The last week or so

I have attached a photo of David wearing his Swannies hat - we have had cold weather finally and he wore it for at least 20 minutes!!! He is off for a walk on Saturday with his Dad. He also loves his bomber jacket, but I need to take a photo of him wearing it. David loves going for a walk with me first thing in the morning (to geta coffe at Gerry's up the road) or just around the street, in that half hour after Dad leaves and before Erin and Katie arrive.

He also likes going for walk last thing at night, which is in the dark by now. We cross the road (being very, very careful of cars) and go down to the corner, then cross the road again and come back up the hill. Then it is bottle, books and bed. If he is lucky, he also strikes John next door getting home at night or packing up in the morning - he then gets to look in John's van, touch a few things and say hello to John (and Carol and April the dog). Lately he looks like he wants to march into their home. He particularly likes their chinese spear carrying warrior (soldier) just inside the front door. He is also on a first name basis with Danny next door.

Well, on a topic that is starting to become fashionable at the Mothers' group - potties and potty training. All the toddlers are becoming interested in the next stage!

We have discussed this with the nanny, and she says not to start anytime soon - until David is closer to three years of age. He needs to be able to control his bodily functions, and be able to get out of bed and go if necessary - which won't happen while he is in the cot! Also, once we start, we must continue, so we won't start now.

The reason for the discussions is that over the last few months, David has become very interested in what happens when we go to the toilet, particularly Paul. In April, David became very interested in his potty chair - he wanted it out of the wardrobe and wanted to sit on it. Great for familiarisation and to prevent him being scared. On Anzac Day he wanted his trousers and nappy off, to sit on it, and he did his first wee in the potty. Over the last month he has waxed and waned in his interest. He definitely knows what it is for and we let him sit on it any time he asks to, but we don't force him. This Monday he did another wee, and this time he helped flush the toilet (he pushed the button). There have been a few false starts too (that is, nothing produced), but we are just going with it at the moment.

Lots more words and using more strings of words. Erin says that she has also heard him using the definite article (the) so that is interesting. Erin has also said that he is now saying the days of the week (Katie comes on Tuesday and Wednesday, Erin says bye on Thursday, and that she will see him on Monday). David says he likes Saturday best - we think that is because both Mum and Dad are around on Saturday!

I made David a book by filling up an exercise book with lots of pictures from magazines and newspapers - different pictures like flowers, tools, cars, bikes, sharks, scenery and whatever else I could find. It has his name in the front and he really likes it. After a few days he is able to point at lots of things and use their names.

He loves seeing Katie - last Friday we went to the local Playgroup Fun Day for the region and he loves seeing Katie (with her mum) as well as some of the other Mothers' Group babies at the ground. It was a beautiful day, and David patted a snake and a baby crocodile and saw an Australian Bearded Dragon which was climbing over the handler's shirt. He also saw ducks, chicks and rabbits from outside the petting zoo, but didn't have the patience to wait to go inside. We danced to the music and played in the dirt. BUT most importantly, David rode on the model train at least 5 times (with Mum). The train engine was blue like Gordon and there were several open mini carriages. The driver was dressed up like a traditional engine driver. David also had a couple of very short goes on the jumping castle, but again mainly seems to enjoy getting on and off.

Another catch up

So, where to start? I am trying to go back and fill in for the lost month. This is a photo of David helping with the vacuuming in late April. He loves the vacuum (he can say it, and make the noise) and will sometimes get out the hose & fittings from the garage.

On 20 March 2007 (as near to 18ths as you like) David had a check up at the nurse at the Chemist. He weighed 12.56kgs (dwt )with head circumferance of 49.5cms and length 82 cms (lying down). She gave him a check up for 18mths and he was on schedule. In language and understanding (following instructions) she thought that he was advanced for his age. This, while pleasing, comes with a warning - Yes! He is starting the two-year-old tantrums early! So, we have to be careful to keep routine and discipline strong and consistent, and cater for him being intelligent. Well, we already knew that, and it has continued to be the case.

