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You're definitely an old pro at feeding yourself with your hands. I remember how excited we were when you learned how to grab food, and then pinch it more delicately (although you sometimes really just feel like grabbing food anyway and mushing it to smithereens). Lately you've even been chewing food, reaching in your mouth, taking the food out, looking at it and then putting it back in your mouth again.
Well, we're working on another couple fun and potentially equally messy eating milestones.
First off, you're really interested in how cups work and how to drink (or pour) liquid out of them.
It's a fun new toy that can leave you realllllly soaking wet.
Secondly, you've advanced to mostly eating whatever we're eating. This experiment has had varying degrees of success. But last night...oh man...last night you couldn't get enough of the chicken Basil Thai Fried Rice that I made. It had okra, tomatoes, eggplant and thai basil fresh from our garden (and mine had our fresh jalapenos in it, but I spared your Mommy and you that treatment). While cooking I had pretty much resigned myself to the fact that you would probably not like it (we had struck out on a rice dish pretty abysmally a few nights before).
But you LOVED it!
You've had some experience feeding yourself yogurt with a spoon, but for the past two nights you've shown some real aptitude and creativity in this department. The second night was a bit cleaner than the first, and you were very vocal about how funny and awesome you thought feeding yourself actually was.
After your yogurt course, while Mommy drew your (much needed) bath, I bribed you into saying one of your new words on camera. With Graham Crackers in hand, you munched on (and said the word ) "Cooook keeehhhhh"s!
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Water Baby
Since summer began, your Mom has been taking you to swim classes. Now, let's get one thing straight: you love the water, and you love the pool! You love splishing and splashing and bouncing. But, at first, you really really really hated being submerged. The swim school you attend, Emler, has a method of teaching babies how to hold their breath by literally tossing them into the deep end.
Okay, well, not literally. But they create a sensation of falling, which forces humans to automatically hold their breath. You are a human, so this applies to you too. You're doing a wonderful job at holding your breath under water, but the first couple times, when you surfaced, you were PISSED at your Mommy and the world for putting you through that.
But, slowly but surely, you've gotten used to it and are getting better and better at "swimming."
Luckily, last Friday I was able to go to Emler with you and Mommy and we practiced submersion a bunch. Throw in the Waterproof camera to that equation, and you've got pretty solid evidence of your submersion lessons. Granted, you still don't seem to love (or even like) being dunked, you seem okay with it now, which is good: water safety is very important, and learning things like holding your breath are key.
As fun as that seemed, your true love of water stems from bath time. You love splishing and all that other stuff in the tub too. But now you've figured out how to play with some of the cooler tubby toys in the bath. You also still really like to play with the one toy that is attached to you. Probably, as your Mommy puts it, because it's really the only time during the day that you have access to it.
But, I digress, bath time is, indeed, so much fun. And it's really cool to watch you discover actions and consequences in the tub (aka, figure out how your toys work).
Okay, well, not literally. But they create a sensation of falling, which forces humans to automatically hold their breath. You are a human, so this applies to you too. You're doing a wonderful job at holding your breath under water, but the first couple times, when you surfaced, you were PISSED at your Mommy and the world for putting you through that.
But, slowly but surely, you've gotten used to it and are getting better and better at "swimming."
Luckily, last Friday I was able to go to Emler with you and Mommy and we practiced submersion a bunch. Throw in the Waterproof camera to that equation, and you've got pretty solid evidence of your submersion lessons. Granted, you still don't seem to love (or even like) being dunked, you seem okay with it now, which is good: water safety is very important, and learning things like holding your breath are key.
As fun as that seemed, your true love of water stems from bath time. You love splishing and all that other stuff in the tub too. But now you've figured out how to play with some of the cooler tubby toys in the bath. You also still really like to play with the one toy that is attached to you. Probably, as your Mommy puts it, because it's really the only time during the day that you have access to it.
But, I digress, bath time is, indeed, so much fun. And it's really cool to watch you discover actions and consequences in the tub (aka, figure out how your toys work).
Monday, June 27, 2011
Talkey
I can't believe that I'm just now doing this, but it's time to chronicle your first words, since now your vocabulary is rapidly becoming to large to commit to memory.
Of course, you started out by saying "Mama." Everything was "Mama," even your Mama!
Then you said "Dada" once. You haven't said it since. Although, you seem to like saying "papa," except it's more like "papapapapa."
But, your first real word that you said and associated it to one thing only was "fish." But you said "ishhhhhhh." You said it when you saw pictures of fish or fish in the pond or a tank in a restaurant. But, then you gave up on saying "fish."
