Dexter, by the Numbers

Dexter is kind of in to measuring things these days.  More specifically, he's in to measuring how big something is, or how much he likes something, either by holding out his hands to show you how much he likes it, or by assigning it a number.

So, for instance, he likes trains 90.

He, surprisingly, likes ducks 900.

He has decided that Mama loves him more than infinity.

Grandma has said she loves him more than 50 dollars.  He finds that fairly hysterical.

And in a frank, serious discussion (likely held while Dex was sitting on the potty, as that is where all serious discussions happen these days) Dexter told John that he used to like sleeping 30.  But now he likes it ZERO.

And that's our boy.  So completely filled with separation anxiety these days that bed time has turned in to an hour of him yelling out for Daddy, before he finally goes to sleep.  If we're fantastically lucky, he only wakes up yelling for Daddy once during the night, before waking at 6AM or so and yelling for Daddy until his clock turns yellow at 6:30.  Most nights we are not so lucky.  I say "we" like I am really involved in this.  I am not.  I am responsible for the baby, and fixing her if she wakes up in the middle of the night (thankfully, she doesn't do that often).  John has been in charge of fixing the stubborn, persistent, almost-four-year-old.  Bless John's heart and very very sleepy body.  Because this is, honestly, way worse than it ever was having a newborn baby.

Hopefully this is a pain in the ass phase that shall, eventually, pass.

The boys are in Strasburg today, visiting the Choo Choo Barn with its huge model train exhibit.  Erin and I are hanging out at home, vacuuming and doing laundry and finally taking the Halloween window clings off the windows.  Know what works awesome for storing window clings?  A static cling photo album.  One of the old school ones.  Good luck finding one in any store, ever, but if you get lucky and stumble across one on the bottom row of the photo album section in your new Super Wal-Mart, snatch it up.  It works great.

Dex also digs his new Inchimals.  He's been measuring cars, trains, etc.

We had snow Christmas morning, but it melted by afternoon.  Played outside for a while and said hi to our friend Tee the Horse

From a couple weeks before Christmas.  Wish Erin was looking at the camera.  But, alas, she is far too fascinated by the tree to be looking at me.

Case in point.  I'm not sure how I am going to entertain her when we take down the tree...