House Arrest

Last week the cold kept us indoors huddled and shivering. This week, the torrential downpour that is Oregon Winter at its best has been keeping us cramped inside and under cover. I feel cramped and cooped and confined inside my house, staring out at the dark and dreary skies, sighing for days of sunshine and flip flops.

It's warmer this week, but wetter than last week and I decided to get out of our house in any way that was possible. This morning we ran around our yard and stomped in puddles. We dried off and enjoyed some tea (aka water in a big boy cup) and crumpets (licking the jam off of a biscuit).







Last week Thurston and I managed to get ourselves bundled up and out of the house only to seek immediate shelter from the cold in our neighborhood coffee shop 3 blocks away. After warming ourselves with steamed milk and green tea respectively, we huddled together and walked back home.


Some times, these brisk outings are the only things keeping me sane through the winter.





I really need to get a rain "coat" for our jogging stroller so that I can take us both out for some soggy runs.

Turning Toddler

We walked to the coffee shop this morning and as I basked in the warmth of the shop and the fragrant scent of coffee, Thurston decided his legs would quit working. His jell-o legs collapse from under him and he slumps to the floor. It's not truly that he's incapable, it's his ingenious solution to my not picking him up right away, whether it be in a coffee shop, grocery store, sidewalk, etc. I think to myself..."oh boy, here comes the Toddler".

His stubbornness goes further to include feeling the need to do everything just as Mom and Dad do...

He wants to throw the groceries into the cart himself, he wants to drink out of big kid cup (even when most of the water runs down his face/shirt/pants), he wants to sit in a regular chair, he wants to serve his own food (heaven forbid mom serves him a spoonful), and so on.

Yet...there are bonuses to the Toddler stage. This also means my little Toddler loves to help mom out - sweep, put away the clean dishes (or dirty, it doesn't matter to him), bring me his shoes, put on his coat, bring me books to read, reminds me where my nose is, or even a piece of paper he feels I should have. He's quite the helpful one and he actually loves to please.

In addition, my usual down-a-banana-in-a-minute-flat kid is no more. Suddenly his interest in food extends to a few bites and then his attention is elsewhere. He'll carry that same banana he used to devour in a minute around the house for upwards to an hour and then leave a third of it somewhere for me to come across later. He's losing his huge baby belly and starting to grow stems so that no counter tops are safe from little fingers any more.

Mama!

Now, I know I've said this before... but I seriously have the sweetest, most affectionate kid. Both of his teachers at daycare have voiced this to me numerous times. In fact, just this morning as I dropped him off, his teacher starts gushing about his sweet temperament.

He is going through a "mama" phase right now. It can be both heartwarming and trying at the same time when he just wants "mama" all the time. I think he just needs the reassurance that I'm there though and then he's fine. Poor Dave though...he'll pick Thurston up and Thurston will turn with his arms outstretched to me and wail "Mama. Mama!" I have a feeling that one of these days things will switch and he'll want nothing to do with me if Daddy's around! However, Grandpa trumps "mama" all the time. He is absolutely enamored with his Grandpa. Thurston and I were recently in Reno and my Dad picked us up from the airport. As soon as Thurston saw my Dad, he made a bee-line to him and ran with up-stretched arms. A woman approaches us in the airport and exclaims at how much Thurston must love his Grandpa by the way he reacted to him. My Dad's emotions don't show obviously, but I can see how much he's touched by it.

Thurston's language continues to develop every day and I am fascinated by how quickly he picks up on things. He loves to play the "Where is" game and happily points to the object in question...or will run off and retrieve said object -- such as his shoes (or mine) or a book of choice. When he doesn't know something, he'll point wildly in the air as if he is on a quest to find whatever it could be.

For the most part, he is just a great, happy kid. He loves to please, loves to make us laugh and loves to be the center of attention (go figure). Every day, I am grateful for his presence in our lives.

Hearts

I love this kid.

Love him.

He is such a sweet and affectionate little guy. I love to wrap him up into my arms and smother him in kisses. He's my little cuddle bug.

Live Long and Prosper

18 Months

Thurston had his 18 month check-up yesterday and all is well. He's 32 inches long and 28 lbs, 12.5 oz, which puts him into the 50 percentile in height and 83rd percentile in weight. Wait, what???? Yeah, that's right. 83rd percentile. As most people who meet him put it, he's SOLID. Just to add the kicker - his head circumference is in the 90th percentile. That's some Mom genes right there. His pediatrition even called him "solid" and in more ways than just around his mid-section. He's apparently very solid on his feet for his age. We've had these comments from others before as well. Mr. T has always been raring to go, since he was two months old, so it didn't come as a big surprise!

Pumpkins And Bauples

October 2009:

October 2010:

Thurston's Words:

Apple ("Bauple")
Banana
Peach
Up
Down
Hi
Hello
Hey
Bye
No!
Bus
Duck
Butts (Thanks, Dada)
Mama
Dada
Water
Shoes
Cheese
Mine
Go

And probably some others I can't remember. He's a little sponge.