Then came the big developmental portion of your vocabulary. It began with "car." Except you said it as "acah." But we know what you mean! Since you say it when you play with a car, watch cars go by our house with your Grandmas and when you point to (selected) cars in parking lots. I think "acah" was your first official word that stuck.
After that it's been getting wordy in the Weinstein house. You have a specific word for "Preston," but it can't really be written using the English alphabet. It kind of sounds like "Psdfasskjlljkb." But it's consistently used when describing Preston. you now talk all the time. When you started walking, it was like your feet could finally run, so your mouth does too. When you walk around the house you love to say "ohhhhh" "ohhhhh."
You love bubbles. We blow bubbles in the backyard all the time. You know where the bubbles and the wand are kept. So, one day not too long ago, you watched your Mom put her contacts in and you pointed to the upturned contact on her finger and said "Bubble!"
Then "fish" came back, except now it's more like "fffffff." I know this means fish because you and I stood on our back porch, and you pointed to the fish food, said "fffffff" and got really happy when I got the fish food and we fed the "fffffff"s.
And now you can say "yes!" Except it's more like "Yettttttttthhhhhhhhhhshshshs," but, It's definitely an affirmative answer. It can often be provoked by asking if you want to go upstairs, or if you want a cookie.
Speaking of cookies, Mimi and Pops asked if you wanted a cookie and instead of saying "yetttttthhhhsshshs" you said "cooook eeee." So now you can say cookie too!
And you also know can say what noise a dog makes: "arf!" or is it "woof!" The word you say could be either, but it definitely refers to a dog. So that's good.
Getting you to talk on video is actually pretty challenging, since the second the camera starts rolling, you normally want to eat the camera, or see the other side of it. But, when you're on a roll, you're on a roll. Here's "a cah" and "arf!"
It's always been great talking to you, but the conversations (which started as rather one-sided) are now on their way to being full-fledged chats. You definitely understand a lot more than you can say (you know what to do when we say "high five," "bouncey bouncey," "bath time," "hug," "be nice," "food," "water," "ear," "nose," "belly button," "cat" and tons of other words), but your mind is working all the time on figuring out how to say these things. You mouth words when we're reading; I swear you're so close to saying "boat" the other night while reading your new favorite, "The Going to Bed Book." I know soon enough you'll be saying complex sentences. But until you start talking back, we're going to cherish ever word. Even if your "Dada" has to be "Papapapa" for the time being.
Of course, you started out by saying "Mama." Everything was "Mama," even your Mama!
Then you said "Dada" once. You haven't said it since. Although, you seem to like saying "papa," except it's more like "papapapapa."
But, your first real word that you said and associated it to one thing only was "fish." But you said "ishhhhhhh." You said it when you saw pictures of fish or fish in the pond or a tank in a restaurant. But, then you gave up on saying "fish."
Then came the big developmental portion of your vocabulary. It began with "car." Except you said it as "acah." But we know what you mean! Since you say it when you play with a car, watch cars go by our house with your Grandmas and when you point to (selected) cars in parking lots. I think "acah" was your first official word that stuck.
After that it's been getting wordy in the Weinstein house. You have a specific word for "Preston," but it can't really be written using the English alphabet. It kind of sounds like "Psdfasskjlljkb." But it's consistently used when describing Preston. you now talk all the time. When you started walking, it was like your feet could finally run, so your mouth does too. When you walk around the house you love to say "ohhhhh" "ohhhhh."
You love bubbles. We blow bubbles in the backyard all the time. You know where the bubbles and the wand are kept. So, one day not too long ago, you watched your Mom put her contacts in and you pointed to the upturned contact on her finger and said "Bubble!"
Then "fish" came back, except now it's more like "fffffff." I know this means fish because you and I stood on our back porch, and you pointed to the fish food, said "fffffff" and got really happy when I got the fish food and we fed the "fffffff"s.
And now you can say "yes!" Except it's more like "Yettttttttthhhhhhhhhhshshshs," but, It's definitely an affirmative answer. It can often be provoked by asking if you want to go upstairs, or if you want a cookie.
Speaking of cookies, Mimi and Pops asked if you wanted a cookie and instead of saying "yetttttthhhhsshshs" you said "cooook eeee." So now you can say cookie too!
And you also know can say what noise a dog makes: "arf!" or is it "woof!" The word you say could be either, but it definitely refers to a dog. So that's good.
