winter is coming

I have more words inside me that I just don't say. Sometimes they get surprised out of me.
Like when I found Ivan and Lillian jumping up and down in my crib, I ran into the room and laugh/yelled "MY BED!!!!"

I can stack blocks up to more than half my own height. I'm very concentrated about it.

I love Play Dough. I call it "Ball" or "Bo."

My B's and D's are a little mixed up. This is sometimes funny to other people, like when they are leaving and I very sweetly and cheerfully wave and say "Die!"

I'm not very patient about other people reading to me. Most times, we get about three or four pages in, and then I just want to go flip the pages by myself.

Ivan is still "Aya" or "Daya." Mommy is Mommy. Daddy is Daddy or Dada.
Oma is "Mmmah!"

I take inventory of the family all the time. Like at the dinner table, pointing "Aya. Mama. Dadda. Mommy. Aya. Dada." Or looking at pictures posted on the fridge. Or announcing when someone has come home (I go running to them, then back to the other parent at home to point behind me and yell their name again, then back to the newly-arrived parent, etc.)

I still love playing the super-bear-towel-running game with Ivan.
I love my red toy car and I want to get pushed around in it all the time.
I eat paint. Especially Mommy's watercolors, because they have little square palettes that are cookie-sized and pop out of the box. Then Ivan starts yelling. Ivan always starts yelling when I do things wrong, he yells "MO-MMaaayy!"

I love my Daddy. When he comes home, I cuddle and wrestle him and do amazing little happy-feet dances, bouncing and joyfully shouting.

I am too rough with Mommy's computer. That gets me in trouble. And I make messes with food, throwing things on the floor when I'm bored of it, or trying to carry it to the couch. Mommy doesn't like messes.

I pooped in the bath with Ivan while there were lots of bath toys and both of us in there. That made everyone very excited, there was some yelling and we had to get out and Mommy cleaned everything with funny smelly stuff, and then we got another bath.

I like stomping in deep puddles in the rain.

I am Alex, hear me roar!

When the dinosaurs at the Lawrence Hall of Science roar, some kids get scared or run away.
I roar back.

Roaring is one of my favorite forms of communication. I much prefer it to words, except "CAR!" which kind of sounds like a roar anyway ("GHRAH!")

I understand almost everything people say to me, but I refuse to talk back. It's kind of a contest of wills -- they think they can make me talk, but I know I can make them do my bidding without talking if I just point and scream and have a tantrum.

But I am very cuddly and loving, too, really I am, and the way I say "Mamaaa" and "Dadaaaa" it sounds like a long, loving, relieved sigh of love.

I am starting to make animal sounds. I know a cat goes meow, but I say "Maow." A cow goes "Mmm." A pig goes "Oah."

I am a teeny bit TV addicted in the morning when I first wake up. Other times, too, although I'm getting more into books so reading is an acceptable alternative. But not at 6:30 am. Then only Sendung Mit Der Maus or Bob the Builder will do. I say "Mau!" for Maus.

Talky

I am communicating better every day. It helps a lot, I don't have tantrums so much.

In the morning Mommy says "Do you want to go to the kitchen and get something to eat?" And I nod my head really big, with a big smile. One time I even said "kitchen!"

When Mommy was in the shower, I went to look at her, and yelled "Mama, done!" She said "Done? Do you want me to get out?" I nodded really, really big, pointed my chubby little arm behind me, and yelled "OUT!!!"

I can put blocks together. My brother showed me how. And I like to have dance parties with him - I push the buttons on the musical toy, and then we bounce and laugh.

I have a big, round toddler tummy, so I wear 2 year old shirts, but 1 year old pants. My brother wears 3 year old shirts and 4 year old pants.

17 months.

I am communicating more. Giant, full-body head shakes "no no no", giant full-body affirmative "ya ya ya"
Pointing and screeching at things I want, especially:
smoked salmon / lox
strawberries, strawberries, strawberries!
orange juice and apple juice
noodles

But I'm starting to also respond to suggestions, like "do you want some more, please?" My eyes light up, my face relaxes into a big grin, and I nod.
"Let's go to the stairs with Ivan." I grab a hand, head for the stairs.
"Let's go change your dirty diaper." I start wildly shaking my head no, saying "no no no", running away, and shrieking and arching my back if I'm caught.

OK, I'm still one, after all.

I love cars ("Ghhhrragh!"), and being fierce and growling.
Pushing adults over on their backs results in much rejoicing and hilarity, especially if I can jump on them and make them say "oof." That sends me into peals of giggles.

