My baby isn't a baby anymore, he has entered the wonderful word of being 2, where clothes are no longer sized in months and a whole new set of expectations await on the horizon. Potty training. Moving to a big boy bed. Exciting times ahead!
He is definitely changing before our eyes. In the past 3 months, he seems to "get it" so much more. He understands everything we say and can solve problems on his own. Simple things like moving the stool to a place he can't reach, getting the flashlight when he's looking under furniture. He and Cohen play side be side really well, and it's more as equals instead of Cohen directing and AJ following along. AJ got a garbage truck for Christmas, just like the one Cohen received last year. Definitely the most played with toys in the house. AJ can sit for quite a while keeping himself entertained. He loves vehicles... helicopters, trucks, tractors, trains. He makes them function correctly (raising and lowering a scoop, dumping out a dumptruck, etc.) He also loves puzzles and has become quite good at them practically overnight.
He continues to be the jolly, kind-hearted, sunny boy he has always been. However, it's somewhat clouded by his newfound will, temper and sense of independence. In other words, hello terrible twos. The kid is stubborn and VERY strong. I think these traits will manifest into positive qualities as he ages. Very determined and headstrong.
Cohen and him fight. Cohen tends to call the shots, and AJ doesn't stand for it. We're working on Cohen's tendency to take toys right out of AJ's hand. When this happens, AJ has bitten, hit, pulled hair, pushed and screamed to defend his rights. When those things fail, he gives me the look like "Mom, the injustice of it all!" Of course, I come to his aid.
At his 2-year well-child doctor visit, Dr. Gammon advised us to pursue speech therapy. He's saying about a dozen words, half of which are understandable. I've been saying for months that he's right on the verge of a language explosion, and I still believe that. Hopefully this therapy will help push it along. Words he says include Mommy, Daddy, up (puh), down (dow), oh-oh, no (the most common word spoken), yes, (yuh), hi (huh), moon (moo), dog (duh), and several animal sounds. and truck sounds. There's been a few isolated words spoken, like the other day he pointed to my nose and said 'no.' So it's slowly coming along. I really don't have concerns about his development in other areas (social, emotional, physical, cognitive, etc.). I think he's a smart kid.
He makes us laugh all. the.time. He's under 3 feet tall and still a bit round, so it's just hilarious seeing him run around. He still has baby proportions. He has such a fun sense of humor. One day we were driving somewhere and everyone was in the car quiet. AJ just starts laughing out of the blue. No one knew why, but of course it spread to the rest of the family. Cohen is AJ's biggest fan. Cohen busts out laughing at AJ when he's not even trying to be funny. Bath time is always a production, laugh and goof off central. I can only imagine his sense of humor when he's talking more.
And he's a lover. His power hugs can happen any place, any time. He's so sweet to the kitties, showing them pictures in books, or putting his stuffed animals up to their noses to kiss them. Many times after bath he'll climb on the bed in his room and sit in the blue fleece kitty bed with Buzz and Rudy. Pets them, kisses them, gets cheek to cheek. The jury is still out whether or not they like him.
He loves music and dancing. He knows all the motions to Wheels on the Bus and other preschool songs. Singing to him is the guaranteed way to get him to settle down at bedtime. And he breaks into dance whenever music is in earshot. Even with his limited talking, he sings babbling little tunes as he trots around the house.
No comments:
Post a Comment