Amazing Creatures

Meet the toddler. I believe the toddler to me the most amazing creature on Earth. It's no secret that I'm totally smitten with my children and I won't lie, I love being a momma to these little men. Each age has it's ups and downs but for the sake of this post, I'd like to discuss the toddler.

Fearless, devoted, loving, curious, determined.  These are some of the words for toddlers. Mine toddler happens to be the 16 month walking since 11.5 months variety. If they were full sized, they could easily rule to world. Thankfully for their mothers they are pint sized which keeps them from being in fatal danger often.  My toddler is my shadow. He was to do everything the big people around him are doing. Eating at the table, sitting in a chair, driving a car, playing with Legos. Whatever we are doing, he MUST try it. Otherwise he will sing the song of his people. Trust me....you don't want that.

My toddler since birth has a special look that's just for me. It melts me, it keeps him alive. Sears into my soul and changes whatever I was going to do into serving his whim.  Now fast forward to the 16 month version. He still has that look, but he's bigger and even more convincing.

He's amazing. Yes, he's my toddler but yesterday I took a lot of time to really watch and be with him whilst his brothers were outside and away from us.  He can do almost everything I can do, he just lacks size.  But he doesn't let that stop him. Yesterday he figured out how to reach the kitchen cabinets...it's easy, you just pull out drawers, climb up and keep using drawers to climb up higher and higher until you can reach what you were after. He just wants to see what's going on. His thirst for the new, exciting world of the big people is never quenched. Ever.

Now, I've learned a few things. This isn't my first toddler. 8 years ago I had my first toddler and I was a nervous first time mom and on my own as my husband was overseas in Iraq.  I probably micromanaged him and keep him from exploring for the sake of safety not full realizing that he was much more capable than I knew.  I'm a first born so maybe this is just their lot.  My toddler now is a third born. I taught him to navigate the stairs instead of baby gates when we arrived here in England. There are some boundaries but instead of saying "no" I redirect him or give him a positive task to accomplish. Like when he starts pulling the soil out of my pots I show him instead how to pat in down into the pots.  Some things are tricky like when I'm pulling weeds and he starts randomly pulling at plants.  He doesn't know which plant is desirable and which isn't, he's just trying to be a big person and help.

Now my deep thoughts on this. What happens to the toddler that he stops wanting to learn, help and be part of community. Do we do this somehow unintentionally? What if toddlers never gave up this attitude but just refined it a little as they grew into full sized beings?  The hunger for learning, thirst for creativity and drive to be part of something bigger. Everything is amazing to them, they laugh and giggle as the smallest thing. Nothing boring.  If this could be carried through to adulthood and beyond I believe the world would be changed by these amazing little creatures grown up to remind us that everyday, everywhere the world is filled with wonder.

Teeth...

Sam is trying to cut at least 4, maybe 6 teeth at once. This is making for a sad little Samsam. He's restless, not sleeping or napping well and I'm tired as well. I'm hoping after this wave there will be a lull before the eye teeth come in. He still enjoys chasing his brother around and getting into the middle of whatever he's doing.
Ben has really started to take an interest in reading and writing. He's learning letter sounds and likes to write people's names. It's coming together for him and one of these days it's going to really click and I expect he's going to take off with reading. He's also very interested in anything Narnia, seeds and gardening, pinewood derby cars...He's a busy kid! We would like to have a pinewood track at home to race cars. Grandpa Thomas is making a car for our "derby" and I've heard even Grandpa Shepard has given it some thought. These cars will probably be so beautifully done that I won't want little boys to play with them...I'd better get started on my entry!

Grand Prix

Videos from the AWANA Grand Prix! Just Ben's car...when it was my car's turn the next week I was too busy yelling "Turn my car around, it goes the other way!" to take video. I'm convinced if they ran my car the way I was weighted to go, I would have won....Ben took 4th for speed and was disapointed that they forgot to give him a trophy. Benjamin and I are working on new cars (won't be able to run in the AWANA race) and I'm looking at practice tracks so we can hold our own races at home. Awards will be hugs, kisses and cheers only.

The Samsam, caught on tape. Ben has a tendency to get in his way and prevent forward motion...probably a normal brother thing to do. He took a few steps on Wednesday Jan 21 in the afternoon and then about 12 in the evening. Since then he takes more and more every day. Enjoy!

Sorry not to have a picture of him standing on the top...but i instead felt the need to drop the camera and make sure I could catch him. Rest assured..he did decide to stand on top and announce his victory.

Sam isn't walking on his own yet but he loves to push things around the house, climb, ride the radio flyer mini trike and every now and then take a few steps. Crawling or riding is much faster for him.

Teeth!

I have just moments ago discovered that Sam has finally cut some teeth. Well at least one on the bottom. All the drooling and fussing today has produced a serrated edge on the bottom gums. Probably also why he wasn't much into napping today. That and the excitement of getting ready to go to DC tomorrow. 10 months and nearly 3 days and he is finally getting a set of chompers!

distrubed sleep, wet floors

The last 3 days, Benjamin has been up around 3-4am, resulting in him sleeping with us. By day he has been wetting his pants once a day. I wonder if he is sensing the disturbance in the force with my mother being sick and/or if he is unhappy about the upcoming trip to DC. We have been talking about Sam and I driving up to RI to visit with my family for a while and Benjamin going home with Morgan. Ben keeps saying "No, it would be more fun for all 4 of us to go see Grandma" and I'd have to say I agree with him. But when you add in 2 more airline tickets, it gets expensive not to mention Morgan taking time off of work. I suppose I could take Ben and Sam with me but Benjamin can be high needs outside of his typical environment and not too much taking care of grandma would happen. He'll be fine with Morgan, I'm just wanting a little more sleep and less floor cleaning.

In other news, Sam as a couple of friends that are a month older than him...both walking. Sam is still happy with cruising and now and again lets go and balances. When I say "now and again" it's MAYBE once a day that I see. No teeth yet. Morgan trimmed the hair over his ears at my request...his wings were getting out of hand. He is still 99% nursing with some solid food with dinner sometimes, mostly to keep him busy.
We have not taken too many pictures recently. This is a picture of Benjamin's MonaVie smile. He likes his purple juice. Sam had a bruise on his cheek where he smashed his face into solid objects several times in the same place. Now he has a scratch on his forehead from, I'm guessing his fingernails. Usually the most recent pictures I post on facebook because it's just easier.
Better go see if the chicken is thawed...it's going to be another whirlwind evening! Wish me luck!