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The weekend before Joe's first day of school
Today was Joe’s first day of preschool. I’m proud to announce that we all survived.
As a mom who has been blessed with wonderful caregivers and accustomed to a close partnership with nannies, I certainly felt a great deal of trepidation about this whole preschool thing. I wasn’t nervous about how Joe would fare emotionally. He’d adjust. I was worried that he’d be too wiley, too fast, or too out of control. And I’m not the kind of parent who feels guilty about putting him in preschool. If they can handle him, it’ll be really good for him. He needs some structure and socialization with larger groups, neither of which are things that I can easily provide (trust me, I’m a total pushover and need someone else to enforce rules). And, honestly, I’ve been looking forward to it. Preschool is a pretty big milestone.
Today was the big day. Of course, after a week of restless nights, Joe finally decided to sleep well into the morning. We had to wake him up to get ready for school. We were in such a rush that he barely ate breakfast, but we made it out of the house and walked to school. We even arrived on time. Drop off was a bit chaotic since it was the first day. But we made it out of the classroom and Joe apparently didn’t fuss too long after we left.
When I picked him up at 3pm, the teachers had all the kids in the hallway, lunch bags in hand. I heard Joe wailing from the end of the hall. Apparently, the minute they walked into the hallway, some parents were there. When he didn’t see me immediately, he lost it. Fortunately, I got there early today, so he hadn’t been crying for long. Once he turned off the waterworks, he was a pretty happy guy.
We didn't capture the typical first-day-of-school shot we wanted, but here's a glimpse into Joe's first day in the classroom at preschool.
We collected his things and made it all the way across the street before Joe demanded food. So we plopped down right there on the grass and broke out his still-heavy lunch bag. No wonder he was hungry…he hadn’t eaten his sandwich or most of his snacks! (His sandwich wasn’t unwrapped, so I ended up calling the school and got the scoop from his teacher, Miss Bev. Apparently they couldn’t find it under the ice pack, so they didn’t bother feeding him anything but snacks, and he didn’t even eat those.) So, we sat on the grass (well, Joe sat, stood up, ran around, and repeated the pattern several times) and watched the kids leaving school with their parents while he munched on a quarter of his almond butter and jelly sandwich, some cashews and cheese. And then we packed up and headed home. Of course Joe didn’t want to walk, so I had to carry him. Seven-and-a-half blocks is really far when you’re hauling 30-odd pounds of kiddo in the most uncomfortable way.
Overall, Joe had a good day with no “major” problems. Aside from “escaping” 3 times (they caught him halfway down the hall once and in the other 2-year-old room the other times), not napping (and trying to wake up the other kids), and being too “bouncy” to eat his lunch, he fared ok. I’m not sure I can say the same for his teacher, though she did assure me that they would “work” with him. She also said that she might ask me to come in if he doesn’t “stay put” in the classroom. Great. Our little beastie…what can I say?
On the Colorado Trail
We needed to get away from it all and decided to try camping with Joe for a long weekend…on our own. I admit I was a bit nervous about the idea without a support network or Granddaddy Bill’s RV, overnight sitter included. But Dan arranged for us to use his coworker’s permanent trailer, not far from San Isabel National Forest…basically between Buena Vista and Salida. It’s river territory, awash with rafting companies and kayakers, but thatwasn’t an option with our terrible two-ber. So, we decided that the best plan was no plan at all, beyond the intention to do a little sightseeing and easy hiking.
We got a late start on Thursday and left after (instead of before) Joe’s nap. We hit some rush hour traffic, but made decent time. We figured that we’d stop and stretch our legs so that Joe wouldn’t get too antsy. And we had the old standby–Cars–via the portable DVD player we clamped to the back of seat. Joe was cranky about being confined for the “long” car ride, which put everyone on edge, but we made it all the way to the Colorado Trail without stopping. We decided to go for a hike despite the drizzle and muddy path. It seemed like a good idea until Joe tripped over a tree root and the mosquito swarm started. We didn’t make it far before we headed back to the car. With overcast skies, we realized that the light wouldn’t last long, so we blasted through the rest of the drive, stopping only once for gas and to grab a pizza slice in Fairplay. We made it to the trailer just in time to get set up for evening.
