Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Fun
Mommy really wanted to splash in the mud puddles too! But she would have taken off her shoes and rolled up her pants first. Silly grown-ups!
Monday, March 9, 2009
Growing Up Fast!
Ok, here's an entire blog about J's "new tricks" - so if you're not into hearing Moms go on about their kids' new skills, read no further ;)
The first skill that he's been honing in the last few months is shapes. He's known what the moon is for a very long time now - it was one of his first words. He recognizes the moon in both crescent and full shapes in life and in books. Stars have also been a favorite for some time (both real and in the stereotypical "star" shape found on toys and in books). To it he's added squares, triangles, circles, and hearts - if asked he can identify which is which when we're coloring together or in his books.
He's also been hard at work on his colors. Once he realized he could say blue (or "booo") he has been using it to ask what color something is. It started with his shirt each day - he'd point to the shirt, ask "boooo"?, and smile when I gave him the appropriate color. As of the end of February (21 mo. old) he could reliably ID blue, red, green, and yellow when given his choice of blocks. In the two weeks since then he's added orange, brown and often purple (sometimes mixes purple with blue) and can select the appropriate crayon or colored area in a book. He can also pretty reliably "say" green, orange, and purple - rather than just using "blue" as a synonym for "color". They are not as clear as they could be, but his speech is getting there.
The skill I'm most excited about is his counting! For a month or so he's play counted - he'd go down the line of snowmen on our couch blanket and intone staccato noises as if he were counting them but the sounds were not recognizable as English. For a few weeks now he'd often say two (doo) and/or three (tee) if we said, "Let's count..." and begin him off with "one...". He's learned the sequence up through five and sometimes seven. I thought he was just learning a little chant, so to speak, that would later lead to him applying the concept of counting. But just this afternoon he was coloring at his little table with 5 crayons. I was otherwise occupied, but looked up when I heard him counting... he counted his five crayons by moving one apart from the rest then adding "doo, teee, or, ive" and separating them into the new pile. Then he picked up all of them and said "ive daaas!" (five crayons), lifting them up above his head in his fist! [He doesn't yet have a "f" or "k" sound in his verbal vocabulary]. I'm so excited that he seems to be understanding that counting is a concept, not just a rhyme!
The first skill that he's been honing in the last few months is shapes. He's known what the moon is for a very long time now - it was one of his first words. He recognizes the moon in both crescent and full shapes in life and in books. Stars have also been a favorite for some time (both real and in the stereotypical "star" shape found on toys and in books). To it he's added squares, triangles, circles, and hearts - if asked he can identify which is which when we're coloring together or in his books.
He's also been hard at work on his colors. Once he realized he could say blue (or "booo") he has been using it to ask what color something is. It started with his shirt each day - he'd point to the shirt, ask "boooo"?, and smile when I gave him the appropriate color. As of the end of February (21 mo. old) he could reliably ID blue, red, green, and yellow when given his choice of blocks. In the two weeks since then he's added orange, brown and often purple (sometimes mixes purple with blue) and can select the appropriate crayon or colored area in a book. He can also pretty reliably "say" green, orange, and purple - rather than just using "blue" as a synonym for "color". They are not as clear as they could be, but his speech is getting there.
The skill I'm most excited about is his counting! For a month or so he's play counted - he'd go down the line of snowmen on our couch blanket and intone staccato noises as if he were counting them but the sounds were not recognizable as English. For a few weeks now he'd often say two (doo) and/or three (tee) if we said, "Let's count..." and begin him off with "one...". He's learned the sequence up through five and sometimes seven. I thought he was just learning a little chant, so to speak, that would later lead to him applying the concept of counting. But just this afternoon he was coloring at his little table with 5 crayons. I was otherwise occupied, but looked up when I heard him counting... he counted his five crayons by moving one apart from the rest then adding "doo, teee, or, ive" and separating them into the new pile. Then he picked up all of them and said "ive daaas!" (five crayons), lifting them up above his head in his fist! [He doesn't yet have a "f" or "k" sound in his verbal vocabulary]. I'm so excited that he seems to be understanding that counting is a concept, not just a rhyme!
Friday, February 6, 2009
Miscellany
The stinky thing about bed rest during pregnancy is the guilt. Here you are, perfectly healthy, sitting here letting others do work you could be doing if not for a yet hidden mini-person. They don't even get the joy of cooing at a new baby for their trouble.
J went running to his toy box after perusing one of my Marine Biology books. He drug back a squishy worm-like toy and wanted me to appreciate the similarities between it and a marine worm. Not bad, kid.
I went to check on him in his room - he was being entirely too quiet in there - only to find that he had a big teddy bear laying on his changing pad. He was lifting its rear/legs with one had while wiping its butt with the sock in his other hand. I had to show him how to put a diaper on the bear after a performance like that!
J went running to his toy box after perusing one of my Marine Biology books. He drug back a squishy worm-like toy and wanted me to appreciate the similarities between it and a marine worm. Not bad, kid.
I went to check on him in his room - he was being entirely too quiet in there - only to find that he had a big teddy bear laying on his changing pad. He was lifting its rear/legs with one had while wiping its butt with the sock in his other hand. I had to show him how to put a diaper on the bear after a performance like that!
Monday, January 19, 2009
You know...
...that life's priorities are changing when the arrival of long-awaited mail order pillows is the highlight of your day. Sweet sleep!!!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
It's Been Awhile
J got really mobile and well, I got pregnant. No one really wants to hear my daily puke update, so now it's January ;)
This is why our dog hides:
ENGARDE!
It's just an empty wrapping paper tube but it had might as well be a fencing rapier... He's an energetic and curious little guy, but his easy-going temperment makes for a pretty happy Mom most days. He's a whiz at puzzles and still loves his trucks and trains. We haven't quite figured out the polarity thing with the trains that connect with magnets - I know he'll get it soon, though. He's been sleeping in his big boy room for about 2 weeks now, making room for baby #2 in the nursery. He adjusts to change well - we are very fortunate!
Things from this year with a mobile little one:
Dog food crunches differently than Kix cereal.
Watch what you do. He will mimic even the things you regret!
Putting two words together is a big deal for an 18 month-old.
Do a "what baby can reach" check at least once a week, b/c 14" Ginsu knives make a great "shshshing" noise when they get pulled out of a kitchen drawer.
Even if your house is "proofed" for your baby, think creatively. His playdate buddies may find things like the heating vents to stuff video cassettes into ;)
Michelle W. is right. Boys need food, space, and plenty of activities!
This is why our dog hides:
ENGARDE!
It's just an empty wrapping paper tube but it had might as well be a fencing rapier... He's an energetic and curious little guy, but his easy-going temperment makes for a pretty happy Mom most days. He's a whiz at puzzles and still loves his trucks and trains. We haven't quite figured out the polarity thing with the trains that connect with magnets - I know he'll get it soon, though. He's been sleeping in his big boy room for about 2 weeks now, making room for baby #2 in the nursery. He adjusts to change well - we are very fortunate!Things from this year with a mobile little one:
Dog food crunches differently than Kix cereal.
Watch what you do. He will mimic even the things you regret!
Putting two words together is a big deal for an 18 month-old.
Do a "what baby can reach" check at least once a week, b/c 14" Ginsu knives make a great "shshshing" noise when they get pulled out of a kitchen drawer.
Even if your house is "proofed" for your baby, think creatively. His playdate buddies may find things like the heating vents to stuff video cassettes into ;)
Michelle W. is right. Boys need food, space, and plenty of activities!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)