Milestones/Interests (Ages & Stages)

He loves board games! He played his first round of Memory over Christmas break and it’s been Candyland, followed by Hi Ho Cherry-O!, Chutes and Ladders, Candyland Castle, Leap Frog Dominoes and Cranium’s Cariboo Island ever since! If you mention the word “game” to him, be prepared to play 18 rounds of Candyland (that game did seem a lot more fascinating when I was a preschooler).

As we continued to unpack the Christmas loot, he also became enamored with his Play-Doh fun sets. Is it bad to hide the Play-Doh from him? Seriously, it would be “all PD, all the time” if I left it within his grasp.

He loves to “Crash!” or “Bump!” into anything and anyone—we’re working on respecting other people’s boundaries. He’ll just walk up to any unsuspecting soul and crash right into them—big or small. When I correct him, “Nate, no crashing!” He’ll inform me that it wasn’t a crash, it was a bump (or vice versa). Fine. No bumping if people aren’t ready to play. I think this is a natural inclination for him—he certainly does like to play more on the rough side, but this tendency hasn’t been helped by the “Lightning McQueen” game that Jason and Nate play online. The cars vie for position on the racetrack by crashing into their competitors and bumping them to the back of the line.

He’s started to actually brush his teeth by himself—as opposed to just chewing on the toothbrush or sucking the toothpaste off. The key is to let him say the alphabet or count to 20 and move the toothbrush with each letter or number, “then it’s Mommy’s turn.”

Sometime in the last few months, I realized we hadn’t been letting him practice getting dressed or undressed. Before Christmas we made an effort (especially Jason at bathtime) to let him undress himself (diaper and all) and get dressed into his jammies. He’s made a lot of progress, and loves to run around naked before bathtime.

Here’s a list of Nate’s current chores—take dishes to the sink after meals and snacks, wash hands, clean up toys before bed, help Mommy transfer laundry to dryer, help Daddy water the garden & new trees, and help set table before dinner (he loves to get the forks and spoons)!

Feb 4—Jason painted Baby Girl’s crib with the primer coat yesterday; then let the brush soak in the bucket by the sliding glass door overnight. During Nate’s backyard-outside time today, I was inside tidying up the kitchen (you know me, a place for everything and everything in its place!). At one point I couldn’t see (or hear) Nate. He had been playing with his cars, trucks & diggers in the garden. I called his name. He responded, “I’m right here!” I still didn’t see him so I walked out onto the patio. There he was, immediately to my right…painting the house with the primer-soaked brush! Most of the white brush strokes came right off.

27 Feb 08—In the cart at the grocery store, we were having a good time in the frozen aisle picking out orange juice from concentrate and multi-grain HEB waffles. In the middle of our conversation, he starts patting my arm, saying, “settle down, Mommy. You need to settle down.” I started laughing out loud, so he put on a smirk and hammed it up some more. Apparently he’s heard that before!

28 Feb 08—We’ve been having a rough few days. Nate is what we’ll call “extra-sensitive” right now (from the transition to no afternoon nap). If he picks out the cars pajamas, he wants to wear the penguin pjs as soon as the cars are on. If he picks a banana over string cheese at snack time, he cries, “I want string cheese!” as soon as you crack open the peel and put it in his hand. It’s very annoying. I want him to know he has choices and at the same time I want him to realize you can change your mind and turn around from a bad choice; but there are limits (will someone tell me what they are?) The worst part is that he doesn’t just change his mind; he spins right into a mini-tantrum and whines. Oh, that whining! That’s what puts me over the edge. So that’s the background story. In the car today he says, “I want my music, Mommy!” and starts to kick and whine. The name of the song playing on the CD player was “Tickle Time” by Sandra Boynton. It was his music. Alas, there was no talking him down. Eventually, the music died (a “consequence” of his choice to fuss).

5 March 08—He’s taken a nap about 8 times in 4 weeks. At least he will stay in his room for quiet time (almost an hour…to the minute). Then starts knocking on the door, “Let me out. Nap time is over!” When he doesn’t get a nap, he hits the wall by 7:00 (just about the time the meal is being served if we go out to a restaurant). The littlest things set him off in this fragile emotional state. On the days he does take a nap, he’s fallen asleep past 10:00 PM (after his 8:00 lights out time)! I guess we’re moving to no naps. I am SO SAD.

