mizarchivist

The kid had a checkup Monday. He's "only" in the 80th percentile for height, which may not actually be accurate, as he didn't stay still enough (so I hear) to get a proper reading. Also, sort of holding steady at 24 lbs. Given his frenetic daily activity, not a surprise and not a big worry to me/us/doc. The pediatrician is satisfied with where he is cognitively (again, really not concern). I have spent some time reading The Emotional Life of a Toddler, per

entrope's suggestion. They have a whole chapter just about Crime Fighter: the "active" toddler. Well, no shit. What the author describes seems pretty much on the nose: that he's so busy exploring and learning how to use his body climbing and running and deconstructing, that language seems really unimportant. It's mostly OK except when he ignores his adults and wants to play with the stove (again/more), or something similar. We understand him a lot of the time. His mimic skills are getting better. QE taught him that zombies say NOM. Apparently turtles say KOWABUNGA, but he mostly just says "ba." Most things are Mah and Bah, actually. And now No. But in a still adorable, melodic song of no-no-no-no-no... And if we're really lucky (not), it's mah bah together, meaning 'my bottle,' as in, "Give me your water glass that you keep next to the bed, for it is, in fact, mine. You have angered this tiny god by denying me this most important object!" To the outside observer, they'd simply see a screaming incoherent toddler trying very hard to bang his head against the floor.

He mostly doesn't do that. His development is mostly stunning and often entertaining. Illustrative Vignettes:

Crime Fighter takes all the magnets he can reach off the fridge and sticks them in a paper bag (from JP Licks, so therefore it's important to moo emphatically at the cow that's on said bag). He enjoys shaking the bag a great deal, then spends a fair bit of time putting the magnets carefully on a large-ish piece of paper that's on the floor, arranging them to his satisfaction so that none of them touch... then puts them back in the paper bag.

He roars at all skull and crossbones. He can also determine what a not-dead pirate looks like too, and it's also roared at. Because of this, I had to acquire a pirate sippy cup. Because of reasons. What I really want are plastic shot glasses with the Jolly Roger on, as he is enamored with the glass version. And we don't let him play with that with impunity.

I was hanging out with him this evening when I got home, sitting on the floor. First he found a tissue, simulated blowing his nose, then had me blow my nose. Then he got his sippy cup, drank some, then gave me some. He thought it was the best thing ever when I smacked my lips and said "ahhh!" dramatically upon finishing my sip.

He loves to help throw things away in the recycling bin. I've rescued a spoon and who knows how many things QE has saved.

Spinning! He takes great delight in going round and round and round. And more dancing. Tuesday's dancing was to Soul Coughing, drwex. Just sayin'.

We are told when it's time to go on a walk when Crime Fighter picks up his coat and finds his boots. He will also try to put on his socks and shoes if given a chance. And hats. He almost has the hat thing down

QE got him fresh crayons yesterday- the 6 pack of super chunky ones. At Christmas he spent a lot of time entranced with putting them into their box and out again. Still fun! This time he has an empty oatmeal canister to keep them in. I think he was independently entertained for a full 45 minutes yesterday with them.

And to round off the post, a list of favorite books right now: The Aunts Go Marching, Cliffourd The Big Red God, and! Clifford the Big Red Dog, We're in a Book, The Monster at the End of this book, Hungry Caterpillar, and the Dim Sum book. This is not an exhaustive list, but those are the ones I've read most often this week. I'm hoping to get him to sit still for Gaiman's Instructions sometime soon, but he's not there yet. He's super not gentle on books, so Chu's Day is in the house, but I have been loathed to get it banged up yet.