Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Full-blown Toddlerhood

Jonas is keeping us all hopping and busy. It's amazing to see what new things he learns every day. His manual dexterity continues to improve, and he is busy learning how to hammer, and place shapes into the correct spot. He also knows how to "drive" a car on the floor, and can steer his tricycle / big wheel and honk the squeezable horn on it. When he wakes up in the morning, he hits the ground running. I'm not kidding. He typically won't walk anywhere. Why would he, when he can run instead? He still loves to dig in the plant dirt, and scatter the rocks. I'm about ready to find a new home for all of my house plants. He continues to be a super-picky eater. He and I both seem to live on toast at the moment.

He loves to chatter, and seems to talk in full sentences. We still can't understand most of what he says, though. But every one in awhile, he'll come out with something very clear. Ed is proud to tell the story of Jonas crying out one morning, "I want Dad!" He also seems to ask often, "What's this?" He uses his pointer finger often, especially when we read him books, and will also point at the light and say "light." He loves music, and will dance when inspired by a good song. Lately, he's been watching the "They Might Be Giants" ABC video, and seems totally enthralled by Sesame Street.

His "randomizer" tendencies also continue. According to Jonas’ logic,
• Tape measures are placed in the baking pan cabinet
• Cookie cutters go in the watering can
• Cookie cutters can be worn as bracelets
• I-pods are stored in the diaper champ (yes, I no longer have mine)
• Refrigerator magnets go in the dishwasher
• clothes hangers belong in the shower
• toothbrushes belong in the washing machine (yes, I've washed a few)


Exhibit A: a recent conversation after I returned from the grocery store.

Ed: Shelly, where are the carrots I asked you to buy?
Shelly: Aren't they in the bag?
Ed: No.
Shelly: Well, check the car. Maybe they fell out.
Ed: No, they're not there either.
Shelly: What does the receipt say?
Ed: Looks like you paid for them. Those baggers at HyVee suck. You really
have to watch them.
Shelly: Yeah right - with a squirming, impatient toddler?
Ed: I'm just sayin'! I'll be right back. I'm going back to the grocery for
carrots.

3 hours later.....

Shelly: Hey! Look what I found! Carrots! Why are they in the corner of the dining room?
Ed: Great. Thanks Jonas!

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Antics

From 10/8/09

Jonas is still such a joy to us. Even though he's almost a year and a half old, I still find myself gazing at him in amazement when he sleeps, plays, eats, or any other activity! Sick, I know.

This morning, he did something different with his breakfast. He's a picky eater, but has been eating more lately, which makes me quite happy. After he finished with his pancakes, bacon, and bananas, he systematically piled each un-eaten morsel of food into the cup holder of his high chair. The other cup holder held his sippee, which is normal. I think he's trying to tell me he's done. Message received dear boy! Anything to keep you from throwing your breakfast onto the floor!

He continues to prefer to run from place to place rather than walk. He seems to fall less often, and hasn't bruised or injured his faced recently (knocking on wood). We are trying to institute good habits as part of our routine, like brushing teeth in the a.m. and p.m., reading books before bedtime, etc.

Jonas now attends Parents Day Out twice a week for 5 1/2 hours at a time, and a short daycare scenario at church for 2 hours. I'm actually on site, down the hall from him at the latter, which I enjoy because I get to peek in on him, which I do, often. I still agonize about leaving him. He starts to whimper and whine we he figures out what's up. And he always cries when I walk out, but I'm told this only lasts for a few minutes. His PDO teacher, Miss Jan, told me yesterday that he was voted "Most Imrpoved" in his class at Leawood Baptist.

Yes, we church hop. PDO is at Leawood Baptist, and the daycare deal is at The Village Presbyterian. Neither of these are the church we attend. The poor child is likely quite confused. He goes to 3 different churches every week! I hope I'm not scarring him for future religious confusion!

He still doesn't sleep through the night, but is easily soothed by his Papa who talks to him, and rubs his back. He still goes down with a bottle, and I'm trying to figure out how to phase that out. When he sees that bottle, it's like Nirvana for him. His eyes glaze as he raises his arms for it, and purses his lip into a perfect "O" of preparation for the nipple. I'm probably creating an oral fixation that will lead to cigarette smoking habit. He'll curse me on his death bed as he dies from lung cancer.

Good God! Can you believe I really have these thoughts?