Getting you to talk on video is actually pretty challenging, since the second the camera starts rolling, you normally want to eat the camera, or see the other side of it. But, when you're on a roll, you're on a roll. Here's "a cah" and "arf!"
It's always been great talking to you, but the conversations (which started as rather one-sided) are now on their way to being full-fledged chats. You definitely understand a lot more than you can say (you know what to do when we say "high five," "bouncey bouncey," "bath time," "hug," "be nice," "food," "water," "ear," "nose," "belly button," "cat" and tons of other words), but your mind is working all the time on figuring out how to say these things. You mouth words when we're reading; I swear you're so close to saying "boat" the other night while reading your new favorite, "The Going to Bed Book." I know soon enough you'll be saying complex sentences. But until you start talking back, we're going to cherish ever word. Even if your "Dada" has to be "Papapapa" for the time being.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Laugh it up!
You love to laugh and love to make other people laugh. Typically, you get good laughs by laughing yourself, which then makes you want to laugh again.
It's gotta be one of the all-time best games ever.
It's gotta be one of the all-time best games ever.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Art Baby: A Day at the Museum
Over the weekend, we spent a whole day at the Dallas Museum of Art. They were having a "BooksmART" event, where authors and illustrators came to talk about their craft, sign some books and lead workshops. One of your Mommy's favorite illustrators/authors (her illustratin' idol, in fact), David Wiesner, was one of the stars of the day. So we stalked him at the museum.
First we heard a lecture from him. He had a Powerpoint showing drawings from some of his great books. And you got really excited and vocal when the giant frogs (from "Tuesday") and lizards (from "Art & Max") were shown on the screen. You made it through about half the lecture before I decided to duck out with you. You weren't getting fussy, but you were maybe getting too excited and screeching and pointing, so you and I had some Daddy & Aidan fun time around the museum while Mommy finished listening to the lecture.
You had a blast looking at all the cool art and a few of the children's attractions they had there.
It was also a very flattering day for me because of the transitive property of compliments.
A lot of people stopped me to tell me how adorable you are. One woman even stopped me to say that you were a beautiful boy with gorgeous eyes.
Then a few minutes later, a Museum person observing you riding on my shoulders stopped us and said that you looked just like me.
Therefore, ipso facto, I, too, must be adorable!
But, enough about me!
After we met up with your Mommy after the lecture, we went and grabbed our picnic lunch while Mommy waited in line to get Mr. Wiesner's autograph in all 5 of his books that we own. It was hot as blue blazes, so I fed you a banana in the shade for the most part while your Mom waited.
But then we got to the front of the line and blammo! You, me and your Mom met David Wiesner!
First we heard a lecture from him. He had a Powerpoint showing drawings from some of his great books. And you got really excited and vocal when the giant frogs (from "Tuesday") and lizards (from "Art & Max") were shown on the screen. You made it through about half the lecture before I decided to duck out with you. You weren't getting fussy, but you were maybe getting too excited and screeching and pointing, so you and I had some Daddy & Aidan fun time around the museum while Mommy finished listening to the lecture.
You had a blast looking at all the cool art and a few of the children's attractions they had there.
It was also a very flattering day for me because of the transitive property of compliments.
A lot of people stopped me to tell me how adorable you are. One woman even stopped me to say that you were a beautiful boy with gorgeous eyes.
Then a few minutes later, a Museum person observing you riding on my shoulders stopped us and said that you looked just like me.
Therefore, ipso facto, I, too, must be adorable!
But, enough about me!
After we met up with your Mommy after the lecture, we went and grabbed our picnic lunch while Mommy waited in line to get Mr. Wiesner's autograph in all 5 of his books that we own. It was hot as blue blazes, so I fed you a banana in the shade for the most part while your Mom waited.
But then we got to the front of the line and blammo! You, me and your Mom met David Wiesner!
Then we fed you your delicious lunch in the shade of the museum trees and the Dallas skyline!
But, being the s-m-r-t parents that we are, we knew that you needed to nap (it was already nearing 1:30 and you hadn't had your 11 o'clock nap yet!). So we decided to take a stroll around the museum in the hopes that you'd fall asleep.
In one empty gallery, we thought we had lulled you to sleep. But then you discovered how to make an echo and then filled the gallery with some underwater echolocation noises.
So we had to take you somewhere less entertaining. And we found it: a one-room exhibit of architecture line drawings did the trick! Good night, Aidan!
