Thanksgiving with Grandma!

I love how much these two love each other!

Intro to the potty

Certainly it's too soon to start potty training, but I think it's not too soon to introduce Phin to the potty chair. This is the chair I have for him. It doubles as a step stool - and will hold up to 150lbs. Right now, Phin considers it - something like a fun step - that he likes to crawl around on at the gym. But hey, we're all about low pressure starts - right?


This look is something between "ninja practice" and "yoga practice." Whatever it is, I love it!

And this little piggy cried wee wee wee

all the way home.

It's true that the coat is much too big for him.
I neglected to get a 24month coat at the end of winter last year. SO, when I found a 3T his fall for a great price, I decided to get it and let Phin grow into it. He has a matching hat/mitten set that he pulls off of his head as quickly as possible.
We had not been out to the swing set in a long time due to the rainy rainy weeks that we have had. Today it was a whole fifty degrees outside, so we put on our coat and enjoyed the swing for a few minutes.
Needless to say, Phin had fun swinging and getting some fresh air.

TWENTY-THREE

We went to the doctor for Phin's checkup.
He's in the 50-75% for height, 25-50% for weight and 90-97% for head size.
SO, I guess he has extra large brains. :)

The doctor asked all of the regular questions.
The only surprised looks I got was for telling her that he sleeps from 6p-6a daily and that he knows his alphabet.
She asked me if he knows 3-4 words. I said "oh, he knows over... twenty." The eyebrows went up again in disbelief. Afterwards, I started counting his words - trying to make sure I was not exaggerating like proud mama's do. I have a list at the end.

I learned that instead of teaching him body parts he can't see (on his face) I should be teaching body parts he CAN see with his eyes. Done. I also learned that while it's quite messy, I should let him start feeding himself with a spoon. Things like oatmeal and yogurt that will sorta stick to the spoon.

Here is the list of words my son can say:
ant, yak, book, coat, walk, egg, mama, dada, duck, frog, dog, block, this, that, no, nose, eye, ball, fox, mouth, cookie, mail.
He says "tou" for toucan. He mostly said "gazelle" tonight but it was his first time. He says "dock-a-di" for crocodile.

So, my son can say more than twenty words.
I am a proud mama, but I am also a precise one.
:)

Today is the day...

That is what Phin decided last week. On Wednesday of last week, he decided he would be a walker instead of a crawler. So, up onto his feet he went. Using both hands in the air to balance and he was walking across the living room floor. Even almost a week later, it still surprises Dan when he looks up and Phin was moving by foot.
BUT, this is Phin's new reality. He's growing up and it's so very exciting and also scary. I love to which him increase his awareness. Today he copied me stretching my arms over my head during his breakfast... It was cute. We are trying to master our "ears, eyes, nose mouth" and he's very good at "nose" and even sometimes takes his pointer finger UP his nose to show me that he's very sure where his nose is. :)
Then there is the email checking he's doing...
He's becoming the boy that God made him and it's so exciting to get to know him and learn about him. It seems that Phin really loves books and reading. All day long he's looking at his books and he loves to be read to. He knows his ABC's and practices the letters in and out of order often. As we walk through the grocery store, he will make the sound or letter "s" - I will say "sea lion." He will say "t" - I will day toucan. He will say "u" I will say "umbrella bird. He says "v" to which I reply "vulture." On and on... We must look super crazy while picking up goat milk and acorn squash.
Who knows what this may mean for his future, but I know that right now, I am nothing short of delighted to be his mom.

mini-muffin eating

knee walking.

Phin's new chair

I bought this chair in 1996.
When we put the nursery together for Phin, we put this chair in his room. Since he's been walking, we have moved it to his play area.
He kinda loves it.
I put a small lambie and also a Teddy Bear in the chair - well, until Phin noticed the chair. You can see the Teddy on the floor and that is where he stays most of the time. In and out of the chair... that is part of Phin's day - everyday!

Computer time

Have you checked your email lately?

If you are EP, you understand that even when watching a video, there is always time to make sure you aren't missing anything online.
"Tell your father 'thanks' you kids..."

grrrrr - gorilla...

Reading is a favorite past-time

I know he's young but he loves books. We read every single day. Sometimes we read the same book over and over again. This book he's looking at in the video is quickly becoming one of his favorites. He "kinda" store it from Auntie MaryAnn. He likes to look at each letter and the pictures of the words that start with each letter. Sometimes he reads the letters and sometimes he just turns the pages. If you listen closely, near the end you can hear him saying "ant" - which is pictures on the "A" page.

Phin is a chaser!

MaryAnn's baby chair is by far is favorite!

and his preference is:

Daddy started this:

head butt

Phin pokes and pushes past full.

dog bed

dock-a-dile

more ball still

more ball

September Danger Steps