I am an amazing snot-slime machine, leaving trails everywhere I go especially on mom's lapels, pant legs, and in the middle of suit skirts. The more they resist me, the faster I wipe my face on everything in sight.

I am feeling very mommy-ish lately, maybe because I'm going to daycare a little more and because of the teething. Those giant molars coming in really hurt. At the end of the day, I'm very happy to just sit on mom's lap and lean my head against her and sigh for a while. But the way I say "DaaaAAAAdah!" makes absolutely clear how thrilled I am to see him, too, with my little screechy greeting.

AlecSTANDER WALKSon

We are on a long trip. They put me in the car seat all the time,
sometimes that's fine but right now it's too hot. But I like playing
games with the mister bottle.

My favorite foods are strawberries, yogurt, string cheese, and cold
oranges. Also tortellini noodles.

I love my new word, "bus". Well, "buh" really, but I use it for bus.
I love sleeping in our bus, I giggle when it's time for bed And am all
cheerful in the morning too.

I can give real kisses now! People seem to like them a lot.
Especially mom. Except when my nose is running, which is almost
always. Then she tries to dodge but I just wipe on her shoulder, hah!

I point at things and say "Oook!"
I make my eyes very big.
When people don't immediately respond, I do it again. "OOOook! Oook!"
If that doesn't work, I try an incoherent yell/scream: " AAAaaAAgaAIIIiiaaahhh! ...ook. (points again)."

I like to stand, and bounce on my chubby baby legs, especially to dance music.
I clap, and wave, and clap for myself waving, and wave at people that clap for me. And my eyes light up and I laugh! My brother loves this game.

He also loves the game where he roars at me and tackles me, and I roar at him and tackle him, and we sometimes bonk heads but mostly we giggle and giggle. He's mostly pretty good about letting me go when I start to yell and cry in protest.

I love, love, love berries. Blackberries. Strawberries. Blueberries. Raspberries are great because I can wear them on my finger -- I do the same thing with tortellini. Much more fun that way.

I can use a fork too, but I prefer my finger most of the time. but I really don't like eating slippery or sticky foods with my hands. And I won't eat vegetables unless they're mixed into a smoothie or similar.

I say "Car," and "Dog," only it sounds like "Gha!" and "Dah"

I make vroom vroom noises that sound like "woooooo," and I wave my hand around like it's flying.

I try to climb up slides all the time, I'm not so into going around the long way to go up the ladder/stairs.

I am very snuggly, with my brother and with both of my parents. Sometimes I especially want Da Da, like after a bath. Other times, it's Ma mmmma ma ma.

My chirps and shrieks of glee and excitement are awesome, and make everyone smile.

I purr. It's my chewbakka noise, when i'm sleepy or feeling very comfy. It's incredibly cute.

I nurse, and grin, and hide, and snuggle, and nurse some more. The nursing is becoming more of a symbolic act. I may be starting to have a word for it, which may be making Mommy think it's time to wean me. "Nuh, nuh."

"Nigh nigh" is definitely common when I'm sleepy.
"Num Num" when I'm hungry.
"Ah daaa" when i'm done eating.
"mamamama"
"dadadada"
"ma ba" means my bottle.

I am walking a little more, just three and four steps at a time.
I dance when there's music. I get up, hold my hands out, and bounce. It's ADORABLE.

I love snuggling with my brother first thing in the morning. My favorite way to start the day, and his too.

I had my first real haircut today. Mom buzzed the back and sides, just like Ivan. I didn't like the buzzer. But I liked the cookies!

crash ow.

I took my first bad fall.
Ivan and I were sitting in the red wagon, and Mommy pulled us around. Everything was fine until she turned her back for just a second to talk to the neighbor over the fence. Daddy was there, too, and Ivan was right next to me. Anyway, I tried to crawl over the railing to Mommy, and when she turned back she was just in time to see my dive face first onto the concrete.

She made a really scary high pitched noise. My mouth hurt, a lot. I started yelling, and then the blood started in my mouth. Mommy was busy saying "oh god" but Daddy took me upstairs, and they both helped me feel better. Ivan started being weird and having tantrums about everything, and being bad. I think he was worried about me.

This is a picture of the next morning. My face was all scraped up, and we thought I had a loose tooth or torn frenulum or something but the doctor said I'm fine. I don't think they're going to let me go in the little wagon again anytime soon.

