His is a smart little guy...and funny too! The other day, we were sitting in the car waiting for M. to come out of work. C. was about 1/2 way through the apple he was eating when he handed it to me, seeds exposed, and said, "Ewwww Mommy, poop! Yucky!" Needless to say, he wouldn't eat any more of the apple after that. lol
One day last week, I was standing at the kitchen sink doing dishes when it suddenly dawned on me that I was talking to C. at eye level. Little stinker had emptied out one of his toy baskets and pulled it over to the counter when I wasn't looking. He wants so badly to be like us and to do everything we do, it's quite endearing and also quite frightening. He has such a mischievous, playful personality...sometimes it seems that he almost enjoys getting into trouble. Speaking of, we've started (loosely) using time outs lately and they seem to be working. We try only to put him in a time out when he is hurting someone or himself or for the worst infractions of him not listening to our requests. He really hates being excluded from the action & doesn't enjoy being ignored so this method of redirection is effective for him. One minute can seem like a long time when your little boy is crying as if heartbroken. Ahem. Yes, I daresay someone has his parents pretty much where he wants them.
He's very interested in how things work these days. He loves opening/closing things any time he gets a chance. Doors, jars, bottles, cabinets, drawers...you name it. Zippers and buttons fascinate him right now too but they sometimes also frustrate him when he isn't successful. Speaking of frustration, that happens semi-often too these days, although it's getting better. We've been working with him to get him to say, "Help Mommy" or, "Help Daddy" when he's frustrated, instead of throwing a fit. We're getting there but sometimes he forgets, especially when he's hungry or tired.
Really, every day with him is something new. I'm continually amazed at all he learns and all he can do...I absolutely love hearing his little voice as he learns new words and phrases. I'm not sure where he even picked it up but today it was, "Oh dea!" repeated time and again, followed by peals of laughter. For some reason, that really struck his funny bone. We repeated it for him countless times just to hear that contagious laugh of his. He's getting pretty good at communicating these days. He regularly speaks in 3-5 word sentences & will usually tell us exactly what he wants. Today I was playing "tick-tock" with him as I swung him back & forth. When I stopped he said, "Mo, Mommy. Mo ick ock!" I obliged, of course! He loves to count too and will often count when we go up and down steps or when I'm giving him goldfish. He can count to ten & usually does so successfully but sometimes it's, "1...2...3...4... 5...6...7...4...5...6...7...8...9...10." He also knows the names of all his characters in both Thomas the Train & Bob the Builder. He is often heard running around the house talking about "Weasle Teeen, Pecy, Thomeees, Aewy, Buwt, Deisyy, Bob a Biwdew and so on..."
Earlier this week he learned the word okay but he pronounces it "hoakey." He will excitedly say, "Mommy, I waaaa wach weasle teeen!" (which comes out sounding like one big run-on word) and before I can even answer it's, "Hoakey Mommy!" over and over. Pretty much if he wants us to say, "Okay Charlie" to him he's excitedly chanting his version to us. He also uses okay in the other correct context. For example, last night as we were lying on the bed he pulled my hair. Then, ever so gingerly, he leaned over and in the sweetest toddler voice you can imagine said, "Hoakey Mommy?" Needless to say, I didn't get too mad at him for not being nice to mommy. :)
Obviously I could go on and on about this little person. He is pure joy to me; wrapped up in a sweet, cute, mischievous, sometimes stinky, often sticky, but always lovable bundle of 100% boy! Every time I have the thought that I couldn't possibly love him more, a new day dawns and I am once again amazed by the depths of my emotions for our precious little man.
