The past few months have gone by so quickly, but each day has seemed very long. He's got 10 teeth completely through, one molar half way through, and another working its long and painful way up. The molars suck. They hurt Calvin, and when Calvin hurts, everyone hurts. We suffered through a nursing strike. We've become experts at handling tantrums. Tylenol is our best friend. We learned the loveliness that is sleeping through the night for about two weeks, before things went back to 'normal' and we are up nightly. This last week if I am the one to go in, he wants to cuddle and half sleep, but only if I am standing and rocking him. My body usually gives in about 20 to 30 minutes in and I can no longer do it. I try to sit and cuddle, but he wakes and cries. Sometimes I can nurse him and he'll go back to sleep. I'm desperate for sleep, so I do it. Then by the third night I see a pattern forming and say 'no more!'. Which means it's Daddy's turn and I feel badly waking him up to ask him to rock Calvin back to sleep, but they get through it much faster with no milk boobs causing a distraction.
The tough times are easily countered by the amazing times though. He has learned so much and developed so quickly in just a short time. It was Christmas Day that he learned to walk and now he motors all over the place, his little feet slapping the floor and making music. We play chase and he giggles like a maniac and my heart melts. The dogs join in and the game is for the whole family. He is trying to say words now. Ball, balloon, doggy, Jersey, all done, more, down, again, that. None of it is something anyone but Sean or I would understand, but his intention is there and it will come fast and furious any time now. He signs really well and picked up a bunch of new things at once, but I've forgotten half of what he knows. His latest sign is 'duck' but he makes the actual sign for milk instead.
He communicates what games he wants to play. If it is the 'kiss my belly' game, he will push his belly out at you. If it's Itsy-Bitsy spider song, he has two different signs for it (one is the spider and one is the rain coming down). If it's Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes he will hold his head and grin at you say 'that that that'. After each song performance you get grand applause for a job well done, then he immediately signs and tries to say 'again'.
He suddenly has a huge comprehension as well. You can give him detailed instructions and he can carry them out. He understands yeses and noes and danger. We try, like good parents (and good dog trainers) to redirect to an appropriate activity so as not to constantly be saying 'no', and he understands our efforts and words and will (most times) happily comply and be redirected. He has formed memory skills - primarily in the form of "I'm not allowed to touch this thing" skills. He will still touch the thing, but look at you with a sly smile and when he is caught, bring the item to you as if it was his intention all along. 'Oh look Mama, you left this off-limits object out where it can tempt me; here I will bring it to you to put out of my reach'. I'm sure that's exactly his thought process ;)
We continue to excel in the eating of awesome foods. I've learned to make a ton of new things that we have never had in our house before and he eats a very healthy diet. I am constantly cooking and feeding him as his energy is just burned off so quickly. I could use some new ideas because frankly, we don't eat healthy at all and I have no knowledge of variety or general good eating habits. I'm only learning them so he can grow up with good habits and healthy choices. Have a recipe you want to share? Please do - I can't get enough new ideas to try out for him. I even cook chick peas from the dried form now, just to have the great benefits of chick peas without all the sodium of the canned versions.
Because of his age now, we were moved out of the big room in our Tuesday group and into the small room, with the other 'big' kids. It's not working out for us at all. The bigger kids are bullying him and I am getting no support or friendship from sitting on the floor by myself watching my kid get bullied. So we gave it up and I miss the old supportive system of Moms that I used to have there. We've tried to make up for it by attending the Early Years Center more often, but there is no kinship among the mothers there, thus no support system for me. It's lonely being a primary care giver with no one to relate with you about it. Most of the mothers we knew have returned to work outside of the home, so we don't get play dates with them. I'm sure I am not the only one out there feeling this, so there is probably some group that has formed to fill the needs of these Moms and I just haven't found it yet. In the mean time I feel in limbo - not sure what to do with our days. I understand the seriousness of a child's play is a child's learning, but it is tragically boring for the parent day after day and we need variety! Time to form a new routine schedule of things...once I learn what is available to us.
We've been trying to do something interesting, but with toddlers I've learned that cooperation is not available on a daily basis. I saw a video of a woman who took a head shot of herself every day for 5 years, then compiled into a fast moving video. You essentially get to see her age in video form and it was tres cool. I thought how amazing it would be to see the same growth but of a young child into an older child. Actual growth! My daily head shot photos leave a LOT to be desired. I have no idea if this project will pan out, but even with missed days and sideways shots and a variety of expressions, I think in the end it will be awesome.