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Jogging, anyone?

Daddy got a jogging stroller for Christmas, and we all went for a jog together today. Alex just LOVES his new stroller. When he sees it, he right away climbs right in, and doesn't want to get out. He especially likes going fast. Wheeeeee!

Bodysnatchers?

I am not sure when they came and got Alex, but today's baby is very different than the one I have had for the past 19 months. First off, Alex was a awake and smiling and playing happily by himself in his crib when I went to get him this morning (at around 8!!! pretty late!) rather than the usual screaming his head off. I can only guess that the 8 full uninterrupted hours of sleep the night before did him some good. It certainly did me some good!

But it gets weirder -- I tried to put him down for a nap about and hour ago, and when I did he was barely awake. Well, he woke right up after I left and closed the door, but he has been happily amusing himself in there ever since. No screaming or crying. Lots of counting to three. Kicking the crib rails in a playful way. Singing. But no screaming.

I am not sure where this new baby came from, but I would be happy to keep him!!!

Apple Store

The iVangalism continues. We went to the Apple Store last night, and Alex got to play with the computers they have set up for the kids.

Turn Around, Bright Eyes

We finally today made the big switch and turned Alex's car seat around to face forward. Technically, he could have been turned around right after his first birthday, or the car seat could have handled him facing backwards for many more months, as he is nowhere near the rear facing weight limit. But the pediatrician last week mentioned that he would probably get more mental and visual stimulation if he were facing forward, and get more out of being in the car. And he did seem ready for it. So, presto, changeo, here is his maiden front-facing voyage!

Day Two and in Love

Today was day two of the new day care for Alex, and he is already pretty much an old pro, picking up a ton, and totally charming his teachers. The teacher just gushed, gushed, gushed when we picked him up tonight about what a great kid he is, how well he slept and ate and played, and what a total delight he is. As we were leaving he said "bye bye" and she just grabbed him, gave him a big hug, and blurted "I love you Alex!" He tends to bring out that kind of reaction in people. I am glad the people who care for him adore him so.

Then on the way home, he showed us that he is already picking new skills from his friends there. I knew that at school, they sing all three verses of "If You're Happy and You Know It," not just the clapping one. So I sang it with him, and sure enough, he shouted out a big "Hooray!" at each appropriate point in the song. Mike was floored. I wasn't all that surprised. He is totally a little sponge right now!

First Day of School

Alex started his first day of day care at a center today. He is in a class with 12 kids and 3 teachers, and they are all very nice. He will definitely be making new friends in short order. The morning drop off and getting ready was rough -- Alex definitely sensed something was going on, and he did not like it. He fought breakfast, and getting dressed, and getting into the car seat. He wailed when Mike dropped him off, and I was very glad I didn't go and witness that -- my presence would have just exacerbated things. But when we picked him at 5:30, he was happily playing, and the teachers and director both said he was an absolute joy. He ate TWO helpings of lunch (dinosaur noodles), napped on a mat without any problems, and played well with the other kids. I am sure by week's end, drop off won't be painful either.

Ooooh, Fishies!

We went to the aquarium today after church and Alex just loooooved it. The second we walked in, he started doing the sign for "fish," and once he got close to the glass there was no stopping him. Every five seconds he would exclaim "ooooh, fishie!!!" Over and over. And I never got tired of hearing the wonderment.

In addition to fishies, we saw sharks, "Mr. Otter," a large group of aligators, stingrays, jellyfish and the most amazing sea horses. But of it all, watching Alex was the most memorable.

Face Recognition

For the past month or so, we have added saying night night to pictures of family to our bedtime routine. Alex looks at the pictures and says "night night Nana," "night night" to grandma, and so on through all of the family, planting big "mmmmwah!" kisses on each of the photos in turn. So he definitely gets the idea that people can be in pictures.

Tonight, he pulled out our wedding proof albums and kept pointing to "Mommy!" and "Daddy!" At one point, there was a page where there were 4 pictures of me and he counted "twoooo-theeee Mommy!" (he doesn't seem to say one because that word is apparently reserved for Mommy or Daddy, and he hasn't quite gotten past 3 either). Then he saw a picture of our friend Jason, with whose family we spent the afternoon at the aquarium today and who had served as one of Mike's groomsmen. And incredibly, plain as day he pointed to the photo and said "Jason." Not once, but several times to confirm.

Once again, I am reminded that I must watch what I say in front of the little man. We did not try to teach him Jason's name, he just picked it up from the adult conversation.

Bubbles

Oh, to be 19 months old, an age where all of the world's problems can be solved by blowing bubbles. Today Alex and I spent the morning at the day care center that he will be starting at full time next week. The idea was to get him used to the place for next week. He was not happy if I was more than a few feet away from him -- until Miss Maria broke out the bubbles. Alex was immediately distracted by them, and started to chase the bubbles around shouting "bubbles! bubbles!" Miss Maria even let Alex help blow the bubbles. And he did a stellar job, too.

When ya gotta sleep, ya gotta sleep.

It's funny, when Alex was a newborn I never would have put him in one of those baby seats on a shopping cart. We always used our own seat. But today, Alex was sooooo sleepy when we got to the store that I decided rather than trying to carry him I would plop him into one of those seats. The funny thing is he is waaaay too big for it, but we managed.

Ball!

Alex has become quite obsessed with playing with balls lately. We bought him a little set of three Alex-sized sports balls -- a football, a basketball, and a soccer ball -- and he loves everything about them. He loves throwing them, he loves chasing them, he loves kicking them, and he even loves putting them away! He learned the sign for BALL in one showing, and will now insistantly sign "BALL, PLEASE" whenever one of the balls is out of reach.

19 Months

Instead of an 18 month appointment, Alex had a 19 month appointment with new doctors here in Tampa. His weighed in at 25.5 pounds, and was 33.5 inches tall, and so is still officially a string bean. But a healthy one, and that's all that matters.

The entry he will REALLY hate me for when he is Fourteen

There's really no other way but baby talk to say this: Alex went poo poo on the potty today!! We've had a kiddie potty in the house for a while, and he's sat on it several times but not necessarily known what to do with it. In the last few weeks, he's definitely become more aware of his bodily functions, often telling me when he has poo poo in his diaper. I try to always have him sit on the potty for a few moments before his bath, jsut so he can get used to it. Tonight he was really eager to do so, and got a really self-satisfied look on his face as he passed gas 1-2-3 times, each time getting a bigger grin as I praised him profusely. Then, there it was -- a little bloop smaller than a dime. But he did it! (Thankfully, you are spared a photo of this momentous occasion -- I am proud, sure, but some memory moments are NOT Kodak moments, and these words will have to do. At least he can take some solace in that when he reads this 13 years from now.)

Mommy clapped, Daddy was called in from the next room to cheer, and we probably would have had a ticker tape parade right there if the shredder were closer to the bathroom. Then grin boy took his rightful place in the tub, from which vantgage he gleefully waved bye-bye to the fruits of his labors.

Of course, after the bath, he peed on the floor. Oh well. Still, it was a banner day.

Daddy the iVangelist

I was using my laptop this afternoon. Alex looked over, saw the glowing logo on the lid, pointed and clearly said "Apple!"

He already knows which platform is superior. I'm so proud!