23 Months (April 11, 2012)

 

23 Months Old

I have one month left of Gus being a "baby." At two, he's officially a toddler. Where have the last 23 months gone???

I will say that I've enjoyed being home with Gus. He grows and changes so much that I don't always notice it. 

His personality is really coming through, and I read somewhere that the people that we become is determined in the first two and a half years of life. CRAZY! I'm proud to say that my son is incredibly caring. He really cares about others, and loves making new friends. Gus has never met a stranger... everyone he meets becomes an instant friend. I pray that his sweet soul stays this way for the rest of his life, and he's not influenced by negativity from others. I'll make it my job to keep him around positivity and to equip him with the tools needed to stay true to his sweet little self.

Gus loves to dance and when he hears music, his left leg starts kicking instantly. He also rocks side to side with his right arm bent at the elbow and he pumps it side to side as he dances. It's the most adorable thing to see.

My son loves to climb and jump. He LOVES to jump so much that when we put him in his crib for naps or bed, we can hear the squeaking of his mattress for 30-60 minutes straight from him jumping.

Gus has a sweet sense of humor. He laughs all the time and loves when his mama and daddy make silly noises around him. He also loves to be tickled and will laugh and laugh and beg for more.

When Gus needs comfort, he'll grab our hands and place them on his head. This is our cue that it's time to rub his head. He loves to have his head stroked softly. His favorite place to be is in one of our arms, with a sippy full of milk, snuggled and having his head rubbed. <3

Because it's another month... there's been more growth and development. Here's what Great Beginnings says we can expect for the last month of being a baby.

 How I Grow

• I can pedal a small tricycle.
• I can throw a ball into a wastebasket.
• I can walk down stairs alone, both feet on one step at a time holding on to the railing.
• I usually like to run more than I like to walk.

How I Talk

• I can ask questions just to keep the conversation going.
• I can answer some questions such as, "What is your name?" "What does the dog say?" "What does the cat say?"

What I Have Learned

• I can sit and "read" picture books, turning the pages for myself.
• I can put together a puzzle of three to six pieces.

How I Get Along with Others

• I still don't understand sharing, but I like to be with other children for short periods of time.
• I like to please others.
• I am interested in babies and their mothers.
• I am afraid of disapproval and rejection.

What I Can Do for Myself

• I can take off all my clothes and I can put most of my clothes back on.
• I like to unwrap packages.
• I know what a toilet is for, but I probably don't want to use it yet.

Play I Enjoy

• I like to play simple chase games like tag.
• A teddy bear or soft doll is still my favorite
• I like to take things apart and put them together. Watch out that I don't play with small pieces that could choke me.

Gus is an incredible little boy and I love watching him change. His language is still progressing and he's saying more and more. He has not had the language "explosion" that I've been told about, but he is saying more and starting to repeat back what we're saying. 

We're getting Gus's big boy room ready for him to make the transition, but we're not certain if he'll be moving on May 11th or not. I'd like him to be sleeping in a bed before we head north on our vacation, because it'd make it easier than trying to keep him contained in a pack-n-play (which he EASILY climbs out of). We'll see.

The next post will be the big one!! I can't believe he'll be TWO!!! We have his birthday party on May 12th at Gymboree and it's almost completely planned. We just need to finalize some small things. We're having a combined birthday party for Gus and his cousin Charlie on May 20th and on May 19th, we'll be celebrating his 2nd birthday with his entire birth family on the island. I'm so excited for them to see him!! They haven't seen him since August!!!

See you next month and for weekly updates, be sure to subscribe to the Walker Family Prattle!!!

 See ya next month!