Today we had a bit of a tantrum. David and Dad had been for a lovely walk, returning with coffee for Mum and Auntie Carolyn, who has been staying this weekend. He was running around, and followed us into the garage, where we were trying to take the washing off the line. He then insistently asked to get into the car and play. I was also trying to cook eggs for breakfast and get his weekbix and toast ready. I will give him credit for even remembering to try "please". Unfortunately, he did not take well to not being able to play in the car, or to being eventually removed from the garage. He worked himself up to a full crying fit. Dad took him out to sit on the front door step, to look at things. Then I took over for a while. He eventually got calmer, then just a bit "proppy". He did eventually get into his high chair and have toast. The tantrum would have lasted for over 15 mins. He was clearly both tired and hungry (but not excessively). Anyway, we continue on.

David also got his molars in April - cutting them around18 April. He had been a bit grizzly and miserable before that, for weeks, and it really wasn't clear whether it was teeth or the whole tired / tantrum thing. Then he cut 4 molars within a couple of days. They are coming through but have been slower than the ordinary teeth. He moved straight onto his canines. We noticed more of the biting again - biting everything, and when frustrated biting himself on the arm and sometimes biting me too. Mind you, often he bites me when he is really happy and excited - too much emotion.

I also took him to the Early Childhood Centre for another formal 18 mth check up and to ask about the biting. The nurse there also thought that he was doing really well, and talking and walking well. The consensus view (she rang me back) is that while the biting is definitely related and more common while he is teething, it is a pre-verbal way of dealing with frustration. It is apparent to me that he gets release from biting himself, and that is apparently healthy, and better than bottling it up. As his speech improves, it should diminish and it should disappear by the time he is three years old. In fact, it had improved after he got the teeth and has been a lot better the last couple of weeks. We have tips on how to deal with it, more of how we are dealing with it now. Mostly, he is clearly a bit better after he does bite his arm, and will then say "biting" and will kiss his arm better.

On the whole though, David is marvelous and very happy. He really is into all manner of boys things - tools (screwdrivers), vehicles (trucks, vans, trains, tip trucks, rubbish trucks, buses etc), running, gutters, bikes, scooters, the sandpit, and books (and more books and even more books). We all think he is marvelous, and getting more interesting every day.

A few more things

A few more quick things.

Lots more words. Paul reminded me of lots of words that I didn't include in the last blog, and there are lots of new ones.... Mountain, fountain, restaurant, skateboard, castle,

And a few nice little things. We sing "Old MacDonald had a farm" and David always chooses Cow. Always. So, for a little variety, Mum and Dad also have turns. When it is our turn we choose something else (sheep, tractor, cat, pig) and sometimes David does the noises. When it is his turn, he says "ei ei o" and "Cow". Very very cute, as he gives us a big smile when he does it. He also likes "dingly dangly scarecrow", incy wincy spider, hey diddle diddle, There was a crooked man, twinkle twinkle little star and other well known songs.

We went on a bouncy castle yesterday at the local markets. Itis there every Saturday, and lots of kids are on board. This is about the third time David has been on it. The first time was a non-starter, the second time he just went on the edge for a little while. This time he went on further and stayed longer. He gets on and off several times, but seems to be enjoying it more. He got knocked by a bigger boy this time, so I got on to comfort him. David was fine after a minute or so, and stayed on. When you are just sitting, and not bouncing it can make you feel sea sick, so I now understand why he wants to get off and then back on.

Auntie Carolyn has been visiting for a weekend, while in Sydney for work. We have been having a lovely time. Carolyn has been reading David books, and generally being nice to him. David has made up his mind and he likes Carolyn and is attempting versions of her name - Karen, Carol, and finally (mostly) Carolyn. We went out to the local Italian restaurant last night, and David was very good for almost 2 hours, with only 2 biggish walks (to the street corner) to get the fidgets out.

