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| From Fall 09 |
Monday, October 26, 2009
Thursday, October 1, 2009
A Year and a Half, oh my!
It doesn't cease to amaze how a few months make such a difference in the life span of a baby. Except you can hardly call Collin a baby anymore. He's a stubborn, independent, full-blown toddler.
Highlights in the world according to Collin:
1. Still a Super Eater and Fruit Fiend:
Collin gobbles up any kind of fruit he can get (including whole peaches and pears stolen from the fruit basket) and since tomatoes are technically a fruit those too are consumed with fervor from the garden. When it comes to fruit, he could probably eat most grown ups under the table! Some of Collin's other favorite foods are: pasta, quiche, bacon (just like dad), garden burgers, beans (especially baked beans), fake and real chicken nuggets, broccoli, carrots, potatoes/yams, squash, yogurt, fig cookies, oatmeal, peanut butter or almond butter, turkey, cheerios, and pretty much anything starchy or sweet. The randoms are spicy hummus, guacamole and BBQ sauce. He's also starting to get the hang of a spoon and fork.
2. Dance party time:
Collin loves to march his feet in rapid succession. He points to the stereo and grabs the scarves he loves to see me dance with to African beats. We've also started our second session of Music Together class which he'll hopefully enjoy. The first class was a bit of a bust with Collin cranky after I woke him from a rare morning nap. He kept running to the door and pointing to it, trying to steal the instruments and attempting to slap his fellow baby classmates on the head.
3. Tot language:
Language wise he seems to be on track. He probably has more words than we can understand and understands more than he can say. He knows who "Blue" his dog is with certainty, he understands simple directions like "bring me the book," "where's your milk?" and smiles with delight whenever we mention "Breakfast, snack time, lunch or dinner!" It seems like he'll say a word one week and then it disappears for a while. These are the words/phrases he seems to have in his vocab:
1. Momma (first word boo ya)
2. Dadda/daddy
3. Meh (milk, drink)
4. Nana (banana)
5. All done (uses this in context, sometimes not)
6. Up down (in context) like on the swings
7. Hot: He understands the oven is hot! Food can be hot! It used to be hot outside but those days are probably over.
8. On: Says this as he flips the light switch
9. Eye: Points to his eye
10. No: of course he's a toddler, luckily he doesn't say it all the time
And variations: "No mine!" "No way!"
11. Cat: He's only used this once but he pointed to a cat so I don't think it's coincidence
He lets you know what he wants by pointing with exacerbation with his monkey sounds (ehh, ehh!). With advice from Carol, our wonderful Early Intervention Hearing Specialist, we're trying not to give in so easily to the grunts and encourage actual words (or word approximations).
The frustrations of communication are obvious. When he's not understood, we don't give him what he want, or he's having trouble figuring something out he lets you know with big tears and anger: "No!" And smacks whatever is in his way (poor mom or dad). We're trying to teach him patiently and not so patiently, that hitting is not okay. So far all we get are giggles, blank looks or repeat attacks. Ignoring and walking away are pretty much the best solutions right now.
4. Busy, busy, busy:
From when he wakes up, Collin is on the go. He crawls up stairs at rapid pace and discovered the magic of going backwards to get down. He knows most of his body parts and loves patting his head. He loves looking at books especially ones filled with bright pictures and baby faces or cars. Lamps are apparently the coolest thing ever and are pointed to in books, restaurants, stores and of course at home. He also loves huddling in his tent and sweeping with the broom. We definitely have a runner and being chased is one of his favorite games. Hand holding is met with protests and he's not at the point where he knows he needs to follow us; safety is not a priority for a year and a half year old. Eventually he'll get it. But for now the stroller is our best mode of transportation (and no a leash is not in our future).
5. Best friends:
I know I've mentioned Blue in the past but Collin's connection to his sweet stuffed dog doesn't get old. He slobbers on Blue's nose, attempts to feed him cheerios and has a sweet happy cry whenever he hugs him. He sleeps with Blue, brings him on excursions and drags him all around the house. After a few days, the smell is more than I can take and washing Blue involves some strategy and distraction for sure. Mike and I need to find a replacement for the just in case moments. Losing Blue would be bad.
6. School:
Collin started at Purple Moon, his new daycare last week, and so far it's great. The teachers seem wonderful and actually like their job (a far cry from most of my experience from working at corporate daycares). The kids get snacks and meals that are nutritious and food I'd actually eat, as opposed to the bloated hot dogs, canned vegetables and fried god-knows-what that supposedly meets the school nutritional requirements served at other places. Colorful art projects cover the walls and they have an outdoor space complete with a little house and play structure and Collin's favorite--sand which I find everywhere.
