About the Kiddo: One post at a time: 2.24

Well, I skipped a month. The first one ever. Hilariously, it was a bittersweet moment. But, to be fair not much happened in that month.

I've been putting more pressure on Nolan to speak in little sentences. He's not a fan. Things like when he says, "help." I'll say, "Nolan, say, 'I need help.'" Even if I have to go through it each word at a time making him say it, we do that now. He, of course, has numerous little sentences that he does use: "Where did it go?" "There it is." "What's this?" "Where's Aiko?" etc., etc.

So, definitely going to structure that into our learning times. Speaking of, I'm probably going to start transforming those into a more homeschool type structure soon. Where he actually sits down at a table with me and we actively work on learning some new thing. His learning has been so play based up until now. Which is fantastic and of course kids learn through play and natural consequences better than any other way. I will work to keep a playful atmosphere to it, I'm just going to require a bit more from him. I'm going to take a discrete trial training route and see where it leads us.

I figure it'll look something like: We sit at the table and work on a specific thing for 3 mins, once he's attempted to learn/say/do whatever is being asked from him, he'll get a 3-5 min play/fun break. We'll cycle through that for about 20 mins, and that's going to be my starting point with it. I'm currently working on getting a binder together to track mastered skills and things I want to work on. I expect we'll give this a go within the next few weeks.

Since my first exposure to behavioral therapy and discrete trail trainings, I've always said it's something that any kiddo can benefit from. Having my own child now, I stand by that opinion more than ever. I've used all of the strategies so far and they've worked well for us. Now I'm going to transform it into a more active learning tool. I'll let you know how it goes.

His 2 year wellness visit went as expected. He was 24 pounds (18.4%) and 32.5 inches tall (6.7%). He, of course, met all the developmental milestones for his age. When I asked about language again, the doc still wasn't worried at all. I still say they're confusing my worry with social/vocabulary and not with spoken/phonetics. But, what do I know? I'm not the doctor… [grumble]

I've been trying to make him color/write more. Not to the point of making him hate it or anything, but just enough to get him attempting it a few times a day. He really has no interest in it at all, but I get him to try anyway - workin' those fine motor skills.

I've been working with him on saying what his name is when asked. For weeks every time I asked him what his name was he'd say, "Mems." Which is Nolan for M&Ms. Because the little ornery has been too conditioned to getting a treat when he does something that's asked of him. Then, just out of the blue one day, he pointed to Cory and said, "Daddy." Then pointed to me and said, "Mama." Then pointed to himself and said, "No-in." lol So I think he was just messing with me.

If you ask him now, his name is, "No-in Cham-in."

He had his first ever public(ish) ornery moment. My child has never had what I would call a real tantrum. I like to say that his 5 second long fits are tantrums, but that's just me being dramatic. The other day though, while at a park a big tow-truck was nearby working on hooking up a car. And Nolan loves any kind of big truck. So, he was intrigued and intently observing the tow truck. However, we were a 10 minute walk from home and it was basically already lunch time. I finally told him, "Nolan, you have 5 more seconds to watch the truck and then we're going home."

I counted it off for him, then took his hand and was going to lead him to the stroller. That's when he collapsed to the ground screaming.

Yep.

So I pick him up under his arms and he does on of those feet-crumpled-in-I'm-not-going-to-stand bits - something he has never done. So, there I am, trying to shake out my kid while saying, "Nolan stand up. Nolan, put your feet on the ground."

After I physically put his feet on the ground for him, I kneeled in front of him so we were eye-to-eye and sternly told him, "You are going to keep your feet on the ground and walk to the stroller. It is not a choice. Do you understand?" After a moment of silence I told him, "You can say okay."

That's when the regretful tears started and he stuttered out an "okay." But, sure enough, he walked over to the stroller and sat down.

Of course, this was all with an audience of two other moms, their kids, and a truck driver.

Guess he thought he'd test the waters that day.

I was away from him again, for the second time. Three nights away from him. It's so hard! I miss my little lovebug when we're not together. We FaceTime a couple times a day, and he humors our little video chats with smiles, silliness, and even screen kisses. He's a charmer, that one. Just like his daddy.

After a tour of the preschool he was on the waiting list for, I think we've decided against it. I know what you're thinking, but I promise it isn't attachment related. I didn't receive a great vibe from the director and when we were touring the facility, I witnessed a conflict in the room Nolan would be in and didn't care much for the way the teacher handled it. They both seemed like big enough things to reconsider our commitment. Thus, we're looking for an alternative.

He can count to 20 now, and every time that he does he says, "Con-relations." (congratulations) lol It's hilarious.

He can also distinguish between a hexagon and octagon. Something I didn't know he could do. One day I was showing him the octagon flash card and he correctly identified it, then held up a hexagon piece to the shape sorter he was working on and told me what it was - as if to pointedly show me that they were in fact different.

He has a newfound love for bubbles. He's always enjoyed them but now he's obsessed.

He had a playdate with a little girl just 4 months younger than him a few weekends back while Cory and I had a date. It was adorable. Remember me saying he's a charmer? Well, he would pull out chairs for this little girl and give up anything he had if she wanted it. Gentleman in the making! I also love all the compliments he gets from people who watch him too. Like him hanging up his own jacket when he comes inside, or helping clean up, or going to nap without any protests, or just good behavior comments in general. Makes his mama proud.

He's an awesome little boy :)

Bedtime cuddles and bible stories. He's so precious during this time of the day!

He likes to do peek-a-book from around trees. Like a lot.

When daddy was gone hiking, he grabbed his blankets and bear, climbed up in bed and said, "I seepin." The kid has never slept in our bed and I would never tempt his excellent sleeping habits with even one night in our bed. But, I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't have rather had him there - especially when daddy is gone.