Friday, November 25, 2005
Hat Man
These are Jack's two favorite things in life: his blankie and his "hat." He'll wear this old ice cream container (it's been washed..) around, playing with his toys, ears folded over, for as long as it will stay on. Good thing, too. With the cold weather, his comfort with head gear is crucial. We'll post more hat picks later - this one's the best and our new favorite.
Monday, November 21, 2005
Jack Talk
About a week ago, Jack and I went upstairs to visit the landlords and their kids. Jack LOVES Colleen- the four year old. I don't know if it is because she is the same age as his cousin, Lily, whom he also adores, but whenever he hears her, he gets excited.
Colleen was doing very little to make Jack laugh hysterically - running around the house, jumping out behind furniture. At one point, though, she tried to keep Jack from sitting on my lap. Immediately, Jack stood his ground, jutted his pointy finger at her, and exclaimed a very clear, well, something. It sounded like a mix of "mine," "mom," and "no." He was probably saying all three. I was partly shocked, but also pretty impressed with his ability to set a boundary. Strong-willed Colleen cowered to my toddler, and needed some cuddling to get over it.
In the last few days, Jack has made the connection between shaking his head and "no." It's mostly been a game- I ask if he wants something and he'll shake his head no, smiling with his new communication skill. Tonight we read a Blue's Clues book and when I asked him if there was a clue on the page, he would shake his head no - in a somewhat impatient, proud sort of way. Now, I don't know why it is that kids learn how to say no before yes - or maybe that's just my impression. I guess we (adults) say no more than we say yes. (No, don't eat that crayon, No, stay off the street..).
I do love that Jack doesn't have to say yes or no for me to understand him. And, I think he's smiling when he shakes his head "no" because he knows that I'll figure out what he is saying with our without the clear signal. I wonder when that clear communication gets lost- when, in part because of language, we don't comprehend the other as well. Because he can't talk, I have learned ot understand him based on facial expressions or mere inflections in his babbling. I suppose I'm just aware of how much I rely on non-verbal communication because there is hardly any verbal communication. I wonder, too, how much we rely on non-verbal communication to determine what other people around us are "saying" - but are so unconscious in our interpretation of the non-verbal clues, that we don't even know how we arrive at the conclusions we often do.
Here's to hoping that I can hear what Jack says as well as I can understand all that he doesn't say- and to encourage him to be as genuine as possible- so that those non-verbal cues actually match the verbal ones (can you imagine?).
Colleen was doing very little to make Jack laugh hysterically - running around the house, jumping out behind furniture. At one point, though, she tried to keep Jack from sitting on my lap. Immediately, Jack stood his ground, jutted his pointy finger at her, and exclaimed a very clear, well, something. It sounded like a mix of "mine," "mom," and "no." He was probably saying all three. I was partly shocked, but also pretty impressed with his ability to set a boundary. Strong-willed Colleen cowered to my toddler, and needed some cuddling to get over it.
In the last few days, Jack has made the connection between shaking his head and "no." It's mostly been a game- I ask if he wants something and he'll shake his head no, smiling with his new communication skill. Tonight we read a Blue's Clues book and when I asked him if there was a clue on the page, he would shake his head no - in a somewhat impatient, proud sort of way. Now, I don't know why it is that kids learn how to say no before yes - or maybe that's just my impression. I guess we (adults) say no more than we say yes. (No, don't eat that crayon, No, stay off the street..).
I do love that Jack doesn't have to say yes or no for me to understand him. And, I think he's smiling when he shakes his head "no" because he knows that I'll figure out what he is saying with our without the clear signal. I wonder when that clear communication gets lost- when, in part because of language, we don't comprehend the other as well. Because he can't talk, I have learned ot understand him based on facial expressions or mere inflections in his babbling. I suppose I'm just aware of how much I rely on non-verbal communication because there is hardly any verbal communication. I wonder, too, how much we rely on non-verbal communication to determine what other people around us are "saying" - but are so unconscious in our interpretation of the non-verbal clues, that we don't even know how we arrive at the conclusions we often do.
