Month 21 has been super busy!

watch out for your stuffs b/c if Z thinks it’s trash, into the can it will go!  Rules for games, notes, homework, artwork, all is fair game if it’s w/in reach of Z.

ZBL’s favorite activity these days (besides trash) is pouring: water in bath & outside (will post videos) & toys inside from canister to bowls & back, watching as bowl gets pushed to the edge of table & making corrections

Z is becoming much more independent: carries his snack bag from the kitchen to the car and then into school, insists on unwrapping his own cheese.

I’ve noticed his much less impulsive this month, much less squawky, less yelling.  This coincides with a small burst in language which I think is helping him solve his problems using words instead of noises :).

Some of the words for this month include: Off, Out,  On.  These words come from reading his favorite book this month: Inside, Outside, Upside down.

ZBL loves to bike & will indicate that he wants to ride in his Burly by acting out putting on his helmet, specifically connecting the chin strap :).

Another huge change is that he is happy & content to play in crib when wake up in AM.  He can wake as early as 5:30 am or 5:45 and he used to start screaming immediately. Now he will talk with his toys, lie on his back and suck his fingers, or just relax.  Makes it a lot easier on us and he has been known to play like this for up to 45 mins.  Definitely growing up.

The 2 biggest challenges this month have been diaper changing and tantrums.  He insists on changing on the floor in his room now, which is no big deal, but getting him to lie down IS a big deal. Cajoling, playing games, reading a book works only for a short time.  Singing songs from school (open shut them, wheels on the bus, wind your bobbin) worked for a while but even those lost their soothing effect :(.

Tantrums:  Z had a 25 minute tantrum at school this month.  His preschool teacher, who has 25 years of experience and has raised 2 sons herself, even was impressed with his tenacity.  He wanted to eat his snack on the jungle gym and I said “no.”  What he did next was actually very clever: he tried “how about eating on the curb that surrounds the jungle gym?”  (he doesn’t have the language yet so he moved his body and his snack to the curb).  That was fine.  Then he tried “how about sitting by the fence?”  That also was fine. So having 2 successes, he thought he’d try the jungle gym again.  No was still the answer and that brought the first round of the tantrum.  Then after about 10 mins he decided to try milk.  Was it ok to have milk on the jungle gym?  No.  And that was the last straw for him.  Meltdown city.  I remained calm (I attribute that to this being my 2nd kid) and just held him in my lap as he lost it.  The teacher came over and I told her what was going on and she tried her best to distract (with his bandaid or a song – didn’t work) or a toy (also didn’t work – though all 3 of the strategies usually work).   Teacher Monica suggested going into the classroom and reading a book (quieter and cooler space).  I picked him up and it was then I realized that he was just super tired (it was only 10:45 am so not his nap time but he was clearly done). He put his head on my shoulder immediately (which he never does unless he’s tired) and I decided to take him home.  

Tantrum #1 in the books.  Glad it happened at school as I was surrounded by good will and good ideas – much easier to maintain my peacefulness in that environment.

Funny game:

Z has come up with a funny game: running from gate by office) to gate (by stairs) and saying boo!  When John gets home he will start the game or when I get home.  He also plays with Sam.  It’s fun to throw little surprises in – makes Z laugh even more. So we will get down on our knees and surprise him or go to the opposite side as he expects us.  Nothing better than a toddler’s laugh!