But, then we hit a problem. The area for the next event, a workshop, was a no-stroller zone! But you needed to nap...so we decided that you'd spend your nap in my arms. But, problem two: my arms would fall off if I had to hold you for over an hour. So, solution: home-made sling! Your mom tied my shirt (which had previously served as a picnic blanket) ((good thing I wore two shirts)) around you and me and made a civil-war style sling. I worked perfectly! I could hold you but spread some of the weight to my shoulders. And, not-so-secretly, I relished every moment of cradling you in my arms and having you sleep on my shoulder. You don't do that too often any more!
So, we parked the stroller and stood in line for Wiesner's workshop. You slept for an entire hour in my arms, but when you woke up, you woke up excitedly. You found yourself in an art room and started excitedly vocalizing at all the drawings and cool crafts around. Once you were done cuddling and pointing, you were ready to join in the fun. So we got you a pencil and a piece of paper, and you went to work doing your own full-body, super-excited illustration!
While your picture will certainly be hung up on the side of our fridge, it's really the whole adventure that I'd like to put in a frame and hang up on our wall-- that way, we'll never forget it. But, I guess this blog entry will do.
And, at any rate, the Museum's just around the corner. I suspect that we'll be spending many a fun day in the museum, and maybe one day, we'll be there to see yours and your Mommy's artwork hanging up on the wall!
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Summer Swimming and Carpet Rides
You are most definitely a water baby! Not only do you love bath time, but you love swimming too. Well, not quite "swimming" but walking around in the water and going splish splash. You are with your Mom right now at your second swimming class, which I'm sure you'll love...except for the part where they're teaching you to be submerged. But, even one scary moment can't make you get out of the water.
We've had our blow-up pool inflated just about every weekend and you will basically climb into it to go swimming. In this regard, you're just like your Daddy: I love swimming too...well, not quite swimming, but walking around in water and going splish splash.
Speaking of water, the other day I spilled some in the kitchen and grabbed a recently-used swimmin' towel to clean up the mess. Later on that day, the towel was dry and still on the floor (because that's how Daddies can clean effectively) and you saw it. Your Mommy and you invented a super fun game called "Magic Carpet Ride!"
Of course, it all looks like fun and games, but the really amazing part for us (besides how much you loved (and the dogs) loved it) was that it really dawned on us how much you truly understand us. I don't think we've ever really told you to "lay down" before when your safety depended on it, but while playing this game, we asked you to lay down and you did it!
So, to reward our good boy, we dragged him around the kitchen floor on a dirty towel all while being licked by dogs. Good parenting!
We've had our blow-up pool inflated just about every weekend and you will basically climb into it to go swimming. In this regard, you're just like your Daddy: I love swimming too...well, not quite swimming, but walking around in water and going splish splash.
Speaking of water, the other day I spilled some in the kitchen and grabbed a recently-used swimmin' towel to clean up the mess. Later on that day, the towel was dry and still on the floor (because that's how Daddies can clean effectively) and you saw it. Your Mommy and you invented a super fun game called "Magic Carpet Ride!"
Of course, it all looks like fun and games, but the really amazing part for us (besides how much you loved (and the dogs) loved it) was that it really dawned on us how much you truly understand us. I don't think we've ever really told you to "lay down" before when your safety depended on it, but while playing this game, we asked you to lay down and you did it!
So, to reward our good boy, we dragged him around the kitchen floor on a dirty towel all while being licked by dogs. Good parenting!
Friday, June 10, 2011
Book it!
The other day we took you to a book store and you walked around looking at the cool books. We tried to keep you from playing your favorite home game ("take all the books off their shelves") pretty successfully.
We sat on the floor reading to you and an elderly lady came up to us. She asked us how old you were. "15 months" we said. Then she got all teary eyed.
"It's so great to see a child that age so excited by books." She smiled and walked off.
That was weird. But nice.
I wonder what she would have thought of your taste in books (like when you literally eat them), or when you tell us you're done reading a certain book by shutting it and pushing it off our laps and onto the floor, or how we now have to sing "The WHEEL on the bus goes round and round, "the WIPER on the bus KINDA goes swish, swish, swish," or "the one-armed baby cries wah, wah, wah" (I don't blame him!)
All that said, though, you really do love books and love to be read to. You love flipping through the books on your own too. Someday soon, you'll be able to read all on your own, but until you do, we're gonna cherish every word we can read to you.
Books and literacy are really important to this world, and we're glad that you're excitement about books made an old lady cry.
Also, did you know that bookstores have tons of cool toys and stuffed animals to play with!
Bookstores have tons of "walking-bait" that can be used to show off your new walking skills. So, eat that, books.