Here's to hoping that I can hear what Jack says as well as I can understand all that he doesn't say- and to encourage him to be as genuine as possible- so that those non-verbal cues actually match the verbal ones (can you imagine?).
Monday, November 14, 2005
Uh-Oh
This is Jack's new favorite saying.
"Uh-oh".
He's gotten pretty good at it too. Of course, we thought it was cute for the first 1000 times he said, "Uh-oh", so we reinforced the "uh-oh"-behavior with smiles and laughes. Now Jack says it over and over and over.
Blankie is thrown on the ground: "uh-oh".
A little bowl of cheerios is dumped on the floor: "uh-oh."
Anything drops to the floor: "uh-oh".
And it's not one "uh-oh", it's a series of "uh-oh's", each increasingly louder than the first. We got to teach him another saying. Maybe, "Go Irish!"
"Uh-oh".
He's gotten pretty good at it too. Of course, we thought it was cute for the first 1000 times he said, "Uh-oh", so we reinforced the "uh-oh"-behavior with smiles and laughes. Now Jack says it over and over and over.
Blankie is thrown on the ground: "uh-oh".
A little bowl of cheerios is dumped on the floor: "uh-oh."
Anything drops to the floor: "uh-oh".
And it's not one "uh-oh", it's a series of "uh-oh's", each increasingly louder than the first. We got to teach him another saying. Maybe, "Go Irish!"
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
Blankie Dilemma
Apparently, Jack is one of the few (if only) children who actually suck on his security object. That darn blankie of his is just digusting- if it doesn't get washed at least every-other day, then it begins to smell like bad breath and hints of mold - not to mention the layers of crumbs that are adhesived to the fabric when Jack puts the thing in his mouth to soon after a meal. What a vile thing that blankie.
Today, Auntie (daycare lady) asked if I had washed Jack's blanket. She was blantantly shocked that I hadn't - I left feeling like one of the lowly germs clinging to the corner of blankie, sure that my son was exposing all the other kids to a bevy of viruses and more cat hairs than they've ever seen. I called Auntie back an hour later, feeling both defensive and guilty about my son's favorite object- I told her that we would have to make some changes. Blankie needs to become a night-time attatchment only. She told me that she gave Jack a recieving blanket with nap - that he wasn't too happy, but fall asleep just fine. I realized that I have no idea what taking away his blanket will do to him- if it will make him hate daycare - dread it and feel completely insecure- or if it won't be a big deal and he'll recover just fine. I wish someone would tell me.
Anyway, next week begins phase one of blankie separation. I hate this - I want Jack to have what he wants and to enjoy all the pleasures of life, and don't want him to deal with any pain, but I also don't want a kid who ends up privleged, spoiled, and, well, with no backbone. The blankie dilemma is just the beginning of dealing with such complex parenting issues - next week it will be the bullies at school.
Ugh.
Today, Auntie (daycare lady) asked if I had washed Jack's blanket. She was blantantly shocked that I hadn't - I left feeling like one of the lowly germs clinging to the corner of blankie, sure that my son was exposing all the other kids to a bevy of viruses and more cat hairs than they've ever seen. I called Auntie back an hour later, feeling both defensive and guilty about my son's favorite object- I told her that we would have to make some changes. Blankie needs to become a night-time attatchment only. She told me that she gave Jack a recieving blanket with nap - that he wasn't too happy, but fall asleep just fine. I realized that I have no idea what taking away his blanket will do to him- if it will make him hate daycare - dread it and feel completely insecure- or if it won't be a big deal and he'll recover just fine. I wish someone would tell me.
Anyway, next week begins phase one of blankie separation. I hate this - I want Jack to have what he wants and to enjoy all the pleasures of life, and don't want him to deal with any pain, but I also don't want a kid who ends up privleged, spoiled, and, well, with no backbone. The blankie dilemma is just the beginning of dealing with such complex parenting issues - next week it will be the bullies at school.
Ugh.
Friday, November 04, 2005
Why does going to the doctor hurt?
This must be the question Jack was asking himself this morning. 15th month check up today and Jack needed 4 shots. Ouch.
