I so wished I had blogged about this while it was occurring, because it was just so darn cute! Carter learned the color blue almost immediatey and 99% of the time could tell you when something was blue. If something wasn't blue, it was simply "not blue". He'd smile and confidently nod his head, "not blue". I wish everything were as easy as that.
He's now doing really well with colors and knows a lot of them. We like to name colors when we are out on walks......the only problem is that neither nature nor car manufacturers like to use primary colors, so we end up guessing about a lot of them. It's also not helpful when mama says, yup that flower is sort of blue and pink and purple.
I just think it's too early to introduce fuchsia, cerise, and cerulean blue.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Language Explosion
About six weeks ago, Carter transitioned from two word sentences (usually a combination of "more" and whatever he wanted) to 4 and 5 word sentences. It was unbelievable. We went to bed one night with a babbling baby and woke up to a toddler asking for "more tiny strawberries please". He signed the "strawberry" part, but we counted it nonetheless.
Most of our sentences still need a bit of translation. "Mama hold you" means "Hold me mama". "Papa big dip" means "Papa I want a lot of dip on that chip". Although I am sure there will come a day when Carter is big enough to hold mama and to tell his papa that he's acting like a big dip!
Just recently he used a 10 word sentence. It went something like "very very very very very very very very too far". He was explaining why he couldn't reach the moon.
Although my favorite sentence right now is "I love me", said in response to mama or papa telling Carter that they love him. It's still all about Carter.
He wakes up now in the middle of the night and talks quite a bit about very odd and random things. I assume that he's dreaming. Last night there must have been a bad dream about a train, as we woke up very distressed and saying "uh oh choo choo". The bad dreams are usually followed by a command of "up" and "mama walk". I take this time to throw him over my shoulder, go pee, and by the time I get back, he's fast asleep.
Most of our sentences still need a bit of translation. "Mama hold you" means "Hold me mama". "Papa big dip" means "Papa I want a lot of dip on that chip". Although I am sure there will come a day when Carter is big enough to hold mama and to tell his papa that he's acting like a big dip!
Just recently he used a 10 word sentence. It went something like "very very very very very very very very too far". He was explaining why he couldn't reach the moon.
Although my favorite sentence right now is "I love me", said in response to mama or papa telling Carter that they love him. It's still all about Carter.
He wakes up now in the middle of the night and talks quite a bit about very odd and random things. I assume that he's dreaming. Last night there must have been a bad dream about a train, as we woke up very distressed and saying "uh oh choo choo". The bad dreams are usually followed by a command of "up" and "mama walk". I take this time to throw him over my shoulder, go pee, and by the time I get back, he's fast asleep.
Carter loves his tofu!
Carter is a vegetarian.....by default at least. Mama doesn't cook meat, which means Carter doesn't eat any right now. He does just fine so far and loves all kinds of crazy things like kale and corn risotto and cooked leaks. He really enjoys his "topu" and will ask for it while finger spelling it....more of a wild movement of fingers, but we understand him nonetheless.
Rob's a bit worried about the vegetarian gig lasting too long. He's afraid he will have to take his son to a baseball game and order a tofurkey hot dog. I've assured him that won't be the case, but did remind him that nachos, cotton candy, peanuts, and ice cream sundaes all qualify both as vegetarian and righteous baseball game food. He still looked a bit concerned.
We may have to hire a private omnivorous tutor for Carter before he goes to school however, because he does have a bit of a learning delay due to being a vegetarian....the other day I fed the dogs their usual fare of raw chicken and veggies. Carter pointed to Agatha's chicken leg and said "topu?". Oh well, he does recognize chicken in its natural state....clucking with feathers! :)
Rob's a bit worried about the vegetarian gig lasting too long. He's afraid he will have to take his son to a baseball game and order a tofurkey hot dog. I've assured him that won't be the case, but did remind him that nachos, cotton candy, peanuts, and ice cream sundaes all qualify both as vegetarian and righteous baseball game food. He still looked a bit concerned.
We may have to hire a private omnivorous tutor for Carter before he goes to school however, because he does have a bit of a learning delay due to being a vegetarian....the other day I fed the dogs their usual fare of raw chicken and veggies. Carter pointed to Agatha's chicken leg and said "topu?". Oh well, he does recognize chicken in its natural state....clucking with feathers! :)
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Worst mama ever!
I haven't updated my blog since February...this must make me the worst mama ever! Carter has just grown up to be such a big boy, or toddler at least. He is talking up a storm and signing at least 100 signs now. He has gone from a baby to a little boy overnight. Makes me a bit sad. We are expecting baby boy #2 just after Carter's 2nd birthday and although I know there is plenty of love to share, I really worry about missing out on all the Carter and me time we have. He is just so much fun to be around and has yet to really test us too much. Most of our meltdowns are around bedtimes and/or when ice cream has been denied.
Carter is obsessed with ice cream. He signs it by holding his index finger up to his mouth and licking it like it were an ice cream cone. He has gone from eating anything resembling ice cream (to include sour cream) to being a bit of an ice cream connoisseur. He gets only soy ice cream, but prefers the "heddy, heddy blue" kind (that's toddler speak for the blue container that's heavy) and always asks for chocolate by signing "brown candy". He has a few bites and then usually moves on to mama's or grandma's because they are "bedda".
He asks for ice cream every morning when I open the refrigerator to get out the milk. I've promised him an ice cream sundae for breakfast when he turns 10. Let's see if we can last that long!
