Ok, wow, really, we are already at the 1/2 mark of the 2nd year - unbelievable. Matthew keeps saying, with every new stage - "I think this is my favorite, he's definitely more fun all the time!" So true!
So, one of the most exciting things this month has brought is Drew is trying to use his words more and more. It's amazing what a difference there is. He's always been a babbler, etc., but now it's almost in sentences. And while there is a TON we don't understand, there are certainly phrases that he repeats over and over, so it surely has a meaning, we just haven't figured it out yet! I'm sure we are not the first, but we would love a 'toddler interpreter'. He has definitely surpassed just saying the sounds of animals (which he is quite proficient at, I must say, mostly thanks to Daddy, who above the 'normal', has taught Drew to respond when asked what a pterodactyl & dragon sound like!) A favorite is "two boo" for two books before bedtime - he'll race out to his bookcase & pick 2 out, holding up 2 fingers, and come back with his find. So cute! It's just amazing all that they pick up on without even trying sometimes. No-no has also become a favorite, but it's still in it's cute phase. He's so emphatic about it sometimes and others he wags his finger along with saying it, while he approaches or as he's getting into something he knows our response will be..."no no". Some other new words include: dow - down (sometimes even bends his knees as to demonstrate the word as well), boo-boo - he liked pointing this one out on his chin (a pretty good one from the park) & mommy's cold sores (what a nice reminder), tisu - tissue, bubu - bubbles, noo - nose, ca - car, caw - Carl (Good Dog Carl book - a favorite!), Hie - Hi. This is really what I could remember to capture for the month, but he is frequently trying to repeat new words every day - very fun & exciting times!
More and more Drew is starting to get the concept of some very simple games, making us, but especially Daddy, very happy. Peek A Boo is still fun, but we are starting to reverse roles. And we've expanded to almost a Hide and Seek version. A favorite game to play, usually after dinner, while Mommy is cleaning up, is for Matthew to hide behind a wall or cabinet somewhere in the dining/breakfast/kitchen area & Drew races after to find him, and is gleefully surprised & full of giggles & laughter every time he gets 'surprised' by Daddy. Drew loves this game so much that almost immediately after finding Daddy, he waves him off as if to say - go hide again - and the game continues! Such fun! Much to Daddy's joy, Drew is also starting to learn to build with his big brick blocks, and has even started to figure out how to snap his Lego blocks together. This is much more fulfilling for Daddy, since prior to this, Drew got such pleasure out of destroying Daddy's masterpieces in seconds instead of playing with them! Drew, as any child, loves to knock down the huge towers, but also loves to play in mazes that we create with the bricks - it's quite fun really!
Drew continues to have little fear - now expanding to being able to climb up on to Mommy's rocking chair, pulling himself up the slide of his climber & continues to have no fear of falling up or down the stairs - not sure how to instill that fear into him - he will just fly down the stairs! He loves to climb up onto chairs & couches and then usually at some point, turns himself into what Daddy has coined 'the human rotisserie' where he spins and rollas all over the couch, and his hair goes crazy with static! He still LOVES to play with sports balls - throwing, catching, rolling, kicking - he just gets so excited! Our house has toy balls all over the place now - there's no escaping it now! He loves his cars & trucks too, and is finally figuring out the 'pull back & release' cars - way more fun for us all! AND, we are so excited, he has started to be able to pedal himself forward on his little car, instead of just being able to go backwards & scream/whine out of frustration when he got stuck or wanted to go forward! Whew, I didn't know when that was going to end! And the boy LOVES to run - sometimes for the simple act of running. But he loves to be chased as well. For some reason, he thinks a good time for this is when Mommy is trying to clean his face, blow his nose, or change his clothes - he gets such a kick out of it!
He is imitating more & more, and this month it includes adding to his dancing repertoire. The hip shake is still the standard, but thanks to Daddy, again, the moves have started to include moving our hands up & down & around, and thanks to Mommy, moving his body in different directions than just the hips back & forth. So, it's still pretty dorky, but oh so cute! Love to see the boy dance! And he loves that music! Daddy has also taught him to point to his ear when he hears something interesting - favorites are planes flying overhead, dogs & cars outside, and hearing the garage door open. We have also noticed he is starting to pick up on when things are funny, even when not completely obvious - but really, he lives in a pretty funny house, so that's not so hard to believe! Daddy has also taught him to knock - thanks to Dr. Suess' book of sounds, he will knock on doors before he enters - pretty funny. He also has picked up on blowing on his food if it is a little too hot - just more and more independent all the time!
So, last month, the big behavior issue was hitting. Thankfully (thank you Lord!), the hitting has drastically decreased. Throwing some food & toys have taken its' place, but it's not near to the extent of the hitting, and not nearly as embarrassing. This month our big challenge was what we can only guess was a true expression of separation anxiety. Drew has been a wonderful sleeper, especially at night, since birth almost, going to sleep really well on his own. Then out of nowhere it seemed, he was crying, screaming, jumping up & down out of such strong emotions, that we were besides ourselves with what was going on. The minute one of us returned to his room (which is totally against our 'sleeping rules'), he would be completely fine! So, 3-4 times a night, Daddy made the treck upstairs to stay in the room while Drew calmed down/fell back asleep for close to 2 weeks. Thankfully, by the 2nd week, it was probably only 1-2 times a night, but it was a long 2 weeks of interrupted sleep. Now, I want to clarify why it was Daddy's job - when Mommy went in the room, Drew refused to be satisfied with simply a hug & presence of being in the room, but would claw & try to climb out of the crib to get to Mommy. So, Daddy got that role...maybe a small even up score for the first 6-9 months where it was Mommy's job! :)
Drew is still a snuggler, much to Mommy's delight. But he's also particular about it at times - he will move us so that we get in just the right position for him to feel completely comfortable. He often moves our hands to either warp around his belly, or to rest his cheek in the palm of our hand - I can't tell you how that warms my heart!
Growth Stats: Weight: 25 lbs. (33%), Height: 33.25 in. (75%), Head: 47.4 cm (33%).
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