Hanging at the river in Salida with daddy
Of course, nothing could be that simple. Joe had energy to burn and wanted to run around. He didn’t go down easily once bedtime came (Dan ended up singing him to sleep), and he woke up in the middle of the night frightened by new surroundings. Not realizing the time, I tossed him in a too-cramped-already-for-us bed, and he kicked and kneed us, and generally did somersalts for the rest of the night. By the early morning hours, we were all pretty bleary-eyed and cranky. We decided to spend our first day scoping out the scene, especially when we realized that Joe had a fever (which somewhat explained his foul mood), so we drove through Buena Vista, infusing ourselves with caffeine (and yummy scones at Bongo Billy’s) and made sure that Joe had a solid dose of kiddo Tylenol. Joe fell asleep in the car, so we headed over to Salida. He woke up by the time we got there (we went the long way) and he played near the river for awhile, climbing on rocks with Dan and slapping the water with a stick. Boy, I had forgotten how cool it can be for a two-year-old to watch leaves float down a river…We walked around town, where Joe tried to open every door and really wanted to check out the “tooools” in the hardware shop. We finally landed at the local toy store and Joe found a super cool large die-cast “tuck”–which, I might add, did not leave his hands the rest of the trip (without a fight). We ended our tour of Salida with a quick lunch at a cafe on the water.
Joe feeding the St. Elmo chipmunks
Joe napped again in the car after we left, so we took a drive to St. Elmo. Joe had a blast feeding the chipmunks…until he decided it was more fun to haul the seeds around in the bed of the truck and make truck sounds while he “drove” the truck all around the boards of the feeding grounds. I’m sure the crowd wasn’t thrilled about our terrible two-ber terrorizing the little rodents, so Dan was able to convincingly lure Joe away from the area to a large rock that was much better for playing trucks. (Whew.) Even though Joe was perfectly content watching the feeding frenzy, he didn’t complain too much about taking a walk through town so that mommy and daddy could see all the old buildings and take some much-needed breaks.
Joe and Dan walking through St. Elmo
If you can negotiate your way past all the ATVers (well, mostly their trucks and trailers) on the drive up the dirt road, St. Elmo is worth the visit. It’s a ”ghost” town that is in the process of being restored and claims to be in the best shape of all Colorado ghost towns. (But it’s still pretty well inhabited, so that had me scratching my head a bit. There’s even a nice guesthouse right when you drive up.) I get the impression from the hundreds of private property/no trespassing signs that the local community has a love-hate relationship with its historic “attraction.”
We ended the day with another round of pizza, but this time it was the good stuff (a yummy veggie combo from family-friend Moonlight. Heads up: their “breadsticks” are like loaves of bread…for a buck). We even managed to enjoy a microbrew on tap before Joe began to totally break down…despite the box of sidewalk chalk they loaned us to keep him busy on the patio. The day ended with all of us collapsing for a decent night’s sleep…and Joe stayed in his own bed until 7am (hooray).
"Hiking" with dada on the Agnes Vailles trail
By Saturday morning, Joe’s fever was still teetering on the edge and his mood was sour, so we decided to do one quick hike before heading back on the road. We loaded up on caffeine and yummies, then went for a hike up the Agnes Vailles Fall trail. We were excited to arrive at the trailhead early, with only two other cars in the lot. But, by the time we unloaded Joe, nine additional cars had pulled in and the hoards (and their dogs) spilled out. Fortunately, we were slow enough that we ended up walking in a lull between crowds. You see, despite the fact that he seemed exciting to go “iking wif dada,” Joe absolutely, resolutely refused to walk. And every single person in those nine carloads (plus several others who pulled into the lot afterwards) knew exactly who we were by the time we reached the end of the .5 mile trail, thanks to Joe’s protests and vocal “exercises.” Dan ended up letting Joe ride on his shoulders (a compromise, since Joe onlywanted to be carried in Dan’s arms). This short hike ended up taking us about 2-1/2 hours, with several stops (in part due to the fact that mommy, in her haste to pack the day we left, forget her inhaler and wasn’t sucking air as quickly as needed). But that also included a long pause at the end of the trail, where Joe scrambled over rocks on his own, once he saw all of the other kids there. Joe napped while we packed up, so Mr. Cranky was very awake by the time we got on the road. Aside from a quick stop at Al’s Pit BBQ (somewhere east of Fairplay, can’t remember the town), we hauled home as fast as speed limits (and really bad drivers) would allow.
Everything seemed “normal” after we arrived home and Joe went down easily, but he just woke up at 10:30 screaming like crazy and in pain. Wish us luck and Joe a quick recovery from whatever this is. You can’t get hand, foot, and mouth disease twice in a row, can you?
