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sethrakMark's been making excellent progress in talking.
He's also been finding new and unique ways to make me consider shipping him off to the last Shaker community up in New England. (Or chant "Goblin King, Goblin King, take this child of mine..." and kidnap one of the little guys who shows up to bitch that I didn't start the sentence off with "I wish", so it can cook, or keep an eye on Mommy's little daredevil... Whichever it's best at.)
Here we go, in scattered order.
***
He's been using his space beads, both on his own and initiated by me, quite a lot. He says "Up, up, up!" very very clearly, when pushing them up, and "Dooooowwww!" when sliding them back down. :D
***
A few days ago, he was watching PBS Kids. The opening theme for Curious George came on, and the minute that little monkey appeared on-screen, he brightened up and said "George!". :D Several times, as the theme song played. (Not necessarily when the theme song guy said it.) Since then, he's said "George" while the show's on a number of times, and when reading his touch and feel CG book.
***
He's begun saying the alphabet. Granted, some letters are a bit squiffy, and he just makes a vocal noise for others. But he's clearly doing the alphabet. He gets very excited and bouncy when I repeat the letters correctly for him.
***
He points to the letters on Dav's ABU shirt, still hanging on the back of the computer chair, and spells out all the letters on our surname. :D :D :D Clear as day, not a vocal noise or 'kinda sounds right' letter among them. (Still iffy on spelling U.S. Air Force, on the other side... But who cares! He's spelling his last name! His therapist thinks this is hilarious, as most kids start with their first names...)
***
He's counting.
Yes, you read that right. Counting. ^___________^
He started doing one through nine, using Mommy's D. Greyman manga, which happen to be on the highest shelf he can touch without using a chair. His fangirl mommy is so proud. ^_^ (He also points urgently to the little yellow elaborate cross on the spine, and doesn't stop til I answer. He doesn't seem entirely satisfied with "cross" or "t" as answers, though.) He also counts one through seven, using Rurouni Kenshin, and five through eight on the Ah! Megami-sama volumes. And randomly starts counting, when bored, using no reference material at all.
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davner was suitably impressed, when informed.
He was flabbergasted when I told him Mark was getting past nine.
Dav: He's counting to ten?!
Sethra: Um.... he's reached thirteen, dear...
Dav: O_O
Sethra: And trying to go higher...
Dav: !!
Eleven through thirteen are a bit wobbly. Fourteen and up are just vocal noises. But clearly done at the same intervals as the clearer numbers. He gets very excited and happy when I repeat the numbers he's wobbly on for him.
***
Most adorable of all... Inauguration Day, I was on the couch, bouncing Jack on my knee and watching local news. Mark was standing on top of the Giant VHS Tote of DOOM(tm) next to the couch, and holding his little Captain Uniqua action figure.
He started chanting "Rrrrr.... rrrrr.... rrrrr..."
I figured he was working on his alphabet.
Nope.
"Rrr.... rrrr.... rrrrr.... yuh yuh-yuh, yuh yuh-yuh, yuh yuh-yuh SSSSsss, RRRRRR!"
Translation for the non-Backyardigans fen in my readership: "Arrr, arrr, arrr... A pirate, a pirate, a pirate SAAAAYYYSSS, ARRRR!".
Yes, he was in tune. :D And he's done it quite a few times since.
He's also exhibiting tendencies that make Momma wish Gramma D. didn't have so damn many animals, so she could safely ship him off for, oh, a decade.... >_<
Keeps trying to climb from VHS Tote of DOOM(tm) to the windowsill next to it. Can't move the tote, as he would then simply try getting onto the windowsill by leaning diagonally upwards in a precarious manner, and potentially falling flat on his face. He's done it before with other pieces of furniture. I've adjusted all such pieces of furniture to prevent this - except the Tote of DOOM(tm). Can't relocate the Tote, as it's the only thing keeping the floor lamp behind it from getting knocked into the playpen by active toddlers when Mommy's in the next room. Can't relocate the floor lamp.
Keeps climbing from the other arm of the couch to the top of the CPU, which is wedged in between the computer desk and the couch. The CPU is not meant to bear an upwards of 30 lbs. toddler. Especially not one who tries to dance atop it, despite the narrowness of the space.
Spankings and firm "No!"s have been administered. He squalls and stomps. I scold and/or spank again. Repeat squall, stomp, and run into next room. Then he's right back there as soon as my back's turned.
