Cole hasn’t settled on a particular “thing” or character to love. He digs Barney, Thomas the Tank Engine, and today showed an unexpected enthusiasm for Caillou. He gets excited by cars and machines, and loves the various symbols of festive holidays (Santa, snowmen (“men”), and pumpkins). But one theme that seems to be standing apart a little bit is that of dinosaurs.
Holding on to the cute
March - 20 - 2011 - Sunday 2 COMMENTS
Let me just get this out of the way before I’m mobbed: I don’t think the monkey is getting any less cute. He’s cuter and more wonderful every day!
That out of the way:
Every parent eventually comes to the point at which they realize their ‘baby’ is gone, replaced by a child. I personally don’t find this a particularly sad occasion, but it’s a notable one. And even though it doesn’t make me ‘sad,’ I’ll miss the baby!
The most authentic laughter ever
March - 8 - 2011 - Tuesday 1 COMMENT
Possibly my favourite thing about toddlers: they don’t know much about fake laughing. And they have absolutely no concept of keeping their laughter in check.
I don’t think I’ve ever tickled my son into a breathless cheek-hurting mess for his own benefit. It’s pure selfishness (well, and sometimes ‘cause I know it’ll make mommy smile in the other room). I absolutely love hearing the sound of his laughter, seeing his dimples deepen on his cheeks as his face breaks out into a huge all-teeth-showing smile. I don’t think anything in the world re-energizes me the same way.
Things that end with “ing”
February - 9 - 2011 - Wednesday 1 COMMENT
As mentioned in previous posts, the Monkey is a clever little guy, learning language pretty quickly. He’s not exactly going to win conversationalist of the month yet, but he’s pretty fun to talk with.
Along the way, his brain put together the fact that some words, like “eat”, often get an -ing ending when we use them.
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Imagination and helpfulness
January - 23 - 2011 - Sunday 4 COMMENTS
My favourite thing to watch lately is the growth of the monkey’s imagination. He’s been doing the usual “vroom vroom” thing with toy cars or “choo choo” thing with toy trains, but a fully-realized session in imaginationland is pretty new.
We were playing one of our favourite games, “Tackle” (Cacko!), which involves running back and forth between his room and the master bedroom, with me catching him, “tackling” him (really, just catching him and gently rolling around with him, zerberting him, and tickling him). He can go back and forth for what seems like hours. “Mo? Mo cacko? Pease?” A few days ago, though, he plunked down on a body pillow that happened to be on the floor, the way one might sit on a log near a campfire.
“Appo” (Apple), he said.
“Going to eat an apple, are we?” I asked. Head nod.
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