Grayson | 20 Months
I have no words about Grayson being 20 months old. None.
I mean, I guess I have SOME, considering that I am writing this post about him, but still.
It is difficult for me to put into words just how amazing this kid is. Because he is.
He is mostly indifferent about his little brother, but he does check on him when the baby is crying. Sometimes he gets that "Oh brother, quit crying" look in his eye. I am sure we will be seeing that quite a bit over the years to come. And I have had to say, "Please leave Easton alone!" probably a dozen times or so. I am sure I will be saying that quite a bit in the future.
He is so quick to smile these days. All you have to do is catch his eyes, smile and you are treated to a wonderful Grayson grin that lights up his face and shows in his eyes. If you are really lucky, he will come close and his press his forehead to yours.
He is also quick to tantrum these days but we know that has to do with his communication delay, so we strive (read: struggle) to be more patient, firm and encouraging to him during those times when he is frustrated. If all goes well, he will join a play group in January that will focus on improving his speech. He says a lot of "Yeah" and "Oooh" in response to us, along with a lot of jabber. He has no problem shaking his head NO when you give him something that he doesn't want to eat.
We have on our hands a notoriously picky eater. As Mike says, "Where does he get that from, Erin?!" We have been working on it every day, and we have good days and bad days. I have to remember that he is growing just fine, so he must be getting what he needs. It is just frustrating to us. Now I know how my mom and dad felt. Sorry, Mom and Dad! :)
As you know, he is a pacifier addict. But lately he has shown less and less interest in it, and often it ends up discarded amongst his toys or tossed out of the stroller or off the high chair. So last night I decided that he wouldn't be sleeping with it. As I got him ready for bed, I made no mention of it, and he didn't ask for it. So he slept without it! Today he had it for just a little bit, but he didn't need it for nap time - and he went to bed without it again. I am cautiously optimistic. It just felt like the right time to make the transition.
Poor kid. He has been dealing with a lot of transitions lately.
Grayson is very adept at the iPad, and yes - he also has his own iPod Touch. It belongs to Mike actually, but we loaded up some of Grayson's favorite apps - Veggie Tales, ABC Mouse Alphabet Music Videos and Tom the Talking Cat - who Grayson will speak to, and it repeats what he says - but in a funny voice. He can navigate from one app to the next, repeat a music video, move to the next one - I am truly impressed!
Another thing he has recently started doing is grabbing our hands and leading us to what he wants. Usually it means to go outside or play soccer with him in our hallway but he has also indicated that he wants more to drink, he is hungry and when he wants to go to bed/upstairs! Back to soccer - both Mike and I have spent hours over the past week, rolling the ball to him, encouraging him to kick it and teaching him how to throw it and catch. He has been doing a great job. We think he is a natural!
To help him get better socialized with other kids his age, we are considering enrolling him into a Mommy and Me dance class! I know the teacher - she is a sweet lady from church - and I can see her studio from where I sit as I type this - it is right across the street. I talked to her about it, and I think it is worth a shot. :) More on that later.
I mean, I guess I have SOME, considering that I am writing this post about him, but still.
It is difficult for me to put into words just how amazing this kid is. Because he is.
He is mostly indifferent about his little brother, but he does check on him when the baby is crying. Sometimes he gets that "Oh brother, quit crying" look in his eye. I am sure we will be seeing that quite a bit over the years to come. And I have had to say, "Please leave Easton alone!" probably a dozen times or so. I am sure I will be saying that quite a bit in the future.
He is so quick to smile these days. All you have to do is catch his eyes, smile and you are treated to a wonderful Grayson grin that lights up his face and shows in his eyes. If you are really lucky, he will come close and his press his forehead to yours.
He is also quick to tantrum these days but we know that has to do with his communication delay, so we strive (read: struggle) to be more patient, firm and encouraging to him during those times when he is frustrated. If all goes well, he will join a play group in January that will focus on improving his speech. He says a lot of "Yeah" and "Oooh" in response to us, along with a lot of jabber. He has no problem shaking his head NO when you give him something that he doesn't want to eat.
We have on our hands a notoriously picky eater. As Mike says, "Where does he get that from, Erin?!" We have been working on it every day, and we have good days and bad days. I have to remember that he is growing just fine, so he must be getting what he needs. It is just frustrating to us. Now I know how my mom and dad felt. Sorry, Mom and Dad! :)
As you know, he is a pacifier addict. But lately he has shown less and less interest in it, and often it ends up discarded amongst his toys or tossed out of the stroller or off the high chair. So last night I decided that he wouldn't be sleeping with it. As I got him ready for bed, I made no mention of it, and he didn't ask for it. So he slept without it! Today he had it for just a little bit, but he didn't need it for nap time - and he went to bed without it again. I am cautiously optimistic. It just felt like the right time to make the transition.
Poor kid. He has been dealing with a lot of transitions lately.
Grayson is very adept at the iPad, and yes - he also has his own iPod Touch. It belongs to Mike actually, but we loaded up some of Grayson's favorite apps - Veggie Tales, ABC Mouse Alphabet Music Videos and Tom the Talking Cat - who Grayson will speak to, and it repeats what he says - but in a funny voice. He can navigate from one app to the next, repeat a music video, move to the next one - I am truly impressed!
Another thing he has recently started doing is grabbing our hands and leading us to what he wants. Usually it means to go outside or play soccer with him in our hallway but he has also indicated that he wants more to drink, he is hungry and when he wants to go to bed/upstairs! Back to soccer - both Mike and I have spent hours over the past week, rolling the ball to him, encouraging him to kick it and teaching him how to throw it and catch. He has been doing a great job. We think he is a natural!
To help him get better socialized with other kids his age, we are considering enrolling him into a Mommy and Me dance class! I know the teacher - she is a sweet lady from church - and I can see her studio from where I sit as I type this - it is right across the street. I talked to her about it, and I think it is worth a shot. :) More on that later.
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