We sat on the floor reading to you and an elderly lady came up to us. She asked us how old you were. "15 months" we said. Then she got all teary eyed.
"It's so great to see a child that age so excited by books." She smiled and walked off.
That was weird. But nice.
I wonder what she would have thought of your taste in books (like when you literally eat them), or when you tell us you're done reading a certain book by shutting it and pushing it off our laps and onto the floor, or how we now have to sing "The WHEEL on the bus goes round and round, "the WIPER on the bus KINDA goes swish, swish, swish," or "the one-armed baby cries wah, wah, wah" (I don't blame him!)
All that said, though, you really do love books and love to be read to. You love flipping through the books on your own too. Someday soon, you'll be able to read all on your own, but until you do, we're gonna cherish every word we can read to you.
Books and literacy are really important to this world, and we're glad that you're excitement about books made an old lady cry.
Also, did you know that bookstores have tons of cool toys and stuffed animals to play with!
Bookstores have tons of "walking-bait" that can be used to show off your new walking skills. So, eat that, books.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Getting By With a Little Help from Our Friends
Earlier this month, we had Brady over, and the two of you found creative ways to solve both of your problems.
Brady couldn't quite get around in the walker.
And the walker's a bit too light for you to push it around without it slipping away from you.
Voila: teamwork and fun!
Brady couldn't quite get around in the walker.
And the walker's a bit too light for you to push it around without it slipping away from you.
Voila: teamwork and fun!
Monday, June 6, 2011
May I Walk
The month of may was monumental for mobility! You went from a superb crawler (which you still are) to a great co-walker to a (mostly) solo-walker!
Check it out!
Shameless Bribery at the End of April, but only jelly legs follow:
Controlled falling between mommy and daddy on the first of May:
Then some hard work trying to walk in early May:
Followed by Baby Steps!
And from those baby steps you've only gotten better and better!
Of course, your co-walking is stupendous:
But your solo career has really taken off!
And by the end of May, my shameless bribery in exchange for walking finally paid off!
But, you don't even need bribery to walk on your own two feet anymore.
May is over, and in one short month, you have become a walker!
Guess we'd better get you some shoes...
Check it out!
Shameless Bribery at the End of April, but only jelly legs follow:
Controlled falling between mommy and daddy on the first of May:
Then some hard work trying to walk in early May:
Followed by Baby Steps!
And from those baby steps you've only gotten better and better!
Of course, your co-walking is stupendous:
But your solo career has really taken off!
And by the end of May, my shameless bribery in exchange for walking finally paid off!
But, you don't even need bribery to walk on your own two feet anymore.
May is over, and in one short month, you have become a walker!
Guess we'd better get you some shoes...
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Little Gym Rat
As part of your 1st birthday present, your Mom and I signed you up for a semester of classes at the little gym. You've been going every week ever since and you love it!
I had the pleasure of taking you to your first couple classes and, last week, I got to go with you and Mommy (and Brady) to your last class for now. (We're taking the summer off for swim classes!)
It was amazing for me to see the transformation in you from your first class to your last. You were so much braver in trying new things, really understood some of the games a lot better (like getting the bells) and more sociable with the other children. And, of course, you're almost working, so that's a big deal right there!
But, going to these classes has been great for us, I think. You're kind of fearless, definitely friendly and not afraid of things like giant parachutes or flipping upside down.
I just heard word from your Mom that your first swim class was a success! And true to form though we're a bit behind in the fact that you've never been submerged in water and, therefore, aren't a pro at holding your breath, but your boldness and braveness paid off. You were the only kid who went down the water slide today without crying...and you had a big smile on your face too!
So from Gym class to swim class...here we go!
I had the pleasure of taking you to your first couple classes and, last week, I got to go with you and Mommy (and Brady) to your last class for now. (We're taking the summer off for swim classes!)
It was amazing for me to see the transformation in you from your first class to your last. You were so much braver in trying new things, really understood some of the games a lot better (like getting the bells) and more sociable with the other children. And, of course, you're almost working, so that's a big deal right there!
But, going to these classes has been great for us, I think. You're kind of fearless, definitely friendly and not afraid of things like giant parachutes or flipping upside down.
I just heard word from your Mom that your first swim class was a success! And true to form though we're a bit behind in the fact that you've never been submerged in water and, therefore, aren't a pro at holding your breath, but your boldness and braveness paid off. You were the only kid who went down the water slide today without crying...and you had a big smile on your face too!
So from Gym class to swim class...here we go!
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