Carter is obsessed with ice cream. He signs it by holding his index finger up to his mouth and licking it like it were an ice cream cone. He has gone from eating anything resembling ice cream (to include sour cream) to being a bit of an ice cream connoisseur. He gets only soy ice cream, but prefers the "heddy, heddy blue" kind (that's toddler speak for the blue container that's heavy) and always asks for chocolate by signing "brown candy". He has a few bites and then usually moves on to mama's or grandma's because they are "bedda".
He asks for ice cream every morning when I open the refrigerator to get out the milk. I've promised him an ice cream sundae for breakfast when he turns 10. Let's see if we can last that long!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
The Cat's Tail
Poor Memo. He is adored by Carter. Adored by him. Carter kisses him and hugs him and pets him and says "Momo" about 100 times a day. Everything revolves around "Momo". The dog's dish is "Momo's". A random cat litter box? "Momo's". The neighbor's cat? "Momo".
Apparently Memo is number one around here and would no doubt have more success than mommy at getting Carter to change his diaper or wipe his face.
But Memo has a tail and Carter pulls it. Hard. And then stops, signs "hurt" and goes back to pulling Memo's tail. Memo takes it and comes back for more. Sometimes we hear the scraping of cat's claws across the kitchen floor as poor "Momo" gets dragged around by his tail. One of us races over and says the Momo-mantra: Buddy, you have to be gentle. That hurts Memo. We are nice to our animals".
Carter repeats the mantra, sort of, by petting Momo nicely, giving him a kiss, grabbing his tail, tugging hard, letting go, signing "hurt", and then petting him again and saying "Nigh" (toddler-speak for "nice").
Sometimes we give Memo an extra spoonful of kibble as an apology.
Apparently Memo is number one around here and would no doubt have more success than mommy at getting Carter to change his diaper or wipe his face.
But Memo has a tail and Carter pulls it. Hard. And then stops, signs "hurt" and goes back to pulling Memo's tail. Memo takes it and comes back for more. Sometimes we hear the scraping of cat's claws across the kitchen floor as poor "Momo" gets dragged around by his tail. One of us races over and says the Momo-mantra: Buddy, you have to be gentle. That hurts Memo. We are nice to our animals".
Carter repeats the mantra, sort of, by petting Momo nicely, giving him a kiss, grabbing his tail, tugging hard, letting go, signing "hurt", and then petting him again and saying "Nigh" (toddler-speak for "nice").
Sometimes we give Memo an extra spoonful of kibble as an apology.
No no no no no!
Ahhhh, we have entered the terrible two's and only 9 months ahead of schedule! Okay, not really, but a toddler with his very own mind has taken the place of my sweet, sweet baby! He's still sweet and loves to hug, but this new guy can walk and talk and sign so much more that he thinks he can do everything on his own!
No no no no no is our new favorite phrase! Carter, do you want more tofu? No. Do you want to change your diaper? No. Carter, can I wipe your face? No no no no no! And sometimes our little feet stomp when we're really upset. And we've growled at grandma a few times. And the entire family has been at the receiving end of a death stare!
But, the good news is that he's still wonderful and 90 percent of the time he's still my good-natured little monkey.
We have a morning routine that I love. Carter rolls over and says "mama, mama". Yes, Carter? "More more.". More what? Carter signs "nurse". Okay buddy you can nurse. Giggles. "Mama mama." Yes, Carter? Carter signs "helicopter" and looks out the window. Oh buddy, maybe we will see a helicopter later. "Mama mama". Yes, Carter? Carter signs "papa". Papa's right here buddy. "Papa". Giggles. "Mama mama". Yes, buddy? "Momo....." Memo is right here Carter. Giggles.
That is our routine. Every morning before getting out of bed. It never deviates and it never changes. I love it.
No no no no no is our new favorite phrase! Carter, do you want more tofu? No. Do you want to change your diaper? No. Carter, can I wipe your face? No no no no no! And sometimes our little feet stomp when we're really upset. And we've growled at grandma a few times. And the entire family has been at the receiving end of a death stare!
But, the good news is that he's still wonderful and 90 percent of the time he's still my good-natured little monkey.
We have a morning routine that I love. Carter rolls over and says "mama, mama". Yes, Carter? "More more.". More what? Carter signs "nurse". Okay buddy you can nurse. Giggles. "Mama mama." Yes, Carter? Carter signs "helicopter" and looks out the window. Oh buddy, maybe we will see a helicopter later. "Mama mama". Yes, Carter? Carter signs "papa". Papa's right here buddy. "Papa". Giggles. "Mama mama". Yes, buddy? "Momo....." Memo is right here Carter. Giggles.
That is our routine. Every morning before getting out of bed. It never deviates and it never changes. I love it.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Bubbles in the Bathwater
Ahh, 14 months, what a charming age! Carter has been signing up a storm lately: pumpkin, rooster, elephant, papa, and even signing along to favorite songs! He has incorporated sign language into his sleep, signing "again" in the middle of a dream, no doubt.
But, my favorite? He's using sign language to express humour. He was sitting in the tub just playing and having a great time. Suddenly, quite a few bubbles started appearing in the tub and some tooting noises. Well, that set him off laughing and he continued, tooting and laughing.
Then the tooting stopped, Carter signed "more" and when I asked him "more what?"......he paused, smiled, and started grunting and bearing down to get a few more toots out! We were both howling by that point!
What a charmer!
But, my favorite? He's using sign language to express humour. He was sitting in the tub just playing and having a great time. Suddenly, quite a few bubbles started appearing in the tub and some tooting noises. Well, that set him off laughing and he continued, tooting and laughing.
Then the tooting stopped, Carter signed "more" and when I asked him "more what?"......he paused, smiled, and started grunting and bearing down to get a few more toots out! We were both howling by that point!
What a charmer!
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