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.