Thursday, January 28, 2010
15-Month Checkup
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Climbing, Climbing Everywhere
Climbing seems to be the theme in our house right now. Yesterday, Topher went under his crib, pulled out a little step stool I keep hidden under there, dragged it over to the other side of his room, and used it to climb up on the twin-sized bed. I also watched as he came into our room and used our box spring as a step to heave himself up onto our bed. Then this morning while I was drying my hair, I heard him laughing and went into our closet to find him sitting in a drawer of the dresser. He seems to be everywhere at once, and he only needs about 5 seconds to get himself into trouble.
Some people have asked me if I miss him being a tiny baby, if I miss being able to set him down knowing that he would stay there until I came and put him somewhere else. The answer to that is a resounding no. This age is so much more interesting, and so much more fulfilling for me. I can ask him for a kiss and he'll lean in and slobber me. We can play chase and peek-a-boo. He throws a lot of fits, but I know now what causes them (me taking an object away from him that is dangerous, mostly). When he was tiny, he'd cry and cry and we wouldn't have the slightest idea what was wrong. Yes, he can make more messes now--it seems to be his reason for being, in fact--but to see him stand up on his own and walk across the room is just amazing. Or to hear him say, "Up, up!" when he wants to go upstairs or wants to be picked up.
I still get overwhelmed a lot. I probably say, "I can't do this anymore!" at least a few times a week (ask TJ, I really do). But something good is happening here. Something that makes this little boy reach out to me and hold on like a koala bear, and something that makes me shrug at my destroyed house. Something that tells me that we're raising someone extraordinary, someone who maybe isn't clapping for himself so much as he is for his stumbling parents who have at least made it this far.
--KC
Friday, January 22, 2010
Week In Review
I also found it quite amusing this week when Topher tried to sweep the kitchen floor. It tells me that a) he really does copy what we do, b) he's getting so big and learning more complex things, and c) I clean too much. Oh well, it was more rewarding than the time he picked up the remote and pointed it at the TV (oops).
Another first this week--taking an interest in the snake, even though he insists it is a "bup." We just love that he's showing the same enthusiasm towards animals as we both feel, and we hope that we foster an environment for him to learn to be comfortable around all kinds of creatures.
TJ even let Topher nicely ("Gentle, Topher, gentle!") pet Shiela, and it was hilarious to watch him looking all over to find her head and face.
The last highlight of our week was the evening Topher woke up as TJ was still playing his video game. He climbed right up beside Daddy, cheering him on, and it was just adorable.
What a crazy week with the busiest little boy I've ever met. The weather is still awful (ice storm this week) and it's terrible being stuck indoors all day, every day, but at least I can never say that my days are dull. We anxiously await warmer weather so we can break out of our severe cabin fever and maybe never come back indoors again.
--KC
Monday, January 11, 2010
Topher's Cold-Weather Tips
Monday, January 4, 2010
How all our things end up on the stairs...
It's just a game. A game of throwing things under the baby gate and down the stairs to see if the kitty will chase them. Every day we comb the stairs retrieving any and all objects Topher was able to fit under that gate. Toy cars, bouncy balls, stuffed animals, spoons...there's no telling what we might find pushed through that 4" gap.
I love all the little eccentricities that make Topher who he is. It's funny how some people are immediately bonded to their babies. I loved Topher right away, of course I did. But not the way I love him now. This morning he reached for the Triscuit box, unhooked the little cardboard tab, jammed his arm in up to his elbow, and produced a cracker for himself. I just stared at him, at this little baby morphing into someone more independent, and I was just amazed. He's amazing. From his tuft of curls on the back of his head to his sea-blue eyes to his dimpled knuckles...I still can't believe that he's the same little person that used to roll around in my belly. How did we ever create something so perfect? How did we possibly do that? I don't say it enough, even if it is my one central thought...he's the best thing we have ever done, will ever do. We're so lucky to have him.
Even if it means my chapstick, keys, wallet, and library book are scattered down the stairs.
--KC