Mostly Collin seems to enjoy being around his little friends. He always runs right in the classroom and doesn't notice when I slip out. And is usually not in a rush to go when I pick him up. He'll be able to stay in the program all the way through pre-kindergarten, probably with a lot of the same kids.
Highlights in the world according to Collin:
1. Still a Super Eater and Fruit Fiend:
Collin gobbles up any kind of fruit he can get (including whole peaches and pears stolen from the fruit basket) and since tomatoes are technically a fruit those too are consumed with fervor from the garden. When it comes to fruit, he could probably eat most grown ups under the table! Some of Collin's other favorite foods are: pasta, quiche, bacon (just like dad), garden burgers, beans (especially baked beans), fake and real chicken nuggets, broccoli, carrots, potatoes/yams, squash, yogurt, fig cookies, oatmeal, peanut butter or almond butter, turkey, cheerios, and pretty much anything starchy or sweet. The randoms are spicy hummus, guacamole and BBQ sauce. He's also starting to get the hang of a spoon and fork.
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| From Fall 09 |
2. Dance party time:
Collin loves to march his feet in rapid succession. He points to the stereo and grabs the scarves he loves to see me dance with to African beats. We've also started our second session of Music Together class which he'll hopefully enjoy. The first class was a bit of a bust with Collin cranky after I woke him from a rare morning nap. He kept running to the door and pointing to it, trying to steal the instruments and attempting to slap his fellow baby classmates on the head.
3. Tot language:
Language wise he seems to be on track. He probably has more words than we can understand and understands more than he can say. He knows who "Blue" his dog is with certainty, he understands simple directions like "bring me the book," "where's your milk?" and smiles with delight whenever we mention "Breakfast, snack time, lunch or dinner!" It seems like he'll say a word one week and then it disappears for a while. These are the words/phrases he seems to have in his vocab:
1. Momma (first word boo ya)
2. Dadda/daddy
3. Meh (milk, drink)
4. Nana (banana)
5. All done (uses this in context, sometimes not)
6. Up down (in context) like on the swings
7. Hot: He understands the oven is hot! Food can be hot! It used to be hot outside but those days are probably over.
8. On: Says this as he flips the light switch
9. Eye: Points to his eye
10. No: of course he's a toddler, luckily he doesn't say it all the time
And variations: "No mine!" "No way!"
11. Cat: He's only used this once but he pointed to a cat so I don't think it's coincidence
He lets you know what he wants by pointing with exacerbation with his monkey sounds (ehh, ehh!). With advice from Carol, our wonderful Early Intervention Hearing Specialist, we're trying not to give in so easily to the grunts and encourage actual words (or word approximations).
The frustrations of communication are obvious. When he's not understood, we don't give him what he want, or he's having trouble figuring something out he lets you know with big tears and anger: "No!" And smacks whatever is in his way (poor mom or dad). We're trying to teach him patiently and not so patiently, that hitting is not okay. So far all we get are giggles, blank looks or repeat attacks. Ignoring and walking away are pretty much the best solutions right now.
4. Busy, busy, busy:
From when he wakes up, Collin is on the go. He crawls up stairs at rapid pace and discovered the magic of going backwards to get down. He knows most of his body parts and loves patting his head. He loves looking at books especially ones filled with bright pictures and baby faces or cars. Lamps are apparently the coolest thing ever and are pointed to in books, restaurants, stores and of course at home. He also loves huddling in his tent and sweeping with the broom. We definitely have a runner and being chased is one of his favorite games. Hand holding is met with protests and he's not at the point where he knows he needs to follow us; safety is not a priority for a year and a half year old. Eventually he'll get it. But for now the stroller is our best mode of transportation (and no a leash is not in our future).
5. Best friends:
I know I've mentioned Blue in the past but Collin's connection to his sweet stuffed dog doesn't get old. He slobbers on Blue's nose, attempts to feed him cheerios and has a sweet happy cry whenever he hugs him. He sleeps with Blue, brings him on excursions and drags him all around the house. After a few days, the smell is more than I can take and washing Blue involves some strategy and distraction for sure. Mike and I need to find a replacement for the just in case moments. Losing Blue would be bad.
6. School:
Collin started at Purple Moon, his new daycare last week, and so far it's great. The teachers seem wonderful and actually like their job (a far cry from most of my experience from working at corporate daycares). The kids get snacks and meals that are nutritious and food I'd actually eat, as opposed to the bloated hot dogs, canned vegetables and fried god-knows-what that supposedly meets the school nutritional requirements served at other places. Colorful art projects cover the walls and they have an outdoor space complete with a little house and play structure and Collin's favorite--sand which I find everywhere.
Mostly Collin seems to enjoy being around his little friends. He always runs right in the classroom and doesn't notice when I slip out. And is usually not in a rush to go when I pick him up. He'll be able to stay in the program all the way through pre-kindergarten, probably with a lot of the same kids.
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