Dylan Update

Not that you need one since I blog about the kid all the time, but here are a couple of items I wanted to mention for journal's sake.  

• Current obsession: dinosaurs, dinosaurs, and more dinosaurs.  The few dinosaurs we used to have that fit in the animal tote have graduated to their very own dinosaur drawer.  My, how things change.  We check out dinosaur books every time we go to the library.  I must say, I'm getting pretty good at pronouncing dinosaur names and even identifying them.  Dylan's a pro too.  That said, if I have to read Dylan's dinosaur encyclopedia one more time for his bedtime story, I might just scream.  Trying to turn an encyclopedia into a story is quite the chore, although Dylan seems to have a talent for it.  I left him to his encyclopedia while I was brushing Preston's teeth tonight and he was telling quite the story.  That boy's got some creative juice flowing through him.  
• He's afraid of everything right now.  I don't know what kind of phase this is, but he doesn't want to be on another floor without someone there with him, which is hard in a multi-level house.  Luckily, he'll settle for anyone, not just me.  I have watched his smooth-talking many times with both Anthony and Preston.  It's cute to see him take Preston by the hand to go up to the toy room, but I'll take it.  Preston is happy to be included in Dylan's playtime and somehow Dylan is brave enough with Preston there.  
• The boys sleep with a low-watt lamp on at night (again for Dylan's sake).  They haven't been sleeping until 7 lately (which is how long I tell Dylan he has to sleep, although he often ignores my stupid rules), especially the last few nights with daylight savings messing everything up.  So I decided to try something new.  I have no idea if it will work or not because tonight is the first night I have tried it...I'll let you know.  I got out the Christmas tree timer and hooked it up to the lamp.  It's set to go on at 7:30 p.m. (even though bedtime is between 8 and 8:30...I'm hoping to help the boys know it's bedtime that way) and it will turn off at 7:00 a.m.  I told Dylan he needs to stay in bed until the lamp turns off in the morning.  I doubt it'll happen, but at least that way he has a way of knowing what time it is.  The last thing I wanted was to set an alarm, just in case the kids ever sleep in (wishful thinking)