We’re looking for a new church home and decided to re-try a church in our neighborhood this Sunday (the weekend of Daylight Savings Time). Of course, that's the day Nate decided to sleep in until 8:50 (that is about an hour later than usual even without "springing forward"). Service started at 9:30. When he woke up, I said, "OK, you slept in late and church starts soon. Can you eat breakfast fast and get dressed fast?" He said, "Yes!" After his quick breakfast, we went upstairs to change into our Sunday best. He declared he wanted to wear pajamas to church. I said no, we are going to wear our church clothes. He started to get upset. I gave short explanations as to why people do not wear pajamas to church; respect for God and God's word, getting dressed is a morning responsibility everyday, etc. He said, "Oh, OK." I felt that he understood the reasoning and respected our position. Well, wouldn't you know it, we get to church and everyone in the nursery--kids and teachers alike--had their pajamas on! It turns out it was pajama day for the week's fun theme (in anticipation of DST schedule changes, I’m sure)! So much for my, "It is unacceptable to wear p.j.s to church" lecture. Will he ever believe me again! J

People ask me all the time if he understands what’s happening with the new baby. I think he understands as much as a toddler can (I mean I’m not even 100% prepared for how this baby with her unique personality will affect our family and our lives). But he will repeat, “[Insert Baby’s name here] is growing big in your belly. When she’s ready, she will come out and live with us in her bedroom.” The other day he said, “Mommy, I want [Sister] to come out so I can give her a hug and a kiss.”

I would say this winter season was characterized by gross motor development. He has a new obsession with jumping—when he’s excited, off of curbs and steps, off the trunk in his bedroom (three jumps and a roll into Daddy’s lap before bed is the current routine), etc. He’s also mastered most of the ladders and climbing walls at the local parks. I thought a lot of the ladders were a bit out of his league (especially on the 5-12 year-old structure). One day he darted across the park (my pregnant self waddled slowly after him). He was already half-way up one of the “silly” climbing ladders. Perhaps I was the one nervous of them—especially when he made it to the platform and said, “Your turn, Mommy!” He’s also vastly improved with his throwing arm (though we’re still working on moving your hands when you try to catch something). He loves to throw rocks—at trees to hear the “clunk!” in water to hear the “bloop!” etc.

We also discovered recently that he is really good at dribbling a soccer ball across the backyard. Not oh-my-goodness-he’s-a-star good, but wow-neither-of-us-knows- anything-about-soccer-where-did-this-come-from good. They have a highly recommended three-year-old soccer program at the YMCA down the road. We might enroll him this summer. We were planning to wait until four-years-old to do the summer sports league thing; but he needs a physical outlet. Our other consideration is a tumbling/gymnastics class.

Despite a very active gross motor period, he’s also taken an avid interest again in letters and words. He was obsessed with letters this past summer & fall, then took about a six-month break. Now he’s really into memorizing and spelling his sight words; reciting his ABCs; identifying letters; and sounding out words on signs, boxes, books, etc. He took out the “wall racing ladybugs” from his Easter basket this weekend and read the promotional bubble on the packaging! “Fun…with…bugs!” he tells us. Huh.

He loves dirt, puddles and mud. (Is this kid a boy or what?!) He will play in the garden dirt (there’s nothing but some winter chard and cilantro planted right now) with diggers, loaders & trucks for close to an hour in solitude—dumping and loading and hauling over and over again.

He also loves to dance to the “Cars” CD or VeggieTales “Sunday Morning Songs.”

Out of the mouths of babes (Funny Things Nate’s said):
29 Jan 08—He called McD’s “Old MacDonald’s”—instead of his usual moniker, “The M Restaurant.”

08 Feb 08—We’re fascinated by nipples these days. He takes his fingers in the bathtub and point to his nipples and asks, “Mom, what are these?” Hmmm…no creative word came to mind. I said, “Nipples. Mommy has some and Daddy has some—everybody has some.” The next evening while chasing Jason in the yard, he comes to a sudden halt and lifts up his shirt. I can see the wheels turning in his head. Jason asks him if a bug bit him. Nate replies, “What are these, Daddy?” Then today he saw me getting ready and announces, “Mom you have big nipples.” Then he proceeds to walk over to the bed and ask, “What’s this.” I label it a bra. He further queries, “Is that to keep your nipples warm?” Yes it is. Huh. Breastfeeding should be quite educational for him.

