As each month passes, he never stops amazing us. I love all the little accomplishments. The biggest hurdle he has tackled this month is communication, which I mentioned in a previous post. He will try to copy the words, "Ma, ma", "Da Da," "duck,", "dog," and the newest "cat." It seriously felt like Christmas when he started imitating words. His language also continues to blossom with signing. We are working on the following signs, "help," "bath," "outside," "love you" & "blanket". He almost has "bath" down (signing correctly about half the time) and he does his own version of "help." There is a ton more signs we can work on, but I find most of success in picking a few signs and letting Harrison decide what new sign he deems as cool enough to learn. It took us nearly a month to teach him "please" and he picked up 4 other signs before he showed any interest in "please," now it's his favorite sign.
This boy can eat. I know this isn't new news, but it's worth mentioning he likes to have seconds and thirds. Something new to food is his preference. Harrison will still basically eat anything, but that all depends on his mood. One thing we have to get stricter about is feeding him from our plates. It seems he is more interested in what we are eating, even if it's the same thing. Well if anything all of his good eating should weigh in well at his "Well Baby," (or hopefully healthy) at ths end of July. I speculate he weighs between 22 and 23lbs and is about 31" inches tall. He is definitely growing like a weed as they would say, but despite his catch up growth, he still fits in 9 month Carter onesies, 6-12 Month 0ld Navy Onesies and 6 to 9 month shorts. I have yet to figure out why they make shorts so big, or long in that case, they are shorts after all, not "man capris."
Moving right along to mobility this month. I sware he is a monkey, climbing on anything and everything. Harrison is right on development for walking, running and now...JUMPING. This toddler loves the shaky bridges at parks! He is also is a pro crawling stair climber and is well on his way to walking up stairs holding on to the rails. He is also learning to kick and ball and is coordinating swinging the golf club and making contact with a ball. Oh and not to forget to mention, his dance moves---suburb. Going back to the park, he often doesn't need our help growing up stairs to a slide, which he also indepently slides down by himself. Boy, how we can people watch at the park as well. It just amazes me how either overprotective parents are, or how little they pay attention and yes, I would like to kick the next parent that puts their cigarette butt out in a childrens play area. Hello? Did they forget that there are tiny hands around to pick up their cancer stubs?
Did you happen to notice all this blonde hair on this once so bald head? I love the comments I have been receiving----"Look at all that hair." Apparently daddy was wrong...he told us early on that Harrison would be bald forever. That silly daddy!
The highlight of the month? Listening. Yes, I just typed L-I-S-T-E-N-I-N-G. Believe it not he is taking very good direction. Tempertanturms are even getting preventable if he is starting to melt down, we are able to pull his mood back in a better direction with distractions. One thing we are diligent about is using the word, "don't," and "wait" (which he can sign too) if he wants something we tell him to way "bye" and that's usually enough and he is back to looking for something bigger and better.
One whole book. This is the first month Harrison has sat down long enough to make it through one book. The toddler room commented that Harrison struggles to make it through story time after the first book. Honestly, one book is an accomplishment. This toddler is no kindergartner. Usually, Harrison in on the go, go, go. We try to incorporate a book with bedtime. Harrison has traded in his beloved monkey book for a new jungle book... Let's just say it's refreshing reading something different, though I have half this story memorized already.
Watching Harrison play is entertainment... who needs cable when you have a toddler? He imitates sounds of cars and trucks..."talks" to his boys and pretends to read books. Tonight he made the guzzling sound of filling up the gas tank on his lawn mower. And the priceless moments? When he just breaks out in a dance, music or not, he gets up and shows off his moves.
Help. Help. Help. Harrison wants to help with anything and everything. When he is home with me on Fridays he helps me dust, he hands me the bottles to put back in the shower once I have scrubbed it, and I can't forget sweeping...which he does on both the hard wood floors and carpet. We have even given him his own first chore (because it's never too early to start). He feeds Whitney dog. He has mastered taking her food from the pantry to her dish without spilling.
Health wise this month---the greatest accomplishment of all... No ear infection for one month. I can't say he has been healthy because he hasn't. Daddy was convinced he was going to get one with the this cold...but after 5 days the cold subsided. Ha, but relief didn't last long---within 3 days Harrison started coughing, sneezing and running a low grade fever. We are hoping to steer clear of another ear infection with this latest cold. Next Thursday we meet with the immunologist who maybe can shed some light on to what maybe be causing sickness after sickness. I have to say I told you so, to the next doctor who said, oh yeah, warmer weather will be better... Not in our case, June happens to be a prime time for Harrison sicknesses.
In a nutshell. This kid is amazing.
See, SO up happy here, I hate not getting my way...