Sizing him up: Joe hasn’t weighed in lately, but he definitely seems taller, longer, heavier than before. I’d guess that he’s about 32-33 lbs and 36 inches tall, although that hair can be deceptive! He’s still pretty trim overall; he’s definitely in a 2T but fits in some 3T tops (for length). I think he’s just getting ready to push out of those 8EW shoes too.
Mr. Stoic at a City Park jazz concert
Latest adventures: We didn’t really travel in the months of June or July, but we did spend some time in Denver. In June, we went to the Juneteenth and Pride festivals, and managed to go to one jazz concert in City Park. We also spent one night in the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park as a family while Dan was there for a work meeting. In July, we attended heritage camp for a 3-day weekend. It was a blast! As part of camp, we went to a Colorado Rapids soccer game, carried the flags out onto the field for the opening ceremonies, and were regaled with a spectacular fireworks show (rescheduled from July 4th). We were a little worried about Joe’s reaction to the boom of the fireworks, but he was absolutely enthralled. We’ve also found a great group for transracially adoptive families that meets once each month. If you’re in the metro Denver area, check this out: http://www.meetup.com/Transracially-Adoptive-Families/
Verbal skills: Joe has made huge leaps in this area. He’s talking all. the. time. He’s really trying to be understood (he even takes out his binky upon request or if he realizes that we can’t understand him because of it). And he’s definitely speaking in multi-word sentences now. It’s definitely cool that he can communicate more with us. We’re experiencing a lot of the verbal firsts much later than friends with kids the same age, but that doesn’t make it any less exciting.
Physical prowess: What can I say? Joe is crazy athletic and agile. Every stranger who meets him says the same thing (“wow. he’s fast.”) He prefers to play with older kids on the playground so that they can keep up. He’s about on par with the 3 to 4 year-olds on climbing structures. I found an African Martial Arts company close to our home, but they don’t start the kids in classes until age 5. Until then, there is still Karate and Tae Kwon Do at age 3 (as well as hip hop class, I hear). I’m not sure what age t-ball starts. But we’ll have to find something for this winter.
Good behavior: mama gets lots of kisses on command. Hugs too!
Experimental (we hope) behavior: screaming. Very, very loud screaming/yelling. When talking. When playing. It matches his energy level, but it’s annoying. We’re not sure if this is Maggie*-inspired (she’s a screamer, but mostly in moments of frustration) or if he’s venturing out of his normal volume control or if he’s simply acting his age and pushing limits.
* Maggie is Joe’s nanny’s daughter…the two act like siblings and we trade childcare with their family, so the kids spend a lot of time together.
Bad behavior: tackling, hitting, and kicking (though he’s only acted this way towards Maggie…I don’t count the accidental headbutt to my nose this evening). His rough play got much rougher after we returned from heritage camp. I’m not sure if the exposure to a big group, older/more kids, or if the vacation schedule upset caused this rash of bad behavior. We’re doing the whole “hands are not for hitting” educational routine, but I’m still hoping it’s a phase.
Terrible Twober moment: After finally getting around to spring cleaning Joe’s room (yesterday), today he didn’t want to go down for a nap and kept getting out of bed. The last time I went in his room to put him back down, I found him sitting on the no-longer-clean floor with the remnants of a giant jug of shea butter (what we use to moisturize his skin). I wasn’t sure whether to be furious at him for making a mess or proud of him for trying to do something himself. After all, he did a pretty good job of rubbing it on his arms and legs thoroughly. Now if we can only get him to dress himself.
Going for a ride in Estes Park
On to the favorites…
Favorite mode of transportation: This one’s a toughie. Joe enjoys riding in “dada’s tuck” and “mama’s caar,” but he also loves to go for rides in the bicycle trailer. For shorter trips, he prefers to ride in (or pull) his wagon or ride (or push) his tricycle.
Favorite outfit: his Cars pjs (thanks GrammiLo for sending the second pair…the first pair is getting all worn out!). The “jeans Joe” phase seems to be over.
Favorite accessory: until very recently, Joe couldn’t be parted from his orange Crocs. But lately he’s been demanding a red baseball cap with a football theme and refuses to wear the orange (comic theme) or yellow (says “superhero”) ones.
Favorite toy: die-cast metal Lightning McQueen; alternatively “choo-choo” (Thomas the Train).
