On Balen

This little bugger is a majority of my day's work. While I put so much mental effort into Abigail's development, this guy consumes almost all of my physical time. I spend most of my day just keeping him out of the things he shouldn't be in to, off of the things he shouldn't be on, out from under the things he shouldn't be under, out from behind the things he shouldn't be behind, and not touching the things he shouldn't touch.

I've dealt with pen on the couch (still there), pen on the wall (still there, eventually gone); window cleaner on the couch, DVD case, coffee table, electrical outlets, software CDs; all manner of toys behind the entertainment center devices, discarded socks from anywhere you can think of; toy cars from under the oven over and over again, and then again; the list continues.

Since December, his word list has grown significantly. He's still not quite at multiple word phrases, and now that he's showing off his ability to choose to do something other than what we say, he seems to almost resist learning more. More still pop out, but he appears to be content with the words he knows now and the methods of communication already established. The signs are slowly disappearing in favor of words, and I think he is starting to feel the limitations on his vocabulary as he is often frustrated in his attempts to communicate.

His play largely consists of wandering around the house exploring and investigating. He loves going outside and now that the weather has finally turned a little warmer we can indulge him more often. We actually had a day of over 60 degrees, but most days it's still 40-50; still cold. He loves him some bubbles. He loves to explore. He loves to walk. He loves to run. He's now jumping, too, and likes a good bed bounce.

However, we are considering quarantine as he is a walking an infection. He infects everyone in the room with him. The primary symptom is a twitching at the corner of the mouth that can increase in intensity until the victim appears to be smiling. In extreme cases, the victim makes sudden and spasmic noises approximating a normal laugh. In female victims he is often able to elicit spontaneous simultaneous spasms of the diaphragm and vocal cords almost always resulting in some form the word "cute". His effect is instantaneous and universal. The carrier method seems to be somewhat spiritual. That's the long way of saying that the boy has an incredibly infectious ability to bring smiles, laughter, and open remarks on his handsomeness. I was serious though about the universal part. His beaming smile and wonderful attitude have an immediate effect on those who observe him.



We are working pretty well along the path to potty training. He will occasionally pee on his toilet. When he does, we all jump up and down and scream and yell and he gives us "high tens", or occasional "fists" (each person makes knuckle to knuckle contact with a punching motion). We also reward him with Cars diapers - "KEEN!" as he says for the character "Lightning McQueen" - or Buzz and Woody diapers from Toy Story when it's bedtime. He has recently taken to wanting to pee on the big toilets. We have him squat on the seat and do his business while we hold him up. As of tonight, I believe he's getting the idea that he can feel the need to pee coming, and get on the seat ahead of time. I'll get a video of this family toilet experience, as his enthusiasm and excitement and emotional reward are palpable.

The rub is that he has well and truly discovered his ability to control his own actions. He will say "no" even to things he wants, or has just asked for. He will say no to every option presented to him. When able we just honor his wishes and let him deal with the results as they are; some not necessarily to his liking. He is just testing the waters and finding what the limits of his control are. Sometimes that just isn't necessary. Spanking has come in to play because he no longer responds to time-outs when he completely digs in his heels. It's unfortunate after he was so amiable up until now, but it's also working hand in hand with his maturity and taking his first steps to independence from us. It's amazing the timing if they aren't related, but my observations show they are. Here's what I mean: these last two weeks have seen the complete turn around from amiable little boy to defiant little boy. At the same time, he now runs towards the play room at church - a place in which he, up until this Sunday, would cry as soon as that door appeared in his view - and grabs some toys and says goodbye to us with a smile, even if it is a little tenuous. Growth.

Now a few words on his intelligence. As of his last check up just after his birthday, his height and weight are around 70%, and his head circumference is still off the charts. You know what they say about a big noggin! No... not that. Get your head out of the gutter! This kid is freaking intelligent! That's what I meant, naturally. This boy understands the world around him and how he interacts with things with an acuity I've never seen. I don't know what Abigail was like at this age, since I wasn't around her so I cannot draw comparison here or otherwise. That being said, this boy masters physical concepts with only a few attempts: zippers, removing clothes (he can do that already), throwing things, eating, drinking, bubbles, going pee, getting out the makings for his diaper changes, climbing into his booster seat on a tall chair, buckling himself in... the list goes on. His physical understanding is just flat out beyond my expectations. You just have to see it to believe it.

Please do.