I am getting more teeth. It hurts. I get mad and yell a lot about it, and cry.

I say "hat" and put things on my head. It's a game. We laugh.
I LOVE MY BROTHER. I like to climb over him, fall on him, tackle him, smack him with my hands, and snuggle my face into him. But I get really, REALLY REALLY REALLY mad at hm when he takes something I want to play with.

I call him "Aya" or "Iva". I say "HEY, AYA!" Sometimes I say "hi." I say Dada a lot, Dada is one of my favorite people. After my bath, Mommy wraps me in a towel, plays peekaboo, and then I start saying "Dadadadada" because I know she will bring me to him on the couch, wrapped in my towel. Then Dada lets me cruise around naked before jammies. I like naked time.

I'm starting to bounce my legs to music, especially when Ivan's dancing too. I clap, and laugh, and bang on things. And I'm trying to walk more! I'll walk holding onto someone's hands, and I can take two or three steps on my own. But I still bump my head a lot (even more when I'm tired, or when my teeth hurt), so I'm being very careful and mostly prefer to crawl.

My head is just so big, it knocks me off balance and gets bumped. No fun.

Food: I LOVE blueberries, and like to put raspberries on my fingers like little hats. Then I point them at Mama and yell and grin. I love bananas, and bread, and most kinds of meat.

I want to tear the pages of all books, and push the buttons on all phones and remotes and keyboards. It is a daily frustration that they don't let me do these things. I am building my resentment of their rules, and biding my time. They will regret this insolence.

almost one

I have two new teeth. They hurt me, so I bite a lot and am not sleeping well.

I love to stand up, and I clap for myself when I do it. I can balance that way for a little while before I sit down. Sometimes I take one step before I lunge into somebody's lap or arms.

I like to beat my hands on the high chair like a drum, and I laugh when big brother joins me.
Sneezes are still the funniest joke ever.

I love climbing on Mommy or Daddy with Ivan, and snuggling them with my head. Ivan gives zerberts, but I'm not so good at that yet. I just go "AAAAAHMMM"
I have a really healthy appetite. I love chicken soup, thai food, just about anything with meat in it. And of course yogurt, too. And pears. Mmm, I love making a gooey mess of a whole pear.

I love balloons. And playing with big brother's car toys. And clapping.
I don't like it when Mommy leaves in the morning, or puts me down in my crib. I say "MAMAMAMAMAMMA."

I Love Love Love mommy's purse, especially her government ID. I love
to chew on it, stretch and snap the retracting leash, and carry it
along with me as I crawl around (click drag, click drag, click!)

I stand and clap for myself sometimes. I love snuggling, nuzzling my
face and head into your chest/belly/lap. I make wookie noises when
I'm sleepy or unhappy, and I sing when I feel comfy. Big brother
knocks me over, by accident or kind of by accident, at least twice a
day. Then I cry and he says sorry and we play some more. I yell
extra loud when he takes a toy away from me, and now he gives it back
sometimes because he knows mommy and daddy will come.

I also have a bump on my head right now, in the middle right above my
forehead. It's weird and it's worrying my parents.

Babble

I say "Mammmammmammmaamammm" for Mommy.
"Dadadada" for Daddy.
"Nananana" for Nana.
"Amma!" for Oma.
"Mmmmnumnum" for food,
and "Abaa" for Ivan (we think). I definitely understand who my family members are, and I'll look for them if you ask me to.

I love looking at pictures of them on the fridge, and will often yell and pat their faces.

I pull to standing all the time, and sometimes when I'm standing I'll let go and clap for myself -- only to sit down and act very surprised, or grab on again like "Ohmygosh I'm standing!"

I can crawl like the wind, including up stairs, but i still try to sit back on the stairs to take a rest...and would tumble down if not caught.

I *LOVE* Mommy's purse, government ID, cell phone, and keys. If any of them are within reach of me, I will suddenly attain superhuman strength and overcome any obstacle to get them and put them in my mouth. I can open the zipper on the purse. And if you try to take any of them from me, I will make you regret it! Loudly.

I love dogs. I love dogs so much! I am not afraid of them. But I yell my love for them constantly when they are nearby, and I crawl toward them giving shouts of excitement that seem to upset them in some way. I just want them to hold still so I can love them! And shout at them.

I am very snuggly. I cuddle my head down on your chest, or leg, or into Ivan's lap, to say "I love you." It's a very very clear message, and I love being hugged back. I don't even mind when Ivan tackles me, or tickles me, I love the brother love.