This month was particularly fun because Nolan had some special visitors. His stranger anxiety is much less severe these days, and he usually warms up to new people within a few minutes of being around them. So, it wasn't long into his visit from Aunt Ashley and Uncle Casey that he was hamming it up with those sweet smiles, his charming baby talk, and the sweetest cuddles there ever was.
As for Mawmaw and Pawpaw's visit? A few minutes into their stay and they were putty in his capable hands ;) He really is a very sweet toddler. He'll love on just about anyone once he's warmed up to them.
Plus, all those baby words coming out! Pawpaw said, "Nolan, can you say 'Pawpaw?'" and Nolan nodded his head like he knew exactly what was being asked of him and spit out a, "Pawpaw."
He'll say "luh-you" back sometimes when you tell him you love him. Yeah. He did this to Pawpaw once. Like I said... putty.
Both family visits were so fantastic, Nolan really got in a lot of quality time with all of them and that is such a nice thing to have.
Oh. My. Goodness. Say what you want about my discipline tactics, but I have seen a turn around in Nolan like you wouldn't believe as far as temper and tantrums go. I'm sure we'll have cycles of these kinds of behavior, but he's adapted very well to the types of things we're implementing. In my opinion, he is an extremely well behaved 19 month old - and I'm not biased on behavior, just read previous posts if you don't believe me ;)
I remember Aunt Ashley saying "wow" a few different times when I'd redirect Nolan and he'd easily follow my request.
I'm very proud of him with this, because it wasn't just a trait Nolan has, but it's been something he's actually learned. He's learned that when we say some things that we mean them, and he's learned that some behaviors are ignored and get him nowhere. And, to sound absurdly conceded, I'm also proud of me and Cory in this area (more Cory than me, because ya know, daddy's more of a pushover). But, Cory's learned quickly to stick to his guns and be consistent, and we follow through with the things we say to him.
Nolan has learned to respect the things that we say to him. He takes me seriously, and it's important to me that he does. I'm just so proud of his behavior!
None of that is to say he doesn't still test the waters from time to time, I'm sure he'll basically be doing that for forever. But, I think we're laying a solid foundation for him in regards to respecting mom and dad :)
Nolan has done super fantastic on his new schedule. No hiccups with it at all. I love how it's opened up our day too. I also love that despite him being very scheduled, he is also still pretty flexible. Sometimes we're late to nap or bedtime, and he does fine with it.
He has grown to really enjoy his room time. To the point of it being something I think he really needs. I usually sit in there with him for a few minutes, setting up toy areas and getting him into a book. He's gotten to where he'll point and the door and seriously tell me bye. Subtle one, that boy.
He quickly figured out his visual timer. He knows when it's green that it's his time to play, and when it's red it means he's all done and time for clean up.
I've seen a bit more protesting with clean up than before. I guess he's finally learned that cleaning up is actually work - ha! So, pretty often I have to manipulate his body to bend down and manipulate his hands to actually pick something up, and then walk him over to the tub where he'll drop it in on his own.
I usually have him pick up the first toy on his own, and then I'll start helping him clean up, then he also has to clean up the last toy on his own. That way he gets a pretty instant result and praise for a good job at the end.
He's adding new words to his vocabulary pretty often. Probably a new word every day. So, it'd be a bit exhausting to write them all down in a list.
I'm very pleased with his vocabulary. But, as you already know, just not his literal speech.
My favorite thing he does at the moment, is spitting out a new two word sentence like he's just been saying it forever.
Some of his two word sentences right now are: Go bye-bye. Brush teeth. Bath time. Hey sweetie. Let's see. Want this. Thank you. All done.
His voice is so dang cute!
He's getting pretty good at the park. He can climb up the stairs and do slides and stuff by himself easily. Sometimes, when bigger kids are around he'll get in a hurry though, and so, sometimes we have head/face injuries. Overall, doing well though.
Fine motor is hit and miss. It really depends. Sometimes, he'll eat a whole meal with his fork, other times he acts like it's the hardest thing ever and will give up. He still won't do a spoon very well at all. He can do his shape sorter well though. He can place coins in the slot on his piggy bank. He can do some of those chunky puzzles. He can stack blocks 3 or 4 high.
He can open the lever/latch thing on our gate to the stairs, by climbing up on it high enough such that he can reach it and lift it up. He can also open the front door. Oof. Extra locks on er'thing.
Potty training, unfortunately, took a back seat this month. With our visitors, and then a week of sickness it lacked in priority. So, what can I expect of him? If me and dad don't put forth the effort, I certainly can't expect him to. He has still been going once or twice a day, one of those times being him signing for it and asking to sit on the potty. Again, I'm sure this has more to do with the treat he gets as a result, but ya know... Hoping to start tackling this more consistently soon!
He started doing this thing at nap or bed time that Cory and I find hilarious. It's almost like light arguing, or suggesting things to do instead of going to sleep.
So, when he realizes sleep is what is about to happen he'll ask, "Bye-bye?"
Daddy will say, "No, we're not doing that."
So he'll say, "Outside?"
Daddy will say again, "No, not that either."
So he moves on to, "A bite?"
At this point Cory and I are chuckling, and Cory will deny him again with, "No, that's not what we're doing."
Then, Nolan will ponder it for a minute and start nodding his head - as if to secure it's true, to me and Cory - and he'll go, "Brush teeth."
It's no longer in question form at that point either. It's like he's just telling us, that this is his agreed upon terms of the next thing to do.
It's precious.
He's so much fun to be around! I'm enjoying his current age so much. It's like the perfect age of him being able to have some independence, but also still being my baby. lol I'm loving his entry into toddlerhood. What a blast!
Here's some pics of the sweet boy:
So sweet!
This was that one time he just laid down in the floor and fell asleep.
They're the best ♡
Mawmaw and Pawpaw!
Oh. My. Goodness. They are the cutest.
He decided he likes the ocean... at the end of summer. (p.s. Look how shaggy his hair was in these pics before his haircut)
Seriously though... that outfit ♡
Haircut!
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