Favorite comfort item: “ducky” is stil the frontrunner and Joe doesn’t go to bed without him. We’re thankful that ducky seems to win over the binky, but he’s still pretty attached to that too. Lately he’s been talking cars, books, or a stuffed tiger to bed in addition to his regular comfort items.
Favorite book: He still prefers the large truck book, but can sometimes be satisfied with the animal book. He rarely will sit down and listen to a story read from a book unless he’s with Maggie (since he always follows her lead).
Favorite movie: “Caaars” though he will ask to “watch choo-choo” occasionally. We can also keep him occupied with Signing Time. Nanny Nicole (now dubbed “Mama ‘Cole” by Joe) lent us the ABC Signing Time.
Favorite music: Dan swears that Joe drops everything and starts dancing whenever old Stevie Wonder songs play. But I’ve seen Joe dance to just about everything, including <gasp> country music, and the DVD intro music prior to the Cars start menu. I’m not sure if “dance” is the right way to describe it, though. The poor kid is fast and agile, but he is not coordinated on the dance floor…yet.
Favorite “indoor” activity: “colors” (aka coloring). Mama ‘Cole has been letting the kids color up a storm, but it wasn’t until Joe discovered painting at Little Monkey Business that he has been asking for “colors” all the time at home. He prefers markers over crayons, probably because they’re easier to use and don’t have as much drag. I still haven’t pulled out the pudding paint, but might do that soon once the painters leave and we can set up the pool outside.
Favorite “outdoor” activity: swimming. Joe loves the water slide at the indoor pool where he has swim lessons. So does mommy!
Favorite outing: Little Monkey Business, hands down. It’s an indoor playground/art center/coffee shop. There’s a bounce house, tons of climbers and slides, an obstacle course, and art room…all for the toddler set. They also have a separate coffee shop in view (and in reach) of the little ones and they serve good coffee and healthy snacks. I’ve begged the owner to offer annual memberships, but the place is capacity controlled so he can’t. Joe goes there at least once a week with Mama ‘Cole and Maggie, sometimes twice a week if we go to family night.
Favorite spectator sport: basketball. Joe always wants to stop and watch (and run onto the court) when we go to the Rec Center for swim lessons.
Joe's first lollipop at the Juneteenth parade
Favorite food: Joe really doesn’t ask for anything in particular except milk. Occasionally he’ll ask for something he knows he won’t get from me, like juice or a cookie. He is getting pickier with food in general and we have difficulty getting him to eat vegetables at all, though we try to serve them at every meal. He won’t eat salad at all anymore, much to our dismay. I’ve been forced to get really sneaky (my spaghetti has several vegetable purees in it, not just tomato) so that even if he won’t eat the obvious veggies, he’s still getting the nutrition.
And coming up…
Joe starts preschool in a few weeks. He’ll be going to school two “full” days (8-3). We’ll see how that works out…
Joe starts potty training too. They’ll be doing this at preschool, which means that I get to do it at home too. Fun.
Today Joe had his first visit with the Easter Bunny. (After three traumatizing trips to Santa over the past couple of years, we decided to hold off on giant “stuffed” animals…)
The outlook was good this time. While we were standing in line, Joe seemed pretty interested. He watched other kids sit on EB’s lap, waved several times to “the” bunny, and even shook his hand. But, when it came time to sit on the big, white, fuzzy lap, it was a no-go. So, he sat with Daddy, next to EB. Joe was pretty skeptical, but at least he wasn’t screaming. This was as close as we could get to a smile from him. (Those photographers at Flatiron Crossings earned their keep, making several attempts to win Joe over. But he wasn’t having any of it, though he did try to steal the “clapper” noisemaker they were using and several styrofoam Easter eggs.)
Sorry we’ve been silent on the blog lately. Dan and I are both up against the wall with work deadlines (it continues through June). And Dan has been working his behind off to finally get our temporary kitchen in a little less temporary state (we have trim AND it’s painted — woo hoo!), which means that Joe and I have been spending probably a little too much time together. OK, and, admittedly, we’ve also been spending way too much of our very limited free time catching up with old friends on Facebook. Anyhow, here’s the super quick low-down on the little man:
Joe weighed in at the doctor’s office recently at 26.3 pounds (he’s fine…has a mild case of broncialitis, but otherwise healthy). They didn’t measure his height, but he is definitely getting taller…33 inches maybe? Lately, he’s been sleeping pretty well (and long…), and eating up a storm, so we’re guessing another growth spurt and/or developmental leap is on the horizon. He’s still in size 18-24 months and some 2Ts and his boats are at 7-1/2W and growing. Joe’s fro is another matter and his big noggin nearly fits in 3T hats!
