Dear Liam-
Well, my dear, you’re one month away from two and it is showing.
So, what’s new?
EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: ARE YOU WATCHING ME, MAMA?.
I am continually shocked by the jumps you have made in the last month. You are growing up, and I LOVE (almost) every moment of it.
- Big Boy Bed – I think our proudest accomplishment this month is that you are now sleeping in a Big Boy Bed.
Oh yes, you’re jailed in, but you sleep there none-the-less. What I find hilarious is that you sleep as close to the headboard and the wall as possible – sleeping across the width of the bed rather than down the length of it. You spend quite a bit of time kicking the wall, but, thinking back about it, you always liked to sleep with your feet up against the side of your crib, so I shouldn’t be surprised.I was prepared for the transition to be terrible, but there were only a couple of days where you asked to nap in “E-way-nuh’s kib†once we got through the initial two days of you playing in the bed for an hour before falling asleep. I gave you a choice, so it’s really my fault anyway.Surprisingly, it’s been relatively simple and you seem to enjoy your new friends, Orange Pillow and Doggie Blanket, who now keep Milo and Taggie company when you kick off your covers. The only problem we have now is that you occasionally play with the blinds. But, when I peek in the door and tell you the blinds are off limits, you immediately lie down and say, “Beds are fo seeping, Mama.â€You are a turkey.
- Tantrums – Well I knew it was coming and thanks to the meds, I laughed when it happened. I think it’s safe to say that you’ve had your first couple of tantrums. The dogs are generally the point of contention. You either hit them, chase them, or generally annoy them. Murphy has actually started growling at you and Mace isn’t putting up with as much of your crap anymore either. (However, she still loves you. I’ve seen the two of you cuddled up in the sunshine on the stairs many a morning.)I’d have to say that my favorite tantrum thus far is when you stood at the bottom of the stairs crying and saying, “Leave the dogs a-LONE, Liam,†after I had to get them out of your reach. My second favorite is when we went to Target to shop for the goodie bags for your birthday party. You were squealing and whining, “Open tucks Mama. WANT OPEN TUCKS NOW.†Fortunately, it was early on a Sunday morning and no one was really there to judge as I let you cry openly in the cart (strapped in) while I paid for our goodies and calmly strolled out of there. (That’s two for Mama.)
- Emotions – It’s also been wonderful to see your sense of humor blossom. You laugh at yourself all the time and I’ve even heard you say, “Dat is siwwy,†on occasion. And, you’ve been known to toss out a random hug along with “I wuv yew, too.â€
But, as your emotions are maturing, you’re also demonstrating more anger and, most recently, fear.
I really didn’t think Elmo could be scary – and you ADORE “Eh-mo†– but the other day during Sesame Street, he was talking about the weather. A tornado came to the door and of course Elmo opened it, because that’s what he does. INSERT ELMO LINK. You immediately started wailing the Scared/Hurt Cry and came to find me. I happened to be in the bathroom when you ran in and between the sobs, I heard something like, “Uuuuuup peeeeeeeeas, Mamaaaaaaaaaa!â€
It was the saddest thing I’ve ever heard. I sat you on my lap as I finished my peeing (which is a little weird with Elena taking up much of my lap) and then we watched the rest of the weather episode together. I felt terrible for you. Every time the tornado showed up, you’d bury your face in my shoulder and start crying again.
You spent the remainder of that day and much of the next saying, “Bye-bye tomato,†and indulging in the Fake Cry. I couldn’t figure it out because there actually WAS a tomato on the counter and I honestly thought you had a problem with IT. But when I moved it, you got even more upset. I finally realized that you were talking about the tornado. You were completely exasperated with me.
- Your tender heart (and your ability to collude) is getting stronger with age, I think. Last week Gabe was here and he took a spill. As soon as he started to cry, you started in with your Sympathy Cry. When Gabe would stop, you’d wail louder and then he’d start again. The two of you are already scamming us. I can’t wait until you’re 13.
- You are quite aware of everyone’s private parts – but everyone has “boy parts.†I haven’t quite gotten up the nerve to give you proper terminology yet. I can just hear you running around saying “Penis, penis, penis†at playgroup and Kindermusik, or telling everyone about “Mama’s penis†at the next family gathering on your father’s side. There’s really no need to cause any more curiosity about our little family, so we’ll keep it on the down low for now.
- You’re a whiny little monster. – I am constantly telling you that I don’t understand a whiny voice. You never really whined before now. I would have understood it when you were younger, but now I don’t get it. Really, you can TALK, my friend.
- You totally know what is ok to do and what’s not. You’ve started doing things in the “what’s not†group and then watching me to see if you’ll get busted. You’re not very sly yet. When you say “Get Mama’s pen,†and then run into a corner, you’re GOING to get caught. I’m still faster than you – even if I am huge – so that’s not going to save your skinny butt!