He also ate some of our pizza, and enjoyed it. Progress!

Vocabulary

Well, I am trying to make up for the "lost" blogs - the ones that I haven't posted because I have been working too many hours. Also, the last blog that I did construct, late one night, didn't save due to a lost connection or some other web glitch. Not happy with that.

However, back to David's vocabulary. It is interesting to me that over the last couple of weeks, he seems to be really racing along. He masters names really well now,and knows his own name and will answer when you ask him "What's your name?" David. He taps his chest ans says that he is a "boy" and knows that Katie is a "girl". He also calls other people "men" and "ladies" and sometimes "women" not just mummies and daddies. Katie's mum and dad are now getting their own names.

He knows Matthew, Jenny and Michael are his cousins, and he really enjoyed visiting Matthew two weeks ago. The attached photos show that they really do seem to recognise each other and get on well.

He listens really well, and talks back to you, in ways that show that he is really thinking about some of the things we speak about. He is also using verbs and strings of words to communicate actions ideas or stories. So, some examples (imagine the words with a pause between them):

"Road, careful, cars" - (that is because I have been telling him that he has to be very careful on the road because of cars) Also with "cross", meaning we should cross the road. He says "corner" when we get close to the corner, mostly because I take him for short walks in the morning and evening and we stop or turn at the corner.

"Book" and "Read it" when he picks up a book and wants me to read it to him. He also says "one" for one book more to delay going to bed.

There are also fairly straightforward orders "open" or "close" for doors, gates etc. "Open is also used to mean to open or move to the next page in a book. "Get down" "off" generally for clothes or when he wants to do things himself. Also "up" and "down", but he often doesn't mean it.

"Shaun" "guitar" and "scooter" to refer to a visit to friends of ours, whose son Shaun played with David, and showed David his electric and acoustic guitar, and let David ride on his scooter - pretty much hog heaven! David refers to Shaun when he hears music on the radio with guitars, or sees photos or TV with guitars. For the first couple of days after the visit, it was the first thing he said to me in the mornings when I went in to get him up.

David has one word names for all his (many) books - so "Wocket in my pocket" is "pocket" and "In a people house" is "people" and "Uno's Garden" is "Uno" and so on. He identifies things in the books and pages, but often not what I expect. He likes squirrels, so I pointed to a squirrel and David says "eating" and I look, and the squirrel is eating a nut.

David is getting interested in what is happening - so he says "sad" for the pictures where the character is sad, or crying and happy at other times. He also says "sharing" for when the characters share their boots, or "friend" in the Gossie and Gertie book where they are best friends.

There are so many other words, lots repeated from the books. I will list a few that come to mind now:

scissors, beetle, spider, web, scoop, cake, wait(ing), turtle, panda, monkey, shower, key, door, stairs, vacuum, broom, pasta, pizza, ticket, string, bridge, wood, bear, blanket, bottle, water, gate, walk, running (just before he starts running), corner, van, stuck, truck, bin, rubbish, cement mixer (he has a toy one), squirrel, turkey, goat, duck, bird, hippo, lion, elephant, giraffe, rabbit, horsy, fish, dolphin, dog, barking, crying, window, hands (for wash my hands), help me, helmet (now much better than ma-mut), brush, makeup, toothbrush, koala, cow, mouse, sheep, cat, dog, beagle, owl, kiss, cuddle, bite and biting, push, carry (for carry me), cleaning (when he tries to do it), pick up, put back, wave, clapping, bye, hi, morning (for good morning), more and no more, please, ta, screw driver, saw, hammer, bang, work, zoo, circus, train, car, wheel, bus, cutting, bath, hot, warm, cold, rough, smooth, now, Tuesday, silly, nice, good, manners, stop, dirty, messy, washing, bike, baby, pram, bath, tree, flower, nappy, towel, teatowel, bed, sheet, pillow, moon, sunny, rain, windy, wet, slippery, button (for light switches and clothing), new, dish ........

and that is about all I can manage at the the moment!

