Not too much is new, so I thought this post would be more of a likes/dislikes at this age....
LIKES:
-Going "bye bye". The boy likes to GO, get out of the house. We typically have things scheduled mid-mornings on days we're home, but on the off chance we don't have anything to do (which Mama loves) Carter will ask to go "bye bye". Anywhere, please!
-Anything outdoors, especially parks. He likes wagon rides but now prefers to pull the wagon himself which turns the what was 10 min wagon ride around the block into about 30 mins.
-Have I ever mentioned on here he likes trucks?! Caleb and I are about tired of reading truck books, but the boy can identify all kinds of trucks--bulldozer, cement truck, trash truck, mail truck, excavator, farm loader, crane....etc. The other morning when I told him it was time to get in the car for CCDC he remembered it was trash day and ran out to the alley to find the trash truck, as he remembers that on CCDC days (Mondays) the trash gets picked up. Crazy kid!
-Singing. He has actually started to be quite the snuggler and when he gets overstimulated or frustrated, really likes to be held and sung to He also knows who sings what songs and will tell you if you're "singing" someone elses song--ie: Swing low, sweet chariot is MiMi's song, "when I was a little bitty baby" is Grandpa's song, "You are my sunshine" is Mama's song (and he will NOT let MiMi sing it to him! Ha!). Caleb and I now lay on the floor with him at night instead of rocking (trying to work on that transition to the big boy room where there will not be a rocking chair!) and most nights will sing "He's got the whole world in his hands". Carter loves to tell us who to sing about next (ie: He's got Mama and Dada in his hands".). We also let him tell us who he wants to pray for every night. Typically he'll name family members but last night it was "moon, stars, and trucks". We thanked God for being Creator :).
-putting things in the trash, especially the big trashcan outside
-Knowing where people are. I can't tell you how many times a day we go through discussing where people are! "Dada, work" is probably said atleast 50 times a day, no exaggeration.
-Naming everything he sees. Caleb calls it "Carter's running commentary" but he pretty much is constantly talking and labeling. As the SLP in me, I'm proud to see his language development, but must document that he has a lot of phonological processes going on--final consonant deletion on ALL words and fronting which are still age appropriate but should be going away somewhat soon.
-picking out his pajamas at night, Elmo is by far the favorite
-Elmo's world. Does not like Elmo the musical or Elmo with the other characters. Just Elmo's world with Dorothy and Mr. Noodle. And LOVES the part with the baby that is all of 10 seconds but asks to rewind it over and over. He only gets to watch Elmo during breathing treatments, so thankfully now gets excited for breathing treatments.
-Babies--very into babies (real) these days. We got him a baby doll and he doesn't really care about it.
-"driving" cars
-his chin cha
-reading books--but prefers labeling the pictures in books to actually having someone read the words
-Chick fil A
-anything train related
-getting to ride the trucks after we grocery shop (but has to make good choices)
-using his Elmo fork and spoon--he actually can use his fork pretty well now with large pieces of food (ie: chicken, strawberries, green beans, etc)
-people coming to visit
Dislikes:
-being told no
-Mommy leaving him--for some reason has been in a stage the last week or so of being more clingy to Mama, not sure if he senses ensuing baby?!
-us stirring his yogurt before we give it to him
-messes or trash being on him or on the ground (ie: the smallest little leaf will drive him nuts!)
-someone not doing what he wants exactly when he wants it done
-being at home all day
-lots of stimulation for prolonged time--he is like his mama and recharges with alone time so he will go by himself or ask to go to bed in overly stimulating situations (ie: Halloween night)
-getting his diaper changed before nap--the only diaper change he fights, it's typically because he knows we're going upstairs to rock and gets confused when I try to change him
On the health note for my own record, this past week has been rough. Last Thursday he got a stomach bug which was short lived. For the past week or so he's been having a lot more asthma symptoms so we're back to double breathing treatments 2-3x/day to try to keep it under control, hoping for no oral steroids ALL fall/winter! He has his 2 year molars but still drools like crazy. Did find out he's missing 2 teeth just like his Daddy, so need to start saving now for all the orthodontics that will be in his future :).
*In case I never get to a Halloween post since I'm so far behind on my photos, I did want to document a very "Carter" moment on Halloween. We went to a party and I took him to a few houses to trick or treat. One of the houses had a scary looking cemetary scene with skeletons in the yard. Carter just went up to each skeleton saying "night night"--LOVED this picture of innocence, not knowing it was supposed to be scary.
Carter Boy,
You are still my little one year old boy. Sometimes you act so big and independent and want to do things all by yourself, but most of the time you still want Mama there to help you. When you get sad or frustrated, you still ask for your chin-cha and that does the trick. I've noticed that when you're really frustrated you do best if I squat down and talk to you on your level then hold you--I think you just need some reassurance. You're becoming a little more aware that baby brother is coming but still don't quite understand what that means. We turned your carseat around in Mommy's car this week and we both love having you face forward. You now love to tell me everything you see since the forward world has opened up to you (and you will also be Mama's accountability for not talking on the phone while driving because you demand my attention!). You've started grabbing my hand to take me where you want to go but still haven't quite figured out to come to me when you want something--you'll just yell and name what you want until I eventually respond or you give up in a tantrum. I love your sweet spirit and how it really bothers you if someone else is crying or upset--sometimes you even try to give away your chin cha to make them feel better. Your Daddy and I love just watching you play and hearing you say new things everyday. I love your little personality and your innocence, praying it stays for a long time.
Love you to the moon and back my sweet boy,
Love,
Mama
