Celebrating Preston!

Preston loves all things Mickey right now so it only seemed fitting to do a Mickey Mouse birthday party this year.  In keeping with the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse theme, we did a Hot Dog, Hot Dog, Hot Diggity Dog-themed menu.  Preston loves his hot dogs too so it was a hit.  

 This was Brad's one contribution to the party decor:

Auntie Lo made her signature cake balls & special chocolate-covered pretzels. 

A rare moment where the birthday boy was sitting still...

 Just 2 bros, eating chips & talking about life

Happy 2nd Birthday Preston

Dear Preston, 

Oh sweet Bubbas, how we love you. You are a real handful at times and have taught us so much this year about patience, humor, love, flexibility & the differences between boys & girls. I do not care what people say - every kid is different and boys & girls are different. We thought we had this 2 kid thing down to science and then you became a rambunctious toddler. This past year you have had more bruises, bumps & ouchies than Eloise has had in 4.5 years. While you are such as bruiser most of the time, you really are a lover. You are a hugger and a big juicy kisser. I hope you always pucker up those big lips and give me kisses when I see you. You are the ultimate thief when it comes to iPhones, Barbies, Chapstick, water bottles, snacks & headbands. It's funny every time that you put on one of Eloise's headbands! 

Besides all the obvious physical changes with turning 2, one of the biggest changes is your hair! You went from a big bald head on your 1st birthday to a head full of curls today.  I die with those curls! I can't get enough of them. I just want to scrunch them with a little product so they stay perfect all day. Don't even get me started with those deep brown eyes that light up the room. I'm pretty sure that you are left handed as I've seen you color or throw a ball with some real power with that left hand. Only time will tell! I know you're destined for greatness since your a mini version of your Daddy but some people have told me that many Presidents are left-handed. No pressure Bubba Chubbas, Mommy will love you whatever you do. 

One of the best parts of this age is your ability to communicate more. Since 18 months, you have started talking more & more. Granted, sometimes I think you are half dinosaur because you love to growl & roar. You pretty much all the classic animal noises for zoo & barn animals  or anything that can growl. When it doubt, growl it out!  I swear, every week that goes by you are learning a few new words and stringing together little toddler sentences.  Every once in a while, I can get to you count to five too.  Eloise loves to make requests for you say all sorts of words or answer her off the wall questions.  Since you were in my belly, I wondered what you would call Eloise when you started to talk. You ended up with, "Sheesh!" The more I thought about where that came from, I realized that we often say to you, "Go show Eloise or go sit by Eloise or go play with Eloise... SHE'S over there." We think that's where you got the "Sheesh" from.  We love it and I think Eloise loves it too. There is truly no greater joy than watching you & Eloise. You love each other so much. I love that even at school when both of you can play with any one of your friends on the playground that you often decide to play with each other. It makes my mama heart so happy. You try so hard to keep up with her and be her little sidekick. It's precious to see you try to play Barbies with her or try to jump & dance like her. I know you will not always be like this with each other so I cherish these moments. 

 

You are a fierce little bruiser with a personality just as big as your sister's.  When people warned us that boys can be so much for physical than girls, I do not think that I fully appreciated that warning.  Mama never knew how much blood went along with a bloody nose or what one does to stop it but I know now!  Well I love that you can shake off a stumble or an ouchie pretty quickly, I don't think I was prepared for the number of gray hairs I would acquire this year watching you jump and run every where we go.  I know that this next year will keep us busy and on our toes as your latest thirst for adventure does not seem to be waning.  So, here's to the adventure that lies ahead with a 2 year old Preston Bradley Kalins!

Happy Birthday Preston! 

Love,

Mommy

Preston: 21 months & counting

First of all, Bubba Chubbas, Mommy is sorry that there has not been an official monthly post about you since you were 18 months. Whoops! All of your internet followers are surely mad at me too.  Call it second child syndrome or just plain life but Mommy loves you so much that I'm doing an XXL post about the latest and greatest things going on with you.  Here we go!

Since turning 18 months, Preston has moved up to the Young Toddler room at daycare and loves it.  He has embraced the little routines that they have like washing their own hands before and after meals/snacks, sitting in a circle to read stories, and lining up along the wall to go outside.  He also loves all the extra activities that they do in this class.  One of his favorite things to do is arts & crafts.  In particular, he loves to use the stampers and paint.  Over the past few months, it has become clear that he is left-handed.  Whether it is eating, coloring or throwing ball, he is using that left hand.  The funny thing is that no one on either side of the family is left-handed!  Brad is already trying to figure out how he will teach him to shoot a gun or bow & arrow with his left hand. 