I will just finish with parts of the body - body, head, hair, ear, eye, eyebrow, arm, finger, ankle, leg, foot, toe, knee, tum, button (for belly button), cheek, chin, sometimes elbow

Visit to the Aquarium

Well, last Friday, 3 May 2007 David & I went to the Sydney Aquarium, on a beautiful sunny day. We went into Darling Harbour on the Light Rail and walked across the Pyrmont Bridge, and David watched the man in the automated platform (like a smaller, more compact and motorised cherry picker) changing all the flags on the flagpoles on the Bridge. Lots of flag poles and lots of flags - he was starting at 9.30am and still working on them (in a 2 man team by that stage) when we were going home at 12.30pm. Lots of up and down, with the platform beeping as it descends, just like a reversing truck. We also saw a man dressed as a pirate on the way into the Acquarium - he gave David a high five. With any outing, David enjoys seeing all the people as much as any of the attractions. He really enjoyed chatting to the people on the Light Rail, both going into the City and returning.


I have included a photo of David looking at his favourite sharks.

It is David's second visit to the Aquarium, but my first. A really good trip - I was particularly impressed by the Murray/Darling River section with Murray cod and platypus, and the Barrier Reef section right at the end. The seals and sea lions were good, as was the oceanarium (with the big sharks!).

David had lots of fun running around in the walkways - luckily it wasn't too busy on a Friday morning. Once we were home he finally fell asleep and slept for over 3 hours, which gave me the opportunity to catch up on some work.

Developing

So, after a long drought, here we are again for an update.

Teeth - David has 4 molars, and has cut his canine teeth too. This has gone reasonably well, without major issues (just lots of minor grumpiness).

Words - David has lots of new words. I lost a post several weeks ago where I tried to list his words. He has just had a vocabulary explosion - repeats all sorts of words that he hears, and works really hard on getting the diction right. He keeps saying a word, until you acknowledge it (and get it right). And he has a great memory. Erin thought that he was being a bit silly on Thursday - he was saying "Gracie, Barking". Erin thought that he meant Gracie (and Liam) who are children he plays with often now, as Erin knows their nanny Zoe. When he said it to me and I told Erin he meant Matthew's (and Jennifer and Michael's) dog, Gracie - and she does bark a lot! He remembers the recent visit to Matthew, and that Matthew let him ride on his bike and play with his toys, including a screwdriver. I have included a couple of photos of Matthew and David taken at our place on an earlier visit.

Erin has been sick a bit (caught the lurgie from the kids) and I spent nearly a week straight with David - and it went fine. We do get on, and even though he is only a cuddly boy when he is tired, miserable or we are reading, he really is affectionate.

He loves getting out and saying hello to everyone - the man in the coffee shop, the people in the greengrocer, the locals who walk their dog - everyone gets a Hi or Morning! He had made friends with our neighbours - he sees John and Carol most mornings & evenings when we are waiting for Erin, or Erin & David are waiting for me to come home from work. He also knows Danny, who lives in the middle unit and is always friendly and talks to him. He waves to the men who work in the factory units across the road, and gets a wave and a toot- toot from the rubbish truck men every Thursday.

At last, another post!

This is David and Dad at the Australian Museum, and David with his first real dinosaur. We came around the corner in the foyer of the Museum and David pointed and said Dino! It was a big hit. We had a lovely time at the Museum. David ran around lots, went up and down the stairs, played in the under-5s area, touched lots of child friendly things (like stuffed owls, wombats, kookaburras, turtle & tortoise shells, starfish, and an echidna. We really liked the skeleton room, and David thought the whale skeleton was another dinosaur!

Once we left the Museum, David was so tired, he fell asleep in the pram and we went for a quick lunch, in absolute peace and quiet.

We came into the city on the Light Rail (or tram) and returned the same way. David also loved the train ride. All in all, a marvelous outing, enjoyed by all.