Scotland:

Glissading on Mt. Rainier

“This is my best!” (as in, this is my favorite!)
He’s very interested in sayings, and is always proud when he uses one, his current favorites are: “Keep your eyes out!” “Keep your eyes peeled.” “I don’t have any hands.”
His likes to understand everything I’m saying, and as a result he continually asking, “What?” I admire his determination to understand, but it makes my parenting job more exhausting. The other day I was complaining about a scheduling foible to myself. “What?” Scotland asked from the back seat. “Oh, I just thought I’d signed up for Bountiful Baskets, but I didn’t finalize it, so now I’ve planned my day around it for nothing, and now I need to go grocery shopping.” I replied. “What?” He asked again. I tried another “I’m just frustrated because things aren’t working out the way I’d like today.” “What?” Sigh. Sometimes I realize that what I’m saying is really abstract. For example one time I said, “Sorry, Scotland, I can’t help you. I don’t have any hands.” He looked at me completely puzzled. What?! “I don’t have any hands,” I repeated. It actually didn’t occur to me how bazaar that sounded to his black and white mind, until he used the phrase several weeks later- correctly I might add.

Hanging out by himself near the garden

The weather has been glorious for the past few months, and Scotland has taken full advantage. One morning he woke up, came out and the first thing he said was, “Maybe I should ride my bike.” And he did- before breakfast. He loves to go down to the garden and harvest snacks of strawberries and sugar snap or shelling peas. He loves to sample things- cilantro, arugula, greens- things he will often turn down at the dinner table- when he’s there, barefoot in the garden.
He continues to love flowers, and has taken a new interest in insects. We love squatting down together and counting all the bugs we can find. It’s amazing when you take the time to look about much life is visible all around us. He had the greatest delight chasing moths around the yard the other day, and was completely entranced by the youtube clip of the metamorphosis of the Monarch butterfly the other night.

He’ll often ask “Can I play with him?” when I lay Anders down on the floor to play. This usually consists of rolling him around, and on occasion poking him in the eye- on purpose, which always makes him wail, at which point Scotland will run to his room. Sigh.
I am continually labeling things for Scotland, “This is a clematis” “This is called Jicama.” He’s clearly intrigued by the roll and often takes it upon himself to tell me what things are called. Pointing to a plant he’ll say “This is called huchaka.” Or this truck’s name is “Mongchu.”

At the zoo with his buddies, Carlin and Morgan

Today he told his Nursery leader. “I would like you to call me Scotland, not Scotter.” (A few weeks ago we were talking about names and he said his name was Scotland- pronounced with a crisp T and D. I asked: “What would you like us to call you, Scotland or Scotter. “ScoTlanD” he said.
He’s taken to some unfavorable behaviors of late. Namely, defiance followed by screaming. These episodes often time out when Anders is half way into his nap- leading to it being the end of his nap. Considering what a darling two year old he was, this is rather new parental terrain for us. I’ll admit to much failure in the nurturing mother role. That being said, my latest “If I have to ask you to ________ again, you’ll have to go to your room.” Seems to be helping me keep my cool a bit better. Though, he’s in his room more.

He’s taken to sitting up to the piano and playing a bit everyday.
Today at lunch we were talking about God and prayer, and how God loves us and is always watching over us. We talked about how God hears and answers our prayers. Scotland listened intently and then said, “I’m going to say a prayer. Dear Heavenly Father please watch over me tonight.” We continued to talk about how much God loves us, and then he said, “I’m going to say a prayer for Daddy. Dear God please help Daddy to come home soon. . . on time. . . someday.”

He finished his gymnastics classes. It was so fun to watch his strength and coordination grow. He loved going, and became really good buddies with the other kids in his class. It was his first paid-for “class” of any kind. I realized, I’m totally a hyper-mom. While all the other moms read, checked their phones, etc. I was taking in every move, analyzing his performance, and wishing the teacher would make it more challenging. Interestingly after the first two weeks in which I would talk to Scotland afterwards about how he needed to improve, he started to be shy about going, and less willing to try new things. It immediately occurred to me that this new behavior was likely due to my critics after class. So from them on I shut my mouth and smiled and congratulated him on ways that he was strong, daring, obedient. Soon his shyness and unwillingness fled and was replaced with friendly sociality and eagerness to try.

Prize box selection after finishing chapter 20 in his reading book. 

Anders: (5 mo)

Anders latest is his hand dexterity. He loves to handle everything he sees. He’s at the age where it’s nearly impossible to hold him and prep meals, cook, etc. Yesterday, I was making cookies when into the cup of molasses went his hand.
He’s very eager to start eating. So far I’ve let him suck on a piece of apple, pear, and jicama; and this evening I made him some pureed rice with milk and tomatoes, he gobbled it down- nearly diving into the dish. I couldn’t get it into his mouth quick enough. (Scotland loved the show. “He Loves it!” He kept saying.)
He’s found his feet, and they’ve become a favorite toy. He closed my sliding closet door with his feet the other day.

He’s so close to rolling from his back to his belly. He’s squirming around enough now that he’s never in the same place I left him in his crib. Rather he’s usually turned 90 degrees.

He adores Scotland, squealing and kicking his legs when he sees him. He’ll arch his head way back so he can watch him. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to feed him or put him to bed if he can hear Scotland playing nearby.

And a smilier version