Another month has passed us by. The most unique thing about this past month has been watching Thomas become a brother. He is very nice to Parker, most of the time, and is most interested in knowing what he is doing or where he is at all times. The only problem this has caused is a major increase in separation anxiety.
Prior to Parker's birth, Thomas never seemed to care if we left him anywhere (i.e., church nursery, with a friend), but now it is a different story entirely. We tried to leave him in the nursery at church a few weeks ago (and took Parker in with us). We thought he'd enjoy playing. Not so much. We were paged after about 10 minutes to come and get our inconsolable son. He has gone to "school" four mornings over the past two weeks. The first one was okay, the second day was better, the third day he cried for the entire time he was there (8:30-11:15). On the fourth day he still cried, but ended up finding a new buddy in a different teacher and he was okay (the teacher had also asked that I leave his paci for him on that day as well, and he had it in his mouth when I came to pick him up).
(Not a pic from that specific day, just another day when I was taking pictures of Parker and Thomas wanted his own camera time, saying over and over again, "Thomas cheese! Thomas cheese!")
On a positive note, he continues to grow and develop. He's just under 30 pounds and I think he has grown a foot (just kidding!) in the past month. And he talks all.the.time. It's funny to me to think how I was once worried that he wouldn't start talking on "schedule." He talks so much that I have been trying to teach him the wonder of quiet time. :) Here's a little video of him talking (this is not particularly a great example, but it's something). We never do videoes anymore, so I figured we were a bit overdue.
Well, cancel that (for now), I can't seem to get the video to upload at any of my usual sources. It is too big. And neither boy napped today, so I need to try again later.
Anyway, he talks mostly in the third person, "Thomas get truck...Thomas eat Cheerios..." and says other things how they are spoken to him, "Mommy hold you Thomas" means he wants me to hold him. Sometimes we get a wayward "Hold me!" At night when he is going to sleep the most frequently heard phrase lately is, "Hair on dat paci, Mommy get it!" I think he has figured that hair or not, I will come. But I'm getting wise to him and not going every time I'm called anymore. This is another bit of regression since the little brother arrived (he's taking longer to get to sleep).
Eating is still a bit of a challenge. Currently his favorites are hot dogs and french fries and I think he'd live off them if I'd let him. I never thought I'd be the one with the two year old allowed to eat such things, but I've quickly learned just to go with what works (in moderation, of course). He's starting to like more fruits and is trying more vegetables. My mom got him to eat some raw squash slices the other day by calling them "squash chips." Funny. He still loves Moe's and that's the first and only place I've managed to take both kids all by myself. Whew!
He still loves all things with wheels and books. He will happy lay on any floor and play with his cars. And even though we aren't reading as many books with the new baby around, he still asks to read quite regularly and I try my best to still make it a part of every day life.
Thomas continues to play well with others (as far as I can see). He's a very laid back child, most of the time, and from what I've witnessed, he shares well and doesn't even mind when other kids snatch things away from him. He enjoys when we go somewhere with another child his age. Here he is on a recent trip to the aquarium with his friend J.
Finally, I must add that I've learned that the terrible twos are not a myth. Life if often a challenge, but we survive. It's amazing to see how smart (and manipulative) kids can be at such a young age. Sometimes I can almost see the wheels turning in his head, trying to figure how he can best be bad! When I'm nursing Parker, if he is not getting enough attention he literally starts to do just about everything he knows he is not supposed to do, and he smiles while doing it! This can include hitting Parker (very lightly), stepping on my feet, messing with Parker's swing and sitting on the dog (among other things). Trey reminds him so often what he needs to do that many times when Trey calls the first thing Thomas will say to him is, "Listen to Mommy!" because he knows that's what Trey is going to tell him.
But through it all he is a joy. He makes me smile in so many ways and I am so thankful he is in my life. I truly don't know where I'd be without him.
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