TaeBo Baby and the Copy Cat

A friend at church told me last week that her mom claims babies active in the womb are calm when they come out and vice versa. It sounded a lot like an old wives tale to me, but since I can't remember what Q was like in-utero aside from having hiccups, we'll wait and see. This little girl appears to think that she's surrounded by a punching bag and is using it to her delight. There are times when I look at my belly and think "what the heck is going on in there!" Hence I've dubbed her TaeBo Baby. Maybe she's trying to let me know that she plans to keep up with her big brother as soon as her feet hit the floor.

Meanwhile I'm trying to imagine another member of our family that could be as cute as Quintin. Hard to do. OB told me last week that she's in the 95% for size. Lovely. She's likely to be bigger than Q. So much for my lifetime desire for petite newborns. However, my arm muscles are plenty strong enough this time around to handle it. What is 9 lbs compared to 30?

Mr. Q has definitely grown into the next stage of development. His fits are more frequent, louder and longer. One of our frustrations is that all his cries sound the same (always have). He's not like other kids with a 'fake' cry, so it takes a lot of problem solving to discover if it's a problem that can be resolved or a temper issue. This last week I've asked him to tell me what he needs and he's just slammed to the floor wailing (head and all, regardless of floor type). Well, can't help you with that one kiddo (if I'm close I try to block the floor-head slam). It probably doesn't help that Momma's harder to move and drag to a desired object now. It hurts me to move a lot of the time, especially if I'm on the floor. Pregnancy hips, I guess.

He did this while waiting in the bathroom line Monday night at the Warm Beach Lights of Christmas. What 2 year old wants to stand around when there is so much to see? Anyway, everyone in the room moaned when his head clunked the 1/4 inch carpeted concrete. I managed to catch his forehead with my shoe the 2nd time but he just picked it up again and did it next to my shoe!!! Crazy kid! That has to hurt!

But he is making progress in the Daddy appreciation area. At the ward Christmas party he actually walked across the gym to hug Daddy in the dessert line -and stayed there. That's pretty unprecedented. He NEVER walks away from Momma for another person. There is hope! He's also stopped having fits when I leave him with someone. It brings me such peace of mind that my child has finally established enough trust and security to know that when Momma says she will be back, she will, and there's no need to scream over it. And maybe I don't have to sneak out every time, now. Maybe he's saving all the good crying for Momma.

He started literally experimenting with boundaries this week. He got a hold of one of Ian's tools and walked around the room hitting it on things, looking at me each time to see if I'd smile and laugh with him or not. He blows me away sometimes with how responsive he is. He completely responded to me about what was okay and what wasn't, then requested a hug when it wasn't okay to hit Momma with it.

He's also continuing with the language explosion.

• He jabbers at the TV, and his toys, and while we're driving.
• When I'm talking to him he repeats the last word in every statement I make.
• The other night we were trying to find out why he was whining, starting with food. Listing off things he could have. We asked if he wanted a cookie since that's what Daddy was doing and in the most pitiful voice he says "coo-kie." That was way too cute to resist.
• He walks around the house saying "hey, ma-an"
• He asks "Okay?" if you cough or sneeze or get an owie.
  
• "Good Morning"
• "What's dat? A caw!" (car)
• "Get it" when something rolls away
• He loves to be chased and tickled. This week he'll come tickle us then run away saying "Ge-Me Momma!" SO MUCH FUN this kid is!
  
  This week he's been copying LOTS of Daddy stuff.
• He found the paper towel roll and repeatedly held it up to his eye saying "I see you!" (pulling it away) "Boo!" He continued doing this with the play-ear of corn this morning since he couldn't find the roll.
• When he gets tickled and roughed up he keeps saying "He-ey!" like Daddy does...with a big grin on his face.
  
• Daddy pretends to be asleep so Q will say "Wake Up!" over and over again. Now Q tells anyone to Wake Up! anytime they are resting their head, laying down or closing their eyes.
• He was riding around on his dino ride-on toy, got up, found a loose key then came back and stuck it in all the holes on the right side of the dino while continuing to ride around. That boy loves keys and key holes!
• He's finally learning how to say "I love you" which is lots of fun.
  
  Sadly, not all the copying is good. I've been on the verge of feline homicide on many a day the last month. So now, when Mande walks through the kitchen Q will follow behind her trying to kick her and saying things like "Man-e, out!" or "Man-e, down!" or "Man-e, stop!"

I'd finally had enough with the cats last weekend so Ian and I officially moved them into the garage. They DON'T like exile. They spend ALLLLLL day whining at the windows and glass doors to get back in. Too bad I can't reason with them. If they'd only learn to: always use the litter box; stay off the counters; not steal our food; stop whining; stop tripping me everywhere I go; and Mande stop hissing and growling at everyone and everything, I'd be willing to put up

with the cat hair everywhere and dust bunnies appearing 3 minutes after I vacuum. They have always been indoor cats, so I hope they learn to adjust soon. One of the neighborhood strays is trying to adopt us now that there's company outside our house. Last thing I need is another one! It feels so good not to have to worry about them! What a relief!

We also went to a fun Christmas festival/fundraiser here on Camano. They had a real camel, reindeer and firetruck!