November, 2008
Michael's 3! How did the time fly by so quickly? He's still a ying-yang of sweetness and "boy" energy. I love to see him light up about things that excite him, and it reminds me of how the girls were at his age - aspects you tend to forget when they've grown out of it. The Disney trip was so fun for him. It was his first time experiencing such a place of magic, and he loves to talk about it still. He keeps asking to go back to the Lego store. And I heard him, the other night, talking to his Woody doll, "You're my best friend, Buddy." (He calls Woody, Buddy.)
At his birthday, several of his classmate came to the party, and I've never had the chance to see him interact with kids his own age, in a group like that. He ran after them the entire time. They ran around and played together like a group of best friends. He showed a great connection with them and comfort in his group of friends. They all seemed happy to be with Michael, too. It was a different sight than watching him try to make a place for himself with the girls, which is more competition at times than actual playing.
As we enter the many discussions (now and to come) of what boys do or don't do in contrast with the girls, it's becoming so clear how much we need God's help in securing what to teach our children. From a young age, they learn their roles in society, in God's family, in their own family. And what we begin training them now is what they'll form their beliefs around when their older. It's not something to wait for. When he's 15 and questioning something, that's too late (in some respects) to begin teaching what's right or wrong. I've come to realize that even issues I'm "gray" on, I need to decide a more firm black/white stand in order to impart God's guidelines for life to my children. As they learn, they's searching for a definitive answer. Life will challenge them along the way, but I know we need to be their firm answer of strength to fall back on until they can stand strong on their own.
January, 2008
The best thing to hear is "Michael needs you, Mommy." He says this with his hands raised, for me to pick him up. I can never resist, no matter what I'm in the middle of. And I never want him to stop saying that. But I know he will. I guess that's part of my job.
He's talking a lot more now, and more understandably. He asks questions to confirm that what he's saying is the right thing, "Michael, jacket on?" Whe I ask him where something is, he looks around then says "I don't know." Usually he leaves out many of the consonants so I have to decipher with the vowel sounds what he's saying. He says "Cole" for Nicole. Sometime he calls Jacquelyn "Cole" too, or he'll say "a--yn."
It's funny to hear him tattle on the girls, when you can't make out all the words, because he'll say a name, then draw out in a sing-song voice the action. "Mommy, Cole hit he-e-e-ad," or he'll blame them for stuff he just did: "Cole did it." and points to her. Even when I just saw him do whatever it was.
His teacher at school said he really impressed her when she tested for his first report card, knowing all his shapes and colors and she understood him saying them. She said sometimes he's so quiet in class, she can't tell if he's repeating what the other kids say or if he knows them, but she tested the children individually and alone, so he knows them well.
He had so much fun with the presents this year. He got upset when the girls still had some to open and he'd finished opening his. He kept going under the tree to pick out one and saying "Michael's?" If I said yes, he respond with "Yea!" He also says "yea" when we say yes to a movie. He gets so excited, smiles and runs to the couch to sit down and be ready for it to come on.
September, 2007
Michael is at such a fun age. He's repeating every word he hears; even though most still are not distinguishable on their own, you can tell he's attempting the exact word or sound he just heard. The funniest thing to hear/see is when he looks down at the ground and says "Ewww... ants." He also loves to ask for (Mickey) "Mouse" or "Donald Duck" while pointing at the TV and handing you the remote.
He can swing a bat like a pro. We don't have a tee for him, so I normally hold the (soft) baseball in my hand, stretched out, so he can swing at it, and he winds up, keeps his eye on the ball and swings hard! Usually knocking the ball across the room. He also loves blocks, or building with anything that resembles blocks (like dice). He laughs and smiles most (still) when playing with the girls. He loves chasing them or being chased. Sometimes they pretend he's the "monster" and don't let him in on the game, so they're running from him and he's just running after them squealing and imitating their words, trying to catch up. He even copies Jacquelyn at the pool. He started yelling "Cannonball!" when jumping and at our last visit he started holding his nose, just liek she does before a jump into the pool. Although his hand let go as soon as he jumps and both arms are extended during his jump - much like a frog.
He has recently found a fondness for the kitchen - it's probably all the bubbles that are involved or maybe because he sees the girls helping me, but anytime I'm at the sink, he'll push over a kitchen chair and say "help?" He loves rinsing the dishes or srubbing them in the sink with water and a scrub brush (with soap to make the bubbles, of course). he also likes to help me stir. He's good at stirring a pitcher of tea, but will help with any bowl of something to be stirred. When not in the real kitchen, he brings me a cup and saucer from Nicole's room and pours me a drink from her pitcher, and sometimes a cookie or banana to eat, too.
February, 2007
Michael still only has two top and two bottom teeth... it seems like he's been in teething pain for weeks, but still no signs of future chompers. I guess he was so intent on catching up to the girls in strength and size that teeth development could just wait til later.
He's chasing them and copying everything they do - from standing on the scooter (that he's supposed to sit on) to climbing onto footstools to reach the sink faucets and moving chairs to the kitchen counters to stand up on them and "help" or reach whatever he sees of interest. Nothing is out of reach anymore. He dances with them, jumps on the futon (and off the stack of foam letters).
New words are forming every day. Not all of them are distinct, but with some pointing and walking toward the item, we can see what he's trying to say. The best is when he says "duck" - he taps the top of his head, because fo the girls playing "Duck, Duck, Goose" with him. He laughs at them saying "Goose!" probably because it's louder and is followed by running around. He'll look out the window and point to the ducks in our pond then hit his head and say "duck." He also shakes his head sideways when you ask him a yes or no question - but I've discovered he usually means yes (not no) when he does this. He'll follow with the hand sign for "more" and that clues me in. If he's done eating, he'll put his hands in the air to get out of his seat. (Of course, he also lifts his hands during Little Einsteins for "Blastoff!")
Other words include: shoes, socks, baby, 'Cole, Mama, Daddy, Dada, eat, banana, juice, dog, duck, ball, E-I-E-I-O.
Favorite activity: playing outside. He loves to pull out his riding toy, but only until he spots a ball in the neighbor's yard, then he's off and running to retrieve the ball. When I open the back door to feed the dogs, he bolts outside and heads for the slide.
Recently, he's gotten more interested in books, he'll bring one to me and sit in my lap then make sounds or kiss the page. He also loves his shape sorter and farm animals, especially when the toy sings the Old MacDonald song. A few weeks ago he figured out his remote control for the dump truck and that made him laugh. He loves playing with that now. His favorite toy is still any and every ball he can find.