Asked, what’s that, Mommy? In reference to a big nail head sticking out of the timber retaining wall at the park. After I answered, he retorts, “I better be careful or that might kill me.” Hmmm….I don’t recall ever using the word kill to describe something dangerous. We’re definitely entering the stage of imaginations running amok.

Memorized his first Bible Verses at BSF and Sunday School:
“Love God with all your heart.” (Mt 22:37)
“God can do anything.” (John 14:14)
“Be willing to share” (1 Tim 6:18)

He’s proud of the fact that he’s memorized his bedtime prayer and will say it really fast and excited…ending with “and make me into morning light!”

For most of January and part of February, he regressed with some of his words. In particular, he replaced the sound at the beginning of basic words with a “c” sound—“cabloon” (balloon), “cachine” (machine), “cajamas” (pajamas). As suspected, it was some stage he needed to work through. He hasn’t done this in a month or so. Odd.

11 Mar 08—Nate and I were driving in the car playing the “what-do-you-see?” game on the way to MOPS. Nate announces, “I see a bourg.” Hmmm…I reel through my list of possible nouns. “Did you see a board?” I prompt. “No, a boorg,” he corrects. Still nothing. “A bug?” I try. This goes on for a little over a minute. I try to be encouraging, using the old, “you’re doing a great job saying the word the same way; Mommy is just having trouble figuring it out. Is it something on the road?” He throws a little attitude into his voice at this point, “A boord. B..I..R..D!” Huh. I guess bird is one of the sight words he’s picked up. Spelling. Does this development mean Jason and I need to stop spelling our code words in front of him? (At the very least, we’re going to have to start spelling a lot faster!)

We have no idea where this came from; but during diaper changes or punishments (er, “consequences”), he’ll announce in rebellion, “My butt is squeezing!”

Yesterday we were looking at photos of Nate as a new baby—the start of the “you were little too” lessons. He looks at a few dozen photos and declares, “I was a cute baby!”

14 Mar 08—We signed Nate up for the Big Brother class held last weekend at Methodist Hospital (where I’ll deliver). The class is aimed at 3- to12-year-olds. He was definitely on the younger side, but luckily there was a small contingent of toddlers. The nurses were able to tailor a discussion towards their understanding (and attention span). They learned how to help Mommy & Daddy with a diaper, how to pick up and hold a baby, help with feeding, burping, swaddling, etc. Then they went through stations—we read some big brother books, sorted baby toys from big kid toys, helped bathe baby, made a card for baby sister, got his own ID band, and watched a birthing video from “Reading Rainbow.” The video was very tastefully done from a side angle; but still, Nate was wide-eyed. Then today (about a week later), he asks, “Is ‘Baby Sister’ ready to come out of your legs?” Great. I can’t wait for the next question!

“You’re not a girl, you’re a Mommy.”—after a discussion about boys & girls stemming from a Sesame Street song

We’re in the “stadatti loop” whenever we pass through a maze of interstate.

“You might want to…” “…play with me, …put my shoes on, …have some animal crackers,” etc.

“It’s just water.” “I just playing.” “It’s just a rock.” “I just said that.”

“But I didn’t lie.”—talking about dirty diapers. He usually refuses to tell us when he’s poopy (only when he’s wet and it’s soaked through his clothes). If we smell something and we ask him, he’ll often deny it. So, we’re having the “always tell the truth” lessons already. He says this on the occasions when we prompt him and he tells the truth.

27 Mar 08—At dinner last night, I asked Jason to pass me the walnuts for my spinach-strawberry-balsamic salad (yum!). Nate hears this and announces, “I want some wal-marts.” And I was so hoping he’d learn Target before Wal-mart! :)

30 Mar 08—Nate was telling Daddy that he saw a “Fish Store” sign (Bass Pro Shop) while running errands yesterday. Apparently he’s working on prepositions. The sign was “next to Michaels, but far away from it.” We saw the billboard while in the Michaels parking lot, but the sign was up high (far away?). (If you must know, he knows the name of the craft store because they sell THOMAS the Tank Engine toys!)