21 Month Old

The big two-one. They grow up fast, don’t they? For real though, I don’t even know how I'll respond to my baby turning 21-years-old someday. Yesh. 

I think he’s going through a growth spurt. I think I always think he's going through a growth spurt. But, the boy has been a bottomless pit lately. I was chastising Cory recently for giving him two, rather huge, burrito bowls. But Cory was like, “He doesn’t eat candy or drink sugary drinks, and this is pretty healthy. Protein, grain, vegetable.” 

Fair point. But he’s finally reached an age where he wouldn’t necessarily stop eating when he was full. I think it’s pretty cool how babies are wired to stop eating when they’re full. Why can’t adults be? Not fair. But, now, he’s reaching an age where he might keep eating something after he's full if he thinks it tastes good. I don’t want to encourage that. I know, I’m getting some eye-rolls with this one, but I’m hellbent on teaching him fitness and health early. You don't have to agree with me. It really is a hard balance. Kudos to all the parents who put effort into it.

His language is improving. I think he’s much better understood by others now. He’s really following through with the end sounds on words. And it really does seem like he picks up at least one new word per day. Sometimes more. 

I just love this stage so much. He is so entertaining and funny. 

We do a little circle time once a day with songs and stuff. He’s gotten to where he tries to sing a bit. And by ‘tries to sing a bit,’ I mean he mumbles nonsense words while trying to match the tune I’m singing. It's hilarious.

We’ve seen a few more of those toddler behaviors lately, but they’re definitely under control. You can tell it’s nearly impulse/instinctive when he starts it, but he gets talked down from it easily. 

The way we do time frames for him seems nearly magical. Just earlier today he was angry that we had to come inside. He was very theatrical with it. Stomping in, crying real tears, running over to his little chair (as if he just knew he was going to get a time out). I sat him down, got on his level with a serious expression and just told him, “You have 5 seconds and then you’re done.” I counted off the five seconds quickly and by the time I got to five he just stopped crying. At this point I think he just knows. Then I explained why we had to come inside, I explained the way he’d just acted and how he could’ve acted instead, and then he had to take a minute in the chair. 

It works for him. Very well. 

This works well for most any kind of tantruming I see from him. So in essence, his fits last about… 5 seconds (ha).

We still see the hand flinging, but nothing like we were a month ago. So, I’m pleased with the progress on that. 

He is a whiny kid though. Isn’t a way around that. He’s a sweet kid - cuddly, gives kisses and hugs - and he’s a really good boy, but he is a whiny little thing at times. Drives me mad. I’ve been trying out time frames with it. He seemed to respond to it, so I think we’re going to have to stay more consistent on nipping that in the bud. 

Man, he’s clumsy, too. Bless his heart. Kid trips over his own feet all the time. That’s how you know he’s mine ;)  As a result, he seems to face plant onto concrete - no less - on a weekly basis. There’s always a bruise or a scrape on his face. 

He recognizes the entire alphabet now! And says them all too! My 21 month old knows the alphabet. Sorry, that was a gloat. I’m so proud of him for this. He’s always been pretty engaged when we sit down to do them, and he loves his alphabet show. It’s like he’s enjoyed learning them, and he tells you what they are proudly. It’s adorable. 

He will count to 5 and he recognizes the numbers: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 8.

He recognizes and says most of the shapes that we’ve presented to him: circle, triangle, square, star, octagon, hexagon, and rectangle is hit and miss. He gets super excited about “tar” and “ah-kah-gon.” I think it’s safe to say those are his favorite shapes. For whatever reason. 

He recognizes the colors: black, white, red, yellow, blue, green, purple, and orange. 

He finally mastered the spoon! Yay! I mean, he’s not the neatest eater or anything, but for things that require a spoon and/or fork, he can successful use them both.

He can open just about any type of door now. That makes room time interesting. Probably going to have to get some knob covers soon. 

He’s pretty good at unzipping things. So, it’s not at all uncommon to go get him in the morning with his pajamas unzipped and one leg hanging out. He can unzip his jacket, too. And take it completely off (and even hangs it up!).

I guess he thinks I only talk to pawpaw and mawmaw, because anytime I’m on the phone he’s reaching for it screaming, “Pawpaw, pawpaw, pawpaw!” If he’s ignored it turns into, “Mawmaw, mawmaw, mawmaw!” Of course if I hand him the phone to talk, he’s suddenly silent just listening without saying a word. 

Nolan was sick again this month. Poor kid. Snotty nose and wheezing. The usual. Except he was running a 103 temp days before the onset, which was the highest fever he's ever had. He was pitiful, but extra cuddly. And he was sick with it for nearly three weeks (not the fever, the congestion). It was frustrating. 

I get frustrated with the doctors here sometimes. I understand their logic to an extent - don’t run unnecessary tests, don’t cost the parents unnecessary money, etc. But, c’mon, if you have a toddler with severe congestion and wheezing for three weeks, who also has a heart condition… ya know, maybe it’s worth looking into. CBCs aren’t that big of a deal or expensive. But, I’m not a doctor, so that’s just my parent rant. He’s finally on the mend now.

For the first time ever I spent time away from Nolan. It was five very long days. 

My grandmother (mom’s mom) passed away. It was, of course, a heartbreaking experience. I know she’s in heaven, but that really doesn’t lessen the pain like it should. Our shallow human minds can’t stretch quite that far. And really we just want our loved ones here with us. Nothing could’ve kept me away from being with my mother through this, but the circumstances presented a real challenge to get all three of us out there.

So, for the first time ever, Cory watched Nolan for longer than a day by himself. It was the comic relief of my week. I missed them terribly, but I’m glad they had some time alone. I’m also glad Cory got some perspective into stay-at-home parent world. Ha! He told me, “I don’t know how you do all of it.” And, yet, he managed to do most of it, so…

If Nolan ends up anything like Cory, we will have raised one heck of a man. I'm tellin ya, his wife will thank us. If she likes us. Sometimes I wonder what kind of mother-in-law I'll be, and sometimes I think I'll be the kind that just thinks no one is good enough for my son. But, I've got years to lessen the severity of that opinion. God help me. 

Finally, what you all really come here for ;) pictures of my sweetie pea:

Nolan had his 2nd Halloween! I loved the turnout of our theme! The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. 

This was one of the days he had a 103 temp though :(  But he demanded the "hat" so I figured we'd go ahead with pictures. 

This was before the sickness, and he wasn't sure what to think about pumpkin goo this year.

Look how big kid he's starting to look! 

Caught him right in the middle of saying "swirl." 

This slide is no joke. It looks all cute and innocent but it's like a straight downward slope. The first time we ever went down it, Nolan flew off the end a few feet and landed on his back. I mean, sure, I laughed hysterically, completely unable to breathe while I ran to check on him. But still, he's just now gotten to where he'll go down it by himself after that incident. 

"Sing, mama! Sing." 

He needs a new hat. Been wearin' that one since he was 9 months old.

He's obsessed with headphones.

And ducks. Obsessed with ducks. 

The ducks are craycray too, sometimes I think they're going to let Nolan grab them, and then I of course worry they'll peck him, or something. 

Then, there's this little dumdum just a foot away from Nolan. If he thinks you're feeding the ducks, he'll be racing down to beg for food, too. Sometimes I think he's going to crawl right up on Nolan's lap he gets so close! And I hate squirrels. They freak me out. Vicious little critters. I'm always prepared to chuck him into the lagoon on a moment's notice.