Gametes In Love

My mother has this great story of me, when I was but a wee one. At nap time she used to sing to me, until the day I stretched out my little toddler hand, put it over her mouth and said “Muh-ki!”. The Bulgarian word for “Shut-up!” is “Mlukni!”, so I was close enough.

My mom hasn’t sang to me since.

I think, just now, G might have done the equivalent to me. Each night I put him down, we sit on the glider, I throw his Lovie Friends over my shoulder, and hold him chest to chest. He puts his hand on my shoulder, buried in the softness of his lovies, and I sing him a song… sometimes twice if it’s a short one.
Well, tonight, as I started the singing portion of our program, G looked up, took one of his lovies, crunched it up and put it over my mouth as if trying to shove it in the whole in my face. I kind of shook it off thinking he was playing and went on, only for him to do it a second time. Should I be taking a hint kid?

My singing ability isn’t anything to be proud of. Quite the opposite, really. While I have a good sense of rhytm, singing is by far my worst performance skill. I joke around that the best way to clear a room is to invite me to sing. Yes, I jest, but it’s true. I was curious at what age G would mock me for this. I was thinking at least 2 years. It appears we’ve made it to 17 months.

I’ve got bad news for you kid, though! I ain’t stopping. HAHA!

On our way out the door this morning S had some parting words for G: “Remember! Don’t bite. Push him down instead!”

No, we’re not trying to raise a bully, but late last week when we went to collect our angel from daycare Miss J told us that he attempted to bite 6 times that day. This made my blood run cold as 1) G’s never done this before (at home or at school); 2) biting is a serious offense; and 3) in some schools cause for expulsion if it can’t be resolved (and I really, REALLY like our school). Miss J said that they would keep an eye on G though and see what could possibly be provoking him to bite. Luckily it seemed to be a one day thing, since we didn’t receive any reports that he kept trying… until yesterday.

Yesterday, G made chompers contact. So much so, that the school had to write an Ouch Report for the victimized child and we were notified too. However, Miss J, under-breath also said “I don’t blame G! The other kid was pushing G around. G tried everything else, and since he can’t talk yet, finally bit the kid and that did the trick.” So a part of me is relieved that G only bit because he was provoked, but I’m bummed he has to result to this extreme.

Hence the encouragement from S this morning.

I did sneak a peak at the Ouch Report file this morning. It’s out in the open, so it wasn’t all that difficult. It said “Z was pestering another child and got bit as a result.” In a way I’m glad that the parents of little Z were told that there was provocation. I’m also relieved that G’s name wasn’t  written down.

Still, I’m not thrilled for this to keep happening. While talking would hlp, I can’t decide if a rich dictionary of words will be helpful in this case. Sure, G will be able to defend himself better (verbally), but knowing my potty mouth, and what he’ll learn from me, he’ll have some choice words to add.

Here are the origins of the Baby Movers company G will be founding. It’s also gives ME a great insight in how S actually accomplishes his chores. At this rate, S will have to hand over his allowance to G — only those that do the work get the goodies.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plyIQA-wrnc]

This is how toddlers get into chairs. Sliding in. Face first. Please observe how proud he is of himself in the end.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIfJcW9S3ro]

AKA Miracle of Miracles!!! This is G brushing his teeth. Miraculous for two reasons:

1. he’s doing it himself (well… sorta)
2. he’s tolerating a toothbrush in his mouth!!!

Yeah, this is the child that just spit out any toothbrush offered to him. And yet, here we are with him thinking this is fun. I actually give full credit to my new dentist for this. At my last appointment she gave me an electric toothbrush for the munchkin. Shaped like a fire-truck, thank you very much. So G out of curiosity let it in… and he let it stay. Now we tag team brushing teeth. I go in first w/ the firetruck, and he follows up with his little brush.

The other day when S and G went up to G’s room for a didy change, they were upstairs for awhile. When I asked what happened, S told me they had to take a detour to the bathroom because G wanted to brush his teeth!

Ok, ok, in reality he just likes to suck the water of the bristles, but there is some contact with his teeth and it’s a good first step.

Thank you new DDS!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6dbUXy4xZg]

We have a routine established with G whenever we get home: we wash hands.

It’s funny, when we get home now and put him down on the hall, even if we don’t say it, G just runs to the bathroom and just waits for one of us to come in and wash his hands. I dig it!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leakw-nj5xs]

I’m not perfect at this, but I’m really trying to be judicious over what we will allow G to do and not do. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m lax on a lot of things (you wanna play with a fork, kid? sure!) and yes, I cave in on a lot of his requests after a certain amount of whining (Ok, fine — you can take my computer mouse), but I really want to put my foot down on the big stuff. I also want to let him know when I mean business and that getting in trouble has consequences.

I’m trying to establish a “time out” zone for G. I wanted somewhere he won’t easily run away from, but not used for other purposes. His dining room chair is out. While it fulfills part I of the requirement, it fails horribly in part II and I didn’t want him to associate eating with being in trouble. So I had an epiphany: the Bumbo chair. He never sat in it much as a wee one: we still have it downstairs, and he’s got a small enough rear, he can still fit.

So I tried it (during a legitimate timeout offense, I assure you)!

Fail 1: I thought that he’d be small enough to still sit in it, but too big to be able to get out on his own. Wrong!!! 10 seconds into Time Out, G just got up and rolled away. I put him back in, he rolled away again.

Fail 2: A week later, I come to see this:

That’s right: in the middle of his play-space, G got one of his toys and quietly crept into his Bumbo and decided to play.

What gives, kid? Now, what am I supposed to do for a time-out chair? If he thinks Bumbo is for fun, it’s no good as a “you’re in trouble, Young Man” thinking place.

Darn kid! Neutralized my parenting weaponry even before we got going.

Back to the drawing board…

Every month I wonder where all that time goes. Pretty soon, we’ll have a 2 year old on our hands. I marvel at this little dude every day.

Let’s do a survey!

Weight: 20lb 8.8oz

Height: I’m lame — haven’t measured him in about 2 months. He was 30″ back then though

Number of teeth: 12, and working on adding some canines

Words: + 4 this month (and a swap):

• Naw (for No). Luckily we don’t hear this one too often. I’m sure in a few months though we’ll hear it more than we would ever want.
• Boo (for Book)
• Mama. FINALLY! Although he doesn’t use it in my presence.
• Mo (for more)
• swap: Ki (this now stands for Kitty)

Favorite food: Top pick: Spaghetti… by a big, messy landslide. Runner up: eggs

Favorite activity: First place: Swinging, and more swinging. Close second: Playing whilst on the Aeron chair

New accomplishment: G wants to feed himself

Potty trained?: Not even close

Naughtiest moment of the month: Captured on video for your viewing pleasure (aka Catch me if you can).

Sweetest moment of the month: (mine) Sitting down next to me on the raised foyer, eating a cookie and drinking milk; (S’) Giving a hug when daddy hurt his eye just ‘cuz he felt bad for him

Temper tantrum meter: moderate

Yes, TV IS fascinating!

Sprout lady is pretty

Helping Mommy fill out her DDS’ new patient form