The biggest news: Joe is starting to potty train himself. It’s hit or miss and his interest wavers, but he’s already had several successful efforts. Woo hoo!
Milestones: Thanks to Nanny Nicole and a very helpful Maggie (along with the Signing Time DVDs), Joe is signing frequntly now. He’s also been talking up a storm, though we’re still working on understanding him. On the physical front, we’re constantly amazed at Joe’s speed and agility. A few days ago, we–and the adults around us–we’re all amazed to watch Joe run at full speed through the park, across the grass and sidewalk, off the curb, and into the sand without missing a beat. He also nearly made it to the top of the curved “ladder” climber on the jungle gym. He’s definitely a handful!
Favorite Word: “Da-dee.” We’ve finally moved from Dada to Daddy, but Mama, Mom, and Mommy are slow in coming. The last couple of days, Joe has asked for Daddy about every 5 minutes. He’s still a daddy’s boy!
Favorite Food: “appos” (apples). Not sure what the fascination is, but Washington sure is making their money off this little guy. He’ll eat them whole or sliced, but the sauce is a no-go at home. We’re still having trouble getting him interested in veggies, so we’re sneaking them in as purees in other foods (but we always serve veggies on the side). He will eat some as snacks and still likes English peas (shelled), sugar snap peas, and edamame!
Favorite TV show: Imagination Movers. He’s even developed his own sign for it. He likes to play his guitar when the music bits are on, but he’ll even watch the show and Mommy can finally get some laundry done.
Favorite Music: Imagination Movers. (Duh) I know practically all the words, since he asks for it all the time: in the car and at home. He’s also partial to the punk and metal selections on Rock Band II, but we’re backing off that kind of exposure.
Favorite Toy: Depends on what he’s doing. If there’s music playing, Joe usually is dragging around an instrument, mostly his guitar. He’ll also sit on Dan’s lap and play the tin whistle with him! Otherwise, it’s all about tools or cars. Joe has two toolbenches that keep him pretty occupied. (Thanks Hurleys for the super cool one and all the “power” tools…Joe’s in heaven!) The only problem is that Joe wants to “fix” everything and recently has been obsessed with the fireplace. He broke a toy hacksaw trying to “cut” through the bricks. Yikes!
Favorite “Outing”: sitting in the car pretending to drive. We also take a lot of walks with Joe on the trike or in his super-cool wagon. I’m getting ready to sell most of the strollers, which have been collecting dust for months.
Favorite “Gross” boy things: It must be instinct or genetic or the Y chromosome. Joe is getting really good at trying to pass gas and laughs like crazy when he does. His friend also taught him how to pick his nose. Gross.
Favorite Routine: Bath time! Though sometimes we wonder who’s really taking the bath since whoever is on the outside of the tub seems to get equally wet.
Favorite Chore: Cleaning anything. Give the kid a rag and he’ll wipe up the table. Give the kid a broom and he’ll sweep the floors. Both nanny Nicole and I have figured out that we can give Joe the vacuum with the edger attachment and he’ll keep himself entertained for a good long haul…and he doesn’t do bad with the floors either!
Biggest Scare(s): At the zoo…A couple of weeks ago, in a split-second, Joe climbed under the fence to the elephant pen. I ditched the camera, reached over the thankfully low fence, and caught him by the back of the overalls as he was getting ready to run towards the ditch. Last week, he made a mad dash out of the park–towards a main street. At a full sprint, including a 90-degree turn at full speed, I didn’t catch up with him until he was halfway down the sidewalk. Thank God he didn’t go into the street. Let’s just say that we’re working on “stop” and “go” commands and reinstituting the harness.
OK, that’s it for tonight. Come find us on Facebook if you want updates in between blog posts!
Mr. Fixit tightens the leg on a chair
It has been pretty firmly established: Dad is where it’s at. Everywhere I go, everything I do, Joe is following right along and wanting to get involved in some way. If I have a drill out for something, I have to give him his own drill (he has several plastic tools) and allow him to help get the job done. He helps with gardening, laundry, cleaning, checking email, and any attempted home repairs. He wants to do everything just like “Dada!”