Hell, last night, while working on dinner, I decided he was being too quiet, and took a look. Little cuss had knocked one heap of folded and sorted laundry from the couch arm to the floor, knocked the other atop the CPU, and was snuggled into the resulting nest, watching PBS. He was furious when I hauled him out and spanked him.
::rakes fingers through hair:: GAH! I really don't think I can rearrange that section of furniture either, but I may have to jerry-rig *something*. Somehow.
Still randomly comes up to me and Jack, when we're on the couch, and tries to poke Jack in the eye. Still goes running through the house on his accustomed flight paths with no regard for whether Jack is on a blankie in the way. Obviously, I don't leave Jack unsupervised on the floor for a second when Mark's awake. It would be nice if he'd at least swerve, or slow down maybe, when Jack's on the floor between him and wherever he's going.... ::rubs temples::
And his crowning glory today... Learning to climb into his booster seat when it's wedged into the corner next to the washer/dryer rack. I keep it there when he's not eating, so he can't try to gnaw on the hoses, or fiddle with the power cord, or try to tip over the lint catcher full of water... Or just plain get stuck in the narrow gaps of the frame holding the dryer off the ground.
When I saw him climbing in the booster seat, I was happy at first. I figured he'd finally be able to get into his chair unassisted at meal times, which my back would appreciate. I just turned it sideways, so the back of the chair and booster combined would block his limbs from getting stuck in the gaps of the dryer frame.
He took to trying to climb on the windowsill, which he'd never been able to reach before. ::face-palm::
And he took to standing on the one-inch wide ridge around the seat. On tip-toe. ::face-palm::
Spankings and "NO!"s administered. Threats of beatings five times a day, with bricks. No avail.
I kept after him, until dinner time.
While working on breading the chicken tenders, I heard an almighty thud, followed by a terrified scream, directly behind me.
He'd somehow fallen off the booster seat, spread-eagle and face-down.
I ran over, and tried to console him and check for damage. He wanted no part of it. He just wanted to cry and stomp - and get right back into the damn booster seat!
::head-desk::
After he calmed down and proved unscathed, I scooted it under the dining room table, and did my best to adjust the hose and power cord behind the washer so he can't reach them.
Best of all.... He refused to climb into the booster seat by himself at dinnertime. Nnnnnggghhhh...
Anybody wanna buy a used zodling? He's cute. Just.... very energetic. And willful. Must be all that stubborn thick-headed German in him... ^_-
He's also been finding new and unique ways to make me consider shipping him off to the last Shaker community up in New England. (Or chant "Goblin King, Goblin King, take this child of mine..." and kidnap one of the little guys who shows up to bitch that I didn't start the sentence off with "I wish", so it can cook, or keep an eye on Mommy's little daredevil... Whichever it's best at.)
Here we go, in scattered order.
***
He's been using his space beads, both on his own and initiated by me, quite a lot. He says "Up, up, up!" very very clearly, when pushing them up, and "Dooooowwww!" when sliding them back down. :D
***
A few days ago, he was watching PBS Kids. The opening theme for Curious George came on, and the minute that little monkey appeared on-screen, he brightened up and said "George!". :D Several times, as the theme song played. (Not necessarily when the theme song guy said it.) Since then, he's said "George" while the show's on a number of times, and when reading his touch and feel CG book.
***
He's begun saying the alphabet. Granted, some letters are a bit squiffy, and he just makes a vocal noise for others. But he's clearly doing the alphabet. He gets very excited and bouncy when I repeat the letters correctly for him.
***
He points to the letters on Dav's ABU shirt, still hanging on the back of the computer chair, and spells out all the letters on our surname. :D :D :D Clear as day, not a vocal noise or 'kinda sounds right' letter among them. (Still iffy on spelling U.S. Air Force, on the other side... But who cares! He's spelling his last name! His therapist thinks this is hilarious, as most kids start with their first names...)
***
He's counting.
Yes, you read that right. Counting. ^___________^
He started doing one through nine, using Mommy's D. Greyman manga, which happen to be on the highest shelf he can touch without using a chair. His fangirl mommy is so proud. ^_^ (He also points urgently to the little yellow elaborate cross on the spine, and doesn't stop til I answer. He doesn't seem entirely satisfied with "cross" or "t" as answers, though.) He also counts one through seven, using Rurouni Kenshin, and five through eight on the Ah! Megami-sama volumes. And randomly starts counting, when bored, using no reference material at all.
davner was suitably impressed, when informed.He was flabbergasted when I told him Mark was getting past nine.
Dav: He's counting to ten?!
Sethra: Um.... he's reached thirteen, dear...
Dav: O_O
Sethra: And trying to go higher...