You can imagine what this must be like for Jack: [cue wavy scene change] "Hey this is a new place, oh what's this, some kind of tank with fish in it....ok, Mom and Dad with me, good, I'm ok. Hmmm, Dad sure is being nice to me. What's that paperwork Mom is filling out? Lots of people smiling at me. Ok, bye-bye fishy's. Now where we going? Ok, into this room. Take my clothes off? Who's this lady? Hey, there's flowers on the walls, cool. Why am I being measured? I don't want lay on that bench - Hmmm, back in Mommy's arms, now Daddy's- no Mommy's, that's better. Who's this guy? Why are looking in my ears? Hey, what are those little bottles? And what's with those sticks? Mommy looks tense. Hey, why are you - ah CRAP that HURT!!"
Not that our Jack would ever say, "ah crap". You know, I wonder where our discomfort of hospitals come from. Maybe this is it. No more shots until Jack is four. That's what we were told. He's all caught up. But four years old?! Good lord, I can't imagine what a four-year old Jack will look like. Well, I have some idea.
You can imagine what this must be like for Jack: [cue wavy scene change] "Hey this is a new place, oh what's this, some kind of tank with fish in it....ok, Mom and Dad with me, good, I'm ok. Hmmm, Dad sure is being nice to me. What's that paperwork Mom is filling out? Lots of people smiling at me. Ok, bye-bye fishy's. Now where we going? Ok, into this room. Take my clothes off? Who's this lady? Hey, there's flowers on the walls, cool. Why am I being measured? I don't want lay on that bench - Hmmm, back in Mommy's arms, now Daddy's- no Mommy's, that's better. Who's this guy? Why are looking in my ears? Hey, what are those little bottles? And what's with those sticks? Mommy looks tense. Hey, why are you - ah CRAP that HURT!!"
Not that our Jack would ever say, "ah crap". You know, I wonder where our discomfort of hospitals come from. Maybe this is it. No more shots until Jack is four. That's what we were told. He's all caught up. But four years old?! Good lord, I can't imagine what a four-year old Jack will look like. Well, I have some idea.
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
"Aye, Matey, May I Take Your Order?"
I finally downloaded the Halloween pics. Jack's been sick the last two days with a cold (and a nasty cough/croup at night). I took on some of the germs myself today, sacked out on the couch while Jack alone played pretty well with PBS in the background (all day, mind you- he reached his monthly television quota by 4:00 p.m.).
The kid did great trick or treating - mostly because it involved his favorite outdoor activity - climbing up and down slopes or stairs (the other day I was clearning up the front porch, turned around and witnessed Jack's first solo steps down the stairs. I mean reall, how much am I coddling this kid?). Once he figured out that the stairs led to actual PEOPLE and then CANDY, well, he couldn't get enough. It took us about 30 minutes to walk up our side of the street, and then turn around. We hit about half a dozen houses, give or take- it was all quite quaint. I came home with the urge to watch "Meet Me In St. Louis," particularly the autumn/Halloween parts (of course).
Enjoy the pictures (that's not necessarily an order. I just realized Jack looks a bit smug in all of them- could be he's acting the pirate part, or more likely, he's tired from the time change and cranky from a snotty nose). We do realize that his pirate outfit is practically a TGIFriday's waiter outfit without the *flair* (unless you count the skull and crossbones belt).
The kid did great trick or treating - mostly because it involved his favorite outdoor activity - climbing up and down slopes or stairs (the other day I was clearning up the front porch, turned around and witnessed Jack's first solo steps down the stairs. I mean reall, how much am I coddling this kid?). Once he figured out that the stairs led to actual PEOPLE and then CANDY, well, he couldn't get enough. It took us about 30 minutes to walk up our side of the street, and then turn around. We hit about half a dozen houses, give or take- it was all quite quaint. I came home with the urge to watch "Meet Me In St. Louis," particularly the autumn/Halloween parts (of course).
Enjoy the pictures (that's not necessarily an order. I just realized Jack looks a bit smug in all of them- could be he's acting the pirate part, or more likely, he's tired from the time change and cranky from a snotty nose). We do realize that his pirate outfit is practically a TGIFriday's waiter outfit without the *flair* (unless you count the skull and crossbones belt).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)