when Cade is doing something he doesn't like (like laying on top of him). And it won't be long before Mason can dish it back to Cade. I think I'll have my hands full even more then!!

On another note: Mason said "mamamama" today. I was so excited. Cade said "dadada" first.

Seed Ticks

I have to post this as a memory of Cade's toddlerhood. Although, I don't think it is anything I'll ever forget. Cade got into some seed ticks last night. Lots and lots of them. That was not at all fun. After soaking him in a bleach/water bath, I then had to pick the remaining ones off of him one by one. We've washed all the sheets, the car seats, any clothes he was wearing (and Mike). I do have to say that it is much easier to identify them on the young child who doesn't have hair or freckles/moles. Finding them on DADA was a harder task.

I hope to never have to deal with those ever again. Although, having boys, I'm not going to hold my breath!