Dav: !!
Eleven through thirteen are a bit wobbly. Fourteen and up are just vocal noises. But clearly done at the same intervals as the clearer numbers. He gets very excited and happy when I repeat the numbers he's wobbly on for him.
***
Most adorable of all... Inauguration Day, I was on the couch, bouncing Jack on my knee and watching local news. Mark was standing on top of the Giant VHS Tote of DOOM(tm) next to the couch, and holding his little Captain Uniqua action figure.
He started chanting "Rrrrr.... rrrrr.... rrrrr..."
I figured he was working on his alphabet.
Nope.
"Rrr.... rrrr.... rrrrr.... yuh yuh-yuh, yuh yuh-yuh, yuh yuh-yuh SSSSsss, RRRRRR!"
Translation for the non-Backyardigans fen in my readership: "Arrr, arrr, arrr... A pirate, a pirate, a pirate SAAAAYYYSSS, ARRRR!".
Yes, he was in tune. :D And he's done it quite a few times since.
He's also exhibiting tendencies that make Momma wish Gramma D. didn't have so damn many animals, so she could safely ship him off for, oh, a decade.... >_<
Keeps trying to climb from VHS Tote of DOOM(tm) to the windowsill next to it. Can't move the tote, as he would then simply try getting onto the windowsill by leaning diagonally upwards in a precarious manner, and potentially falling flat on his face. He's done it before with other pieces of furniture. I've adjusted all such pieces of furniture to prevent this - except the Tote of DOOM(tm). Can't relocate the Tote, as it's the only thing keeping the floor lamp behind it from getting knocked into the playpen by active toddlers when Mommy's in the next room. Can't relocate the floor lamp.
Keeps climbing from the other arm of the couch to the top of the CPU, which is wedged in between the computer desk and the couch. The CPU is not meant to bear an upwards of 30 lbs. toddler. Especially not one who tries to dance atop it, despite the narrowness of the space.
Spankings and firm "No!"s have been administered. He squalls and stomps. I scold and/or spank again. Repeat squall, stomp, and run into next room. Then he's right back there as soon as my back's turned.
Hell, last night, while working on dinner, I decided he was being too quiet, and took a look. Little cuss had knocked one heap of folded and sorted laundry from the couch arm to the floor, knocked the other atop the CPU, and was snuggled into the resulting nest, watching PBS. He was furious when I hauled him out and spanked him.
::rakes fingers through hair:: GAH! I really don't think I can rearrange that section of furniture either, but I may have to jerry-rig *something*. Somehow.
Still randomly comes up to me and Jack, when we're on the couch, and tries to poke Jack in the eye. Still goes running through the house on his accustomed flight paths with no regard for whether Jack is on a blankie in the way. Obviously, I don't leave Jack unsupervised on the floor for a second when Mark's awake. It would be nice if he'd at least swerve, or slow down maybe, when Jack's on the floor between him and wherever he's going.... ::rubs temples::
And his crowning glory today... Learning to climb into his booster seat when it's wedged into the corner next to the washer/dryer rack. I keep it there when he's not eating, so he can't try to gnaw on the hoses, or fiddle with the power cord, or try to tip over the lint catcher full of water... Or just plain get stuck in the narrow gaps of the frame holding the dryer off the ground.
When I saw him climbing in the booster seat, I was happy at first. I figured he'd finally be able to get into his chair unassisted at meal times, which my back would appreciate. I just turned it sideways, so the back of the chair and booster combined would block his limbs from getting stuck in the gaps of the dryer frame.
He took to trying to climb on the windowsill, which he'd never been able to reach before. ::face-palm::
And he took to standing on the one-inch wide ridge around the seat. On tip-toe. ::face-palm::
Spankings and "NO!"s administered. Threats of beatings five times a day, with bricks. No avail.
I kept after him, until dinner time.
While working on breading the chicken tenders, I heard an almighty thud, followed by a terrified scream, directly behind me.
He'd somehow fallen off the booster seat, spread-eagle and face-down.
I ran over, and tried to console him and check for damage. He wanted no part of it. He just wanted to cry and stomp - and get right back into the damn booster seat!
::head-desk::
After he calmed down and proved unscathed, I scooted it under the dining room table, and did my best to adjust the hose and power cord behind the washer so he can't reach them.
Best of all.... He refused to climb into the booster seat by himself at dinnertime. Nnnnnggghhhh...
Anybody wanna buy a used zodling? He's cute. Just.... very energetic. And willful. Must be all that stubborn thick-headed German in him... ^_-