Anyone who sees Preston can say with all confidence that he is all boy but I'm pretty sure he is part dinosaur or monster because he loves to roar, growl and "scare" people as either one of those animals.  He loves to run into a room and roar with his little hands up in the air to scare us.  The louder you scream or the more you act scared the better!  When he isn't growling at us, he is chatting up a storm.  He is trying to say more and more real words every day.  Some of my personal favorites are "Monk" for his monkey pacifier,"Buzzee" for his Buzz Lightyear toy, and "Poppy" for all things related to the Trolls movie. Oh yes, my true favorite is when he says, "Bye guys" to all his classmates when we leave daycare.  I about die every day.  I love listening to his little voice and hearing how he puts emphasis on certain syllables in words.  Sometimes it is a real struggle to figure out what he is trying to tell us but we manage.  Of course, he we understand him perfectly fine when he is telling us, "No!"

"Show me your muscles!"

Preston absolutely adores Eloise.  For the most, they play pretty well together or just next to each other.  He has learned about imagination play from her.  He has watched her make different voices for her ponies, dolls, etc and now does the same thing.  It's too cute! 

Preston got his 1st haircut a few weeks ago because he was pretty much bald up until Christmas.  It was a super quick and awesome haircut with my stylist and fellow boy mom Christy.  I didn't save one curl or snap a pic.  Whoops.  I snapped this pic outside of the salon afterwards. 

 And then this one at home.  He seriously posed himself there.  I asked if I could take his picture and he backed himself up against the pole.  Bless him. 

You are so freakin cute.  I could eat you.

 Ah, those post nap time snuggles. Squeeze me a little tighter Bubbas...

While Preston may say...er...scream, "Mommy!" 3754 times a day, he is always asking where Daddy is and loves to snuggle up with him.  I can't remember what they were watching here but it was probably an intense episode of Mickey or PJ Masks. 

Preston is absolutely obsessed with all things bathroom related.  When Eloise goes to the bathroom, he literally runs after her in there.  He loves to wash his hands and flush toilets.  Yeah, that is not always as awesome as it sounds. He likes to sit on the training potty in the basement and the children-size toilet in their bathroom.  He tells us every time he goes "pee pee" and "poo poo." When the time comes, maybe this will translate to him potty training fast.  A mama can dream...

Let's be real - it's not all sunshine & rainbows with an almost 2 year old.  

Who knew that a stinky little boy could be full of so much sass. 

It seems like we just celebrated your 1st Birthday now we are counting down the weeks until your 2nd Birthday. Where does the time go??

Preston: 18 month update & Thanksgiving Fun

Happy 18 months Preston Bradley!

Here we are at another milestone age.  At your 18th month appointment, you weighed in around 30lbs and 32.28 inches long.  When it was time for those dreaded shots, the nurse commented on how strong you were.  Good thing Mommy has been trained to restrain unruly patients because those skills come in handy when the nurse asks me to hold you still.  Kidding...not kidding.  

                             

You are all Toddler Boy, all day!  Every 5 seconds, we hear, "No!" or "Mine!"  You are trying to figure out how to communicate with us more and more every day.  You do a lot of pointing and saying, "Dis...Dat...Dis." You officially moved up to the Young Toddler room earlier this month and you were more ready!  Now that you are playing with other kids your age and a little older, I can only expect your vocabulary to expand greatly.  

It was a hard transition to leave Ms. Tee who was his teacher since he was 12 weeks old.  He loves her so!  Last winter when Preston was battling ear ache after ear ache, Ms. Tee would hold him many days during his entire nap to give him some extra TLC. Every day since he left her room, he will walk past the door and stop to give her a kiss.  Ms. Tee will always hold a special place in our hearts for the way that she loved on Preston.  

There's a good chance that Preston is going to left-handed.  I have noticed on more than one occasion that he prefers to color and paint with his left hand.  You know who else is left-handed?  Professional athletes & Presidents.  Just sayin'...

This picture is a perfect example of the dynamic between Eloise & Preston.  He literally just wants to do everything that she does.  

 

As part of a project that the whole daycare was participating in, the kids each had to decorate a puzzle piece that reflected their personality and the things they loved.  Here were the final products:

 We started a Thanksgiving celebrations a little early this year.  We had some of beloved family in from California so we decided to do a proper Thanksgiving during their time here.  We used all of Great Grandma Fitz's recipes for the meal.  She happily watched over the final preparations. 

 Auntie Lo, cousin Emily and Eloise made custom Thanksgiving vests & headdresses for everyone.  Eloise loves to pick out her clothes every day and often walks down our stairs saying, "Mommy! Look at me!  I look so fashion!"

 3 Indian Princesses

 Preston is still smitten with Aunt Patti.  

He was playing doctor here and giving her a checkup.  

Of note, Eloise is not getting a new pet.  A girl can dream!