This really is an amazing time. He’s beginning to recognize and explore his autonomy (and yes, exerting his will). We’ve known for some time that he’s exceptionally strong and fast! But now his fine motor skills are developing to the point where he can manipulate objects and come close to using things as they’re intended. And to my delight, his imagination is emerging so that he can use things as they’re not intended just as well! As home-fixer-uppers, we’re ecstatic to see Joe reaching a point where we can give him some instruction and modeling and he can occupy himself imitating us while we tackle some of the things we need to accomplish on the house (for at least a couple of minutes at a time). He’s even starting to take these chores and turning them into his games.
Joseph Daniel Snow Removal, Inc.
Our first foray into sledding this past weekend is a perfect example. We got several inches of snow followed by some crazy low temperatures. The snow on the roads was tightly packed and nice and slick. It was perfect for a trip out with the new pull-behind sled that we bought to take Joe snowshoeing after Christmas. He had a blast. Shortly afterwards, he had almost as much fun as we learned to shovel snow. ”Push, push, push, push, stop. Dump!” (This last part set him to giggling every time.) All of this activity set him up for a day with Mommy today.
Shannon has been doing an occasional childcare swap with the mother of a little girl. Maggie’s and Joe’s birthdays are a day apart. They are so alike in many ways that it can be surprising.
Joe and Maggie sledding
Perhaps it’s her more advanced vocabulary. Perhaps it’s Joe’s helpful nature. Whichever the case, she can boss him around to the point where he’ll fetch toys on command! Today, Mommy and the “twins” went out onto the neighbors’ driveway to play with the sled, and Joe (always ready to move, lift, drag, hoist, or carry anything) got the chance to play draught pony to Maggie’s delight.
Sweet little Maggie has our little Joe whipped. It seems that Joe has an Alpha Woman in his life…just like “Dada!”
Click on the picture for a video snippet
Our little weed may be a broadleaf, who knows! Joe is still a peanut in height at about 31 inches* and weighing in right around 25 pounds (but he’s pushing nearly past a size 18-24, and his Flinstone feet have swelled him into a size 7). Our recent visit to see Joe’s cousin Kaden in California, who is about a week older and probably 5 inches taller, proved Joe’s peanut status! (This time we took videos, so as soon as I can figure out how to edit, we’ll upload some of those.) Here’s a quickie update on the latest milestones and moments:
Favorite Halloween costume: Jimi Hendrix. Joe dressed up as an adorable jester on Halloween, but the Jimi Hendrix costume he wore to Boo at the Zoo was the real winner, especially since he wore mommy’s vintage suede fringed vest from when she was little!
Favorite Parent: still “Dada”
Favorite Food: dried soybeans (hey, this is the kid who loves salad)
Favorite Song: anything by the Imagination Movers. He also likes the songs from the super-cool Blue Moo album.
Favorite Quiet Time Activity: drawing with crayons or pens
Favorite motion: galloping like a horse or hopping like a bunny
Favorite Toy: It’s a tie between the toy cleaning cart with vacuum (just like mommy’s), broom, mop, etc. and the Playskool Air-tivity Busy Ball Popper
Recent “firsts:” signing please, saying please (“peas”) and thank you (“tank yu”), sitting on the potty on his own without first putting it on his head (we’re just introducing the potty concept), enjoying having his teeth brushed (he likes to use his own toothbrush, then he lets mommy or daddy use a baby finger brush), getting baths in the “big boy” bathtub (the clawfoot) and, of course, all the ones that we’re not thrilled about, including climbing/falling out of his crib (once), tantrums, pulling hair, picking his nose (and eating it), and getting hysterical at the doctor’s office. Hello, Terrible Twos.
Newest achievement: he’s off bottle entirely!
“Highest” achievement: using the chair to climb onto the table, then climbing onto the window sill and hanging on by the window molding while hitting the window. (Except for that time last month when Joe climbed onto the radiator and pounded against the front window, I’ve never seen Dan react so quickly!) Joe also pushes his potty to wall, then stands on it, to reach the light switch.
Latest words: Please, thank you (both signed too), Joe, water (wa wa), down, wow, uh-oh. Joe’s still not articulating much these days, and the doctor wants us to lose the binkies. I have to admit that he makes more sense and talks more when he doesn’t have anything in his mouth.
Favorite TV: The Monkey Boys. OK, it’s not a show, but the puppet “hosts” of Disney’s morning kids programming. Joe stops and looks at the TV everytime he hears Did the monkey mail come? Did the monkey mail come? The monkey mail came. Well, who’s it from? He also likes the Imagination Movers, Wiggles, and Johnny and the Sprites. He isn’t as interested in cartoons, though. Joe has, however, started pointing to the TV in our room when he wants us to turn it on. He doesn’t sit and watch. Instead, he ignores the TV and plays until a song comes on, then he’ll start dancing! Oh, and if mommy’s watching TV, he generally ignores it…unless Rachel Ray comes on. I swear, the kid gawks at pretty girls!
