Here I Am!

Whew! It's sure been a while since I logged on!! I guess I don't have a good excuse as to why I put it off so long. (Sorry Mom!) I think nearly every day of something I could add about what's been going on lately. I just.... don't for some reason.

To sum up for now...

* Yesterday Gabe picked up these little half balls that match up to make a sphere. In each one, he stuck a little soft ball from our ball collection. He went around making sure everyone had one - including the cat - and announced we were having a tea party!! He took some blocks and pretended they were a sugar bowl and a creamer, and offered everyone cream and sugar. Then, he insisted we all take sips. He was a little put out that the cat wasn't really interested.

* Of late, he's taken to getting into our bed in the middle of the night, should he happen to wake up. He used to wake up and holler until one of us woke up and went to find out what was the matter. I've since told him that if he has trouble in the middle of the night, it's OK to get out of bed and come to Mommy or Daddy. So, now, if he has a nightmare or some weird noise wakes him up, he climbs into bed with us. So, sometimes I'll wake up to Gabe's face less than an inch from mine as he insistes on sharing my tiny pillow with me. I've also learned more about what he's like first thing in the morning. Sometimes, he takes after mom and wakes up S-L-O-W-L-Y, mostly lounging around and blinking. But, sometimes, he wakes up and is all the way on right away. Take the other morning, he went from sound asleep (drool and everything) to sitting straight up in bed and clearly announcing that he wanted eggs and toast for breakfast.

* We are successfully potty trained!! As of about a week ago, we are all done. Gabe wears underwear all day, every day, even for nap. He still wears a nighttime diaper, and we plan to do away with that in a few months. He is very proud of his "potty power"! I think the dumb video that coined the phrase "potty power" is actually quite instrumental in his success. I'm not sure we could have shown or told him any more clearly that this video did, and it had cute little songs for each important aspect, all of which he now knows by heart and sings whenever. Say, if you're in the market, here's the link:

Potty Power Video

* One thing I've been amazed with lately is Gabe and his buddies' vivid imaginative play. The tea party notwithstanding, I hear them become superheroes, cars, dinosaurs, and kitty cats. Their toys have begun to have distinct personalities. Gabe is more and more concerned that I like his best toy, the one he sleeps with, and makes me kiss it goodnight.

* It's a bit concerning that guns are so prevalent in our culture that, despite the fact that we don't allow Gabe to watch adult programming, and don't allow war toys in the house, he will still pick up a block and pretend to "boom" me with it. I think it's in cartoons and some of the older animated films. I'm not anti-gun, but I certainly don't ever want to teach my child that a gun is a toy, or common, or frivolous. It is an important tool that one treats carefully and with respect, and only after you reach a certain age. War is not a game, and guns are not toys. Well, anyway, it's just frustrating because he's going to learn what that stuff is eventually. I'd rather it be later than sooner, when he's more able to understand what serious stuff it is.

* We've achieved another milestone in Gabe's eating saga. We tell him he may not have applesauce (a dinner alternative), or get down from the table, or even tell us he doesn't like it... until he actually TRIES it. The first time I described the new rule, and what "try" means (you put it IN your mouth, and chew it, and decide if you like it - and not liking it is OK as long as you've tried it), he put some chicken in his mouth....and decided he liked it! And finished his dinner. Yay! So, now he's more willing to do the same. Sometimes, he doesn't like it. We show him we're OK with that and move on.

So....that's it for now. I'll be back soon!