Tuesday, September 4, 2012

I think he's trying to communicate...

Sporting a hat, something he hasn't really
enjoyed or tolerated much  in recent months.

Abram is now 19 1/2 months old. Hard to believe. Also hard to believe that I'm 25 weeks pregnant and there's going to be another tiny baby around here in less than 15 weeks! I decided to stop doing the monthly "Bear-y" pic at 18 months...we might do a reprise at 2...but I'll try to post at least once a month to keep track of these changes that happen so quickly! Since his 18 month pic, there have been some significant events. 

The neighbor dogs like to come visit frequently,
which Abram enjoys.

1. Abram is pacifier-free! After consulting with some other moms, and delaying the event for reasons that probably had more to do with me than him, we finally took the paci away "cold-turkey". He only had it in his crib to use for naps/bedtime. I went from 3 pacis to one and then after a week of that, to none. He fussed a little, and there was one time during that first week that I gave it to him mid-nap (because I  needed  him to sleep longer!) but since then he's gone without and sleeping great!

Abram drinking from a CUP like a big boy!
This is new...and we usually still  put the sippy lids on .

2. I took a vacation with my sister to Connecticut/NYC and Abram stayed with his grandparents for the week! He took turns staying at my parents house and Curtis' parents house and did VERY well. I think he did better away from me than I did away from him...I know I cried a few times. When I got back, he didn't act like he'd really missed me much but he definitely cried when he had to say "bye-bye" to Grandpa! Although, selfishly it would feel good to think I was missed, I am very thankful that he does well sleeping away from home, enjoys spending time with his grandparents, and doesn't need  to be with me constantly.

Playing at Mammaw and Pappaw's house while I'm in NYC!
He looks so much like Curtis in this picture!

3. Fruits and veggies are coming back into play. After a brief strike, Abram has decided that he likes whole green beans again. He's also eating peas and broccoli without me squishing them first, which is great! Carrots are apparently still too suspicious. He still doesn't choose to eat fruit, unless it's bananas, dates,  raisins, or applesauce, but he has actually eaten apple slices (with peanut butter) and taken a few bites of pear and mandarin orange. I think texture has a lot to do with it, because peaches/pears/orange usually cause him to gag at first. But I think these small improvements are big steps forward!

4.Abram is REALLY learning to communicate! Now, he really doesn't have that many more words that actually sound like they should, but he's trying! He will attempt to mimic us when we ask him to repeat us (his best mimic is "thank you") and he does a lot more "sentence" jabbering than he did before (he will talk/laugh walking around with his play phone). He's also more responsive to things we say to him and the vocabulary that he understands grows everyday.  He will  nod "yes" when we correctly guess what he is asking for, or if he wants something we offer. Conversely, he shakes his head "no", if he doesn't. He almost always shakes his head "no" when asked if he needs to go potty, so I've been trying to ask him which potty he wants to use, with better results:-) I've caught him patting at his diaper a few times and we've run to the potty where he finishes up. I really think he will be ready for REAL potty training by the time the new baby arrives! His improvement in communication has also helped with discipline. He responds much more quickly and will look at me and nod when I'm explaining what behavior I expect of him...I know he doesn't always understand everything, but it's a good start!
New words/phrases: 
"Hi ki-ey" (Hi kitty)
"Tan-you" (Thank you)
"Gi-see" (Gypsy)
"Cu-ee" (Excuse me)

So much changes every day and it's hard to keep track of everything...if I remember more, I'll add it...or just mention it next month!