20 of His Favorite Things

Photo taken yesterday by their babysitter in their yard

As I wrote this list, it struck me how toddler can vary SO much in their development, as Sara seems much farther along than Ian (although they're only a couple of weeks apart in age) in terms of eating, swimming, talking, climbing, socializing, etc. Ian has made a LOT of improvement in the past 2 weeks though. I thought maybe he would now be considered "normal," but his speech therapist said yesterday he's still delayed. I admit I was disappointed when she said that as I was hoping to end the speech therapy. At least he's making progress! As for his nap, yesterday he only slept for 20 minutes but then I let him cry for 30 minutes after that since Karen said he should sleep for at least an hour. He fell back asleep and slept for 80 minutes! The only downside I have noticed thus far of the melatonin is that he's waking up even grumpier than he used to. He always wakes up on the "wrong side of the bed" even after he's napped in my arms, but I think the melatonin is making this last MUCH longer. If this continues I'll have to determine which is worse - him not sleeping in his crib or him being a crab apple for a couple of hours after he wakes up from his nap.

Since this isn't a traditional "20 month old" post, I want to add that I weighed him this morning right after I changed his diaper after he woke up (empty stomach), and he weighed 24lb 4 oz.

1. Favorite book - Things That Go I think his speech therapist is tired of the book, lol.

2. Favorite Only drink - warm EleCare (or any other "milk")

3. Favorite Only sippy cup - Munchkin Mighty Grip Trainer Cup

4. Favorite thing to do when he first wakes up in the morning - play with his stuffed animals in his crib. He does not want me to get him right after he wakes up. He wants time to play first, which is fine by me! I am SO happy that he's sleeping until 7am these days!!!

5. Favorite finger foods (to lick) - pretzels, Wheat Thins, and Saltine crackers

6. Favorite place to be - outside

7. Favorite (most used) words - Na (Nadia), no, eye, ba(ll), uh (truck), "heu" (shoe), and ar (car) The word he uses the most is definitely "no." Sometimes he says it to mean things like "I want down." Even Nadia sometimes asks why Ian says "no" all the time.

8. Favorite things to do at the playground - swing, seesaw, run, and watch cars and trucks that go by

9. Favorite clothes - ones with animals or vehicles on them

10. Favorite food to eat - pureed bananas (which can be combined with cereal, but if I mix in small shells then he doesn't like it)

11. Favorite place to sleep - Mommy's arms (although he's very rarely getting a chance to do that these days)

12. Favorite body part - belly button - he touches his all day long (even in his sleep!)

13. Favorite animal sounds (to make) - roar, moo, and (qu)ack

14. Favorite thing to do in the house - RUN- He also loves to chase Nadia or to be chased by anyone.

15. Favorite tv show - Curious George (although he will watch anything I put on for him)

16. Least favorite activities - eating solid foods, being examined by a doctor or nurse, having his hair cut, being put in his crib (although he cries less than 5 minutes these days), being told he can't do something he wants to do, sharing toys with Nadia (not that she's any better at it), and waking up from his nap (very grumpy at first)

17. Favorite places to sit - his speedway, on a small chair in Nadia's bedroom, in Nadia's rocking chair, or in my lap. He sits in my lap while we watch tv (in part so I make sure he's not standing right in front of the tv).

18. He now loves to build towers. For many months he enjoying knocking towers down. Now he enjoys building them as well. He is very creative in what he uses to build them. For example, if Nadia is using stamps to make a card, he'll stack the stamps to create a tower.

19. He LOVES hats. He wears all of Nadia's hats and also likes to put hats on Daddy's head (and mine as well). He puts things on his head (or my head or Paul's head) that are not hats and says "a" (his word for hat). Once in the swimming pool he put a bucket on the head of an inflatable zebra and laughed hysterically after saying "a." The zebra did look very funny! He also likes to wear anyone's shoes - Nadia's, mine, or Paul's, and he often walks around the house wearing a pair of sunglasses or one of Nadia's purses hooked on his elbow. The boy likes to play dress up! Thankfully he's not into her necklaces any more, lol.

20. He loves to sing, dance, and play the piano. He often "sings" while playing the piano. He sometimes tries to sing "row, row, row your boat" as he can say "row" and "bo" (for boat).