Jonas, at 3 years and 2 months old, just finished his 2nd swimming class, and has 6 more to go. I’d love to report his accomplishments, but I’m too busy entertaining Gill in the baby pool to keep watch. Ed monitors, taking mental notes for follow-up practice when we vacation in Hot Springs where there will be a pool.
On the way home, Jonas asks to go to a seek-a-way. Sometimes he asks to go to the park, or a doctor’s office, or just an office. I have no idea what the sick-a-way is, so Ed and I tried playing 20 questions. “Are there animals at the sick-a-way? Balloons? Clowns? Cake? Slides?” Jonas replies “no” to each question, stuck in the negative feedback loop of toddlers still teetering on cusp of managing full-blown conversations. It remains a mystery.
Mastering the iPad is Jonas’ most recent technological feat. He is better at it than me, and is quite addicted. I’m ashamed to say that I enjoy the occasional peace it brings the house once Gill is asleep. (Gill is equally obsessed but forbidden from touching it so there is lots of whining and screeching). Jonas’ favorite games are Talking Tom (a cat which yawns, farts, and mimics what you say), Cut the Rope, Angry Birds, Monkey Lunchbox, and various train apps. He laughs out loud most often at Cut the Rope. In fact, his iPad obsession is the very reason I am now able to find quiet time to blog.
Jonas also now makes music requests in the car. Favorites songs are by They Might Be Giants: LMNO and Rolling O. (I like Rolling O myself, quite well actually).
The big news is the potty training success. He has been wearing underwear (Thomas and Mickey patterns) for about a week. Skittles proved to be the most effective motivator. Number one is firmly established, but Number two (the big job) takes us by surprise. I learned that while on my own with the boys at Little Monkey Bizness. What a fun time I had in the ladies restroom trying to balance Jonas on the full sized toilet while Gill cruised under stall walls to greet strangers.
Sadly, Jonas is not brave about trying new foods. He even turned down chocolate pudding this past weekend, even though I smeared some on his lips so he could taste the velvety goodness. (How can this be MY child?) Gill, on the other hand, will try anything and everything you put in front of him. We don’t buy any infant or toddler food for Gill. Except for yogurt (which we don’t eat), he eats everything we eat.
A recent novel experience, for both Jonas and me, involved the Plaza library on a busy Sunday. Gill, Jonas and I stopped in on the way home from Monkey Bizness. My hardheaded toddler refuses to stay near me, and won’t even turn his head when I call his name as he runs off. He “got lost” not once but twice during our 20 minutes there. The 2nd time occurred as I was trying to check out. A librarian and the security guard (an imposingly tall black lady) were walking him through the library looking for his parents; they caught him pressing the metal plate at the exit doors which powers the doors open for disable people. I was alarmed, embarrassed and infuriated all at once. I impulsively asked the security guard to try and impress upon him the gravity of his actions by acting stern with him. I was frustrated that he didn’t seem to listen to me and I kept referring to her as a “police lady,” hoping he would be scared of her. If I thought he would have understood, I would have told him he was going to be arrested. I’m still uptight about the whole thing two days later. Needless to say, I handed Jonas over to his father when we got home.
Gill, at 14 months old, has mastered use of the spoon. Even his daycare teachers comment on it. He refuses to be fed; he must power the spoon on his own. He often gets a full container of yogurt with dinner, and manages to wear only about 1/3 of it.
Crawling continues to be his main method of travel, probably because he gets carried a lot by his parents who are trying to keep up with older brother. At the pool each evening, I try to walk Gill around in the baby section. The concrete surface is rough on his knees and the tops of his feet, so he is somewhat compliant. When he’s not paying attention, he stands on his own, and has taken 3-4 steps before he notices and drops down to all fours. My goals for July of 2011 is to toilet train one and get the other walking. One will make life easier, and the other will make it more complicated again.
All in all, the boys have never been more work or more fun. Ed and I are grateful for each and every moment with them, though we are exhausted. I hope to go to bed soon, and it’s just 9:00 on a Tuesday!
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