Latest “test” for mama: the quivering-lip open-mouthed I-want-something-I-can’t-have cry, which still is not nearly as effective as the puppy-dog whine he’s mastered.
Worst travel moment: screaming and crying for 20 minutes on the plane to California for Thanksgiving. Definitely the worst kid on that flight (yes, we were “that” family), but he did sleep the rest of the time. And he was an angel on the return flight.
Next steps: potty training. Ugh.
*There is some dispute about his height. He’s now terrified of the doctor’s office (thanks, Kaiser Permanente and your terrible bedside manner), so it was virtually impossible to measure him accurately. Based on how far his little head (‘fro not included) pokes up over the table, we estimate he is approximately 31 inches high.
A couple of weeks ago, we took Joe to visit Santa Claus. Last year, Joe was fairly skeptical of the jolly old fellow, but this year he was downright terrified the second that Dan set him down on Santa’s lap. We decided to capture the moment (for posterity, of course) and still giggle every time we see it, so thought we’d share.
And don’t worry. Joe wasn’t traumatized. He stopped crying as soon as daddy “rescued” him from the scary fat man’s lap. He got a toy out of the deal and lots of hugs from daddy. (It’s at times like these that mommy just won’t do if daddy’s around…)
Lately, Joe has been exhibiting a lot of stranger anxiety. He is still a bit shy around Dan’s mom, even though he’s seen her several times. In fact, when we visited my family at Thanksgiving, he didn’t want to go to his aunties and wouldn’t even look at Big Daddy (Granddaddy Bill), all of whom he’s spent time with as recently as August. I’m sure it’s just a phase that he’ll outgrow. I guess it’s better than having him befriend strangers!
I was stunned yesterday when I picked up the phone and heard our now-familiar SSA office case handler’s voice
I just wanted to let you know that we received Joseph’s birth certificate verification, so we’ll clear his application for approval. The card will be mailed to your home address. You can come by and pick up a print out of his number if you need it sooner.
Dan picked up Joe’s official number today. I have it in my hot little hands as I type (okay, well, it’s sitting on the desk next to me, but you get the idea). They even gave us the official certified copy of his birth certificate that they ordered (expedited, at their expense) because, once they verified it, they didn’t need it for their files. It’s a paltry bonus given the headache, but it’s really nice to have an extra and probably something they didn’t have to do, so definitely a thoughtful and appreciated gesture. I feel a thank you note coming on…which is saying something, given that I recently found a stack of half-written, half-addressed notes from last Christmas that never made it out the door (yet another major goof I get to beat myself up about).
I almost don’t believe it. After 4 months on this merry-go-round, we can finally stop and catch our breath. And amend our taxes. And open an education fund. And and and… An enormous burden has been lifted from my shoulders.
If I didn’t have so much to do now that I have this information, I’d stop and take a nice, long break and celebrate. But, I’m sick, and so are Dan and Joe (the little guy just finished up his course of antibiotics for an ear infection, which I suspect is not cured to boot). And I’m past a deadline at work, so I need to get the whip cracking. Plus, I have Halloween preparations on my plate: treats for Dan’s work, last-minute costume needs, and an entire meal for Halloween night when Nana and Noni P join us for Joe’s second Halloween. Photos coming soon…
Update: Joe’s social security card arrived before Thanksgiving. I don’t remember when, but it’s filed, safe and sound.
Favorite activity: running wild and throwing things
Yep, this one is lasting.
Favorite routines: bath time, storytime
When we say “Want a bath?,” Joe stops what he’s doing, drops whatever he’s holding, and runs to the kitchen. (We have a big single sink.) He loves to stand up and flash the neighbors through the kitchen window. Great… He also likes to have his own cup and “rinses” himself (by pouring water in his face). We’re starting to flood the kitchen more and more (it’s flowing onto the floors instead of just the counter), so we’re anxious to get the new bathroom finished! Joe also likes us to read books. He’ll grab a book from the shelf, take it to one of us (seated in a chair in his room), then expect to sit on a lap. We normally make it through a short board book, unless he changes his mind and gets down to find another one.
