Victor is on the mend I believe -- phew. He seems to have a smile now & again and doesn't just want to be held all the time. I did enjoy he cuddly needs but when it was coupled with crying that got kinda old after a while.
Today during a lap session we watched an interesting program about snakes. He was totally into it -- this kid loves animals without a doubt. He has a marvelous sound he makes when he sees an animal -- it's on the high pitched side of things and he'll often say "Hi" at the same time.
He also loves music -- today we were walking to the oil change place & a car passed with a thumping bass --- he stopped walking, started swinging his arms and bouncing up & down on his little legs. So far I would say he likes hip-hop, bluegrass, classic rock & roll and jingles on TV. More than once he's stopped what he's doing when a particularly good jingle is on to bust a move toddler style. Yuri asked today what instrument should we get for him -- drums, keyboard, guitar. After Lynn heard a brief Victor harmonica concert - she mentioned that John Lennon started with the harmonica.....those are big shoes to even consider -- but it's nice to know what these music musings are good for the little guy.
Speaking of musical musings -- does anyone want to join us at a Dan Zanes concert in July ? I think we're going to do the pajama party on Friday night since somehow I'm signed up for the GRE the following morning (WTF...I mean really)
When I heard someone say their child was 20 months (or so) I would cringe -- kids seemed so ucky at that stage -- ornery, dripping and running in 101 different directions. And, yes the boy is ornery, dripping and runs like the wind -- but as I stand knee deep in toddlerhood -- it really isn't so bad after all.
I think what toddlerhood has been like so far reminds me a lot of listening to the radio -- even when there's a bad song, don't stress about it because something good will come on before long.
I could stress, and spend all day changing the channel, getting my panties in a bundle-- but I would never really find that one song I really wanted to hear.
This way -- I'm pleasantly surprised when an old favorite comes on and come to find new songs that get my grove on.
Moods change quickly in toddler world, so I just have to ride out the grumps and whines -- because before long, smiles will emerge. I try to give him a wide berth of opportunities in the house -- today he was happy to mix crackers with several wooden spoons & mashed some crackers to smithereens. He's figured out how to turn the TV on/off, change the channel. He's called 911 and hung up -- they called back...
Taking the radio station metaphor to the next level -- I was thinking about how much I loved the TOP 40 shows on Sundays when I was a kid -- I wonder what the top 40 of toddlerhood would be. Ideas? Thoughts? Please share....I'll have to figure that one out.
Need a diverson -- try this, that and the other thing
Cute moments:
- Emma says "bye-bye Victie" when Victor leaves the babysitter's house.
- He learned about blinking -- and was entralled with my blinking quickly & would laugh and then give me a big hug -- this went on for several minutes.
- Did I mention that Victor hugs are pretty much the coolest thing ever -- we still have the urge to live in his ear because we love him so much -- but we'll have to settle for hugs instead.
- Yuri passed his motorcycle class - so he can ride his Vespa with confidence that he knows safety -- today Victor had pulled off his diaper, so running around comando style at the front door - he watched Yuri zip up the street.
It was a quiet day here -- after all the hustle of the kiddie fair yesterday, we were still pretty whooped today. Was it the crowds? Was it the five different radio stations all broadcasting at the same time? Was it the lights? Was it the smell of cotton candy, popcorn, hamburgers & little kids that just did us in? Who knows -- but one thing is for sure -- it took us a long time to recover from the adventure. I know that when Victor is older transitioning from ride to ride will get easier, but right now, he thinks his little world is falling apart. Poor thing. In the summer when we go to the local fairs, I'm sure it will be getting easier for him, and there won't be such a mass of people. He loved the ride though -- little adventurer.
Yuri is excited about the Vespa. He's been tossing the idea around for a few years, but with the current gas prices, the state of planet & watching "Wild Hogs" -- he made the leap. He's been busy studying to get his motorcycle licence -- quizzing me with all the in's & out's of riding. Plus, when my mom gets here, she'll have a car available while she gets settled. Falling into the place is a beautiful thing.
It's a good thing I got some flower shots the other day -- with all the cold, lots of the spring blossoms have been beaten up. Poor things. My azalea's flowers have turned into a pile of pink mush. I'm thankful I didn't plant my window boxes like I had wanted to. In the meantime, I have my 99cent greenhouse in the kitchen starting my seeds!
Spring is such an exciting time -- it's full of possibility and promise. There's a feeling of anything can happen that is so wonderful. While fall has the feeling of wanting to hunker down and start studying a new language -- spring makes me want to open all the windows & plant something. I have the urge to travel and plan an adventure. I was thinking about where we were last Easter -- to now....what will the coming year hold for us? Will Victor understand the concept of an Easter Egg hunt a little better than he did this year? Will he understand that you should take the foil off the candy before you eat it? Will there be other little T's running around or maybe just screaming (that's just a question, not an announcement!)? Will I start new Easter traditions for Victor that will be meaningful & fun? Who knows -- but with the promise of spring, it all seems possible.