- You’ve begun to realize that things belong and are getting a little possessive. It’s an endless commentary. “Liam’s water. Daddy’s drink. Mommy’s book. Julianne’s train.†Sharing is becoming a bit of a challenge, but you’re still doing well at not taking things away from other kids and we haven’t had any tantrums about that. Yet.
- I’m so glad to see that your circle of peers is growing. When we talk about Kindermusik now, you start naming the kids we’re going to see there. And you’re also more interested in family. I love to hear you talk about who you think belongs with whom. It seems that cousin Gabe belongs with any family that has a child.
- I wondered how long the honeymoon would last. Unfortunately, you have figured out that cleaning up isn’t all that fun – even with a fancy song to go along with it. But if I remind you that if I pick them up, toys are off limits, you usually comply and at least help. It makes me laugh nearly every time – except when I’m really tired.
INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT: TALKING…IN SENTENCES!
I knew that you were interested in learning even before you started talking, but now that you have words, you are so much more fun to listen to.
It has been fascinating to see how you observe and process everything before you do it or say it. We will read books together the first time and you won’t say a peep. But the next time you want to read it, you come to me and say, “Want to…read bout fire…tucks, peas Mama.†And when you see someone do a new activity, as in playing the slide whistle in Kindermusik, you aren’t the keenest to jump in and do it while we’re there. But then when we get home, you can’t stop talking about how “Ackson payed da side whiswool.â€
And, you’ve started trying to sing some songs. With a little prompting, you can say all of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star†and you’re also damn good with Old McDonald and all of the animal sounds. You can make most of them two ways: 1) saying “oink” or 2) actually snorting like a pig.
Granted, there aren’t very many people who can understand what you’re trying to say at this point, and you get frustrated, but I can usually figure it out one of three ways.
- Context – Oh, you’re talking about the avocado on the counter.
- Books we’ve read – Yes Liam, Rudolf flies upside down.
- The last few words out of someone’s mouth – Hmmm, yes, I guess that guy on the radio DID just say “Son of a bitch.â€
These are a few of your favorites at the moment. You repeat them incessantly. Even having someone recognize what you’re trying to say isn’t enough.
- Gabe says, Hiduh, hiduh, hiduh.
- Go see Fatty Fat Fat Stan
- Lights are on. Fan is on.
- Ax plightly
- Miss Lawa says Wooop (getting higher) Wooop (getting lower).
- Uh oh, so sad.
- Dat ees a ________
- Tucks off wimits. (Uh, yeah. Stop throwing them at Macey.)
It’s really fun because at this age, I can still pretty much believe everything you say – you haven’t learned the great joy of making things up. But you have made extreme progress in your memory. We went and purchased new sippy cups and when I opened up the green one, you exclaimed, “Emlee’s watuh.†I called Heath to be sure you weren’t making it up. We hadn’t seen them since March!
Also, now if I tell you that we’ll go outside or read a book later, you don’t let me forget it. I’ve learned to keep quiet about things until I’m sure they’re going to happen in the immediate future. Otherwise, I’m tormented by you hauling around your sandals saying, “Put sandahs on. Go outside few minutes, Mama†and whining. Always with the whining.
You know the words to so many books and songs that I can’t name them all. I really have to stop and think about what we’ve read lately so that I can keep up with you. Every time we read a new one, you pick something up out of it. We’ve started reading the Todd Parr books and now you tell everyone “It’s ok,†or “Baby Ethan is ok,†whenever you’re concerned and need reassurance. I’m having to work harder and harder at keeping track of which book you’re quoting…and, I don’t think our weekly trips to the library are going to make it any easier. You’ve become quite attached to some of them. I dread the day we have to return “Cars At Play.â€
PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT: HONING THE SKILZ
You’re still working on a few gross motor skills, but you made most of the great physical jumps early on and now you’re just practicing. Even though you still can’t jump with both feet, I’m impressed with the fact that you can stand on one foot – for like 5 seconds – and you’re doing more of the physical activities in Kindermusik. You make a hilarious choo-choo train.
Some of your favorite activities include:
- Attempting to show Gabe how to keep the beans IN the bean box
- Drawing with sidewalk chalk
- Running in the yard
- Pushing your wheelbarrow
- Driving trucks, cars, helicopters, and airplanes
- Playing in the water
- Thinking you need to drink out of a real cup
- “Pretending†to eat playdough
- Picking the paper off of your crayons instead of coloring with them
- Getting into my desk drawer and going crazy with stickers and tape - and I always have to chase you down with the stapler.
JUST A FEW OTHER THINGS YOU’RE DIGGING AT THE MOMENT:
- Strawberry Milk Shakes – milk and Strawberry Quik shaken together in a sippy cup.
- Wearing other people’s shoes - especially “fop-fops”
Liam, you have been so much fun this month - even with the tantrums and the whining. You’ve taught me so much about being a mom. I still have a lot to learn. I know you won’t always be this patient with me, but I’ll love you the same no matter what, you crazy monster.
I love you more and more every day.
Mama
   
