Interests! 23 months!

Atlanta Trip!, originally uploaded by bburbank.

It has been shamefully long since I’ve written and I could write a novel about the past couple months, but instead I’ll just write some quick highlights.

Talking! You are talking so much and now integrating awesome little phrases into your vocabulary like “I’m coming!” and “That’s awesome!” and “Where are you?” I love it.

Interests! I now understand the parental need to support a child’s interests. It is so terribly exciting to witness you starting to like things. I mean, you’ve always liked things a little bit. You had pigeon and Yo Gabba Gabba before. But now you have little obsessions and you can vocalize your feelings and you get really excited about things! You do a fist pump type “yessss” that makes my life complete because, more than anything else, I just really want you to be excited by life and passionate about your interests. Right now you are obsessed with Finding Nemo. You want to watch the movie every day and you carry around the DVD pamphlet inserts, studying the pictures and showing me all the characters. “Look, Nemo.” “Dori.” “Shark.” It is the summer of aquariums, so this new Nemo adoration is timely…and maybe even why you like it so much. We went to the Atlanta Aquarium with Bubby (amazing!) and to Sea World with Alex (So fun!) and we’re going to the Florida Aquarium with Mike this weekend. I can’t wait to see your face when we go there now that you know all about fish. You even point to lion fish and say “lion fish.” The other day at Amaya Papaya you said your equivalent of triceratops “a-tops” and another mother was very impressed.

I remembered my Mom immediately buying me a violin as a child when I mentioned an interest. My interest was shortlived and I always felt like Mom jumped the gun a bit buying me that violin. Now I understaqnd it. It is so exciting to see you expressing interests in things and, as a parent, I just want to jump in the car and get you an aquarium and Nemo toys and books. I see these parents of olympian teenagers and wonder how they can give up everything and move their children close to the best gyms and coaches. I’m beginning to understand how that’s possible.

Sense of humor! Sometimes I just stare at you and make a funny face and you crack up laughing. I can’t wait until you’re telling jokes and have serious silly times.

Imagination! I now watch you take a dinosaur and chase us around the house yelling “roar.” You will play with your train set by yourself and make Buzz ride on the train.

Singing! You are breaking into song and it is awesome. You mostly sing songs from Yo Gabba Gabba. “Naptime, naptime, go to sleep go to sleep.” “Run run run, it’s fun fun fun, now FREEZE!” “ABCs” You’re picking out letters you know and you were counting the fish in your bathtub unprovoked last night!

You are also entering a bit of a terrible two stage. You have a lot of temper tantrums, throwing yourself to the ground and fake crying when you don’t get what you want. We’ve had some all-out battles lately that are not fun. Generally, though, you are very happy-go-lucky and bravely face whatever new adventure comes your way! You’re spending a lot of time with family and friends. Pops comes over about once a week and takes you out for milkshakes and swimming. You h ave recently hung out with Melanie and Calina, Silvio, Jack, and Alex, Bubby and Uncle “Agam” and Grandma Pony riding ponies.

Helping! You are helping me now! Every day you help me unload the dishwasher and cook dinner. I’m amazed at how much you help me with dinner. You can go into the pantry and get me an onion or put cut up vegetables into a pot. You help me stir and yesterday you pointed to which mini muffin hole I should pour our popover batter into and then you poked gruyere cheese into each hole. It was fun!
You’ve been pretty healthy except for that dang eczema that won’t go away. You have a dermatology appointment next week. We’re hoping it’s not food allergy or asthma related.You’re about 35 inches tall and I’ll have to weigh you soon.

Yep, right now dinosaurs, trains, and all animals, especially alligators and sea creatures, rule in this house. I know these obsessions are brief, but it’s exciting to see you excited by the world and its many wonders.

I can’t believe it, but I have a two-year-old birthday party to plan!