Turning 2

Christian turns 2 in 13 days...Can't believe it in some ways. Though when I look at him, he hardly looks like the baby he was, especially since last week when Dan took him to get his first haircut. His long locks had been irritating him. He'd shove them out of his face and grunt almost. We admitted that we were just letting him have wild hair for our own sakes and not thinking about how he felt. Obviously the cut was overdue. The haircut salon/barber was like a small amusement park/toy store. The chairs were shaped like cars, each one had a TV in front of them and the child was able to choose what movie s/he wanted to watch. He chose Robots - not that he knew what that was. He loved the car chair and didn't really mind the cut. Dan brought him to my work after to show it off. When he arrived he said, 'Show momma haircut!' I was thrilled to see him, and not really sad about the rite of passage. It makes him look taller and it also makes it a lot easier to put on hats, bibs, coats, etc.

I wanted to write some Christian-isms again but they always seem to fly out of my brain the moment I open up this blog...He can repeat anything you say for the most part and the meaning of things is more and more clear to him. My mom came back from visiting my brother, sister-in-law, and baby niece in Germany. She brought back an original Steiff bear for CPK. He was sitting on my bed, on a pillow with his back against the wall, hugging and cuddling with it, saying, 'Aw.' He then held it up in his hands as if to examine it and said, 'It's so cute!' repeatedly. I laughed so hard. Yes, it is cute, and so is my son:) (At least I think so!)

Perhaps next on the CPK agenda is finishing cutting his 2-year old molars (please soon!) and preparing for baby #2!

Yep - we are expecting a second child around August 12th. We'll probably find out the sex around Easter time. We'll keep you updated...

As Christian says, 'baa bye! mommadaddymomma'

Discipline - define that please

So just a quick update on the weaning...Christian decided himself that he was done! I was nursing him one night last week. While he was nursing, he bit me. I yelled; he got scared and cried. From that point on, he refused to nurse. I tried the next morning and then the next evening just to see if it was indeed a cold turkey move. The last time I got situated, he hid his face under his blankey!! Talk about rejection! :) But in a way, I'm glad it wasn't a longer process than that. He seems fine, though I have noticed that he snuggles a lot more with me - he does the mom's apron strings hug where he comes up behind me and hugs my legs while I'm standing. Very cute!

So weaning is weaned! Now on to the next big learning curve - discipline! He is a spirited boy who has a quick temper and frustration limit. Yesterday, his sippy cup was upside down and because he couldn't get the milk out he got angry and bit down hard on it! Tantrum!

Dan and I are discussing our discipline strategies - the whole gamut: time outs, removal techniques, spanking, etc. I'm looking into the evangelical press books as well as some secular (specifically the Supernanny). It's definitely a topic that begs prayer!

One of our current challenges is throwing food from his chair. I tell him not to; he looks at me and does it again! Stinker!!

Will keep you updated...

Conversationally, he is gathering more and more words and sounds. At the moment I'm forgetting some new ones. I'll have to start a list when I'm around him at home...

I still miss him while at work and hope that more time will be portioned in the future. The time goes by so fast! Dan was gone in DC from Wednesday to Sunday and he even said that Christian is a whole new person!

Last item: his molars are finally coming through. The first couple broke through last week. I just pray that he has some relief. It's been a rough, long episode.

4 teeth and no sleep

Christian has four visible teeth. They are not yet all the way through - but I think the cutting stage is over. Thank goodness! Because he has not been sleeping well and has been what Dan calls 'evil Christian.' Poor baby! He doesn't understand what's happening to his body. (Probably won't until he's an adult and perhaps not even then!)

He's also rolling and scooting and stretching and really trying to crawl. I'm excited for that but I think Dan would like him to hold off. We definitely have to 'baby proof' the apartment. I would like to use the opportunity to rid ourselves of some junk we've accumulated over the past 3 years of living there. Definitely books can go! Articles say to get on your hands and knees in order to see what Christian will. So I see so many problems everywhere! Pack n play may be his prison until I have time to sort and dispose! Oi weh!

Generally we are doing better. We are used to the business of life. I'm still desiring a slower pace, but am glad for business mostly. It keeps me from being too pensive and too existential.

the hood of parenting...