Well, almost. His birthday is the 13th, just 11 days away! We will be gone for his birthday, and so since a desire to blog hit me, I thought I would take advantage now and write a post about our little boy. Also, I think there's some family out far away in Utah that would love a post full of pictures--and this certainly will be!
Isn't it amazing he is two? Here are some throwback pictures of him just to document in one post the changes he's been through already:
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| One day old Chris! |
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| Here he is one week old |
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| One month old.... |
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| Look at the tuft of hair.... I think this is around six months old. |
There is so much to be said about Chris. Where to start.... how about with his speaking abilities? His words change all the time.... for example, he got really good at saying "up" when he wanted you to pick him up. However, not long ago he learned "apple" for the fruit (which he applies to all fruit), and now he says "apple" for "up" instead. He's got "mama" and "dada" down great--which we love! He used to say "ow ow" for water but now says "wa wa." He can say "iPad"..... yeah not sure if we should be proud of that one.
While on the subject of iPad, he loves to use the iPad. He can navigate that thing so well. It's incredible. He has some games he likes, but generally goes straight for the videos I uploaded (Toy Story and Monsters Inc. are his faves right now) and the PBS Kids app. He loves Super Why and Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. If we are at Grandma's house, he also love to watch Bubble Guppies on her TV.
Back to words.... he loves to have conversations and tell you all about things. Generally it's just nonsense words, but it's a lot of nonsense! He loves to chat. He loves to come and get right in my face to tell me things. Whenever we meet someone new, he always points to each of us, as if he is introducing us, saying "Mama.... Dada" and then the conversation is usually about shoes. He likes to point out that he is wearing shoes, that I am wearing shoes, and that everyone is wearing shoes. He is very good at saying the word shoes, too.
One trick he is learning is following directions! It is amazing. I can tell him to put his cup in the sink, throw away his fruit snack baggie, clean up, go to Daddy, etc. and he will do it! I should say CAN do it because this child has an opinion about everything. He is very decisive about what he will or won't eat, what he wants to do or watch (example: once we were looking at movies, and I suggested Toy Story, but he didn't want that, he wanted Toy Story 2.... decisive.), and what he will obey and won't obey. He says the word "no" extremely well. Lately he says it in such a funny way. He will say "no" in such a way as if to say, "of course not, why would you ever suggest it." He also likes to whisper "no" a lot. We've laughed too many times at that, so he thinks it's funny to whisper no all the time....
He is still a mama's boy. I feel like he goes through phases, and we are in a clingy phase. He doesn't like me to leave (for dates or even to go to the bathroom), and will cry and run after me. It's very sad. I pretty much always have to let him in when I go to the bathroom now.... And even for Nursery he cries when I leave. I have to be the mean mommy who flees the room and ignores his cries.
He is very sweet a lot too. He loves to give kisses and hugs/cuddles. When we are grocery shopping and he is in the cart, he will often reach out and pull me close for a hug, or sometimes kisses. It's adorable. Whenever he is playing, he always comes over to lay his head on me. Once he did so, and he bonked my head really hard. I said ow, and he started to walk away. Then he turned around, rubbed my head, and gave me a kiss on the mouth and cheek! How sweet is that?
Discipline has been a learning curve for Jed and I. We have wondered when it was appropriate for time out, counting to three, etc. We've started time outs, and they are becoming a little effective. One triumph we had was with dinner time. As any toddler does, sometimes they just won't eat. And sometimes, they are ridiculous about not eating (screaming, throwing food, only wanting to eat candy, etc.). So a few weeks ago, Jed told him if he didn't eat, to bed he went. He got a few warnings, then Jed started to take him to bed. Chris obviously did not want to, and so once at his room, Jed gave him one more chance to come eat. Chris said yes to come back and eat, and the second he sat down, he accepted a bite of food! It was amazing! We've only had to use that a couple of times since, but each time he catches on quicker that he will in fact go to bed if he won't eat.
I've also started saying, "First ______, then _______." This was a strategy we used when I taught school. For example, first veggies, then treat. Last week I used it for "first kale chip, then water" and he ate the kale chip (our first time trying those--we both loved them!) right away. It's amazing when you get to a stage where you can reason with them a bit.
Chris loves to sing songs. Actually, he loves it when we sing to him and he does action. His favorites are: Itsy Bitsy Spider, The Wheels on the Bus, Popcorn Popping, and Jesus Wants me for a Sunbeam. He's pretty adorable to watch with his strange actions.
He is slowly learning more things.... we've worked a lot with his colors and sometimes he can identify right right ball or puzzle piece if I tell him to get the red one or blue one. Those are the colors he likes the most, and so those are the ones he has learned first. He doesn't know numbers and I am realizing he doesn't know any letters at all..... we don't even sing the ABCs song! That should change.
He is definitely still in diapers. He has plenty of exposure to the potty (remember how he has to accompany me all the time), but still he doesn't show any interest or readiness for it. Maybe by the time baby number two comes around he will be ready to try it out.
His favorite activities include:
- reading books
- playing on the iPod
- watching movies
- exploring outside
- going in the car
- grocery shopping (he likes putting the food in the back)
- being tickled and thrown around by Daddy
- doing headstands and somersaults (assisted by us, but not for long!)
- running around with his cousins
- playing with cars and balls
- puzzles
- going on walks
- swinging
- making videos on the iPod
- calling Daddy on the phone
- smelling and trying on Mommy's essential oils
- playing on the piano
- Blowing bubbles, as evidenced by the following video:
Some of his favorite foods: (this one is hard as it changes often)
- juice
- apples/applesauce
- smoothies
- cheese (specifically--shredded. Only the messiest and hardest form of cheese to eat)
- pretzels
- Wheat Things
- fruit snacks
- broccoli and cauliflower (this one still baffles me, but he loves these)
- chicken
- rice (plain or with ice on top)
- carrots (this one is a hit or miss)
- cereal
- cinnamon toast
- fish
- french fries
- ketchup (he has been known to take a spoon to it.... so gross)
- yogurt, especially with granola on top
- corn (this kid can handle a corn on the cob as well as any adult)
Foods he does NOT like:
- bananas (almost 90% of the time.... and randomly it's all he wants to eat)
- lettuce/salad
- beans
- strawberries
- potatoes, mashed potatoes (which he used to LOVE)
- oranges or mandarins
- most things I offer at dinner.... until he is forced to eat a bit and then he generally loves it. Funny how that works.
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| From Apple Hill in October where he tripped and got a fat lip. :( |
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| Seeing the Christmas lights. |
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| Adorable little church outfit from his G'parents. |
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| I love to cuddle with him while he's sleeping! |
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| Hm... |
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| Livin' the life. Water and juice! |
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| Family night out to the pet store! No animals were purchased. We just wanted to explore! Chris LOVED the fish. |
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