Favorite musical past-time: playing the kazoo or dancing
Dan brought home a kazoo from a conference goody bag and showed Joe how it worked. Joe caught on the first time. Now we can say, “Joe, play the kazoo” and he does. What a hoot! Joe just loves music. Dan’s a little worried that he prefers to dance over playing, but I think he likes both and just prefers to have company helping out with the rhythm. Joe also loves Dan’s guitars, which are on display in the study. Every time he walks by, he gently touches the strings on one, then runs to the other and does the same, and grins. A lovely little musical interlude.
Favorite comfort: binky or Ducky (Orange Ruffy and Snuffles come in second)
No real changes here.
Favorite parent: “Dada”
Joe still gets excited every time Dan comes home. He also prefers Dan whenever he’s tired (read: cranky) or hurt.
Favorite yummies: any edibles (fruit, crackers) and rocks
Joe’s getting a tad bit picky, but I think that’s because he’s teething (again). He prefers crunchy foods at these times (raw celery and carrots especially, but he bites and spits). He’s starting to eat the peas out of snap peas, so we’re going to try edamame soon. He’s very texture sensitive and wasn’t wild about the chickpeas tonight. Although, he’ll never pass up tomatoes or fruit (mandarin oranges are the latest). He’s also still lovin’ to suck on rocks. And he’s sneaky too. I found him gnawing on a tiny pebble the other day. Thankfully, he still gives up the goods upon request.
Favorite toy: a vintage Oscar Mayer weinermobile
Every time Joe wakes up, he reaches and whines for this. We acquired this from my grandparents, who got it from some other relative. I have a special affection for the weinermobile, which I remember seeing as it drove by my preschool (the one with the big orange pumpkin). So, we indulge Joe on this one.
Favorite book: Snuggle Puppy
A cutie by Sandra Boynton, but again requires Mom’s (bad) or Dad’s (good) singing. Thankfully for me, Joe hasn’t shown a preference.
Favorite song: Snuggle Puppy
See above.
Favorite latest adventure: shopping at Costco
Joe had a ball getting snacks around every corner. Surprisingly, they were mostly healthy the day we went.
Newest trick: creative climbing
We were unloading something from the truck the other day and had Joe in his playroom (the sunroom at the front of our house). We noticed him looking out the window at us and realized he was standing on one of the plastic chairs we keep in there, which he does often and has become pretty agile about. We looked away for a split second and when we looked back, Joe was standing on top of the radiator (it’s covered with a soft foam mat), which is about two feet off the ground. I’ve never seen Dan run so fast.
What Joe isn’t wild about: brushing his teeth
We’ve been giving Joe a toothbrush twice a day since he had his first tooth. He prefers to “brush” his own teeth (read: chew on the toothbrush). Sometimes we can trick him into letting us get in a few swipes, but he usually fights us on this front. This one is going to be a challenge.
Getting better at: utensil use, stairs
Joe is using both a fork and a spoon and he’s getting pretty good. Unless he’s excited, then the utensils enable him to fling food even farther. Oh joy. We’ve also been working on going down stairs. When I hold his hand, Joe goes forward or likes it when I swing him down stair-by-stair. When I don’t have ahold of him, he’ll turn around and go backwards…most of the time. Oh, and he’s quite proficient with step stools and ladders, as we found out, so those are now always put away.
Definite obsession: shoes
Joe’s shoes, my shoes, Dan’s shoes. It doesn’t matter. Joe loves shoes. Putting them on, taking them off. Helping us do the same.
Emerging skills: imaginative play, identification, drawing
Dan’s really been working with Joe on this and now he’s showing real signs of creativity. He’ll make engine sounds when the trucks “go” and take other toys for “rides.” He’s also engaging more with toys that have multiple parts. We’re also working on sorting/categorizing, body parts (Joe can touch his “nose” “toes” and “tummy” on command; we’re working on eyes, ears, mouth, and more), colors, and numbers. On the color front, Joe got his first crayons and has started scribbling with Dan. OK, he ate the tip off the red one the first time, but he’s making progress.
Challenging areas: verbal development
Joe is definitely chattering and having extensive conversations about something, but he’s just not making any real sense to us. And he’s missing some significant letters and sounds (like “m” and “ma”). We’re not worried yet, since he’s so far along in physical development. He definitely understands us, but we think some of his physicality and the occasional aggressive response to us may be a result of not being able to communicate. We know that he understands several signs, but he absolutely refuses to use them. He also gets really irate every time we say (or try to get him to sign) “please.” Go figure.
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