Attachment

This afternoon Uly discovered Love, I think. He's been very huggy with me lately and I'm just eating it up with a spoon. I don't know if this has anything to do with it, but I've been hugging his stuffed animals a lot and giving them kisses with the intention of teaching him a good way to treat animals. He's been hugging them a lot, too, and asking anyone else in the room to share in the love.

But this afternoon was different. We sat trading off and hugging his lamb and rabbit--for about an hour--and during that time he had a few very emotional moments with them. He became so overwhelmed with the hugs and kisses that he literally wept, no fewer than 4 times, and twice he just laid on them both and sobbed into their fur. After a moment or so the emotion passed and we returned to our gentle hugs and kisses. It was weird and wonderful, and I'm so glad I got to be a part of that with him.

NOW we're talkin'!

This past week has been much, much better for us. Uly has been eating a lot more solid food, nursing a lot less, and sleeping for longer segments through the night. He also is finally starting to respect the idea that my armpits belong to me and he does not have permission to go there... We've been seeing a few more tantrums and attempts to hit mommy and daddy, but the new "hitting gets you nothing" policy is turning out to be very effective. Tantrums are nearly always less than 20 seconds and are communication frustrations about 1/2 the time. These are mommy's experiences, anyway.

So the kid is finally, really starting to talk. Finally! Whoo-hoo! This weeks he's said "more nana", "off", "on", "kitty", and various other thigs. What's great is that he's trying very hard to say these words. It's probably no coincidence that his interest in talking has come at the same time he's developed an interest in sign language. I've seen him copy (from a signing tv show) correctly the words car, ball, on, off, go, and book. In fact, the first word he signed to me was "book". I had no idea that he knew any signs so I was utterly shocked and totally delighted when he walked over to me a few days ago and signed it.

Anyhow, good days ahead. We just need to work on some manners now.

More pictures soon.

Turkey-Butt

We have a new game. It's called "turkey-butt". The way you play it is you grab a ball, run as fast as you can towards the sloped driveway, then throw it so it rolls downhill while mommy screams "Turkey butt!!!" and chases it so it doesn't go into the street while you run the opposite direction, laughing hysterically.

LOADS of fun. Everyone should play Turkey-Butt.

Uly said !Juice!

I offered him a cup of water and he shook his head "no" and requested Juice. So I got some orange juice, which is all that he's tried so far (successfully though in very small quantity). He made me drink it and then then refused to take some himself. Then I realized that Judie drinks this product called fruit20, orange flavor, and calls it juice. I got him a bottle and he shook his head yes and... bottoms up!

I think this might be the first time he's ever specifically requested something by name, with the exception of Mama or Dada. :D

So much going on lately. First, we're sick. It's just some stubborn cold, but oh-so-lame. We're also dealing with a few, um, behavioral issues. Before we got sick I was taking him to more social scenes where he spent the first hour each time, crying and literally stuck to my breast. He wanted nothing to do with any other little kids and wasn't very cool with me doing anything amusing, either. It's really bumming me out. He's also started hitting. I'll post some more and some pictures too when we get over this hump.

Uly's First Sentence!

"Da-da Bah-bah"

Yay!

Gavin was getting ready for work and Uly knew it!

It's so weird--he doesn't say a whole lot of words so I was totally surprised to hear him put these two together. I was in for another shock when I took him to the science museum and he correctly identified a very large whirling structure as an "atom". I assume he must have remembered either one or both of us calling it that on previous visits because I hadn't said it yet on this visit. It totally blew me away. I guess it just goes to show that sometimes we are only willing to talk about stuff we're really interested in.

Words I've heard him say so far:

Mama, Dada, Nana (boobs), shoe, dah-dah (dog), fshhh (fish), atom, dis (this), more, mi-uk (milk, nana), no, yeah, yum-yum, wowie (I say this a lot), uh-oh, "kah" (cat), Hello, buh-bye

If I'm missing any I hope someone will fill me in.

Exciting times ahead!