Toddler Update

Words: duck, dog, dad, door, gat (meaning 'that' which is accompanied by pointing), owl
Sounds: mmmm (cow), *pants* (dog), 'ho, ho, ho,'  'ah, ah, ah' (monkey), 'rrrrrr' (car, train, motorcycle), 'hoo' (owl)
Body parts he can identify on himself: foot, nose, head, tummy
Songs he knows the motions for: Wheels on the Bus (wheels go round and round, wipers go swish, swish, swish, doors go open and shut).  He knows to move his hands for the Eensy Weensy Spider, but doesn't really know what moves to do.
Physical milestones: He can get off the couch all by himself by getting on his belly and scooting backwards, he helps getting dressed by pulling his arms and legs out/in his clothes when its appropriate, starting to run, lifting the flaps in lift the flap books (and also ripping the flaps off, but that's not something we're too proud of), beginning to climb (he put his leg up on the bathtub like he was trying to climb in the other night).

Drinking and eating:  J is a milk maniac- he guzzles milk a handful of times a day.  He has stopped nursing completely as of January 11!  I wanted to continue, but he wasn't interested, so instead of forcing it, I followed his cues and let it go.  Food-wise, this kid is his mother's child- he'll eat any fruit or veggie.  He downs whole bananas, avocados, pears, clementines.  Goes wild with blackberries, squash, and raspberries.  However, meat and grains are tough to get down his gullet.  He does enjoy ham (and bratwurst according to the babysitter), but that's about it.  I actually have to trick him to eat chicken or beef by putting a small piece of it with a piece of fruit.  Probably not the best flavor combination, but this boy needs iron!  To supplement his diet, his doctor recommended giving him a vitamin.  I couldn't find a vitamin for children under two, so he is getting 4 to 8 ounces of toddler formula each day.  We refer to it as a 'shake.' 
Obsessions: owls, spoons, cups, eating crayons, stacking knocking over blocks, his red wagon, balls, and lastly, anything you are not supposed to touch including but not limited to: pots with glass lids, electrical outlets, the drawer under the oven, dog bowls, & blinds.
Annoyances: the dogs licking his face, wearing hats, shoes, or socks, getting his diaper changed, brushing his teeth.
What we're working on: naming more body parts, identifying colors, matching based on color, throwing balls, sitting still so mommy can take a picture of him smiling!

Slow Down, James Eugene!

My heart raced as I left work this afternoon.  Walking out of school I ran into a few parents; I hoped they couldn't see the anticipation in my eyes.  I hurried to the car and zipped out of the parking lot.  My heart skipped a beat as I made it through two stoplights.  I whispered to myself, "I can't wait to see James."  It felt like Christmas morning.  My stomach filled with butterflies.  I just couldn't wait to see him.  He'd just turned in to an even bigger bundle of joy over the weekend and somehow I knew tonight would be special.

At the babysitters, James pointed at duck statues and exclaimed, "Duk!"  We took a trip to her basement to see Ruby, who is doing really well in her new home.  On the way out the door, Annie told me that she'd seen him let go of a chair and take a step or two.  "Oh, he did the same thing last night!" I said with pride.

James and I entered our house to a chorus of barking.  We went over to the kennels, and while I let the doxies outside, James stood holding onto a kennel.  As I closed the back door, I turned around to look back at him.  He was standing half way between the kennel and the kitchen table meaning one thing and one thing only- HE HAD WALKED!  "Oh my goodness, James Eugene, you can walk!" I exclaimed scooping him off the floor.  I immediately dialed Grandma B and told her the good news.  James meanwhile got up from his comfy reading chair and walked into the kitchen!  Holy cow!  He was really walking!  All the steps before were coerced by mom and dad, but these steps were all James.

When Kyle got home,  I gushed to him about the walking.  As first time parents, Kyle and I proceeded to spend the next hour video taping James walking, here, there, and everywhere.  Our house has never felt so small.  We're thinking about putting a track in the backyard.

My baby toddler is a walker!   He really is "SO BIG!"

ROAR!

Dino-James celebrated Halloween two days in a row this year.  On Tuesday he went trick-or-treating with his BF Evan in Greek Town at Mizzou.  He was a hit at the sorority houses.  Not that I'm surprised, this fearsome carnivore attracts ladies of all ages.

On Halloween, we trick-or-treated around our cul-de-sac.

This pumpkin-loving dinosaur had a blast!

After hitting up the houses in our neighborhood, we visited a few of James's admirers around town.  While at his babysitter's house, he delighted Kyle by taking three steps!  Two houses later, we spent some time with his godfather's wife's parents (did you follow that?).  They gave him a butterfinger to hang onto.  James had a good time passing it from hand-to-hand, but then decided he wanted to crawl, so he put it in his mouth.

A few minutes later, we looked over to see this.

That is the look of a dinobaby getting his first taste of chocolate and peanut butter.  Yup, he bit a hole in the wrapper and was enjoying the deliciousness.  Not exactly the way I wanted to introduce him to peanut butter and definitely way earlier than is appropriate to give candy, but he didn't seem to mind. 

Happy Halloween!